Spectres (album)
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [1] |
| Robert Christgau | B+[2] |
| Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 10/10[3] |
| Q | [4] |
Spectres is the fifth studio album by Blue Öyster Cult, released in November 1977. The album, which features one of the band's biggest hits, concert staple "Godzilla," was certified gold in January 1978[5].
The cover art features Blue Öyster Cult's use of lasers in their live show at that time. A remastered version was released on CD on February 13, 2007, and included four previously unreleased outtakes from the Spectres sessions as bonus tracks.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Godzilla" | Donald Roeser | Roeser, Bloom | 3:41 |
| 2. | "Golden Age of Leather" | Roeser, Bruce Abbott | Roeser | 5:53 |
| 3. | "Death Valley Nights" | Albert Bouchard, Richard Meltzer | A. Bouchard | 4:07 |
| 4. | "Searchin' for Celine" | Allen Lanier | Eric Bloom | 3:35 |
| 5. | "Fireworks" | A. Bouchard | A. Bouchard | 3:14 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "R. U. Ready 2 Rock" | A. Bouchard, Sandy Pearlman | Bloom | 3:45 |
| 7. | "Celestial the Queen" | Joe Bouchard, Helen Wheels | J. Bouchard | 3:24 |
| 8. | "Goin' Through the Motions" | Bloom, Ian Hunter | Bloom | 3:12 |
| 9. | "I Love the Night" | Roeser | Roeser | 4:23 |
| 10. | "Nosferatu" | J. Bouchard, Wheels | J. Bouchard | 5:23 |
| Total length: | 40:29 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Night Flyer" | J. Bouchard, Murray Krugman | Roeser | 3:48 |
| 12. | "Dial M for Murder" | Roeser | Bloom | 3:11 |
| 13. | "Please Hold" | A. Bouchard | Lanier | 2:47 |
| 14. | "Be My Baby" (The Ronettes cover) | Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector | Bloom | 3:01 |
| Total length: | 12:47 | |||
Personnel
Blue Öyster Cult
- Eric Bloom – stun guitar, lead vocals
- Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser – lead guitar, vocals
- Allen Lanier – keyboards, rhythm guitar, background vocals
- Joe Bouchard – bass, background vocals
- Albert Bouchard – drums, percussion, background vocals
Additional musicians
- Newark Boys Chorus – vocals on "Golden Age of Leather"
Production
- David Lucas – producer
- Murray Krugman – producer
- Sandy Pearlman – producer
- Shelly Yakus – engineer, mixing
- John Jansen – engineer
- Corky Stasiak – engineer
- Thom Panunzio – engineer
- Andy Abrams – engineer
- Gray Russell – assistant engineer
- Dave Thoener – assistant engineer
- Jay Krugman – assistant engineer
- Rod O’Brien – assistant engineer
- Sam Ginsberg – assistant engineer
- Joe Brescio – mastering
- Roni Hoffman – design
- Eric Meola – photos
- David Infante – laser effects and photo assistance
Charts
Album
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Swedish Album Chart | 47[6] |
| 1978 | Billboard 200 (United States) | 43[7] |
| UK Album Chart | 60[8] | |
| RPM100 Albums (Canada) | 58[9] |
Certifications
| Year | Country | Organization | Sales |
| 1978 | U.S. | RIAA | Gold (500,000+)[5] |
Cover versions
- A cover of "Godzilla" was featured in Guitar Hero. The master track is featured in Guitar Hero: Smash Hits, and as downloadable content for the Rock Band series.
- Thunderpuss 2000 has remixed "Godzilla" several different ways, including a Radio Mix (03:13), Extended Mix (05:25), Atomic Funky Dub (05:27), and Thunderpuss 2000 Club Mix (06:12)
- Akira Yamaoka, featuring vocals by Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, covered "Godzilla" for the closing credits of Julia X 3D, released in 2011.
- American jam band moe. has covered "Godzilla" in concert numerous times.
- A live cover of "Godzilla" by heavy metal singer Sebastian Bach was released on his Bring 'Em Bach Alive! album in 1998.[10]
- "Goin' Through the Motions" was later covered by Bonnie Tyler on her album Faster Than the Speed of Night.
References
- ^ Jurek, Thom. "Blue Öyster Cult Spectres review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
- ^ Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide Reviews: Spectres". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
- ^ Popoff, Martin (October 2003). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 1: The Seventies. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. ISBN 978-1894959025.
- ^ Mongredien, Phil (April 2007). "Blue Öyster Cult - Spectres". Q (249).
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ a b "RIAA Searchable Database - search for Spectres". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Blue Öyster Cult – Spectres (Album)". Swedishcharts.com. Media Control Charts. Retrieved 2012-03-02.
- ^ "Spectres Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
- ^ "Spectres Chart Stats". Chart Stats.com. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
- ^ "Top Albums/CDs – Volume 28, No. 15 & 16, January 14, 1978". Library and Archives Canada. 14 January 1978. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
- ^ http://www.discogs.com/Sebastian-Bach-Friends-Bring-Em-Bach-Alive/release/1567826
| Studio albums | |
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| Live albums | |
| Other albums | |
| Songs | |
| Videos | |
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