Review: Blue Öyster Cult 'Ghost Stories' (hard rock) 

The story is simply this: Frontier said contractually you OWE us another record. That was not possible in any conceivable time period that would satisfy them. The call came to me; I provided the files from my vault. Ritchie and Steve decided what was going to be used and did their thing. Smiles all around; take it or leave it. By the way, "The Only Thing" was written by Albert Bouchard and had been totally forgotten by him and everyone else. I liked it and let's just say it is a fine song in its own right.

Anything Blue Oyster Cult makes me Happy. I would like to see Buck do another solo.

Pete, this IS the final BOC studio album. It took them close to 20 years to finally make The Symbol Remains. Eric & Buck are pushing 80. Buck has said this is it. I believe him.

This album made me smile from ear to ear. To have Joe Bouchards fingerprint all over this album made me so very happy.

Thanks guys, I mostly agree. But I'm a huge BOC fan and every time I listen I find something more to like. It's growing on me with each listen. Don't Come Running to Me is insanely infectious. I love Eric's falsetto voice. It's great to here Allen Lanier again too.

From my review crew post: A compilation of unreleased trax from '78-83 that have been digitally mastered as to not sound like an amalgamation of music, but as a cohesive release. Which it does, beautifully. The only outlier being the final track. A 2016 acoustic cover of the Beatles' "If I Fell". It's not bad, at all, but just feels out of place here. Just tell yourself it's a bonus track and it'll work itself out. If you're a BOC fan you should already have this.

Shot, Only Thing & Cherry were from 1979. Gun was recorded 3 times in 79, 80 & 81. Soul Jive was recorded 76, 79 & 80. Money Machine might be Infinity Machine from 80. Supernatural is from 83. Late Night & Don't come Running must have been renamed. We gotta & Kick Out the Jams are almost certainly rehearsals from 78.

IMO The Symbol Remains set the bar too high, but it's hard to say no to the classic BÖC vibe you get from this album.

Love The Symbol Remains!! A great album cover also. Really like the Ghost Stories cover as well.

Blue Oyster Cult actually made a good Beatles cover of I Want You (she’s so heavy). They only performed it live though.

I have it and really enjoy it. BOC is habitually underrated.

Very balanced and honest review. I’m one of the BOC hard core fan, I just got my copy of Ghost Stories today and I’ll play it several times before judging it on its entirety. I’m so happy to have another BOC album, though. Cannot have enough of BOC!

Some of the reaction from people online over this - not on the vid but online even in some comments - has been dumb. It's just a rarities thing. No idea why anyone is comparing to the "real" albums any more than when we get any kind of "from the vaults" releases. No-one compares the Zappa archival stuff to the actual albums.

I’m glad to have more music from the Bouchards, even if these songs are cleaned up demos and sketch pad ideas. I’m not expecting polished and finished material. It fits with the idea of the Rarities disc that was part of the Columbia years set of a few years back. It was never going to be a Symbol Remains or Heaven Forbid type of record. Ghost Stories is a document of past lives in the band’s vault. Good review and glad for the dialog format.

Gun and Don’t come running to me are the standouts on this one

Great content.... Love BOC .... Can't wait to get hold of it

George Gerainos is the guy who had the recordings.

I instantly liked Don't come running to me, even before the album's release date. I received my CD on April 13th and listened to the entire album and at first it laid flat for me. However after a few listens this album quickly grew on me and now I really like the entire album and have played it a good dozen times. The last track I look at it as a bonus track, not a competition with the Beatles, but just a fun track that was lost in the archives.

George Geranios is the engineer who recorded so much early BOC. Comparing this to the last album is silly. If you love BOC, you should own this. I liked it a lot on first listen. Some songs didn't thrill me. More run throughs needed, for sure. I liked a lot of Symbol Remains, but not all of it. The greatness of BOC, for me, is the variety, the melodic nature of the compositions and the musicianship. Buck has always been the highlight of the band. Now with Richie breathing new life into the band, they're going strong. Eric's voice is not what it was, but he's not young. I saw them in 2023 and they were terrific. I hope they come to the Bay Area this year. Anything we get from them at this point is greatly appreciated. We have two original members still and three great musicians in the mix with them. I apprecaite everything they do. I bought the first album when it first came out and saw them for the first time in 74, with KISS opening, who were interesting for 30 minutes. Long live BOC!

Upon first listen, my take on Ghost Stories was... woof. But a few of the songs have grown on me somewhat. "So Supernatural" and "Don't Come Running to Me" are both fine, and a couple of the other tracks are okay. I almost wish they had released this *before* The Symbol Remains, because that album is first-class BÖC and deserves to be the band's final recorded statement. I probably won't play Ghost Stories often (possibly even ever again), but I can't hate that it exists.

Great commentary. I miss Curse of the Collector, hugely because of Rick. Great to see him here tonight. Haven’t heard the record yet, but will buy, in true completist fashion. Remember , We Gotta Get Out Of This Place ended Some Enchanted Evening. Last song on the record (Animals)

I appreciate them including If I Fell, think that it makes a fine outro, and hopefully shines a light back on that wonderful song. 2016 BOC would do that song before their gigs to warm up.

Look it was clear that this compilation was going to have some warts, at least I knew it. But it doesnt matter. Why? because its BOC. And yes Pete we can hope that a denouement that completes their catalogue would still be on the horizon.

Listened a few times. Really like it. Not sure I LOVE it yet. But it’s a cool collection

Well BOC have always straddled styles - signed (as “Stalk Forest”) by Elektra to be the psychedelic east coast Doors; the thinking man’s metal band; on the cover of issue #1 of Punk Magazine (and pals w/ The Dictators, who Albert now drums for). BOC already reissued most 70s albums with pleasant but unremarkable bonus tracks, so I suppose the slicker Mirrors material was logically next. The Bouchard Bros were integral to BOC, but I wish Joe let Eric Bloom sing lead on “So Supernatural“ (as he did on Mirrors’ “I Am The Storm”) to give it the prog metal vocal boost that this track needs.

The best Beatles cover for me is Got to Get You into My Life by Earth, Wind & Fire.

Looking forward to Sundays show guys

If Rick says get it Im getting it but Im a huge BOC fan from way back! 😆 💯

Very good album. Great to hear Albert again. 'Soul Jive' might be my favorite. Not sure about the last song.

Maybe l need to listen to it again as l thought it was a bit weak on first listen. The single off the album is a belter and up there with their very best, but I found the others tame. I'll be interested in Pete's take that's for sure.

I love these songs 4.5/5. Great tunes!

This is fine for what it is. An odds and sods release. Get the Japanese version. It should not be looked at as a 'new official studio' release from BOC. I doubt we will get a new full on BOC album in the future so dig it (or not) for what it is. See you on tour.

Ann and Nancy Wilson did some amazing Beatles Covers on a fan-club release they did around 1979.

Only me I think that shot in the dark is a great song?

I decided to take it as a new BÖC, and I am happy as a little girl with these new batch of tunes

Symbol remains was great 9/10. This demo rest ramp is for collectors, but not for the masses. 5/10

I really was waiting for this (BOC album+sot review) thank you

I like it! I love when bands do this kind of thing. Great to hear some Bouchard brothers unused tracks! I'm a huge B.O.C. fan so I'll give it a 3/5

Thank you Rick and Pete for this important info for a BOC completist like myself! I greatly appreciate all of both of your forthright opinions on this odds and sods and it was great to hear how many Bouchard brother tracks I’ve never heard even if they are demos. How cool! Glad to hear about Ritchie C production involvement which speaks to quality as well. Lots of good points here guys and very much looking forward to Savoy Brown album ranking!

Some decent songs on the album especially the 80's sounding stuff. Just add them to your driving music and they'll grow on you.

I think they got a bit carried away. Don't Come Running To Me, Gun, Money Machine, Late Night Street Fight, So Supernatural would've been a killer 5-track EP!

I approached this album for what it was, which was a very varied collection of songs culled from an older time in their career. I was not expecting Secret Treaties and I was was not disappointed. That being said, my 1st impression was that it was okay but not a classic BOC album. Something strange happened after each subsequent listen - I found myself liking it better and better. Now, I don’t consider it a “great” album but a damn good one. These songs are a hell of a lot better than most of the stuff being turned out today. There’s something special about the variety and just proves that BOC certainly isn’t a one note band. Enjoy it for what it is and you’ll be rewarded with repeated listening.

Yeah, I thought that too, a new track would have been cool. It's an OK collection for the completist I guess. I still have the hope for another "Symbol Remains" though. Thanks 🍺🤘!

Very interesting discussion. On my first listen, I was disappointed, underwhelmed, and nothing clicked. Upon subsequent listens however, the album really did seem ‘so supernatural’ in that it kept pulling me back in, and I can honestly say that there are 8 songs here that I have listened to more than anything else I have purchased over the past few months. And I buy a lot of music. These lost gems have a real mystical and magical vibe that is really hard to describe. Ghostly indeed! 3.5 out of 5.

This feels like the rarities disc from a box set covering the studio albums from Spectres to The Revolution by Night, and although there are a couple of really good tunes, there are some mediocre covers and some forgettable songs.

I've checked it out. I will not be wasting my $$ on this one Interested to see what Pete has to say

Soul Jive & Gun have already been recorded by The Brain Surgeons and Money Machine by The X Brothers @12.50, Shot in the Dark was written around 1983 by Wildlife (pre-FM Overland brothers band, Phil Soussan was in this band), Ozzy nicked it & recorded it in 1986. @15.00, audio engineer George Geranios

A couple of decent tunes, but no hidden classics. Probably won't be listening to this too much in the future.

So supernatural is a good song but I wish buck dharma had sung on it. It sounds like one of his

I'll give the songs some listen here on RU-vid. Will I buy it? Not sure!

I appreciate your honest review. And I agree with just about all you both said. I’d give it a 3 out of 5 too. I will say this though. While the songs are perhaps not up to par with other songs they released back then, these redone tracks are a welcome addition. They lack heaviness and quirkiness of typical BOC songs. I can see why they might have been left off those albums and remained in the vault. But they are enjoyable to listen to. And with each listen I enjoy them more. I’m grateful for this release and am ok if this is their last studio release. Looking forward to the other two live releases from the 50th anniversary shows. First Night is great.

Rick hit the nail on the head when he Said "Late Night Street Fight" was a terrible opener. On my 2nd and 3rd listens, i skipped it and started with "Cherry" and had a much more pleasant experience. Sequencing is so important.

Can't wait for Savoy Brown!

Maybe BOC didn't pull off the Beatles cover. I don't know, I haven't heard it. But Elton John pulled off a cover of the Beatles song "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds." At least that's what I say! Aerosmith did a nice cover of the Beatles song "Come Together" also!

I was just not crazy about this album after my first listen. Initially I was deceived into thinking it was an album of new material upon first seeing it, but even when I realized what it would be, I was excited for the possibility. First and foremost, I typically don't care for cover songs. I want originals unless you can radically change a known song to make it your own. The three covers here just stink, especially "If I Fell" which closes the album on a whimper. Nothing like limping off into the sunset. The 2 advanced singles are easily the best on the album, but they really don't even measure up to BOC classics from the era, hence why they were left on the cutting room floor. The rest of the songs are OK, but lack muscle and energy. There's a reason these songs never saw the light of day until now, and I think it might have been better had they stayed in the dark. There's too many fantastic BOC records to revisit for me to spend my listening time on this.

Honestly I only like the 2 singles “So Supernatural “ “Don’t come running to me” the rest it’s like whatever’s.

I'm more into past BOC live recordings than studio so I won't be disappointed in this album.

Maybe BOC didn't pull off the Beatles cover. I don't know, I haven't heard it. But Elton John pull off a cover of the Beatles song "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds." At least that's what I say! Aerosmith did a nice job on their cover of the Beatles song "Come Together." also!

Hi Peta, did you consider doing review of Stone Rebel - Interstellar, interesting album, space/fussion rock...

Thought I heard Imaginos 2, a comic book , and possibly a movie was being worked on by Bouchard...The BOC songs based Pearlmans work was a big part of their "cult" status. It would be a shame not to expound his unpublished writtings...Theres gotta be more secrets in the vault

I am not a fan of Ghost Stories..BOC has been my favorite band since 1983. They’ve never put out a bad album, so I guess it’s about time they did, sadly it’s their final album. The Symbol Remains was excellent, as was the 50th Anniversary of the first album. Ghost Stories is a collection of songs that should have never been published.

Wait. BÖC covered 'If I Fell" ? I dunno man....BUT if they're gonna try it I'm gonna give it a listen! but I dunno man...

At best a bonus oddities/rarities disc only

Good review, thanks.

Great episode. I really enjoyed this

Just got done listening to it.. Have to agree.. But So Paranormal is great and sounds like GHOST.. But there is actually 3 covers not 2 on it.. The final song is a cover of a RUTLES song.. But i will stick to Symbol Remains..

I don't like The Symbol Remains, either for its songwriting or for its overly modern production, especially as Eric Bloom's voice is gone for good, so I prefer this collection of reworked oldies. It's far from being a masterpiece, but in any case it sounds more like the BÖC I used to love. Anyway, for me their last totally successful albums were Cultösaurus Erectus and Fire of Unknown Origin. I don't really care what followed.

I do like this album but I wish there was more information about each track about what year the song was from. And also the animals cover and mc5 cover could have been left off for some other stuff.just because those 2 are big staples in their greatest hits and compliaton albums

The Symbol Remains is overrated ,the last good B.Ö.C. album was Heaven Forbid.

"Contractual Obligation Album"

Here’s a good one (not BOC but BOC members playing on it w/ their original singer Les Braunstein), old track that would’ve made this album a whole lot more memorable if it had been included: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-baD0sBuJVu4.htmlsi=dharGmCstoen6HOm

I listened to this the other day and basically, it is what it is, and Rick's right, completists only. It was interesting, but disjointed by its very nature, and the band aren't trying to pretend it's anything else, to be fair. I wont be spending money buying it new, as I dont think I'll be listening to it again, but if it pops up in a sale for a fiver in a ciuple of months, I might be tempted...

Love BOC and The Symbol Remains is one of my favourite albums ever- yes ever. But this is just a step away from me as a fan. Bottom line I really don’t like it. But accept some might.

Cheap trick do the best beatles covers

Good album

🌠Good Video Guys ..i'm gonna buy the cd

Nice work, I haven't heard it yet but I wasn't too crazy about the 2 I did hear that they made videos for. Savoy Brown ranking finally! Looking forward to that!

I am a fan but I don’t need to have this one

Eh I’m not sure how I feel about this record I like a couple songs but the last album is better

Yeah, I will pass on this album. Not worth the price tag $9.49. The songs on this album should have stayed in the vault.

I like boc but im also a production nerd. Really dont like the sounds on this album . Love the symbol remains though . Good show guys 👍

Call me crazy but I like this one better than the symbol remains. To me the symbol remains was too modern sounding, too long, and I just couldn’t get into it. This sounds more like classic BOC and it is a perfect 42 minutes.

As a BOC fan of 50 years this is pretty dull underwhelming release, especially after the excellent comeback with The Symbol Remains. I streamed it online twice and will buy it as a completist but doubt I will play it more than a couple times. Just pray they have one more great album in them. Great cover art, music pretty forgettable

I'll pass on this

...when I first listened to this, I had Rick's opinion, regarding the comparison to Zep's "Coda"...except that Zep had some decent songs in the vaults...it's easy to see why these songs were not released. Better served as part of any possible "reissues" for the albums they were recording at the time, as opposed to an entire collection of the tracks. This, taken as it is, is quite possibly the worst collection of BOC songs I've ever heard.

I must be the only person who didn't like The Symbol Remains, lol.

Cheers for Rick's passion when he's breaking down his point of view. That being said I find this collection of songs hit and miss. So-so.

Rather boring overall not particularly impressed perhaps it will grow on me So supernatural is the best track 2.5 for me

I can't stand Rick he's 2 long winded and sounds like Elmer Fudd 😊

This is not great. That MC5 cover has no balls and should have stayed locked away in the vaults. Or kindling for a bonfire.

Wow, crap!🥶 Never liked this band, but holy smokes..

I've listened to the album now. Have to be honest here. It is really not good at all. It sounds like old men playing rock music. That is off course exactly what it is, given their age, but it's just plain boring, very old school hard rock with boogie tendencies, which I absolutely dislike. This is somewhere between 0.5-1 star out of 5 for me. I'll never listen to it again.

Rick...love your energy but please - this and the Review Crew shows - you need to be tighter. There's a reason Pete's reviews are 5-10minutes at max. 30mins on a rarities CD, and Pete did about 20% of the talking? It's too much.

Terrible album and a big disappointment to go out on especially after the great Symbol Remains album. There was a reason these songs were rejects.

Was never a BOC fan. Kind of an overated band to me. JMHO.

What a crap😢

Although I have nothing against BOC , to me they’re average at best. I tried for 45 years, saw them live twice and I just don’t get it. 🤷‍♂️

The album sucks

You guys are BOCFINO's. Where is your body of work? How many songs have you guys written? Let's hear some of your covers of Beatle songs. Also this is not Led Zeppelin Coda II. Horrible review!!

Sitting unopened on my desk. Wow! Not until this review did I realize it was a collection of odds and ends. Thought it was a new album. Out of the loop. Hahaha... I actually didn't love the last one. Heaven Forbid was the last one I truly loved. A favorite.