In my 1st car I kept a shoe box full of 8track tapes (Part 4)

[The Polack MSgt]

I came up in the first golden age of Heavy Metal, before hair spray and "Power Ballads" conspired to destroy the genre entirely.

It was a pretty dynamic back in the 70s too. I realize that many people think of Sabbath and Zeppelin as the beginning and end of 70 metal but that is wrong headed.

Bands came and went, as the genre evolved through the decade - It was not the static lump of guitar noise that classic rock radio would lead you to believe it was.

In fact I remember seeing Van Halen open for Black Sabbath on the "Never Say Die" tour and even then thinking that this was a torch being passed.

By the way I bought the Van Halen debut record the very next time I was in Goody's.

Anyway...

My personal "old school" heavy metal favorite was Blue Oyster Cult. In particular, I absolutely LOVED the album "Spectres".

I bought that tape 3 times at least, plus I bought it on Vinyl and on CD as well.

I got a ration of shit from my buddies for my love of the record where BOC went "Commercial".

Whatever - 40 years later I still say those guys can kiss my sack. Spectres was the best.

OK folks, let's start off with the song that up to that point in time was the closest thing to a hit that BOC ever did

Not bad at all, I think it's aged well, but here's the thing it wasn't a top 5 song on that album - let alone in BOC's career.

This album also had the song that BOC used to open every concert they ever played since

Spectres had plenty of songs to showcase just how well these guys could play and sing - This song is gorgeous

And so is this - This melody is melted fucking chocolate

Ok, I can guess what you're thinking - But Polack, what's with the love songs? Where's all the HEAVY METAL dude?

HERE - This is the best song on this record and IMHO the BEST Blue Oyster Cult track ever made.

Raise those cans of beer up high kids

[brewens]

1. I've seen the Oyster Boys five times starting in 1980 I think. The other times were their post 90's

shows, but they always were great.

[The Polack MSgt]

2. Oh, I completely agree. Reliably great - I never saw a bad show

from 77 to 01 I saw 'em 9 times and I feel disappointed it wasn't more.

[brewens]

3. I'm in the northwest and they got out here a lot over the years. It should have been

one more time. They were booked for our local summer concert series one spring and rumor had it that some local fundies raised hell and got them cancelled. However it happened, we ended up with freakin' Night Ranger! I didn't go. That would have been 1999 I think.