St Cecelia - The California Album [Import, Original recording remastered]

Stalk-Forrest Group | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 21, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Radioactive
• ASIN: B0006NCWYI
• Also Available in: Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #319,462 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Gil Blanco County

2. Ragamuffin' Dumplin

3. Bonomo's Turkish Taffy

4. Arthur Comics

5. Curse Of The Hidden Mirrors

6. What Is Quicksand

7. St. Cecilia

8. Donovan's Monkey

9. I'm On The Lamb, But I Ain't No Sheep

10. A Fact About Sneakers

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pre-Blue Oyster Cult, January 2, 2007

By 

Virgil "Virgil" (Chapel Hill, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: St Cecelia - The California Album (Audio CD)

St. Cecilia was the Stalk-Forrest Groups only release for Electra records. It's basically the core of BOC before that band was formed. The sound is also a bit different than BOC, sort of a less intense psychedelic style with strong guitar playing by Buck Dharma throughout.

The song quality of the album is fairly strong all the way through, a bit more accessible than BOC I'd say. The original album was difficult to get for years and the original pressing is a collector's item. The re-release from '98 finally made it available to a wider audience.

If you like tuneful, late psychedelic-ish songs with great guitar riffs throughout you'll like St. Cecelia. BOC lovers will get this one, classic-rock lovers ought to follow suit as well. Good Album.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars STalk Forrest Group ST Cecilia, February 14, 2010

By 

G. Mavrogiannis - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: St Cecelia - The California Album (Audio CD)

if there wasn't the RHINO RECORDS release in 2001-2002..then this one would be a must.But know i think it's only an item for Blue Oyster Cult serious collectors or for the ones who are not able to find the Rhino release (which is AWESOME..it has BONUS tracks (different versions of the songs)...total 16 tracks...AWESOME booklet with the lyrics and fotos of the band from that era etc..)..

This version of the LP is ok but the sound isn't so perfect as it is on the Rhino Records release (they bought the rights from ELECTRA as far as i know and they mixed it ..digital remastered version)..

the white cover release sounds than a bootleg which would be ok but before the year 2001 i'd pray to have ANY release of that LP..so..since i'm a BOC collector..i bought this version too (on CD and Vinyl)

it's up to you to buy it or not..depending how crazy you're with B.O.C.

musically this LP is totally different with the B.O.C. music but there are songs(original version of "I'm on the lamp".."Arthur Comics"..) where you can hear some things sunding familiar with the later BOC music..
But it mostly is an acid rock record..GREAT music..Buck Dharma on his first recording but sometimes you can tell what a great solo guitar player would become..

the best tracks : "Arthur Comics".."I'm on the lamp".."Gil Blanco County"..."Donovan's Monkey"..

a pitty they didn't include SOFT WHITE UNDERBELLY's "Queen's Boulevard"..

4.0 out of 5 stars Like coming home again, December 14, 2011

By 

Stephen Barsky (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: St Cecelia - The California Album (Audio CD)

From the moment I dropped the needle down on "Agents of Fortune" and heard the opening riff from "This Ain't the Summer of Love," I knew BOC had taken a change in direction. The raw, wicked, alien vibe that ran through their "black and white" albums was missing, never to be recaptured.

If you disagree, then bless you - I'm happy for your happiness. But if you've felt the same way, you won't go wrong buying this album. Note - there are two versions of this album - an import and a reissue, both by the title "St Cecilia." Some are cheaper, and if you just want the music, compare and try not to get ripped off. Going rate right now is about $30.

The reason I like this album so much is because listening to it is like going back in time and falling in love again - in love with what attracted me to BOC in the first place.

Thanks to all the folks who made this album possible. Now there are THREE versions of "I'm on the Lamb..."