May 21, 1976 | |||
1975–76 | |||
The Record Plant, New York City | |||
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36:35 | |||
Columbia | |||
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Agents of Fortune is the fourth studio album by American hard rock band Blue Öyster Cult, released by Columbia Records in May 21, 1976.[4][5]
The Platinum-selling album peaked at No. 29 on the U.S. Billboard chart,[6] while the cryptic single "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart,[7] making it BÖC's biggest hit. The band became a bigger concert attraction after the release of the album, in part due to extensive airplay of "(Don't Fear) The Reaper", to this day a staple of rock-station playlists.
This is also the only album in the band's catalog to have every original member perform lead vocals on at least one song, and the only to not feature any songwriting contributions from Eric Bloom. However, the 2020 live album 40th Anniversary: Agents of Fortune Live 2016 added Bloom's name to the writing credits on "E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence)".
Critical reception[edit]
Professional ratingsAllMusic | |
Christgau's Record Guide | B+[9] |
The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 10/10[10] |
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | |
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |
Rolling Stone wrote that "Agents of Fortune is a startlingly excellent album — startling because one does not expect Blue Oyster Cult to sound like this: loud but calm, manic but confident, melodic but rocking."[13]
Cash Box said of the single "This Ain't the Summer of Love" that "growling guitars churn out this realistic message with brief and pointed expression" and that "a mood of evil created in a humorous fashion."[14]
Track listing[edit]
Side two
"Sinful Love" | Albert Bouchard, Helen Wheels | Albert Bouchard | 3:29 |
"Tattoo Vampire" | Albert Bouchard, Helen Wheels | Eric Bloom | 2:41 |
"Morning Final" | Joe Bouchard | Joe Bouchard | 4:30 |
"Tenderloin" | Allen Lanier | Eric Bloom | 3:40 |
"Debbie Denise" | Albert Bouchard, Patti Smith | Albert Bouchard | 4:13 |
2001 CD reissue bonus tracks
"Fire of Unknown Origin" (original version) | Eric Bloom, Albert Bouchard, Joe Bouchard, Donald Roeser, Patti Smith | Albert Bouchard | 3:30 |
"Sally" (demo version) | Albert Bouchard | Albert Bouchard | 2:40 |
"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" (demo version) | Donald Roeser | Donald Roeser | 6:20 |
"Dance the Night Away" (demo version) | Allen Lanier, Jim Carroll | Allen Lanier | 2:37 |
51:42 |
Personnel[edit]
Band members- Eric Bloom – guitar, vocals, keyboards, percussion
- Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser – lead guitar, vocals
- Allen Lanier – keyboards, rhythm guitar, bass on "Morning Final", vocals
- Joe Bouchard – bass, piano on "Morning Final", vocals
- Albert Bouchard – drums, percussion, acoustic guitar, vocals
- Patti Smith – vocals on "The Revenge of Vera Gemini"
- Randy Brecker – horns
- Michael Brecker – horns
- David Lucas – vocals, keyboards, percussion
- The cowbell on "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" may have been played by Albert Bouchard,[15] David Lucas,[16] or Eric Bloom.[17]
- David Lucas , Murray Krugman, Sandy Pearlman – producers
- Shelly Yakus, Andy Abrams – engineers
- Tony Stevens – mastering
- John Berg, Andy Engel – design
- Lynn Curlee – paintings
Charts[edit]
Album[edit]
Certifications[edit]
Gold | 50,000^ |
Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Accolades[edit]
The Village Voice | US | The 1976 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll[27] | 1976 | 10 |
NME | UK | Albums of the Year[28] | 1976 | 6 |
Dave Marsh & Kevin Stein | US | The Best of the Album Chartmakers by Year: 1976[29] | 1981 | 12 |
Kerrang! | UK | The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time[28] | 1989 | 62 |
Q | UK | The Greatest Classic Rock Albums Ever![30] | 2004 | No order |
References[edit]
- ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 128.
- ^ "Blue Oyster Cult singles".
- ^ "Blue Oyster Cult singles".
- ^ "Blue Oyster Cult | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ Buckley, Peter (March 14, 2003). "The Rough Guide to Rock". Rough Guides – via Google Books.
- ^ "Agents of Fortune Billboard Albums". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on August 31, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
- ^ a b "Agents of Fortune Billboard Singles". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on August 31, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
- ^ Jurek, Thom. "Blue Öyster Cult - Agents of Fortune review". AllMusic. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: B". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 22, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ^ Popoff, Martin (October 2003). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 1: The Seventies. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 54. ISBN 978-1894959025.
- ^ The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon & Schuster. 2004. pp. 87–88.
- ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 1. MUZE. p. 700.
- ^ Tucker, Ken (July 15, 1976). "Album Reviews: Blue Oyster Cult - Agents of Fortune". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 12, 2009. Retrieved April 8, 2012.
- ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. June 25, 1977. p. 20. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
- ^ Farhi, Paul (January 29, 2005). "Blue Öyster Cult, Playing Along With 'More Cowbell'". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
- ^ George, Eli (June 30, 2011). "Blue Oyster Cult cowbell ringer honored". WIVB-TV. Archived from the original on July 2, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
- ^ Sauro, Tony (September 17, 2009). "Blue Oyster Cult's innovative use of a cowbell will never be forgotten". The Record (Stockton). Retrieved August 7, 2012.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 5114a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Blue Öyster Cult – Agents of Fortune". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
- ^ "Blue Öyster Cult | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
- ^ "Blue Öyster Cult Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
- ^ "Top Singles - Volume 26, No. 7, November 13, 1976". Library and Archives Canada. 13 November 1976. Archived from the original on 1 November 2014. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ^ "Blue Oyster Cult Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Blue Öyster Cult – Agents of Fortune". Music Canada.
- ^ "American album certifications – Blue Öyster Cult – Agents of Fortune". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "The 1976 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll". The Village Voice. Robert Christgau. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
- ^ a b "Blue Öyster Cult - Agents of Fortune". Acclaimed Music. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
- ^ "The Dave Marsh Lists". Book Of Rock Lists - Albums Of The Year: 1976. Rocklist.net. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
- ^ "Q Lists: Q Special Edition – The Greatest Classic Rock Albums Ever !". Q. Rocklist.net. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
Who is the man on agents of fortune?
What is the symbol on agents of fortune?
Who produced agents of fortune?
Agents of Fortune | |
Genre | Hard rock heavy metal |
Length | 36:35 |
Label | Columbia |
Producer | Murray Krugman Sandy Pearlman David Lucas |