Blue Öyster Cult "Blue Öyster Cult (EU, 2001 Reissue, Remastered, The Blve Öyster Cvlt Cöllection, Columbia/Legacy, 502234 2)"

Blue Öyster Cult is the eponymous debut studio album by the American hard rock band Blue Öyster Cult, released on January 16, 1972 by Columbia Records. The album featured songs such as "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll", "Stairway to the Stars", and "Then Came the Last Days of May", all of which the band still plays regularly during its concerts. Despite positive reviews, the album failed to chart for some time before finally cracking the Billboard 200 chart on May 20, 1972, peaking at No. 172. Blue Öyster Cult toured with artists such as The Byrds, Alice Cooper and the Mahavishnu Orchestra to support the album.

Joe Bouchard reflected on the album's creation in 2022:

I couldn't believe how much fun I was having. Every day I'd get up and we'd be going to the studio, and I'd be like, 'I can't believe we're going to a studio to make an album…a real album, on Columbia Records!' So, I was excited every day. And I was learning how records are made – this was at David Lucas' jingle studio in New York. On eight tracks. That's all you had – you had to do the whole album on eight tracks. But he would show us little magical ways of doubling things and doing live bounces. They'd be flipping the tape over backwards and he'd be making flanging using duplication of the part. So, he was all into what was happening with the Beatles and that production. And of course, Sandy Pearlman and Murray Krugman produced that record – so they kept us conceptually...instead of going way off track, they wanted to establish what was going to become Blue Öyster Cult. It had to have that vibe. When it came out, I was a little disappointed – I didn't like the vinyl pressing. But then maybe about 15 years later, they put it out on CD, and then all of a sudden, it brought me back to the studio. It was cleaner, and it was like sitting in the control room, listening to the playback of the mixes. I think we were all tremendously excited to be working on that record. And it sounds like it.

The song "I'm on the Lamb but I Ain't No Sheep" is about a fugitive pursued by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and was originally recorded in 1970 (when the band was known as Oaxaca). Another version from 1970 was intended to be included on the band's unreleased first album for Elektra Records (when the band was known as "Stalk-Forrest Group"). Both of these 1970 versions were eventually included on St. Cecilia: The Elektra Recordings. In 1971, the song was recorded again and finally released on the first Columbia album, and then recorded again at a much faster tempo and with much heavier guitars as "The Red and the Black" and included on the band's second Columbia album, Tyranny and Mutation. The main riff in this song was heavily inspired by "Frying Pan", a Captain Beefheart b-side from 1966. Some versions of the song make this influence more apparent than others.

"Then Came the Last Days of May" is based on a reportedly true story, when two friends were killed in a drug deal gone bad in the West. This song is occasionally played live as a showcase for Roeser's guitar soloing skills.

Originally titled "Conry's Bar," "Before the Kiss, a Redcap" describes scenes from that real location. Guitarist Buck Dharma explains the title as originating in an event witnessed by lyricist/manager Sandy Pearlman in which the titular drug was passed between partners during a kiss. The term "redcap" was supposedly slang for a type of barbiturate; however, "redcap" usually referred to the drug Dalmane.

"Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll" was written by Sandy Pearlman, Donald Roeser and Albert Bouchard, and released as a single. Bouchard performed lead vocals, also singing from his drumkit in concerts. The riff was inspired by Black Sabbath's song "The Wizard", featured on their own self-titled debut album. It is a staple on their live shows. On live albums the name of the song is shortened to "Cities on Flame".

"Redeemed" was written by singer-songwriter Harry Farcas, and sold to the band. Other band members are listed as authors, due to their input in the arrangement. "Sir Rastus Bear" was Farcas' pet Saint Bernard. Farcas is now an Iridologist in Southern California.

"Transmaniacon MC" is song with a theme of the Altamont concert. The MC in the song stands for motorcycle club.

The album received a positive reaction from critics. Lester Bangs gave the album a generally positive review in Rolling Stone stating, "with the Blue Öyster Cult, New York has produced its first authentic boogie beast, and with any luck this one should be around for awhile" telling readers that "I don't think you should miss this album." Circus wrote that "it could well be the album of the Seventies", while Robert Christgau in The Village Voice called it "the tightest and most musical hard rock record since – dare I say it? – Who's Next". The record was named an honorable mention on IGN's list of "Top 25 Metal Albums" and has been called "heavy metal for people who hate heavy metal." Canadian critic Martin Popoff criticized the "limp and lifeless" guitar sound and the unimpressive percussive display, which did not make a good service to the "tragic and beautiful BÖC compositions" on the album, leaving the listener "in muted bewilderment".

A cover version of "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll" has been covered by Church of Misery (on Master of Brutality), Iced Earth (on Tribute to the Gods) and 3 Inches of Blood (as a bonus track on Here Waits Thy Doom). The song appears in the American television period sitcom That '70s Show, as well as its soundtrack.

Guitarist William Tyler performs a 2015 solo acoustic instrumental version of "She's as Beautiful as a Foot" on Aquarium Drunkard's "Lagniappe Sessions" page.

Track listing

1. "Transmaniacon MC" Eric Bloom, Albert Bouchard, Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser, Sandy Pearlman Eric Bloom 3:21
2. "I'm on the Lamb but I Ain't No Sheep" Eric Bloom, Albert Bouchard, Sandy Pearlman Eric Bloom 3:10
3. "Then Came the Last Days of May" Donald Roeser Donald Roeser 3:31
4. "Stairway to the Stars" Albert Bouchard, Donald Roeser, Richard Meltzer Eric Bloom 3:43
5. "Before the Kiss, a Redcap" Allen Lanier, Murray Krugman, Donald Roeser, Sandy Pearlman Donald Roeser 4:59
6. "Screams" Joe Bouchard Joe Bouchard 3:10
7. "She's as Beautiful as a Foot" Albert Bouchard, Allen Lanier, Richard Meltzer Eric Bloom 2:58
8. "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll" Albert Bouchard, Donald Roeser, Sandy Pearlman Albert Bouchard 4:03
9. "Workshop of the Telescopes" Eric Bloom, Albert Bouchard, Joe Bouchard, Allen Lanier, Donald Roeser, Sandy Pearlman Eric Bloom 4:01
10. "Redeemed" Albert Bouchard, Allen Lanier, Harry Farcas, Sandy Pearlman Eric Bloom 3:51

Total length: 36:48

2001 CD reissue bonus tracks (recorded at CBS Studios, New York City, July 21–September 11, 1969)

1. "Donovan's Monkey" Albert Bouchard, Richard Meltzer 3:50
2. "What Is Quicksand" Allen Lanier, Richard Meltzer 3:40
3. "A Fact About Sneakers" Albert Bouchard, Richard Meltzer 2:50
4. "Betty Lou's Got a New Pair of Shoes" Bobby Freeman 2:34

Total length: 49:02

Released in a jewel case with clear tray, includes a 12-page booklet.

Tracks 1 to 10 originally released on Columbia as # KC31063 in 1972. Recorded october 1971 at The Warehouse, NYC.

Tracks 11 to 14 previously unreleased, recorded on September 11th (11 & 13) and July 21st (12 & 14) at CBS studio B New York in 1969. Soft White Underbelly demos (the band's original name).

Recording information:

David Lucas – producer, engineer

Murray Krugman, Sandy Pearlman – associate producers

Bill Robertson – engineer

Bill Gawlik - artwork

Bruce Dickinson – reissue compilation

Vic Anesini – reissue mastering