Blue Cheer – New! Improved! Blue Cheer – 1969 – Hard Rock / Psychedelic Rock / Acid Rock (vinyl lp)

Here's a fascinating piece of late-60s heavy rock history that often gets overlooked in Blue Cheer's catalog. "New! Improved! Blue Cheer" marked a significant turning point for the San Francisco power trio, coming just a year after their groundbreaking debut "Vincebus Eruptum" essentially invented heavy metal. By 1969, the band was dealing with lineup changes and label pressure, but rather than dilute their sound, they pushed deeper into psychedelic territory while maintaining that signature wall of amplified chaos that made them legends. This album showcases a more experimental Blue Cheer, incorporating longer compositions and more complex arrangements while still delivering the earth-shaking volume they were known for.

What makes this particular Philips pressing especially noteworthy is its place in the label's brief but important foray into American heavy rock. Philips, primarily known for their classical and easy listening catalog, took a real gamble on Blue Cheer's uncompromising sound, and the original US pressings capture the full dynamic range of their studio experimentation better than most reissues. The album features some of Dickie Peterson's most adventurous bass work and includes their memorable take on "Peace of Mind," alongside originals that bridge the gap between their early proto-metal assault and the more nuanced psychedelia that would influence countless stoner and doom bands decades later. For collectors seeking the complete Blue Cheer story, this often-undervalued middle chapter is essential listening.

Retro Revolution Records – Halifax, Nova Scotia

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