Guys, guys, guys. Listen to 3 of the BOC's first four albums: Tyranny and Mutation, Secret Treaties, and the live twofer On Your Feet or On Your Knees- they're as loud, hard and fast as anything you could get in the early-mid 70's, including the beloved Stooges and Black Sabbath. But mega chart success eluded them until they softened their sound (even more; there were some quiet tunes on earlier albums) on "Don't Fear the Reaper" and spawned a million asinine cowbell jokes. After that, they desperately tried to duplicate "Reaper"'s success to diminishing returns, and that's how "Burnin' For You" and "Shooting Shark" came about. You should really listen to something that came out before 1977 once in a while, you know.
DwDunphy
· 10 months ago
I'll vouch for Secret Treaties and apparently so will Metallica since they covered "Astronomy"...
tvh
· 10 months ago
Amen. The first three B.O.C. albums are unabashed classics. I wouldn't refer to them as pedestrian.
David_E
· 10 months ago
Amen, jb.
Furthermore, BOC returned to the heavy in the '90s, though they always saved room for DonBuck's more melodic, '60s side.
For some worthy BOC background, boot up your iTunes and check out "Stone Of Love," "Joan Crawford," "In Thee" and "Dancin In the Ruins." All have the same softer side with a little punch beneath. For the harder, early stuff, try "Dominance and Submission."
And Jeff, I saw these guys on a lark maybe five years back, and they were terrific. It's never been a favorite, but "Godzilla" fucking ROCKS live. (Insert dubious, mullet-based "woo-woo!" here.)
David_E
· 10 months ago
And oh shit, how could I have forgotten the live version of "Black Blade" from Extraterrestrial Live? Leaving aside the Moorcock fantasy lyrics, this is some good rock, peoples. Many a Frank Frazetta knock-off was inspired by this track, friends ...
MichaelFortes
· 10 months ago
Some Enchanted Evening wasn't so bad either, for a single-LP 1970s live album.
David M: coincidentally, SEE does have a pretty decent version of "Kick Out The Jams."
outsidecounsel
· 10 months ago
I actually went to see BOC play a year or so ago. They were terrific. Fact is, their stuff was always a lot more knowing than they ever got credit for-- they should have been critics' darlings, but they were a bit too ironic at a time when rock'n'roll was taking itself more seriously than it ever should. As a result they sort of got lumped in with Kiss. If they are cool enough for Patti Smith they ought to be cool enough for anyone.
thefxc
· 10 months ago
But did the Reid brothers never get the memo that when you’re lip-syncing on a video soundstage, you don’t have to stand stock-still and sing right into the mic?
I saw J&MC twice in concert around this time--both times, the Brothers Reid picked a spot onstage, stood there, and for the entire concert they didn't move more than six inches in any direction from their original position. I think William stared at the floor all night. They sounded great, tho, so it's all good.
breadalbane
· 10 months ago
Man, dig that line up of musical guests on the Shindig closing credits!
DwDunphy
· 10 months ago
Dang, we have nothing that cool on TV now.
Arend_Anton
· 10 months ago
Not only is "Buck Dharma" a porn name, but he actually sort of resembles a young Ron Jeremy in that video.
Nosferatu
· 10 months ago
You guys know nothing about Blue Oyster Cult.
See them live. They are one of the greatest (and hardest) rock and roll bands in the world.
Beau
· 10 months ago
I should point out here that I DID see Blue Oyster Cult live -- opening for Rush sometime around Shooting Shark's release.
Pretty good, though the sound mix in Atlanta's since-demolished Omni was horrible. They had some monologues between songs that sounded like "ARRR BLEHNARR SKEBARRR DINOSAUR!! INBUEHBEN EXTINCT ARRRR!"
I would've liked to have seen them in a smaller venue with a better mix.
All Comments
Furthermore, BOC returned to the heavy in the '90s, though they always saved room for DonBuck's more melodic, '60s side.
For some worthy BOC background, boot up your iTunes and check out "Stone Of Love," "Joan Crawford," "In Thee" and "Dancin In the Ruins." All have the same softer side with a little punch beneath. For the harder, early stuff, try "Dominance and Submission."
And Jeff, I saw these guys on a lark maybe five years back, and they were terrific. It's never been a favorite, but "Godzilla" fucking ROCKS live. (Insert dubious, mullet-based "woo-woo!" here.)
David M: coincidentally, SEE does have a pretty decent version of "Kick Out The Jams."
I saw J&MC twice in concert around this time--both times, the Brothers Reid picked a spot onstage, stood there, and for the entire concert they didn't move more than six inches in any direction from their original position. I think William stared at the floor all night. They sounded great, tho, so it's all good.
See them live. They are one of the greatest (and hardest) rock and roll bands in the world.
Pretty good, though the sound mix in Atlanta's since-demolished Omni was horrible. They had some monologues between songs that sounded like "ARRR BLEHNARR SKEBARRR DINOSAUR!! INBUEHBEN EXTINCT ARRRR!"
I would've liked to have seen them in a smaller venue with a better mix.