Blue Öyster Cult – Spectres

Outstanding press.
If you are standing in a record shop with this in your hand wondering how good it is, yes!
Buy it!
(Surface noise levels may vary)

This is a fantastic rock album by Blue Øyster Cult and sounds good. Here we have amazing rock band at its top and best. This album resulted and culminated in the great live album from 1978.

I have really grown to appreciate this record over the years as I have become more familiar with BOC’s back catalog. Unfairly criticized at the time of its release as ‘Agents of Fortune’ lite, ‘Spectres’ is just as good if not better than its more illustrious predecessor. ‘Agents’ put the band into the big time no doubt and it had a massive hit single (won’t need to mention the song title here) but though ‘Spectres’ was not the best seller the previous LP was, it does contain a number of memorable classics. “Godzilla” is the most famous track and certainly the heaviest song on the album but “RU Ready to Rock” is pretty er…rocking as well. But how does one define heavy? Is it just in terms of heavy metal power, distortion and volume or could a song’s theme or tone be just as heavy as well in so far as setting a certain mood? I believe ‘Spectres’ does this with its last two tracks; “I Love the Night” and “Nosferatu”. The first by Donald Roeser seems to be a gentle ballad but there is something sinister about it. What Donald may only hint at, Joe Bouchard slams home the obvious with his own vampire epic (he also contributes “Celestial the Queen” another cool song). If you’re a fan of the classic Murnau film, this song is such an amazing tribute. Speaking of tributes, the title of the album seems to be punningly dedicated to Phil Spector and songs such as “Golden Age of Leather'' and “Goin’ Thru the Motions” seem to both evoke the Shangri-la esquness of the classic Spector sound. Next up the band would crank out another live LP to fill the coffers and somewhere along the way, ‘Spectres’ got overlooked but that shouldn’t happen. The album is as much of a Cult masterpiece as ‘Agents of Fortune’. Pure in heart who will offer herself…spine chilling and heavy!

How can this be a European pressing when the disc cleatly says Made in Japan? Surely it is a Japan-pressing for the European market.

One of the great A sides in the bands history, really underrated all the way through. Golden Age of Leather especially. Shame the B side devolves into AOR filler (save Nosferatu).

Unable to place my copy, so I'm throwing this out into the aether. This release is as close as it comes!
SIDE 1: P AL-35019-1 AB 1T o
SIDE2: PXT BL 35019-1D
- Full band name on red labels.
- Double printed inner sleeve with logo.
- lyric requests lacking Postage and Envelopes will not be honored.

A very under appreciate album. I have 3 cars with factory 8 track players. With the limitations of the format, you’re always happy to have a tape that you can start to finish. This is one of those.

Hi. Can anyone explain the differences or I guess similarities to this Blue Öyster Cult - Spectres? Is this a Terre Haute? Please see my notes on Terre Haute as I'm confused.

Did they use Terre Haute use different plates, as my SIDE A is Stamped BL-35019-1E and database states that is Side B as a variant? And my SIDE B is etched BL-35019-1B 1T. Both have faint stamped o as well which I thought was Pitman? Super confusing? For otherwise my copy then exactly like Blue Öyster Cult - Spectres. Pay for Lyrics...no postage no lyrics...double printed logo inner sleeve.

Really great album with many favorites included, but the only minor problem is that this pressing has "Blue Öyster" on the vinyl label instead of "Blue Öyster Cult".