Agents of Fortune is the fourth studio album by American rock band Blue Öyster Cult, released on May 21, 1976, by Columbia Records.
The Platinum-selling album peaked at No. 29 on the US Billboard 200 chart, while the single "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, 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 the only album in the group's discography to have at least one lead vocal performance by each original band member. It is their only album not to include any songs written by Eric Bloom. However, the 2020 live release 40th Anniversary: Agents of Fortune Live 2016 adds Bloom's name to the authorship credits for "E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence)."
Album cover
The album cover (created by artist Lynn Curlee) depicts Belgian magician Servais Le Roy performing a magic trick with four tarot cards — The Empress, The Emperor, The Sun and Death from the Thoth Tarot deck. The reverse shows a pyramid topped with the planet Saturn.
Critical reception
Rolling Stone wrote that "Agents of Fortune is a startlingly excellent album — startling because one does not expect Blue Öyster Cult to sound like this: loud but calm, manic but confident, melodic but rocking."
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" ... "a mood of evil created in a humorous fashion."
Track listing
Personnel
Band members Eric Bloom – guitar, vocals, keyboards, percussion Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser – lead guitar, vocals, synthesizer, percussion Allen Lanier – keyboards, rhythm guitar, bass on "Morning Final", vocals Joe Bouchard – bass, vocals, piano on "Morning Final" Albert Bouchard – drums, percussion, acoustic guitar, vocals, harmonica
Additional musicians 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, David Lucas, or Eric Bloom.
Production David Lucas, Murray Krugman, Sandy Pearlman – producers Shelly Yakus, Andy Abrams – engineers Tony Stevens – mastering John Berg, Andy Engel – design Lynn Curlee – paintings
Charts Chart (1976) Peakposition Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) 53 Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts) 18
Certifications
Accolades Publication Country Accolade Year Rank The Village Voice US The 1976 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll 197610 NME UK Albums of the Year 19766 Dave Marsh & Kevin Stein US The Best of the Album Chartmakers by Year: 1976 1981 12 Kerrang! UK The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time 198962 Q UK The Greatest Classic Rock Albums Ever! 2004 No order
References