Imaginos

Imaginos

Track Listings

1. I Am the One You Warned Me Of

2. Invisibles

3. In the Presence of Another World

4. Del Rio's Song

5. Siege and Investiture of Baron Von Frankenstein's Castle at Wwisseria

6. Astronomy

7. Magna of Illusion

8. Blue Oyster Cult

9. Imaginos

Tracks:

I Am the One You Warned Me Of
Invisibles
In the Presence of Another World
Del Rio's Song
Siege and Investiture of Baron Von Frankenstein's Castle at Wwisseria
Astronomy
Magna of Illusion
Blue Oyster Cult
Imaginos

Customer Reviews:

Almost 5 Star.......2006-10-18

An album that has always seemed to divide BOC fans. "Imaginos" is a concept album concocted by Albert Bouchard and Sandy Pearlman whose origins go almost back to the beginning of the band. Two of the tracks on this album appear on "Secret Treaties" which serves as somewhat of a companion piece to "Imaginos". The original BOC lineup re-united for this one along with a host of guests. The concept is the story of Imaginos a time traveler of sorts who appears at different times in the world's history to influence historical events. The problem is that the story is not told in a linear fashion and it ends up being completely confusing. I have read essays on the story behind the story and still haven't really figured it all out. This is a weird album for me, I think most of the songs on this disc are outstanding to the point of being some of the best stuff BOC has ever done, but looking at the album as a whole it is not quite as good as I think it should have been. Being a big progressive rock fan maybe I set my expectations too high when I found out BOC was doing a true concept piece, but on this one the sum is not greater than it's parts. That being said there is some really great material here. The remakes of "Astronomy" and "Blue Oyster Cult" (formerly "The Subhuman") are better than the originals. "I Am The One You Warned Me Of", "Les Invisibles", "In The Presence Of Another World", "Del Rios Song", "The Siege.....", "Magna Of Illusion" are all awesome. The title track is a bit of a letdown, but still ok. Still......even with all this great stuff, I think the album could have been put together better and re-worked to an extent. Anyway this is a minor quibble as this album really is a must for any fans of BOC. I believe it is currently out of print and hard to find.

Through tears and smiles...the last domain.......2006-09-19

My favorite BOC disc. And while it is true that Imaginos didn't start life as a Blue Oyster Cult album, it certainly became one in the end.

For those familiar with the Secret Treaties album, Imaginos is part sequel, part culmination of the themes expressed on that terrific disc. Two Secret Treaties songs--"Astronomy" and "Subhuman" are given a new lease on life, the latter retitled simply "Blue Oyster Cult" on Imaginos. The other tracks--in particular "Les Invisibles" and "Magna of Illusion"--are top-notch!! Not one bit of "filler" here! Cryptic storyline, dark metal vibe...and very interesting cover photography--circa 1900--of San Francisco's Cliff House...all combine to make this a memorable effort.

My only regret is that the current version of the band doesn't include more of this material in their live set!! And I hope--pray--that the band and Columbia/Legacy doesn't overlook this gem when the "Remastering with Bonus Tracks" time comes.

Super stuff!.......2006-09-08

From the reviews here, it appears that this CD is not easily available anywhere. This is a shame because next to Mirrors, Imaginos is my favourite BOC album. All the tracks are listenable, the band sounds tight and in the groove and best of all, the music is HEAVY. If you grew up (as I did) in the 70s and 80s, this is a super album. Thoroughly recommended.

Pure Ear Candy.......2006-09-08

I too bought the tape when it first came out and WORE IT OUT. I just paid a lot for the CD (used) and it was worth every bit of it. How exciting to be listening to this album again. Love it.

Excellent, for a concept album.......2005-12-14

Imaginos is an album I have to be in the mood to listen to; it doesn't lend itself to casual persual. That said, there are some really great tracks on here, Astronomy (which completely owns the original IMO), IATOYWMO, Les Invisibles, and Blue Oyster Cult. These tracks can stand tall on their musical merit alone.

As for the lyrics, they are out there on the 'net if you Google them. When I found them I realized the actual lyrics were beyond anything I could imagine, and the casual listener is hard pressed to make much sense out of them. The BOC FAQ explains the story of Imaginos, which is begun in the liner notes, and I paraphrase below:

The Saga of Imaginos begins with the discovery of the New World by the Spanish. "To the Spanish, agents of a Catholic Sovereign, the New World was no place of grace ... anti-genesis, anti-Eden, seat of evil, pit of darkness ... the priests in the expeditions could imagine no place worse than this place ... visibly in the thrall of invisible spirits." These spirits: Les Invisibles - The Invisible Ones.

It is assumed that the Indians of the New World (in particular, the Aztecs and the Haitians) worshipped Les Invisibles (which we also assume to number seven).

If rich in its evil, the New World was also rich in its gold.
Greed overcame fear. Civilizations were wiped out (under the guise of religious purification), and Spanish power in Europe rose, fueled by the gold from the New World.

In the early 1800's, Les Invisibles cause the birth of a 'modified' child - Imaginos - in New Hampshire. His powers include the ability to see the future to some degree and to change his shape. Ignorant of his future role and billing himself as somewhat of an adventurer, he travels the Americas. During a sea voyage, the boat is shipwrecked near land. As Imaginos lies on the shore, seriously injured and dying, his friends, the survivors of the shipwreck, leave him alone to die "on a shore where oyster beds seem plush as down". The morning tide washes in and he drowns.

This shipwreck, however, was no accident. Knowing who and what he is and the role carved for him in future events, he agrees to become the Invisible Ones' agent on earth; he becomes one of the "Blue Oyster Cult", the servants of Les Invisibles. Les Invisibles, acting through the "oyster boys" (some kind of fish-like creature) resurrect Imaginos from the dead. He is now their agent, "unleashed to forge a new destiny; he is Imaginos called Desdinova."

"I Am the One You Warned Me Of" - Imaginos, reborn, fully aware of who and what he is.

In his later travels, Imaginos visits an Aztec temple, containing a mirror carved of blackest obsidian, tempered with blood.
Obviously a magic mirror, it is nothing less than the Magna of Illusion: the last song in the cycle. In it Imaginos, now playing the of an old English sea captain in the 1890's, takes the mirror from Mexico to England to give to his granddaughter on her birthday. Here its power causes evil and bloodshed to incubate in Europe, culminating in World War I.

"In the Presence of Another World" - Imaginos, the earthly agent of Les Invisibles, still aware of his former self, but now so much more, and forebodings of the evil to come. "The Siege and Investiture of Baron Von Frankenstein's Castle at Weisseria" - the continuation of Les Invisibles' influence on earth - earlier, through corruption by gold, now through corruption by technology.

There are also are hints that Imaginos and Les Invisibles are extraterrestrial in origin (allusions to the galactic abyss, star clocks, modulating space).

Music Track:

Music Track

music track

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