line up

- Ralph Burns Kellogg - keyboards, bass,

- Norman Mayell - drums, guitar, sitar, backing vocals

- Dickie Peterson - bass, vocals
- Gary Yoder - guitar, vocals

- Randy Holden (solo efforts)

- Kak (Gary Yoder)

- Mint Tattoo (Ralph Kellogg)

- The Other Half (Randy Holden)

- Peterbildt (Dickie Peterson)

- Pilot (Leigh Stephens)

- Silver Metre (Leigh Stephens)

- Sopwith Camel (Normal Mayell)

- Leigh Stephens (solo efforts)

Genre: rock

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Oh! Pleasant Hope

Company: Philips

Catalog: PHS 600-350

Year: 1971

Country/State: San Francisco, California

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: stereo pressing

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 4636

Price: $30.00

Cost: $66.00

Maybe due to the fact this album is so different from what you'd normally expect from a Blue Cheer album, their sixth album stands as one of my favorites.  Co-produced by Eric Albronda and the band, 1971's "Oh! Pleasant Hope" comes off as a thoroughly entertaining and even thoughtful album (never thought I'd be using those words with this band).  Starting off with the killer 'Hiway Man', musically the set was surprisingly diverse with the band showing a knack for taking on everything from Band-styled title track to CCR-influenced rockers ('Believer') and even outright psych (the stunning 'I'm the Light').  Sure, it stumbles a couple of times.  Mayell's 'Ecological Blues' hasn't aged well and the less said about 'Lester the Molester ' the better.  Still, perhaps because they weren't trying as hard, the set came off as a minor undiscovered classic.

"Oh! Pleasant Hope" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Hiway Man (Norman Mayell - Gary L. Yoder - G.R. Grelecki) - 4:20

2.) Believer(Gary L. Yoder - G.R. Grelecki) - 3:55

3.) Money Troubles (Richard Peddicord) - 4:04

4.) Traveling Man(Gary L. Yoder - G.R. Grelecki) - 3:08

(side 2)
1.) Oh! Pleasant Hope (Richard Peddicord) - 2:37

2.) I'm the Light(Normal Mayell - Kent Houseman) - 5:43

3.) Ecological Blues (Normal Mayell) - 2:23

4.) Lester the Molester (Ralph Kellogg) - 3:09

5.) Heart Full of Soul (R. Peterson) - 4:38