I was introduced to Blue Öyster Cult formally in 1982, though I am sure I had heard the band’s songs on the radio beforehand. 1982 is when we moved next door to who would be my best friend throughout high school and for several years afterward. David introduced me to several bands, Blue Öyster Cult being one of them.
Recently released was “Extraterrestrial Live”, the band’s third live album, this one documenting the band’s tour of 1981 in support of the album “Fire Of Unknown Origin”, an album featuring several songs that would wind up being all-time classics such as “Veteran Of The Psychic Wars”, “Joan Crawford” and “Burnin’ For You”. David and I listened to that live album so many times it would become the first album I ever got sick of.
It wasn’t until the late 80s that I was the time and, more importantly, the money to pick up some of the band’s catalog and fully explore the band. Blue Öyster Cult could be one of the better examples of a band having an uneven career. Starting with its first album in 1972 critics and audiences alike weren’t sure if the band was prog rock, hard rock, heavy metal or what. That muddled genre lack of definition would continue throughout the band’s entire career.
“Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll”
While it was that 1982 live album that introduced me to Blue Öyster Cult, I have found over the years it is one of my least favorites from the band. Actually, I am not sure I do have a favorite album, which dovetails neatly into my opinion of how the band has had an uneven career. Their albums are uneven. Granted, some are indeed better than others, most have some great songs.
“Don’t Fear The Reaper” from the 1976 album “Agents Of Fortune” garnered the band it’s first real hit. Yes there was plenty of radio play for the band and a fair amount of success, but this would take the band to some mainstream acceptance. Blue Öyster Cult’s next album would garner one of the band’s most enduring hits.
“Godzilla”
That song would wind up being nearly twice as long on that 1982 live album.
Blue Öyster Cult explored a lot of different themes in its lyrics, but many would be fantasy and science fiction. Lyrics for a few songs were even co-written by fantasy author Michael Moorcock. Other contributors over the years included Patti Smith and author John Shirley. Some songs were just… weird. I still don’t get “Shooting Shark”.
While I could go on about the band’s use of imagery, that hook/cross symbol and some of the weirder songs in the band’s catalog, I just want to say that while they were never one of my favorites, I have always enjoyed Blue Öyster Cult. They came to town at some point in the mid-90s, playing one of the city’s smaller venues at the time, the Ballard Firehouse. Somehow I managed to talk myself out of going, apparently not wanting to see this type of rock band in such a small venue. I would hold out to see them in a more proper setting, something with a few thousand seats. That was dumb on my part. I have yet to see Blue Öyster Cult, and at this point may never see them.
“In Thee”