Blue Öyster Cult

Blue Öyster Cult

Track Listings

1. Transmaniacon Mc

2. I'm on the Lamb But I Ain't No Sheep

3. Then Came the Last Days of May

4. Stairway to the Stars

5. Before the Kiss, a Redcap

6. Screams

7. She's as Beautiful as a Foot

8. Cities on Flame With Rock & Roll

9. Workshop of the Telescopes

10. Redeemed

Tracks:

Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll
The Red & The Black
Flaming Telepaths
Astronomy
This Ain't The Summer Of Love
(Don't Fear) The Reaper
I Love The Night
Goin' Through The Motions
Godzilla
In Thee
The Marshall Plan
Black Blade
Joan Crawford
Burnin' For You
Shooting Shark
Take Me Away

Customer Reviews:

Great Classic Rock.......2007-04-11

This collection of BOC'S hits are mind blowing. Great Classic Rock cd, that you can listen to over and over again. I love the song Don't Fear the Reaper and my main favorite is track four on the cd.

I had forgotten how good it was.......2007-01-09

This is really something to remember the old rock'n roll times by.

Workshop of the Telescopes Is Better.......2007-01-09

Blue Oyster Cult is a group that nearly has no genre. Much of their early music, only a little of which appears in this compilation, is hard rock with flashes of progressive rock. Most startling are their lyrics, sometimes almost comedic, typically creatively bizarre, and just as frequently so eclectic as to be incomprehensible.

With the success of "Agents of Fortune" Blue Oyster Cult's music changed to a milder rock style, and in some cases, pop. The titles often remain bizarre, such as "Veteran of the Psychic Wars," and the lyrics also remain challenging and unusual, but the music itself is softer.

Consider, for example, "Goin' Through the Motions." This music sounds like something Foreigner might have created rather than the group that created "Harvester of Eyes" and "Flaming Telepaths." Even mellower is "In Thee," which I consider the mellowest song in this collection. This song is romantically beautiful, and somewhat un-Cult.

While I've focused somewhat on the more uncharacteristic songs in this collection, I would be remiss if I did not point out one of the best songs in this collection, "Shooting Shark." This song, from 1983's "Revolution by Night," is somewhat a product of its time, featuring electronics and an early 80s sound, and yet, it contains that spark that has always been at the heart of BOC's best music.

Blue Oyster Cult was formed in 1967, and released an album as recently as 2001. While they were likely strongly influenced by a variety of groups, they have also influenced a variety of musical styles that range from current hard rock to nu-metal or thrash. The length of Blue Oyster Cult's career is barely touched in this sixteen song collection. An even better collection is the two disk compilation "Workshop of the Telescopes," which contains thirty two songs. Once you have listened to that phenomenal collection you may find that you want to purchase Blue Oyster Cult's original albums.

Now comes a question. For sound, buy this CD or "Workshop of the Telescopes"? If you have a high end system and you can readily tell the difference between a remastered CD and the original, and you prefer remastered, then do buy this one. On the other hand, if you have an el cheapo stereo and you can only sometimes tell a remastered CD, then "Workshop of the Telescopes" is a better bet.

Blue Oyster Cult has an array of enjoyable music and this CD gives you a very small sample of that music. If you are unable to find "Workshop of the Telescopes" or you just want a very small flavor of Blue Oyster Cult, then buy this CD. Otherwise, pass this one by for the better options.

Stay Away From All BOC Compilations.......2006-12-10

The problem with any BOC package is they try to combine music from a band the was the coolest group between 1971-74, and a commercial group that produced some of the lamest music I've ever heard. This package only includes 4 songs from their legendary first 3 albums, 11 cuts from their commercial period. If your new to BOC, your have to understand, earlier in their career, they were as good as a hard rock act as there was. They combined top flight muscianship, with cleverly crafted melodies and riffs. The comparasons to Sabbath are only partially accurate in describing their style, because BOC played a more dynamic and colorful range of tunes. In fact, musically, I'd say they had more in common with Deep Purple, particulary in the guitar department. Buck Dharma was simply the most under rated guitar player....ever. Clapton was God, Hendrix was flamboyant, Page was a genius, Blackmore was tempermental, Johnny Winter was an albino, Leslie West was fat, and Buck Dharma, well he just looked like a working-class stiff, but man could that man jam! The rhythm section was propulsive, they played organ when appropriate, and all of the songs had hooks. They were rare then, and they'd be rare today, a hard rock outfit with strong pop sensibilities. So much so, you have to wonder if Eric Bloom and Jeff Lynne aren't the same person? At any rate BOC perfected their attack on Secret Treaties, and rapidly lost their commitment to rock n' roll during Agents fo Fortunes and all albums there after. The other Best of... package to avoid is Workshop of Telescopes. Eventhough it has a better song selection, the songs haven't been remastered and many of the versions are from poorly recorded live and promo albums. Instead of going for a compilation, I strongly recommend purchasing any one of the recently remastered first 3 albums, which sound dramatically better than the originals.

Missing Key Songs..........2006-12-02

Another BOC compilation (aahk!!). Again, missing key songs. This is likely their best compilation because it's remastered, but it's appauling that it's missing some really key songs. I don't know about you, but I always thought these songs would have to be on a BOC best of: "Hot Rails to Hell", "Moon Crazy", "Perfect Water", "Dancin' in the Ruins" and "The Golden Age of Leather". There could be more songs, too. I think it's time that BOC just puts out a mega box set of remastered tunes like Kiss and Judas Priest have.

Average customer rating:

Haven't heard for 30 years........
CLASSIC BOC
Great remaster but a bonus track that should have been included
A Rock-Noir Classic
Gets better with time...

Spectres
Blue Öyster Cult
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Some Enchanted Evening
Agents of Fortune
Secret Treaties
Blue Öyster Cult
Tyranny & Mutation

ASIN: B000ECXV1E
Release Date: 2007-02-13

Tracks:

Godzilla
Golden Age Of Leather
Death Valley Nights
Searchin' For Celine
Fireworks
R.U. Ready 2 Rock
Celestial The Queen
Goin' Through The Motions
I Love The Night
Nosferatu
Night Flyer
M For Murder
Please Hold
Be My Baby

Customer Reviews:

Haven't heard for 30 years...............2007-07-15

and is better than what I remember. Why? I purchased this on 8-Track when I was seventeen years old. What the heck do we know at 17 right? Then, I can remember being a little let down. Yes, Godzilla was great and RU Ready to Rock as initial standouts. But being an ON YOUR KNEES fan, it seemed a little less rocking even compared to AGENTS. What I had forgot about are a couple of the great forgotten tracks like Death Valley Nights, Nosferatu, I Love the Night and even the popish Fireworks. What I believe now is that it is very comparable to AGENTS. I also believe the first two bonus tracks are very good {Night Flyer and M for Murder} and Please Hold is OK. If the first two would have been included in the original I believe it could've held it's own with AGENTS. I stopped the disc before the Ronnette's cover. I just couldn't do that to myself :} All "n" all, I am very happy to purchase this again after so many years. I was fortunate to see them back in the late 70's early 80's with their laser show. Blue Oyster Cult was always one of my favorite bands and I am very happy to have purchased this gem again.

CLASSIC BOC.......2007-07-04

A great remaster of this old classic. The extra songs included on this CD were a good addition that fit the style of this album. BOC's sound changes all the time and these songs are fun to listen to.

Great remaster but a bonus track that should have been included.......2007-06-01

A great release, but the only reason I don't give it five stars is the ommision of the live 12" single version of "Godzilla" which is easily the best live version released. It is much more concise than the versions on Some Enchanted Evening and Extraterrestrial Live. Still, Spectres never sounded better. Let's hope that On Your Feet Or On Your Knees (2 CDs please), Cultasaurus Erectus, and Fire of Unknown Origin will be included in the next batch of reissues.

A Rock-Noir Classic.......2007-05-13

Like all of BOC's music there is a delicious darkness to the songs on this cd. "Golden Age of Leather", "Death Valley Nights", and "I Love the Night" (just to name a few), with their re-occuring themes of mayhem and death (and just enough tongue-in-cheek), are classic Blue Oyster Cult.
It had been years since I owned this recording and am so pleased to have it back in my collection.

Gets better with time..........2007-04-04

My previous review of BOC's mediocre "Spectres" met with such contempt that your leather pants wearin' friend from NYC has decided to placate all you ghouls and rework a more pleasing version. No doubt, "Spectres" still could have been better......but with this new remaster and additional bonus songs, I must admit I am intrigued. Alas, I will contain my frequent urge to trash this gem, lest fellow hardcore fans fly through my bedroom window at night and suck my blood dry. Down, Down I say! You Dogs!

"Spectres"

Production values on this collection are indeed much better than any previous recording. The opening track, "Godzilla" sets the house on fire with Roeser's blistering lead guitar work over dual harmony vocals. The signature vocals have always worked real well on this song, and perhaps the band should consider doing more Bloom/Roeser harmonies. Although this version of "Godzilla" is a bit campy in tone, it remains a classic. The real star of the show, however, is "Golden Age of Leather". Everything good about BOC is in this song, and it never gets tired. It's all there, guitars, vocals, lyrics, etc. "Death Valley Nights" is next and is a natural fit after "Leather". Some other highlights are the lush "I Love the Night", (one of my fav BOC tunes) and "Nosferatu". The rest of this collection is very pop in tone, and sounds outdated. What balances out weak songs such as "Searchin' for Celine" and "Celestial the Queen" are the new bonus additions such as "Night Flyer" and "Dial M for Murder" which are just as good if not better than anything else Cult did in this period. Perhaps not surprisingly, "Be My Baby" makes it onto this as a bonus; back in '77, probably sounded like a great idea.. but today considered a corny song for BOC to cover.

This collection is worth buying, if just for "Godzilla","Golden Age of Leather", "Death Valley Nights" and "I Love the Night". "Spectres" holds its own with the classics, although it doesn't hold up to BOC's other works in the 1970's. Due to the passage of so many years, many of the things that so displeased me about this record seem to slowly fade away, and some of the cheesy pop tunes become forgivable when thought of in the context of the time period: Disco was hot, rock was not.

Average customer rating:

Blue Oyster masterpiece
early 70's(practically 60;'s) muzak you can listen to proudly with the windows opened(and currently age 36 or even 30)
Correction
The Debut....
Great intro to a truly phenominal band!!

Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Tyranny & Mutation
Secret Treaties
Agents of Fortune
Fire of Unknown Origin
Cultosaurus Erectus

ASIN: B00005LNBQ
Release Date: 2001-06-26

Tracks:

Transmaniacon MC
I'm On The Lamb But I Ain't No Sheep
Then Came The Last Days Of May
Stairway To The Stars
Before The Kiss, A Redcap
Screams
She's As Beautiful As A Foot
Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll
Workshop Of The Telescopes
Redeemed
Donovan's Monkey (Demo) (Previously Unreleased)
What Is Quicksand (Demo) (Previously Unreleased)
A Fact About Sneakers (Demo) (Previously Unreleased)
Betty Lou's Got A New Pair Of Shoes (Demo) (Previously Unreleased)

Customer Reviews:

Blue Oyster masterpiece.......2007-04-19

This is the Blue Oyster Cult's first album, and it is a serious notice about what they were/are capable of. The consistency and excellence of the hard rock/metal guitar work and vocals is classic. The remastering and addition of four demos never before released only make this album more powerful. For exisiting fans worth it for sound quality and new material. For newcomers this is a great way to learn about BOC (better than a gtreatest hits album).

early 70's(practically 60;'s) muzak you can listen to proudly with the windows opened(and currently age 36 or even 30).......2007-03-01

The Agent's Albumn has a few good songs and I never really got in to Oyster Cult when I first bought that one, but here is a collection of songs that are all good and adictive and The Cult will grow on you like a mould breaking of flesh rot in no time. It is not a group you can just listen too a few times and like, you have to listen quite a lot(and the earlier the more rytmn and harmony) Post 75(except Reaper and Burn'n) are a bit sporatic but these old hits are great and like a smooth yet progressive wine. Once your hooked, it's a permanant curse I think so get this now especially the Black Telescope interludes great outdoor listening(bother the f neighbors) even today Fact about Sneakers and Donivan's Monkey are demos but as good as the releases also great strait foreward fun and similar steady rhytymn and beat as the Black Telescope. MC and the others are less steady and more 60ish(meant to get high on I guess) but are still very rock and not incohenent like Sid Barret's nonsense.

Correction.......2006-03-22

Some reviewers have confused producer Bruce Dickinson with the Iron Maiden frontman. They're two totally different persons.

The Debut.... .......2006-03-02

This is the one that started it all. For some, it is their best work. In terms of originality of ideas, I think this is true. In terms of delivering these new original ideas, they had a ways to go. This body of work reveals a very young, slightly amatuerish band. The album starts off with two very good, if not clumsy songs, then really lights it up with the third song "Stairway to the Stars". It's as if all the pieces just fell together, and the band just learned how to fly in formation. My biggest gripe is with the recording. It is muddy and the guitars sound flat. There is also too much reverb, and the drums sound like Ringo Starr (Al Bouchard) is tapping on a piece of cardboard, five miles away. But there is much more to enjoy about this collection than to gripe about; the album as a whole is very enjoyable, just don't expect sophisticated soundscapes. This is low tech rock and roll, with a touch of blues, country and psychedelia. Highlights are: "I'm on the Lamb," "Stairway to the Stars", "Last Days of May" "Transmaniacon MC" "Workshop of the Telescopes" and "Redeemed". Great Fun, indeed. Recommended.

Great intro to a truly phenominal band!!.......2006-02-24

Ahh... B.O.C.!! Where do I begin? I am by far No expert on this great (and still kicking!) band that originated in the early 70's, but as the future years will pass, I'll slowly become one because I simply can't get enough of them. They are my uncle's favorite band since he was a kid, and after hearing how good they are, I gave them a listen, and let me tell you I was completely blown away, and even more so, I was amazed at how underrated BOC was and still is. They are by far one of my two of my all-time FAVORITE "older" bands, and I highly recommend giving them a fair shot. Sony issued newly remastered releases of BOC's first four epic albums about five years ago, cleaning up the production and adding previously unreleased b-sides and live tracks, and the result is superb, classic rock as it should be. To me, the stand-out tracks on their debut are "Then Came The Last Days Of May" (BOC's legendary guitarist's Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser's first amazing vocal), "Stairway To The Stars", and my personal favorite, "Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll" (an instant classic they still play at their concerts). The rest of the album is good as well, but those stand-outs are truly CLASSIC BOC songs. But after you listen to their next couple ablums, you might agree that this debut only ranks as a 4, because it's a little more "loose" and not quite as serious or driven as the next two are, which are considered by many long-time BOC fans as the band's very best. I cannot be happier about discovering this excellent band a few years ago, and you may feel the same after giving them a listen. It may take a couple listens to fully appreciate if you listen mostly to 90's and this decade's music, but if you truly want to expand your musical-taste horizons and discover the past-age of classic rock-and-roll, BOC is a great place to start! Highly recommended!

Average customer rating:

This..
spooky
The Awful Truth
Not their best, but so what?
Their best days were behind them at this point

Agents of Fortune
Blue Öyster Cult
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Secret Treaties
Blue Öyster Cult
Tyranny & Mutation
Fire of Unknown Origin
Spectres

ASIN: B00005LNBH
Release Date: 2001-06-26

Tracks:

This Ain't The Summer Of Love
True Confessions
(Don't Fear) The Reaper
E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence)
The Revenge Of Vera Gemini
Sinful Love
Tattoo Vampire
Morning Final
Tenderloin
Debbie Denise
Fire Of Unknown Origin (Original Version) (Previously Unreleased)
Sally (Demo) (Previously Unreleased)
(Don't Fear) The Reaper (Demo) (Previously Unreleased)
Dance The Night Away (Demo) (Previously Unreleased)

Customer Reviews:

This.. .......2007-04-29

is what I know.The power and might and sexuality of BlUe Oyster Cult.The songs like "E.T.I" which iS what I'm going to Marry (and make sweet love..)Ms. Gawlik With.

spooky .......2006-10-27

Even though Agents of Fortune is one of Blue Oyster Cult's more commercial albums, I can't get enough of it. For one thing, the guitar playing is spectacular throughout the album. Every guitar note is beautiful and haunting. That's what makes Blue Oyster Cult so great- the way they make their music haunting and chilling, while rocking and rolling at the same time.

I find it odd that the album ends with a country-like tune. It's hard to explain what Blue Oyster Cult does that makes them so great. It's probably their ability to explore different sounds and styles and mix it in with hard rock. They truly are much different than other hard rockers.

The Awful Truth.......2006-10-16

It is unfortunate that Don't Fear the Reaper had to be on this album. Potential new fans picking up Agents of Fortune expecting more of the same must have been disappointed. My first exposure to the Blue Oyster Cult was Spectres, a more solid effort that sent me running to the record store to discover Secret Treaties, and I've been hooked ever since.

This album marks a major departure for the band in so many respects. While Tyranny and Mutation and Secret Treaties were collaboratively written on the road during a brutal touring schedule that resulted in the amazing On Your Feet or On Your Knees, Agents was written by individual band members at their leisure using multi-track recording equipment in their homes and demo'd for the full band prior to going into the studio. As a result, individual personalities really show through.

Another notable change is that only one song is credited to the dynamic writing duo of Pearlman/Meltzer (ETI - Pearlman).

The polished sound of the album is due to their first venture outside of CBS Records' antiquated studios (evident in the otherwise excellent first three albums).

The final and most evident departure is the marked shift from a raw, heavy-metal sound to a more approachable mainstream sound. Reaper gave the Oyster Boys a taste of commercial success that would elude them for five years until Fire of Unknown Origin and Buck's second hit Burnin' for You.

Of course, those of you who are longtime BOC fans know that this album was percussionist Gene Frenkle's last, as he tragically died shortly after the album was released. Agents also marks the retirement of Eric's stun guitar. ;)

Don't Fear the Reaper is a rock masterpiece and deserves all of the acclaim it received. Reaper aside, Agents is not without further merit. Extra Terrestrial Intelligence is a longtime concert staple and This Ain't the Summer of Love is another decent rocker. The two hidden gems on the album are (The Revenge of) Vera Gemini, a Patti Smith penned song which picks up where Baby Ice Dog left off, and Morning Final, another of the many haunting songs from the fertile macabre mind of Joe Bouchard.

And now to the awful truth. True Confessions, Tenderloin and Debbie Denise are the three worst songs to this point in the BOC's young history. Helen Wheels penned Sinful Love and Tatoo Vampire leave something to be desired as well (God rest her soul). So out of ten songs, you could fashion a solid Side One of an LP and there would be no need to play the flip side. Hardly the greatest album in the BOC catalog as some here would lead you to believe.

No BOC collection would be complete without Agents of Fortune and there are a handfull of good songs here worth owning, but Secret Treaties, Spectres, Fire of Unknown Origin, and Tyranny and Mutation are more rounded studio albums worth owning before this one.

Not their best, but so what?.......2006-08-25

Sure the weak spots, especially Tenderloin, Debbie Denise and True Confessions, are numbers BOC fans love to hate, but I realize after listening every day for 3 decades songs like this are among their most sublime. It's finally dawned on me that Debbie Denise is SATIRE. And True Confessions is brilliant, one of the few pure blues numbers the band has bothered with. The scorching horns alone from Randy and Michael Brecker are worth the admission price. Still looking for something to redeem Tenderloin though.

Their best days were behind them at this point.......2006-06-16

Anyone who thinks this is a good release from these guys never really listened to the first three. The first was as solid a debut as i've ever heard from a group. The second actually improved on the first. No sophomore slump from them. Two spectacular albums in both writing, musicianship and tone. The third, "Secret Treaties", wasn't necessarily an improvement, but the sound and mixing were a huge leap forward as those first two always sounded like they were recorded from inside a beer can. No slam on "Agents of Fortune" but it does have some weak songs mixed in with the good ones. The previous releases, esp the first two, show the band at their peak: fresh, unhinged, outlandish, funny, wild and flat-out breakthrough rock.

Average customer rating:

"After DArk" this gets even better
lest we forget...
One of BOCs 3 best albums (post-Black/White Trilogy)
NEVER THE SAME AGAIN
BOC at the top of their game

Fire of Unknown Origin
Blue Öyster Cult
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Cultosaurus Erectus
Agents of Fortune
Mirrors
Blue Öyster Cult
Secret Treaties

ASIN: B0000025NG
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Fire Of Unknown Origin
Burnin' For You
Veteran Of The Psychic Wars
Sole Survivor
Heavy Metal: The Black And Silver
Vengeance (The Pact)
After Dark
Joan Crawford
Don't Turn Your Back

Customer Reviews:

"After DArk" this gets even better.......2007-07-11

As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various music supplies and recordings from the 60's and 70's.

Although consistent for the memorable songs and albums Blue Oyster Cult's recording output can be split into two realms. The first encompasses the intelligent metal and often-esoteric sounds of the self-titled LP, Tyranny And Mutation, Secret Treaties and the live On Your Feet Or On Your Knees. Phase two entered with the 1976 break through Agents Of Fortune.

June of 1981 "Fire Of Unknown Origin" hit the record shelves and the faithful weren't disappointed. From the opening notes of the rock and roll title cut, it was evident that band was on the right track. "Burnin' For You" was not only a tremendous entry into the singles chart but filled with well constructed lyrics. For old-timers like me the reference to the days of 45 RPM's "Time to play B-sides" was an example of how much went into the lyrical content. With the catchy riff, it deserved every second of airplay it received then. A tribute to its longevity is the frequency classic-rock stations will play the tune today. "Veteran Of The Psychic Wars" is often haunting in the construction of the song. Thanks to science-fiction genius and friend of both Hawkwind and BOC, Michael Moorcock made his presence felt in a big way. Ripping your eyes out before you blink twice "Heavy Metal-The Black And Silver" is a track that we listened to a multitude of times to absorb the firepower. "Joan Crawford" was emanating from a plethora of radios in 1981. How could you not be entranced with the lyrical and music combination?

There should never be anything unknown about the fire from Summer 1981.

Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"

lest we forget..........2007-05-26

This is a great album,one of my all time favorites- but let's not forget to give some of the credit to Martin Birch, whose singular production style has enriched a lot of classic albums.

One of BOCs 3 best albums (post-Black/White Trilogy).......2007-01-27

I listened to this album over and over when it first appeared in the early 80's. Don't know where that original LP went to (my brother says he doesn't have it) so I bought the CD. Glad I did. "Burnin' for You" isn't even the best song -- that distinction belongs to "Joan Crawford" imho. Really there's not a single horrible cut on this record -- even "Sole Survivor" is tolerable. That said, this album is still number six on my list overall. Here are the top five: Secret Treaties, Tyranny and Mutation, Blue Oyster Cult, Agents of Fortune, Spectres.

NEVER THE SAME AGAIN.......2006-02-21

FROM "FIRE OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN" TO "DON'T TURN YOUR BACK" THIS CD IS PLEASURABLE, RELENTLESS MUSIC FROM THE SULTANS OF METAL...BLUE OYSTER CULT.
1981 BEGINS THE TIME THAT B.O.C. WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN. THIS WAS THE YEAR THAT ALBERT BOUCHARD WAS DISMISSED FROM B.O.C.
ALBERT WAS THE "LUNATIC GENIUS" OF THE BAND WITH HIS SONGS, VOCALS, LIGHT DRUMMING...HE WAS THE "KEITH MOON" OF B.O.C. IT SEEMS THE BEST ALBUMS OF THIS BAND WERE THE ONES WHERE EVERY MEMBER HAD A SONG CONTRIBUTION ON IT AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM.

BOC at the top of their game.......2006-02-08

I feel BOC peaked with this album. One of my favorite bands, they started to decline after this release. That said, this is a masterpiece.

The good side of all this is I get to see them in concert at more intimate venues for far less now that they are not a major act anymore. It's a little consolation, anyway.

Average customer rating:

BOC at their finest
A Cult Classic
Another Good One
Not just a continuation of that great debut
BOC's first TRULY solid effort in a long line of CLASSICS!!

Tyranny & Mutation
Blue Öyster Cult
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Blue Öyster Cult
Secret Treaties
Agents of Fortune
Fire of Unknown Origin
Cultosaurus Erectus

ASIN: B00005LNBP
Release Date: 2001-06-26

Tracks:

The Red & The Black
O.D.'d On Life Itself
Hot Rails To Hell
7 Screaming Diz-Busters
Baby Ice Dog
Wings Wetted Down
Teen Archer
Mistress Of The Salmon Salt (Quicklime Girl)
Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll (Live)
Buck's Boogie (Studio Version)
7 Screaming Diz-Busters (Live)
O.D.'d On Life Itself (Live)

Customer Reviews:

BOC at their finest.......2007-06-25

Through the years, there haven't been a whole lot of hard rock bands willing to go the extra mile and add some creativity to their music as a way to spice up the fun, but Tyranny and Mutation is an album full of interesting and flat out mind-boggling WEIRD musical ideas. In addition to that, this is also the fastest rock Blue Oyster Cult ever put on record (since most of their stuff was slow, dreary and disturbing).

It's a really fast-paced rocking record. The vocal melodies are quite good as well. Blue Oyster Cult should be remembered for years to come, thanks to the band members choosing to make their music distinct, clever and exciting in the early days.

A Cult Classic.......2006-11-02

This is a great recording for anyone who enjoys the Blue Oyster Cult. They have one of the best lead guitarist in the world. He's right up there with Clapton and Page. This recording shows a lot of his talent. Check out their new live CD with a DVD included and watch him play that guitar. He's great. they're great and this recording is great.

Another Good One.......2006-10-17

BOC's second album mines similar territory to their debut with it's mix of hard rock, metal, jams, and just plain weirdness. The original vinyl album was divided into two sections, side one called "The Black" and side two "The Red". Side one is pretty much straight ahead rock and roll. The album starts out with "The Red And The Black" which is a re done version of "I'm On The Lamb But I Ain't No Sheep" which appeared on their first album. It is followed by "O.D.'d On Life Itself", "Hot Rails To Hell" and "& Screaming Diz-Busters" all former concert staples. Side two, The Red, mixes in more variety with some of BOC's patented mysterious lyrics. You can tell just by the titles that this is not your average stuff, "Baby Ice Dog", "Wings Wetted Down", "Teen Archer", and "Mistress Of The Salmon Salt", all delightfully strange. Personally I don't think this album is quite as good as their debut, but it is a good one and the first half is some of the most rocking music BOC produced in their career.

Not just a continuation of that great debut.......2006-06-16

This album never left my turntable back when i first bought it when in high school. I had every hard rock, prog rock, "metal" (or whatever we called in back then) album there was. Spent a fortune on music in the early 70's. But this album and, obviously, the first one, were as wild, outlandish, unhinged, funny and hard rocking as you could get back then. The combination of writing, tone, and musicianship were without peer. Period. My ONLY gripe with the first two BOC albums? The mixing was heinous. Why did they make even the best stereo sound crappy? The drumming had no "weight". The guitars were muted. The vocals just didnt project the sound these guys deserved. They sounded like they were recorded from inside a beer can. It didn't improve until "Secret Treaties" which, while not an improvement over the first two in content, at least sounded like a hard rock album should. But, after 30+ years, i still would group the first two BOC albums as all time favorites.

BOC's first TRULY solid effort in a long line of CLASSICS!!.......2006-02-24

The second in BOC's "Black and White" period. The B&W period consists of their first three albums and is named that for the dark and cryptic over-tones they possess (an everlasting theme they've perfected to this day, but yet not to the extent of the B&W period), and ofcourse, the black and white album-covers they sport. Personally, Tyranny & Mutation is by far my favorite of BOC's first three massive assaults, and is a lot tighter and well-rounded than the first. It's divided in two sections, "The Black" and "The Red", and the first track is appropriately called "The Red & The Black" and is actually an impressive re-doing of "I'm On The Lamb But I Ain't No Sheep" off their debut. Stand-outs are "O.D.d' On Life Itself", "Hot Rails To Hell", "Wings Wetted Down" and "Mistress Of The Salmon Salt" (commonly known as "Quicklime Girl"). But in my opinion, EVERY song on this impressive album totally rocks and has the MOST classic (and dark!) rock & roll sound and "feel" to it, of the entire B&W period. Where as the first and third may have just a couple possible throw-away tracks, Tyranny & Mutation is solid from start to finish, and it begins to show the incredible talents of the band, and demonstrates what I love most about BOC: they are one of THE most creative and interesting bands out there! If you liked their debut, then you are sure to love their second effort with even more ease than the first (though it doesn't take much effort at all to get into these guys). An instant classic!

Average customer rating:

Ditto....Astronomy & E.T.I. recorded in Columbus, GA not Atlanta
Kick out the jams!
BOC LIVE!!!
At long last...
Good re-release but perfectionists look elsewhere

Some Enchanted Evening
Blue Öyster Cult
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Spectres
Agents of Fortune
Out of the Blue
Snakes & Arrows
Secret Treaties

ASIN: B000ECXV1O
Release Date: 2007-02-13

Tracks:

R.U. Ready 2 Rock
E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence)
Astronomy
Kick Out The Jams
Godzilla
(Don't Fear) The Reaper
We Gotta Get Out Of This Place
Me 262
Harvester Of Eyes
Hot Rails To Hell
(This Ain't The) Summer Of Love
5 Guitars
Born To Be Wild
We Gotta Get Out Of This Place

Customer Reviews:

Ditto....Astronomy & E.T.I. recorded in Columbus, GA not Atlanta.......2007-07-26

I think the cd/dvd is great...glad to see some nostalgic video footage... Thanks to JP Zappa Fan for pointing out that "E.T.I." and "Astronomy" are actually from a show in Columbus, GA," ....You are absolutely right..I was there..still have my ticket stub.....prior to the show an automobile accident occurred wherein a BOC tour 18 wheeler plummeted into the Chattahoochee river in Columbus taking with it alot of BOC gear, i.e. laser lights, Godzilla blowup dolly and God knows what else. It threw the band off schedule and they did not actually play the scheduled night but did the show later in the week... A little bit of nostalgia for the old folks.... Great CD..buy it.

Kick out the jams!.......2007-07-21

This new release of Blue Oyster Cult's - Some Enchanted Evening on CD is just what I was looking for. My original cassette tape had been in action for over 25 years and it died on me. Since this is one of my favorite albums I jumped at the chance to get this disc and I'm very satisfied with it. My only complaint would be that most of the songs added to this release (the first 7 songs are the original album) don't sound as good. The lead guitar isn't as piercing. Tracks 8 and 9 are great but the material recorded from the Detroit concert isn't very good. The lead guitar is toned down. I WAS STILL VERY HAPPY TO GET THIS BACK INTO MY COLLECTION. I would have bought it for the orignial tracks 1 to 7. Getting the rest was a bonus. The DVD's picture quality kind of sucks. Hey! It was the late 70's. I shouldn't expect so much.

BOC LIVE!!!.......2007-04-07

I love BOC and have all their cd's... This is one of my favs. Starts with RU ready to rock, and astronomy is one of the best versions out there. Godzilla is good, and DFTR is the quintessintial version. Great sound and great lead guitar. The inclusion of the animals tune is fantastic, and with the extras now tacked on (Born to be wild is awesome), this is a great live document of a great live band. The dvd is extra filler - but is still good stuff considering the lack of decent live boc. Careful to not let the laser hit your eyeball when you listen to this cd... it is great!!!

At long last..........2007-04-04

Rarely do I grant 5 stars to a CD. But this one has earned it. Initially released as a cut- up mini live album in the late '70's, Some Enchanted Evening finally gets it's due, with the full length treatment. A definitive live collection from a hard touring band, concert versions of "ME 262" "Harvestor of Eyes" and "Born to be Wild" had me salivating like a Pavlovian dog. I felt as if I were right there at the concert. Buck Dharma's lead guitar lines pierced my ears like 10,000 needles. This is BOC the way you remember them, laser light shows, full throttle energy, and Loud. After seeing the band perform countless times in the '80's and '90s, it just seems to me that there was a certain chemistry with the 5 original members. Listen carefully to the interaction between bass and drums. then filter in the guitars and then vocals. An amazing experience. Classic.

Good re-release but perfectionists look elsewhere.......2007-04-03

I must say that I don't understand some of the criticism of this DVD!!! I think it deserves at least 4 stars simply because of the era in which it was recorded/filmed. Not only is it far superior to the "Live in 1976" BOC DVD, I can easily think of a dozen DVDs from the late 1990s to today that don't sound or look as good as this one. So, you obsessives used to modern releases need to get over yourselves when it comes to the limited quality of much of the stuff from the 60s, 70s and even early 80s and appreciate it for what it is. Remember, not every band had Led Zep's or the Stone's recording budgets!!

As for the new version Of "Some Enchanted Evening"....where to begin!!! I was quite excited to hear of its release not only because it's one of my favorite BOC albums; I was at the Fox Theater show in Atlanta that two of the songs were recorded at. So, naturally, I was curious as to where the bonus tracks were recorded, but, even more importantly - where the DVD was filmed!!!

And, therein begins the problem!! First, I think someone wasn't paying close attention to the original record because only 2 songs on the original are from Atlanta; "R.U. Ready 2 Rock" and "Kick Out the Jams" - "E.T.I." and "Astronomy" are actually from a show in Columbus, GA, 2 nights earlier.

But, according to the new booklet, all 4 are from the Atlanta show!! Oh well, I could make some joke about Yankees thinking Atlanta IS all of GA, but I think this is a simple oversight on someone's part. One thing I DO know is that they are the EXACT SAME recording of "Astronomy", good `ole Buck Dharma never plays the exact same solo twice, I don't think he can!! So either the original release, or this new one, is wrong. And considering the original 1978 release had the name of the venue as well as the date and city, I'm betting on it's correctness over this new re-release!!! And, to answer my initial question, none of the additional tracks are from my Atlanta show and the DVD was filmed in Landover, MD.

And my initial viewing of the DVD may help to explain some of the bad reviews......as much as I love BOC I have to agree that it's not all THAT good!!! But, disagreeing with the other reviews, I don't think it has anything to do with the quality of the sound or look; it's the performance of the band itself that's off!!!

Bands, like everyone else, have good days and bad days and Zappa himself once commented that contracting to record and/or film was almost a curse because, inevitably, someone would be sick that night or just having a bad day. A perfect example of this is Led Zeppelin - as good as "Song Remains the Same" is, anyone who has seen the new DVD 2-disc box know that the band was absolutely ON FIRE that night in 1975 at Earl's Court. So much so that it clearly shows in the filmed performance.

This BOC DVD, on the other hand, is the complete opposite and the band clearly wasn't "on" that night. Too bad they didn't film one of the GA shows; the Atlanta show, even almost 30 years later, stands out in my mind as the best of the 5-6 times I saw them and the "Astronomy" on the CD (from Columbus remember, not Atlanta) is THE single best version of that song I have ever heard.

And, to those who are complaining about the lack of "Reaper" and "Godzilla"...I say SO WHAT, it's not like we don't have 5 thousand versions of those 2 songs already!! I think it's great just finally having video of one of my fave BOC songs - "The Golden Age of Leather"!!

Bottom line, If you are a B.O.C. fan and can't get your hands on a copy of "Black & Blue", don't let the bad reviews scare you out of spending a few $$, go ahead and get this. If you only like BOC in passing, then get their modern DVD release, "A Long Day's Night!!!" Modern film & recording, great setlist and Eric Bloom's voice is almost as powerful as it was 30 years ago!! It's just not the original line-up!!

Average customer rating:

great rock and roll.
How many times have I bought this album?
Dark Hard Rockin Abbey Road
One of BOC's MOST treasured albums!
Incredible

Secret Treaties
Blue Öyster Cult
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Tyranny & Mutation
Blue Öyster Cult
Agents of Fortune
Fire of Unknown Origin
Spectres

ASIN: B00005LNBM
Release Date: 2001-06-26

Tracks:

Career Of Evil
Subhuman
Dominance And Submission
ME 262
Cagey Cretins
Harvester Of Eyes
Flaming Telepaths
Astronomy
Boorman The Chauffer
Mommy
Mes Dames Sarat
Born To Be Wild (Single B-Side)
Career Of Evil (Single Version)

Customer Reviews:

great rock and roll........2007-04-13

They don't make albums like this anymore.As i can say for most of ever thing in the 60s and 70s.anyway great melodic rock.

How many times have I bought this album?.......2007-01-22

I bought the cassette in the 70's.
The LP in the 70's.
I think I bought the LP again in the 80's to get the picture sleeve.
Bought the CD, bought it again in a 3 pack (along with Tyranny and Mutation and their first self-titled album, which along with On Your Feet Or On Your Knees are their 4 best albums),
and I bought the remastered version (didn't care for the bonus tracks).

It won't surprise me if I buy it again.

Dark Hard Rockin Abbey Road.......2006-12-15

This is the pinnacle of BOC's career as well as being one of rock music's greatest achievements. The remastering is spectacular, lending this recording great depth and texture. What's really killer is when Dharma, Bloom and Lanier line up the guitars and play triple leads left, center and right, creating a layered effect, pushing the framework of modern rock music to boundries its never been to, since. If that's not enough, you've got the tightest rhythm section ever recorded...and keyboards! Secret Treaties is one of the most creative and entertaining progressive rock recording, easily comparable to Ziggy Stardust, Who's Next, Machine Head, etc. Treaties starts strong, and never lets up, songs flowing seamlessly into each other, creating a unified suite of songs, the last time BOC produced such an "Album Oriented Rock" record, abandonning this approach for uneven albums, and steller singles the rest of their career. Sensing the inevitable ending during the resonating piano of "Flamming Telepaths" and "Astronomy", I hoped this experience would last another 40 minutes. Instead, when done, I immediately played the cd again...with headphone. Needless to say, this is on my heavy rotation...as well as their debut and Tyranny and Mutation.

One of BOC's MOST treasured albums!.......2006-02-24

The Oyster Boys really went out on a limb on this one, and it payed off and then some, because a ton of long-time BOC fans consider it to be the bands ABSOLUTE best, out of them all. Although I don't consider it the "best", I can certainly see why alot of fans do. Of the B&W (Black & White) period, I consider Secret Treaties a mere fraction behind Tryanny & Mutation. I just never get that excited about "Cagey Cretins", and that's the only reason why. Secret Treaties remains a very consistent album all the way through, and contains a few of the bands most respected and treasured songs, such as "Subhuman", "Dominance & Submission", "Flaming Telepaths", and the incredible "Astronomy". BOC even threw in a WWII ballad, "ME262" to spiff it up a little. The Bouchard brothers (guitarist and drummer) really put to good use their song-writing chops on Secret Treaties, and every time I listen to it, that fact is more than obvious, and perhaps more-so than the the majority of their other albums. But then again, Secret Treaties is the last of the dark and cryptic B&W period, and after this they show their more commercially accessible and successful side, and in my opinion, it is in this slighlty new style that they begin to REALLY shine. It only gets better from here on out, but long-time, devoted fans will no-doubt forever remember BOC's infamous B&W period, and in particular, Secret Treaties, and after hearing it, you'll understand why.

Incredible.......2006-02-18

This is probably my favorite album ever, and with good cause.
This is a masterful album. I can put it on and tell myself that I'll listen to something else afterwards, but just find myself replaying the whole thing over and over again and loving every minute of it. Other reviewers have been over the songs, so I'll not go into those in detail, but I can say that "Astronomy" is my favorite BOC song, if not my favorite song period. It's a thing of dark beauty, with cryptic lyrics (which one can only really understand if one knows the Imaginos storyline). "Dominance and Submission" is a powerful song, and the live version is in my opinion even better (from "Extraterrestrial Live" or the "A Long Day's Night" DVD). "Harvester of Eyes" is great, if somewhat nonsensical(even if you know its context), and "Flaming Telepaths" is an amazing work... the pulse of the keyboard note, and the drug and yet somehow something more lyrics are just magic. This is really more of an experience than an album.

Average customer rating:

My First
It howls like Hell
Stands the test of time quite well
4.95 stars
Can listen to this over and over again

Cultosaurus Erectus
Blue Öyster Cult
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Fire of Unknown Origin
Mirrors
Blue Öyster Cult
The Revolution by Night
Agents of Fortune

ASIN: B0000025IR
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Black Blade
Monsters
Divine Wind
Deadline
The Marshall Plan
Hungry Boys
Fallen Angel
Lips In The Hills
Unknown Tongue

Customer Reviews:

My First.......2007-02-20

This was the first real metal album I owned. Anybody who thinks of BOC as some cheesy has-been classic rock band has never listened to Cultosaurus Erectus. It is brilliantly bizarre and rocks hard as hell. Check out the intro to "Lips in the Hills" to get a feel.
I'd like to think this is what heavy metal could have been, had there been more brains to go round the rock'n'roll gene pool.

Check it out.

It howls like Hell.......2006-11-27

The success of Don't Fear the Reaper in 1976 would send the Oyster Boys down a dark path in search of further popular acclaim. That search would lead them to the depths ironically known as Mirrors, an album that would make the band look in the mirror and realize that they were not being true to themselves or their fans.

Cultosaurus Erectus took the band in a decidedly different direction and, like their own Disco Demolition Night, obliterated the notion that it would follow in the same vein as Mirrors. Perhaps in an overreaction to the disdain heaped upon Mirrors, Cultosaurus may be the darkest (Tyranny and Mutation is hard to top) and possibly the heaviest album (again, Tyranny and Mutation is hard pretty hard stuff) in their catalog, only letting the listener up for a brief gasp of air during the Marshall Plan.

Black Blade kicks off the album with a bang. The second of several collaborations with Sci-fi writer Michael Moorcock (see The Great Sun Jester and Veteran of the Psychic Wars), Black Blade offers a glimpse into the cursed life of anti-hero Elric The Eternal Champion. Its a great song marred only by an eternally long bridge (I was able to seamlessly edit out about half of it) and cheesy synth at the end.

Monsters is a funky rocker about space adventurers with an ironic ending ala "I Love the Night". The song includes some funky jazz sax, ala the Mos Eisley cantina.

Divine Wind, while plodding in tempo, is a decent song about the Ayatollah Khomeini and his western intolerance. The ending is worth the wait.

Deadline is one of the lighter songs musically but has a dark lyrical tone, inspired by the murder of an acquaintance.

The Marshall Plan is a tongue in cheek rocker laced with irony. The title is a play on words, borrowing the name of the US plan to rebuild Europe after WWII, but actually refers to the "big amps" that guitar hero Johnny will use to win back his Suzy dear. This song predated Foreigner's Juke Box Hero and Bryan Adams' Summer of '69 and in hindsight, could have been a hit if not deliberately made so cheesy.

Hungry Boys is a fast paced rocker about cocaine addiction.

Fallen Angel is a lighter rocker and another collaboration between Joe Bouchard and Helen Wheels about...who else but Lucifer.

Lips In The Hills is a heavy enigmatic rocker that is occasionally trotted out on the road. What is it about? I haven't a clue.

Unknown Tongue is one of many dark collaborations with one-time band member and friend David Roter. The song is a dark tale that just when you think you know where it is going knocks you out of your shoes with its twisted ending.

All in all, Cultosaurus is a fairly solid album that bears listening to in its entirety, and a welcome return to BOC's roots.

Stands the test of time quite well.......2006-11-03

Yes, BOC is almost a nostalgic act now. But they are still inventive, energetic, humorous, and challenging. This album is one of the band's best. Each song is a winner. The band manages to rock without losing musicianship...a quality sorely lacking in much of today's Post-Grunge-Death-Metal porridge. If you like the feel of Don't Fear the Reaper, check out Deadline on this album. I highly recommend it.

4.95 stars.......2006-03-03

This is one of my favorite Blue Oyster Cult collections. After the dissapointing "Mirrors" album, BOC joined forces with Martin Birch and the result is a highly focused, triumphant return to their heavy guitar driven sound coupled with mysterious dark overtones. Right from the start, you can hear the improvement in the mix: multiple guitars up front, keyboards used only as an effect in the backround, and perfectly smooth vocals. For example, "Divine Wind" sounds almost Pink Floyd-ish with it's subtle vocal and dreamy backround keyboard blending perfectly with Don Roeser's fluid guitar playing. The song features a wicked guitar solo and ends with a soulful, agnst ridden, somewhat sarcastic offer to the late Ayatolla. This is Blue Oyster Cult at their very best, during a creative period (1980-1982) that I deem to be even better than their works in the '70's. For example, one of the heaviest songs on this collection, "Lips In The Hills" features one of Eric Bloom's best vocal performances, with a guitar sound that was never duplicated again on later albums. But this isn't your run of the mill formulaic hard rock fare as compared to AC/DC, or even BOC's own schlocky "Beat'em Up" from the Club Ninja collection 6 years later. This is hard rock aimed at a more adult audience, a "thinking man's" band. For example, the opening songs "Black Blade" & "Monsters" are like watching a really good science fiction flic. Monsters features a jazz interpolation complete with sax, and a King Crimson -like jam the likes of which is so intense, you will be left begging for seconds. "Black Blade" is science fiction done masterfully, with a touch of art-rock influence. "Deadline" features a dreamy smooth vocal, nice melody and a very addicting bass line. "The Marshall Plan" mentions "surf music", an apparent ode to Hendrix, and also pays homage to Deep Purple when they almost start playing "Smoke On The Water". "Unknown Tongue" tells the chilling story of a young schoolgirl with certain tendencies: "...she took the razor....and watched it cut.. into her palm. She held her hand, up to her mouth, to taste the blood, so holy and warm." So creepy, it's actually fantastic, if you are in the mood to watch "American Pyscho". Get this record. Highly recommended.

Can listen to this over and over again.......2006-02-08

Timeless quality. Never tire of the melodies and the musicality. The band is tight. No weaknesses. Just great solid rock and roll the BOC way.

Average customer rating:

Well, I'm no poet, but I can't be fooled
Way Under-rated BOC classic
BOC's most DIFFERENT...but still GOOD!
Buy this just for 'The Vigil'
A strange experiment....3.5 stars

Mirrors
Blue Öyster Cult
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Cultosaurus Erectus
Fire of Unknown Origin
The Revolution by Night
On Your Feet or on Your Knees
Blue Öyster Cult

ASIN: B0000025GG
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

Dr. Music
The Great Sun Jester
In Thee
Mirrors
Moon Crazy
The Vigil
I Am The Storm
You're Not The One (I Was Looking For)
Lonely Teardrops

Customer Reviews:

Well, I'm no poet, but I can't be fooled.......2006-12-11

Mirrors, with all of its faults, hardly qualifies as BOC's worst album (an honor more likely bestowed on Revolution by Night or Club Ninja). Like many reviewers here, the first time I listened to this album my jaw hit the floor during the opening throes of Dr. Music and I nearly snapped the needle off my turntable trying to turn it off (My nickname was not chosen out of my love for this song). To my shock and amazement, BOC opened their shows with Dr. Music for several years. The non-conformist in me despised Disco at the time and despite warming to The Trammps' Disco Inferno and a few other Disco tunes in later years, Dr. Music has NEVER grown on me.

The Great Sun Jester is the first collaboration between British sci-fi author Michael Moorcock and Eric Bloom (an avid sci-fi fan) and one of the better songs on the album. With its compelling lyrics, excellent vocals and musicianship, Sun Jester stands up to almost any of BOC's best and would be right at home on Agents of Fortune, Spectres, or Fire of Unknown Origin.

The acoustic love song In Thee is a bit of a departure for the band but has withstood the test of time to become a concert favorite; allowing its writer, Allen Lanier, to come out from behind his keyboards and solo on guitar.

Mirrors is an infectious piece of pop that seems to rise above the Disco influence to remain a pleasant song today in the same vein as Goin' Through the Motions.

Moon Crazy seems to have fans divided over its appeal. I am on the fence, finding the song listenable in most respects and love Buck's work on the end of the song.

The Vigil is my favorite song on the album. Alien theme aside, Vigil has actually taken on new meaning for me as corporate and political corruption, greed and lack of will are sending our improbably habitable world to the brink of destruction. Like Golden Age of Leather (Spectres), The Vigil seems to change style and tempo every other verse but still manages to hold together musically. The line: "They say the earth has fallen" followed by Buck's ringing guitar bridge is absolutely chilling.

I Am The Storm is a classic rocker that sadly is never performed live. This song is vengeance personified and cathartically speaks for every victim of infidelity or jilting.

You're Not The One (I Was Looking For) and Lonely Teardrops are scarcely worth mentioning and are the likely source of the album's nickname "Errors" mentioned by Popoff in his book, Blue Oyster Cult: Secrets Revealed!

All in all not their worst album, but a far cry from BOC's best. Like Agents of Fortune, there is half a good album here but it lacks the draw of a Don't Fear the Reaper or Burnin' for You that would compel you to buy it. A must for any BOC fan nonetheless.

Way Under-rated BOC classic.......2006-08-29

I will have to say that the criticism of this album is very unfair in my opinion. While this album has much sentimental value to me (first girlfriend introduced it to me), I can see why some would consider it a commercial sellout. I tend to think BOC was trying to capitalize on a more varied direction, which they started with Agents. Nevertheless, I still look at BOC's other works, and this stands out along with Agents and Fire of Unknown Origin as their best. Maybe I am not a BOC purist, but I have a true appreciation for their 5 or so years that started with Agents and ended with Fire of Unknown Origin. It was a special time for me and a special time for BOC - they were selling large numbers of albums, filling arenas and producing some very classic rock.

Looking at Mirrors, the start off song `Dr. Music' is probably the weakest and most dispensable song on the album. It's a throw away song and probably keeps Mirrors from 5 stars. Fast-forward to `Sun Jester', `In Thee' and `Mirrors' and you have three perfect songs that really showcase the mainstream feel that BOC could perfect if it wanted. `In Thee', which is a love ballad unlikely to appear on any BOC album, is pure perfection. Allan Lanier wrote it, Buck Dharma's vocals are never better and the production is flawless. I love this song for everything it is not - hard driving, psychedilic, Eric Bloom vocals etc.

The Vigil and I Am The Storm are probably the two songs the feel the most familiar for BOC purists. Both are very well done and showcase some extremely tasteful and slick guitar. `You're Not The One' is another one of those `where did this come from?' songs - however, I love it. `Lonely Teardrops' is such a fantastic closing ballad. The traces of lost love are all over this album and `Teardrops' is a somber but satisfying closer. I cannot say whether or not you will love this album like I do. However, I think anyone would find something they like on it.

BOC's most DIFFERENT...but still GOOD!.......2006-02-27

Mirrors is THE single MOST DIFFERENT album of all of BOC's 13 studio albums, and is generally not well-received by most hard-core fans who like to call it the "disco album". It is vastly underated, and due to this fact, some new-comers give it only one listen (if that) before wanting to hate it. I however, am one of the fortunate ones who remained patient with it and gave it an honest try, and I am glad I did! Though not in my top five BOC favorites, it is still a pleasure to listen to. It starts off with "Dr. Music", an up-beat little rocker that assures you that you're in for a somewhat "different" BOC ride than you're used to. My favorite songs are "Dr. Music", "In Thee", "The Vigil" (the ABSOLUTE BEST track on Mirrors), "You're Not The One(I Was Looking For)" and the perfect closer "Lonely Teardrops". These songs are amazing. "Mirrors" however, is one of those lame songs I just can't get into as much as other BOC songs- it sounds too "sissy". But on the album as a whole, I think that alot of people dislike it because it's BOC's most soft and radio-friendly album of them all. However, you yourself might feel differently if you "step out of the box" a little and stop thinking of BOC as strictly a good rock & roll band, but also as one of the most interesting one of the bunch who aren't afraid to take a risk and experiment a little. If you're a die-hard "Black & White Period" BOC fan, then chances are you WON'T like Mirrors. But if you like to hear them evolve from that era and experiment a little, you'll like Mirrors. I gave it only a four because all though it IS good, it is not typically the FIRST CD I pop in when in the mood for some BOC. But however different, I still think it is a very good BOC album, and you may agree. Worth a listen!

Buy this just for 'The Vigil'.......2006-02-08

'The Vigil' is one of the most unsung rock anthems of all time. Easily holds its own against other anthems of the 70's, 80's and 90's.

There are many solid songs on this CD-ROM, but 'The Vigil' makes it worth every penny. 'In Thee' is a superlative song with precise harmonies and tight acoustic guitar work.

A strange experiment....3.5 stars.......2005-12-13

Blue Oyster Cult's 1979 release "Mirrors" remains to this day as a very strange creation. It is easy to see that when compared to 1980's "Cultosaurus Erectus" or 1981's "Fire of Unknown Origin", "Mirrors" seems to lack direction and prowess. But this in and of itself is not enough to doom "Mirrors" to the category of unforgivable, and this collection of songs ultimately stands the test of time.

What "Mirrors" does well is capitalize on the more melodic side of the band, showcasing some very radio friendly songs with catchy choruses and good guitar work. "Dr. Music" leads off and features a guitar line that hooks the listener like a fish. The harmonica lead works well, and although the vocal phrasing seems a bit too calculated, the song is a good rocker. "The Great Sun Jester" continues, and is a very listenable Styx-like song, again featuring great guitar leads and sound. The songs "In Thee" & "Mirrors" are the ultimate pop rush, as sweet as candy and as radio friendly as BOC gets. Both are well crafted songs and are highlights of this album. "Moon Crazy" is next and although somewhat likeable, features a horrible cabaret -like verse that makes me sick every time I hear it. I would have much preferred a harder edged song at this point in the song lineup, to balance things out.

The next two songs "The Vigil" and "I am the Storm" showcase the records only two somewhat heavy songs. "The Vigil" tends to overstay it's welcome with its changing of gears from a heavy Joe Walsh inspired blues oriented guitar riff to a Partridge Family-like sing along section, then back to heavy riffing. Although this song is not entirely disagreeable, it is awkward in structure and suffers from juvenile lyrics about alien abductions: "....I've got a cam-er-a...and an airtight al-i-bi". That line is as bad as BOC gets.

But "Mirrors" returns and kicks sand in the listeners face with "I am the Storm", which is BOC at its finest: Loud with multiple guitars up front, and Eric Bloom firmly in command with the lead vocal. This is easily one of the best songs on "Mirrors" and is underplayed in concert. Sadly, the balance of this collection does not reach the standard of classic Blue Oyster Cult: "You're Not the One (I was looking for)" is pure sweet pop nonsense with a good hooking chorus, and provides some guilty pleasure, but the Al Bouchard vocal seems out of place for such pop filler, and the listener can't help but feel as if the band is not taking the song seriously; and the bizarre "Lonely Teardrops", although listenable, features an outdated almost disco-like keyboard line. This song tends to grow on the listener over time, however, and is suitably strange for BOC, even in pop mode. In conclusion, "Mirrors" contains some really good melodies and hooks, and although it may not rank in the top three all-time best BOC records to own, most of the arrangements are solid, the guitar work shimmers, the recording is super clean, and it is certainly worthy of a listen just for being different and a breath of fresh air.

Music Info:

Music Info

music info

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