Blue Oyster Cult--(Don't Fear) The Reaper (1976)

     In 1967, the group was known as Soft White Underbelly and was playing most of their gigs around Stony Brook University on Long Island, New York. Music critic, road manager, and songwriter Sandy Pearlman led them through some stormy waters as the band shuffled members and band names before becoming, Blue Oyster Cult in 1971. Pearlman had designs on BOC to become the American answer to Black Sabbath. At least to my ears they reached beyond Sabbath as their lyrics were much witter and the music wasn't near as heavy handed. Of course, this made them into more of a straight ahead rock band rather than heavy metal, but at times could show those qualities
     By 1976, BOC was getting more airplay with each succeeding album. With "Agents of Fortune", the group broke through to the Hot 100 for the first time with, "(Don't Fear) The Reaper". They were to have several other minor hits, most notably "Burning For You" in 1981. Both the single and album were high water marks for the band, but they continued making music that reached the album and hard rock charts until the mid to late 80's.