BOC Blue Oyster Cult/NY,USA 1981 2Days

This is a must-listen 4-disc set for fans, featuring two performances from the 1981 tour of Blue Oyster Cult, who reached the peak of their popularity and achievements with the release of "Fire of Unknown Origin", just before Albert Bouchard left the band, both recorded with official line-level sound sources! B.O.C. gradually pursued a more sophisticated musical style from the late '70s, and although they produced excellent songs, some fans criticized their '79 release of "Mirrors" for being "too light in sound". So, at the suggestion of Sandy Pearlman, the band appointed Martin Birch as producer from '80's "Cultsaurus Electus", and aimed for a heavy yet melodic direction influenced by BLACK SABBATH's "Heaven and Hell". The result was the huge hit "Fire of Unknown Origin" in the West, which determined the direction of the band. Immediately after the release of "FIRE OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN," B.O.C. performed five consecutive shows under their former band name, "SOFT WHITE UNDERBELLY," from June 12th to 16th, 1981, prior to the start of a full-scale world tour. This album contains two of these five consecutive shows, the shows in New York on June 15th and 16th, 1981, recorded on high-quality FM sound sources and broadcast master recordings, allowing you to fully enjoy the essence of B.O.C.'s live performances, which combine the three elements of music, performance, and popularity! Discs 1 and 2 contain the complete live performance at "The Spit Club" in Levittown, New York on June 15th. Based on the newly discovered highest quality FM sound source master, this sound source has been carefully remastered to achieve a sound with a clear S/N ratio that is hard to believe it is an air check, and boasts outstanding ease of listening, with a clean sound and a rock-solid stable mid-low range. Of course, the performance of each member, properly separated to the left and right for each part, is as satisfying to listen to as an official live performance in terms of both separation and stereo. The scene where "Dr, Music" starts from the narration announcing the opening of the show is full of the scale unique to B.O.C. at this time. The song was said to be "too pop" in "MIRRORS", but the performance you can hear here has a heavy guitar roar and a hard-hitting tune. The ideal taste of heaviness and lightness coexisting is exquisite, and even the most cynical fans will be convinced when the heavy "E.T.I." is played from here. And the melodic and dramatic worldview of "Burnin' For You" and "Fire Of Unknown Origin" from the new album will knock out all listeners. The idea for the lyrics of "Fire Of Unknown Origin" was born when "AGENT OF FORTUNE" was being produced, and it was originally composed as a relaxed acoustic number. The song was shelved because there was no room to include it in "AGENT OF FORTUNE", but after about five years it has been completed as the best dramatic number, so who knows what will happen in the world? The middle part of the show, where the heavy number "Cities On Flame With Rock'N'Roll", which represents the early days of B.O.C., is played in turn to the melodic "Joan Crawford", which represents the '80s, is one of the highlights unique to this tour. Although there is a difference between hard and soft, both songs are permeated with the drama and heaviness that are characteristic of B.O.C., and you can enjoy the greatest excitement. (Unfortunately, there is some noise caused by the master from the latter half of "Veteran Of The Psychic Wars" to the beginning of "Me 262" on Disc 2, but it is recorded normally from "Hot Rails To Hell" onwards.) When "Godzilla", which is particularly requested by the audience, is played, the excitement of the venue reaches its peak. The band also responds to the popularity of the song by performing an 11-minute enthusiastic performance from the intro to the drum solo, creating the highest excitement of the day. The 98-minute incandescent performance, from the band's signature "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" to the promised encore "Roundhouse Blues", promises listeners a blissful moment! Discs 3 and 4 also include a complete recording of the live performance at Bond International Casino on June 16th, also lasting about 100 minutes. The pattern of this day has long been recognized as a classic by fans, and there are a wide variety of items, including not only FM air check sound sources but also incomplete half-official sound sources. The sound source contained here is the definitive version that uses the master master for broadcasting directly, which sets it apart from them, and the high-quality mix and excellent recording quality that are comparable to official live works make you think that it could be officially released as it is, and you can enjoy a high-quality sound that is on a different level from various existing titles! The sound personality is different from Disc 1 and 2, where the roughness in a good sense was able to enjoy the advantages of the FM source, and the sound image from the opening "Dr, Music" reminds you of the elegance of a band representing the American rock scene. It is very interesting as a subject of listening comparison, and many people will be surprised at how much the character of the sound changes with just one mix. Eric Bloom's guitar and Donald Luther's guitar are distributed to the left and right channels, respectively, just like the recording on the 15th, but Alan Rainier's keyboard, which moves freely through the space, has a stable sound and is more fluid and colorful, and the rhythm section of the brothers Albert and Joe Bouchard can be enjoyed with a realistic three-dimensional feel, with a combination that conveys a perfect harmony. This is clearly conveyed in "Burnin' For You". This song was originally written as a solo song by Donald, but the more you listen to the take on the original recording, where the presence of each member stands out, the more you will feel that this song's potential could not be realized unless it was B.O.C. "Joan Crawford", which was played wonderfully on the 15th, has a clearer sound effect in the song, and the tension and hard play exceed the album take, and the listener will surely be captivated. Of course, you can enjoy "Veterans Of The Psychic Wars" and "Me 262", which had noise problems on Discs 1 and 2, in the best condition. The Albert brothers are very active here, and especially in "Veterans Of The Psychic Wars", Albert's heavy and thrilling drums are approaching with the best performance. On this day, "Heavy Metal" and "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" were placed before "Godzilla", and "Born To Be Wild" and "5 Guitars" were placed at the end of the show, so the pattern was changed from the previous day to change the set. These play a big role in giving the show ups and downs, and even if you listen to the 15th and 16th in a row, you can feel fresh when you listen to the performance. "5 Guitars," which starts with Joe Bouchard's bass solo, is a version that is only available during this period, and is considered "Mk.3." Although the intro is the same, the middle part develops more melodic, giving it a different color from the '70s "5 Guitars." This song ended up being the last performance of the band, as Albert left the band two months later, making this a very valuable take. B.O.C. appeared at the second Monsters of Rock on August 22nd of that year, following AC/DC and WHITESNAKE, and made history with their peak performance. However, Albert left the band just before the festival appearance, and the original lineup that had continued for more than 10 years since the band's formation collapsed. This work captures the final period of the original lineup at the peak of their career with superb performance and sound, and we can say with confidence that it is the best live item in B.O.C.'s career, both in terms of documentation and entertainment! This title is highly recommended not only to core B.O.C. fans, but also to beginners who have just stepped into their world. Live at The Spit Club, Levittown, New York, USA 15th June 1981 STEREO SBD Live at Bonds International Casino, New York City, USA 16th June 1981 STEREO SBD Live at The Spit Club, Levittown, New York, USA 15th June 1981 WLIR-FM Radio Broadcast Disc 1 1. Introduction 2. Dr. Music 3. E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence) 4. Burnin' For You 5. Fire Of Unknown Origin 6. Cities On Flame With Rock'N'Roll 7. Joan Crawford 8. Flaming Telepaths 9. Veteran Of The Psychic Wars Disc 2 1. Me 262 2. Hot Rails To Hell 3. Godzilla Intro, 4. Godzilla 5. Drums Solo 6. Godzilla (Reprise) 7. Born To Be Wild 8. Heavy Metal 9. (Don't Fear) The Reaper 10. Roundhouse Blues Live at Bonds International Casino, New York City, USA 16th June 1981 "Night On The Road" Broadcast Disc 3 1. Introduction 2. Dr. Music 3. E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence) 4. Burnin' For You 5. Fire Of Unknown Origin 6. Cities On Flame With Rock'N'Roll 7. Joan Crawford 8. Flaming Telephats 9. Veterans Of The Psychic Wars 10. Hot Rails To Hell Disc 4 1. Me 262 2. Heavy Metal 3. (Don't Fear) The Reaper 4. Godzilla Intro. 5. Godzilla 6. Drums Solo 7. Godzilla (Reprise) 8. Born To Be Wild 9. Bass Solo 10. 5 Guitars (Mk.3) 11. Roadhouse Blues Eric Bloom - Vocal, Guitar Donald "Buck Dharma" Roser - Guitar, Vocal Allen Lanier - Keyboards, Guitar Joe Bouchard - Bass Albert Bouchard – Drums