Blue Oyster Cult – (Don’t Fear) The Reaper Editor’s Choice

Happy early Halloween everyone. This week we are taking a listen to the Blue Oyster Cult classic “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper”. We will have a short Editor’s Choice post this as I am a candy coma from snacking on all of the Halloween candy ahead of Trick or Treat.

The classic Blue Oyster Cult “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” was originally released on the 1976 album Agents of Fortune. The song was the biggest hit for Blue Oyster Cult reaching #12 on the Billboard charts in late ’76. Contrary to the initial controversy surrounding the song, it is not about seeking out death or a murder-suicide pact. In an interview with College Music Journal in ’95 lead singer Donald Roeser (aka Buck Dharma) stated:

“I first realized that some people were seeing it as an advertisement for suicide or something that was not my intention at all. It is, like, not to be afraid of [death] (as opposed to actively bring it about). It’s basically a love song where the love transcends the actual physical existence of the partners.” source

Blue Oyster Cult – (Don’t Fear) The Reaper Guitar

For me the guitar on the “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” is the highlight (although I could probably say the same about the harmonies and vocals, honestly everything the song is near perfect). The intro guitar riff is so simple but so mesmerizing. Probably one of the most recognizable riffs and the original guitar part for the track was recorded in one take. Fun fact, a Gibson ES-175 owned by producer Murray Krugman was used for the guitar track (I had always pictured a Les Paul or other typical solid body rock guitar).

Check out the “Agents of Fortune” Vinyl and 40th Anniversary Blu-ray

For the video this week I found a great performance of Blue Oyster Cult (Don’t Fear) The Reaper from 2002. The performance features Moe and was from “Live at the Jammys”

Full Blue Oyster Cult “Agents of Fortune” Track List

1. “This Ain’t the Summer of Love”
2. “True Confessions”
3. “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”
4. “E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence)”
5. “The Revenge of Vera Gemini”
6. “Sinful Love”
7. “Tattoo Vampire”
8. “Morning Final”
9. “Tenderloin”
10. “Debbie Denise”