Best Blue Öyster Cult Album

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There is no "I have no taste and don't like Blue Oyster Cult" option because, well, I forgot to add one. So there.

Jeff Treppel, Friday, 13 April 2007 19:48 (seventeen years ago) link

1 vote for Secret Treaties...

Stormy Davis, Friday, 13 April 2007 20:11 (seventeen years ago) link

I am shocked, SHOCKED at the omission of Extraterrestrial Live.

kornrulez6969, Friday, 13 April 2007 20:11 (seventeen years ago) link

Blue Oyster Cult have more live albums than [insert bad analogy indicating a large amount of something that I'm too lazy to come up with here]. I'm just including studio albums, as seems to be the norm for these "best of" pulls. If you would like to make a separate poll, go ahead.

Jeff Treppel, Friday, 13 April 2007 20:15 (seventeen years ago) link

someone told me that curse of the hidden mirror was suprisingly good...you hard it jeff?

M@tt He1ges0n, Friday, 13 April 2007 20:17 (seventeen years ago) link

secret treaties for me, too

Tim Ellison, Friday, 13 April 2007 20:20 (seventeen years ago) link

I haven't! The review on allmusic is very positive, but I must say that it's fairly low down on my list of Blue Oyster Cult records I need to get.

And I haven't actually voted yet... this is a tougher one than I had thought. I'm sort of tempted to vote Cultosaurus Erectus just to be weird, but as much as I love that record, I'm pretty sure it isn't their best. Leaning towards Spectres at the moment. I can't stop listening to that reissue.

Jeff Treppel, Friday, 13 April 2007 20:42 (seventeen years ago) link

Another vote for Treaties here. Tho Agents comes soooo close. And so does the debut and most of Tyranny and Spectres... (Ooh, and howbout St. Cecilia?)

Myonga Vön Bontee, Friday, 13 April 2007 20:45 (seventeen years ago) link

I like Agents, but my big problem with it is the sequencing, specifically "True Confessions." It feels really out of place. It would be fine towards the end of side two, but it's really jarring sandwiched between "This Ain't the Summer of Love" and "Reaper." Does anyone else have that same problem? The filler on Spectres is catchier, anyway.

Secret Treaties is a great album. Has one of my favorite songs of all time ("Astronomy"). Hmm.

Jeff Treppel, Friday, 13 April 2007 20:48 (seventeen years ago) link

Tyranny for me, even though I love Secret Treaties. Looks like ST may make this a bloodbath.

The newly expanded Some Enchanted Evening is awesome, btw.

Bill Magill, Friday, 13 April 2007 20:51 (seventeen years ago) link

Don't blame me, I voted for Agents of Fortune because I had it on 8-track back in the day YA BURNT

Dimension 5ive, Friday, 13 April 2007 20:52 (seventeen years ago) link

man, I've been dying to pick up that reish. How is the DVD? good performance?

Stormy Davis, Friday, 13 April 2007 20:59 (seventeen years ago) link

It's grainy, but good. Great performance, but some egregious omissions from the song list (Hot Rails, Reaper, Godzilla, Cities on Flame) that I think they were playing on that tour. So you are not getting the full concert.

Bill Magill, Friday, 13 April 2007 21:11 (seventeen years ago) link

First side of the first album beats all..... but Secret Treaties destroys all comers...

gnarly sceptre, Friday, 13 April 2007 21:15 (seventeen years ago) link

Agents or treaties hmmm. I'll go for agents.

Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Friday, 13 April 2007 21:21 (seventeen years ago) link

Treaties. It's all about "Astronomy".

I've really come to like Spectres, thanks to the reissue.

A. Begrand, Friday, 13 April 2007 21:32 (seventeen years ago) link

Secret Treaties for me too, edging out Tyranny And Mutation by a whisker. Agreed about True Confessions - I think a compilation of the best tracks on Agents and Spectres would've been my vote if such a thing had actually happened. I haven't heard Cultosaurus Erectus in years, I remember it being pretty mediocre, am I wrong?

Matt #2, Friday, 13 April 2007 22:24 (seventeen years ago) link

Conventional wisdom seems to be that Cultosaurus Erectus is uneven, but I picked it up for a couple bucks a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it. There are some really goofy and catchy tracks on there: "Black Blade," "Monsters," "Deadline," "The Marshall Plan," "Hungry Boys," "Unknown Tongue." It seemed to me like their new-wave-meets-metal move, with a touch of AOR. Might be worth revisiting.

Jeff Treppel, Friday, 13 April 2007 22:41 (seventeen years ago) link

Agents of Fortune over the first two.

But yeah, Cultasaurus is actually not bad (as aren't most of the other albums listed above.)

xhuxk, Friday, 13 April 2007 23:39 (seventeen years ago) link

I like Agents, but my big problem with it is the sequencing, specifically "True Confessions." It feels really out of place. It would be fine towards the end of side two, but it's really jarring sandwiched between "This Ain't the Summer of Love" and "Reaper." Does anyone else have that same problem?

OTM! It probably cost "Agents" my vote. Actually i woulda preferred the original "Fire Of Unknown Origin" in its place.

Myonga Vön Bontee, Friday, 13 April 2007 23:45 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeah! That's an unbelievable song. Catchy, and strangely haunting. I'm glad day at least included it on the reissue.

Jeff Treppel, Friday, 13 April 2007 23:47 (seventeen years ago) link

My sentimental fave is Agents cuz it mentions my birthday, the 24th of May (which is coming up, btw). I asked Eric Bloom the significance of May 24th but he didn't know (no surprise there - he took all BOC lyrics at face value). Still, whoever entreated Patti Smith to provide background vocals on a song that goes "Oh no more horses" is funnier than Borat. But come on - side one of Tyranny and Mutation IS the most impeccably produced side of riff in the history of the substance and thus gets my vote above. The best stand up comedy routine I've ever witnessed occurred when Tyranny was playing at an absurdly loud volume in a small Milwaukee bar. No one could carry on a conversation anymore so we were forced to just...watch. And laugh. A raving classic. I await the tech-step remixes.

P.S. BOC lyrics were the first I ever printed off the internet. Next was Steely Dan. Then Wu-Tang.

Kevin John Bozelka, Saturday, 14 April 2007 10:24 (seventeen years ago) link

Fire of Unknown Originis by far their most under-rated. other than that I can't decide.

m coleman, Saturday, 14 April 2007 11:49 (seventeen years ago) link

side one of Tyranny and Mutation IS the most impeccably produced side of riff in the history of the substance

Ha ha, this sounds familiar. (And well, it is definitely their best side.)

xhuxk, Saturday, 14 April 2007 12:02 (seventeen years ago) link

How did the dinosaur on the cover of Cultasuarus Erectus open/close his mouth?...his "teeth" were depicted as full-height, attached at both top and bottom jaws...

henry s, Saturday, 14 April 2007 12:40 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh good - I was hoping the capitalized IS would stand in for the lack of quotes.

Kevin John Bozelka, Saturday, 14 April 2007 18:07 (seventeen years ago) link

I just always sort of assumed that birds would inadvertently fly into the mouth, and find themselves very quickly becoming lunch.

If you want to get technical about it, how are the heads even supported by the insanely long necks that the full portrait depicts them as having? And how do they propel themselves over land with no legs? But, evolution asserts itself oddly at times, like the platypus or something.

Jeff Treppel, Saturday, 14 April 2007 20:37 (seventeen years ago) link

Tyranny, just 'cause of "The Red and the Black." And because of the original LP's red/black labels.

If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Sunday, 15 April 2007 06:17 (seventeen years ago) link

Finally cast my vote, for Spectres. Secret Treaties probably is their best album, but I wanted to give that one its due, considering I've been unable to stop listening to it.

Jeff Treppel, Sunday, 15 April 2007 20:15 (seventeen years ago) link

One more day bump!

Jeff Treppel, Thursday, 19 April 2007 19:35 (seventeen years ago) link

TS: Astronomy vs. Astronomy Domine

Oilyrags, Thursday, 19 April 2007 20:55 (seventeen years ago) link

Tough one, but I'd have to say "Astronomy."

Jeff Treppel, Thursday, 19 April 2007 20:56 (seventeen years ago) link

Not exactly a shocking outcome, there. Go one vote for Spectres!

Jeff Treppel, Thursday, 19 April 2007 23:27 (seventeen years ago) link

wow, no votes for Fire of Unknown Origins!

zaxxon25, Friday, 20 April 2007 11:18 (seventeen years ago) link

HI DERE!

The Amazing Randy, Friday, 20 April 2007 13:08 (seventeen years ago) link

two years pass...

i may form a religion based on "extraterrestrial live"....seriously godzilla is so fucking nuts on this

you forgot what a hardcore blogger is (M@tt He1ges0n), Sunday, 24 January 2010 21:59 (fourteen years ago) link

On your Feet or On Your Knees is also a v impressive live album imo.
The gatefold image rules, too.
http://www.headheritage.co.uk/unsung/albumofthemonth_images//boc_onyourfeet_gatefold.jpg
You can't really see that the audience all have pillowcases over their heads in this img, tho.

Trip Maker, Sunday, 24 January 2010 22:11 (fourteen years ago) link

I just recently discovered Cultosaurus Erectus, and have to the conclusion that I, along with everyone else at ILM, seriously screwed up by not having in my top ten of the recent 80s Albums poll.

MumblestheRevelator, Sunday, 24 January 2010 22:21 (fourteen years ago) link

*have come to the conclusion*

MumblestheRevelator, Sunday, 24 January 2010 22:21 (fourteen years ago) link

listening to cultosaurus erectus for the first time. damn you are right this is a nuts album! black blade! the weird cocktail jazz breakdowns in the middle of monster's AOR goth metal...woah.

you forgot what a hardcore blogger is (M@tt He1ges0n), Monday, 25 January 2010 23:24 (fourteen years ago) link

"fallen angel" is kinda ELO-ish

you forgot what a hardcore blogger is (M@tt He1ges0n), Tuesday, 26 January 2010 00:20 (fourteen years ago) link

two months pass...

Agents of Fortune is the apex of AOR

Ndamukong HOOS (M@tt He1ges0n), Monday, 19 April 2010 21:39 (fourteen years ago) link

Fucking BOC forever IMO.

I Smell Xasthur Williams (Jon Lewis), Monday, 19 April 2010 21:59 (fourteen years ago) link

confession time: i do not have a single Blue Oyster Cult album. where should i begin.

tylerw, Monday, 19 April 2010 22:01 (fourteen years ago) link

Oh fuck dude! I'd say start this way--

1. Secret Treaties (get the remaster)
2. On Your Feet Or On Your Knees (live)
3. Agents Of Fortune (get the remaster)
4. Fire Of Unknown Origin

I Smell Xasthur Williams (Jon Lewis), Monday, 19 April 2010 22:10 (fourteen years ago) link

i know, i know. it's a glaring blind spot. i blame my older brother. but thanks for the reccs, i will check out secret treaties! super cheap on amazon.

tylerw, Monday, 19 April 2010 22:18 (fourteen years ago) link

fyi - tyranny and mutation has "the red & the black" that the minutemen cover

Ndamukong HOOS (M@tt He1ges0n), Monday, 19 April 2010 22:20 (fourteen years ago) link

yeah i think Tyranny is the one album of theirs I've heard in full. Otherwise I just know the hits.

tylerw, Monday, 19 April 2010 22:23 (fourteen years ago) link

That live album will show u their deadly side, how they 'played like they got knife fight in the alley afterward' to paraphrase patti smith.

I Smell Xasthur Williams (Jon Lewis), Monday, 19 April 2010 22:24 (fourteen years ago) link

OKAY ROLL CALL FOR THE BÖC SHOW AT HO-CHUNK: ME

@GracieLoPan #fyi (Display Name (this cannot be changed):), Thursday, 17 May 2012 21:07 (eleven years ago) link

that cannot be a real place

I'll thank you not to slander one of Wisconsin's most awesome Native American nations. Or its lucrative casinos: http://www.ho-chunkgaming.com/wisconsindells/

@GracieLoPan #fyi (Display Name (this cannot be changed):), Thursday, 17 May 2012 21:11 (eleven years ago) link

implied slander retracted

"Ho-Chunk!" is also a pretty good approximation of what BOC's guitars sound like.

tylerw, Thursday, 17 May 2012 21:26 (eleven years ago) link

Been to the Ho-Chunk before, but would've gladly traded that experience in for being there for BOC.

heated debate over derpy hooves (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Thursday, 17 May 2012 22:04 (eleven years ago) link

Ho-Chunk casino signs make driving through Wisconsin even more pleasant than it already is

cosi fan whitford (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Thursday, 17 May 2012 22:05 (eleven years ago) link

i'm going w/five other dudes from Mpls! we roll deep to BOC!

DN hope to run into you, yell "M@tt!" really loud

Bandersnatch Cumberbund (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Thursday, 17 May 2012 22:34 (eleven years ago) link

Haha YOU MUST DO THE SAME (as we are the only two M@tts on here, maybe?)

@GracieLoPan #fyi (Display Name (this cannot be changed):), Friday, 18 May 2012 05:23 (eleven years ago) link

God DAMN wish I was goin' to this with y'all

Hierophantiasis (Jon Lewis), Friday, 18 May 2012 16:55 (eleven years ago) link

Display name I'll have on a shirt that says hells kitchen, but not the show, a restaurant logo drawn by ralph steadman

Bandersnatch Cumberbund (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Saturday, 19 May 2012 02:16 (eleven years ago) link

can u guys post to this thread while the show is happening

tylerw, Saturday, 19 May 2012 02:39 (eleven years ago) link

just stuff like "YEAHHHHHHH"
or
"WOOOOOOOO"
or
"Red and the BLACCCCCCK"

tylerw, Saturday, 19 May 2012 02:41 (eleven years ago) link

Will do!

Bandersnatch Cumberbund (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Saturday, 19 May 2012 02:49 (eleven years ago) link

Drinking dos equis and glenlivit on ice on the balcony, getting ready for BOC

Bandersnatch Cumberbund (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Saturday, 19 May 2012 22:57 (eleven years ago) link

should xpost to the "people who know how to live" thread imo

cosi fan whitford (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Saturday, 19 May 2012 22:57 (eleven years ago) link

WOOOOOOOO!

tylerw, Saturday, 19 May 2012 23:08 (eleven years ago) link

I was hemming and hawing all week, but at the last minute I took out the Zipcar to see 'em in St Charles, IL last nite. Hemming becuz they announced a much more accessible show in Naperville (where I seemingly always see them, Metra line hits there), hawing because it's been almost 2 yrs since my last show, was jonesing. Shocked at lack of Sarzo, now some guy from Rundgren's band -- acutally a much better player technically than Rudy, if not the showman.

Setlist was very close to the '10 show I saw, with two significant changes. Solid time. per directive, glass of beer was raised on high

Stormy Davis, Saturday, 19 May 2012 23:10 (eleven years ago) link

They came out to game of thrones theme song!

In the middle of shooting shark

Eric bloom has a lot of swag

Bandersnatch Cumberbund (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Sunday, 20 May 2012 00:28 (eleven years ago) link

Perfectly executed beer run during bass solo

Bandersnatch Cumberbund (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Sunday, 20 May 2012 00:40 (eleven years ago) link

They were in St. Charles?!?!?!? Oh man, I wish I would've known that.

heated debate over derpy hooves (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Sunday, 20 May 2012 00:41 (eleven years ago) link

Oh wait, I see that Naperville show in September, might have to check that one out... of course that means, y'know, having to be in Naperville.

heated debate over derpy hooves (jon /via/ chi 2.0), Sunday, 20 May 2012 00:43 (eleven years ago) link

Sorry I didn't see you dude -- but yeah they were great. Kasim Sulton on bass!

@GracieLoPan #fyi (Display Name (this cannot be changed):), Sunday, 20 May 2012 04:32 (eleven years ago) link

alright! so this was a really fun trip!

we left Mpls about 11, took the scenic route and ate lunch at the Rock n' Roll Cafe in Ellsworth Wisconsin, one of those old school 50s themed diners with 45s on the wall and pix of marilyn monroe and elvis and stuff, great burgers...

got to the casino/hotel, checked in and did the aforementioned drinking of glenlivit and dos equis (and some mike's hard lemonade)....the show started EARLY, doors 630, show 7...so we didn't have time to eat...

got the show, and I was expecting it was going to be in some theater, but it was really just a big event room, like where you'd have a manager's conference with chairs set up....my friend james went up and talked to the sound guy -- turns out we were lied to and BOC was not headlining but going on first :(

so it was general admission and we grabbed some decent seats...BOC came out to the Game of Thrones theme song :) :) :)

so it was Eric, Buck, two dorks on guitar/keyboards and drums, then Kasim Sulton....

Kick things off with Red and Black...Buck's playing one of those really dorky Steinbergers with a with a white body type and no headstock (but not the super small 80s steinbergers, has kinda of a strat-ish body)...it also had "craters" that scooped out of the body? kind of like if they scooped out parts of the body...weird, sounds ok though....

sadly, they didn't get to play long...only did R&B, Burnin' for You, Shooting Shark (oddly given the set length), Cities on Flame, Godzilla, and Reaper....they did manage to squeeze in drum and bass solos (LOL)....also they did a weird medley where they introduced Kasim and when they said "You might know him from Joan Jett" they did a bit of I Love Rock n Roll and then so on for Todd Rungren (i don't wanna work) and Meatloaf (paradise by dashboard)....kinda corny....

Bloom is still really goony and did the godzilla rap from extraterrestrial live about godzilla coming to stomp out the Wisconsin Dells! was awesome....

As far as the performance, the new dudes can certainly play...Bloom definitely has to strain a bit at this point, but Buck's voice, maybe because his singing tone is so soft, really sings and plays amazingly still....

There was the vibe of phoning it in a bit but they are such pros it was still good...and there were a few moments where you felt like you were REALLY seeing them, like they jammed out the end of Reaper for a couple minutes and Buck was sublime...

the best part was that you could actually walk up and there was a big area in front of the stage to stand in front of the chairs so I basically got like 12 feet from Buck...like seeing them in a really small club :)

we got fucking wasted basically and were pissed at Kansas for headlining and decided to fuck off their set and go to the sports bar -- a most fortuitous decision!!

we saw the session guitar and drummer sitting down at a table...we thought about saying something but what the fuck do you say to them?

so we ordered beers and burgers and stuff and just started drinking more....then a group of ppl we'd see upfront -- some really oddball older folks with various old tour t-shirts, sat down with the drummer and the guitarist...they seemed to know them...I got the sense they were old fan club ppl or maybe follow BOC around on tour sometimes??

but anyway sure enough BUCK DHARMA WALKS INTO THE SPORTS BAR!!!!! he starts shaking hands with that group and chatting...eventually sits down with them...I was like fuck it, I was totally in the bag and went up to him and said I'm a big fan and would you take a picture with my friend...which he totally agreed to

after that Eric Bloom walks in and also agrees to do a picture!!!

so that pretty much made up for the short set, especially because this is the only venue we could have possibly ever just "ran into" buck and eric after a show....but yeah they weren't super into talking but they were totally gracious and willing to do a picture and autographs....I didn't see either one of them fail to stop and talk to ppl for a second and sign stuff, seemed, again, like total pros.

so yeah I shook Eric and Buck's hands! felt like the culmination of the last year of BOC obsession....

wack nerd zinging in the dead of night (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, 22 May 2012 21:58 (eleven years ago) link

!RIGHTEOUS!

Hierophantiasis (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 22 May 2012 22:05 (eleven years ago) link

LOL Steinberger.

Please tell me that the current rhythm section is not fonkeh. Can you give me that?

Hierophantiasis (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 22 May 2012 22:06 (eleven years ago) link

rad. can't believe they were the opener! for KANSAS! i would really think that BOC would be the bigger draw, but I guess these are weird scenes/times.

tylerw, Tuesday, 22 May 2012 22:07 (eleven years ago) link

xpost

nah they were fine! pretty much playing it straight by the book...that bass dude I'm sure could get funky or whatever you wanted, but he was tasteful

wack nerd zinging in the dead of night (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, 22 May 2012 22:07 (eleven years ago) link

Yeah that is weird. Maybe Kansas played the Christ card to get switched to headliner.

Hierophantiasis (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 22 May 2012 22:08 (eleven years ago) link

xpost

Hierophantiasis (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 22 May 2012 22:08 (eleven years ago) link

rad. can't believe they were the opener! for KANSAS! i would really think that BOC would be the bigger draw, but I guess these are weird scenes/times.

― tylerw, Tuesday, May 22, 2012 5:07 PM (23 seconds ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

we did feel a bit burned, and just a general sense that the world is an unjust place.

one thing i learned there are SUPER HARDCORE KANSAS FANS....like SUPER hardcore....I talked to this really haggard old drunk that had seen them 46 times....he also...(bizarrely given his age)....was a big Tool/Perfect Circle fan

wack nerd zinging in the dead of night (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, 22 May 2012 22:09 (eleven years ago) link

i saw like assloads of ppl wearing all types of kansas t-shirts.

wack nerd zinging in the dead of night (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, 22 May 2012 22:09 (eleven years ago) link

the world is definitely SO unjust!
that's cool that there are hardcore kansas fans, maybe Kansas rock? resisting urge to google "best Kansas bootleg".

tylerw, Tuesday, 22 May 2012 22:11 (eleven years ago) link

I still have time for 'Dust In The Wind'.

Hierophantiasis (Jon Lewis), Tuesday, 22 May 2012 22:12 (eleven years ago) link

"This is a Kansas casino. Always has been. Always will be."

H.P. Hovercraft and the Vini Reilly Invasion (Elvis Telecom), Tuesday, 22 May 2012 22:48 (eleven years ago) link

http://vivalesbootlegs.blogspot.com/search/label/KANSAS

tylerw, Tuesday, 22 May 2012 22:54 (eleven years ago) link

Awesome! thanks for the report.

EZ Snappin, Tuesday, 22 May 2012 23:05 (eleven years ago) link

yeah my story is way lamer. i went up with my brother-in-law, we ate at the baraboo uno's, got there during 'burnin' for you,' no tickets at the will-call AS I WAS PROMISED, dude hooked us up anyway, rocked out to böc, stayed for kansas who were competent and professional, drove home.

@GracieLoPan #fyi (Display Name (this cannot be changed):), Tuesday, 22 May 2012 23:57 (eleven years ago) link

Great show report from upper mississippi sh@kedown there! I only ever saw them back in the 80s, 1984 (great), 1985 (not great) and 1989 (Aldo Nova on 2nd gtr iirc, pfffft). Next time they're in the UK I promise to see them again, even though it's just Buck + Eric + session dudes these days.

A++++++ would deal with again (Matt #2), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 00:21 (eleven years ago) link

*tries to resist Mayhem Symphony*

Hierophantiasis (Jon Lewis), Wednesday, 23 May 2012 00:27 (eleven years ago) link

lol i dunno, dl-ing kansas bootlegs might be the kind of internet k-hole you never wake up from, you know?

tylerw, Wednesday, 23 May 2012 00:43 (eleven years ago) link

still though: MAYHEM SYMPHONY

tylerw, Wednesday, 23 May 2012 00:44 (eleven years ago) link

The way he sings "I'm Burning for You" is almost as delicious as a candy bar.

Slurpee driver, Wednesday, 23 May 2012 05:23 (eleven years ago) link

lol I'm probably the closest thing ILX has to a SUPER-HARDCORE KANSAS FAN.

anyways, m@tt, that whole concert sounded like lots and lots of fun. Sucks they only played 5 songs, but meeting them sounds amazing. I totally should see if they are playing Michigan in the next few months.

thillrer (loves laboured breathing), Thursday, 24 May 2012 00:44 (eleven years ago) link

one year passes...

!!!!

Raptain Chillips (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Tuesday, 1 April 2014 21:08 (ten years ago) link

Huge

Marcus / Xgau - Whose Century? (broom air), Tuesday, 1 April 2014 21:40 (ten years ago) link


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