Take Me Away

Zoo Freaks, get ready to blast off with some cosmic vibes as we spin "Take Me Away" by Blue Öyster Cult from their 1983 album The Revölution by Night! This track is a stellar journey, co-written by BÖC’s lead vocalist Eric Bloom and Canadian rocker Aldo Nova. In a MusicRadar interview, Bloom shared that Nova, then managed by BÖC’s team and opening for them, handed him a cassette with a song he liked but felt needed new lyrics. Bloom reworked it into the UFO-inspired "Take Me Away," with lyrics like “Strange shapes light up the night” and references to “men in black,” nodding to alien cover-up lore. This wasn’t BÖC’s first extraterrestrial rodeo— their 1976 track "E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence)" also mentioned “three men in black,” a concept later popularized by the 1997 Men in Black film.

The song’s video, directed by Richard Casey (who also helmed BÖC’s "Burnin’ for You"), leaned hard into the sci-fi theme with 1983’s cutting-edge special effects, showing a chilling alien encounter. Though it didn’t crack the Billboard Hot 100, "Take Me Away" hit #11 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and got solid airplay on AOR stations, cementing its place as a fan favorite. Fun fact: the song’s opening riffs and driving energy were crafted to hook listeners right away, setting the tone for the album’s radio-friendly yet quirky hard rock vibe. Fans on Blue Öyster Cult Fans Facebook group often rave about how the song’s mix of mysticism and raw guitar solos captures BÖC’s signature blend of brains and brawn.

Blue Öyster Cult kicked off their wild ride in 1967 on Long Island, New York, in the hamlet of Stony Brook. Originally jamming as Soft White Underbelly, they morphed through names like Stalk-Forrest Group before landing on Blue Öyster Cult, a name inspired by a poem from their manager, Sandy Pearlman, who envisioned them as a cosmic, poetic rock force. Pearlman, along with rock critic Richard Meltzer, shaped their early sound and literate lyrics, drawing from occult themes, sci-fi, and tongue-in-cheek humor. Their self-titled debut dropped in 1972 via Columbia Records, featuring tracks like "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll". BÖC’s fusion of hard rock, psychedelia, and brainy storytelling earned them the tag “the thinking man’s heavy metal band.” They hit the big time with 1976’s "(Don’t Fear) The Reaper", a classic rock staple, followed by hits like "Godzilla" and "Burnin’ for You".

The band’s longest-lasting lineup—Eric Bloom (vocals, stun guitar), Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser (lead guitar, vocals), Allen Lanier (keyboards, guitar), Joe Bouchard (bass), and Albert Bouchard (drums)—crafted a sound that influenced bands like Metallica and Alice in Chains. They were early adopters of music videos, with clips like "Burnin’ for You" dominating MTV’s early days. Over five decades, BÖC sold 25 million records worldwide, 7 million in the U.S., and kept their cult following buzzing with albums like 2024’s Ghost Stories, their final studio release. You can catch up with them on their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X.

For Zoo Freaks looking to dive deeper, check out fan hubs like the Blue Öyster Cult Fans Facebook group, where devotees share rare photos, tour stories, and debates about the band’s trippiest lyrics. Another great spot is Blue Öyster Cult Wiki, a fan-run site packed with trivia, including detailed pages on tracks like "Take Me Away". Whether you’re grooving to the cosmic riffs or geeking out over BÖC’s occult vibes, keep it weird and keep it loud, Zoo Crew!