Customer Reviews

Outsideinside

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Blue Cheer. Outsideinside.

Most of the mallrat types who buy thier Nirvana and Green Day CDs never take the time to delve into true influental and important stuff. To understand heavy power trios early Blue Cheer is essentual to all that came after them.

Outsideinside is BC's second album. It built on the power and amperage of thier first album Vincebus Eruptum. Outsideinside is an improvement in everyway from VE. Not only in songwriting prowess, but in mix and growth as an artist.

So its fair to say this is BC's zenith. This is the last album with guitarist Leigh Stevens before he called it a day. The band then devolved into a rotating door of members.

What makes this an essentual purchase you ask? Several things. BC was revolutionary for thier loudness. They cranked it up, caused near riots. Keep in mind this was the late 60s - peace and love man. They got the hippies doing crazy stuff. They also laid down the prototype for metal which was to come later. Listen to Magnolia Caboose Babyfinger, you'll see what I mean. Paul Whaley's liberal use of the double kick drum and tasteful fills was also new. Leigh Steven's guitar work at times seared across the meat of the music. They did all this heaviness and kept melodies in thier songs. In short, thier style, attitude and playing chops were completely at odds with most of thier contemporaries.

Which led to many potshots being taken at them, with Jimi Hendrix's dissing of them perhaps being the most famous.

Often an artist that flies against whats trendy or popular at the time - will get savaged and disrespected only later to be appreciated. Blue Cheer's early works are such the case.

A whole lot of loudness, some psychedelic touches along with a style that laid the foundation for metal. Anyone wanting expand thier knowledge of where amped up insane White Blues (aka Metal) came from need to look no further.

Also recommended for fans of this album:
Vincebus Eruptum
Beast is Back (1985 reunion LP)

Luckilly,I was a teen in the 60's and when I first heard on the radio 'Just a little' realy couldn't believe it ! I was a fan of all that hardrock staff coming out those days like Hendrix,Cream,Moby Grape,but this one was a break-through, many years ahead! I don't agree with the reviewer saying that they were one of the pioneers of Heavy Metal. These guys invented heavy metal.The music in this disc has a primitive sound not compared to any other heavy group that followed their roots.It is a mix of heavy rock with psychedelia. A MUST to have, if your a fan of this kind.

This disc is amazing. I love the way Blue Cheer captured the sounds of the late sixties along with rythms and beats and frets of later classic rock. A hard acid/rock/blues trio, Blue Cheer should have more radio play on todays radio stations. It's hard to believe that this album is from 1968...After I purchased this album, I read some reviews here...I read the one about chugging beer along with the last minute of Just A Little Bit.....it's awesome....thanks RedVWbus...whoever you are. Blue Cheer has one of the best drummers I've ever heard from a 60's band. Blue Cheer's Satisfaction is a mind blowing experience...the song starts off with a warping fade in, great bass and a tad longer than the Stone's original. Great bass and drums through out the whole disc...I recommend this cd to any fan of hard rock......

This record is even better than the debut. From the get go the progression in the song writing department is obvious. If you liked Vincebus Eruptum, I think you will like this album even more. On Outsideinside, Blue Cheer evolved from the standard blues formula to a more progressive original sound. The cover of the Rolling Stone's classic Cant get no Satisfaction is just as potent as the Eddie Cochran "Summertime Blues" cover on the debut. The final song "Babylon" has to be one of the greatest rock songs ever written with its psychedelic intro of swirling wah wah guitars. then the RIFF kicks in. That RIFF the main one in "Babylon" is HEAVY like Sabbath's Into the Void. Sounds like a ton of bricks crashing against a concrete floor. If you enjoyed Vincebus Eruptum and have not heard Outsideinside, what are waiting for??!! Do youself a huge favor and buy it now!

This is the greatest album these guys put together. I wish I had a time machine so I could go see them.

When I saw this available on Amazon, I had to have it. Not to seem to be too old, I bought Vincibus Eruptus when it came out in the mid-late 60's, followed by Outsideinside. Two great albums of their time. After getting this Outsideinside, I have to admit my tastes have changed through the years, but this was totally refreshing to hear after 30 years. The cover tunes are good reditions, but the originals are excellent. Although not a raw as Vincibus Eruptus, still it's gutsy, ballsy, and edgy. You can hear the influences of Hendrix and Cream in Gypsy Ball and Just a little Bit. Although I didn't care too much for the guitar work, the bass and drums rock! The guitarist manages to shine hear and there. Definitely acid heavy rock, begging you to 'Come and get it'. Oh, I gotta hear that one again...

I have burned up two copies thus far of the albums I owned of this particular work. Growing up in the 60s there were lots of great bands, but Blue Cheer was one of my very favorite bands. Yes they are the grandfathers of heavy metal music, without a doubt. But on this album (cd ) they reach out 'where the bus's dont run" totally trippy music. Great stuff....I ought to know, old hippy. My favorite tunes off from this are "feathers from your tree' and babylon, but there are no 'dogs' on this cd...great tunes. Takes me back to the summer of 1970, I think that was when it came out.....Great music, buy it!

Originally released in late 1968, this was their follow-up to their debut,'Vincebus Eruptum' record(see my review). It was also the second and FINAL album with their original guitarist,Leigh Stephens. Tracks here that I thought more than carried their own were their semi-Hendrix like "Sun Cycle","Just A Little Bit","Gypsy Ball",their so-so Stones cover "Satisfaction" and "Babylon". My only regret is that I guess I should've purchased that 2-lp's on-1 CD pressing of these two titles I've seen recently. A good classic late '60's hard rock title to own just the same.Recommended.

Blue Cheer is one of the most underrated rock groups of the sixties. You can clearly hear on "Outsideinside", that Blue Cheer was one of the pioneers of heavy metal. I understood that from the first song "Feathers in Your Tree." Personal favorites are the first five songs on the Album and "Babylon". I did not care for the Blue Cheer cover songs. Otherwise the album is an all out rocker. Unabashedly,unappologetically and gleefully, Blue Cheer turns up those Marshall amps and play till their fingers bleed. The bass and drums are a perfect complement to the lead guitar. I personally have no interest on what illegal substances the band was on at the time, only the finished product. I clearly hear Black Sabbath albums to come.

Blue Cheer, presumably backed and equipped by the chemist Thomas Owzley put their best work forward in OUTSIDEINSIDE. Not widely aired or kindly acclaimed by the critics, this rare jewel is, incredibly, available on CD for your perusal. The more popular VINCIBUS ERUPTUM was greasy kid's stuff compared to the Full Load of this psychedelic pearl cast before swine. Playing at love-ins and Filmore and Avalon concert halls, the Blue Cheer was a pioneer of acid rock in the Bay Area. Outsideinside is a mind-sliding itchy skin stroll down that garden path. I won't tell you that every cut is a piece of art, or that it's a monument to weather the winds of all time. It's not. But it is one of the "to have" surprises for your enjoyment. WARNING! Do NOT listen to this mucic while under the influence of illegal or consciousness-altering substances!! This being said, if you don't have this surprise in your collection... INCOMPLETE!! INCOMPLETE!! INCOMPLETE!!