Club Ninja
Encyclopedia
Club Ninja is the tenth studio album
by the U.S. hard rock
group Blue Öyster Cult
, released in 1986 (see 1986 in music
). The album was intended as a comeback for the band, whose previous album The Revölution by Night
failed to attain Gold status following the Platinum success of 1981's Fire of Unknown Origin
and 1982's Extraterrestrial Live
. Club Ninja sold more than 175,000 copies, falling well short of gold status again, and because of its high cost, Columbia Records
executives deemed it a commercial failure. The album was re-issued on compact disc on March 10, 2009, by the Sony-owned reissue label American Beat Records, who had also reissued the band's subsequent 1988 album, Imaginos
.
Club Ninja's first single, "Dancin' in the Ruins," was a minor radio and MTV hit. "When the War Comes" features a brief spoken-word introduction by radio personality Howard Stern
, whose cousin was married to guitarist and vocalist Eric Bloom
. The lyrics to "Spy in the House of the Night" were written by Richard Meltzer
, originally based on his poem "Out of Smokes," which was published in his 1999 book "Holes."
Club Ninja is the only Blue Öyster Cult studio album not to feature keyboardist Allen Lanier
. He was replaced temporarily by Tommy Zvoncheck, who'd previously been keyboardist for Aldo Nova
's live band and for a Japanese tour by Public Image Ltd.
, and went on to contribute to the Blue Öyster Cult's 1988 concept album
Imaginos
.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by the U.S. hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
group Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult, often abbreviated BÖC, is an American rock band, most of whose members first came together in Long Island, NY in 1967 as the band Soft White Underbelly...
, released in 1986 (see 1986 in music
1986 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1986.-January-June:*January 23 – The first induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame takes place...
). The album was intended as a comeback for the band, whose previous album The Revölution by Night
The Revölution by Night
The Revölution By Night is the ninth Blue Öyster Cult studio album, released in 1983.The album was intended to capitalize on the unexpected success of Fire Of Unknown Origin just two years prior, hence the album's blend of straight-ahead rock and pop elements...
failed to attain Gold status following the Platinum success of 1981's Fire of Unknown Origin
Fire of Unknown Origin
Fire of Unknown Origin is the eighth album by Blue Öyster Cult, released in 1981. It was produced by Martin Birch.The album, which included the top 40 hit "Burnin' for You" represented a resurgence of the group's commercial standing after two albums with disappointing sales...
and 1982's Extraterrestrial Live
Extraterrestrial Live
Extraterrestrial Live is a Blue Öyster Cult live album released in 1982. It documents their 1981 tour in support of Fire of Unknown Origin. Midway through the tour, the band fired drummer and founding member Albert Bouchard, replacing him with roadie Rick Downey...
. Club Ninja sold more than 175,000 copies, falling well short of gold status again, and because of its high cost, Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
executives deemed it a commercial failure. The album was re-issued on compact disc on March 10, 2009, by the Sony-owned reissue label American Beat Records, who had also reissued the band's subsequent 1988 album, Imaginos
Imaginos
Imaginos is a 1988 concept album by Blue Öyster Cult.The "Imaginos" concept was originally begun by producer Sandy Pearlman in 1967, before BÖC was even formed. Drummer Albert Bouchard began writing music for it following the release of the band's first album in 1972...
.
Club Ninja's first single, "Dancin' in the Ruins," was a minor radio and MTV hit. "When the War Comes" features a brief spoken-word introduction by radio personality Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
, whose cousin was married to guitarist and vocalist Eric Bloom
Eric Bloom
Eric Bloom is an American singer, songwriter and musician. He is best known as the main vocalist, and "stunt guitar" for the long-running band Blue Öyster Cult, with work on over 20 albums...
. The lyrics to "Spy in the House of the Night" were written by Richard Meltzer
Richard Meltzer
Richard Meltzer was one of the earliest rock music critics. His first book, The Aesthetics of Rock, evolved out of his undergraduate studies in philosophy at the State University of New York at Stony Brook and graduate studies at Yale University...
, originally based on his poem "Out of Smokes," which was published in his 1999 book "Holes."
Club Ninja is the only Blue Öyster Cult studio album not to feature keyboardist Allen Lanier
Allen Lanier
Allen Lanier was an original member of Blue Öyster Cult. Lanier played keyboards and rhythm guitar. He currently resides in Manhattan....
. He was replaced temporarily by Tommy Zvoncheck, who'd previously been keyboardist for Aldo Nova
Aldo Nova
Aldo Nova is a Canadian guitarist, keyboardist, vocalist and producer, Nova gained fame with his self-titled debut album Aldo Nova in 1981, and its accompanying single "Fantasy", which climbed to #23 on the Billboard Hot 100.-Career:Signing with Portrait Records, Nova released a self-produced...
's live band and for a Japanese tour by Public Image Ltd.
Public Image Ltd.
Public Image Ltd are an English post-punk band formed by vocalist John Lydon , guitarist Keith Levene and bassist Jah Wobble, with frequent subsequent personnel changes. Lydon is the sole constant member of the band....
, and went on to contribute to the Blue Öyster Cult's 1988 concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
Imaginos
Imaginos
Imaginos is a 1988 concept album by Blue Öyster Cult.The "Imaginos" concept was originally begun by producer Sandy Pearlman in 1967, before BÖC was even formed. Drummer Albert Bouchard began writing music for it following the release of the band's first album in 1972...
.
Side one
- "White Flags" (Leggatt Bros.) – 4:41
- "Dancin' in the Ruins" (Larry GottliebLarry GottliebLawrence Bennett "Larry" Gottlieb is an American songwriter. Though he is mainly a country music songwriter, he has also written songs for various other music genres....
, Jason Scanlon) – 4:00 - "Make Rock Not War" (Bob Halligan Jr.) – 3:58
- "Perfect Water" (Donald Roeser, Jim CarrollJim CarrollJames Dennis "Jim" Carroll was an author, poet, autobiographer, and punk musician. Carroll was best known for his 1978 autobiographical work The Basketball Diaries, which was made into the 1995 film of the same name, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Carroll.-Biography:Carroll was born to a...
) – 5:31 - "Spy in the House of the Night" (Roeser, Richard MeltzerRichard MeltzerRichard Meltzer was one of the earliest rock music critics. His first book, The Aesthetics of Rock, evolved out of his undergraduate studies in philosophy at the State University of New York at Stony Brook and graduate studies at Yale University...
) – 4:23
Side two
- "Beat 'em Up" (Bob Halligan Jr.) – 3:24
- "When the War Comes" (Joe BouchardJoe BouchardJoe Bouchard was the original bassist for Blue Öyster Cult. He grew up in Clayton, New York...
, Sandy PearlmanSandy PearlmanSandy Pearlman is an American music producer, artist manager, professor, poet, songwriter, and once was a record company executive...
) – 6:02 - "Shadow Warrior" (Eric BloomEric BloomEric Bloom is an American singer, songwriter and musician. He is best known as the main vocalist, and "stunt guitar" for the long-running band Blue Öyster Cult, with work on over 20 albums...
, Roeser, Eric Van LustbaderEric Van LustbaderEric Van Lustbader is a writer of thriller and fantasy novels.He is a graduate of New York's Stuyvesant High School and Columbia College, with a degree in Sociology, and is a second-level Reiki master.-The Pearl Saga:...
) – 5:42 - "Madness to the Method" (Roeser, Dick Trismen) – 7:25
Band
- Eric BloomEric BloomEric Bloom is an American singer, songwriter and musician. He is best known as the main vocalist, and "stunt guitar" for the long-running band Blue Öyster Cult, with work on over 20 albums...
– stun guitar, lead vocals on 1,3,6,8 - Donald "Buck Dharma" RoeserBuck DharmaDonald "Buck Dharma" Roeser is an American guitarist and songwriter, best known for being a member of Blue Öyster Cult since the group's formation in 1967...
– lead guitar, keyboards, lead vocals on 2,4,5,9, co-lead vocal on 7 - Joe BouchardJoe BouchardJoe Bouchard was the original bassist for Blue Öyster Cult. He grew up in Clayton, New York...
– bass, guitar, co-lead vocal on 7 - Tommy Zvoncheck – synthesizers, piano, organ
- Jimmy Wilcox – drums, background vocals
Others
- Thommy PriceThommy PriceThommy Price is a rock musician from Brooklyn, New York. He's played drums in numerous bands, including Billy Idol, Blue Öyster Cult, and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and is an in-demand session drummer.-History:...
– drums - Phil Grandé – additional guitars
- Kenny AaronsonKenny AaronsonKenny Aaronson is an American bass guitar player.- Early life and career :He started playing drums at the age of eleven, following in his older brother's footsteps. Kenny switched to electric bass at the age 14 after becoming enamored by the bass on Motown records and was strongly influenced by...
– additional bass - David LucasDavid Lucas (composer)David Lucas is an American rock and roll composer, singer, and music producer. He has written a number of well-known commercial jingles, such as AT&T's "Reach out and touch someone". In 1981, he received a Clio Award for composing the music to Pepsi's "Catch that Pepsi spirit"...
– background vocals - Joni Peltz – background vocals
- Dave Immer – background vocals
- Joe Caro – background vocals
- Howard SternHoward SternHoward Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
– opening to "When the War Comes"