Blue Öyster Cult – Secret Treaties

I have often thought that this album is my favorite from BÖC but over the last few months I’ve had to reconsider it as ‘Spectres’ and to some extent ‘Agents of Fortune’ have equaled it in my estimation. Why did I love ‘Secret Treaties’ so much in the first place? Probably because my three favorite Blue Öyster Cult songs ever are on it - “Flaming Telepaths”, “Astronomy” and “Career of Evil”. Also “Harvester of Eyes” has really grown on me as well. The problem I’m having with this record is that of the eight songs, three (or four) I absolutely love and the other four I’m like, meh. Never cared for “Dominance and Submission”, “ME 262” is okay and both “Subhuman” and “Cagey Cretins” are just too weird. And no, the Imaginos mythos does not obligate me to like some of those songs (or like them a lot). Another thing is that on the following live album, none of my favorites from this record, except for “Harvester”, are on that thing - which I already mentioned in my review for ‘On Your Feet’. As many reviews have said, ‘Secret Treaties’ is where the band came into their own as musicians and songwriters, capping the embryonic ‘black and white’ era of the band. It also solidified the band’s reputation as a “heavy” band but I never felt that applied to the sonics or supposed “metal” of the songs. There were several bands circa 1974 that were heavier than BÖC but I will say that the vibe or atmosphere created by this band could certainly be put in that classification. Eric Bloom especially shines as a vocalist and I find his most amusing vocal on “Harvester of Eyes” as he sings of something sinister and creepy but with an almost hipster doofus kind of delivery which is why this song had to grow on me. On my two favorites, which close the LP - “Flaming Telepaths” and “Astronomy” - Bloom is fantastic! “Career of Evil” - the album version- features both Eric and Albert Bouchard crooning on a Bouchard song with lyrics from punk priestess Patti Smith - who contributed quite a few words to Blue Öyster Cult in their heyday. So the verdict is I still love ‘Secret Treaties’ but the other records I previously mentioned have grown in my estimation. Poison’s in my bloodstream, poison’s in my pride…

It sounds a little better than my original US copy, so that's good enough for me, and the cover, insert, and vinyl all look good.

It really doesn't get much better than this. Crystal clear sonics, individually numbered in silver foil on the rear of the cover. Stunning heavy grade flat purple vinyl. Sublime artwork on the cover and insert. BOC's finest album given the treatment it deserves. Kudos to Music On Vinyl for this release.

How does this pressing compare to the original stereo copy? And will it sound good on a non quad stereo system?
EDIT: I just got a NM- copy of this and it sounds incredible, like you're at a concert. The vocals, guitar and bass are up front and in your face! The only downside of this press is that the drums sound a bit like they're far away, like say the band is right in front of you the drums sound like they are 50 feet behind the band.

Mine has everything the same and is made in Holland, but the labels are CBS yellow-orange, not red labels. This is a nice album by BØC and sounds very good. Pressing is excelent, no pops or clicks, just beautiful sound.

The pictures show made in Hollan issue 32055 CB231. Not issue from Greece.

Echoing others here. Great sound, flat as could be, cleaned and played...not a tick or click on the entire LP. Impressed!

Listening to this on stereo cassette tape, I notice the transitions between songs are very smooth, but happen quickly at the end of the songs. I wouldn't recommend this to someone who wants to have a defined "break" between songs. Personally I'm enjoying it listening to it on a player, but it may prove more difficult to separate songs when digitizing tracks.

This is without doubt the best mastering excluding vinyl I have heard. We have bass and less tinny.

I bought this album on September 1, 1974, info from my personal archives. Columbia - KC 32858 Canada