Blue Oyster Cult have never been a paint-by-numbers rock 'n' roll band.

Often called the thinking man's heavy metal band, Blue Oyster Cult  took a more artful and literary approach to their hard-rock music, showing off smart and intriguing lyrics to songs like "Transmaniacon MC," "O.D.'d on Life Itself" and "She's as Beautiful as a Foot." Their sound wasn't cut from the usual blues-derived heaviness either. Instead, the group integrated elements of psychedelia, folk and pop into their hard-edged rock 'n' roll.

Our list of Blue Oyster Cult Albums Ranked Worst to Best includes more than a dozen studio albums released since their formation in Long Island in 1967. Like any group who've survived for 50 years (and with only a short break since then), Blue Oyster Cult have hit the highs, and lows, of commercial success while maintaining their own distinct path every step of the way.

In the end, you'll find that they're more than a one-hit wonder – "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" was their huge hit – or a cowbell-related joke on Saturday Night Live. This band has a long history with great songs that have stood the test of time.

But where to start? We have answers on this list of Blue Oyster Cult Albums Ranked Worst to Best.

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