Best and Worst: Blue Oyster Cult's Heavy Songs! (w/Martin Popoff)

[@drew.reviews]

I'm glad Pete picked Cities on Flame. I adore that song. I love the sparseness between the riffs that let the drums shine.

[@iceclimbers22]

Martin killing me right off the bat! Dominance and Submission is my all time favorite BOC song. It's crushingly heavy! Absolutely primal.

[@michaelvandiver2475]

I agree with you somewhat...however the title is heaviest part of the song to my ears. I'm with Martin in reference to the poor production value...thin/flat, mid-range, drums and bass have no punch or umph...all of that makes the song sound lighter imo. We all hear things a bit differently so you may say the record and/or the song sounds phenomenal. Just giving my 2 cents. Rock on!

[@iceclimbers22]

@@michaelvandiver2475 I hear you. I guess "crushingly heavy" is not the best descriptor here because it's nothing like a Sabbath riff or anything. But in spite of the production, I find the song so intense. The tempo is part of that, it's just relentless and the stop and start sections add a lot of dynamics to it. There's really good build and payoff to a lot of it.

[@JohnFreeman-d6t]

I look at flaming telepaths along with Dominance and Submission as the same for metal one song is heavy with the keyboards and the other the guitar kills it.BOC reminds me of a cross between Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, which I mean that in a good metal way.

[@JohnFreeman-d6t]

@@michaelvandiver2475 I get what you're saying and where you and Martin are coming from and I see your point especially on metal of the song, I just really like Bucks guitar playing and expecually when he pick up the speed on the song and his stops and starts and changes in that song is what I really about D and Submission

[@aldebaran4154]

I'm with you. I love Dominance and Submission. I love that whole middle section with the "dominance, submission, radios appear.' It's a great connection with ME262. Martin said Eric sang it but it's Albert who sings it.

[@ericdinse5047]

Sorry if I posted this twice. Favorite heavy BOC : - Citys on Flame - Stairway to the Stars - Hot Rails to Hell - Godzilla - This Ain't the Summer of Love - Heavy Metal (Black & Silver) -- sorry, I love this tune. Noisy & rude. - Me262 - Flaming Telepath - The Red & the Black - Harvester of Eyes - Vengeance (the Pact).

[@JonathanCon]

How is no one mentioning Shadow of California from The Revolution by Night? When THAT riff comes it's nothing but goosebumps. Fuckin' love BOC 🤘🏻

[@dsallen7914]

It's funny with BÖC, because they have some songs that are written super heavy, with dark "metal" lyrics and atmosphere, but then recorded kind of light. Then they have boogie woogie/rock'n'roll type songs with irreverent lyrics that are recorded with heavy crushing guitar. They just did their own thing.

[@atmaweapon2803]

I agree, and I think you can look at BOC within the context of BOC, and then you can appreciate how heavy these songs are. If you're comparing them to Zeppelin and Sabbath, well, a lot of these songs sound like creepy Doors tracks with guitars that sound like they're made of aluminum foil. All that said, I love this band so much, but in the grand scheme of things, they absolutely just did their own thing. Separating songs by heavy or not heavy with BOC is a bit silly in the end.

[@williambaxter4628]

Yes they did/do.

[@thomaspallante9166]

Veteran of Psychic Wars. Heavy prog! One of my favorites! I was hoping Monsters was mentioned and it was lol. Great picks guys. Love your show Pete.

[@michaelondrusek3768]

That’s Albert Bouchard singing lead vocal on the studio version of dominance and submission, not Eric Bloom. Eric sings the lead on the extraterrestrial live version

[@chadeckels]

Top 5 Heavy: 1.) See You in Black 2.) Siege and Investiture... 3.) Hot Rails to Hell 4.) Career of Evil 5.) The Alchemist

[@mainzergirl9610]

Great list of bangers!

[@t3amtomahawk]

The Symbol Remains left me stunned. They still got it 🤘

[@thekivster]

The Red and the Black is one of the best BOC songs. I don’t understand how someone doesn’t like it.

[@thekivster]

AND Harvester of Eyes?!

[@atmaweapon2803]

Remember he doesn't say he doesn't like it. He just thinks it's not that heavy, especially compared to other heavy bands of the era. And he's not wrong. Personally, I think all those songs are awesome.

[@thekivster]

@@atmaweapon2803 Red and the Black is a pretty heavy song though

[@atmaweapon2803]

@thekivster yeah I don't know, I am starting to think that people have different opinions on what is heavy exactly, that it's not very objective. I think it's sort of written heavy kind of like what Martin likes to say, but the production is really light, and the drums are really thin sounding. I'll say that I do like the live versions of it better because of the increased volume, distortion, and rawness.

[@nneisler]

@@thekivster if you picked it up it would hurt your back!!

[@albertocravalho3282]

Here in Brazil we tend to like English bands. When I lived in Texas 20 years ago I started to like American bands, especially Southern rock. I didn't know BOC until I lived in the USA, good band, with many excellent albums.

[@t3amtomahawk]

Siege and Investiture is such a great track. Imaginos didnt get the treatment it deserves, but it is a fun record. Learning how to play drums, I think Al has a foot (when he wants to). Here are a few teacks that kill my thigh: Then Came the Last Days of May, Don't Fear the Reaper, Still Burnin Those kick patterns are wild

[@garyjoyce2160]

Thank you for your time. Martin and Pete. Another great fun filled Friday morning. 👍💯

[@ericdinse5047]

Favorite heavy BOC (I don't think they have any really bad heavy tunes) : - City's On Flame - Stairway to the Stars - Hot Rails to Hell - The Red & the Black - This Ain't the Summer of Love - Me262 - Heavy Metal (Black & Silver). - Flaming Telepath - Godzilla - The Oath - Harvester of Eyes

[@jonathancilley9450]

Congratulations on your 100,000th subscriber! Well deserved!

[@LarryG-jo6bf]

Great show, guys. I learned Dragon Lady on keyboard after getting away from the stuff. You can't realize how fast it is until you try to play and sing it.

[@stewarttiley9683]

Imaginos is amazing imo! It’s not really a BOC album, but it’s my favorite!

[@elfman5176]

What made me a BOC fan forever are early songs like Cities on Flame The Red and the Black and Dominance and Submission Heavy Songs and way ahead of their time Doesn’t Albert sing D&S? Amazing catalog of music And always a great live show

[@duncanbleak3819]

Blue Oyster Cult is always "Blue Oyster Cultish". Which is why we love them. And sometimes traditionally 'heavy'.

[@neil1390]

Good call, Martin, The Vigil is a great song!

[@christianhaynes1954]

Love the funhouse !! Thanks Peter and Martin 🤘

[@btfvinylmagic1180]

Dragon lady is a gem ;-)

[@courtneyrogers7683]

BÖC rules!

[@jimekberg]

1. The Vigil 2. Black Blade 3. This Ain't the Summer of Love 4. E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence) 5. I Am the Storm 6. The Siege and Investiture of Baron von Frankenstein's Castle at Weisseria 7. Godzilla 8. Monsters 9. Dr. Music 10. Dominance and Submission 11. Hot Rails to Hell 12. Burnin' for You 13. Harvester of Eyes 14. Before the Kiss, a Redcap 15. Subhuman 16. Power Underneath Despair 17. Vengeance (The Pact) 18. Cities on Flame 19. Tattoo Vampire 20. Take Me Away ( 20 favorite 'heavy' Blue Öyster Cult songs.)

[@lostcauseforkl]

The Vigil blows my mind and fills me with joy every freaking time 🎉

[@JohnFreeman-d6t]

Cities on flame, Astronomy and In thee also to your list add

[@MrSmith0128]

I think black blade is the heaviest BOC song, weird that Martin doesn't think so.

[@drumsybatabamboom8022]

Agreed!

[@jonholland6067]

It is wicked!

[@frank215n]

I always liked the Marshal Plan. Has that Shooting Star by Bad Company theme to it,minus the overdose

[@tylerpatterson4787]

My top 10 favorite heavy BOC songs 1. Black Blade 2. The Vigil 3. Career of Evil 4. ME262 5. Cities on flame with rock n roll 6. Hot rails to hell 7. The Alchemist 8. Astronomy 9. Dominance & Submission 10. Transmaniacon MC

[@b2tall239]

I'd go to that concert in a heartbeat. Too bad I'm 1500 miles away. Godzilla would be #1 on my list.

[@EnterTheDragonsLair7777]

Awsome , I have been playing BOC more this month then I have my whole life. 1000k subscribers nice job guy's . keep it up.

[@orchidcarpetcleaningrp6061]

The Vigil is my favourite BOC track

[@BD-ov3ko]

Veteran of the Psychic Wars?

[@MrSmith0128]

@BD-ov3ko yeah where was that pick at?

[@Donald.W.Rissler-ARTS]

That is my #1 BOC pick of all time. Its heavy in a bludging and narrative way, but the keys being so prominent discounts it as heavy to most people. When I want to introduce people to a heavy (more metal) version of it , I will play them the Tarot cover version.

[@gregwasserman2635]

I really enjoyed this episode. BOC has such diverse material that what one person consider "heavy" another will consider "progy". I am currently listening to my BOC discs so I may things differently now.

[@OMW66]

My top three are their three first records. Fun show.

[@Fastnbulbous1969]

An awesome series would be to interview original members from a number of bands that had been slogging it out in the years (1974-77) preceding the breakout of the NWOBHM, and ask them two key questions. Martin should be into this since he had a whole book about the birth of metal. 1) When did audiences noticeably start wearing battlejackets and vests with band patches? 2) When (if ever) did your band start self-identifying as "heavy metal" instead of just hard rock? Sabbath called themselves "downer rock" and refused the metal label really until Dio joined. Similarly with Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Budgie and all the other early proto-metal bands. Even with Judas Priest it's been hard to pin down when they publicly referred to themselves as heavy metal. It may not have been until 1978, around the same time they evolved their costumes into the denim and leather style that would be associated with metal, and just before the whole NWOBHM scene broke at the end of that year. Other bands kicking around were Son of a Bitch from Barnsley, South Yorkshire in 1976, who became Saxon a couple years later, Newcastle upon Tyne’s Raven (1974), Nottingham’s Witchfynde (1974), London’s Praying Mantis (1974), Birmingham’s Quartz (originally Bandylegs, 1974), Girlschool (1975), Samson (1977) and Angel Witch (1977), Hartlepool’s White Spirit (1975), Stourbridge’s Diamond Head (1976) and Sheffield's Def Leppard (1977). And of course, a band from Leyton, Greater London in 1975 called Iron Maiden.

[@deadline9175]

Not that anyone will read this, but I think White Flags off Club Ninja should have been Top 40. Easily one of their most underrated songs.

[@neilparnell5712]

''Baby Ice Dog'' for me. The lyrics really reinforce the songs venom.

[@drumsybatabamboom8022]

Black Blade!!

[@thekivster]

Hot Rails to Hell is the heaviest BOC song of the 70s

[@bernardmaasdijk734]

Lips in the Hills!

[@Rmesick-hm6yq]

Love the Cult. Seen them in arenas and club shows. Favorite songs: Black Blade, Lips in the Hills, Alchemist, I am the Storm, Vigil, Hot Rails to Hell, Harvester of Eyes.

[@greensombrero3641]

100k - congratulations pete - watching this one from India

[@kimolavsvines4842]

This was fun. You should really do a Alice Cooper goofy/heavy songs. Lots to choose from both sides.

[@timjonesvideos]

Another fun one, BOC have a mysterious, otherworldly quality that I really enjoy. I bet you can't find all 4 Bo Hansson cd's for cheap.

[@sunsin1592]

I'd put both "White Flags" & "Frankenstein" near the top of my heavy list, though "Flaming Telepaths" would be #1.

[@keithleeuwen877]

Club Ninja doesn't seem as bad now in an opinion.

[@t3amtomahawk]

Time has treated it well. It embodies the mid-80s to me

[@oy6793]

A favorite hard rock band For me ,especially like the first three albums and also The Stalk forest group album

[@CoreyArsenault-c8t]

Martin really isn't huge on secret treaties

[@ericdinse5047]

I do not get that !

[@TheVinylOrchard]

He probably is secretly but likes to be a bit contentious - all very contrarian 😳

[@CoreyArsenault-c8t]

@@TheVinylOrchard I agree with cagey but the rest of the album is a masterpiece

[@TheVinylOrchard]

@ absolute masterpiece. Love it!

[@orchidcarpetcleaningrp6061]

Agee Take me away great track. Mirrors my personal favourite. I also love Heavy Rock from 1975 to 1980

[@ericdinse5047]

BOC !!!!!! 🤘

[@mainzergirl9610]

My Top 5: 1. The Horsemen Arrive 2. Siege and Investiture 3. See You in Black 4. That was Me 5. Tattoo Vampire

[@btfvinylmagic1180]

Power underneath despair is a powerhouse!

[@captainh3831]

Some of their songs sound better and/or heavier live than the studio versions. And of course it would depend which version of BOC is playing.

[@powrnap]

best of the worst? worst of the best? And it’s all so subjective as to what’s “heavy” or “goofy.” Harvester of Eyes not deemed heavy enough, but ME262 (with its standard 50s rock chord changes in the verse) is??And ETI to me, especially live, is among the heaviest things they did. Same with Red & Black, which is proto punk. Anyway, I agree with Pete, in that I like almost all their songs, regardless of genre except for those obvious mid 80s attempts at anthems. As for Martin, Albert Bouchard not particularly good? Um. Albert’s nuanced playing is part of what separated them from the pack of Zep acolytes. PS - “Heavy Metal” was written for the movie, not as a fist raiser. (But I still love ya Martin!)

[@Hecatecrossways]

Cities on Flame With Rock and Roll, and 7 Screaming Diz Busters were definitely the Heaviest Blue Oyster Cult 1970s songs. Nosferatu definitely was Heavy.

[@sunsin1592]

TSO always used to play the Mid-Hudson Civic Center.

[@Hecatecrossways]

Eric Bloom sounds like Mick Jagger, and BUCK dharma sounds like George Harrison. It's the Vocals that make the Heaviest Blue Oyster Cult songs too pretty. If Dan Mc Cafferty provided the Vocals for songs like Hot Rails to Hell they would've sounded a lot Heavier.

[@philipquail4044]

I have to disagree about the tracks off Imaginos! Real BOC or not, it's such a great album.

[@mikem.7921]

See you in black from heaven forbid is really heavy

[@Hecatecrossways]

Cagey Cretins had to be a parody of the Dramatics - the Devil is Dope ( the into in particular). What a goofy song that includes the immortal lyric " Being chased around by the neighbor's cat.

[@donnybrookdetritus]

I need a Pantera book Martin!

[@Mike-aka747]

Vengeance(the pact) Tattoo Vampire ME262 Lips in the Hills Monsters Veins

[@ronaldwilliams2456]

I'm thinking that the definition of heaviness in the seventies was a much broader category.

[@ronaldwilliams2456]

I'm sorry. I think that the first three albums are monstrous. Also Martin: do you dislike the Doors or something? What's up?

[@btfvinylmagic1180]

Pete...I really can't understand why are you so cold on Imaginos...no matter if it is BOC or not...look at the songs....amazing. Anyway....everyone has different ears;-)

[@btfvinylmagic1180]

Martin should listen to ETL Dominance and submission....that is damn heavy!

[@atmaweapon2803]

I mean whether or not It is ethical, we're going to have music AI good enough eventually where you could add Paul DiAnno's vocals to later Iron Maiden albums. I guess it would be great for a theoretical experiment, but I really hope they don't try to sell these experiments as products, and I hope people don't get carried away, or musicians really will be out of work.

[@btfvinylmagic1180]

I think Joan Crawford, especially on ETL, is damn 'eavy!

[@PsychiatricExile-channel]

Suggestion for future topic: Does the definition of Heavy Metal change over time? Should it? Case in point, bands that were considered Metal in the late 70s that are not considered Metal anymore (ie Nugent, Heart). Also that guy from Madtodon saying a while back that Priest is Hard Rock, not Metal. As the genre evolves and becomes more brutal stuff from the past will always seem milder. Heck, I think according to some definitions 75% of the NWOBHM albums would not be considered Metal. For me “once Metal, always Metal”. Revisionism seldom works. Same is true for essentialism when it comes to categories in general (as Wittgenstein showed).

[@jeffmorcom544]

That's true. My 28-year-old co-worker (I'm twice his age) is heavily into modern metal (Wage War, Slaughter to Prevail, etc) and bands that were considered metal in my day (Maiden, Priest, etc) he thinks of as Rock (he likes these bands too BTW). So yeah it would be a great topic.

[@srvuk]

Godzilla all the way for the eelier years and I think that they are at their best when hey released The Symbol Remains, where for me, they show that they are at their best when they do go for the heavier side of things.

[@gilbertgonzalez1365]

Def. Atmospheric. Their last album is missing that BOC atmosphere that makes them BOC, I like the album, but I can tell it’s missing that BOC sound

[@Redrum1981]

Top 5 BöC Veterans of The Psychic Wars The Marshall Plan Lips in The Hills Tattoo Vampire R U Ready 2 Rock

[@stevemcnary7963]

How about Mistress Of The Salmon Salt(Quicklime Girl)?

[@btfvinylmagic1180]

Drum sound on Club ninjs not good on EU version but it is really good on US version. i mean....it was 1986...probably on a Journey album you would have not noticed anything wrong with this sound...same as for Revolution by night which is very clese to Frontiers sound.

[@ronaldwilliams2456]

Wow. Disagree on this totally. The Red and The Black is magnificent!

[@scottragland2817]

I'm surprised you guys didn't pick "The Marshall Plan" for the bottom of your lists. On an otherwise great album, what should be a heavy song is bizarrely lacking in energy.

[@mannyruiz1954]

I don't know, i think Curse of The Hidden Mirror sounds muscular. Fine album (imo).

[@ronaldwilliams2456]

What's wrong with Cactus and Humbe Pie?

[@purpletemple1]

Wouldn't you guys consider that their latest album (Symbol Remains) is their heaviest album overall? Surprised nothing was picked from this one...

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

I picked a bunch of songs from it!

[@deadline9175]

Beat’em Up is pretty heavy and easily one of their most lame/bad songs. Heavy Metal (Black and Silver) is probably the worst song on Fire. 10 BOC tracks that (IMO) are full blown heavy metal and good: 1. Cities on Flame 2. Godzilla 3. Wings Wetted Down 4. Transmaniacon MC 5. Lips In The Hills 6. Black Blade 7. See You In Black 8. 7 Screaming Diz Nutsters 9. Tattoo Vampire 10. The Alchemist

[@gregb8565]

Don’t know how long this guy ( Martin) has been listening to BOC, but he’s totally clueless if he thinks dominance and submission stairway to the stars and red and the black are BOCs worst songs , since they have had them in their set for fifty years, probably are pretty good songs , Pete’s picks make more sense .

[@orchidcarpetcleaningrp6061]

Mid to late 80's BOC not for me.Cheesy production

[@neil1390]

BOC,off the Club Ninja album is terrible

[@Hecatecrossways]

I can't stand the Red and the Black. I'm On the Lamb but I Ain't No Sheep 🐑 Southern Rock feel was 1000 times better than the Barroom Honky tonk bouncy boogie of the re worked Tyrrany and Mutation track . Oddly I like everything on the first 3 Blue Oyster Cult albums, but I always skip that track.

[@lostcauseforkl]

Humble Pie and Cactus are derogatory words😂 love to Martin

[@lostcauseforkl]

Oh yes, D'ianno would definitely have sounded great on the following Maiden albums

[@lostcauseforkl]

Being depressed is ok Martin 😅

[@lostcauseforkl]

From... "Women" hahaha hahaha hahaha oh my