Agents of Fortune
Agents of Fortune | ||||
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Murray Krugman | ||||
Blue Öyster Cult chronology | ||||
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Singles from Agents of Fortune | ||||
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Agents of Fortune is the fourth studio album by American rock band Blue Öyster Cult, released on May 21, 1976 by Columbia Records.[4][5]
The
Additionally, this is the only album in the group's discography to have at least one lead vocal performance by each original band member. It was also their only album to not 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)."
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide | [11] |
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]
Track listing
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)" | Bloom, Roeser, Sandy Pearlman | Bloom | 3:43 |
5. | "The Revenge of Vera Gemini" | A. Bouchard, Patti Smith | A. Bouchard, Patti Smith | 3:52 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Sinful Love" | A. Bouchard, Joe Bouchard | J. Bouchard | 4:30 |
4. | "Tenderloin" | Lanier | Bloom | 3:40 |
5. | "Debbie Denise" | A. Bouchard, Smith | A. Bouchard | 4:13 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Lead vocals | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
11. | " Fire of Unknown Origin" (original version) | Bloom, A. Bouchard, J. Bouchard, Roeser, Smith | A. Bouchard | 3:30 |
12. | "Sally" (demo version) | A. Bouchard | A. Bouchard | 2:40 |
13. | "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" (demo version) | Roeser | Roeser | 6:20 |
14. | "Dance the Night Away" (demo version) | Lanier, Jim Carroll | Lanier | 2:37 |
Total length: | 51:42 |
Personnel
- 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
- 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,[15] David Lucas,[16] or Eric Bloom.[17]
- Production
- Murray Krugman, Sandy Pearlman– producers
- Shelly Yakus, Andy Abrams – engineers
- Tony Stevens – mastering
- John Berg, Andy Engel – design
- Lynn Curlee – paintings
Charts
Chart (1976) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[18] | 53 |
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[19] | 28 |
Finnish Albums ( The Official Finnish Charts)[20]
|
18 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[21] | 10 |
UK Albums (OCC)[22] | 26 |
US Billboard 200[23] | 29 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Canada (Music Canada)[24] | Gold | 50,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[25] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Accolades
Publication | Country | Accolade | Year | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Village Voice | US | The 1976 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll[26] | 1976 | 10 |
NME | UK | Albums of the Year[citation needed] | 1976 | 6 |
Dave Marsh & Kevin Stein | US | The Best of the Album Chartmakers by Year: 1976[27] | 1981 | 12 |
Kerrang! | UK | The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time[citation needed] | 1989 | 62 |
Q | UK | The Greatest Classic Rock Albums Ever![28] | 2004 | No order |
References
- ^ 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.
- ISBN 9781843531050– via Google Books.
- Rovi Corporation. Archivedfrom the original on August 31, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
- Rovi Corporation. Archivedfrom the original on August 31, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
- ^ Jurek, Thom. "Blue Öyster Cult - Agents of Fortune review". AllMusic. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
- ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 22, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- 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.
- The Record (Stockton). Archived from the originalon August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
- ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 5114a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
- ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Blue Öyster Cult – Agents of Fortune". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
- ^ "Blue Öyster Cult Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.