Agents of Fortune

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Agents of Fortune
BlueOysterCultAgentsofFortune.jpg
Studio album by Blue Öyster Cult
Released 21 May 1976
Recorded The Record Plant, New York City, 1975–76
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)On Your Feet or on Your Knees1975		 Agents of Fortune
(1976)		 Spectres
(1977)Spectres1977
Singles from Agents of Fortune
  1. "(Don't Fear) The Reaper / Tattoo Vampire"
    Released: June 1976
  2. "Debbie Denise / This Ain't the Summer of Love"
    Released: 1976
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic 4.5/5 stars[1]
Rolling Stone (very favorable)[2]
Robert Christgau (B+)[3]
Martin Popoff 10/10 stars[4]

Agents of Fortune is the fourth studio album by American hard rock band Blue Öyster Cult, originally released in a gatefold sleeve LP in 1976 through Columbia Records.

The platinum-selling album peaked at No. 29 on Billboard's Pop Albums chart,[5] while the single "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" peaked at No. 12 on the Pop Singles chart,[6] 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 BÖC was reaching its commercial peak on the tour circuit.

Track listing

Side one
No. Title Writer(s) Lead vocals Length
1. "This Ain't the Summer of Love"   Albert Bouchard, Murray Krugman, Don Waller Eric Bloom 2:21
2. "True Confessions"   Allen Lanier Allen Lanier 2:57
3. "(Don't Fear) The Reaper"   Buck Dharma Donald Roeser 5:08
4. "E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence)"   Roeser, Sandy Pearlman Eric Bloom 3:43
5. "The Revenge of Vera Gemini"   Albert Bouchard, Patti Smith Albert Bouchard, (with Patti Smith) 3:52
Side two
No. Title Writer(s) Lead vocals Length
6. "Sinful Love"   Albert Bouchard, Helen Wheels Albert Bouchard 3:29
7. "Tattoo Vampire"   Albert Bouchard, Wheels Eric Bloom 2:41
8. "Morning Final"   Joe Bouchard Joe Bouchard 4:30
9. "Tenderloin"   Lanier Eric Bloom 3:40
10. "Debbie Denise"   Albert Bouchard, Smith Albert Bouchard 4:13
Total length:
 36:35

Personnel

Band members
  • Eric Bloom – guitar, percussion, lead vocals on tracks 1, 4, 7, 9
  • Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser – guitar, synthesizer, percussion, lead vocals on track 3, 13
  • Allen Lanier – keyboards, guitar, bass, lead vocals on track 2, 14
  • Joe Bouchard – bass, piano, lead vocals on track 8
  • Albert Bouchard – drums, acoustic guitar, percussion, harmonica, lead vocals on tracks 5, 6, 10, 11, 12
Additional musicians
Production

Charts

Album

Year Chart Position
1976 Billboard 200 (North America)[5] 29
UK Albums Chart[7] 26
RPM100 Albums (Canada)[8] 28
Swedish Albums Chart[9] 10

Singles

Year Title Chart Position
1976 "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" Billboard Hot 100 (North America)[6] 12
RPM Top 100 Singles (Canada)[10] 7
1978 UK Singles Chart[11] 16

Sales Certifications

Year Country Organization Sales
1977 Canada CRIA Gold (50,000+)[12]
1978 U.S. RIAA Platinum (1,000,000+)[13]

Accolades

Publication Country Accolade Year Rank
The Village Voice U.S. The 1976 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll[14] 1976 10
NME UK Albums of the Year[15] 1976 6
Dave Marsh & Kevin Stein U.S. The Best of the Album Chartmakers by Year: 1976[16] 1981 12
Kerrang! UK The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time[15] 1989 62
Q UK The Greatest Classic Rock Albums Ever![17] 2004 No order

References

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