Don't Fear the Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult

I've never read a career-encompassing interview with Blue Oyster Cult. For BOC diehards out there, do you know if the band members regret probably not getting the recognition they deserve for those first 5-6 albums? Have they ever spoken out about it in depth?

 

Get:

Blue Oyster Cult
Tyranny and Mutation
Secret Treaties
On Your Feet Or On Your Knees (Live album)
Agents of Fortune
Spectres
Some Enchanted Evening (Live album)
Mirrors
Cultosaurus Erectus
Fire Of Unknown Origin

Those are in order by release and in my opinion, all essential.
Maybe start out with the first 5 studio albums.

 

The Complete Columbia Albums Collectiön [Box] * [CD & DVD] by Blue Öyster... 886919363425 | eBay

 

my opinion of don't fear the reaper is the same as the movie clips from " The stoned age " movie.

 

Apologies if posted previously, here's a great article in UNCUT where Al Bouchard, Eric Bloom, Don Roeser, Sandy Pearlman, the co-producer and engineer discuss the song. The Making Of… Blue Oyster Cult’s (Don’t Fear) The Reaper - Uncut

Ya know what's crazy about how mainstream this song has become is the definitely non-mainstream middle break which mixes 3/4, 4/4 and 5/4 time signatures.

 

wow, when did this get so expensive? I think I paid $70 for mine. Guess I should clean it up and stash it with the "may be worth some coin someday" stuff.

 

Cruel...
but fair.

D.D.

 

Here's a cool psych-folk cover

 

I'm surprised that the stereotypical 'metal-head' Blue Oyster Cult fans haven't chimed in to dismiss Buck Dharma's hit-tracks (e.g., Reaper, I Love The Night, Godzilla, and Burnin' For You). In person, this is all I ever hear from other BOC fans!

 

Last Days of May was a great (little) song originally, but they have turned it into an epic live. It smokes, with Richie & Buck both laying down some fine solos.

 

What's funny to me is that it's being offered for $800 on the Amazon marketplace, but Amazon itself is soliciting people to sell them the box set.

They're offering "up to $0.25" for it. Holy lowball, Batman.

 

Secret Treaties
Fire Of Unknown Origin
Spectres
Agent Of Fortune
Blue Oyster Cult

 

I also recommend Martin Popoff's book on B.O.C.

 

Flaming Telepaths is one of their best. They do a great performance of it on the 'Long Day's Night' DVD.

 

I've read and heard interviews with Buck and Eric. They are extremely smart guys, not surprisingly, and very realistic and down to earth. I think they would have liked to have had more commercial success, but they understand why they didn't. They admit that when they tried to put out more commercial stuff it wasn't their best. One thing that really comes across is that they really appreciate the loyal hardcore following they have.

 

I listened to Cult Classic last night, the version from that is NOT the version posted earlier from the TV show with the added overdubs.

 

I found this book disappointing to be honest. While its label "The Blue Öyster Cult Story" it's more a breakdown of all their songs. While that can be interesting, I would have appreciated more of a true history of the band and less of a song by song deal. Still, it's not a bad book.

 

I think a song-by-song analysis is exactly what most fans would want.

 

That's Popoff's approach. I like it too.

 

A vinyl version of this set would be sweet! I'd guess lackluster market demand would prevent it, but who knows?

 

Well, it's gone now, I broke down and bought it. I have had that $150 copy sitting in my basket, and if you're now starting to advertise it here I thought I'd better pull the trigger. I waited too long with getting this box and since it went out of print the prices have been steadily high, that is as "good" a price as I have seen for a sealed copy.

 

Massif CultHead and "I Love the Night" is one of my fave tracks. Still makes hairs stand on end after how many years?!?

 

Heh, I apologize if I put on the pressure in any way. But I gotta say - these sets have dried up drastically within the last 6-8 months, so while it is a lot of money I think its the right time to pull the trigger. If you look at similar situations like the Cheap Trick box which is now priced out of reach for most consumers, you kinda have to act within that window of affordability. And that window for the BOC box appears to be shrinking rapidly. At any rate, I hope you enjoy it.

 

No, it's cool, I needed the push. Kicking myself for not buying it when it was in print and cost half the price though... The reason I hesitated in the first place is because I have pretty much everything already, except the "rarities" discs (and of course some albums are new remasters as well, like On Your Feet..., so that's of interest), I guess I was hoping it would come down in price, or I'd find a bargain, after it had been around a while, that didn't work out so well.

 

It's on all those comps because it was a huge hit. Probably one of the most played songs on FM radio I ever remember hearing - right up there with tracks like Freebird, Stairway to Heaven, Won't Get Fooled Again, Smoke on the Water, etc etc etc.

Is it their best song? I dunno. I love BÖC, they have many many many great songs IMO. Reaper is just one of them to me.