Mirrors (Blue Öyster Cult album)
Mirrors is the sixth studio album by American hard rock band Blue Öyster Cult, released on June 19, 1979. It was the first BÖC album not produced by long-time producer and manager Sandy Pearlman, instead being produced by Tom Werman.
Mirrors | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 19, 1979 | |||
Studio | 1979, at Kendun Recorders, Burbank, California CBS Recording Studios, New York City The Record Plant, Los Angeles, California | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 36:34 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Producer | Tom Werman | |||
Blue Öyster Cult chronology | ||||
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Singles from Mirrors | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Christgau's Record Guide | C[2] |
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 10/10[3] |
Rolling Stone | (mixed)[4] |
Background
After the success of 1976's Platinum Agents of Fortune, 1977's Gold Spectres and 1978's Platinum live effort Some Enchanted Evening, the fact that Mirrors struggled to reach Gold status disappointed band and label alike. According to interviews with the band and production staff, the intent for this album was to make a high-charting record with glossy production; however, the backlash from this attempt led to the band's future pairing with Martin Birch and an attempt to return to a darker sound.
Songs
Allen Lanier's acoustic ballad "In Thee" charted at No. 74.[5] The song's line "Jim says some destinies should not be delivered" references the Jim Carroll Band song "Day and Night."
"The Great Sun Jester" was co-written by Eric Bloom, John Trivers, and British fantasy/science-fiction author Michael Moorcock based on Moorcock's novel The Fireclown. This would be the first of several songs that Moorcock would co-write with the band.
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
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1. | "Dr. Music" | Joe Bouchard, Donald Roeser, Richard Meltzer | Eric Bloom | 3:10 |
2. | "The Great Sun Jester" | Bloom, Michael Moorcock, John Trivers | Bloom | 4:48 |
3. | "In Thee" | Allen Lanier | D. Roeser | 3:48 |
4. | "Mirrors" | D. Roeser, Bruce Abbott | D. Roeser | 3:44 |
5. | "Moon Crazy" | J. Bouchard | J. Bouchard | 4:06 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
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6. | "The Vigil" | D. Roeser, Sandra Roeser | D. Roeser | 6:25 |
7. | "I Am the Storm" | J. Bouchard, Ronald Binder | Bloom | 3:42 |
8. | "You're Not the One (I Was Looking For)" | Albert Bouchard, Caryn Bouchard | A. Bouchard | 3:14 |
9. | "Lonely Teardrops" | Lanier | D. Roeser | 3:37 |
Personnel
Blue Öyster Cult
- Eric Bloom – rhythm guitar, vocals
- Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser – lead guitar, vocals
- Allen Lanier – keyboards, guitar
- Joe Bouchard – bass, vocals
- Albert Bouchard – drums, vocals
Additional musicians
- Mickey Raphael – harmonica on "Dr. Music"
- Jai Winding – strings on "In Thee"
- Ellen Foley, Genya Ravan, Wendy Webb – background vocals
Production
- Tom Werman – producer
- Gary Ladinsky – engineer, mixing
Artwork
The album front cover image is a photorealistic painting by Loren Salazar, of a side-view mirror. The album’s inner sleeve is an image from the house of mirrors scene in ‘’The Lady From Shanghai’’.
Charts
Album
Year | Chart | Position |
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1979 | Billboard 200 (United States) | 44[6] |
UK Albums Chart | 46[7] | |
RPM100 Albums (Canada) | 49[8] |
Singles
Year | Title | Chart | Position |
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1979 | "In Thee" | Billboard Hot 100 (United States) | 74[5] |
References
- Ruhlmann, William. "Blue Öyster Cult - Mirrors review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
- Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: B". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 22, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- Popoff, Martin (October 2003). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 1: The Seventies. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 55. ISBN 978-1894959025.
- Schneider, Mitchell (November 29, 1979). "Album Reviews: Blue Oyster Cult – Mirrors". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
- "Blue Öyster Cult Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
- "Blue Öyster Cult Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
- "Blue Oyster Cult Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
- "Top Albums/CDs – Volume 31, No. 24, September 08 1979". Library and Archives Canada. September 8, 1979. Archived from the original on October 31, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2012.