Secret Treaties
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| Secret Treaties | ||
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| Studio album by Blue Öyster Cult | ||
| Released | April, 1974 | |
| Genre | Hard rock | |
| Length | 38:35 | |
| Label | CBS Records | |
| Producer(s) | Murray Krugman & Sandy Pearlman | |
| Professional reviews | ||
|---|---|---|
| Blue Öyster Cult chronology | ||
| Tyranny and Mutation (1973) |
Secret Treaties (1974) |
On Your Feet Or On Your Knees (1975) |
Secret Treaties is Blue Öyster Cult's third studio album, released in 1974.
In 1975, a Melody Maker poll of critics voted Secret Treaties as the "Top Rock Album of All Time." The album spent 14 weeks in the US charts, peaking at #53. It went gold in 1992.
The cover depicts the band standing beside and sitting on a German ME 262; this scene is inspired by the song of the same name. The back cover has been omitted and depicts the ritual sacrifice of several dogs in true Siberian style, ie. with slit throats. A breeder from Long Island says the breed is most likely Alaskan or Siberian husky. Another photograph of a ritual dog sacrifice of this type can be found in the book "To the Ends of the Earth." It was taken in the early 1900's in the Ursa Major mountains. This strange and fascinating motif is a crucial element of the album's cover art and of the magickal identity of the band.
This is BÖC's only album besides Agents of Fortune to feature the actual presence of long-term collaborator Patti Smith. However, Patti wrote or co-wrote tracks for at least five other B.Ö.C albums, and her input should be taken as a small but significant part of the whole Blue Öyster Cult sound and ethos.
Whatever the cover may have looked like on the U.S. release, it should also be said that versions of the LP sold in Great Britain feature no such thing as animal sacrifice on the sleeve artwork - other artwork on the cover seems to show nothing of the kind. One wonders if CBS made last-minute alterations to the artwork so as not to risk the wrath (and lack of sales to) notoriously animal-loving Brits?
Contents |
[edit] Track listing
- "Career of Evil" – 3:59 - (A. Bouchard, P. Smith)
- "Subhuman" – 4:39 - (E. Bloom, S. Pearlman)
- "Dominance and Submission" – 5:23 - (A. Bouchard, E. Bloom, S. Pearlman)
- "ME 262" – 4:48 - (E. Bloom, D. Roeser, S. Pearlman)
- "Cagey Cretins" – 3:16 - (A. Bouchard, R. Meltzer)
- "Harvester of Eyes" – 4:42 - (D. Roeser, E. Bloom, R. Meltzer)
- "Flaming Telepaths" – 5:20 - (A. Bouchard, E. Bloom, S. Pearlman, D. Roeser)
- "Astronomy" – 6:38 - (J. Bouchard, A. Bouchard, S. Pearlman)
Additional tracks on 2001 remaster:
- "Boorman the Chauffer" – 3:13 - (J. Bouchard, M. Krugman)
- "Mommy" – 3:32 - (E. Bloom, R. Meltzer)
- "Mes Dames Sarat" – 4:07 - (A. Lanier)
- "Born To Be Wild" – 3:40 - (M. Bonfire)
- "Career of Evil (Single Version)" – 3:00 - (A. Bouchard, P. Smith)
[edit] Personnel
- Eric Bloom: Lead vocals, keyboards, stun guitar
- Albert Bouchard: Drums, vocals
- Joe Bouchard: Bass, vocals
- Allen Lanier: Keyboards, rhythm guitar, synthesizers
- Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser: Lead guitar, vocals
[edit] Notes
[edit] Career of Evil single
A few changes were made to Career of Evil on the Single version. The vocals are different, one verse was removed (Starting from "Pay me" and ending with "...kneeling in the rain"). The lines were also changed from "...do it to your daughter..." to "...do it like you ought to...". (The single version is included on the 2001 remaster.)
[edit] Old CDs
There is a recording error in the solo during the song "Cagey Cretins", which has since been repaired in the remasters.
[edit] Flaming Telepaths
There is a version of Flaming Telepaths without the "music box" sound effects on the compilation "Don't Fear the Reaper: The Best of Blue Öyster Cult". There is also a version with these sound effects completed on the collection Workshop of the Telescopes (2-disc set).
