Fear is the first of John Cale's three studio albums for Island Records, all of which were released in a period of just over a year (1974). In addition to the lead vocals on Fear, Cale also played keyboards, guitars, viola, violin and bass, and was joined by Fairport Convention's Richard Thompson, Roxy Music's Brian Eno and Phil Manzanera, and other artists who were signed to Island at the time.