(Don't Fear) The Reaper

Blue Oyster Cult

From the Album Don't Fear The Reaper: The Best Of Blue Öyster Cult

May 21, 1976

156 customer reviews

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Product details

Original Release Date: May 21, 1976
Release Date: February 8, 2000
Label: Columbia/Legacy
Copyright: (P) 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Record Company Required Metadata: Music file metadata contains unique purchase identifier. Learn more.
Duration: 5:07 minutes
Genres:
- Rock
ASIN: B00137IJUM
Average Customer Review: 156 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #395 Paid in Songs (See Top 100 Paid in Songs)
- #51 in Digital Music > Songs > Rock

Customer Reviews

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Alexander Tosspot

Great song, just good master.

March 10, 2016

Format: MP3 MusicVerified Purchase

Don't Fear the Reaper was Blue Oyster Cult's finest hour. Though I've heard a scattering of their other works, nothing has quite come close to the high water mark that this song was. Which is fine, since it is a very good song, I won't hold it against them that they could never replicate the quality of songwriting shown here.

The song is a bit of a somber and accepting look at mortality. And while he Oyster Cult was one of the pioneers of a heavier sound back in the 70's, this song has a bit of a lighter sound overall. With the exception of the breakdown guitar solo after the second chorus. That's quite heavy, and sadly eliminated from the radio play single.

The digital transfer isn't perfect though. The bass and percussion is a bit washed out when compared to the same track that I have on a greatest hits CD from the 90's. The guitar and vocals are nice, but I'd have preferred a more equal representation of the band in the total mix, which is muted on the mp3 version.

But if you are going to listen to this on a primarily portable device, it's not that big of a deal. What's important is the song is totally complete, and not chopped up like the radio single.

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Great Rock Classic...Cowbell Included

May 17, 2015

Format: MP3 MusicVerified Purchase

One of the great rock classics, (Don't Fear) The Reaper was a big hit in late 1976 for hard rock band Blue Oyster Cult, a band that generally had big album sales from their FM fan base. But this song was so special it broke out into an AM singles hit. It was very toned down for Blue Oyster Cult but that's what made it work. For all it's theme of death it's not angry or hysterical but rather uses a mellow, almost folk-like vocal by Buck Dharma (who wrote the song) along with tightly harmonized backup vocals and guitar to carry it's ultimately positive message of accepting the inevitability of The Reaper. Everything is restrained until the wonderfully explosive guitar interlude about two and a half minutes in. The band's engineers created an echoing acoustic for the instruments that also serves the song well.

All in all a melodic and memorable hit. Oh yeah, it's also got that cowbell!

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John Hooper

This is easily one of the most popular songs ever recorded

October 16, 2016

Format: MP3 MusicVerified Purchase

This is easily one of the most popular songs ever recorded. It still gets plenty of air time on radio, and kids whose parents weren't yet born when Blue Oyster Cult first recorded it know the words, and sing along with it.

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ghost

Don't like that I can only have song in amazon music

December 18, 2017

Format: MP3 MusicVerified Purchase

When you buy a song you should be able to put it in your phone to play as a ringtone or sound or in Google play but you can't. You can only play it in amazon music app. So I won't be buying any more music in amazon app.love BOC..

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Bucky

Great Song

September 15, 2017

Format: MP3 MusicVerified Purchase

I heard this as the theme song to "The Lowe Files" on TV and loved it...it's an older (1976) song, but I hadn't ever heard it before. I love the songs and bands of the 60's and this sounds like those songs that I love!

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Andrea Longwith

Prime Music

May 10, 2017

Format: MP3 MusicVerified Purchase

Just confused why each song costs even with prime music. I also do not like that I cannot put music on my phone or copy to CD for listening in car or on stereo. Wish I could.

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Jeff

... of the songs I grew up with and also enjoyed on the Saturday Night Live skit with "more cow ...

November 10, 2017

Format: MP3 MusicVerified Purchase

One of the songs I grew up with and also enjoyed on the Saturday Night Live skit with "more cow bell"...

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ramshead

One of the best. Never get enough of them and all the ...

September 2, 2016