10. Blue Cheer: Rock Me Baby
Another biker favorite, Blue Cheer evolved from an early Haight Ashbury garage band, The Other Ones, who included guitarist Leigh Stephens. Along with bassist/singer Dickie Peterson and drummer Paul Whaley, Blue Cheer was a classic power trio (American style), emphasizing the harder boogie aspects of acid rock. Some consider them one of the first heavy metal bands, although their songs were played up as much for the feedback as for the riffs; as such, they represent the hardest edge of the San Francisco psychedelic bands. Taking their name from a variety of LSD, they had a surprise hit with a brutally rugged version of Eddie Cochrane's "Summertime Blues", which peaked at #14 and helped guide their debut album Vincebus Eruptum to #11, their best showing. The album is raw; barely produced, which gives it an agreeable punky menace. While "Summertime Blues" is about the only cut anyone remembers from the trio, their cover of "Rock Me Baby" is another good piece of kozmik metallic acid blues, taken at a slower tempo than much of their material. Their lesser-known followup, Outsideinside is arguably a better album; the band was prolific despite lineup changes commencing with their third album, in total they released six through 1971, and reformed for a few more in the 80's and 90's.
11. Electric Flag: Texas
Mike Bloomfield was a hotshot young guitarist with a blues-rock pedigree in Chicago's Paul Butterfield Blues Band (and had played on Dylan's "Like A Rolling Stone" with Al Kooper in 1966) when he founded Electric Flag in 1967. Featuring keyboardist Barry Goldberg, singer Nick Gravenites, bassist Harvey Brooks and drummer Buddy Miles, plus a horn section, it worked the same side of the street Al Kooper was working on on the East Coast. The band's first gig was scoring the soundtrack to the Roger Korman LSD exploitation flick, The Trip. They made their live perfomance debut at the Monterey Pop Festival, where Bloomfield was singled out for praise by Mama Cass Elliott (of festival arrangers the Mamas and Papas) during her onstage patter. A Long Time Comin', therefore was a much-anticipated release in 1968. As such, it was greeted with some disappointment, although the album holds up fine; a mix of psychedelic/soul/blues with hints (only hints) of jazz that even name drops Janis Joplin on a track. "Texas" is a slow blues, in contrast to some of the busier soul numbers; while it isn't quite representative of the band's sound, it displays Bloomfield's firey guitar in all its glory, and the horn section is moody and atmospheric. A Long Time Comin' peaked at #31, something of a letdown. Bloomfield left the group in 1968, recording Super Session with Al Kooper, and embarking on a solo journey that ultimately saw him scoring porno films in the late 70's to support a drug habit that claimed his life in 1981.
Article comments
1 - Don
Does anyone know what's going on with Sly? The last I heard is his showing up in costume (bikers helmet) at his sisters concert there in Cali.
2 - uao
No idea; the last two decades are pretty fuzzy. He recorded a flop single in 1987, "Eek-a-Bo-Static", but was jailed for drug possession that year.
He also managed a duet with Martha Davis (of the Motels) "Love & Affection" at about the same time.
He showed up at the Hall of Fame induction in 1993, by all accounts to the surprise of his bandmates.
In 2003, the original Family Stone (without Sly) entered the studio; I don't know if the session amounted to anything.
Freddie Stone is a minister with a website.
Here's the article about Sly showing up at his sister's concert in August 2005, the only news I could find for him for the last decade. He came by 4-wheel Harley wearing a motorcycle helmet, which he kept on all night, and wasn't recognized in the VIP room because most of the VIP's were blind (!)
Al Barger posted this article on Sly's 60th birthday; I was moved by the very personal nature of the comments from fans, friends, and well-wishers that appeared on the thread.
3 - Steve
Visit the John Cipollina website here
4 - uao
That's a beautiful website, Steve. A fine tribute that really gets into all aspects of his career and musicianship. I know you've done him proud.
I'm still preachin' the Quicksilver and San Fran word to the young squirts. Cipollina is a name worthy of remembrance and discovery.
5 - Joanie
Thankfully, we have some great realitvely unknown bands who are carrying on the tradition established during the big Haight era.
6 - Tom Weller
Nice reminiscense on the San Francisco sound. Actually, Country Joe has put out half a dozen albums since 1996. Check out his site (I'm the webmaster).
7 - uao
My apologies for the error, Tom. I've corrected the sentence; I was looking at an outdated discography. Joe deserves his due.
Nice website too!
8 - Dave
FYI, "Loosen Up Naturally" (1968) was the first release from the Sons of Champlin. "The Sons" (1969) is their second release. In addition, they've reformed and have been performing and recording since 1997, with a new release, "Hip L'il Dreams", on August 23rd of this year.
Check out their website at www.sonsofchamplin.com for more info...
9 - uao
Doh!
Sorry Dave. Should have looked for your website first. I can't fix the error here anymore, it has been archived. But I'll fix it on the original blog entry at my blog.
I very much appreciate the webmasters checking in here, though. You've alerted me to the fact you guys are out there, which will help me keep better informed of these musicians (for whom latter-day info is sometimes hard to find or cross-reference for facts). As penance, I think for future playlists of this nature, I'll post links to official websites, when I can find them.
I'm kind of expecting to hear from Joy of Cooking or Dan Hicks next...
It's all meant in loving tribute, though, as well as an introduction for listeners who have never even heard of some of these names.
10 - Hammond Guthrie
Dave - These are excellent album reviews and commentaries. If by chance you also review 60s memoirs please contact me and I would be pleased to send you a copy of my book "AsEverWas" released in 2002 by SAF publishing in London. If you visit their website you can find the pr blip for my book near the bottom of the book index page. In the listing I think you will find books about some of your favored musicians as well - Thanks for taking the time - best of the moment to you and your readers.... Hammond Guthrie
11 - Hammond Guthrie
Sorry for the inadvertant omission - here is the SAF publishing url
http://www.safpublishing.com/
asever - Hammond
12 - uao
I don't review memoirs as a rule, but I do read them on occasion; memoirs of a "Beat Survivor" is germaine as San Fran was beat city before it was psychedelicized. Thanks for the comment Hammond.
13 - Dennis Newhall
The Sons of Champlin's Loosen Up Naturally was their first album. THEN, The Sons (The Sons of Champlin Have Changed Their Name to The Sons)
14 - Temple A. Stark
We can fix the link if you ask uao. Just e-mail the link that gors with this comment.
15 - Temple A. Stark
Late notice but,
This post was chosen by the section editor as a BC pick of the week. Go HERE (link) to find out why.
And thank you
- Temple
16 - Hammond Guthrie
Thanks for your reply - SF takes up a rather small part of the tale - and largely set in Europe late 60s vs. SF. Best to you and your projects.
17 - Blake
great album reviews. I wish i could have lived during the rock/blues and psychedelic era. I agree that blue cheer's lesser known album OutsideInside is better than their debut album, although i love both albums, especially the songs out of focus and babylon.. I also agree with that one guy that the guitarist of quicksilver is amazing and should be remembered next to hendrix, page, clapton... oh man actually there were so many amazing got guitarists that never got the recognition they deserved... like guitarist from tons of garage rock/ garage punk bands.. also from old psychedelic bands.
Mick Abrahms from Bloodwyn Pig and Jethro Tull was great for example.
18 - GoHah
good to hear Dan Hicks, with or without the Hot Licks, still kicking around. I had their LP--might've been called "Stikin' It Rich" or to that effect. All pretty much good-timey music like "The Laughing Song" and I believe "Canned Music was on there too. Then there was the exception--an extended scary number with wigged-out violin titled, appropriately, " I Scare Myself." Truth in advertising, indeed.