Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll

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"Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll"
Single by Blue Öyster Cult
from the album Blue Öyster Cult
B-side"Before the Kiss, a Redcap"[1]
Released21 April 1972
RecordedOctober 1971
StudioThe Warehouse, New York City
Genre
Length
  • 3:14 (single edit)
  • 4:03 (album version)
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Murray Krugman
  • Sandy Pearlman
Blue Öyster Cult singles chronology
"Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll"
(1972) 		"Hot Rails to Hell"
(1973)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Rolling Stone(favorable)[4]

"Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll" is the debut single by American hard rock band Blue Öyster Cult from their eponymous debut album Blue Öyster Cult. Despite not charting, it has become a staple at concerts,[5][6] and is regarded as one of their most famous songs[7] (featured on their greatest hits album). Its demo is credited with getting the band signed with Columbia Records.[8] Lead vocals were performed by their drummer, Albert Bouchard. The lyrics of the song describe the devastation of a nuclear war with metaphors likening the destruction to rock and roll music.

Cash Box called it a "hard driving, heavy metal rocker will be immediately attractive to both AM and FMers looking to put some life into their playlists."[9]

Personnel[edit]

Cover versions[edit]

The song has been covered by Church of Misery (on Master of Brutality), Iced Earth (on Tribute to the Gods) and 3 Inches of Blood (as a bonus track on Here Waits Thy Doom).

References[edit]

  1. ^ Discogs
  2. ^ Swanson, Dave (February 7, 2017). "Blue Oyster Cult Albums Ranked Worst to Best". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  3. ^ Horowitz, Hal. "Cities on Flame with Rock & Roll by Blue Oyster Cult - Track Info | AllMusic". allmusic. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  4. ^ Bangs, Lester. "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll' is triumphantly sociopathic". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  5. ^ Monaco, Rachael (July 6, 2015). "More cowbell needed: Blue Öyster Cult's top 5 lyrics". AXS. Archived from the original on September 14, 2016. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  6. ^ "BLUE ÖYSTER CULT". Music On Vinyl. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  7. ^ "Lucky Clark On Music: Blue Oyster Cult". Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  8. ^ "Blue Oyster Cult - Cities On Flame With Rock 'n Roll". Paste. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  9. ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. November 24, 1973. p. 31. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
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