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BLUE ÖYSTER CULT TEIL 3: NEUE TRENDS VERÄNDERN DEN SOUND
- Sep 24, 2021
Die dritte Blue-Öyster-Cult-Phase war vom Ringen um den unbedingten kommerziellen Erfolg geprägt. MIRRORS (1979) bescherte der Band die deutlichste Hinwendung zum Pop: Die Funk-Nummer “Lonely Teardrop“ spricht diesbezüglich Bände. Statt noch mehr Käufer für sich zu interessieren, war das Gegenteil der Fall. Also erfolgte auf CULTÖSAURUS ERECTUS (1980)die Rückbesinnung auf härteres Material. Und siehe da - der Abwärtstrend wurde gestoppt. Allerdings unterlagen auch BÖC weiterhin dem Druck aktueller Trends, weshalb es tatsächlich ein paar New-Wave-Versuche gab. Und nach dem schlichten MIRRORS-Cover punkteten BÖC mit dem abgefahrenen Konzept eines erfundenen prähistorischen Saurierwesens. Ihre bestverkaufte LP in den USA wurde schließlich FIRE OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN (1981), die eine ausgewogene Mischung aus modernen Sounds (“After Dark“) und fast polterigem Heavy Rock (“Heavy Metal: The Black And Silver“) präsentierte. Das Cover setzte die Tradition geheimnisvoller Düsternis fort. Beendet wurde diese Ära mit dem Live-Doppelalbum EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIVE (1982). Das unterschied sich im Sound durchaus von seinen Vorgängern, war Keyboard-lastiger und gefällig ausbalanciert. Das deutete zwar darauf hin, dass BÖC weiter eine breite Käuferschicht ansprechen wollten, bot dafür aber ein paar ausufernde Song-Versionen mit beeindruckenden Solo-Teilen. Allen voran das zehnminütige Doors-Cover “Roadhouse Blues“.
The third Blue Öyster Cult phase was characterized by the struggle for unconditional commercial success. MIRRORS (1979) gave the band the clearest turn towards Pop: the Funk number "Lonely Teardrop" says it all. Instead of attracting even more buyers, the opposite was the case. So on CULTÖSAURUS ERECTUS (1980)the return to harder material took place. And lo and behold - the downward trend was stopped. However, BÖC continued to be subject to the pressure of current trends, which is why there were actually a few New Wave attempts. And after the simple MIRRORS cover, BÖC scored with the wacky concept of an invented prehistoric dinosaur creature. Their best-selling LP in the U.S. eventually became FIRE OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN (1981), which presented a balanced mix of modern sounds ("After Dark") and almost blustering Heavy Rock ("Heavy Metal: The Black And Silver"). The cover continued the tradition of mysterious gloom. This era ended with the live double album EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIVE (1982). This differed in sound from its predecessors, was more keyboard-heavy and well-balanced. Although this indicated that BÖC wanted to continue to appeal to a wide range of buyers, it offered a few sprawling song versions with impressive solo parts. Above all the ten-minute Doors cover "Roadhouse Blues".
The third Blue Öyster Cult phase was characterized by the struggle for unconditional commercial success. MIRRORS (1979) gave the band the clearest turn towards Pop: the Funk number "Lonely Teardrop" says it all. Instead of attracting even more buyers, the opposite was the case. So on CULTÖSAURUS ERECTUS (1980)the return to harder material took place. And lo and behold - the downward trend was stopped. However, BÖC continued to be subject to the pressure of current trends, which is why there were actually a few New Wave attempts. And after the simple MIRRORS cover, BÖC scored with the wacky concept of an invented prehistoric dinosaur creature. Their best-selling LP in the U.S. eventually became FIRE OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN (1981), which presented a balanced mix of modern sounds ("After Dark") and almost blustering Heavy Rock ("Heavy Metal: The Black And Silver"). The cover continued the tradition of mysterious gloom. This era ended with the live double album EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIVE (1982). This differed in sound from its predecessors, was more keyboard-heavy and well-balanced. Although this indicated that BÖC wanted to continue to appeal to a wide range of buyers, it offered a few sprawling song versions with impressive solo parts. Above all the ten-minute Doors cover "Roadhouse Blues".
