line up 1 () as Stalk Forrest Group

- Eric Bloom -- vocals, guitar, synthesizers

- Albert Bouchard -- vocals, drums, percussion

- Joe Bouchard -- vocals, bass, keyboards

- Allen Lanier -- keyboards, rhythm guitar

- Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser -- vocals, guitar

  line up 1 (1983) 

- Eric Bloom -- vocals, guitar, synthesizers

- Joe Bouchard -- vocals, bass, keyboards

NEW - Rick Downey -- drums, percussion (replaced 

  Albert Bouchard)

- Allen Lanier -- keyboards, rhythm guitar

- Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser -- vocals, guitar

  supporting musicians: (1983)

- Mark Baum -- sax

- Larry Fast -- synthesizers

- Randy Jackson -- bass

- Aldo Nova -- guitar, synthesizers

- Gregg Winter -- backing vocals

- Albert Bouchard (solo efforts)

- Buck Dharma (solo effort)

- Soft White Underbelly

- Stalk Forrest Group

Genre: rock

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title: Tyranny and Mutation

Company: Columbia

Catalog: C
Year: 1973

Country/State: Long Island, NY

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: original pressing with gimmick inner label

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 1324

Price: $10.00

Blue Oyster Cult's sophomore album, 1973's "Tyranny and Mutation" continued their partnership with producers Sandy Pearlman and Murray Krugman (Pearlman co-writing most of the material with the band).  Largely written while touring in support of the debut album, the results were surprisingly impressive; more hard rocking than the debut, if equally cryptic and frustrating to decipher.   In fact, I can remember spending hours in college trying to figure out what the world some of these tunes were about - '', '', and '' were the subject to extensive debate with sex, drugs, rock and roll, and more sex being the usual explanations we came up with.  Some big BOC fan will know the true inspirations ...  write me.   Anyhow, from a lyrical standpoint, imagine a far darker and ominous version of early Steely Dan and you'll get a feel for some of the tunes.   At the same time, don't be expecting any Becker and Fagen styled jazz-rock moves on these two sides. This was straight ahead hard rock with 

"Tyranny and Mutation" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) The Red and the Black   (Albert Bouchard - Eric Bloom - Sandy Pearlman) - 4:20

'The Red and the Black' was essentially a remake of the debut album's 'I'm on the Lamb But I Ain't No Sheep'.  Ah, BOC at their ominous, enigmiatic, and mindless best ...  with lyrics like "Canadian mounted baby, a police force that works Red and black, that's their color scheme Get their man, in the end. It's all" right."  how could you go wrong ?  As I said, heavy metal for folks who don't like heavy metal.   It was recorded nearly a decade later with a different line-up, but YouTube had a clip of the band performing the tune at a 1981 date at the Hollywood Sportatorium  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XboGacOqHk   rating: **** stars

2.) O.D.'d On Life Itself  (Albert Bouchard - Joe Bouchard - Sandy Pearlman) - 4:47

Nice snarling rocker that showcased the band's surprisingly commercial edge and nice backing vocals.  The song's been a longtime staple in their live show.   rating: *** stars

3.) Hot Rails To Hell   (Joe Bouchard) - 5:12

Who said a bass player couldn't write a decent rocker ?   One of Joe Bouchards classic contributions to the band's catalog and another track that remains in their current live performance catalog.  rating: **** stars

4.) 7 Screaming Diz-Buster (Albert Bouchard - Joe Bouchard - Donald Roser - Sandy Pearlman) - 7:01

Yes it was apparently intended as an instrumental showcase with everyone getting a moment in the sun,, though clocking in at seven minutes it went on way too long and started to get lost around the four minute mark.  Still Don Roeser got more than his allotted spotlight time.   Just be thankful since there's a 14 minute live version out there).   Columbia also tapped the song as the album's single.  rating: *** stars

(side 2)
1.) Baby Ice Dog   (Albert Bouchard - Eric Bloom - Patti Smith) - 3:29

Hum, Patti Smith co-wrote ...  well, makes sense given she was dating keyboard player Allan Lanier at the time.  

2.) Wings Wetted Down   (Albert Bouchard - Joe Bouchard) - 4:12

An almost petty melody complete with howling dogs, dark fantasy lyrics (supposedly inspired by Chilean poet Pablo Neruda), and accompanied by Roeser's buzz saw guitar ...   what's going on here ?  

3.) Teen Archer  (Don Roeser - Eric Bloom - Richard Meltzer) - 3:57

Hum, anyone want to take a guess about the plotline ?   "Ballin' all night, ballin' all day, she won't ball on me ..."

4.) Mistress of the Salmon Salt (Quicklime Girl)  (Albert Bouchard - Sandy Pearlman) - 5:08

Genre: rock

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title: The Revolution By Night

Company: Columbia

Catalog: FC 38947
Year: 1983

Country/State: Long Island, NY

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: original inner custom sleeve

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 1821

Price: $10.00

Like a sizeable portion of their audience,  1981's "Fire of Unknown Origin" brought me back into the BOC family.   Given I'd enjoyed that album (I even bought a copy of the 'Burnin' for You' single), I remember having high hopes for the 1983 follow-up "The Revolution By Night".  

Produced by Bruce Fairbairn (then hot from his work with Loverboy), the album's always struck me as being kind of an aural mess.   Musically you could hear the group struggling to find a sweet spot between commercial viability (everyone likes a big paycheck), while staying true to their dark art.   One of the biggest problems is they seemingly gave producer Fairbairn way too much freedom; the result being an album that may have sounded cutting edge in 1983, but today sounds hopelessly dated.  I guess you couldn't blame Fairbairn for deciding his mission was to turn BOC into Loverboy.  Pity new drummer Rick Downey (who'd replaced the recently fired Albert Bouchard), who was apparently told syndrums were the future.  Elsewhere Bouchard's departure left the band one short in the songwriter department which probably explains the album's heavy (if unwarranted) reliance on outside support, including Aldo Nova, Neal Smith (one time Alice Cooper drummer), and Broadway Blotto.  There was even a track from Doobie Brothers drum technician Gregg Winter.  Yeah, there were a couple of noteworthy performances that deserved to be included in the band's catalog - the lone Eric Bloom composition 'Feel the Thunder' (a motorcycle culture update to 'Ghostriders In the Sky') was killer. Joe Bouchard's mainstream ballad 'Light Years of Love' was beautiful (if unexpected).   'Shooting Shark' their collaboration with Patty Smith was interesting and 'Shadow of California' had a bit of dark edge to it.  Unfortunately you had to wade through corporate rockers like 'Take Me Away', Eyes On fire', and the bizarre 'Let Go' to get to them.  Probably not the BOC album for a casual fan, or a neophyte to start with.

"The Revolution By Night" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Take Me Away   (Eric Bloom - Aldo Nova) - 4:26

Your standard slice of aliens-come-take-me-away rock.   It wasn;t bad in a mid-'80s FM fashion.   Nice hook.  The band certainly had high hopes for the tune, filming what's got to be one of the unintentionally funniest videos you'll ever see.  But then what do you do when they grab your girlfriend and she discovers the aliens are BOC ?   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1NYhbiiiFw    Columbia also had high hopes, tapping the song as the LP's second single:

- 1984's 'Take Me Away' b/w 'Let Go' (Columbia catalog number 38-04435)  rating: *** stars

2.) Eyes On Fire   (Gregg Winter) - 3:51

I clearly remember hearing this tune on a local FM station and thinking it was a Jefferson Starship song.   Today it reminds me of third rate Journey.  Yeah, it was that bad in an '80s corporate rock vein.   I guess if they were looking for some sort of plausible deniability they could at least claim they didn't write this horrible song - blame Doobie Brothers drum technician Gregg Winter.   rating: ** stars

3.) Shooting Shark   (Donald Roeser -  Patti Smith) - 7:07

You'd think a collaboration between BOC and the high priestess of punk would have some possibilities.  And once you got over Randy Jackson's slap bass (guess Joe Bouchard couldn't cut it), 'Shooting Shark' actually had a bit of an edge to it.   The lyrics were apparently appropriated from a Smith poem.  The result was the album's best melody and Buck Dharma seldom sounded as good.   Columbia tapped it as the leadoff single:

- 1983's 'Shooting Shark' b/w 'Dragon Lady' (Columbia catalog number 38-04298)   Columbia also financed a horribly '80s promotional video for the tune:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvsthsbbLfM   rating: *** stars

4.) Veins   (Donald Roeser - R Meltzer) - 3:56

One of the album's most disturbing lyrics (comic book violence), coupled with a top-40 pop-rock melody.   A perfect example of the album's strengths and weaknesses.   rating: *** stars

(side 2)

1.) Shadow of California  (Joe Bouchard - Neal Smith - Sandy Pearlman) - 5:03

At least 'Shadow of California' came close to capturing their earlier, pre-top-40 sound.   There was even a bit of edge on this one.   rating: *** stars

2.) Feel the Thunder   (Eric Bloom) - 5:47

The only Eric Bloom composition on the album and the song that should have opened up the album.  Except then the rest of the albu would have sounded like crap.   Not my lifestyle, but image "Ghost Riders In the Sky" adapted for motorcycle culture - "they loaded their up on beer and cocaine ..."   Yeah, you didn't need to have a set of Tarot cards to figure out this wasn't going to end well.   rating: **** stars

3.) Let Go    (Eric Bloom - Donald Roeser - Ian Hunter) - 3:25

Hysterical ...  you have to assume 'Let Go' was intended as a joke.  "BOC you can be whatever you want to be...We got the power you got the key...BOC Let Go!"   Completely mindless and fun.  Couple of cold beers and you'll be fist pumping along with this one.   rating: *** stars

4.) Dragon Lady   (Donald Roeser - Broadway Blotto) - 4:04

Fans claim this is the album's standout performance.  I'm not convinced.   It's always sounded pretty top-40ish to my ears.    rating: *** stars

5.) Light Years of Love   (Joe Bouchard - H. Wheels) - 4:06

'Light Years of Love' was a surprisingly touching ballad ...  Pretty melody with straightforward lyrics, which made it so strange to hear from these guys.  rating: **** stars

In spite of Columbia's efforts to push the album, it proved a commercial disappointment, peaking at # 93 on the US album charts.