Kind Of Like Death

Blue Oyster Cult-Blue Oyster Cult  (1972)     CBS Records

1-Transmaniacon MC (3:21) 2-I'm On The Lamb But I Ain't No Sheep (3:10) 3-Then Came The Last Days Of May (3:30) 4-Stairway To The Stars (3:43) 5-Before The Kiss, A Redcap (4:59) 6-Screams (3:09) 7-She's As Beautiful As A Foot (2:57) 8-Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll (4:03) 9-Workshop Of The Telescope (4:01) 10-Redeemed (3:52)

This is a strange little album. The music is very much bluesy space-rock. Kinda like Cream meets Hawkwind. The songs are all pretty good, but the whole thing is just a little bit unfocused. Some great songs and some not so great songs, but it does contain one of the strangest songs EVER: "She's As Beautiful As A Foot". What drugs were these guys on and where can I get some?

Trivia: "I'm On The Lamb..." is an early and more mellow version of "The Red And The Black" which would appear on the next record.

Favorite Tracks: I'm On The Lamb But I Ain't No Sheep, Then Came The Last Days Of May, Before The Kiss A Redcap

Blue Oyster Cult-Tyranny And Mutation (1973)    CBS

1-The Red And The Black (4:21) 2-OD'd On Life Itself (4:50) 3-Hot Rails To Hell (5:11) 4-7 Screaming Dizbusters (6:59) 5-Baby Ice Dog (3:27) 6-Wings Wetted Down (3:39) 7-Teen Archer (3:57) 8-Mistress Of The Salmon Salt (5:03) 9-Buck's Boogie (5:20) *Bonus Track*

While the band's first album was a psychedelic affair, this is 100% American heavy metal at it's finest! Every last track on here is raunchy, dirty rock n' roll with the same blend of humor and complete nonsense that makes them so much fun.

Favorite Tracks: All Of Them

Blue Oyster Cult-Secret Treaties (1974)    CBS

1-Career Of Evil (3:59) 2-Subhuman (4:38) 3-Dominance And Submission (5:22) 4-ME 262 (4:45) 5-Cagey Cretins (3:16) 6-Harvester Of Eyes (4:41) 7-Flaming Telepaths (5:19) 8-Astronomy (6:24)

The last of the band's "black and white" trilogy is oftne considered the best. It's never been a favorite of mine, even though it contains a few of BOC's best songs ever. The last two tracks are worth the price of admission alone.

Favorite Tracks: Subhuman, Flaming Telepaths, Astronomy

Blue Oyster Cult-On Your Feet Or On Your Knees (1975) Columbia 

1-The Subhuman (7:26) 2-Harvester Of Eyes (4:59) 3-Hot Rails To Hell ( 5:55) 4-The Red And The Black (4:33) 5-7 Screaming Dizbusters (8:49) 6-Buck's Boogie (7:40) 7-Then Came The Last Days Of May (4:35) 8-Cities On Flame (4:08) 9-ME 262 (8:47) 10-Before The Kiss A Redcap (5:05) 11-I Ain't Got You (8:59) 12-Born To Be Wild (6:36)

One of the greatest live albums ever released! The live setting beefed up a lot of these songs, making them heavier and a lot more fun with the crowd interacting (particularly on "Hot Rails To Hell"). Just a bitchin' record.

Favorite Tracks: Hot Rails To Hell, The Red And The Black, 7 Screaming Dizbusters, Buck's Boogie, Before The Kiss A Redcap

Blue Oyster Cult-Agents Of Fortune (1976)Columbia Records 

1-This Ain't The Summer Of Love (2:21)  2-True Confessions (2:56)  3-(Don't Fear) The Reaper (5:08)  4-ETI (Extraterrestrial Intelligence) (3:43)  5-The Revenge Of Vera Gemini (3:50)  6-Sinful Love (3:29)  7-Tattoo Vampire (2:40)  8-Morning Final (4:14)  9-Tenderloin (3:40)  10-Debbie Denise (4:08)

Lots of great tracks here, weighed down by a few bullshit tunes (the last three in particular). "Don't Fear The Reaper" caused a lot of controversy when some douchebags interpreted it as a suicide song. Did they even bother to read the lyrics?

Favorite Tracks: This Ain't The Summer Of Love, Don't Fear The Reaper, ETI, Tattoo Vampire

Blue Oyster Cult-Spectres (1977)     Columbia 

1-Godzilla (3:40)  2-Golden Age Of Leather (5:49)  3-Death Valley Nights (4:06)  4-Searchin' For Celine (3:34)  5-Fireworks (3:09)  6-RU Ready 2 Rock (3:42)  7-Celestial The Queen (3:23)  8-Goin' Through The Motions (3:11)  9-I Love The Night (4:23)  10-Nosferatu (5:19)

"Godzilla" is of course a kickass rock anthem, and for the most part this is a great album. The only song I don't really like is "Searchin' For Celine". The rest is prime BOC!

Favorite Tracks: Godzilla, Golden Age Of Leather, Fireworks, I Love The Night, Nosferatu

More to come