theluxordream3

Blue Öyster Cult

International Amphitheatre

Chicago. IL.

October 12th 1979

Remastered FM.

I started my engineering apprenticeship in September 1979

and recall queuing up for the gym at college

reading a Sounds review of the opening UK BÖC gig of the tour.

OK, back to the music...

I took this old Mirrors era CD off the shelf.

Must be pushing 20 years since I last worked on it.

Eric's vocal prowess was, I'd argue, at it's strongest

and Buck has always been my fav guitar player.

Joe's bass is strong here.

Ideal for any bassist who wants to copy his chops :)

Takes a couple of songs to settle down.

Albert's mic proves useless for the bulk of Cities on Flame.

(not the first time I've head this happen on recordings)

The Reaper was played but was not broadcast.

Here's an old (rare?) photo of Albert and Joe with their Mom:

I saw them twice on the Mirrors tour:

Needless to say the 16 year old Titus was rather blown away.

In fact, I never quite recovered.

Everyone except me stayed in their seats.

I stood in front of Buck and headbanged.

Most crowds "piled down the front" in those days

so what few 'bouncers' they had just left me to it.

There were a lot of bearded intellectuals in their 30s.

BÖC were still the real deal at this point

and even 'Mirrors' took on a heavier form than the LP version.

The album hadn't been out long and I loved it.

Allen was bare-footed, chain smoked and was shagging Patti Smith.

(the latter being common knowledge, not actually happening on stage)

I'm not sure if any of these 'qualities' are necessarily desirable

but I thought he was well cool.

Allen played the riff to Career of Evil

just before they launched into O.D.'d on life itself.

I'd never seen a band like that before.

They actually knew their songs...not just the current setlist.

5 Guitars was brill.

They say the heat from below can burn your eyes out right?

Is that enough nonsense?

(More than enough...Ed.)

regards

Titus

Disc 1

01 Dominance and Submission

02 Dr. Music

03 Mirrors

04 Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll

05 The Great Sun Jester

06 The Vigil

07 E.T.I.

08 Astronomy

Disc 2

01 ME 262

02 Godzilla

03 Hot Rails to Hell/bass solo/5 guitars/Born to be Wild

04 O.D.'d on Life Itself

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