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Secret Agent Man (Johnny Rivers song)

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"Secret Agent Man"
Single by Johnny Rivers
from the album ...And I Know You Wanna Dance
B-side"You Dig"
ReleasedFebruary 1966
Genre
Length2:58
LabelImperial 66159
Songwriter(s)P. F. Sloan, Steve Barri
Producer(s)Lou Adler
Johnny Rivers singles chronology
"Under Your Spell Again"
(1965) 		"Secret Agent Man"
(1966) 		"(I Washed My Hands in) Muddy Water"
(1966)

"Secret Agent Man" is a song written by P. F. Sloan and Steve Barri.[1] The most famous recording of the song was made by Johnny Rivers for the opening titles of the American broadcast of the British spy series Danger Man, which aired in the U.S. as Secret Agent from 1964 to 1966.[1] Rivers's version peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the Canadian RPM chart, one of the biggest hits of his career. Numerous covers and adaptations have been recorded since then with the song becoming both a rock standard and one of Johnny Rivers's signature songs.

History

According to composer P.F. Sloan, the American television network that licensed Danger Man, CBS, solicited publishers to contribute a 15-second piece of music for the opening of the U.S. show to replace the British theme, an instrumental titled "High Wire".[2] CBS executives were worried the show might not be successful without a "hummable" theme song.[1] Sloan wrote the guitar lick and the first few lines of the song, with Barri (Sloan's songwriting partner) contributing to the chorus.[2] This fragment was recorded as a demo by Sloan and Barri, submitted to CBS, and, to Sloan's surprise, picked as the show theme, which led to Sloan and Barri writing a full-length version of the song.[2] The original demo of the song used the "Danger Man" title, as shown by the surviving demo of the song, which Sloan sang.[3] When the show's title was changed, the lyrics were also changed. Ultimately, "High Wire" was also retained by CBS, as it played over the episode credits following the "Secret Agent" titles.

In 1965, surf rock band The Challengers recorded a version for their album The Man From U.N.C.L.E. that features vocal harmonies, horns, and vibraphone.[4] This would be the first commercial release of the song, though it was never released as a single and consequently didn't garner much attention.[5]

Sloan and Barri's publisher/producer, Lou Adler, also produced and managed Johnny Rivers, so Rivers was chosen to add the vocals for the TV show. Rivers claimed he came up with the opening guitar riff that was inspired by the "James Bond Theme",[6] although the lick is clearly heard on Sloan's demo version.[7] Chuck Day, the father of Mama Cass' daughter, also claims to have come up with the opening of Secret Agent Man.


Rivers's original recording was merely the show theme, with one verse and one chorus. Later, after the song gained in popularity, Rivers recorded it live, with two more verses, and the chorus repeated twice more. The live version was recorded in 1966 at the Whisky a Go Go, but not released until after a few studio production touch-ups were done by Adler shortly after. The song evokes secret agents both musically (making use of a memorable guitar riff) and through its lyrics (which describe the dangerous life of a secret agent). The lyric; "they've given you a number and taken away your name" referred to the numerical code names given to secret agents, as in "007" for James Bond, although it also acts as the (unintentional) setup to the "continuation" of Danger Man, the cult classic The Prisoner.[8]

Chart

Chart (1966) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] 78
Canada (RPM)[10] 4
Sweden (Kvällstoppen)[11] 19
Sweden (Tio i Topp)[12] 15
US Billboard Hot 100[13] 3
US Cash Box Top 100[14] 4
US Record World 100 Top Pops[15] 3

Personnel

Musicians

Technical

Other versions

The Ventures

"Secret Agent Man"
Single by The Ventures
from the album Play the Batman Theme
B-side"007-11"
Released1966
Genre
LabelDolton Records
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Joe Saraceno
The Ventures singles chronology
"Sleigh Ride"
(1965) 		"Secret Agent Man"
(1966) 		"Blue Star"
(1966)

Surf rock band the Ventures did an instrumental version for their 1966 album, Play the Batman Theme, which featured a few instrumental covers of themes from spy series. Released as the band's first single of 1966, it went to #54 in the US[16] and #82 in Canada,[17] and was on the charts concurrently with the Rivers version.

Devo

"Secret Agent Man"
Single by Devo
from the album Duty Now for the Future
B-side"Soo Bawlz", "Red Eye"
Released1979
Genre
Length3:37
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Ken Scott
Devo singles chronology
"The Day My Baby Gave Me a Surprize"
(1979) 		"Secret Agent Man"
(1979) 		"Girl U Want"
(1980)

In 1974, the song was recorded by Devo and again in 1979 on the Duty Now for the Future album with a jerky, heavily modified arrangement and significantly altered lyrics (sung by guitarist Bob Mothersbaugh).[18][19] The 1974 recording was featured as a music video in Devo's independent short film, In The Beginning Was The End: The Truth About De-Evolution.[20]

Bruce Willis

"Secret Agent Man / James Bond is Back"
Single by Bruce Willis
from the album The Return of Bruno
B-side"Lose Myself", "Under The Boardwalk"
ReleasedSeptember 1987
Genre
Length4:48
LabelMotown
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Robert Kraft[21]

Bruce Willis recorded a version for his 1987 album The Return of Bruno which rose to #43 on the UK charts.[22][23] Willis' version features introductory stock sounds and a new subtitle, "James Bond is Back".

Covers and adaptations

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Bang, Derrick (2 April 2020). Crime and Spy Jazz on Screen, 1950-1970: A History and Discography. McFarland. p. 139. ISBN 978-1-4766-6747-8. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b c P.F. Sloan. "P.F. Sloan: In His Own Words -- The Stories Behind the Songs". Archived from the original on 2013-05-02. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  3. ^ Matthew Greenwald. "Danger Man (Secret Agent Man)". Allmusic.com. Archived from the original on 2017-01-16. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  4. ^ "Secret Agent Man (From "Secret Agent Man")". YouTube. GNP Crescendo. Archived from the original on 2021-12-19. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Tracks on The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - The Challengers [US2] (1965) | SecondHandSongs". secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  6. ^ Clash, Jim. "Johnny Rivers Chats About His Big Hit, Secret Agent Man". Archived from the original on 2017-08-08.
  7. ^ haulofrecords (2016-07-17), P F Sloan - Danger Man - Secret Agent Man, archived from the original on 2018-02-21, retrieved 2017-10-18
  8. ^ Cornell, Paul; Day, Martin; Topping, Keith (July 30, 2015). The Classic British Telefantasy Guide. Orion Publishing Group. p. 14. ISBN 9780575133525. Archived from the original on February 21, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2016 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 253. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  10. ^ "RPM 100 - Week of April 25/1966" (PDF). Library and Archives Canada. Government of Canada. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  11. ^ Hallberg, Eric. (1993). Eric Hallberg presenterar Kvällstoppen i P 3 : Sveriges radios topplista över veckans 20 mest sålda skivor 10. 7. 1962-19. 8. 1975. Värmdö: Drift Musik. ISBN 91-630-2140-4. OCLC 165178200.
  12. ^ Hallberg, Eric, 1949- (1998). Eric Hallberg, Ulf Henningsson presenterar Tio i topp med de utslagna på försök 1961-74. Henningsson, Ulf, 1965-, Kristianstads boktr.) (1. uppl ed.). Stockholm: Premium. ISBN 91-972712-5-X. OCLC 186200204.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "Johnny Rivers Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  14. ^ "Cash Box TOP 100" (PDF). Cash Box (April 23, 1966): 4.
  15. ^ "100 Top Pops" (PDF). Record World (April 23, 1966): 15.
  16. ^ "The Ventures". Billboard. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  17. ^ Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "RPM 100, Week of April 21, 1966". www.bac-lac.gc.ca. Government of Canada. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  18. ^ Deming, Mark. "Duty Now for the Future - Devo". Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  19. ^ Feldman, Mark. "Duty Now For The Future". dailyvault.com. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  20. ^ Jones, Josh. "The Philosophy & Music of Devo, the Avant-Garde Art Project Dedicated to Revealing the Truth About De-Evolution | Open Culture". openculture.com. Open Culture. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  21. ^ "Bruce Willis - Secret Agent Man / James Bond Is Back". 45Cat. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  22. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Return of Bruno - Bruce Willis | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.Com. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  23. ^ "Secret Agent Man". www.officialcharts.com. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  24. ^ Yanow, Scott. "Right Now! - Mel Tormé | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  25. ^ "Et maintenant... (1966-mono) | Les Classels (in French)". www.disqu-o-quebec.com. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  26. ^ "Fono.fi - Äänitetietokanta (in Finnish)". www.fono.fi. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  27. ^ Jurek, Thom. "Hold On, I'm Coming - Art Blakey | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  28. ^ Murray, Noel. ""I was a teenage dinosaur, stoned and obsolete": The lure and lessons of Repo Man's soundtrack". The Dissolve. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  29. ^ Cook, Stephen. "Repo Man - Original Soundtrack | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  30. ^ Raggett, Ted. "When You Least Expect It... - Agent Orange | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  31. ^ Huey, Steven. "Then More Than Ever - Blotto | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  32. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Hittman - Hittman | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  33. ^ "The Bocephus Box [Capricorn] - Hank Williams, Jr. | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  34. ^ "Tony Montana - Vaaksa vaaraa". jaxsta.com. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  35. ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls [Music from the Motion Picture] - Original Soundtrack | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  36. ^ Greene, Jo-Ann. "Hard Band for Dead - The Toasters | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.Com. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  37. ^ Rabid, Jack. "Show & Tell: A Stormy Remembrance of TV Themes - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  38. ^ "Santa Sangre - Psychotic Aztecs | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  39. ^ "Cover versions of Secret Agent Man by Polysics | SecondHandSongs". secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  40. ^ "Cirith Ungol "Servants of Chaos" | Metal Blade Records". metalblade.com. Metal Blade Records. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  41. ^ Deming, Mark. "Hayley Sings - Rachel Macfarlane | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.Com. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
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