Classical Composer Reaction & Analysis of Astronomy (Blue Öyster Cult) | The Daily Doug (Ep. 498)

#blueoystercult #astronomy
In this episode of #thedailydoug, I'm including music on the channel by Blue Oyster Cult for the first time. I'm going to be reacting to Astronomy, first from their 1974 album Secret Treaties...and then off of their 1988 album Imaginos (a re-recorded and newly produced alternate version). I wind through some of the story behind the song and compare/contrast the two versions. I hope you enjoy!
Thanks to Fran for being today's Guest DJ and bringing this BOC selection to us!
Reference Video: • Astronomy
Reference Video: • Blue Oyster Cult: Astr...
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[@mournblade1066]

BOC is the textbook definition of "underrated."

[@lufshpq]

yes indeed....UFO , Thin lizzy and B.O.C. the three most underrated rock bands

[@mattslater167]

Really really underrated.

[@SUBRASHANKAR]

Absolutely

[@livewire114]

Maybe not so much "underrated", as they are underappreciated.

[@joeatwood6905]

Criminally underrated.

[@enricopaoli1183]

BOC is one of the most criminally underrated bands EVER. Unique. It's funny like everybody always think they could/should have been heavier (even though Tyranny And Mutation is heavy indeed).

[@elfman5176]

One of their later albums Heaven Forbid is pretty heavy And their latest The Symbol Remains has some heavy tracks

[@akrocuba]

BOC FOREVER!!!!👍👍👍👍👍👍🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸 Even though this song is probably one of BOC's most popular, but their catalogue of music is vast and their latest album, "The Symbol Remains" is absolutely outstanding and, in my humble opinion, will stand with any of their earlier albums including the first three. ROCK ON!!!

[@Bill_Yarkakar_XVIII]

To my ears, BOC were just perfectly heavy. They could absolutely rock (ME262, The Red And The Black, Tattoo Vampire), and then they could slow it down and do a beatuiful number like this. And don't forget the 5-guitar jam that often ended the early concerts.

[@hunthropc38]

Secret Treaties is one of those albums I can listen to front to back over and over and never get tired of it! Great selection!

[@tperran]

I agree. I feel that way about Agents of Fortune too.

[@MrZimpoppel]

Secret Treaties was my introduction to this band, when I was about thirteen years old. I wasn't really into rock at that time, I was more into Genesis, ELP and Pink Floyd, but this album was a turning point, and I went full on rock, hard rock etc... And each time I listen to this album (front to back as well), I remember this first listening, way back in 75, and I still feel this "Fire of Unknown Origin" it started back then. One of my favourite rock band, if not THE favourite. By the way, their logo was my first tattoo, a few years later.

[@jonathangiven9073]

@@MrZimpoppel Have you checked the Tyranny and Mutation album? It’s their 2nd release. Some really excellent music. A huge leap from their first release (which I find hard to enjoy).

[@eugeniomarins2936]

@@MrZimpoppel Me rocker friends turn their noses because i like BOC. I feel sorry for their loss. Cheers from BOC-loving Brazil!

[@daveh9335]

For sure rock and roll hall of Fame

[@JoeBouchardRockStar]

During the pandemic Joe and Albert Bouchard started their own record label, Rock Heart Records. Joe made his 7th solo album, and Albert re-made the Imaginos Trilogy, and the third record is coming out soon.

[@douglemay7989]

Hi, Joe.

[@duncanbleak3819]

Check the live version from "Some Enchanted Evening"...Magnificent!

[@aknightthatsaysnee5259]

Agreed 💯%

[@soccrattes2295]

So much better than the studio version! My favourite as well

[@SUBRASHANKAR]

Yes the entire album rocks

[@mbgrafix]

My favorite! You find yourself wishing that the outstanding jam at the end would continue on!

[@johngalt7382]

That guitar solo, Buck's absolute pinnacle. You just wish it would go on forever.

[@AdamConus]

I am over the moon that you're doing a Blue Oyster Cult song. My favorite band. They have a deep, deep catalog of very interesting and diverse rock music. I'm glad you're starting with Astronomy (both versions) as that's some top tier BOC. Imaginos, the album and its creation, is itself controversial, with a backstory as crazy as the Imaginos mythos itself.

[@rpm412]

good album tho, eh?

[@AdamConus]

@@rpm412 I love Imaginos. One of my favorites. Some BOC fans really hate it. I love every song on it except "Imaginos" which is sort of train wreck, in my opinion.

[@nyobunknown6983]

@@AdamConus I'm a core BOC fan from the 70s. The Imaginos album sucks, too slick, not metal enough.

[@a.k.1740]

@@nyobunknown6983 It's not that this album doesn't contain heavy moments, on the contrary I find the production to be overwhelming and there's even an avalanche of unnecessary extra guitarists (and other musicians). It's just that this album is not really a Blue Öyster Cult album but a producer's album (in this case, Sandy Pearlman) and record company commission (Columbia, who demanded that the thing be released under the name B.Ö.C. and not Albert Bouchard, who is however the instigator of the project with Pearlman). The tracks on this disc were originally recorded by Bouchard and session musicians. It was only after most of the work was done that Buck Dharma & Co. were called in to record a few tracks but the main one was already in the box. This record was credited to B.Ö.C. because that way it was much easier to sell, that's all. The production is horribly 80s and the instruments are drowned in reverb most of the time. Last but not least, the choirs are terribly overloaded and pompous. During the promotional tour for the album (without the Bouchard brothers !), B.Ö.C. did not play more than 2 tracks from Imaginos ("I Am The One You Warned Me Of" and "In The Presence Of Another World"), and after this tour, the band will never play these 2 songs again ....which proves that Eric Bloom, Buck Dharma and Allen Lanier didn't have much to do with this concept-album ! I agree with you, Imaginos sucks but not because it's not metal enough (B.Ö.C. have always been much more than a hard rock or heavy rock band since their debut !), it sucks because the songs are more than average and besides, it's only a Blue Öyster Cult album by name.

[@akrocuba]

BOC FOREVER!!!!👍👍👍👍👍👍🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸 Even though this song is probably one of BOC's most popular, but their catalogue of music is vast and their latest album, "The Symbol Remains" is absolutely outstanding and, in my humble opinion, will stand with any of their earlier albums including the first three. ROCK ON!!!

[@grantwallace1882]

Blue Oyster Cult are one of my favourite bands. Imaginos was a mythical album to me when I was first introduced to it.

[@MikeW-xv5xg]

Imaginos is one of my favorite albums of all time. It caught me at the right time in high school.

[@spitefulwar]

Same here. As for the 80s this sits right beside Awaken the Guardian. At least to me.

[@JohnHoulgate]

I really appreciate that you did your homework on this band. I've been a fan of Blue Öyster Cult since I was a teenager back when they were releasing these albums. I recognized from Secret Treaties they were trying to tell a story, but the information was very sketchy. There was a lot gaslighting and plausible deniability on the part of people I knew who liked this band. Then many decades later, I heard the Imaginos album, read the liner notes and it confirmed for me they were indeed telling this story in those songs. The only thing I want to add deals with this part of the song: "The four winds at the Four Winds Bar Two doors locked and windows barred. One door let's to take you in. The other one just mirrors it Hey! Hey! Hey! . . . In Hellish glare and inference The other one's a duplicate In queenly flux eternal light Oh the light that never never warms Oh the light that never warms, never warms, never warms." There are several images that repeatedly show up in Pearlman's corpus. They include but are not limited to dogs, mirrors, doors (especially doors that lock), mirrors, and a woman named Suzie. In this verse we see doors that mirror each other. They let to take you in, but they lock, trapping Suzie and her friend Carrie into an inexorable encounter with Imaginos fully revealed to them as Desdenova, eternal light. The light that never warms informs us that this is a light that's not of this world. It is an extra-terrestrial light that presents Imaginos as the alien he truly is. So your reference to the light that never warms as coming from the moon gets partway there, but I saw it's a light of origins far beyond the Moon. Mirrors are important because they are portals through which Les Invisibles impress upon the minds of humans their wishes leading mankind into diabolical chaos. The liner notes also mention the black stone that worked as a mirror. The notes mention that Queen Elizabeth's occult advisor, John Dee possessed this stone, giving an historical relevance to it. Sandy Pearlman really tied this all together. The song Astronomy represents a major crossroads in the story. This song is so rich, it continues to amaze me after all these years. Thank you for your thorough commentary on this song.

[@choptop81]

Check out the Imaginos comic coming from Albert Bouchard and Deko Records. First issue is going to be released early next year. It will clarify the whole story.

[@godsofohio6734]

Albert Bouchard is redoing Imaginos in line with Sandy's original story. He has three albums planned and two in current release.

[@goopah]

The first one is very good, or even excellent. I haven't heard the second one yet.

[@riczen6652]

@@goopah It's just as good ;) The sound is very different from the "Imaginos" album and it takes some getting use to, but I really dig it now.

[@imaginosdesdinova1130]

I think the word that best describes it is perfect

[@Jessica_Roth]

It should be noted that the "Buck Dharma" name is something that Sandy Perlman came up with, as well. The band had been having trouble getting a record deal, both as "Soft White Underbelly" and "Oaxaca", so when Sandy gave them a new name, he suggested that all the musicians should also adopt stage names, but only Donald Roeser took him up on it. (Eric Bloom was going to be "Jesse Python" if Sandy had gotten his way, lol.)

[@stevemcnary7963]

Great name for a porn star! LOL

[@ShiroiTengu]

I think dubbing Allen Lanier as "La Verne" was the worst. Though Andy Panda and Jesse Python are pretty close 😂

[@sunjester8254]

Quite frankly, I think this blows Stairway to Heaven away. They should have released this as a single.

[@RamonK.]

Secret Treaties is such a great album! I remember hearing Career of evil for the first time and how blown away I was... This band has so much more to offer then just Don't fear the reaper...

[@dannylgriffin]

The song before on this album, Flaming Telepaths, is really good, too. It has an intense rock ending that abruptly stops as the delicate beginning of Astronomy begins. Should be played back-to-back like on the album.

[@heimomoilanen2648]

Exactly, Flaming Telepaths actually points to Astronomy as they together form a cohesive unity and should be listened together, to my ears at least. Superb compositions, in progressive rock.

[@Puffsdad]

I agree

[@qmiller9]

So happy you're continuing your BOC journey. If you're looking for some more greats by them, 2 of my favorites are I Love the Night and Nosferatu. Thanks for the great entertainment and education, Doug. Enjoy!

[@Puffsdad]

I love those two songs!

[@Ignats75]

One of my favorite deep tracks of all time. When I was in radio in the mid 70s, this was the first BOC song I ever played on the air. I love that bass line and guitar solos.

[@dtwalker5356]

The version on the "Some Enchanted Evening" live album is pure magic.

[@d0gu67]

Fact

[@boxonothing4087]

100% agreed on this, best recorded version by anyone.

[@morsedregs9239]

That’s for damn sure.

[@darrengrebe2253]

Buck’s solo at the end simply KILLS!

[@jamesking9807]

Truth. I love BOC, but they have a lot of songs that just don't translate well in the studio but absolutely kill live. Two perfect examples are this and E.T.I.

[@thrivesuffer4787]

PLEEEEASE do the whole album Fire of Unknown Origin because both veterans of the psychic wars and sole survivor are killer tracks. If I could make toto and steve lukuther play sole survivor live that would be so so sick lol

[@patvanderreest7416]

Totally agree. My favourite of their studio albums, for sure. Granted, they are a wholly different band live, if only for Joan Crawford.

[@bookhouseboy280]

Excellent album. Veteran of the Psychic Wars from Extraterrestrial Live is next level.

[@Denis-pj6zg]

My favourite boc album for sure.

[@DennisBarakos]

@@Denis-pj6zg My favorite B.O.C. album as well!

[@kennyeklund9374]

Oh yes, please!

[@UrbanSkyProject]

Dude I was so happy to see BOC on your channel, totally underrated band. Please check out Veterans of a thousand psychic wars and Vengeance(the pact) by them

[@sebastienprivat1259]

Don't forget Joan Crawford (a lyrics analysis would be entertaining as well).

[@jus10kase]

One of my favorite live bands. The live version of this song great example of how much better things get live.

[@joannacorwin6430]

Live? Jealous

[@mcbeezee2120]

Been a fan since 1973. Never cared all that much for the Imaginos version of Astronomy. Eric's vocals are symbiotic with the original version, and his pipes were never better, than in 1974. Nice job and song selection.

[@Puffsdad]

I like the imaginos version. I think Buck sings it very well.

[@mrgates33]

This was the First BOC album I Bought in the 1970's From Oz records and Tapes Birmingham Alabama. I have all BOC Vinyl Now. Thank You for Posting This :)

[@mattslater167]

They have another song from Secret Treaties that they redid on Imaginos: "Subhuman" is the '70s version, "Blue Oyster Cult" is the Imaginos version.

[@BrianCurran8]

I understand, I understand.

[@samazon52]

​@@BrianCurran8 And so do I.

[@robertmuse9509]

The answer to your question about which version that they do live is: neither, they have an about 10 minute version where everyone gets a turn in the spot light. You get a big guitar solo from Buck, still harder drums, loads of keyboard and piano work, all supported by drivng base and dynamite percussion work. Great song from a great band, that does their best work live. Still touring, still fabulous

[@tagadabrothersband]

Yes, but still - and even after Imaginos - the live versions have been essentially based on the original version from 1974. Like many people I guess, I discovered the song on Some Enchanted Evening.

[@steeleye2112]

Oh so close. This is one of the classic examples of a great song being transformed into one of the greatest in rock history by a live performance taking it to a completely different level. The version from the album Some Enchanted Evening was one of those nights where a higher power intervened to create something so good it defies description.

[@bloodaxe3578]

The S.E.E. version is definitely the best version.

[@bloodaxe3578]

@TE-LE-GRAM-ME-AT-Mr_Doug Hi Doug. Enjoy your analysis/reactions! Got your message.

[@5pp000]

@@bloodaxe3578 It's a scammer pretending to be Doug. Ignore them.

[@bloodaxe3578]

@@5pp000 👍

[@Kalepherion]

Good choice in songs, and great insight into the music. Thanks Doug.

[@facespaz]

Many, many thanks Doug & team! The fact that you gave viewers such as I a chance to be a guest DJ was yet another reason why I consider this channel to be very special. Kudos to the amount of research you did for the song! For those interested in the Astronomy/Imaginos story, Albert Bouchard made a promise to Sandy Pearlman before he passed that he would finish the Imaginos trilogy, releasing them as solo albums while keeping Sandy's vision in mind.

[@jonathangiven9073]

Astronomy is the last song on this “concept” album…a full story front to back almost a revision of WWII. As a stand alone song, I can see why some BOC fans (of the later music) may not appreciate this song. But it fits perfectly with the story of the album…a “goodbye”. So for those of us who used to play “albums”…there’s probably more appreciation for what the song “represents” as part of the full story associated with the album. The jet on the cover and the last song of on side A is ME262…definitely a WWII reference. My favorite song on this album is Dominance/Submission.It’s an excellent stand alone song for BOC fans whose prefer to “cherry pick” songs.

[@elfman5176]

Dominance and Submission is one of my favorite songs That guitar solo at the end still gives me chills

[@m4rvino]

Metallica did a sweet cover of this song. Definitely one of the best songs off the garage inc. album

[@kamilziemian995]

This is how I discovered "Astronomy" and maybe even Blue Öyster Cult: by "Garage inc.".

[@ryanstrong8343]

Agreed. There should be a video done on that

[@fadetounforgiven]

+1 to making a video about that cover. In fact, there are quite good covers in that double album. P.S. MetallicA's cover is now about as old as the original was when they did it.

[@Nightwing690]

Metallica has also citied the BÖC as a huge influence

[@heimomoilanen2648]

@@Nightwing690 Is it any wonder as their minds were on fire

[@joepalmer3795]

You really should do an Extended Play Lounge of a side of a BOC album. One of the great parts about BOC is there is no "BOC sound", with every member of the band and the manager, and friends and fans of the band writing; plus 2 primary lead singers and occasional vocals from everybody; and 2 multi-instrumentalists the BOC sound varies drastically from song to song. I know for EPL you like to focus on the Big albums so probably Agents of Fortune (the album with Reaper) or Fire of Unknown Origin (with their other big hit Burning for You and their Heavy Metal soundtrack song Veterans of the Psychic War co-written by fantasy author Michael Moorcock) would be the obvious choices. But the first 3 albums (the "black and white trilogy") or Spectres (Godzilla), would be excellent choices too. I think you'd have a lot of fun going through multiple BOC songs together.

[@RolandTumble23]

My choice would be Tyranny & Mutation.

[@VGKDean]

I’ve seen this band 5 times. I love Blue Oyster Cult. I’m surprised she didn’t request the live version from On Your Feet or On Your Knees. I played the hell out of that album through high school.

[@Ignats75]

The live version is from "Some Enchanted Evening". The OYFoOYK album does not have Astronomy on it. In fact, I think BOC has 5 or 6 live albums, and "Some Enchanted Evening" is the only live version of Astronomy. On Your Feet has one of the best band intros to start of a concert ever recorded.

[@VGKDean]

@@Ignats75 oh that’s right! I had both albums. lol

[@mcbeezee2120]

Even since 1975, we Cult fans have always wondered, WHY ASTRONOMY WASN'T ON OYFOOYK. Same with Flaming Telepaths.

[@Ignats75]

@@mcbeezee2120 I was not a huge BOC fan. I just loved the song Astronomy. I used to win bar bets saying no one could guess the artist. If astronomy had been on OYFoOYK, I would've purchased it for my almost 350 piece record collection. But power rock was never my favorite genre. That's why I love Spotify. I can cherry pick songs like Astronomy or The Tower by Angel without having to purchase an entire album.

[@scottjackson163]

Proud to say that I saw Blue Oyster Cult in May of 1972 when they opened for Alice Cooper. I had never heard of them before. I was blown away.

[@garyschill7923]

Doug Dude, the live version of this off 79's Some Enchanted Evening is far superior to the studio version. Glad you are also doing to remade version off Imaginos, but the live version is still the best!!!

[@bookhouseboy280]

That's the definitive rendition. Recorded at the Columbus Municipal Auditorium, Columbus, GA - April 1978

[@smvaeiou]

March 1977 Hollywood Sportatorium during the performance of this song Bloom pointed at the mirrored ball high above us, lit the handheld laser on his wrist, and sent us all into a frenzy during the climax of the song......I still get shivers remembering the light fracturing off the ball.

[@garyschill7923]

@@smvaeiou Yeah man, I saw them in '77 and '79. The hand laser was a trip. After the 79 tour the government made them quit the laser because they were violating some regulation.

[@smvaeiou]

@@garyschill7923 Not sure that the laser lights made it through 78, dammit. I saw them three or four times during those years and think the fall 1978 show was sans laser show. Imagine the feds not wanting laser lights shown directly into the eyes of the audience at a rock music show! I loved the lights and the holograms (those lights mixing with the smoke from all the joints being fired up was just mesmerizing).There is Donald Roeser interview somewhere on You tube where he discusses those shows and how much fun they were, and how disappointed the band was that they were forced to stop with all the lights.

[@garyschill7923]

@@smvaeiou Your Ould be right, the late 70's are all just one big long party! I saw them twice in there, and 4 times total. Big BOC head!!

[@bugvswindshield]

the whole " Agents of Fortune" Album is perfect. One of the best Albums I've ever heard.

[@jeffreygould101]

So glad you've gotten to BOC, Doug. While many people know Don't Fear the Reaper, Burnin' for You, and Godzilla, they have so many more great songs, like Astronomy. With multiple band members who could sing, unusual subjects and themes, collaborators like fantasy writer Michael Moorcock, punk icon Patti Smith, and visionary manager Sandy Pearlman, BOC were consistently challenging and fun. Their first five albums are all absolute Classics IMO. And they have been an enduring touring act, playing live coast to coast year after year for 5 decades. On top of that, last year they released their first album of new material in almost 20 years, and it's fantastic. I look forward to more reactions, Doug!

[@rmooreg]

I second the motion for reviewing the live version of Astronomy from the "Some Enchanted Evening". It is a stellar performance, an absolute tour-de- force and elevates this song to "classic" status.

[@MikeW-xv5xg]

So cool to see someone fire up and give a critical listen to Imaginos. A lot of BOC fans don’t give that album too much attention, but it’s one of my favorites.

[@stuntmankrocmcginty4896]

As a big music fan who doesn't play anything, your ability to play along with it that quickly seems like magic. Maybe you are Imaginos.

[@richardkafka5625]

BOC is AMAZING! So many great songs. So glad to see you react to this. SO underrated.

[@davidaustin4910]

Big Blue Oyster Cult fan. Saw them at the Spectrum in 1976. Cities on flame, she's as beautiful as a foot, I might be on the lamb but I ain't no sheep, hot rails to hell, I could keep going

[@trevtheblue]

Such a great band. I remember getting into them in the mid to late 70's when I was discovering Heavy Rock and they were classed as Heavy Rock/Metal but they were far more eclectic than that. Their music has always been very diverse and they deserve much more recognition that they've had.

[@stevenweller1673]

I just listened to this one just a few days ago... fantastic tune and it made me happy to hear it as always. Thanks for all the info about the vision behind Astronomy and the story it helps to tell... The later version sounded to me like an update to a more 80s pop sound--whoops, you just said that, lol... probably at the urging of the record company but I'm just guessing... BOC is all about telling tales of wonder and woe, bringing you along with music to places you never thought songs could go... When you revisit Blue Oyster Cult I hope you consider: *Black Blade* *I Love The Night* *Veterans Of The Psychic Wars* *Cities On Flame For Rock & Roll* Be well S.W.

[@Kirke182]

I fell in love with BOC as a teen in the early 70s. I loved their amazing covers. After the first two albums, I couldn't wait to see the next one--this one. I just kept looking at it thinking, "But what does it mean?"

[@jcmclovin77388]

More BOC Black & White era songs!

[@blazze2k8]

Most of B.O.C were classically training musicians in NY state. Cultisaurus is their best album. They came into their own and sounded less 60's & 70's. Were signed to be direct completion to Black Sabbath. Black Blade is an epic cut on that album. Excellent insights... love your channel. 1st version is most epic on Astronany. Eric Bloom sings this version.

[@copasneaker]

You did it!!! I suggested BOC and specifically this song months and months ago. Thanks, Doug!

[@elderberry-hamster]

Growing up on long island NY in the 70s and early 80s you just knew BOC! I love of course Don't Fear The Reaper, but Astronomy is such an underated gem which thanks to my 5 year older sister, I heard and embraced this fantastic song from the great 1970s. The live versions with Buck Dharma's guitar is what 70s classic rock is all about!! Fantastic pick!!

[@riffmondo9733]

BOC has a great catalog.

[@Nick_Trevino]

Favorite song by my favorite band. My favorite version is from the live album Some Enchanted Evening

[@dtchinacat3973]

Yeah, AWESOME SONG: most of their stuff is pretty AWESOME!

[@torsigvaldjohansen1338]

Great commentary about one of my favourite bands and their best song. I definitely prefer the original Secret Treaties version, but the live versions from 1976 (from "Live 1976") and especially "Some Enchanted Evening" (1978) are great too. They're quite similar to the original version. There is also a rerecorded version from 1994 (from "Cult Classic") that is closer to the Secret Treaties version than the Imaginos version. As someone else have said Albert Bouchard is in the process of recording and releasing the whole Imaginos saga. He has released two out of three so far. One comment about Sirius "the dog star". It's not in the constellation of Orion, it's in Canis Major. Other than that you summarized the complex story of Imaginos pretty accurately. I'd like you to make other videos about the music of Blue Öyster Cult. They have a great variety and musicianship, and to hear the point-of-view from a classically trained musician is very interesting.

[@jonschwartz4621]

We love you Dougie. Great analysis of two great songs by a great band. Great just great 😉

[@owenboarman5259]

Glad to see you going to early BOC but most of the tracks are tied together. I highly recommend that you do the complete Secret Treatise LP . especially since this is the closing track .

[@duanehealing5965]

Secret Treaties is the album that made me a BÖC fan and Astronomy is a great closer. Thanks for digging into their catalog!

[@steveravely6708]

Great analysis Doug, the BOC song Subhuman is a continuation of the Astronomy story and has two versions. The version on the Inaginos album is my favourite.

[@OBESPRING1982]

The Subhuman (from Secret Treaties) was reworked as Blue Oyster Cult on the Imaginos album and further dives into the mythology.

[@Quadeus1]

Do more BOC, they have a very mature kind of hard rock/metal. I would strongly suggest "The Last Days of May", and for a weird Wednesday "Joan Crawford has Risen from the Grave"

[@memelordmark7532]

Yes to J.C. as a Weird Wednesday choice. Bring Back Weird Wednesday!! 😎👍

[@richpeltier9519]

BOC just released their first new album in over 15 years, a couple years back. Lots of great tracks, buy I'd recommend Tainted Blood and The Alchemist to start! TOOL is Pink Floyd for the new millennium, but BOC is eternal. 🤘🧙‍♂️🤘 Rich the Ancient Metal Beast

[@Gsc-2112]

They were the first to have the laser light show. To this day greatest show ever. This was the song when it happened. After the tour the Government band the laser show

[@patrikahlvik8607]

Your reactions are always interesting to see and listening to.

[@cjshardcorepunkmusicvault8474]

If you want awesome piano I would suggest the song Joan Crawford.

[@williamsporing1500]

Love me some BOC. Tyranny and mutation is my favorite album.

[@Jessica_Roth]

Mine as well, although there are many candidates. But I'm just a sucker for "The Mistress of the Salmon Salt".

[@scottwood5515]

This is exactly the format for this song....both are needed for context. Also, as a huge fan of BOC I appreciate you getting into the backstory....thanks Doug.

[@francescamedda1426]

One of my favourite band of all time and my favourite song, I am delighted! I am so glad you talked about Imaginos, I love that album but it's so underrated. In live performances they perform the Secret Treaties version, at least that's what they did in Newcastle a couple of months ago.

[@ericlarson6390]

GOOD!!! Someone FINALLY checked out and reacted to the IMAGINOS version! The original was actually a part of the poetry Sandy Perlman wrote. It was supposed to be a part of the double album IMAGINOS which never came to fruition. It wa released on SECRET Treaties originally, but was rearranged, basically sped up massively, for the IMAGINOS recordings. It was a major improvement in my opinion when it came out fast on the IMAGINOS album. I love both versions but my preference is for the IMAGINOS version. I would LOVE to find out your reaction to their song VETERAN OF THE PSYCHIC WARS... many actual Veterans feel that Michael Moorcock and Eric Bloom (the co-authors of the song) with their lyrics absolutely nailed how the Veterans felt... to quote a friend of mine, "It is almost like they got into my head and are voicing my innermost horrors and nightmares from my time in Service."

[@jfarrar19]

So, if you're looking for a version of Astronomy with a guitar solo, I'd advise checking out the Long Days Night version.

[@oldsnare54]

I've bought all their albums in the '70s when they were first released. Secret Treaties is my favorite and you did a great job opening my eyes to new info. Another great BOC tune with a back story is 'Then Came the Last Days of May' off their first album.

[@johnstallings4049]

I hope he does the entire 1st album! 🙂

[@johnprice6066]

One of my favorite lines in this song is "It's the nexus of the crisis and the origin of storms"... Also, the line "Don't forget my dog, fixed and consequent..." is a reference to Sirius, the dog star.

[@mournblade1066]

As others have stated, you really need to listen to "Joan Crawford" by BOC. It's such a wonderfully weird and twisted song. "The Revenge of Vera Gemini" is another great one.

[@ianmerill8712]

Especially the live version... incredible.

[@AdamConus]

The other song on Imaginos that comes from early BOC is "Blue Oyster Cult" which is a redo of their old song "Subhuman". The difference between those tracks is far wider than the two Astronomys. I prefer the Imaginos version, but I'm an 80's kid and it was sort of "my" version of the song. Al Bouchard has released Re-Imaginos in 2020 and Imaginos 2 since then. I love Bouchard, but his vocals are rough, and even I have trouble with them. That said, a few of his new Imaginos tunes are fantastic, Black Telescope and OD'd on Life Itself, in particular (Both old BOC tunes.) Black Telescope is done as a sea shanty, so definitely a departure from the original material.

[@pauljensen9678]

This is why I watch the channel. What a nice surprise!

[@DaveSat6]

Hey Doug, you liked their piano in that one? Give a listen to the intro to Joan Crawford. Yeah, BOC is great. I discovered Tyranny and Mutation and been a fan ever since. Spectres is one of my faves. That's a deep pool you're diving into.

[@akrocuba]

BOC FOREVER!!!!👍👍👍👍👍👍🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸 Even though this song is probably one of BOC's most popular, but their catalogue of music is vast and their latest album, "The Symbol Remains" is absolutely outstanding and, in my humble opinion, will stand with any of their earlier albums including the first three. ROCK ON!!!

[@83169]

If you want to dig deeper into the BOC, you might try Golden Age Of Leather, I Love The Night (both from Specters), and/or The Vigil (Mirrors), and then maybe something live like Veteran Of The Psychic Wars and/or Black Blade...

[@memelordmark7532]

BlackBlade/Monsters would go over very well here. Excellent pick for Masterpiece Friday. 😎

[@bookhouseboy280]

@@memelordmark7532 "Golden Age of Leather", "I Love the Night", "The Vigil", "Veteran of the Psychic Wars" (1981 Live!), "Black Blade", and "Monsters" are all fantastic. Great picks!

[@memelordmark7532]

@@bookhouseboy280 , agreed. I'm a huge BOC fan. Anything Doug picks will suit me just fine. 😎

[@elektrikhd]

Love Blue Oyster Cult, have a bunch of their stuff on vinyl, and even got to see them live around 2010 (they've still got it, too, started off The Red & The Black played faster than on the album!). I've wondered for years if there was something more to the recurring names in their songs like Suzie. Now I know!

[@andypiantanida6340]

You're great, man. Thank you!

[@stevelandress]

Astronomy is my favorite BOC song, especially the live version on Some Enchanted Evening

[@spamdump4459]

Imaginos is ship wrecked. That explains a something I heard in a radio interview with one of the band members (can't remember who). He said of a prop they toured with "The roadies and crew hated that ship!" They then released another version of Astronomy as a single that was closer to the original. In the same interview when asked why release Astronomy at that time "The money ran out."

[@kevocarroll3297]

Good appraisal of the most overlooked band ever. I'd like to hear your views on Albert Bouchard's more recent versions of the story, including Re-Imaginos....well worth it, believe me. Keep up the good work - I find it fascinating.

[@philsmith2444]

Imaginos is really a great album, some people don’t like it because of all the session musicians but as far as I’m concerned the core of BÖC is still there. I think my favorite song on the album is “Magna Of Illusion”, but all but 1 or 2 songs (IMO) are very strong.

[@mike196212]

One of the best bands ever. More people need to discover them.

[@Jksv.3]

I found this song on accident and now i fell in love with more of BÖC masterpieces... Incredible

[@mdhackbert]

This is a great song from, I think, their best album of material: Secret Treaties. EPL-worthy? Absolutely.

[@asharmstrong6730]

Definitely!

[@barrywhite828]

6.35. good one doug. love your vids

[@dennypayne]

BOC is always fascinating and yet overlooked a lot it seems. "Last Days of May" is a great story - "Lips in the Hills" is fun. "Career of Evil" is another good one.

[@floydgarvin4535]

Imaginos was by far their best album and is probably my favorite album of all time. The back story, the prologue from Stephen King on Astronomy...epic. It seems that Steve used some lyrics from "Don't Fear the Reaper" in his book "The Stand" without permission so Buck brought that up when he asked him to do the intro. "And don't forget my dog, fixed and consequent" - The Dog star

[@scottjackson163]

The live album, On Your Feet or On Your Knees, does the best job of showcasing BOC’s incarnation as a pure rock band.

[@irenegade164]

Great reaction to one of my favorite songs! I just re-visited this with my 19-yar old because he's a big BOC fan, and something hit me like a freight train. Around 15' 40," Doug says 'I don't know who Carrie is.' What dawned on me is who Carrie might be. Is it a reference to the character in his novel/movie(?)...not so much because he introduced the song, but because might he have had access to, and been influenced by, Sandy Pearlman's Imaginos?! (Though it wouldn't explain who 'Suzie-dear' is). Maybe I'm out in left field. Does anyone else agree it's a plausible connection?

[@JamienautMark2]

I absolutely love the Imaginos version of Astronomy. Before I discovered Yes BÖC was my favorite band for years.

[@danielgower5531]

Great you've showcased BOC Doug. Then Came the last days of May or Shooting Shark from their live Cleveland album need the Doug treatment. Also consider The City from Triumph's Rock & Roll Machine album. Keep rockin' Doug.

[@manugrandest1683]

From Imaginos Astronomy is by far the best ! Incredible melodic guitar work . 🎉🎉🎉

[@Spirit-Of-The-Age]

Blue Oyster Cult and the amazing band Hawkwind both wrote a number of songs based on the Science Fiction books of amazing writer Michael Moorcock.......You should to a show on the whole of the 1st side of Warrior On The Edge Of Time by Hawkwind (Lemmy is on bass and it'll give you a proper taste of the diversity and brilliance of Hawkwind.

[@TheBhannah]

You are very adept sir !

[@jarkkokyntaja4073]

Oi joi, BÖC. I prefer the 1988 version of this song, as that whole album is one of my favorites, along with a handful of gems from 70´s and 80´s from the BÖC catalog. What a wonderful band you never get tired of. Their new album was surprisingly good. And, if you want to enjoy more BÖC, I would recommend song Joan Crawford. It is just that good !

[@ostail]

They also made another version of this song for "cult classic" it's basically a compilation album but all the songs featured are new versions

[@ossiseppanen84]

I really liked the video and how you had gathered info about the Imagines vstory. Albert ( Bouchard) has released two of the Imaginos redo- albums "Re- Imaginos (2020)" and "Imaginos 2 - Bombs Over Germany minus Zero and Counting ( 2021). The third album Imaginos 3 - The Mutant Reformation should be released sometime at 2023. Side note about the dog in Astronomy. It is his dog ( not the dog star) to be referred in the song Manga Of Illusion. It would be good if you would make videos of thisa Albert Bouchard albums.

[@kentmains7763]

Some Enchanted Evening version is by far the best.

[@EdwardRLyons]

An interesting exercise in contrasts. Definitely 1970s versus 1980s. As someone for who my musical formation was from the later 1970s through the 1980s onwards, 1974 is slightly early for me. But the earlier version is definitely the better of the two. The 1988 version is certainly a product of its time, and all the worse for it. As for Sirius, it is the brightest star in the sky, and is in the constellation Canis Major, not Orion. The connection with Orion is that the three stars of the Belt of Orion point to Sirius in one direction and Aldebaran in Taurus in the other.

[@allengator1914]

You should do BOC's song from their debut album "She's As Beautiful As A Foot." It's the very first Blue Oyster Cult song I ever heard way back in 1972 and it's always been one of my favorites ever since. A haunting tune.

[@alexeykartashov8584]

One of best rock-composition in all time,imho

[@joeatwood6905]

Astronomy is an amazingly durable track in the hands of cover artist, a real masterpiece.