Great Rock/Metal Albums of 1983: Blue Oyster Cult- The Revolution by Night

 

After reading about the passing of former Blue Oyster Cult producer, Sandy Pearlman, I thought it would be a fitting tribute to the man if I posted about Blue Oyster Cult's 1983 album, "The Revolution by Night." Unfortunately, when I did a little research for the post, I discovered that Sandy did not produce the album. He did produce the band's previous two albums, "Fire of Unknown Origin" and "Extra- Terrestrial Live" and that could be a reason why it doesn't quite measure up to those two. That's not just my opinion, it seems to be the opinion of many now and then. It has been widely felt that "The Revolution by Night" began a decade long era of mediocrity for BOC.

[caption id="attachment_3356" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sandy Pearlman[/caption]

I remember seeing the video for the single "Shooting Shark" and not being very impressed. I admit, I expected something more along the lines of "Don't Fear the Reaper" or "Godzilla" or even "Veteran of 1000 Psychic Wars." "Shooting Shark" is definitely not anything like those classics. It's possibly the closest Blue Oyster Cult has ever come to a ballad. In any case, the song was way too commercial for me back then. However, it did get quite a lot of airplay in 1983, something not common for a Blue Oyster Cult song. Having listened to it again, I find that it's not as bad as I remember. Possibly owing to the fact that I am listening to the full seven minute version that appears on the album and not the shortened MTV version.

Technically, the rest of "The Revolution by Night" is pretty sound. There is nothing bad about the album at all. In fact, the musicianship is as done well and that includes newly acquired drummer Rick Downey who replaced the fired Albert Bouchard. The opener, "Take Me Away" does remind me of the Blue Oyster Cult I grew up loving. It is a good rock song. A better rock song, probably the hardest on the album is "Shadow of California." It is my favourite track here. It also proves that the band didn't abandon the formula that made them so great. "Feel the Thunder is a very good track as well.

Track Listing:

1. Take Me Away
2. Eyes of Fire
3. Shooting Shark
4. Veins
5. Shadow of California
6. Feel the Thunder
7. Let Go
8. Dragon Lady
9. Light Years of Love

[caption id="attachment_3369" align="aligncenter" width="274"] Blue Oyster Cult[/caption]

Eric Bloom- guitar, vocals

Donald 'Buck Dharma' Roeser- lead guitar, vocals, keyboards

Alan Lanier- piano, keyboards

Joe Bouchard- bass, guitars, vocoder, vocals

Rick Downey- drums

Additional Musicians:

Aldo Nova- guitar and synthesizers on "Take Me Away"

Randy Jackson- bass on "Shooting Shark"

Gregg Winter- backing vocal on "Eyes on Fire"

Marc Baum- saxophone on "Shooting Shark"

"The Revolution by Night" might have been a mediocre album for Blue Oyster Cult but there are so many bands out there who couldn't sound as good as this album, even at their best. Maybe we should lay off BOC for this one because it's not in any way a bad album.

Next post: Slayer- Show No Mercy

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Great Rock/Metal Albums of 1982: Blue Oyster Cult- Extraterrestrial Live

 

1982 featured two magnificent live albums from bands I've never seen live and with both, the results are the same: After listening to those albums, I regret not having seen them live even more. I've already visited the first album, Blackfoot's "Highway Song" and the second one is Blue Oyster Cult's "Extra- Terrestrial Live." All but two songs were recorded during the "Fire of Unknown Origin" tour, the band's previous album, so you know that this live album is going to be great straight away. The three songs that appear from that album sound even better live! The piano intro on "Joan Crawford" sounds even more eerie and they don't leave out the sound effects like the screeching brakes, which some bands tend to do live. Even "Burning for You" has a more upbeat feel that makes you think you're in the arena pumping your first along to the song. However, both of those songs pale to the live version of "Veteran of 1000 Psychic Wars." The song is extended to include some great guitar soloing from Buck Dharma. That takes nothing from the rest of the song where the keyboards sound just as fresh as when done in the studio. Fantastic!

Being a live album, Blue Oyster Cult don't disappoint with some of their classics from the 70s. No gold stars given for stating the obvious, "Don't Fear The Reaper" being the closer. After all it's their best known song. At the other end, "Dominance and Submission" is certainly a good song to open the show with and "Cities on Flame" and "Dr Music" are both great songs to follow on from that. Furthermore, Blue Oyster Cult show their versatility by playing an excellent cover of The Doors classic, "Roadhouse Blues," although I'm not too sure about Eric Bloom's tale about buying a six pack from the Seven-Eleven. It doesn't ruin the song though but that's hard to do. Like with all the songs mentioned, I was also very impressed with the live version of "Black Blade." They make that song come alive for real.

Saving the best for last, my all time personal BOC favourite, "Godzilla." It begins with one of the best live introductions to a song ever. Marrying past with then present, Eric Bloom explains to the crowd how the Cold War and nuclear testing caused a monster frozen in ice to come back to life. It is a fine intro before it rips into the great song I know it for. It is here where they fully launch into their famous three guitar attack and the pausing to hear bombs dropping is just superb and makes the song that much better. While any song following "Godzilla" would work here, it just so happens that with "Extra- Terrestrial Live," that song is "Veteran of 1000 Psychic Wars." Sheer brilliance if you ask me.

Track Listing:

1. Dominance and Submission

2. Cities on Flame

3. Dr Music

4. The Red and The Black

5. Joan Crawford

6. Burning For You

7. Roadhouse Blues

8. Black Blade

9. Hot Rails to Hell

10. Godzilla

11. Veteran of 1000 Psychic Wars

12. ETI (Extraterrestrial Intelligence)

13. (Don't Fear) The Reaper

[caption id="attachment_1443" align="aligncenter" width="248"] Blue Oyster Cult[/caption]

Eric Bloom- lead vocals, guitar, keyboards

Donald "Buck Dharma" Roesser- lead guitar, vocals

Alan Lanier- keyboards, guitar

Joe Bouchard- bass, vocals

Albert Bouchard- drums on tracks 1 and 8

Rick Downey- drums on all other tracks

 *Albert Bouchard was fired during the "Fire of Unknown Origin" tour and was replaced by roadie, Rick Downey

Wow, another great live album from a band I have never seen live. It's no wonder I regret not having done so.

Next post: Aerosmith- Rock in a Hard Place

To buy Rock And Roll Children, email me at tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

Great Rock/Metal Albums of 1981: Blue Oyster Cult- Fire of Unknown Origin

Of the four artists who made the transition from hard or glam rock in the 1970s to heavy metal in the 1980s, at least in the minds of non-believers, Blue Oyster Cult's album "Fire of Unknown Origin" is the one album that didn't pass me by unnoticed. Once again, I have the marines to thank for that, pulling barracks security watch on the graveyard shift on a Saturday night. I also have to thank the radio station WXQR in Jacksonville, North Carolina for their Saturday Night Six Pack show where six albums were played in their entirety starting at midnight on Saturday nights. Old age, I said all this when I visited the Danny Joe Brown Band, but yes, it was here where I got to first listen to this great album, (and I do mean great) from Blue Oyster Cult.

First, I can now certainly reassure my fellow blogger Heavy Metal Overload that the track "Veteran of 1000 Psychic Wars" is the same on this album as it is on the soundtrack to "Heavy Metal" and a good track it is. "Burning For You" is the single from the track and I mention this because it appears on a compilation album I bought five and a half years ago and I was glad that it was any other B.O.C. song than "Don't Fear the Reaper." I think I have that song on at least three compilation discs. It's still a good jam nonetheless.

If someone was to listen to just the opening and closing tracks on "Fire of Unknown Origin," they may be tempted to think that Blue Oyster Cult had gone a bit progressive rock. The keyboard intro on the title track may give that feel and "Don't Turn Your Back" almost sounds like a lounge act track, that is until it unleashes what is in my mind, the best guitar solo on the album. However, in between them is some great hard rock tunes like the two I've already mentioned, "Sole Survivor" and "Heavy Metal, The Black and the Silver." That is taking nothing away from the tracks "After Dark" and "Vengeance, the Pact."

Some of you are screaming inside about the one track I haven't mentioned yet and that is because I'm saving the best for last, at least I think so. Blue Oyster Cult has a reputation for writing quirky songs and none can be quirkier than "Joan Crawford." First, I love that piano intro, it gives me goosebumps every time I hear it and the lyrics: "Policemen hide behind the skirts of little girls" and the first line of the second verse, "Catholic school girls throw away their mascara." Pure genius. Saying that, I still prefer the live version of this song but you will have to wait till I visit that live album in 1982 to find out why.

Track Listing:

1. Fire Of Unknown Origin

2. Burning For You

3. Veteran of 1000 Psychic Wars

4. Sole Survivor

5. Heavy Metal, The Black and the Silver

6. Vengeance, The Pact

7. After Dark

8. Joan Crawford

9. Don't Turn Your Back

[caption id="attachment_1443" align="aligncenter" width="248"] Blue Oyster Cult[/caption]

Eric Bloom- lead vocals

Donald Buck Dharma Roeser- lead guitar, lead vocals

Alan Lanier- keyboards

Joe Bouchard- bass

Albert Bouchard- drums, percussion

I have always considered "Fire of Unknown Origin" one of the best Blue Oyster Cult albums. For me, it marked a genuine attempt to return to the glory days of albums like "Agents of Fortune." I leave you all to debate if it how well it does but for me, it came pretty close. Besides, it did get me through that graveyard shift that Saturday night.

Next post: Kiss- Music From, "The Elder"

To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London

Great Soundtracks of 1981: Heavy Metal

If I have to think back in time and pick out one major turning point in what made me the metalhead I am today, it would have to be this film and its superb soundtrack. Back then, I only thought of heavy metal music as a concept and it wouldn't be until I left the marines two years later that I would actually call myself a metalhead but after seeing the film and listening to all the great music on the soundtrack, it was safe to say that I was well on the road to becoming one.
Even though as a film, "Heavy Metal" was dismissed by some critics, even science fiction ones, I thoroughly enjoyed it. When you're twenty years old and your mind is under the influence of certain substances, seeing a space ship open its cargo door and then an astronaut comes out of it in a 1953 chevy corvette parachuting to Earth is mind blowing. For those who haven't seen the film, the mentioned scene happens to be at the beginning. The astronaut drives home and is met by his daughter. He then gives her this gift which is a large green globe. The globe melts the father and then tells the daughter its going to kill her after it shows her six stories about how it is the sum of all evil. It is these individual stories that make the film. My personal favourite is story two, "Den" about a nerdy teen who gets transported to a fantasy world where is is this muscular hero who gets all the girls. For months, I went around repeating Den's  lines from where he first discovers he's in a new body. "No hair, mmm big." Then the nerdy voice (done by the late John Candy) says, "There is no way I'm walking around this place with my dork hanging out." And then later in that story, after he sleeps with the evil queen, "Eighteen years of nothing and then twice in one day." Sorry, small things amuse small minds. While those lines amused me, the one that became the standard for me and my buddies was from story five when the two stoned aliens badly dock their space ship. Voiced by the late Harold Ramis: "One thing I know how to do man is drive when I'm stoned."
[caption id="attachment_2321" align="aligncenter" width="272"] Chevy Corvette parachutes to Earth[/caption]
You find out at the end that the entire film is tied to the very last story, "Taarna." Taarna is the last descendant of a warrior race known as the Taarakians, who after extracting vengeance on the barbarians who destroyed a peaceful city, sacrifices herself so the green globe can't take over the world. Her blood is in the young girl who becomes the new Taarakian defender. Yes, I thought the ending was a little naff but after watching the other six stories, I didn't really care. Besides, it was this last story that has instilled my fondness for ladies wielding swords. That might be too much information.
[caption id="attachment_2322" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Taarna with her sword[/caption]
Enough about the film, lets move to this fantastic soundtrack. I don't use the term "fantastic" loosely here because I really believe it about this soundtrack. It's a who's who of great rock and metal artists from the period. Two bands, Grand Funk Railroad and Blue Oyster Cult were listed in my honourable mentions category in great heavy metal influences. Then there's a song by Nazereth, whose album "Hair of the Dog" could have been used as a blue print for the creation of metal. Note: the Nazereth song on this soundtrack wasn't from that album but it's a good one nonetheless. Up an coming Sammy Hagar demonstrates why he would rise to glory in his own right with the song he plays here. There are also two great songs from Cheap Trick and my favourite Devo song and the soundtrack's more tender moments give us "Open Arms" by Journey and ones from Stevie Nicks and Donald Fagen. And of course we can't forget the contribution from one of the metal's founding fathers, Black Sabbath. What better song for this soundtrack than "The Mob Rules." However, the one song that gained the most notoriety was the second title track, (there are two on this one) by former Eagles guitarist Don Felder. If the soundtrack and film set me on the road to being a metalhead, it was this particular song that was the engine driving it.
[caption id="attachment_1950" align="aligncenter" width="275"] Black Sabbath[/caption][caption id="attachment_1443" align="aligncenter" width="248"] Blue Oyster Cult[/caption]

Track Listing:

1. Sammy Hagar- Heavy Metal

2. Riggs- Heartbeat

3. Devo- Working in a Coal Mine

4. Blue Oyster Cult- Veteran of 1000 Psychic Wars

5. Cheap Trick- Reach Out

6. Don Felder- Heavy Metal

7. Donald Fagan- True Companion

8. Nazereth- Crazy (A Suitable Case for Treatment)

9. Riggs- Radar Rider

10 Journey- Open Arms

11. Grand Funk Railroad- Queen Bee

12. Cheap Trick- I Must Be Dreamin'

13. Black Sabbath- The Mob Rules

14. Don Felder- All of You

15. Trust- Prefabricated

16. Stevie Nicks- Blue Lamp

[caption id="attachment_947" align="aligncenter" width="222"] Journey[/caption][caption id="attachment_963" align="aligncenter" width="220"] Cheap Trick[/caption]

One useless piece of information: When I visited Journey' "Escape" album, I mentioned that "Open Arms" was Mrs 80sMetalman's and mine first dance song at our wedding. Actually it was the CD from this very soundtrack that was used for it. See, that's how good this soundtrack was. Not much more I can say about it as the songs speak for themselves.

Next post: Thin Lizzy- Renegade

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Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London

Great Rock Albums of 1979: Blue Oyster Cult- Mirrors

Like with Aerosmith's "Night in the Ruts" album, 1979 featured an album from Blue Oyster Cult, which doesn't get the recognition it deserves. When most people think of albums by this iconic band, the ones they will usually point out are "Agents of Fortune," "Fire of Unknown Origin" and "Extra Terrestrial Live." These are all great classic albums and I am in no way taking anything away from them, it just seems unfortunate that "Mirrors" doesn't seem to get any mention at all. This is a shame because for me, it is a damn fine album.

I knew the opening track, "Dr Music," from the live album mentioned above. When I refamiliarized myself with the album, this song came back to me straight away and has stuck in my head to the point that I'm still singing the chorus two days later. Of course, "Dr Music" isn't the only good track on "Mirrors." The tracks "The Great Sun Jester," "I Am the Storm" and "The Vigil" also stand out for me too. This doesn't take away from the rest of the album as it is a good hard rocking album that typifies what you would expect when you hear Blue Oyster Cult.

Track Listing:

1. Dr Music

2. The Great Sun Jester

3. In Thee

4. Mirrors

5. Moon Crazy

6.  The Vigil

7. I Am The Storm

8. You're Not the One

9. Lonely Teardrops

Blue Oyster Cult

Eric Bloom- stun guitar, lead vocals

Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser- lead guitar, lead vocals

Alan Lanier- keyboards, guitar

Joe Bouchard- bass, lead vocal on "Moon Crazy"

Albert Bouchard- drums, lead vocal on "You're Not the One"

It has been said that the reason for the lack of success of "Mirrors" is that they tried a more glossy, commercial sound with this album. Yes, I do admit that its sound isn't as dark as many of their other albums but I think it is still a good listen and definitely underrated. 

Next post: Bob Dylan- Slow Train Coming

To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Store in London 

A Different Compilation Album

Whenever a rock compilation is unleashed onto the public, you can bet that there will be a repetition of the same songs. When you buy it, you are really only buying it for a few songs you don't have, because the other songs on it will definitely be on all the other rock compilations you own. These include:

Boston- More Than a Feeling

Blue Oyster Cult- Don't Fear the Reaper

Black Sabbath- Paranoid

Deep Purple- Smoke on the Water

Rainbow- Fool For Your Loving

Whitesnake- Here I Go Again

Heart- Alone

Marillion- Kayleigh

Motorhead- Ace of Spades

There's nothing wrong with any of these songs, I like all of them. But I don't want them on every compilation I buy. Besides, there are songs from many of these artists which I like more than the ones listed here. Taking all of this into consideration, I have decided to put together my own compilation album, (not for sale) with the following songs.

1. Michael Stanley Band- My Town

2. Heart- If Looks Could Kill

3. Black Sabbath- War Pigs

4. Blue Oyster Cult-Godzilla

5. Whitesnake-  Slide it In

6. Jay Ferguson- Thunder Island

7. OPM- Heaven is a Half pipe

8. Anthrax- Make Me Laugh

9. Ted Nugent- High Heels in Motion

10. Saxon- Wheels of Steel

11. Marillion- Sugar Mice

12. Motorhead- Killed By Death

13. Night Ranger- Don't Tell Me You Love Me

14. Boston- Piece of Mind

15. Rainbow- Death Alley Driver

16. Deep Purple- Woman From Tokyo

You might like some of these or most likely you have your own suggestions for a rock compilation. If so, feel free to post your suggestions here.

Next post: 1978- They Year the Rivers Began to Overflow

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Other Great Metal Influences: Part 10, The Honourable Mentions

As this is the last in the great metal influences series, I thought it best to end it with some of the great unsung heroes of the 1970s who influenced the metal of the 80s. The list here is in no means exhaustive and there are probably a lot more acts that can be included in the list. These are the ones for me.

The first of these has to be without question, Slade. You only have to look as far as Quiet Riot to know that these guys were a big influence on 80s metal. It's a shame that they never really made it in America until the 80s, but throughout the 70s, they were a major player on the rock scene in Britain. Any doubts, you can ask my wife, she's met them.

Many will say that I should have given Blue Oyster Cult a solo spot in the series and there is great argument for this. They began to make huge strides into the rock scene in the late 70s, especially with their hit, "Don't Fear the Reaper." They were also the first band I heard of the be labelled "Satanic." The band's name gives that impression. I will be speaking a lot more of them when I begin my albums series.

Smashey and Nicey will love me for including Bachman Turner Overdrive in this list and with good reason. These rockers tore up the charts in the mid 70s with hits like "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" and "Taking Care of Business." Unfortunately, when I saw them in the 80s, they had declined and became what my friend described as a bunch of fat, burned out, 40 year old bikers.

Another great rock act from the early and mid 70s was Grand Funk Railroad. Back then, many rock fans put them on a par with Black Sabbath. However, they seemed to disappear into obscurity after that.

My final honourable mention has to go to Foghat. In the late 70s, they sold a good number of albums and were considered a great live act. I was jealous of two friends who saw them open for Blue Oyster Cult in 1981. The report was that the concert was fantastic.

Last but not least and I should be shot for almost forgetting them and I thank the Metal Excess blog for reminding me, is Heart. Throughout the 70s, they had a string of great rocking albums and songs that was so heavy, many acts from the 80s would have been jealous. Great hits like "Heartless," "Barracuda," "Magic Man" and Crazy on You" will forever linger in my memory as classic rock hits. Ann And Nancy Wilson proved to be great role models for the future ladies who would go on to carry the rock chick banner. Heart will be another band I could have included on their own in the series.

I hope you have enjoyed the entire series of great rock influences and will continue reading this blog in the future.
Next post: The Great Guitarists of the 70s.
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