{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2018}} {{Infobox album | name = Spectres | type = studio | artist = Blue Öyster Cult | cover = BlueOysterCultSpectres.jpg | alt = | released = {{start date|1977|11}}<ref>{{cite web|author=Dave Swanson |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/blue-oyster-cult-spectres-released/ |title=How Blue Oyster Cult Searched for Identity on 'Spectres' |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |date=November 17, 2013 |quote=Pressured for a follow-up, Blue Oyster Cult then issued the somewhat unbalanced, but still striking, Spectres in November 1977. |access-date=September 26, 2022}}</ref> | recorded = July–September 1977 | venue = | studio = The Record Plant (New York City) | genre = {{hlist|Hard rock|heavy metal|occult rock}} | length = 40:29 | label = Columbia | producer = Murray Krugman, Sandy Pearlman, David Lucas, Blue Öyster Cult | prev_title = Agents of Fortune | prev_year = 1976 | next_title = Some Enchanted Evening | next_year = 1978 | misc = {{Singles | name = Spectres | type = studio | single1 = Goin' Through the Motions | single1date = December 1977 (US)<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/greatrockdiscogr00stro/page/75/mode/2up|title=The Great Rock Discography|year=1995|page=75 |isbn=9780862415419 |last1=Strong |first1=Martin Charles |publisher=Canongate Press }}</ref> | single2 = Godzilla | single2date = February 1978 (US)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Blue+%D6yster+Cult&titel=Godzilla&cat=s|title=Blue Oyster Cult singles}}</ref> | single4 = I Love the Night | single4date = 4 August 1978 (UK)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Blue+%D6yster+Cult&titel=I+Love+The+Night&cat=s|title=Blue Oyster Cult singles}}</ref> }} }} '''''Spectres''''' is the fifth studio album by American rock band Blue Öyster Cult, released in November 1977 by Columbia Records. The album features one of the band's biggest hits, concert staple "Godzilla," and was certified gold by the RIAA on January 19, 1978.<ref name="RIAA" />
The cover art features lasers, which Blue Öyster Cult used in their live shows at that time.
A remastered version was released on February 13, 2007, which included four previously unreleased outtakes from the ''Spectres'' sessions as bonus tracks.
==Critical reception== {{Music ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.allmusic.com/album/spectres-mw0000193042 | title = Blue Öyster Cult - Spectres review | access-date = February 10, 2012 | last = Jurek | first = Thom | work = AllMusic | publisher = Rovi Corporation}}</ref> |rev2 = ''Christgau's Record Guide'' |rev2Score = B+<ref>{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies|publisher=Ticknor & Fields|isbn=089919026X|chapter=Consumer Guide '70s: B|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=B&bk=70|access-date=February 22, 2019|via=robertchristgau.com}}</ref> | rev3 = ''Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal'' | rev3Score = 10/10<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Popoff | first1 = Martin | author-link1 = Martin Popoff | title = The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 1: The Seventies | publisher = Collector's Guide Publishing | date = October 2003 | location = Burlington, Ontario, Canada | isbn = 978-1894959025| page=54}}</ref> | rev4 = ''Q'' | rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine | title = Blue Öyster Cult - Spectres | magazine = Q | date = April 2007 | first = Phil | last = Mongredien | issue = 249}}</ref> |rev5 = ''The Rolling Stone Album Guide'' |rev5score = {{rating|2.5|5}}<ref name="RS">{{cite book |title=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |date=1992 |publisher=Random House |page=70}}</ref> }} ''Record World'' called the single "Goin' Through the Motions," which was co-written by Mott the Hoople singer Ian Hunter, a "thumping, hand-clapping pop-rocker."<ref name=rw>{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=December 17, 1977|accessdate=2023-02-15|title=Hits of the Week|page=1|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/77/RW-1977-12-17.pdf}}</ref> ''AllMusic'' said it's "[...] a surprisingly delicate song that balanced yearning verse melodies with a sing-along chorus." They also called it "a standout track" on the album.<ref name="AllMusic-Goin">{{cite web |last1=Guarisco |first1=Donald A. |title=Goin' Through the Motions Review by Donald A. Guarisco |url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/goin-through-the-motions-mt0002779364#review |website=AllMusic |access-date=February 25, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121209010737/https://www.allmusic.com/song/goin-through-the-motions-mt0002779364#review |archive-date=December 9, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>
==Cover versions== Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler covered "Goin’ Through the Motions" on her album ''Faster Than the Speed of Night''.
==Track listing== {{Track listing | headline = Side one | extra_column = Lead vocals | title1 = Godzilla | writer1 = Donald Roeser | extra1 = Roeser, Eric Bloom | length1 = 3:41 | title2 = Golden Age of Leather | writer2 = Roeser, Bruce Abbott | extra2 = Roeser, Bloom | length2 = 5:53 | title3 = Death Valley Nights | writer3 = Albert Bouchard, Richard Meltzer | extra3 = A. Bouchard | length3 = 4:07 | title4 = Searchin' for Celine | writer4 = Allen Lanier | extra4 = Bloom | length4 = 3:35 | title5 = Fireworks | writer5 = A. Bouchard | extra5 = A. Bouchard | length5 = 3:14 }} {{Track listing | headline = Side two | extra_column = Lead vocals | title1 = R. U. Ready 2 Rock | writer1 = A. Bouchard, Sandy Pearlman | extra1 = Bloom | length1 = 3:45 | title2 = Celestial the Queen | writer2 = Joe Bouchard, Helen Wheels | extra2 = J. Bouchard | length2 = 3:24 | title3 = Goin' Through the Motions | writer3 = Bloom, Ian Hunter | extra3 = Bloom | length3 = 3:12 | title4 = I Love the Night | writer4 = Roeser | extra4 = Roeser | length4 = 4:23 | title5 = Nosferatu | writer5 = J. Bouchard, Wheels | extra5 = J. Bouchard | length5 = 5:23 }} {{Track listing | headline = 2007 CD reissue bonus tracks | total_length = 53:16 | extra_column = Lead vocals | title11 = Night Flyer | writer11 = Roeser | extra11 = Roeser | length11 = 3:48 | title12 = Dial M for Murder | writer12 = A. Bouchard | extra12 = Bloom | length12 = 3:11 | title13 = Please Hold | writer13 = A. Lanier | extra13 = Lanier | length13 = 2:47 | title14 = Be My Baby | writer14 = Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector | extra14 = Bloom | note14 = The Ronettes cover | length14 = 3:01 }}
==Personnel== ;Blue Öyster Cult *Eric Bloom – guitar, vocals *Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser – lead guitar, vocals *Allen Lanier – keyboards, guitar *Joe Bouchard – bass, vocals, guitar *Albert Bouchard – drums, vocals, harmonica
;Additional musicians *Newark Boys Chorus – vocals on "Golden Age of Leather"
;Production *Murray Krugman, Sandy Pearlman, David Lucas – producers *Shelly Yakus – engineer, mixing *John Jansen, Corky Stasiak, Thom Panunzio, Andy Abrams – engineers *Gray Russell, Dave Thoener, Jay Krugman, Rod O’Brien, Sam Ginsberg – assistant engineers *Joe Brescio – mastering *Roni Hoffman – design *Eric Meola – photos *David Infante – laser effects and photo assistance
==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! Chart (1977–78) ! Peak<br/>position |- {{Album chart|Canada|58|chartid=5478b|artist=Blue Öyster Cult|album=Spectres|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 25, 2024}} |- !scope="row"| French Albums (SNEP)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.infodisc.fr/Album_S.php |website =Infodisc.fr |language=fr |access-date=March 25, 2024 |title=Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste – B |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022124902/http://infodisc.fr/Album_B.php |archive-date=22 October 2014 }} ''Select ''Blue Oyster Cult'' from the menu, then press ''OK''.''</ref> | align="center"| 28 |- {{Album chart|Sweden|47|artist=Blue Öyster Cult|album=Spectres|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 25, 2024}} |- {{Album chart|UK2|60|date=19780129|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 25, 2024}} |- {{Album chart|Billboard200|43|artist=Blue Oyster Cult|refname=Billboard 200|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 25, 2024}} |}
==Certifications== {{certification Table Top}} {{certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|artist=Blue Öyster Cult|title=Spectres|award=Gold|relyear=1977|refname="RIAA"|certyear=1978}} {{certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Blue Öyster Cult}} {{Authority control}}
Category:1977 albums Category:Albums produced by Murray Krugman Category:Albums produced by Sandy Pearlman Category:Albums recorded at Record Plant (New York City) Category:Blue Öyster Cult albums Category:Columbia Records albums