Extraterrestrial Live

by Blue Öyster Cult

Considered by most to be the third-best Cult live LP, I think it still rips, although my tolerance for ‘80s BÖC may be higher than average. I consider it historically noteworthy, however, for including two of the all-time greatest moments in live album stage banter.

1) During the opening performance of “Dominance and Submission,” Eric Bloom reassures the Hudson Valley audience “I know Poughkeepsie takes rock & roll seriously!”

2) During their cover of the Doors’ “Roadhouse Blues,” right before the section where he sings “I woke up this morning and got myself a beer,” the band goes into an extended vamp while Bloom, perhaps concerned the audience cannot take the leap of imagining him drinking a beer upon waking, explains that the night before, he walked down to a 7-11 from his hotel room, bought a six pack, carried it back up to his room and put it on ice for the next morning.

All this and an 8-minute version of “Veteran of the Psychic Wars.” Undervalued band.