Blue Oyster Cult: The First Ten Albums

This is the second installment in the "First Ten Minutes" series. Blue Oyster Cult is a band that rose to prominence in the 1970s and established themselves as a heavy rock band with songs about extra terrestrials, apparitions, and rock and roll. The ride to success was not smooth and the band faltered at least twice as they tried to capitalize on the success of a previous album. Nevertheless, they remain a classic band and a favourite of many.
Note: After I mentioned the KZbinr who referred to "Veteran of the Psychic Wars" as "Veteran of the Psych Ward", I too began to refer to the song by the same mistaken title. How embarrassing! My sincere apologies!

[@duanedibley1455]

Spectres and Secret Treaties are probably my favourite BOC albums but what a run of albums they had in the 70s.

[@musicisajourney]

BOC is a band that worked best with the five original members. They still made a lot of cool songs as members left, but their best run of albums are those first eight.

[@Cinemagoer_64]

I agree! Just fabulous. One time in 1979 I went into Licorice Pizza and this biker guy bought the Mirrors cassette and decided to buy all the albums on cassette and laid them all on the counter it was so cool! Blue Oyster Cult4Ever!

[@JimWolfe-qe3lu]

My first BOC album was their fourth, the live album "On Your Feet, or on Your Knees". I listened to it on cassette in my high school yearbook darkroom while processing film and making prints. Then I back-filled with the previous three "black and white" albums. They were instantly my favorite band, and have been ever since. These guys took Rock & Roll to another level...

[@musicisajourney]

I think a band like BOC could only have come out of New York. And yes, there's no one who ever did rock like they did. They are a class of their own.

[@elfman5176]

I agree Those early albums were groundbreaking I was an instant fan My all time favorite

[@scottjackson163]

The first album is my favorite, by a large margin. I saw BOC in 1972 when they were touring with Alice Cooper. I had no idea who they were at the time. I was blown away.

[@musicisajourney]

I have a special interest in debut albums, and though they are rarely my favourites, I certainly appreciate it when someone says the debut is their fav. Alice and BOC must have been an awesome show!

[@scottjackson163]

@@musicisajourney Thanks for the note! It was an incredible show. May have damaged my hearing for life, but I was young and foolish. Now old and foolish. 😂

[@musicisajourney]

Whatever works to keep you enjoying life!@@scottjackson163

[@jonesy2111]

I agree that album is special and just flows like no other 👍💯

[@johna8973]

, , , and half Deaf ? 👂​⚡ @@scottjackson163

[@riphopfer5816]

‘Cities On Flame’ sounds heavy as hell when compared to ‘The Wizard’. Killer, man.

[@musicisajourney]

I think The Wizard hits harder but CoF is heavier and ominous. Great track!

[@ericjohnson2137]

Actually both cities and Wizard were influenced by 21st century schizoid man by King Crimson'

[@Electrichead64]

I love BOC, I've owned their albums since I was 12 (1976). Thanks for making the heavy metal connection. Too many kids want to redefine what our generation defined. BOC is one of the founding members of the heavy metal genre and if anyone says different, they dont know what they are talking bout.

[@musicisajourney]

Oh, I'm with you on that! I still say all the heavy rock from the early seventies is heavy metal in its first wave form. That's what journalists, DJs, and music fans were calling heavy metal. And BOC have some awesome heavy metal tunes!

[@Electrichead64]

@@musicisajourney Heavy Metal is more about lyrical content that it is about how hard or aggressive the music is. There are no hard and fast rules but if the fans called something heavy metal back then, its heavy metal today. Religion (black or white), War, anti-war, drugs, High Fantasy, Science Fiction, The Occult are all themes that qualify a music as being heavy metal with drugs and war sharing those traits with other genres. "Heavy" metal is not the all-encompassing term. "Metal" is. "Heavy" is covers those very specific genres above. Thats why "Hair" metal can be construed as a form of metal but not necessarily "heavy" metal. Some people today call heavy metal classic metal, but I reject that terminology because its a subtle psyop to try and demote real heavy metal and promote whatever death/core the perpetrator is trying to elevate in status.

[@musicisajourney]

@@Electrichead64 Yes, that’s what I keep saying online. The lyrical content is heavy. Of course the music should have a heavy feel either with low tones or minor scales and so forth. I was listening to Queen’s The Prophet the other day. It’s about a warning of doom inspired by a dream about the Great Biblical Flood. The music, the drumming, the guitar riffs, the lyrics, and Freddy Mercury’s vocal delivery make me feel like that song is 1970s heavy metal. Bloodrock’s Breach of Lease is a song like that too. It just has the atmosphere and the music and lyrics bring up that feeling of doom and death.

[@Electrichead64]

@@musicisajourney I'm guessing you're probably about the same age as me. I was always a big music fan and I find that only people that are in the age range of 55-65 now have the proper perspective when it comes to heavy metal. We are the ones that were of age when it was defined and when it was in its peak to buy the albums, go to the concerts, live the life and anyone younger than that .. lets say I was 17 in 1981 and I'm 59 now, so how could anyone 7 years old or younger at that time really have a clue about what heavy metal is? I'll give a little bit of credit to younger kids because *I* bought my first album at 10 years old, but WE didn't have the distractions in 1974 that kids have now. They have video games. Most of them dont really give a rats ass about music because they have something more intense (video games) for their dopamine rush than we did. Video games were for the rich kids. I find that I am in agreement with a lot of the music historians such as Eddie Trunk, Sam Nunn, Bob Nalbandian not because they are experts I should listen to but because they have the exact same perspective I do because they went through that same history.

[@musicisajourney]

@@Electrichead64 I am 52, so just below the age range you mentioned. But the thing is that around 1984 - when I was really into heavy metal and only 13 - I read someone say in a letter in Circus magazine that heavy metal was born in 1964, and since then I have been in hot pursuit of heavy metal history, always trying to discover more and learn more. I know what you are saying about those guys, though I don't actually watch very much at all from them. I think Martin Popoff, even though I usually greatly disagree with his opinions about specific albums, has a very good view of heavy metal history. Scott Waters on the NoLifeTilMetal channel also strongly defends heavy metal music of the 1970s. So, yes, I am definitely on board with your views and opinions about heavy metal!

[@christianrounds85]

One of the great things about Secret Treaties is that many of its songs deliberately lead into each other, as a connected whole. This is especially notable with Harvester of Eyes ending with a musicbox while the next track, Flaming Telepaths, begins with that same mysic box. FT in turn ends with the refrain "And the joke's on you," which suddenly cuts off to let Astronomy roll on in. Its because of these connections between songs that Secret Treaties is one of my favorite albums, even if I'm ambivalent about most of the tracks individually, becuase they just work as puzzle pieces put together.

[@musicisajourney]

I know what you mean. Some albums I love have something extra about them that make them appealing even if I don’t love every track. Yes, Secret Treaties has a conceptual feel in that way.

[@xtheunknown4662]

D&S is one of my favorite lyrics, with Susie and her brother Charles the grinning boy. Cover's on his eyes. Reminds me of Ray Charles and the coming of the Beatles in 1964. Cool and strange with 2 great solos by Buck . People do the polka. Ha ha ha. It's awesome.

[@musicisajourney]

It’s really one of my favourites. The lyrics certainly are unique!

[@elfman5176]

My all time favorite guitar solo The tune is killer

[@musicisajourney]

@@elfman5176 I had it on a compilation album years back, and yeah, that guitar was sooo cool. The song has so much going for it!

[@paulburrows7908]

Sweet review. I love B.O.C . Have all their albums. In particular I love the "Black & White albums.

[@musicisajourney]

Cool! I’m still missing The Curse of the Hidden Mirror. Yes, those first three are hard to beat!

[@curly_wyn]

Secret Treaties is definitely their best for me, followed by Agents of Fortune! BÖC have always been..well, a cult band. They’re so esoteric and delightfully devilish! But dude, the whole concept that Sandy had in his head, The Soft Doctrines of Imaginos, is one of the most original concepts of all of music history; if he put everything he had in his head for the concept on pages of paper next to each other, they would probably go round the earth 6 six times! Say what you want about him, Sandy was either crazy or a total galaxy-brain genius!

[@musicisajourney]

I love that whole Imaginos concept and most of my favourite songs are the ones about extra terrestrials and UFOs. I’ve been listening to the band more after making this video and my appreciation just grows! As for Secret Treaties and Agents of Fortune, those are the only two that are going to be expensive to get in that audiophile quality reissue series. It’s seems they are the most popular. Dang!

[@mambodoom7653]

I've been listening to BOC my whole life thanks to my dad. Nice job on this video man. Some of my favorite songs from these albums are: Then Came the Last Days of May, Flaming Telepaths, Astronomy, ETI, Fireworks, I Love The Night, Nosferatu, The Great Sun Jester, Veteran of the Psychic Wars, and Shooting Shark. Of course their big 3 tunes are also great.

[@musicisajourney]

Many thanks for the kind words! That's great you got to know about BOC from your dad. I remember an older guy on my paper route in the mid-eighties showing me his vinyl copy of the debut when I told him I liked the band. I just wish I's been able to see them in the seventies live, but I was just a little kid. Yeah, you mentioned a few songs that I didn't like ETI and Fireworks that I also like. I should make a playlist of your selection!

[@elfman5176]

Secret Treaties Brilliant

[@jeffreyevens2033]

Thank you for this rock and roll history lesson.

[@musicisajourney]

I hope it was accurate enough. Thank you!

[@Rocker_65]

Nice overview man. I'm a hardcore fan for over 30 years now and maybe a bit biased, but I love all their albums, for me every one of them has something different to say and for sure, they 've put love, honesty and hard work into any of their albums, even the lesser ones. Many thanks !

[@musicisajourney]

Your comments mean a lot to me. BÖC are one of my top 20 bands, but I know there are die hard fans out there, so making a video like this is walking on sacred ground. If a fan such as yourself enjoyed the video, then I am humbled.

[@elfman5176]

I agree I love everything by BOC Rock On Dude

[@riphopfer5816]

I dig your analysis of ‘(Don’t Fear) The Reaper’, man! I’ve never really thought about it thatway, and I’ve been an HARDCORE Blue Öyster Cult fan since I was 12 years old. I am now 40. In those early days, I ordered a complete printout of all of Blue Öyster Cult lyrics from their website, which was pretty rudimentary, as it was 1994 or so. I I was obsessed, and I would spend hours reading, highlighting, and cross referencing their lyrics in an attempt to piece together the legend of Imaginos in such a way that it made sense. I think in my single-mindedness, I absolutely overlooked the nuance of the lyrics of “ DFTR“. Anyway, I never figured out the whole story, but it gave me a lot of things to do, especially while I was stoned and bored. Today I have Albert Bouchard to thank for filling in the gaps in the tale of Imaginos.

[@musicisajourney]

I’m glad they finally did an album of the concept. But it must have been fun trying to put all the pieces together even with an incomplete set of facts. Like cracking a code.

[@bruceabbott4435]

Eric Bloom took Japanese lessons to be able to make the public service announcement in the middle of Godzilla.

[@musicisajourney]

Really?! That's him? He sounds very authentic in tone. I always thought it was taken from a Godzilla movie. I love that part! It took me years before I finally understood the last part of what he says. Even a Japanese girlfriend from long ago couldn't quite get it. Now that I know, it's so obvious!

[@Zozo-K-]

@@musicisajourney I asked a Japanese friend what he was saying and, after listening to it a few times, she said, 'I hear a few Japanese words, but it's just gibberish."

[@musicisajourney]

@@Zozo-K- I admit, it’s very hard to hear exactly what he’s saying. Partly it’s because of his nasal sound, which is more like a bus announcement than an emergency notice, and partly it’s because he is trying really hard to pronounce the words like a Japanese person making a bus announcement. This is what he is supposed to be / is saying. Rinji news o moshiagemasu! Rinji news o moshiagemasu! Gojira ga Ginza hoomen e mukatte imasu! Daishikyu hinan shite kudasai! Daishikyu hinan shite kudasai!" Translated to English: "Attention, emergency news! Attention, emergency news! Godzilla is heading toward the Ginza area! Immediately take shelter, please! Immediately take shelter, please!" It is correct, though the “kudasai/ please” part seems a bit soft given the circumstances. I’m sure someone wrote it for him then taught him to say it. Knowing it, though, I still can’t quite hear it perfectly clearly. It’s an honest effort.

[@riphopfer5816]

There are two things I like about *Mirrors*: The Lanier-penned, Dharma-sung ballad ‘In Thee’, which which everyone who has ever loved from afar can identify, and the incredibly catchy ‘(You’reNot) The One I Was Looking For,’ which sounds a hell of a lot like The Cars’ first album.

[@musicisajourney]

Yeah, I really like both of those songs. But The Vigil is pretty darn cool - another extra terrestrial song - and I am the Storm is a real heavy rocker. I find more to like than to dislike on that album.

[@steveswell1]

Dr. Music kicks ass.

[@riphopfer5816]

@@musicisajourney Ah, yes! I forgot! Yes-‘The Vigil’ is great, especially live. It’s one of those like ‘Diz-Busters’: the album version is good, but, live, it’s fantastic-though not quite to the same extent.

[@Hawkrvo]

Album # 1. . By far.

[@moomoomooshit]

"Imaginos" remains my favorite BOC album to this day, even though they're remarkably consistent until Fire of Unknown Origin/Revolution by Night.

[@musicisajourney]

I was glad to get a hold of a CD this year. It has some great songs on it, though I prefer the original of Astronomy.

[@moomoomooshit]

@@musicisajourney Yea, the original version of "Astronomy" is better in many respects, but it's too laid back to fit on the bombast of "Imaginos" so I understand why it was needed.

[@musicisajourney]

@@moomoomooshit That makes sense. Update it to match the feel of the album.

[@neil1390]

Very in depth reviews, great stuff! The history of one of the best bands ever!

[@musicisajourney]

Thank you so much! I'm glad my love for the band came through in the video!

[@lisaandjessehelvey9907]

Pretty sure Albert Bouchard is singing lead vocals on Dominance and Submission, not Eric Bloom

[@musicisajourney]

You’re being pretty sure puts me in doubt of myself. You’re quite likely correct now that I start thinking about it. Eric just has a certain power to his voice sometimes that sounds like a madman/genius. I think I mistook Albert’s performance for that of Eric’s.

[@lisaandjessehelvey9907]

Love the video. Thanks for making it. One of my favorite bands.

[@musicisajourney]

@@lisaandjessehelvey9907 Mine too! Thank you for watching and for the comment.

[@ZalMoxis]

100% correct

[@Frankcastlepunisher74]

It was Albert!

[@simonagree4070]

Very good history. I have the reproduction of the Stalk-Forrest 45, and the internet version of the Elektra album. Both of them are awesome -- the only thing they lack is the the contribution of Donald Roeser on the Columbia album. I don't know what was going on there. "They're OK, the last days of May..."

[@musicisajourney]

Isn’t that strange that Donald was not on those recordings? I understood that he and Allan started the band.

[@douglemay7989]

@@musicisajourney He plays guitar on the Elektra record, obviously.

[@billyz5088]

BÖC did have a lot of song-writing collaboration - both between band members and with outside writers - and many lyrics on the early albums provided by poetry written by their original manager Sandy Perlman - but it should be noted that original drummer Albert Bouchard wrote - or co-wrote nearly half of the entire catalogue during the first decade of the band's run - before he was fired in mid-1981 ..

[@musicisajourney]

Given his work on the Imaginos albums (80s and recent one), I’m really beginning to appreciate who was the most prolific song writer of the five members. Eric Bloom and Buck Dharma are the names I mostly associate with BOC, but Albert deserves much credit.

[@mycroft174]

i never noticed the submission line being actual submission, i always just get so into the groove of the line itself but thats such a cool thing to notice

[@musicisajourney]

The changes in expressing the words gives it such drama.

[@Frankcastlepunisher74]

Albert Bouchard wrote the Lion's share of songs for BOC.

[@musicisajourney]

I’m just learning this year what a prolific songwriter he is. Didn’t he just release another chapter in the Imaginos story?

[@bruceabbott4435]

In our college band, “The Travesty,” we held auditions for a Spencer Davis number we wanted to perform. The winner was our drummer Al Bouchard. We had never heard him sing before, but his voice turned out to be the best match for Spencer’s. And that’s…the rest of the story!

[@musicisajourney]

It's been almost a year since I researched this, but I remember the band The Travesty. I'm sure I read your name, Bruce. How cool to see you here! Sorry about mistaking the lead vocals on Dominance and Submission. Fans have informed me it was Al. I'm I wrong to think he was probably the most talented songwriter in the band?

[@bruceabbott4435]

@@musicisajourney Yes, that was Al singing Dominance. As far as lyrics and sheer songwriting output, I would have to give that title to Buck. BTW, he just wrote to me: an old collaboration of ours will appear on the next BOC album - our fourth recorded one!

[@musicisajourney]

Next album?! The last one was really fantastic! I'll be very excited about the next one! One thing I noticed about BOC is that they keep their friends in the circle. I think that's really cool. So a song you guys wrote together long ago will be on the next album. That's really awesome!@@bruceabbott4435

[@douglemay7989]

@@bruceabbott4435 Are you involved? Which songs?

[@bruceabbott4435]

@@douglemay7989 Buck and I wrote "Golden Age" and "Mirrors" together.

[@simonagree4070]

"In Thee" is a fountain of poignant lyrics. It's about Allen, and Patti, and Fred, and Jim... Only one of them is still alive. I have been through much of this, too.

[@musicisajourney]

I really like that song. It was the first one to grab me from this album.

[@xtheunknown4662]

The first 3 Black and white albums are my favorites. But I like them all.

[@musicisajourney]

That's a common sentiment. I think they really established a unique approach to rock with those first three.

[@xtheunknown4662]

Even though the first album I ever bought was a used "On your feet, or on your knees " live album by BOC with some of the best from the 3 first album's That made me a fan. I think it was 1977.

[@musicisajourney]

That's interesting because I became a fan after buying their two lowest rated albums! You had the better start!@@xtheunknown4662

[@david1044]

On your feet or on your knees!!

[@musicisajourney]

Did I get it wrong? I made a few mistakes rattling song and album titles off my tongue.

[@david1044]

@@musicisajourney Their best album is their 4th. Their first live album. Of which B.O.C. fans know that they are best live. "On your feet or on your knees"

[@musicisajourney]

@@david1044 So many live albums from the seventies that are the best. I think I’m missing out by sticking with studio.

[@david1044]

@@musicisajourney Agreed, and this one is as good or better than any. Their second live album, Some enchanted evening is also wonderful as well kzbin.info/aero/PL5D45D4273318C95F&si=bJhwV-nZJJIK1Ia-

[@jerrytriplett5867]

@@david1044 One of the best live albums ever!

[@douglemay7989]

Bloom's "stun guitar" was not plugged in when they auditioned for Columbia.

[@musicisajourney]

That would explain it!

[@lindawolffkashmir2768]

Club Ninja was the first album I picked up from BÖC, and I really like it. Picked it up for Dancing in the Ruins, but it was so much more . White Flags is good, Perfect Water is amazing, Shadow Warrior is one of my favorite tracks. I have many other albums of theirs now, but I still keep going back to Club Ninja. Something about it is just hits right.

[@musicisajourney]

I’m so glad to know someone else likes it! It gets dumped in a lot, partly because it’s only 3/5 of the original band. But like you said, I keep going back to this one, too.

[@simonagree4070]

The only times I saw them was during the laser light era. Eric had some kind of plastic laser strobe machine gun. He pointed it above the heads of the audience. I have a photo of it. I think they gave him that toy because he really couldn't play guitar. Good singer, though.

[@musicisajourney]

Eric really couldn’t play? So “stun guitar” is no joke!

[@elfman5176]

Eric was a great front man and awesome vocalist Incredible live shows then

[@ohyeahgamer3736]

Very fun review

[@musicisajourney]

I'm glad you think so!

[@jonesy2111]

As a longtime fan of BOC (I saw them live on the Tyranny and Mutation tour- opening for Rare Earth Buddy Miles, I was about 13 years old) I think you did a good job going through their catalog. The first album has always been one of my favorites and has a quality that is timeless) and I also think Fire of Unknown Origin is one of my favorite albums. I have seen them live many times & during their laser tours and even met the band a few times in the early 2000s. I’m going to see them again this year, they are one of the best bands of all time 👍💯yes Mirrors is underrated and Cultsaurus is kind of patchy although I love the title track

[@musicisajourney]

Thank you so much for your kind words! I understand BOC fans from the seventies have a special love for the band, and I accept any criticism, particularly where I made mistakes. Any compliments are graciously received. As you understood from my video, my introduction to the band came after the halcyon days, and the band was slowly coming apart and releasing some of their lowest ranked albums. So my experience is incomparable to yours. You were very fortunate to be able to see them live at their peak. And yes, they are still capable of producing top notch material worthy of the Blue Oyster Cult name.

[@jonesy2111]

@@musicisajourney I meant to say I really liked the song Black Blade and that Cultösaurus Erectus was not one of my favorites. Yes you did a good job going through their career and I enjoyed it. I also wanted to add that Agents of Fortune was also in my opinion one of their strongest albums and I saw them twice with the laser show and it was amazing and ranks among the best concerts I’ve seen. Thanks 👍

[@musicisajourney]

@@jonesy2111 Thank you again! I have come to really appreciate Monsters from Cultosaurus Erectus. I think I may have been somewhat critical of it in the video, but after getting the improved sound CD edition, the album and that song came across much better. Black Blade is probably my favourite from the album, though. I think I need to go back to Agents of Fortune again. It's always good when someone mentions an album they really like that I need to hear a little more to fully appreciate.

[@craigplatel813]

Ibwouod add on your feet or on your knees ronthe first 10 albums.yws its a live album but the live versions of the sings takes them yo a new level. Plus the cover and song list keep up the bands persona

[@musicisajourney]

Thanks, Craig. I think all the bands I'm covering have great live albums during their initial run. But I am looking at studio albums only, and full-length ones at that. These videos are partly to look at what the band is putting out and partly to see what's happening to the band in terms of managerial troubles, member issues, and so on.

[@Gsc-2112]

Laser light show was the best show ever but wasn’t it under the Carter administration that banned it

[@musicisajourney]

Maybe. Too many people taking lasers to the eyes? But I thought the band were just tired of all the troubles there were keeping it running every night.

[@mcbeezee2120]

​@musicisajourney it was both. There are interviews with band members who stated, they WERE too fragile to be on the road, and too expensive to keep repairing(it was the 1970s after all), but also it was OSHA(?) I believe, that started to follow them on their touring, and told them, you either greatly turn down the laser intensity, or you cannot reflect any laser light into the crowd. Thank God I attended their shows before OSHA got a hold of them. It was MAGNIFICENT, and today I can still see perfectly. 😄

[@CatManDo3927]

Good job.

[@musicisajourney]

Thanks. a couple of factual mix-ups, so I appreciate the compliment.

[@jeffblacky]

can you do a video on the first Y & T albums ? And yeah seen BoC - 4 times once with KISS

[@musicisajourney]

I’d love to do a Y&T video! I’m afraid I don’t have the first two Yesterday & Today albums. I currently have from Earthshaker to In Rock We Trust, which are my favourites, Contagious, and Unearthed Vol. 1. But yeah, I’ll put Y&T up for next year. Not enough time left this year. Thanks for the idea!

[@clarkdissneyer8225]

Where can we find the rerecorded version of Godzilla with alternate lyrics you mention?

[@musicisajourney]

I found it here. It's for the American Godzilla movie from some 20 years ago or more. www.reddit.com/r/ObscureMedia/comments/10qh2xh/nozilla_parody_song_of_godzilla_by_blue_%C3%B6yster/

[@user-mu9cw8xe4r]

I have had some doubts over the years about what kind of band Blue Oyster Cult is and what they may stand for ... if nothing else in the eyes of their fans. I, personally, was glad to hear/see interviews/videos explaining how the BOC band members resisted being labeled a heavy metal band (I never thought of them as simply an American Black Sabbath) and hearing Buck Dharma Roeser explaining they are just as much a boogie rock band (see Buck's Boogie for one obvious example). I, also, have become tired of hearing people who claim The Cult worships the devil, that the proof is in The Symbol; the upside down cross of question. So, for myself, I was glad to hear the band was getting 'tired' of trying to shock in order to sell to a heavy metal(?) fan base. When I was 11 yrs old and starting to realize BOC was my favorite band I took a step back because of the drawings of dead german shepherds at the feet of the band members posing by a ME 262 with the BOC symbol plastered on the tail ... like a swastika? If I hadn't been aware of Agents of Fortune and my already favorite BOC album Spectres I might have stopped listening at the sight of Secret Treaties. But, thankfully I continued to listen; and just recently reintroduced myself to another Live album Some Enchanted Evening. It's better than Extraterrestrial Live. I also have Halloween Reapers (3 shows: 1979; 1982--when Al Bouchard was fired; 1986 when they were touring for Club Ninja); and, of course On Your Feet or on Your Knees. Blue Oyster Cult: the thinking man's rocknroll boogie band with sci-fy and heavy metal leanings.😎 I'm loving all these videos, analysis, et cetera of Blue Oyster Cult. Music is a Journey thanks for the video.

[@musicisajourney]

@@user-mu9cw8xe4r Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I think it’s clear early on that Blue Öyster Cult is not a heavy metal band but they employ some heavy metal elements at times, especially in the seventies when heavy metal rock and roll as it was regarded in those days could include BÖC. One thing I really admire about the band is that they have their own mythos. They never sang about the devil. They had aliens, magic, ghosts, and the unexplained to work with. They capture this almost Outer Limits or Twilight Zone feeling even when they sing about mundane things. I’m glad they never gave up on that!

[@user-mu9cw8xe4r]

@@musicisajourney some have pointed out the lyrics to Seven Screaming Diz Busters as the giveaway for their devil worship. Obviously, I disagree. It's one fleeting reference. Anyways, BOC is a very original band with 'their own timeless sound'. Actually, the controversy about their beliefs only adds to the mystery -- the mythos👍 indeed

[@musicisajourney]

@@user-mu9cw8xe4r I think most people don't know what devil worship really means anyway. They just need an excuse to try to make something that makes them uncomfortable look bad.

[@user-mu9cw8xe4r]

@@musicisajourney Good point. The hypocrisy of some religious zealots (extreme). If it's different then it is Evil. At least we are 3 centuries removed from 'Burn witch burn!"

[@musicisajourney]

@@user-mu9cw8xe4r Our society doesn't say that anymore. Now it's "Nazi", "Fascist", or "Communist" and "Just go kill yourself". My, how we've come so far! But that's not the point of this video. Just some confused people are looking to point fingers and finding targets in the wrong places. Like bands who are not devil worshippers.

[@neuroisis85]

A top 5 band for me. Everything from 72 to 81 is excellent with T&M being my favorite. It gets patchy after that, I really like Imaginos, but Revolution and Club Ninja are weak, if you take the good songs off of both you get one good album. The post-80’s stuff is not very good and only has a handful of great tracks imo. But these guys created something really special their weird, obscure esoteric lyrics combined with excellent musicianship, interesting arrangements and a hard but genuinely catchy sound, it’s something else. They created worlds within songs. They deserve to be revered like there more famous contemporaries, but they probably never will. Guess that’s why there a Cult.

[@musicisajourney]

I think some of the best and most interesting bands are ones that never really hit it big. They have something good enough to attract a dedicated fan base but that eludes the average Joe public, and for that reason the band is even more special. Blue Öyster Cult are unique in what they did. Even if it’s difficult to still live up to that, they are a band of their own.

[@chrispetritsch1291]

That's ME 2 6 2

[@musicisajourney]

Oh, no! What did I say? I always get a few things wrong when I’m firing off at the mouth for a video. My brain crosses things up. Thanks for pointing it out.

[@musicisajourney]

Oh, yeah. ME 626. Crossed up the numbers indeed!

[@DonaldCrum-jg4mp]

Do like their latest

[@musicisajourney]

Is that Ghost Stories?

[@smythpearl1]

The red and black albums are incredible! Inspired me to be a guitar player. My top fav albums. I always wondered if Don 'Buck' ever took guitar lessons or if he was self taught. His guitar playing is extraordinary! Great vid!

[@musicisajourney]

Thank you! Yes, those first three albums established BOC as a unique musical force in rock. I agree that Don should get recognized more as a guitarist. BOC fans sure give him credit!

[@douglemay7989]

Self taught.

[@grantkelley3372]

I’ve always said Don’t fear the reaper is just the movie ghost minus Whoopi haha

[@musicisajourney]

Ha ha ha! That’s hilarious, especially the minus Whoopi part!

[@davidmatela9868]

CULTOSAURUS ERECTUS is a Masterpiece

[@musicisajourney]

I don't think I mentioned it in the video, but after I bought the album with some hefty remastering, it sounded way, way better. I mean, it's exciting!

[@davidmatela9868]

@@musicisajourney Cool, recently bought a mint copy on vinyl, It was one of those lucky finds - been on heavy rotation ever since. Gonna be looking for the cd. Everyone seems to think that Secret Treaties is their best album = I just don’t get that album, I’m trying. The production is not very good. Anyway gonna watch the rest of your video, lots of good information 👍 Thanks Friend

[@musicisajourney]

@@davidmatela9868 I do like Secret Treaties. But I love a lot of songs right across the discography. BOC is truly a unique band! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. The comment exchanges are my favourite part about sharing these videos.

[@davidmatela9868]

@@musicisajourney I’ve been binging on BOC. Starting to dig into Spectres ,they’re such an odd band, in a good way. One thing I’m starting to notice is how consistent the Bouchard Brothers are throughout all their recordings - a very solid , high energy rhythm section. And as a guitar player myself - man l have a new appreciation for Buck, he has is a very rhythmic attack , fast and precise. I’m excited to explore their music further. The next one I wanna dig into is Mirrors. ✌️

[@musicisajourney]

@@davidmatela9868 Yes, there is some outstanding talent in the band that doesn’t get talked about as much as some others. I read that Mirrors was a bit of a disappointment, but I happened to buy this hi-fidelity remastered CD, and I thought the album was terrific. There are some really excellent tracks on that album in my opinion.

[@ZalMoxis]

Love BOC - Secret Treaties , Tyranny & Mutation are my personal faves.... actually up until and including Fire of Unknown Origin their albums are excellent.... after that, patchy with moments of greatness and moments of banal meanderings. I could never stand Patti Smith.

[@musicisajourney]

Yes, I really like some songs from the post Fire albums and I actually quite like Club Ninja. But until The Symbol Remains, some albums struggle in places.

[@planet6393]

Veins has to be my favorite song by BOC off “The Revolution By Night” . The one album the people did not like Club Ninja has Perfect Water which is awesome!

[@musicisajourney]

I actually quite like a few songs on Club Ninja. But then it was my second BOC album after Revolution. So both of those albums hold a fond place in my musical memory.

[@planet6393]

@@musicisajourney revolution was a great album

[@musicisajourney]

@@planet6393 Fist bump and a high five to that!

[@riphopfer5816]

Sandy Roeser is, still, Buck’s wife.

[@musicisajourney]

I'm glad for that. I like marriages that last!

[@riphopfer5816]

@@musicisajourney Likewise! And they’re still incredibly affectionate. Have you ever seen the short KZbin series they made, called ‘The Dharmas’? It’s cute and funny. Don’s an awesome, incredibly friendly, cool, down-to-Earth bloke.

[@musicisajourney]

No, I haven't. Sounds fun though. I'll have to remember to check it out!@@riphopfer5816

[@riphopfer5816]

@@musicisajourney They out it out back when ‘The Osbournes’ was popular. I kind of love it, and not just because i know the guy (I’ve been to LOTS of BÖC shows over the past 20 years. I’ve gotten to know Buck, Richie, and some of the road crew well. Eric isn’t nearly as gregarious, but he’s not a d1ck or anything. Richie is a fun bloke, and just kind of a wizard… Between his musicianship and studio skills, he’s pretty awesome, and a very chill, outgoing geezer to boot.

[@musicisajourney]

You're lucky to have met them and know them. I'm going to look for that show now and see if I can get some videos cued up for later.@@riphopfer5816

[@jameskowanko7574]

Mirrors gets a lot of trash, but it’s a pretty good record. It has some bad songs, probably too overproduced and polished. But most of these songs just sound nice

[@musicisajourney]

Yeah, I don’t have any problems with it. Sometimes I don’t think to buy an album because of its reputation, and then I buy it and like it.

[@jameskowanko7574]

@@musicisajourney I think part of the reason it id disliked os due to the time it came out. Old fans in 79 would feel like everything was beginning to become disco and pop. So Mirrors was an abomination of BÖC going pop and Cultasuarus was a glorious return to form when now I think Mirrors is pretty solid and Cultasaurus I’d pretty weak.

[@musicisajourney]

There are a couple of tracks like Mirrors and Doctor Music that have some dodgy moments. But other tracks like I Am the Storm, The Vigil, and The Great Sun Jester are still true BOC form. You're Not the One is quite good and In Thee is a beautiful song. I am still trying to get more into Cultosaurus. Some tracks are clear winners like Monsters, Black Blade and Lips in the Hills. I think the album sounds better to me now that I have that high quality CD version. I guess at the time, I can see how fans would be disappointed. For me coming in much later, both albums have their merits. @@jameskowanko7574

[@jameskowanko7574]

We've got completely different tastes in Mirrors songs@@musicisajourney To me Lonely Teardrops, In Thee, and The Vigil are the highlights of that record while I Am the Storm and Sun Jester are boring, and not musically pleasing tracks. But eh, that's just superficial specifics

[@musicisajourney]

@@jameskowanko7574 I’m with you on In Thee and The Vigil. Those are two of my three favourites on the album.

[@jeffblacky]

Me 262 Not me 626 Fool

[@musicisajourney]

Thanks. I was corrected earlier, too. It was a slip of the tongue while speaking. I make quite a few mistakes like that. If I catch them while editing, I can add text in. This time I missed it. Fool indeed!

[@jeffblacky]

@@musicisajourney just kid man , good video , lot better than my 1000 videos

[@musicisajourney]

Sounds like an invitation to check out what you do. I'll stop by in a little while to see what you are up to.@@jeffblacky

[@musicisajourney]

Oh, I see. You do cover a wide range of topics. Some sound interesting though. I like the idea of 1950s vehicles spotted in a WWII film. I'm not the only one making mistakes!@@jeffblacky

[@jeffblacky]

@@musicisajourney i made a few myself - laugh

[@georgebirch5635]

This guy has done his homework, but I can't agree with everything he says, and what about the live albums? They don't count?? This should have been done by a long time fan,"Take me away " was first BOC song you ever heard?? Come on!

[@musicisajourney]

Thank you, George. I appreciate the compliment about doing my homework. Yes, I did put some research into it. This video was part of a series I did on the first ten studio albums by bands that I have in my collection, where I have all ten or at least nine of the first ten albums. The purpose of the series was to see how different bands came together, and how their music style and output changed over the first ten albums, as well as to see what challenges they faced with regards to labels, management, and even relationship difficulties between band members. It was really fun to see how different bands faired, and it gave me the chance to get to know more about bands that I really like. So, because this was about the first ten studio albums, live albums and compilations were not included. As for Take Me Away, it was indeed the first song I heard at least knowing that it was a Blue Oyster Cult song. I might have heard (Don't Fear) the Reaper or Burnin' for You before on the radio, but at the time I wouldn't have known who the band was. I was twelve years old, and my friend told me that Blue Oyster Cult was a really heavy band. I heard a DJ announce he would play Take Me Away, and I thought it was a really nice, heavy song, so I bought the cassette soon after.

[@georgebirch5635]

@musicisajourney I wasn't trying to be hard on you, I like what you're doing, I am a BOC fan since 1972 and am probably quite biased. I have seen them 15 times over the years and loved every show!

[@musicisajourney]

@@georgebirch5635 Don’t worry. I didn’t take it as you being hard on me. I appreciate that long-term Blue Öyster Cult fans love their band. I’ve been in and out, buying a couple of albums now and again until I came to realize I like some songs on every album, and I have all but one studio release! I just replied to clarify the purpose of my video. I am pleased to receive comments, and so far no one has offended me, not even the guy who pointed out the mistake I made saying ME262 and called me an idiot. He actually is a decent fellow, I found out, and it was an embarrassing mistake!

[@greghines9041]

Albert not Allen.....singing Cities on Flame.....

[@musicisajourney]

Did I say Allen? Then that was a slip! I know Alllen sang lead on only one song. His voice is weak sounding. Albert has a good, tough rock voice.