by William Ruhlmann Blue Öyster Cult's first live album was also its first to peak inside the Top 40, which is more of an indication of the audience the group was building up through extensive touring than of its quality. Songs that had a tight, concentrated impact on studio albums got elongated here, and that impact was dissipated. And the song selection left a great deal to be desired if this were to be a fitting summation of the band's career so far. By its 1974 tour, BÖC had dropped some classics from its first album, and the less impressive material from the third album was no substitute.