Blue Oyster Cult – “Don’t Fear The Reaper”

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"Don't Fear The Reaper" (Donald Roeser) Copyright 1976 Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Join us for this Halloween Episode where we take a deep dive into one of the spookiest songs to ever hit the charts. There’s a reason why this song has shown up everywhere from TV shows like “Supernatural”, to films including “Halloween”, the videogame “Ripper”– its lyrics are even quoted in Steven King’s “The Stand”: because few songs are able to create a mood as deep and rich as this one. And it features one of the best guitar parts of all time. (And yes, we mention the cowbell.)

“Don’t Fear The Reaper” (Donald Roeser) Copyright 1976 Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC 

— This show is one of many great music-related podcasts on the Pantheon podcast network. Check ’em out!

The Kinks – “Shangri-La”

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"Shangri-La" (Ray Davies) Copyright 1969 Davray Music Limited, Carlin Music Corp

In the novel Lost Horizon, Shangri-La is the mystical, hidden paradise of legend. In The Kinks song, it’s the name given to the humble home of Arthur, the main character in Ray Davies’ concept album/rock opera Arthur (Or The Decline and Fall of The British Empire). Written as the accompaniment for a TV movie that was never produced, Arthur still stands as one of The Kinks’ best works, and “Shangri-La” is the stand-out track from this album.

“Shangri-La” (Ray Davies) Copyright 1969 Davray Music Limited, Carlin Music Corp

— This show is one of the many great podcasts on the Pantheon Podcasts network. Check ’em all out!