The Original Human Being [Import]

Blue Cheer | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 13, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 1970
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Akarma Italy
• ASIN: B00005H0O1
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #294,505 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Good Times Are So Hard to Find

2. Love of a Woman

3. Make Me Laugh

4. Pilot

5. Babaji (Twilight Raga)

6. Preacher

7. Black Sun

8. Tears in My Bed

9. Man on the Run

10. Sandwich

11. Rest at Ease

Editorial Reviews

Reissue of the heavy rock master's fifth album, originally released in 1970. A step forward into a more psychedelic sound. Akarma release. Deluxe gatefold digipack. 2001.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a Fantastic Outing!!, January 11, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Original Human Being (Audio CD)

Blue Cheer exploded upon the scene with absolutely no apologies, covering Eddie Cochran's "Summertime Blues" from the vital initial "Vincebus Eruptum" . This pivotal and groundbreaking album forged new territory in San Francisco Bay Area rock which introduced heavy metal and experimental guitar sound that was the blueprint for its entire genre. The "power trio" of Dickie Peterson, Leigh Stephens and Paul Whaley founded a style of experimentation that ushered in daring and HEAVY SOUNDS for decades to come.

Enter, on "The Original Human Being", guitarist Gary Yoder -bringing his creative genius from the excellent groups Oxford Circle and KAK - to the forefront of Blue Cheer. Forging ahead with totally new musical design on every album they created, Blue Cheer never needed to repeat themselves musically!

Gary Yoder so well understood the psychedelic scene that he was able to compose an entirely innovative dimension to Cheer with founding member Dickie Peterson; in addition, utilizing the talents of Norman Mayell and Ralph Burns Kellogg who contributed so much instrumentally and composition-wise, i.e. "Babaji - Twilight Raga" (a gorgeous sitar rock number that is amazing indeed). This is at once a hard rocking, sensual, melodious, funky, & well executed record that deserves serious study.

This well crafted and representative project displays an epitome of San Francisco psychedelia.

Blue Cheer is best understood by appreciatang each respective album viewed as its own entity, and appreciated as music that ranks among the most innovative of every style presented.

Dynamic!!!!!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 'Babaji' is transcendent & maybe the best ever raga rock fusion, August 14, 2007

By 

Ian Ram (Scotland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Original Human Being (Audio CD)

'Babaji' is transcendent & maybe the best ever example raga rock fusion. I love indian music and sing some everyday. Back in the 70's I bought this album and wore out the Babaji track which morphs from the preceding track which ends with feedback ....... its devotional its sincere and sadly it only lasts some 3 minutes! However of its type you may never hear better. Where did this piece come from? The album is still musical enough but mostly heavyish (for the time, pre Black Sabbath etc) then all of a sudden this emerges and takes one someone else, whoever composed, envisioned it knew the genre well and like the rest of the album they play with conviction. One of my favourite ever tracks. Thanks Blue Cheer for helping me become an Original Human Being.
Narada
Scotland

5.0 out of 5 stars solid early 70's rock, December 20, 2010

By 

B. E Jackson (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Original Human Being (Audio CD)

I'm not going to sit here and say the Original Human Being is some kind of original or groundbreaking hard rock album, because it's obviously not. However, it IS a pretty solid album songwriting-wise.

Also, despite the fact it's a really good album, do NOT under any circumstances pay the extremely high price it's going for across the internet. I'm sure there's other places where it can be sold much much cheaper.

"Babaji" is repetitive because it never progresses past that one simple sitar riff, but it's a pretty good experimental instrumental piece that sounds unique for its time, so it's an easy highlight. Actually when it reaches the halfway point, it reminds me of something from the early 80's such as Flock of Seagulls or Kim Wilde. "Make Me Laugh" sounds like a Grand Funk Railroad/Bloodrock bluesy/hard rock track, typical of the American rock scene of the day. Actually the vocals remind me of early Jefferson Airplane a little bit. It's highly memorable too.

"Rest at Ease" is a beautifully written sad track reminiscent of the Allman Brothers song "Please Call Home". Regardless what it resembles, it's a song that definitely touches me on a deep emotional level. I really love when the singer hits the high notes during the "Make up your mind" part because it resembles someone crying alone in the dark as they try to straighten out their problems.

"Pilot" is a really solid heavy rocker with a magnificent chorus and unusual-sounding instrumental break in the middle because of the way the guitar solo seems to fade in and out. It's a cool effect. "Preacher" contains some saxophone work in between the vocal melody, and while I love the saxophone normally, I could probably do without it here. It's alright though. The bluesy vocals remind me of early Blue Oyster Cult. "Man on the Run" is probably the most straight ahead blues song here. It's pretty awesome, especially the way the vocal melody chugs along to the rhythm. The lyrics are really appropriate too and fit perfectly with the steady pacing of the rhythm.

Overall, a quality album by a forgotten hard rock band. Well, *almost* forgotten. Some of Blue Cheer's work is still being remembered today thankfully, it's just unfortunate the Original Human Being is not one of the albums being remembered because it most certainly should be.