Uploaded December 2016 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
"The Reaper", by American rock band Blue Öyster Cult, reached the #12 spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, and #7 in Canada in 1976. It was BÖC's highest-charting U.S. song with a mostly positive reaction with it's gentle vocals and a distinctive virtuoso guitar rif. It is basically a love song where love transcends the actual physical existence of the partners. "The Reaper" is a departure for BÖC whose most successful work includes hard rock, and heavy metal songs. The song also features the prominent use of a cowbell percussion instrument that was overdubbed on the original recording. Because of their unique sound and diversity, BÖC has influenced modern bands that span many genres, and are often viewed as important pioneers of several different styles of rock music of the 1980's and 1990's. Rolling Stone Magazine named "The Reaper" song of the year in 1976, and placed it on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
"The Reaper", by American rock band Blue Öyster Cult, reached the #12 spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, and #7 in Canada in 1976. It was BÖC's highest-charting U.S. song with a mostly positive reaction with it's gentle vocals and a distinctive virtuoso guitar rif. It is basically a love song where love transcends the actual physical existence of the partners. "The Reaper" is a departure for BÖC whose most successful work includes hard rock, and heavy metal songs. The song also features the prominent use of a cowbell percussion instrument that was overdubbed on the original recording. Because of their unique sound and diversity, BÖC has influenced modern bands that span many genres, and are often viewed as important pioneers of several different styles of rock music of the 1980's and 1990's. Rolling Stone Magazine named "The Reaper" song of the year in 1976, and placed it on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
