Agents of Fortune

Agents of Fortune
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) Agents of Fortune (1976) Spectres (1977)
Singles from Agents of Fortune
"(Don't Fear) The Reaper / Tattoo Vampire" Released: June 1976 "Debbie Denise / This Ain't the Summer of Love" Released: 1976

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	(B+)[2]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal	10/10[3]
Rolling Stone	(very favorable)[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	Lanier	2:57
3.	"(Don't Fear) The Reaper"	Donald Roeser	Roeser	5:08
4.	"E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence)"	Roeser, Sandy Pearlman	Bloom	3:43
5.	"The Revenge of Vera Gemini"	A. Bouchard, Patti Smith	A. Bouchard, Smith	3:52

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
6.	"Sinful Love"	A. Bouchard, Helen Wheels	A. Bouchard	3:29
7.	"Tattoo Vampire"	A. Bouchard, Wheels	Bloom	2:41
8.	"Morning Final"	Joe Bouchard	J. Bouchard	4:30
9.	"Tenderloin"	Lanier	Bloom	3:40
10.	"Debbie Denise"	A. Bouchard, Smith	A. Bouchard	4:13
Total length:				36:35

2001 CD reissue bonus tracks
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
11.	"Fire of Unknown Origin" (original version)	Bloom, A. Bouchard, J. Bouchard, Roeser, 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)	Lanier, Jim Carroll	2:37
Total length:			15:07

Personnel

Band members

• Eric Bloom – guitar, percussion, vocals
• Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser – guitar, synthesizer, percussion, vocals
• Allen Lanier – keyboards, guitar, bass, vocals
• Joe Bouchard – bass, piano, vocals
• Albert Bouchard – drums, acoustic guitar, percussion, harmonica, vocals

Additional musicians

• Patti Smith – vocals on "The Revenge of Vera Gemini"
• Randy Brecker – horns
• Michael Brecker – horns
• David Lucas – vocals, keyboards, percussion

Production

• David Lucas , Murray Krugman, Sandy Pearlman,
• Shelly Yakus, Andy Abrams – engineers
• Tony Stevens – mastering
• John Berg, Andy Engel – design
• Lynn Curlee – paintings

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[7]	16

Sales certifications

Year	Country	Organization	Sales
1977	Canada	CRIA	Gold (50,000+)[11]
1978	U.S.	RIAA	Platinum (1,000,000+)[12]

Accolades

Publication	Country	Accolade	Year	Rank
The Village Voice	U.S.	The 1976 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll[13]	1976	10
NME	UK	Albums of the Year[14]	1976	6
Dave Marsh & Kevin Stein	U.S.	The Best of the Album Chartmakers by Year: 1976[15]	1981	12
Kerrang!	UK	The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time[14]	1989	62
Q	UK	The Greatest Classic Rock Albums Ever![16]	2004	No order

References

1. Jurek, Thom. "Blue Öyster Cult Agents of Fortune review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
2. Christgau, Robert. "Consumers Guide Reviews: Agents of Fortune". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
3. Popoff, Martin (October 2003). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 1: The Seventies. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. ISBN 978-1894959025.
4. Tucker, Ken (15 July 1976). "Album Reviews: Blue Oyster Cult - Agents of Fortune". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2009-10-12. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
5. "Agents of Fortune Billboard Albums". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2012-03-02.
6. "Agents of Fortune Billboard Singles". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2012-03-02.
7. "Blue Oyster Cult Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
8. "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 23, No. 5, October 30, 1976". Library and Archives Canada. 30 October 1976. Retrieved 2012-03-02.
9. "Blue Öyster Cult – Agents of Fortune (Album)". Swedishcharts.com. Media Control Charts. Retrieved 2012-03-02.
10. "Top Singles - Volume 26, No. 7, November 13, 1976". Library and Archives Canada. 13 November 1976. Retrieved 2012-03-02.
11. "Gold Platinum Database - Title: Fire of Unknown Origin". Music Canada. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
12. "RIAA Searchable Database - search for Agents of Fortune". RIAA. Retrieved 2012-03-01.
13. "The 1976 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll". The Village Voice. Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
14. "Blue Öyster Cult - Agents of Fortune". Acclaimed Music.net. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
15. "The Dave Marsh Lists". Book Of Rock Lists - Albums Of The Year: 1976. Rocklist.net. Retrieved 2012-03-30.
16. "Q Lists: Q Special Edition – The Greatest Classic Rock Albums Ever !". Q. Rocklist.net. Retrieved 2012-03-30.