"This is a great disc -- two of BOC's best albums in the best sound they've ever had.Some of the reviewers below have complained about Columbia's CDs of these albums. The thing to understand about those discs is that they were mastered back in the mid-80s when the hype about CDs was mostly oriented around the excellent signal-to-noise ratio of digital audio. Because of this, the record companies felt that it was of primary importance that CDs should have no noise (hiss) whatsoever. Consequently, CD mastering engineers would filter out frequencies in which noise was found in a recording. In the case of BOC's first album (a rather hissy set of tapes, as this new Mobile Fidelity disc shows), this resulted in a very dull, muffled-sounding CD. Columbia's engineers, to reduce noise, had filtered the treble frequencies so severely that the music sounded as if it were coming through a wall.Mobile Fidelity has chosen to reduce hiss only where doing so would not degrade the music (standard practice nowadays); this gold disc, therefore, has much more lively sound than Columbia's disc, but also more hiss.So don't buy this gold disc thinking that it will sound perfect -- it doesn't, for the simple reason that the original tapes aren't perfect either. But it does sound a great deal better than Columbia's CD, and the combination of two albums on one CD means that it's a much better deal than most gold CDs."
Classic BOC At It's Finest
Joe Muz | Branford, CT USA | 12/21/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Finally the classic first BOC album has been given the proper treatment. The Columbia version of this disc released ten years ago was lousy, totally muddy and hissy. In fact, the original vinyl version was equally as bad. MFSL has cleaned it up, and as a bonus you get the classic Tyranny on the same disc, also sounding mighty fine. Kudos to MFSL."
BEST B.O.C
jimmyjames | Raleighwood | 12/17/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Mofi is gone at least for the time being. Stop reading this review now and order the disc before it is too late. BOC never sounded so good even live (and I saw them at least 3 times in the late 70's). I have several Mofi reissues and this one has the best sound of them all. There is no comparison to the albums or Columbia/Sony Cd's. Careful with the volume..."Red and Black, It's their color scheme...", could easily blowfuses or voice coils. This is 2 of the 3 essential BOC releases with "Secret Treaties" being the 3rd..."ME262 is a german jet...", which doesn't sound too bad in comparison to this monster disc. Even if you don't like BOC and thought they were "stoopid", I think you would want to hear what a transfer from the original tapes with remastering and the Mofi magic sounds like. They have not done better on a dozen other discs. Buy now or at least go listen to your heavy metal friend's copy cuz he won't loan it to you."
The most "essential" Gold disc EVER!
jimmyjames | 09/12/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"THIS is the version of this album I've been waiting for all these years-- even if I didn't know it. It's AMAZING when you've been listening to music for over 20 years and can now hear things you NEVER heard before! Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab has done all BOC fans a real service here by finally giving the BLUE OYSTER CULT album the care it always deserved. It's a sad fact that my Columbia LP never sounded as good as it should have, and the Sony Cd sounded even WORSE. But that's all over with this reissue! And HEY! By putting the 2nd album, TYRANNY AND MUTATION, on the same disc, they've even managed to put out a "Gold Disc" that's actually worth MORE than the going price! What are you waiting for? BUY IT!!!"
A Classic Band at Their Greatest
Joseph J Tommasini | Tampa, FL | 03/18/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Before I continue, I would just like to say stop whatever you are doing and find a copy of this incredible CD. MFSL did an outstanding job remastering the 2 albums and damn do they sound great........listen to Cities on Flame really really really loud and tell me mfsl didnt do a knockout job on these 2 albums"