Spectres (album)
Encyclopedia
Spectres is the fifth studio album by Blue Öyster Cult
, released in November 1977. The album was certified gold in January 1978 and contained the album rock hits "Godzilla
", "Death Valley Nights", "R.U. Ready 2 Rock" and "I Love the Night". The single, "Going Through The Motions" charted in the American Top 40.
The cover art is demonstrative of BOC's use of lasers in its live show at that time. While the album didn't have the lasting power of its predecessor "Agents of Fortune
", it is a BOC fan favorite.
A remaster of this album was released on CD on February 13, 2007, which included four previously unreleased outtakes from Spectres sessions as bonus tracks.
"Goin' Through the Motions" was later covered by Bonnie Tyler
on her album Faster Than the Speed of Night
.
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 November 1977. The album was certified gold in January 1978 and contained the album rock hits "Godzilla
Godzilla (song)
"Godzilla" is a song by Blue Öyster Cult from their 5th album Spectres. The lyrics are a tribute to the popular movie monster of the same name. The song is, along with " The Reaper" and "Burnin' for You", one of Blue Öyster Cult's best known songs and has become a staple of their live performances...
", "Death Valley Nights", "R.U. Ready 2 Rock" and "I Love the Night". The single, "Going Through The Motions" charted in the American Top 40.
The cover art is demonstrative of BOC's use of lasers in its live show at that time. While the album didn't have the lasting power of its predecessor "Agents of Fortune
Agents of Fortune
Agents of Fortune is the fourth studio album released by Blue Öyster Cult, originally released in a gatefold sleeve in 1976.The platinum selling album peaked at #29 on Billboards Pop Albums chart, while the single " The Reaper" peaked at #12 on the Pop Singles chart, making it Blue Öyster Cult's...
", it is a BOC fan favorite.
A remaster of this album was released on CD on February 13, 2007, which included four previously unreleased outtakes from Spectres sessions as bonus tracks.
"Goin' Through the Motions" was later covered by Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler
Bonnie Tyler is a Welsh singer, most notable for her hits in the 1970s and 1980s including "It's a Heartache", "Holding Out for a Hero" and "Total Eclipse of the Heart".-Early life:...
on her album Faster Than the Speed of Night
Faster Than the Speed of Night
Faster Than the Speed of Night is an album by Bonnie Tyler released in April 1983. Her fifth album, and her most successful, it includes her UK and US #1 hit "Total Eclipse of the Heart"....
.
Side one
- "GodzillaGodzilla (song)"Godzilla" is a song by Blue Öyster Cult from their 5th album Spectres. The lyrics are a tribute to the popular movie monster of the same name. The song is, along with " The Reaper" and "Burnin' for You", one of Blue Öyster Cult's best known songs and has become a staple of their live performances...
" (Donald 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...
) – 3:41 - "Golden Age of Leather" (Bruce Abbott, Roeser) – 5:53
- "Death Valley Nights" (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...
, Albert BouchardAlbert BouchardAlbert Bouchard and grew up in Clayton, New York. He is a drummer, guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was a founding member of Blue Öyster Cult and a driving force through the band's first decade...
) – 4:07 - "Searchin’ for Celine" (Allen LanierAllen LanierAllen Lanier was an original member of Blue Öyster Cult. Lanier played keyboards and rhythm guitar. He currently resides in Manhattan....
) – 3:35 - "Fireworks" (A. Bouchard) – 3:14
Side two
- "R.U. Ready 2 Rock" (Sandy PearlmanSandy PearlmanSandy Pearlman is an American music producer, artist manager, professor, poet, songwriter, and once was a record company executive...
, A. Bouchard) – 3:45 - "Celestial the Queen" (Helen Wheels, Joe BouchardJoe BouchardJoe Bouchard was the original bassist for Blue Öyster Cult. He grew up in Clayton, New York...
) – 3:24 - "Goin’ Through the Motions" (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...
, Ian HunterIan Hunter (singer)Ian Hunter Patterson is an English singer-songwriter. He was the lead singer of the English rock band Mott the Hoople from its inception in 1969 to its dissolution in 1974, and he again fronted them at the time of their 2009 reunion. Hunter was a musician and songwriter before Mott The Hoople, and...
) – 3:12 - "I Love the Night" (Roeser) – 4:23
- "Nosferatu" (Wheels, J. Bouchard) – 5:23
2007 CD reissue bonus tracks
- "Night Flyer" (J. Bouchard, Murray Krugman) – 3:48
- "Dial M for Murder" (Roeser) – 3:11
- "Please Hold" (A. Bouchard) – 2:47
- "Be My BabyBe My Baby"Be My Baby" is a 1963 single written by Phil Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich, performed by The Ronettes and produced by Spector. When released as a single, the song reached #2 on the U.S. Billboard Pop Singles Chart and #4 on the UK's Record Retailer...
" (Jeff BarryJeff BarryJeff Barry is an American pop music songwriter, singer, and record producer.-Early career:...
, Ellie GreenwichEllie GreenwichEleanor Louise "Ellie" Greenwich was an American pop music singer, songwriter, and record producer. She wrote or co-wrote "Be My Baby", "Christmas ", "Da Doo Ron Ron", "Leader of the Pack", "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", and "River Deep, Mountain High", among many others...
, Phil SpectorPhil SpectorPhillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
) – 3:01
Personnel
- 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...
—vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
; lead vocals on 2,4,6,8 - Joe BouchardJoe BouchardJoe Bouchard was the original bassist for Blue Öyster Cult. He grew up in Clayton, New York...
—bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals, guitar; lead vocals on 7,10 - 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 and rhythm guitars, vocals; lead vocals on 1,2,9 - Albert BouchardAlbert BouchardAlbert Bouchard and grew up in Clayton, New York. He is a drummer, guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was a founding member of Blue Öyster Cult and a driving force through the band's first decade...
—drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, vocals, harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
; lead vocals on 3,5 - Allen LanierAllen LanierAllen Lanier was an original member of Blue Öyster Cult. Lanier played keyboards and rhythm guitar. He currently resides in Manhattan....
—keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, guitar - NewarkNewark, New JerseyNewark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
Boys Chorus—vocals (on "Golden Age of Leather")
Production credits
- Murray Krugman, Sandy PearlmanSandy PearlmanSandy Pearlman is an American music producer, artist manager, professor, poet, songwriter, and once was a record company executive...
, David LucasDavid LucasDavid Lucas is the name of:* David Lucas , American rock and roll producer and jingle writer* David Lucas , English cricketer who plays for Worcestershire* David Lucas , English footballer...
, and Blue Öyster Cult—producers - Shelly YakusShelly YakusShelly Yakus is considered as one of the best engineers and mixers in the music industry. Formerly chief engineer and vice president of A&M Records, Yakus' engineering work has help sell in excess of one hundred million records, equaling over one billion dollars in sales...
—engineering, mixing - John Jansen—engineering
- Corky Stasiak—engineering
- Thom PanunzioThom PanunzioThom Panunzio grew up in River Edge, New Jersey not too far from Manhattan. He began his career as an audio engineer originally working at Record Plant Studios in New York. There he met, Jimmy Iovine, and started his career working with John Lennon...
—engineering - Roni Hoffman—design
- Eric Meola—photos
- David Infante—laser effects and photo assistance
- Joe Brescio—mastering
- Gray Russell—assistant engineer
- Dave Thoener—assistant engineer
- Jay Krugman—assistant engineer
- Rod O’Brien—assistant engineer
- Sam Ginsberg—assistant engineer
- Andy Abrams—other engineer
Certifications
| Year | Album | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Spectres | Platinum |
| 1978 | Spectres | Gold |