There are 2 ‘new’ releases, and 1 reissue to add to the previous pile of BOC live albums for 2020…. Live At Rock Of Ages Festival 2016 [for December], A Long Day’s Night [from 2002], and a Record Store Day release of Live ’83 [go straight to EBay or Discogs to find this one now]. BOC has made up for years of no new releases in 2020, and frankly doing what I wish a few other classic bands would be doing at this stage of their career by giving fans archived live recordings, and a great new studio album! And it’s a major bonus that former [and founding] members [Joe & Albert Bouchard] also have great new solo albums very recently issued! An expensive year to be a BOC fan, but a fun one!

Blue Öyster Cult and Frontiers Music Srl continue their release of archival treasures from the band’s vault with the December 4, 2020 release of “Live At Rock Of Ages Festival 2016” on CD/DVD, Blu-ray, and 2xLP.  

BÖC played, as they always do, an inspired set on the second day of the Rock of Ages Festival 2016 in Seebronn, Germany. One of the band’s few appearances on German soil in the past few years, the set is now available for fans to enjoy, both with their ears and eyes, in the comfort of their own home.

The band ripped through an extremely solid and memorable performance that kicks off with “This Ain’t The Summer Of Love” and closes with their evergreen hit, “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”. In between, the band delivers with hot takes on gems like “Burnin’ For You,” “Golden Age Of Leather,” “Then Came The Last Days Of May,” and “Godzilla”.

Another unmissable gem from the band’s vault of excellent archival shows.

Tracklist:
This Ain’t The Summer Of Love
Golden Age Of Leather
Burnin’ For You
Od’d On Life Itself
Harvest Moon
Me 262
Buck’s Boogie
Lips In The Hills
Then Came The Last Days Of May
Godzilla
(Don’t Fear) The Reaper

Line-up:
Eric Bloom – Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser – Guitar, Vocals
Richie Castellano – Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals
Jules Radino – Drums, Percussion
Kasim Sulton – Bass Guitar, Vocals

[from http://www.blueoystercult.com] – Recorded live on June 21, 2002 at the Navy Pier / Skyline Stage in Chicago, Blue Öyster Cult’s “A Long Day’s Night” celebrates, at the time, 30+ years of incredible music from the band. This release truly highlights the band’s phenomenal career up until that point in time.

Originally released in 2002 on CD and DVD, “A Long Day’s Night” is now being reissued on CD/DVD, Blu-ray, and Vinyl. The audio appearing on all formats has been completely restored and remastered to achieve a stunning new listening experience. The set will be available from Frontiers Music Srl outside of North and South America.

Tracklist:
Stairway To The Stars
Burnin’ For You
O.D.’d On Life Itself
Dance On Stilts
Buck’s Boogie
Mistress of the Salmon Salt (Quicklime Girl)
Harvest Moon
Astronomy
Cities On Flame With Rock ‘N’ Roll
Perfect Water
Lips In The Hills
Godzilla
(Don’t Fear) The Reaper

Line Up: Eric Bloom, Buck Dharma, Allen Lanier, Danny Miranda, Bobby Rondinelli.

Real Gone Music released, for the first time ever in any physical format, the band’s complete July 24, 1983 concert at Perkins Palace in Pasadena, CA. Originally recorded for radio broadcast, this was long regarded as one of the best-sounding BÖC bootlegs, and now it is finally out on authorized physical form, complete with liner notes and rare photos. Gatefold, 2 x LP edition pressed on blue with black swirl vinyl limited to 1500 copies worldwide.  

Tracklist:

Stairway to the Stars
Harvester of Eyes
Workshop of the Telescopes
Before the Kiss, A Red Cap
Born to Rock
Hot Rails to Hell
Screaming Dizbusters
Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll
Burnin’ for You
Joan Crawford
Born to Be Wild
Don’t Fear the Reaper
Roadhouse Blues

Line up: Eric Bloom, Buck Dharma, Allen Lanier, Joe Bouchard, Rick Downey .

*Also, check out my recent interview with album artist Stan W. Decker!

KJJ. 11/20 .