Agents of Fortune

Agents of Fortune
Studio album by Blue Öyster Cult
Released	May 1976
Recorded	1975–76 at The Record Plant, New York
Genre	Hard rock, heavy metal
Length	36:35
Label	Columbia
Producer	Murray Krugman, Sandy Pearlman, David Lucas
Blue Öyster Cult chronology
On Your Feet or on Your Knees (1975) Agents of Fortune (1976) Spectres (1977)

Agents of Fortune is the fourth studio album released by Blue Öyster Cult, originally released in a gatefold sleeve in 1976.

The platinum selling album peaked at #29 on Billboard's Pop Albums chart, while the single "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" peaked at #12 on the Pop Singles chart, making it Blue Öyster Cult's biggest hit.

The band also became a larger concert attraction at this time - largely based on not only their stageshow, but aided by the airplay of "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" which to this day is a staple of FM rock station playlists. Concert venues became larger, the show became more intricate and BOC was reaching it's financial peak on the tour circuit.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	(B+)[2]

• It was voted tenth best rock album of 1976 in the annual Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics' poll.^[3]
• Kerrang! placed it on number 62 in its list of 100 greatest heavy metal albums of all time.^[4]
• In October 2004, Q magazine placed it in its list of greatest classic rock albums ever.^[5]
• NME listed it in its list of 24 best albums of the year 1976 on number 6.^[6]

Track listing

Side one

1. "This Ain't the Summer of Love" (Albert Bouchard, Murray Krugman, Don Waller) – 2:21
2. "True Confessions" (Allen Lanier) – 2:57
3. "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" (Donald Roeser) – 5:08
4. "E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence)" (Sandy Pearlman, Roeser) – 3:43
5. "The Revenge of Vera Gemini" (A. Bouchard, Patti Smith) – 3:52

Side two

1. "Sinful Love" (A. Bouchard, Helen Robbins) – 3:29
2. "Tattoo Vampire" (A. Bouchard, Helen Robbins) – 2:41
3. "Morning Final" (Joe Bouchard) – 4:30
4. "Tenderloin" (Lanier) – 3:40
5. "Debbie Denise" (A. Bouchard, Patti Smith) – 4:13

2001 CD reissue bonus tracks

11. "Fire of Unknown Origin" (Original Version) (Eric Bloom, A. Bouchard, J. Bouchard, Roeser, Patti Smith) – 3:30
12. "Sally" (Demo Version) (A. Bouchard) – 2:40
13. "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" (Demo Version) (Roeser) – 6:20
14. "Dance The Night Away" (Demo Version) (Jim Carroll, Lanier) – 2:37

Personnel

Blue Öyster Cult Eric Bloom – guitar, percussion, lead vocals on "This Ain't the Summer of Love", "E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence)", "Tattoo Vampire" and "Tenderloin" Albert Bouchard – drums, acoustic guitar, percussion, harmonica, lead vocals on "The Revenge of Vera Gemini", "Sinful Love" and "Debbie Denise" Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser – guitar, synthesizer, percussion, lead vocals on "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" Joe Bouchard – bass, piano, lead vocals on "Morning Final" Allen Lanier – keyboards, guitar, bass, lead vocals on "True Confessions" Additional musicians Patti Smith – vocals on "The Revenge of Vera Gemini" Randy Brecker – horns Michael Brecker – horns

Production Murray Krugman – producer Sandy Pearlman – producer David Lucas – producer Shelly Yakus – engineer Andy Abrams – engineer Tony Stevens – mastering John Berg – design Andy Engel – design Lynn Curlee – paintings

Notes

1. ^ http://www.allmusic.com/album/agents-of-fortune-r2156
2. ^ Robert Christgau: CG: Blue Oyster Cult
3. ^ Robert Christgau: Pazz & Jop 1976: Critics Poll
4. ^ Kerrang! 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums Of All Time (published January '89)
5. ^ Rocklist.net...Q & Mojo Magazine Special Editions Vol.1
6. ^ Rocklist.net...NME End Of Year Lists 1976