Friday, November 12, 2010

"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" by Blue Öyster Cult



What better time to call for more cowbell than the birthday of Buck Dharma, founding member and lead singer of Blue Öyster Cult, whose 1976 hit (Don't Fear) The Reaper - from their album Agents of Fortune - would later become the source of an inspired bit of lunacy in April 2000 by Will Ferrell, Chris Parnell, Christopher Walken, and company on Saturday Night Live?

The track - which actually got no higher than #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, but is a staple of classic rock nevertheless - was actually produced by Sandy Pearlman and not, as the sketch indicates, Bruce Dickinson; nor was the cowbell performed by Gene Frenkle. There is, however, some debate as to who is responsible; one faction says it was Albert Bouchard, while another claims it was Eric Bloom.
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