Mirrors (Blue Öyster Cult album)
Untitled | |
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Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Robert Christgau | C[2] |
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 10/10[3] |
Rolling Stone | (mixed)[4] |
Mirrors is the sixth studio album by Blue Öyster Cult, released in 1979. Mirrors was the first Blue Öyster Cult album not produced by long-time producer and manager Sandy Pearlman. The album is notable for a collaboration with British fantasy/science-fiction author Michael Moorcock, who co-wrote a song based on his novel The Fireclown. "The Great Sun Jester" is the first of several Moorcock co-writing credits with the band.
After the success of 1976's Platinum Agents of Fortune, 1977's Gold Spectres and 1978's Platinum live effort Some Enchanted Evening, the fact that Mirrors struggled to reach Gold status disappointed the band and label alike.[citation needed] According to interviews with the band and production staff, the intent for this album was to make a high-charting record with glossy production; however, the backlash from this attempt led to the band's future pairing with Martin Birch and an attempt to return to a darker sound.
Acoustic ballad "In Thee," written by Allen Lanier, went into the charts at No. 74.[5]. The line "Jim says some destinies should not be delivered" references the Jim Carroll Band song "Day and Night."
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Dr. Music" | Joe Bouchard, Donald Roeser, Richard Meltzer | Eric Bloom | 3:10 |
2. | "The Great Sun Jester" | Bloom, Michael Moorcock, John Trivers | Bloom | 4:48 |
3. | "In Thee" | Allen Lanier | D. Roeser | 3:48 |
4. | "Mirrors" | D. Roeser, Bruce Abbott | D. Roeser | 3:44 |
5. | "Moon Crazy" | J. Bouchard | J. Bouchard | 4:06 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
6. | "The Vigil" | D. Roeser, Sandra Roeser | D. Roeser | 6:25 |
7. | "I Am the Storm" | J. Bouchard, Ronald Binder | Bloom | 3:42 |
8. | "You're Not the One (I Was Looking For)" | Albert Bouchard, Caryn Bouchard | A. Bouchard | 3:14 |
9. | "Lonely Teardrops" | Lanier | D. Roeser | 3:37 |
Total length: | 36:34 |
Personnel
Blue Öyster Cult
- Eric Bloom – lead vocals, stun guitar
- 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
- Mickey Raphael – harmonica on "Dr. Music"
- Jai Winding – strings on "In Thee"
- Ellen Foley, Genya Ravan, Wendy Webb – background vocals
Production
- Tom Werman – producer
- Gary Ladinsky – engineer, mixing
Charts
Album
Year | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|
1979 | Billboard 200 (United States) | 44[6] |
UK Album Chart | 46[7] | |
RPM100 Albums (Canada) | 49[8] |
Singles
Year | Title | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|---|
1979 | "In Thee" | Billboard Hot 100 (United States) | 74[5] |
References
- ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Blue Öyster Cult Mirrors review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2012-01-19.
- ^ Christgau, Robert. "Consumers Guide Reviews: Mirrors". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Schneider, Mitchell (29 November 1979). "Album Reviews: Blue Oyster Cult – Mirrors". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2008-09-15. Retrieved 2012-04-09.
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(help) - ^ a b "Mirrors Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2012-01-19.
- ^ "MirrorsBillboard Albums". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2012-01-19.
- ^ "Mirrors Chart Stats". Chart Stats.com. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
- ^ "Top Albums/CDs – Volume 31, No. 24, September 08 1979". Library and Archives Canada. 8 September 1979. Retrieved 2012-01-19.