HISTORY OF

Blue Cheer: Norman Mayell (vocals, guitar, sitar, drums, delruba); Gary Yoder, Leigh Stephens, Bruce Stephens (vocals, guitar); Dickie Peterson (vocals, bass); Paul Whaley (vocals, drums); Ralph Kellogg (piano, organ, bass). Producers include: Milan Melvin, Michael Sunday, Gary Yoder, Norman Mayell, Eric Albronda. Recorded between 1968 & 1971. Any true heavy metal fan should own copies of Blue Cheer's first two albums, VINCEBUS ERUPTUM and OUTSIDEINSIDE; those two 1968 releases largely defined the early days of the style, and remain classics of the genre. However, the band's later albums aren't nearly as impressive. This makes 1990's GOOD TIMES ARE SO HARD TO FIND essential for the novice or casual fan, because it unfailingly picks the best and hardest tracks from the last few Blue Cheer albums, which were more concerned with the boogie than sonic destruction. "Fruit and Icebergs," the anthemic title track, and the good-time choogle "Bye Bye Birmingham, Hello L.A." are particular standouts. As a whole, GOOD TIMES ARE SO HARD TO FIND is a more than adequate summation of Blue Cheer's later career.