Review Blue Oyster Cult - Agents of Fortune (1976) **** 1/2

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Catfish

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Classic Album of the Day- Blue Oyster Cult- Agents of Fortune (1976). **** 1/2

Would like to start another review with another back story. When I saw BOC in 1977, I witnessed what would be considered the legendary tour that unleashed lasers. Right before the band took the stage, a disco ball started spinning on the ceiling of the venue, and a disco tune of the day started. The crowd broke out into boos so loudly, it was shaking the rafters. Then... The band came out, and thundered ETI, and all three members with green and blue lasers on their wrists hit that disco ball while it was spinning, and it shot laser blasts all over the arena in a light show of the ages. Lines of lasers were bouncing everywhere. It was nothing like I had seen in a concert by then or since.

The band? I will go on record to be so bold to say, that in relation to musicianship, this ensemble may be one of the best, if not the best that are not in the prog genre. I remember ultra, I mean ultra crisp and sterling sounds from every member. In the area of hard rock, BOC has few peers. The difference in their live vs. vinyl sounds were almost Rush like.

BOC has had a long and solid career, with most of their LP's collectable and listenable. I feel this one is the strongest and just seems to have this aura of surreal indulgence that marked what was their high water mark as a career. For me it contains my 1st and 4th favorite BOC tunes , Reaper and ETI.

One thing that also marks BOC, as I mentioned earlier is their concert live acumen. They are a very very tight musically sound band. Again, one of the very best in the hard rock genre. The mix of Buck Dharma and Eric Bloom created magic with one of the last great tandems of dueling mixing guitar workers.

Fun fact: to this day, it remains a mystery who actually plays cowbell on Don't Fear the Reaper. At least wiki doesn't know, though it has been narrowed down to Bouchard, Bloom, or David Lucas (Producer)


Side 1-

This A'int the Summer of Love- BOC harkens to some of their early '70's type licks on this classic. Solid Solid, opening to the album- 5

True Confessions- A change of pace, the boys run a perky '60's like rinky tinky piano piece. Good song, maybe a lower tier, but just goes to show how strong this LP is. 7

(Don't Fear) The Reaper- BOC's signature song, and my favorite. In many cases some argue it is terribly overplayed. That may be true, but I never tire of this one. Great great song writing, tight composition, and playing. Harmonies... Spot on, Song is probably most famous for the SNL Skit. MORE COWBELL BABY. 1

ETI (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence)- At my first count, I think BOC made at least a half dozen songs about Aliens. This is the best one by far. (Honorable Mention- Take Me Away) Love the guitar work at the end. Boom!!!!! 2

The Revenge of Vera Gemini- Haunting song that had effective help from Patti Smith. Another of those songs that have that sinister aura that gives BOC that strange appeal. 4

Side 2-

Sinful Love- More of the sinister from the guys. Many of us '70's guys loved the meme at the time, when dealing with the opposite sex..... I love You Like Sin, but I won't be your pigeon. This is one good consistent album. 6

Tattoo Vampire- Big Rocking Tune- Band really amps it up on this one. Song plays like a horror movie in the max. Also realize that women with tattoos in 1976 were non existant. Exotic, and scary. 8

Morning Final- Great melodic tune, with some fine songwriting. Maybe the most underapprecated tune on the LP. Beautiful guitar work. Buck at his best. 3

Tenderloin- Weakest cut on the LP. Nothing of real value. 9 out of 10 sure a'int bad though. 10

Debbie Denise- BOC wasn't big into ballads, but this one works nicely. You don't think of band using synths that much, but here they do it nicely in almost a mellotron fashion. The same eerie feel, and the albums slams the theme home nicely at the end. When I hear this album, my memories drift significantly. I pretty much wore this 8 Track up. 7

 

Magic

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Not my favorite but a decent album. I like The Reaper & Tattoo Vampire.

As always, nice review!
 

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