THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

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BLUE OYSTER CULT – Secret Treaties

August 23, 2021 /

There are two Blue Oyster Cult’s: before, and after Reaper. Basically, up to and including Agents of Fortune, and everything after that. They have been going in various forms since ’67, when the were called Soft White Underbelly. This is the bands third album released in ’74, and if you have heard the live album On Your Feet Or On Your Knees, 6 of the 8 tracks here are performed and they come over a lot heavier. The were sort of punk in attitude (before punk was a thing), and they were a cross between MC5 and the New York Dolls – which I sort of get.

Dominance And Submission still sounds great today, with that riff, beat, and lyrics – it’s one of my all time favourite BOC tracks. The raw rock and roll of ME 262 – complete with doo wops – and the brilliance of Harvester Of Eyes with that jagged riff, make this one of my most loved BOC records. Plus, you get the killer Astronomy as the close out track.

I got to see them a couple of years back supporting Foghat, and they weren’t that great. They looked as though they wanted to be anywhere but there. At least we still have these great albums to listen to.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

BLUE OYSTER CULT – Fire Of Unknown Origin

January 22, 2021 /

This BOC’s eighth studio album and was produced by Martin Birch who worked with Deep Purple and Iron Maiden. I am a big fan of early BOC, and after this album I started to loose interest somewhat. This is the audiophile Music On Vinyl release, and it sounds super clear – it’s also the last album to feature the original line up.

First track in is the title track co-written by Patti Smith, followed by the hit single Burning For You, which after Don’t Fear The Reaper and Godzilla was their biggest chart position. Veteran of the Psychic Wars is next and was co- written with sci-fi writer Michael Moorcock – who you may remember hooked up with Hawkwind in the 70’s. The very average Sole Survivor is next followed by Heavy Metal The Black, and The Silver, a track from the movie of the same name – this is more of an old BOC vibe and the best track on the album.

Side 2 starts with Vengeance, a solid rockin’ track that speeds into an almost Maiden gallop as the track moves on. After Dark is next with an almost punk/new wave intro and has a cool sing-a-long chorus. Next in, Joan Crawford vies with Heavy Metal for the best-track-on-the-album Championships. It starts with it’s almost operatic beginning and great chorus telling us “she has risen from the grave”. Don’t Turn Your Back closes things out in typical BOC style.

This is the album that saved their career – as the previous two releases bombed commercially – so the pressure was on. Thanks to the great choice of singles, and a solid production major label status was secured, for a while anyway.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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