Agents of Fortune

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Agents of Fortune
Studio album by Blue Öyster Cult
Released	May, 1976
Recorded	Record Plant Studios, New York, 1975–76
Genre	Hard rock
Length	36:21
Label	Columbia Records
Producer(s)	Murray Krugman, Sandy Pearlman, and David Lucas
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link
Blue Öyster Cult chronology
On Your Feet Or On Your Knees (1975)	Agents of Fortune (1976)	Spectres (1977)

Agents of Fortune is a 1976 hard rock album by Blue Öyster Cult. Upon its release, and the success of the song "(Don't Fear) The Reaper", Blue Öyster Cult became the center of a controversy surrounding the supposed pro-suicide lyrics of the song, which is actually a love ballad concerning love that lasts beyond death, and a call to seize the day.

The platinum selling Agents of Fortune 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.

[edit] Track listing

1. "This Ain't the Summer of Love" – 2:20
2. "True Confessions" – 2:57
3. "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" (Roeser) – 5:09
4. "E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence)" (Pearlman/Roeser) – 3:42
5. "The Revenge of Vera Gemini (feat. Patti Smith)" – 3:53
6. "Sinful Love" – 3:29
7. "Tattoo Vampire" – 2:41
8. "Morning Final" – 4:30
9. "Tenderloin" – 3:40
10. "Debbie Denise" – 4:23

Additional tracks on the 2001 remaster:

1. "Fire Of Unknown Origin" (Original version) - 3:30
2. "Sally" (Demo) - 2:40
3. "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" (Demo) - 6:20
4. "Dance The Night Away" (Demo) - 2:37

[edit] Personnel

• Michael Brecker - Horn
• Andy Abrams - Engineer
• Eric Bloom - Guitar, Percussion, Keyboards, Vocals
• Albert Bouchard - Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Harmonica, Percussion, Drums, Vocals
• Joe Bouchard - Bass, Guitar, Piano, Vocals
• Randy Brecker - Horn
• Murray Krugman - Producer
• Allen Lanier - Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
• David Lucas - Producer
• Sandy Pearlman - Producer
• Donald Roeser - Synthesizer, Guitar, Percussion, Keyboards, Vocals
• Patti Smith - Vocals
• Tony Stevens - Mastering
• Shelly Yakus - Engineer
• John Berg - Design
• Andy Engel - Design
• Lynn Curlee - Paintings

[edit] Miscellanea

The song "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" partially inspired writer Stephen King to pen The Stand. The track was also the inspiration for a 2000 Saturday Night Live skit, known as the famous "More Cowbell" skit.

One of the lead characters in the 1994 film The Stoned Age (Lanie, played by Renee Griffin), declares "Agents of Fortune is a total fuck album", and the single "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" is featured prominently in the movie.

The song "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" appears in the recently released game, Prey. It rightfully appears as aliens begin to take the human population from a bar on a reservation.

The Mutton Birds version of "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" is featured as the end credits for the 1996 movie The Frighteners.

"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" is covered on The Goo Goo Dolls first and self titled album.