Agents of Fortune

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 its financial peak on the tour circuit.

Critical reception

• 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

Notes