Blue Oyster Cult: Subhuman (Imaginos Version)

[hcubeentertainment]

This is amazing, I liked the version of this song on Secret Treaties all well and good, but damn does this make me just want to rock out!

[eurscher1]

01-01-2012;This agency operants'memory diminishing hence,this studio-time initiative was well crafted ,for the time.Everything ON the Imaginos' track "hard", for-the-time, as well.Crumple-Nomial,eh?-Seclus­ionos.

[Aerlumron]

I WANT MORE BLUE OYSTER CULT, NOT LESS!!!!

[eurscher1]

11-23-2011; This band seems long overdue to cut more studio-time initiatives,like the above.YouTube videos ,costly,welcomed,also.This agency loved BOC ever since dirt was new! Crumple-on, Elders!Soon the skys' will turn to snow!-Seclusionos.

[SomethingFoutis]

I can't turn this up loud enough!

[SuperAkebono]

Is the outro solo Joe Satriani? It doesn't sound like Buck's style and it's not Robby Krieger as it says on Wikipedia (!). I have the original CD and the liner notes only list the "Guitar Orchestra of the State of Imaginos" with the guitarists names but no credits about who plays which lead guitar part. I've wondered about this for years...anyone know?

[crhalt1]

@SuperAkebono Mark Biederman from Blind Illusion played some of the ripping guitar tracks on this album. I think Joe Satriani may have too but I'm not sure.I was just listening to it trying to figure out the bedierman tracks.

[eurscher1]

Crispy percussionist.Time-constraint-­sensitive beats-Seclusionos.

[eurscher1]

09-09-2011; Unless they've already done it,the band ought to reassemble & market fresh studio time efforts rivaling that of todays' hardened headbangers'metal.Problematic, is that they have this scenaria within their capacity.I continue to wait!-Seclusionos.

[sinbysin666]

Is it just me, or does Albert Bouchard sound like Dracula's Renfield?

[Bojoe777NaBl]

its all coming to an end.. enjoy it while you can - a true masterpiece - overlooked by most - cherished by a few.. they don't want you listening to this - soon this song will be taken down...

very sad that a few get to decide the fate of us all : (

[ChisaiiKamui]

> the band took its name from the original song title . . .

Actually, they all used to hang out at a bar called the Blue Oyster

[TreblaYevrah]

Oh, and people who think that Don't Fear The Reaper is all there is to Blue Oyster Cult live in a dark, depressing realm.

[TreblaYevrah]

Imaginos has become one of my favorite albums in general. There just isn't anything quite like it. I have to say I'm a pretty big fan of this version of Subhuman.

[MatthewMartin23]

This Song is bittersweet in that all of the members did studio work at different times to put it together. Thus the song has Albert Bouchard sharing the lead with Buck Dharma even though they were not performing at the same time in studio. It is an awesome song as are all of BOC's works. Sheer sonic explosions. What a great band. Long live BOC.

[smilingpug]

I am so proud of you, mate! My fav is Maserati GT! Total feedback mindf@*k!

[floridafreedom100]

Still magical

[reveland82]

Anyone who rode around with me in the VW Van knows this !

[Drifter24]

In da butt

[grgoldner]

At 4:55....watch out

[leubami]

je suis 1 fan j'ai tous leurs Albums je les connais depuis leur début

[DonFormica]

Lyrics are based on the very strange Poetry of Sandy Pearlman, their oft time producer. Imaginos is how Sany Pearlman envisioned these songs originally.

[Jlipnicki]

Strangely the received wisdom, in the UK, was that the very early BOC albums were the best and they became over-produced and lost their edge. I contend the exact opposite is true, they retained their unique songwriting, subtle musicianship with heavyosity while being better produced and thus created numerous classic rock albums culminating in the epic 'Imaginos.' And they could recreate this live, I saw them play 'Imaginos' London 1988. A truely great gig, up there with Zep at Earls Court.

[GeorgVanHalen]

@Jlipnicki - Blue Öyster Cult did put out a few songs in hope for big hits after the success with "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" but I think they overall stayed true to their music. They changed, yes, but I can't imagine any other band (no matter how good) write most of Blue Öyster Cults catalog. It don't matter which the weakest Blue Öyster Cult album is.. it's still quite good. I wouldn't call "Club Ninja" or "Heaven Forbid" classic albums but they are still very enjoyable !

[davidq1017]

BOC is 1 of The Greatest Bands of all TIME

[sleepypenguin]

i much prefer this version compared to "the subhuman" from "secret treaties" and i kinda liked how they called the song "blue oyster cult" on this album just the whole idea of this album blows my mind this album actually puts the "CULT" in BOC but yet i always forget about it i guess cause you can't really find it anywhere i really love this album and it's cool that so many other artists are featured in it i would like to see how it would have turned out if it was just the boc guysbutstillgreat

[EasyAce]

@sleepypenguin "Blue Oyster Cult" was actually the original name of the song that became "Subhuman." Sandy Pearlman wrote the lyrics and the band took its name from the original song title . . .

[jonntoadonly]

though english isn't my native tongue, I always though, as soon as I understood them, that the original's lyrics were drama-wise weirdly sung. And though I rejected this album ages ago cause of the production, I say now this makes much more sense.

What a gem!

Funny thing is this song reminds me of the original Astronomy whereas the then-renewed Astronomy reminds me of mechanical dance-music....

[jonntoadonly]

though english isn't my native tongue, I always though, as soon as I understood them, that the original's lyrics were drama-wise weirdly sung. And though I rejected this album ages ago cause of the production, I say now this makes much more sense.

What a gem!

Funny thing is this song reminds me of the original Astronomy whereas the then-renewed Astronomy reminds me of mechanical dance-music....

[Burnsticibuds]

Albert Bouchard is such an amazing artist. I think his influence along with Joe Bouchard, Donald Roeser, Allen Lanier, and Eric Bloom made them the underground gods the are today.

[bstensland]

Does Robbie Krieger just step in for the lead, or is he playing rythm throughout?

...and as much as I LOVE the T&M version, I can not stop feeling this has a little more creativity behind it(not that the original version had any problems whatsoever).

Too bad this version didn't come out when Sandy Perlman wrote it in the late 60's...wow imagine the impact something like this would have had on the music world at that time.

...and There it it...name song:)

[bstensland]

@bstensland There is IS*

[elektra1984]

the original one sucks , imaginos is great

[Bojoe777NaBl]

and holy crap it takes like, two years to hear this whole album...

[Johnhoulgate]

Hearing Robbie Krieger on a Blue Oyster Cult track was like a dream come true for old time BOC and Doors fans. It was no big secret that BOC were fans of the Doors.

[trevizons]

I love this song, the way Buck and Joe sing together, correct if I'm wrong please, but it's Joe singing isn't it ?  AND YES ! BöC belongs in the Rock Hall of Fame, but from a long time ago !

[ruphia]

This...

Yeah, Imaginos is not the BOC album for me.

I love the Secret Treaties/On Your Feet cuts of this song much better.

[ChicagoBoomBoom]

Why would anyone post the Gilligans Island comparison to this song? Stupid moron! One time I played the Rock Bottom riff on my guitar (by UFO) and my dumb friend said "Oh that sounds like "Walk this Way." Ha, I told him it wasn't even close. To all you tone deaf clueless idiots: Keep your stupidity to yourself, it only makes you look like a complete dumb idiot. Another thing, stop trying to rationalize your ignorance by giving your lame excuses ok? This song doesn't deserve stupid remarks.

[JonasPlanck]

a random access mythology...

or so I'm told.

[cbsavage099]

its out of print. got to buy it 2nd hand...

[TheEndKing]

BLUE-OYSTER-CULT!

THREE-HOUR-TOUR!

Anyone notice the similarities in those two chorus lines?

[cbsavage099]

thats just dumb

[TheEndKing]

I'm totally with you, savage, I don't know why they'd rip off Gilligan's Island...

Still a good song, though.

[cbsavage099]

i did not say thy riped off gilligans island god its rock and roll not sappy rock

[cbsavage099]

gillians island and BOC lol

[TheEndKing]

Have you ever LISTENED to the Gilligan's Island theme song?

[cbsavage099]

ok ok end king it sounds the same, i dont think thy did it thy ment to.... still a killer song..

[TheBryanhardaway]

This great album is no longer in print...tho it can be found on eBay.....Blue Oyster Cult...we understand...

[floridafreedom100]

My goodness it is almost unthinkable that this great work is out of print...thankfully there is ebay...

[floridafreedom100]

Why can I not purchase this album or song on my ipod? Can someone from the younger generation :-) please help me understand how this whole ipod thing works? This album isn't an option at the istore...is there any other way to get it on the ipod, I expect to pay for it, I just can't seem to figure out how!

[doomguy234]

look for it at a store, its kind of hard to find online

[cbsavage099]

the cd is out of print you can buy the cd online or 2nd hand. i had the casette dont ever piss of ur ol'lady mine ened up being trashed...you cant ipod it from what i have been told...

[Johnhoulgate]

I found an Imaginos cassette in a used record store. Played it over and over. Couldn't get enough of it. Poor tape. I wore it out within a couple of years.

[Bojoe777NaBl]

@floridafreedom100 well, what I think is that some weird copyright has been put on it because this is their first album after they seperated, so maby that might have an effect. If you want to go find the album try traveling to a big-city and look for a small hippie music store that reeks of my good friend Mr. Dankness. I have found that "any Big-store chain" does not carry real music like the Cult or Rush or even MSG, O BUT NO THEY HAVE BOY GEORGE .... ?>.>?

[ellynlvx]

@Bojoe777NaBl I wore my cassette out, but lo and behold, you can get it on Amazon now!

[Bojoe777NaBl]

@ellynlvx as much as I love and trust technology, I do not believe the internet to be responsible enough to carry such transactions. :P

[miamigroove]

i like this better than the original, but my fave is OYFOOYK album live version :0)

[madastrota]

ditto that - that live version is one of my favorite recordings of all time - wish i could find it on YouTube - the new live versions just don't make it

[remindbender]

sub:(text)_human goes post human

(= 0 dead 1)

the Öi stern beuys are marching on...

are marching from their graves...all right

the öyster girls are waving on are waving from their grounds

[seekah1]

Cryptic, impenatrable lyric, mystical sound, utterly delightful solo (gotta love that bassline, hand claps etc). Truly otherworldy. Along with The Church, quite possibly the most underated band in existence.

[tittyscott]

The most powerfull words ever,Struck me constantlly on acid...."The tears of God flow as I bleed ..."WTF.....These guys have some sort of intervention

[kngrtk]

'Tis true, however, they suffer from a peculiar genius that most musicians don't have... it's the same affliction that Mozart once had many centuries ago.

[PontiacAlfaHSV]

I'd like to see Imaginos II and III. Buck can still play and I'm sure Albert wants to see it happen. Imagine Imaginos II with vocals by Alice cooper and Ozzy, guitars by Buck Dharma, Slash (for the fan boys). It wouldn't be true to the original but it could draw in more sales.

How much more is there to the Imaginos story?

[ellynlvx]

I agree. I once had a vision of "Imaginos" as a Blue Oyster Cult show, in the same way that Queen did that "We Will Rock You" thing. You would think the Cult would have, well a Cult following, in New York. If only they could put aside their differences and work together...

[PontiacAlfaHSV]

Why did Albert leave originally? For some reason I believe Eric to be the reason. But I have no idea as to what really happened.

[ellynlvx]

You hear stories, but who knows? I just feel like everyone loses when something great dissembles. Why would anyone discard key cards to such a winning hand? Sandy Pearlman and the five original Cult members had it all.

[ellynlvx]

I understand, I understand, I understand That a band is like a marriage, and it is hard to keep it together for long periods of TIME, but why, oh why , oh why? Good gravy, man, they're all alive and resonably healthy! People, are you with me? I call for a new Cult, a Plutonian Cult, A Cult that transcends all the shackles and bonds of the past and arises reborn from the antediluvian depths of the Sea! Forged Blue-tinged Chromium Blade wielded by the Master!

Or take our toys and go home. Sheesh

[bstensland]

@ellynlvx You're talking Soft White Underbelly, and I'm with you...bring back the bouchards and lanier:)

[ellynlvx]

@bstensland Well, not Les Braunstein or Andy Winters, but yes... If Sandy Pearlman is there, you can bet I will be!

[newfy777]

my #1 rock song of all time

"SUBHUMAN".. from "on your feet or on your knees"

Bucks lead is just effing ineffingcredible

the song just gets better and better as each instrument takes turn as the lead..

leading up to the last verse with Bucks screaming awesome lead ..the song just blows me away..and its live to boot..no studio help..just pure unadulterated live rock at its absolute finest..definitely check it out if you've never listened..

[desdanova3]

Subhuman from' on your feet or on...is like listening at a rock band playing like an orchestra well sincronized, dynamic, and i don't change that live version for anything. Like you said, is pure raw material. Good comment. You know BOC

[floridafreedom100]

@newfy777 Live? I didn't realize that any song on Imaginos is live. More respect than ever to BOC if it is but are you sure?

[longfootbuddy]

@newfy777 on your feet on your knees is the first boc album i had, and its great

[kealsta]

I always thought this was Buck. From time to time it would come up in his chat room and he never really responded as to who did what. A sore spot?

Don't know. In my humble opinion I didn't think Kreiger had the chops or vision for this kind of a gutty grandiose, technical solo. I always felt he was a straight blues player.

[slant40]

Based on what's being played at 5:07 and again at 5:22 I would tend to agree with you. I have tried to join the chat but it seems that nobody is moderating.

[bstensland]

@kealsta This is somewhat bluesy as far as chord structure, or as in sticking to a pattern of verse verse chorus vers, etc. All in all, although it's an amazingly produced, hotly played song, the chord structure is really a guitarist riff dream...that and a lot of delay/chorus, and you have a dream world for Robbie:-) but he plays a lot of stuff that's jazz-influenced, he's not been only doing Doors remakes for 40 years, he's been doing his own music. Lots of good stuff, lots of just ok stuff.

[cuttlefisch]

Who sings this?

[slant40]

Albert Bouchard alternates vocals with Buck Dharma- Albert leads off; Buck follows him.

[TripMelody]

Glad it was retitled "Subhuman (Imaginos)" when you uploaded it. Searching youtube for "Blue Oyster Cult" by Blue Oyster Cult is not the easiest task! x) Also, taken from various sources I no longer have pulled up, the 'proper' order for the songs on the Imaginos album is said to be 1. Les Invisibles 2. Imaginos 3. Del Rio's Song 4. Blue Oyster Cult 5. Astronomy 6. I Am the One You Warned Me Of 7. In the Presence of Another World 8. The Seige and Investiture... 9. Magna of Illusion Thanks!

[SeanMiboc]

this is an awsome song. i just want to keep listening to it. i love the other version of the song, but this version is amazing!

[kingofpie102]

the name of this song is supposed to Blue Oyster Cult not subhuman(yes i know that, that name of the band is the same)

[kosh1968]

funny thing is, this is in fact the original subhuman as written in the soft doctrine of imaginos. ( the source of most of the lyrics in the first albums up to agents of fortune and where they got the name of the band from. this song). the classic was shortened from the original source on secret treaties. it's my understanding that this was the original intent, but at the time was considered way over every ones head in it's true form.

[beefoneeto]

Funny but all the different players like Krieger and Satriani sound like they're doing their version of Buck solos.

[SNARLZ44]

I love the original Subhuman, but I also really enjoy the new ambiance of the Imaginos reworking.

Actually, Imaginos in itself was intense regarding ambiance.

[ellynlvx]

Imaginos as a concept album was the culmination of the dream of a lifetime. (For me, anyway. )

But I've always been a Pearlman girl first and foremost.

[cuttlefisch]

I wonder if Blue Oyster Cult will ever make another studio album??

[ellynlvx]

I think it was touch and go whether they would even stay together last December, when Buck hurt his shoulder. But listen to the lyrics of this song, they are quite eternal in nature! Can't tell you how much I miss Sandy, though...

[DKH1103]

If there's one guitar solo on the album that you'd swear is Don Roeser, then it's this one. The fact that it's Robbie Krieger leads to the question: Is this Robbie Krieger imitating Don Roeser, or Robbie Krieger imitating Don Roeser imitating Robbie Krieger?

[cuttlefisch]

Nice to hear this again!! A classic album from a classic band.

[elektra1984]

hi wizard howdy ho

[carrienurse]

Excellente post Wizard. The Oyster boys.....hear 'em chatter on the tide.

[clubninjarock]

Who's better than Albert?

[Johnhoulgate]

Blue Oyster Cult with Robbie Krieger on lead guitar - We understand! we understand!

[spigelwii]

I didn't know Krieger played lead on this song! I knew there was like a guitar orchestra, but jeez...that's awesome.

[Johnhoulgate]

yeah, listen to the solos on this song and think about The Doors. Elements of his solo remind me of "When the Music's Over."