Blue Öyster Cult – Cult Classics

Album review by; Myk

 

This is a strange one, a remastered reissue of a 1994 album of re-recorded classic tracks plus a couple of bonus TV mixes (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07Y4MVZFK?tag=duc08-21&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1).

 

For established fans they will have everything on here bar maybe the 2 TV mixes, that to be honest are not worth more than a cursory listen. The re-recorded versions are close enough to the originals for any differences to be barely noticeable.

Tracks are taken pre-dominantly from the early and mid-70’s albums, when BÖC where regarded as at their best and most consistent.

We get ‘Cities On Flame With Rock ‘n’ Roll’ from 1972 debut album Blue Öyster Cult, ‘O.D.’d On Life Itself’ from 1973’s Tyranny and Mutation, 4 from 1974’s Secret Treaties ‘Flaming Telepaths’, ‘Astronomy’, ‘Harvester Of Eyes’ and ‘ME.262’, 3 from their bestselling 1976 Agents of Fortune including the universally known ‘Don’t Fear The Reaper’, ‘E.T.I (Extra-terrestrial Intelligence)’, and ‘This Ain’t The Summer Of Love’, ‘Godzilla’ from 1977’s Spectres and ‘Burning For You’ from 1981’s Fire of Unknown Origin.

 

Overall it’s a very strong selection of songs and representative of their live set at the time. The 2 TV mixes of Don’t Fear the Reaper and Godzilla you could probably do without, but it’s still deserving of a 4 out of 5 and if you’re not familiar with BÖC’s http://www.blueoystercult.com/ wider catalogue this is as good a place as any to start.

Öyster Cult – Cult Classics Öyster Cult – Cult Classics