Ask anyone to name the most famous song by Blue Öyster Cult, and the answer will almost certainly be “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper.” After all, very few songs have inspired a classic Saturday Night Live sketch.
But “Death Valley Nights,” from the 1977 album Spectres, is one of my favorite BÖC songs. Written by Richard Meltzer and drummer Albert Bouchard—who also sings lead—it begins with an eerie, almost hypnotic melody. The song gradually gathers momentum, slithering forward until it finally breaks into a full run.
David Fleming is a fan of the song and wrote this.