ALBERT BOUCHARD is best known as a founding member of BLUE ÖYSTER CULT. The original line-up sold millions of albums for Columbia Records, with such classic songs as “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” and the #1 hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart “Burning For You”. Contributing to songwriting, drums, and lead vocals on some of their greatest songs, such as “Cites on Flame with Rock and Roll”.
With the success of “Re Imaginos” last year, Albert Bouchard is now back with “Imaginos 2 – Bombs Over Germany (minus zero and counting)”, continuing the Trilogy of Imaginos, a concept album about an alien conspiracy that is brought to fruition during the late 19th and early 20th century through the actions of Imaginos, an agent of evil. The album weaves scripts and poems by the late Sandy Pearlman. It features guests Ross The Boss (Dictators), Joe Cerisano (Silver Condor, TSO), and reunites original Blue Öyster Cult members Eric Bloom, Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser and Joe Bouchard, as well current BOC member Richie Castellano, who all contribute to this latest installment. The album also features reworks of classics like “Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll”, “The Red and the Black”, and “Dominance and Submission”.
The first single from the album is “OD’d On Life Itself” and Albert had this to say about it, “This version of OD’d On Life Itself is a very different take on the song that was recorded for BOC’s second album, Tyranny and Mutation. The lyrics return to the original lyrics written by Sandy Pearlman, much less sarcastic and much more spooky. The track reflects that change with a simpler and more spacious arrangement with just acoustic guitar, mysterioso guitar, violin, drums and bass. The stand out lyrics are “Don’t you fear this trade in lives” and “This wedding by heaven was made up in hell” which portend to the darker nature of this second act in the Imaginos saga.”
View lyric video here:
Deko Entertainment is very excited to continue their relationship with Albert and RockHeart Records and plans are already underway for the third installment and accompanying Imaginos comic book currently in development. President Bruce Pucciarello comments, “With a comic book based on his Re-Imaginos album in development, and Albert continually stepping it up to represent each musical piece with a personal dedication to the original vision, Imaginos II is exactly what it is supposed to be, an epic…thank you Albert.”
To celebrate Imaginos II, there are limited editionbundles (while supplies last), which can be ordered via: https://bit.ly/AlbertBouchard
“Imaginos II – Bombs Over Germany (minus zero and counting)” Tracklist: 1. When War Comes 2. Independence Day 3. 7 Screaming Dizbusters 4. O’D On Life Itself 5. II Duce 6. Bombs Over Germany 7. Before The Kiss (A Redcap) 8. Three Sisters 9. Quicklime Girl (Mistress of the Salmon Salt) 10. The Red and the Black 11. Dominance and Submission 12. Shadow of California 13. Cities on Flame (With Rock and Roll) 14. Half Life Times
ALBERT BOUCHARD is best known as a founding member of BLUE ÖYSTER CULT. The original line-up sold millions of albums for Columbia Records, with such classic songs as “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” and the #1 hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart “Burning For You”. Bouchard contributed to songwriting, drums, and lead vocals on some of their greatest songs, such as “Cites on Flame with Rock and Roll”.
‘Re Imaginos’ came out on November 6th though RockHeart Records / Deko Entertainment (ADA/Warner Music Group) and hit the Billboard Top 100 (#97), Albert’s first time back on the charts in 32 years. Now to celebrate the vinyl release of Re Imaginos which hits stores April 9th, Albert will be performing the album in its entirety plus other Blue Öyster Cult classics on Saturday April 10th at 4:00 PM (est). This special event will be streamed live from Deko Entertainment’s 2Trax Studios and is being hosted by Mandolin. Albert had this to say about the upcoming event, “I am very excited to perform this well loved and legendary album in order, in its entirety, for the very first time LIVE. There will also be a selection of deep cuts and a bit of improvisation incorporated into the performance. This event will be a unique live presentation of many songs from my Blue Oyster Cult and solo catalogues.”
To commemorate this one-time event you can pick up the Limited Editions Albert Bouchard Event T-Shirt, or any ‘Re Imaginos’ merchandise, and receive a 10% off code for the live stream. Manager Jeff Keller states, “When Albert and I started speaking about the idea of having a ‘Re Imaginos’ livestream concert, I was instantly excited about the possibility. Without the ability to take this to live in-person audiences right now, this was the perfect idea to get this performance out to everyone all over the world. The fans have been so supporting of this release and I can’t wait for them to see the show.”
There are limited edition “vinyl” bundles (while supplies last), which can be ordered via the Albert Bouchard Store, get your 10% off coupon code here: http://bit.ly/38JqKPA
ALBERT BOUCHARD is best known as a founding member of BLUE ÖYSTER CULT. The original line-up sold millions of albums for Columbia Records, with such classic songs as “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” and the #1 hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart “Burning For You”. Bouchard contributed to songwriting, drums, and lead vocals on some of their greatest songs, such as “Cites on Flame with Rock and Roll”.
“Re Imaginos” came out on November 6th though RockHeart Records / Deko Entertainment (ADA/Warner Music Group) and hit the Billboard Top 100 (#97), Albert’s first time back on the charts in 32 years. Due to the overwhelming demand, “Re Imaginos” is now being released as a limited-edition vinyl release. This special run comes as a double LP gatefold edition, including extended versions of “In the Presence of Another World”, “Imaginos”, “Blue Oyster Cult”, plus the bonus instrumental, “Imaginos Overture”. And if that is not enough, the album also features liner notes by Rolling Stone editor, David Fricke. This is the ultimate presentation of the unique story that is Imaginos.
Albert is very excited to bring this to the fans as he states, “This vinyl release brings the vision for ‘Imaginos’ full circle, where the songs come out as a gatefold double vinyl release with each side telling a specific part of the story. It also sounds the way that Sandy and I wanted it to sound with plenty for volume and yet, plenty of headroom too. The extended mixes take advantage of the multitude of guitar tracks that I had available and also add some extra drama to some songs (as if it was really needed). Finally, it has the long-lost version of ‘Imaginos Overture’ that was planned for the original ‘Imaginos’ record, with more contributions from Joe Bouchard, Greg Holt, RJ Ronquillo, Ross The Boss Friedman, and Ace Bouchard.” Deko Entertainment president Bruce Pucciarello adds, “Finally, delivered the way it needed to be. A spiritual, soulful journey that Albert was always meant to take us on, his way. Wonderful.”
View EPK for Re Imaginos here:
There are limited edition “red vinyl” bundles (while supplies last), which can be ordered via: https://tinyurl.com/yyazk3os
Product Includes: – One (1) Albert Bouchard – Re Imaginos Vinyl (2LP) (Red Variant) – One (1) Albert Bouchard – Re Imaginos Poster (Autographed) – One (1) Albert Bouchard – Drum Sticks (Autographed) – One (1) Albert Bouchard – Re Imaginos Guitar Pick
“Re Imaginos” Tracklist: 1. I Am the One You Warned Me Of 2. Del Rio Song 3. In the Presence of Another World (extended version) 4. Siege and Investiture of Baron Von Frankenstein’s Castle At Weisseria 5. Girl That Love Made Blind 6. Astronomy 7. Imaginos (extended version) 8. Gil Blanco County 9. Blue Oyster Cult (extended version) 10. Black Telescope 11. Magna of Illusion 12. Les Invisibles 13. Imaginos Overture (LP Only)
BLUE ÖYSTER CULT Co-Founder Albert Bouchard has released a new single and video for “Blue Öyster Cult” from the “Re Imaginos” album, which was released yesterday, November 6th.
Albert Bouchard is best known as a founding member of Blue Öyster Cult. The original line-up sold millions of albums for Columbia Records, with such classic songs as “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” and the #1 hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart “Burning for You”. Contributing to songwriting, drums, and lead vocals on some of their greatest songs, such as “Cites on Flame with Rock and Roll”.
“Re Imaginos” is out on November 6th through he and his brother’s (Joe Bouchard) new imprint label, RockHeart Records / Deko Entertainment (ADA/Warner Music Group). Critics are already embracing Albert’s reimagining of the 1988 Blue Öyster Cult release, “Imaginos”.
View EPK for Re Imaginos here:
Here is what Albert had to say about the second single and video “Blue Oyster Cult”, “Blue Oyster Cult was a poem that Sandy Pearlman wrote in the late 60s. When Blue Oyster Cult was finalizing our recording contract with Columbia Records we took the poem as our band name. Eric Bloom put Sandy’s poem to music on our third album, Secret Treaties. This version is different from that but very similar to the version I created for the original Imaginos album in 1988. It tells the story of a sailor who has been put ashore and is discovered by the Blue Oyster Cult, non-human beings who nurse Imaginos back to health and give him a mission to find the mysterious black mirror, hidden deep in the jungles of the Yucatan peninsula.”
Also to celebrate the launch of RockHeart Records and the release of “Re Imaginos”, the Bouchard brothers are offering a limited amount of the official RockHeart Records Cowbell autographed personally by both Joe and Albert.
Albert’s infamous cowbell part in “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” was the basis of the classic Will Ferrell skit on SNL, which also starred Christopher Walken. With “The Reaper,” an all-time classic on YouTube and every other digital platform, with zillions of views, the Bouchard brothers are forever cemented in pop culture.
“Re Imaginos” Tracklist: 1. I Am The One You Warned Me Of 2. Del Rio Song 3. In The Presence Of Another World 4. Siege And Investiture Of Baron Von Frankenstein’s Castle At Weisseria 5. Girl That Love Made Blind 6. Astronomy 7. Imaginos 8. Gil Blanco County 9. Blue Oyster Cult 10. Black Telescope 11. Magna of Illusion 12. Les Invisibles
For Canada’s The Metal VoiceJimmy Kay and Giles Lavery recently spoke with Blue Oyster Cult Co-Founder, composer and drummer Albert Bouchard.
Bouchard spoke about his new album Re-Imaginos, The Blue Oyster Cult legacy and Cowbells.
Re-Imaginos album is a updated version of the Blue Oyster Cult Imaginos album from 1988 which was originally meant to be a solo album by Albert Bouchard.
Re-Imaginos will be released November 6 2020 via Deko Entertainment
Watch full interview here
When did the original Imaginos writing sessions begin “Somewhere between 1973 to 1976 Sandy Pearlman (BOC Manager producer, lyricts) started coming over to my apartement and we were working on both music and lyrics. I think at that point we did the songs “The Girl that loved me blind’, ‘Del Rio Song’ and ‘I am the one you warned me of”. Those were three we worked on then. The song Astronomy was started by Joe Bouchard brother) in 1973-74. Supposedly Sandy Pearlmean had the whole arc of the story prior and presented the band with those lyrics before the first Blue Oyster Cult record. When we got the name Blue Oyster Cult we already knew he got it from the song Blue Oyster Cult (from Imaginos story).”
When asked about the basic story of Imaginos “The basic story is it starts around the 19th century and there is a sea captain who is an explorer and he goes to the jungles of Mexico and discovers a mirror and he brings it back to Europe and when people look at this mirror they kind of go crazy a little bit, they get drunk on power and this end up resulting in the two World Wars that we know. “
When asked why he decided to re-do the original B.O.C. album Re-Imaginos “My motivation doing it the first time was I saw this as an opportunity to launch my solo career. Sandy Pearlman’s suggestions about the making of the record was he wanted it more acoustically oriented, he wanted the arrangements to be more sparser and I fought him on that I said this has got to be a blockbuster, there is no single so we gotta make it as heavy as possible. And listening to it later was my disappointment not so much from the band or everyone else, they all did a good job. I think it was my fault for not recognizing that the best way to present the album was as a story, to really try to serve the story better than I did. Aty the time I was looking at it as a revenge on Blue Oyster Cult for kicking me out and for the band not doing it in the first place as the band was too busy chasing a hit. ” “I look at Re-Imaginos as a kind of correction. I corrected the track listing. I gave credit to all the original guys who played on the Imaginos record, it wasn’t B.O.C. It was other artists that I assembled to do it. One of the things I decided in the beginning if Re-Imaginos was that it was going to be acoustically oriented and focused on acoustic instruments. I was not going to use any loops. I was going to play everything all the way through. For vocals everything was going to be as natural as possible. Sandy would say these songs should sound like nursery rhymes. I played all the drums on it but tried not to get too heavy on it. “
When asked the Blue Oyster Cult hit song ‘Don’t Fear the Reaper’ written solely by Buck Dharma create any tensions in the band back in the day “Yes but not really. Don (Buck) is a pretty easy going guy he was not trying to be Napoleon or anything. What happened was the album sold so many copies (Agents of Fortune) and I wrote so many of the songs there was a kind of push back where they didn’t want me to have so many songs on any of the other records.”
When asked if there are plans to commemorate the upcoming 40 year anniversary Fire of Unknown Origin “I haven’t heard of anything. “
When asked what he take away from working with the late producer Martin Birch on Cultösaurus Erectus and Fire of Unknown Origin “I was very happy with the way Cultösaurus Erectus came out . For the first time in my life I found the drums sounded the way they should have sounded, they always sounded wimpy to me in the past. Martin Birch really made the drums sound fantastic and he just cut to the chase there was no indecision. He was very decisive in what he asked us to do which was a nice change whereas Sandy Pearlman and Tom Werman as producers were indecisive. Martin Birch knew what he was going for. He went for it, he got it, it was great working with him. I learnt so much about producing and how to make a great record. And for Fire of Unknown Origin Martin Birch said I don’t know if I want to do this album cause Eric and Don were not that excited. They were so disappointed with what happened before with the last album Cultösaurus Erectus I don’t feel like I can get the energy to do it. And he said would you want to help me produce this record and I said sure, I said am I going to get credit and he said sure. I was there for every single bit of music you hear on that record. I was in the studio with Martin Birch. So when the album came out he said because of my contract I can’t really give you credit and it might cause tension with the other guys, so I can’t give you production credit. But that’s all right, I got more out of it than he did.”
When asked if he had embraced the cowbell pop culture thing “Of course and a lot of people don’t know this but 6 months out of the year I do a blog called ‘Most Cowbell’ I have embraced it, it is fine. I like the Cowbell. The real producer who wanted the Cowbell on Don’t Fear The Reaper ( on Agents of Fortune album) was David Lucas. On the SNL Skit they had producer Bruce Dickinson (Played by Christopher Walken), Dickinson connection was he just rearranged the song on the remaster later on but was not the original producer. Will Ferrall in the skit portrayed Gene Frenkle (fictitious character) however Eric Bloom in all our shows used to play the Cowbell. In the studio why David Lucas wanted me to do the Cowbell part on Don’t Fear the Reaper I don’t know? I think Eric Bloom was not in the room when he asked me to do it. During the recording I was like really? Cowbell? “
When asked if he thought Don’t Fear the Reaper was going to be a big hit at the time “In reality I’m Burning for you charted higher but did not have the longevity of Don’t Fear The Reaper. I was just talking with Don when I was doing the video with the band a couple of weeks ago and he is like can you believe all this time later? Yes we knew we were going to have a hit but we never imagined it would still be popular so many decades after it’s been out. “
When asked about the backstory on the making of the song Godzilla “The backstory is that we were on the road and Patti Smith had put out a book of poetry in one of the poems she started going God- Zilla- God. So Don called her up and said Patti I want to write a song with you and call it Godzilla and she said oh that’s a great idea but because of our schedules they could never get together so eventually Don just wrote it all by himself but it started with Patti Smith. Now I always thought it would be great to have this song in a Godzilla movie.”
ALBERT BOUCHARD is best known as a founding member of BLUE ÖYSTER CULT. The original line-up sold millions of albums for Columbia Records, with such classic songs as “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” and the #1 hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart “Burning For You”. Contributing to songwriting, drums, and lead vocals on some of their greatest songs, such as “Cites on Flame with Rock and Roll”.
Albert is set to release “Re Imaginos” on November 6th through he and his brother’s (Joe Bouchard) new imprint label, RockHeart Records / Deko Entertainment (ADA/Warner Music Group). The album is Albert’s reimagining of the 1988 Blue Öyster Cult release, “Imaginos”, which was originally intended as Albert’s solo album. As Albert explains, “Most BOC fans know at this point that ‘Imaginos’ was supposed to be my solo album. Some people think it’s the best BOC album, others think it’s not a ‘true’ BOC album. In either case, they’re right. I made this new album for them so that they can hear a more properly realized version of the tale.”
View EPK for Re Imaginos here:
“Black Telescope” is the first single and video and tells the story of an undead creature that takes the form of a fish and now uses alchemy to rule the solar system. This being sees with the power of the mind and does not need eyes.
It was more ordinary and needed the help of technology to rule the world in the past, at a time when it was in the shape of a human sailor and knew the dangers of the deep. When the sailor went to the telescope workshop he experienced a strange rebirth and became an all-powerful force.
Also to celebrate the launch of RockHeart Records and the release of “Re Imaginos”, the Bouchard brothers are offering a limited amount of the official RockHeart Records Cowbell autographed personally by both Joe and Albert.
Albert’s infamous cowbell part in “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” was the basis of the classic Will Ferrell skit on SNL, which also starred Christopher Walken. With “The Reaper,” an all-time classic on YouTube and every other digital platform, with zillions of views, the Bouchard brothers are forever cemented in pop culture.
There are limited edition “Cowbell” bundles (while supplies last), which can be ordered via: https://tinyurl.com/yyazk3os
“Re Imaginos” Tracklist: 1. I Am The One You Warned Me Of 2. Del Rio Song 3. In The Presence Of Another World 4. Siege And Investiture Of Baron Von Frankenstein’s Castle At Weisseria 5. Girl That Love Made Blind 6. Astronomy 7. Imaginos 8. Gil Blanco County 9. Blue Oyster Cult 10. Black Telescope 11. Magna of Illusion 12. Les Invisibles
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