St. Cecilia: The Elektra Recordings
Encyclopedia
St. Cecilia: The Elektra Recordings is an album by the American rock
band Stalk-Forrest Group, which would later become the successful hard rock
band Blue Öyster Cult
. It was recorded in 1970, but it was not officially released until 2001.
in 1969. When original vocalist Les Braunstein left the band, Columbia decided not to put out the recordings and ended their recording contract. Four of the 1969 Columbia tracks eventually surfaced as bonus tracks on the re-mastered version of the first Blue Öyster Cult album
in 2001.
Manager Sandy Pearlman
convinced Elektra Records
to give the band — now fronted by vocalist Eric Bloom
— another shot. Meanwhile, the band had changed its name to Oaxaca, and would soon change it again to Stalk-Forrest Group. Ultimately, after being presented with two different versions of the album, Elektra decided not to release it, and dropped the band from the label. Those recordings finally surfaced in a bootleg in the late 1990s. Confusingly enough, the bootleg was titled Curse of the Hidden Mirrors, after a song on the Elektra album, but Curse of the Hidden Mirror
was also the title of a Blue Öyster Cult studio album from 2001.
Bass player Andrew Winters was fired from the band not long after the St. Cecilia sessions. He was replaced by Joe Bouchard
, brother of drummer Albert Bouchard
.
St. Cecilia was finally released in 2001 by Rhino Entertainment
under the supervision of Roland Worthington Hand as RHM2 7716, in a limited, numbered edition of 5000 copies. It is now out of print. Radioactive Records
have since reissued the album as St. Cecilia: The California Album.
The nicknames in quotes were given to the band members by manager Sandy Pearlman
. Nearly all of the members hated the nicknames, with the exception of Donald Roeser, who continues to use "Buck Dharma
" as his stage name.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Stalk-Forrest Group, which would later become the successful hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult, often abbreviated BÖC, is an American rock band, most of whose members first came together in Long Island, NY in 1967 as the band Soft White Underbelly...
. It was recorded in 1970, but it was not officially released until 2001.
Overview
The band (originally known as 'Soft White Underbelly') had recorded demos for Columbia RecordsColumbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in 1969. When original vocalist Les Braunstein left the band, Columbia decided not to put out the recordings and ended their recording contract. Four of the 1969 Columbia tracks eventually surfaced as bonus tracks on the re-mastered version of the first Blue Öyster Cult album
Blue Öyster Cult (album)
Blue Öyster Cult is the eponymous debut album by hard rock band Blue Öyster Cult, released in January 1972 . The album featured songs such as "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll," "Stairway to the Stars," and "Then Came the Last Days of May," all of which the band still plays regularly during its...
in 2001.
Manager Sandy Pearlman
Sandy Pearlman
Sandy Pearlman is an American music producer, artist manager, professor, poet, songwriter, and once was a record company executive...
convinced Elektra Records
Elektra Records
Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....
to give the band — now fronted by vocalist Eric Bloom
Eric Bloom
Eric Bloom is an American singer, songwriter and musician. He is best known as the main vocalist, and "stunt guitar" for the long-running band Blue Öyster Cult, with work on over 20 albums...
— another shot. Meanwhile, the band had changed its name to Oaxaca, and would soon change it again to Stalk-Forrest Group. Ultimately, after being presented with two different versions of the album, Elektra decided not to release it, and dropped the band from the label. Those recordings finally surfaced in a bootleg in the late 1990s. Confusingly enough, the bootleg was titled Curse of the Hidden Mirrors, after a song on the Elektra album, but Curse of the Hidden Mirror
Curse of the Hidden Mirror
Curse of the Hidden Mirror is the twelfth studio album by the American hard rock band Blue Öyster Cult, released in 2001. The only single from the record was the poorly received "Pocket". Lackluster sales led to the band being dropped by their label, Sanctuary Records...
was also the title of a Blue Öyster Cult studio album from 2001.
Bass player Andrew Winters was fired from the band not long after the St. Cecilia sessions. He was replaced by Joe Bouchard
Joe Bouchard
Joe Bouchard was the original bassist for Blue Öyster Cult. He grew up in Clayton, New York...
, brother of drummer Albert Bouchard
Albert Bouchard
Albert Bouchard and grew up in Clayton, New York. He is a drummer, guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was a founding member of Blue Öyster Cult and a driving force through the band's first decade...
.
St. Cecilia was finally released in 2001 by Rhino Entertainment
Rhino Entertainment
Rhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.-History:Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes...
under the supervision of Roland Worthington Hand as RHM2 7716, in a limited, numbered edition of 5000 copies. It is now out of print. Radioactive Records
Radioactive Records
Radioactive Records was an American record label. It was formed as a joint venture between talent manager Gary Kurfirst and MCA Records, and it is now out of business....
have since reissued the album as St. Cecilia: The California Album.
Song details
- The song "I'm on the Lamb" was re-recorded for Blue Öyster CultBlue Öyster CultBlue Öyster Cult, often abbreviated BÖC, is an American rock band, most of whose members first came together in Long Island, NY in 1967 as the band Soft White Underbelly...
's first proper album Blue Öyster CultBlue Öyster Cult (album)Blue Öyster Cult is the eponymous debut album by hard rock band Blue Öyster Cult, released in January 1972 . The album featured songs such as "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll," "Stairway to the Stars," and "Then Came the Last Days of May," all of which the band still plays regularly during its...
in 1972. It was re-worked and recorded again for the Tyranny & Mutation album (1973), under the title "The Red and the Black".
- The very last part of the song "Gil Blanco County" would later re-emerge at the end of "(Don't Fear) The Reaper(Don't Fear) The Reaper" The Reaper" is a song by the rock band Blue Öyster Cult from their 1976 album, Agents of Fortune. It was written and sung by the band's lead guitarist, Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser and was produced by David Lucas, Murray Krugman, and Sandy Pearlman. It is built around Dharma's guitar riff that...
" on the popular live album Some Enchanted Evening (1978).
- The chord changes for "Arthur Comics" were recycled for the instrumental "Buck's Boogie", released on the 1975 live album On Your Feet or on Your KneesOn Your Feet or on Your KneesOn Your Feet or on Your Knees was Blue Öyster Cult's first live album, released in early 1975. Each of the band's first three studio albums are represented by three songs each, two other songs are covers , and one is an original instrumental that remains a staple of the band's live shows to this...
. More directly, however, the bridge from "Gil Blanco County" was used as the main development section in "Buck's Boogie," although the progression is in D rather than Db in "Buck's Boogie."
- Three songs from this album ("What Is Quicksand?", "Donovan's Monkey" and "A Fact About Sneakers") appear on the remastered CD release of the album Blue Öyster CultBlue Öyster Cult (album)Blue Öyster Cult is the eponymous debut album by hard rock band Blue Öyster Cult, released in January 1972 . The album featured songs such as "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll," "Stairway to the Stars," and "Then Came the Last Days of May," all of which the band still plays regularly during its...
in earlier versions that were recorded for Columbia Records.
Track listing
- "What Is Quicksand?" (Allen LanierAllen LanierAllen Lanier was an original member of Blue Öyster Cult. Lanier played keyboards and rhythm guitar. He currently resides in Manhattan....
, Richard MeltzerRichard MeltzerRichard Meltzer was one of the earliest rock music critics. His first book, The Aesthetics of Rock, evolved out of his undergraduate studies in philosophy at the State University of New York at Stony Brook and graduate studies at Yale University...
) - 3:19 - "I'm on the Lamb" (Eric BloomEric BloomEric Bloom is an American singer, songwriter and musician. He is best known as the main vocalist, and "stunt guitar" for the long-running band Blue Öyster Cult, with work on over 20 albums...
, Albert BouchardAlbert BouchardAlbert Bouchard and grew up in Clayton, New York. He is a drummer, guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was a founding member of Blue Öyster Cult and a driving force through the band's first decade...
, Sandy PearlmanSandy PearlmanSandy Pearlman is an American music producer, artist manager, professor, poet, songwriter, and once was a record company executive...
) - 3:00 - "Gil Blanco County" (Lanier, Pealman) - 3:37
- "Donovan's Monkey" (Bouchard, Meltzer) - 3:44
- "Ragamuffin Dumplin'" (Bouchard, Meltzer) - 5:12
- "Curse of the Hidden Mirrors" (Bouchard, Meltzer) - 3:17
- "Arthur Comics" (Bouchard, Meltzer) - 3:11
- "A Fact About Sneakers" (Bouchard, Meltzer) - 7:53
- "St. Cecila" (Bouchard, Pearlman, Andrew Winters) - 6:48
- "Ragamuffin Dumplin'" (alternate mix)
- "I'm on the Lamb" (alternate version)
- "Curse of the Hidden Mirrors" (alternate mix)
- "Bonomo's Turkish Taffy"
- "Gil Blanco County" (alternate mix)
- "St. Cecilia" (alternate mix)
- "A Fact About Sneakers" (alternate version)
- "What Is Quicksand?" (mono single version)
- "Arthur Comics" (mono single version)
- Tracks 1-9 taken from the unreleased and untitled Elektra album EKS-74046
- Tracks 10-16 previously unreleased
- Tracks 17 and 18 are from the Elektra single EKM-45693
Personnel
- Eric BloomEric BloomEric Bloom is an American singer, songwriter and musician. He is best known as the main vocalist, and "stunt guitar" for the long-running band Blue Öyster Cult, with work on over 20 albums...
aka "Jesse Python" - lead vocals, guitars - Donald Roeser aka "Buck DharmaBuck DharmaDonald "Buck Dharma" Roeser is an American guitarist and songwriter, best known for being a member of Blue Öyster Cult since the group's formation in 1967...
" - lead guitar, vocals - Andrew Winters aka "Andy Panda" - bass, acoustic guitar on "St. Cecilia"
- Allen LanierAllen LanierAllen Lanier was an original member of Blue Öyster Cult. Lanier played keyboards and rhythm guitar. He currently resides in Manhattan....
aka "La Verne" - keyboards, guitar - Albert BouchardAlbert BouchardAlbert Bouchard and grew up in Clayton, New York. He is a drummer, guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was a founding member of Blue Öyster Cult and a driving force through the band's first decade...
aka "Prince Omega" - drums, vocals
The nicknames in quotes were given to the band members by manager Sandy Pearlman
Sandy Pearlman
Sandy Pearlman is an American music producer, artist manager, professor, poet, songwriter, and once was a record company executive...
. Nearly all of the members hated the nicknames, with the exception of Donald Roeser, who continues to use "Buck Dharma
Buck Dharma
Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser is an American guitarist and songwriter, best known for being a member of Blue Öyster Cult since the group's formation in 1967...
" as his stage name.