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Two-Hit Wonders: Blue Oyster Cult

'(Don't Fear) The Reaper' (No. 12, 1976)
'Burnin' for You' (No. 40, 1981)

These Long islanders may have been wearing gold-plated diapers after the massive success of their cowbell-fueled 1976 single '(Don't Fear) The Reaper,' but by the turn of the decade it looked like a certain scythe-wielding embodiment of death had gone after the band's career. Luckily, they got a brief stay of execution in 1981, when the Loverboy-esque 'Burnin' for You' barely cracked the Top 40.

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chip

LOSER YOU ARE..HAVE NO IDEA WHAT MUSIC IS..
GO LISTEN TO YOUR MADONNA OR SOME OTHER LOSER CRAP..WHO GAVE YOU THIS JOB?
GO CLEAN SOME TOILETS OR SOMETHING MORE SUITED TO YOUR CRAP TASTE.

January 18 2010 at 2:15 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
TSG

I have to say this is outrageous to call these guys anything less than the premier "Cult Class" rock icon band they have proven themselves to be, it almost makes me afraid to continue here, even the one before I would hardly call a THW either as pointed out by others.....guess this is what you call, stretching the truth, to make up a news story that isn't, what happened Ran out of credible things to write about?
Besides that.....when referring to ONE hit wonders, it is an artist that had only one song to ever make to the top 100, not top ten, and hit is a hit when it hits the top 100 billboard rating (well used to b the source, not sure it is still used today) point is, a two hit wonder, needed to have only TWO songs in the top 100, if they had more than two then they dont qualify!!!

January 02 2010 at 9:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
paul

Whoever wrote this post has no business reviewing Rock and Roll. BOC had released three great albums before recording "The Reaper." Most critics still call "Secret Treaties" their best. This writer must be 13 years old, interested in only what candy pop breaks the Top 40. BOC influences can still be heard in many of today's hard rock groups. It's a shame some people only care about sugar and bubblegum. BOC, prior to "The Reaper," were known as "the thinking man's heavy metal band." It was only after their success with "Agent's of Fortune" did they aim for a wider commercial audience.
You guys need new writers. Ummm. Someone who actually knows something about music? Have you ever read any real Rock and Roll reviews?

October 31 2009 at 3:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Captain Obvious

Illiteracy at it's finest?

Which words did you people not understand, 2 or hit?

R.I.F. - Reading is Fundamental

The list does not refer to the quality of any the band's material, musicianship, or longevity. It is simply a list of bands who had 2 hits on the U.S. Pop Charts.

Some of my favorite bands have only charted once or twice in the U.S. but they still sell out stadiums and arenas around the world and the U.S. But instead of me getting upset if they are on this list, I find it appealing that the masses have been able to listen to and appreciate some of the great music that I regularly enjoy.

October 11 2009 at 5:47 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Paul caruso

Whoever wrote this article never listened to B O C. If he did or she did they would not talk like somebody who knows music.They never heard of a song called Black to White, they would not say they were a two hit only band.God bless B O C thank you and good night.

October 07 2009 at 1:01 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Eddie

A lot of people have mentioned other songs, so I'll mention, oh, the ENTIRE Mirrors album.

September 21 2009 at 1:37 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
G*MAN

TWO-HIT? I bet that the commenter dosn't remember "2-hit SHIT!"(Go Greyhairs!)
I have known them for 25 of their 40 year carrer. Donald ("BUC DHARMA) is considered a phenominal guitarist and songwriter. More BOC tunes are on the radio NOW than in their heyday!And yes, Virginia, they are on "Guitar Hero!"
Stick THAT, and yer "SWAG" in yer pipe and suck it!

September 15 2009 at 11:54 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
progest09

unbelieveable??? BOC did VERY well for themselves I can't believe they put them on this list wtf??

August 22 2009 at 3:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
keith

i saw boc for the first time in 73. i've seen them at least 30 times since. they didn't have a lot of hits because they didn't play for the radio air heads. there music is deep and there live shows outshine a lot of so called super bands. anybody that really knows rock and roll would know that.

August 13 2009 at 11:23 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Carlton W.Burgess

BOC had alot more hits than just two, get your heads out of the sand and listen to the radio, not the C.D. player that other funny looking thing where the music comes out, the one with the D.J.( Disc Jockey ) and listen to the old Rock-n-Roll, not that bullshit they play today but that old tried and true Rock-n-Roll and I'm sure if you listen longer than five minutes you will hear more than just two songs. Try it and you might find it easier to do your count downs.

May 07 2009 at 4:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply