Blue Oyster Cult - Original Album Classics (5 CDs)

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I'm not being lazy by picking so many of these "Original Album Classics" series.  They are really outstanding value if you like the material and the packaging concept.  So here we have 5 prime slabs of Blue Oyster Cult: the eponymous first album, "Tyranny And Mutation", "Secret Treaties", "Agents Of Fortune" and "Mirrors".  The first 4 of these come with bonus tracks - mainly demos, outtakes and live cuts.  Some of the material does sound dated now, but hey, I love it anyway.

I have always thought "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" is the quintessential rock song.  The structure, pace and beauty of the original album version are augmented here by the presence of the demo of the track.  It's a shame we don't get the single edit as well but we are treated to the 7" of "Career Of Evil" here.

The last BOC album I bought was "The Curse Of The Hidden Mirror" which is pretty pedestrian compared to the gems here like "Dominance And Submission", "Mirrors", "The Revenge Of Vera Gemini" and "Workshop Of The Telescopes".

BOC always had fantastic taste with guest artistes so what a thrill to hear Patti Smith and Ellen Foley again.

I hope this is selling well.  I'd like to see a second BOC box (after all there are two Lou Reed ones) featuring such classic albums like "Imaginos" and "Spectres".

These BOC albums are widely available in different formats, but this box is the best way to get them.  Beware of paying over the odds for it though. It should only cost about the same a standard full price CD but I have seen it going for more on the website of a well known retailer.
My previous reviews of "Original Album Classics boxes were of Journey  and Kansas.

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