| Secret Treaties | ||||
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| Studio album by Blue Öyster Cult | ||||
| Released | April, 1974 | |||
| Genre | Hard rock, heavy metal | |||
| Length | 38:35 | |||
| Label | CBS | |||
| Producer | Murray Krugman & Sandy Pearlman | |||
| Professional reviews | ||||
| Blue Öyster Cult chronology | ||||
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Secret Treaties is Blue Öyster Cult's third studio album, released in 1974.
In 1975, a Melody Maker poll of critics voted Secret Treaties as the "Top Rock Album of All Time." The album spent 14 weeks in the US charts, peaking at #53. It went gold in 1992.
The cover depicts the band standing beside and sitting on a German Me 262; this scene is inspired by the song of the same name.
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Lyrics to the lead-off track "Career of Evil" were written by future punk poetess Patti Smith, a longtime contributor to the band (and, at the time, the girlfriend of BÖC keyboardist and rhythm guitarist Allen Lanier). Smith co-wrote tracks for at least five other BÖC albums.
A few changes were made to "Career of Evil" on the Single version (which is included on the album's 2001 remastered edition). The vocals are different: only Eric Bloom is heard for most of the song, instead of Bloom and Albert Bouchard singing together. Also one verse was removed ("Pay me..." to "...kneeling in the rain"). Part of the bridge was changed also, presumably to make the song more acceptable to radio: "do it to your daughter" became "do it like you oughtta."
There is a version of "Flaming Telepaths" without the music box intro on the compilation Don't Fear the Reaper: The Best of Blue Öyster Cult. There is also a version with these sound effects completed on the collection Workshop of the Telescopes.
The psychedelic folk group Espers covers Flaming Telepaths on their CD, The Weed Tree (2005).
There is a mastering error in the solo during the song "Cagey Cretins", which has since been repaired in the remasters.[citation needed]
| Year | Album | Billboard 200 |
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| 1974 | Secret Treaties | #53 |
| Year | Album | Certification |
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| 1992 | Secret Treaties | Gold |
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