Secret Agent Man (song)
Encyclopedia
"Secret Agent Man" is a song written by Steve Barri
and P. F. Sloan
. 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. The song itself peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100
.
's James Bond theme) and through its lyrics (which describe the dangerous life of a secret agent). In an unusual situation, due to the format of the series, the show's original British theme song, an instrumental entitled "High Wire", was actually retained as it was played over the episode credits following the "Secret Agent" titles. The lyric "They've given you a number and taken away your name" is a reference to the numerical code names given to secret agents, as in 007 for James Bond
. When it was originally recorded by Rivers, it merely had one verse and one chorus. Later, after the song began to gain 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 touchups were done shortly after.
had a minor contemporary hit with a cover in 1966, the same year Rivers released the song.
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
). 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
. The song was a favorite of Devo fans, entering the setlist in 1977 and remaining until 1980 (and returned to the band's setlist in 2006). This Devo cover was in turn covered by the Japan
ese band Polysics
in the 2000s.
A Spanish
version, "Hombre Secreto", recorded by The Plugz
, features on the soundtrack to the film Repo Man. "Secret Agent Man" was also covered by Bruce Willis
on his album The Return of Bruno
. The song opened with the sounds of a car door being opened and closed, footsteps, and a single gunshot. The original Johnny Rivers
version of the song was used in the film Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
as a nod to Danger Man. In 1978, Detroit MI-area punk-styled band Cinecyde recorded an aggressive but authentic cover version for their Black Vinyl Threat EP on Tremor Records, a recording later collected on their CD You Live A Lie You're Gonna Die.
The band Blotto
recorded a live version of the song in the mid-1980s, which was eventually released on their Then More Than Ever album in 1999.
Alvin and the Chipmunks
covered the song for the episode "The Chipmunk Who Bugged Me" from their TV series
.
The song was illegally used as the ending credits song on a NES pirate game in 1991.
In 1995, this song was played by Blues Traveler
in Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
, in a version which was faster than the original. In 2000, an updated version, recorded by Supreme Beings of Leisure
, was used for the opening credits of the UPN
series Secret Agent Man
. This led to some media coverage erroneously calling the series a remake of Danger Man/Secret Agent. This is one of the few songs that has been used for the opening credits of more than one unrelated series.
Performance artist Laurie Anderson
quoted the opening lines of the song in the title track of her 1982 album Big Science
. In fact, she misquoted them, altering 'There's a man...' to 'Here's a man...' and 'To everyone he meets he stays a stranger' to 'Everywhere he goes he stays a stranger'.
The 1987 Exidy
game "CrackShot" features the original version's opening riff (actual digitized sound) as background music for the "Police Alley" minigames.
This song was also covered by The Toasters
and included on the 1996 album Hard Band for Dead
.
The theme song to the cartoon Teen Titans
, performed by Puffy AmiYumi
, features the melody of "Secret Agent Man" -- minus the chorus—with different lyrics appropriate to the Teen Titans.
The song was played at the end of Bowfinger
, in the film-within-a-film where Bobby Bowfinger (Steve Martin
) plays a secret agent/action hero much like John Drake or James Bond, with Jiff Ramsey (Eddie Murphy
) playing his partner. When they are attacked by a group of ninjas, the songs segues into a cover version of "Kung Fu Fighting
".
In 2000, the song was featured on the soundtrack to the film The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle
. A new edition of the sheet music for the song featured a cover showing the characters from the film. The soundtrack for the film was composed by Mark Mothersbaugh
of Devo
, which famously covered the song.
It has also been covered by surf punk pioneers, Agent Orange
in 1984 on the When You Least Expect It EP.
Heavy metal band Cirith Ungol
covered the song on their Servants of Chaos compilation.
The Pagans
, a punk band from Cleveland, covered the song live and it appears as the B-side of the "Dead End America" 7" as well as on the "Live Road Kill" compilation.
The theme song for TUFF Puppy and Special Agent Oso
are parodies
version of this song.
The song has been adapted by Walmart for use in a previous TV commercial with the lyrics changed to "He's the rollback man."
In Phineas and Ferb
, Perry the Platypus
has his own version of this song.
On February 23, 2000, a Japanese cover by Secret Agent (including members such as Higashiyama Noriyuki, Nishikido Ryo, and other Johnny's Juniors) was released.
Steve Barri
Steve Barri is an American songwriter and record producer.Early in his career Barri was a staff writer with Dunhill Records. He frequently collaborated with P.F. Sloan, and the partners were responsible for the success of The Grass Roots and contributed largely to the band's first album...
and P. F. Sloan
P. F. Sloan
P.F. Sloan is an American pop-rock singer and songwriter. He was very successful during the mid-1960s, writing, performing and producing Billboard top 20 hits for artists such as Barry McGuire, Jan & Dean, Herman's Hermits, Johnny Rivers, The Grass Roots and the Mamas and the Papas...
. The most famous recording of the song was made by Johnny Rivers
Johnny Rivers
Johnny Rivers is an American rock and roll singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. His styles include folk songs, blues, and revivals of old-time rock 'n' roll songs and some original material...
for the opening titles of the American broadcast of the British spy series Danger Man
Danger Man
Danger Man is a British television series that was broadcast between 1960 and 1962, and again between 1964 and 1968. The series featured Patrick McGoohan as secret agent John Drake. Ralph Smart created the program and wrote many of the scripts...
, which aired in the U.S. as "Secret Agent" from 1964 to 1966. The song itself peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
History
The song evokes secret agents both musically (making use of a memorable guitar riff written by Chuck Day and inspired by Monty NormanMonty Norman
Monty Norman is a singer and film composer best known for being credited with composing the "James Bond Theme".-Biography:...
's James Bond theme) and through its lyrics (which describe the dangerous life of a secret agent). In an unusual situation, due to the format of the series, the show's original British theme song, an instrumental entitled "High Wire", was actually retained as it was played over the episode credits following the "Secret Agent" titles. The lyric "They've given you a number and taken away your name" is a reference to the numerical code names given to secret agents, as in 007 for James Bond
James Bond (character)
Royal Navy Commander James Bond, CMG, RNVR is a fictional character created by journalist and novelist Ian Fleming in 1953. He is the main protagonist of the James Bond series of novels, films, comics and video games...
. When it was originally recorded by Rivers, it merely had one verse and one chorus. Later, after the song began to gain 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
Whisky a Go Go
The Whisky a Go Go is a nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard, on the Sunset Strip.-History:...
, but not released until after a few studio production touchups were done shortly after.
Cover versions
Mel TorméMel Tormé
Melvin Howard Tormé , nicknamed The Velvet Fog, was an American musician, known for his jazz singing. He was also a jazz composer and arranger, a drummer, an actor in radio, film, and television, and the author of five books...
had a minor contemporary hit with a cover in 1966, the same year Rivers released the song.
In 1974, the song was recorded by Devo
Devo
Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
and again in 1979 on the Duty Now for the Future
Duty Now for the Future
-Compact disc releases:* The 1993 UK CD issue on Virgin paired this album with New Traditionalists and included Devo's cover of Allen Toussaint's "Working in the Coal Mine" from the movie Heavy Metal that was included in the original LP album release of New Traditionalists.* The 1995 US CD issue...
album with a jerky, heavily modified arrangement and significantly altered lyrics (sung by guitarist Bob Mothersbaugh
Bob Mothersbaugh
Robert Leroy "Bob" Mothersbaugh, Jr.,, or "Bob 1", is the lead guitar player and occasional vocalist for Devo and younger brother of lead vocalist Mark Mothersbaugh...
). The 1974 recording was featured as a music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
in Devo's independent short film, In The Beginning Was The End: The Truth About De-Evolution
The Truth About De-Evolution
The Truth About De-Evolution was the first music video for the band Devo, directed by Chuck Statler. Filmed in May 1976, it contains two separate songs: Secret Agent Man and Jocko Homo. It won First Prize at the Ann Arbor Film Festival in 1977, and was routinely screened before Devo live concerts...
. The song was a favorite of Devo fans, entering the setlist in 1977 and remaining until 1980 (and returned to the band's setlist in 2006). This Devo cover was in turn covered by the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese band Polysics
Polysics
is a Japanese new wave and rock band from Tokyo, who dubs its unique style as "technicolor pogo punk". It was named after a brand of synthesizer, the Korg Polysix. The band started in 1997, but got their big break in 1998 at a concert in Tokyo...
in the 2000s.
A Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
version, "Hombre Secreto", recorded by The Plugz
The Plugz
The Plugz were a Mexican-American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California that formed in 1977. They and The Zeros were among the first Chicano punk bands, although several Latino garage rock bands, such as Thee Midniters and Question Mark & the Mysterians, predated them...
, features on the soundtrack to the film Repo Man. "Secret Agent Man" was also covered by Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis
Walter Bruce Willis , better known as Bruce Willis, is an American actor, producer, and musician. His career began in television in the 1980s and has continued both in television and film since, including comedic, dramatic, and action roles...
on his album The Return of Bruno
The Return of Bruno (album)
The Return of Bruno is the debut album by actor Bruce Willis. Released by Motown in 1987, this album is an eclectic gathering of R&B music sung by Willis, with backing musicians including Booker T. Jones, Ruth Pointer and The Temptations...
. The song opened with the sounds of a car door being opened and closed, footsteps, and a single gunshot. The original Johnny Rivers
Johnny Rivers
Johnny Rivers is an American rock and roll singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. His styles include folk songs, blues, and revivals of old-time rock 'n' roll songs and some original material...
version of the song was used in the film Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery is a 1997 American science fiction/action-comedy film and the first film of the Austin Powers series. It was directed by Jay Roach and written by Mike Myers who also stars in the title role. Myers also plays Dr. Evil, Austin Powers' arch-enemy...
as a nod to Danger Man. In 1978, Detroit MI-area punk-styled band Cinecyde recorded an aggressive but authentic cover version for their Black Vinyl Threat EP on Tremor Records, a recording later collected on their CD You Live A Lie You're Gonna Die.
The band Blotto
Blotto (band)
Blotto was a rock band from Albany, New York which mixed music and humor. They were formed in 1979 out of the remains of the Star Spangled Washboard Band, a "post-hippie" comedy jugband. Blotto music was a sort of combination of New Wave and soul/R&B, but with comical songs. It began as basically a...
recorded a live version of the song in the mid-1980s, which was eventually released on their Then More Than Ever album in 1999.
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks
Alvin and the Chipmunks is an American animated music group created by Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. in 1958. The group consists of three singing animated anthropomorphic chipmunks: Alvin, the mischievous troublemaker, who quickly became the star of the group; Simon, the tall, bespectacled intellectual;...
covered the song for the episode "The Chipmunk Who Bugged Me" from their TV series
Alvin and the Chipmunks (TV series)
Alvin and the Chipmunks is an American animated television series featuring The Chipmunks, produced by Bagdasarian Productions in association with Ruby-Spears Enterprises from 1983–87, and DIC Entertainment from 1988-90....
.
The song was illegally used as the ending credits song on a NES pirate game in 1991.
In 1995, this song was played by Blues Traveler
Blues Traveler
Blues Traveler is a rock band, formed in Princeton, New Jersey in 1987. The band has been influenced by a variety of genres, including blues-rock, psychedelic rock, folk rock, soul, and Southern rock...
in Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls is the sequel to Ace Ventura: Pet Detective . Jim Carrey reprises his role as the title character Ace Ventura, a detective who specializes in retrieval of tame or captive animals. This is the only sequel to a film starring Carrey in which Carrey reprised his role...
, in a version which was faster than the original. In 2000, an updated version, recorded by Supreme Beings of Leisure
Supreme Beings of Leisure
Supreme Beings of Leisure are an electronic/trip-hop band from Los Angeles, California. Current members of SBL are Singer/Songwriter Geri Soriano-Lightwood and Multi-Instrumentalist/Programmer Ramin Sakurai...
, was used for the opening credits of the UPN
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
series Secret Agent Man
Secret Agent Man (TV show)
Secret Agent Man is a spy-fi television series that aired on UPN in 2000.The series, created by writer Richard Regen, starred Costas Mandylor as Monk, a gallivanting secret agent, who was one of a team of agents that included Holliday, played by Dina Meyer and Davis, played by Dondre Whitfield. The...
. This led to some media coverage erroneously calling the series a remake of Danger Man/Secret Agent. This is one of the few songs that has been used for the opening credits of more than one unrelated series.
Performance artist Laurie Anderson
Laurie Anderson
Laura Phillips "Laurie" Anderson is an American experimental performance artist, composer and musician who plays violin and keyboards and sings in a variety of experimental music and art rock styles. Initially trained as a sculptor, Anderson did her first performance-art piece in the late 1960s...
quoted the opening lines of the song in the title track of her 1982 album Big Science
Big Science (album)
Big Science is the 1982 debut album by avant-garde artist Laurie Anderson and the first of a 7-album deal she signed with Warner Bros. Records. It is best known for the 8-minute epic "O Superman", which reached #2 in the UK. The album is minimalist and monochrome in sound, and like a great deal of...
. In fact, she misquoted them, altering 'There's a man...' to 'Here's a man...' and 'To everyone he meets he stays a stranger' to 'Everywhere he goes he stays a stranger'.
The 1987 Exidy
Exidy
Exidy was one of the largest creators of arcade video games during the early period of video games, from 1974 until at least 1986 . The company was founded by H.R."Pete" Kauffman...
game "CrackShot" features the original version's opening riff (actual digitized sound) as background music for the "Police Alley" minigames.
This song was also covered by The Toasters
The Toasters
The Toasters was one of the first American bands in the third wave of ska, and is one of the longest active third wave ska bands.They have released nine studio albums, most of them on Moon Ska Records. The Toasters experienced a small degree of commercial success in the late 1990s due to the...
and included on the 1996 album Hard Band for Dead
Hard Band for Dead
- Track listing:# "2-Tone Army" - 3:19# "Talk Is Cheap" - 3:11# "Friends" - 2:56# "Secret Agent Man" - 2:40# "Chuck Berry" - 2:38# "Mouse" - 3:44# "Hard Man Fe Dead" - 3:05# "Don't Come Running" - 3:13# "Properly" - 2:44# "Maxwell Smart" - 1:58...
.
The theme song to the cartoon Teen Titans
Teen Titans (TV series)
Teen Titans is an American animated television series based on the DC Comics characters of the same name. The show was created by Glen Murakami, developed by David Slack, and produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It premiered on Cartoon Network on July 19, 2003, and the final episode "Things Change"...
, performed by Puffy AmiYumi
Puffy AmiYumi
or Puffy AmiYumi is a Japanese rock duo that is currently signed with Sony Music Japan. The group continues to go by the moniker of PUFFY in Japan, but in order to avoid legal naming conflicts with Sean Combs, it has adopted the name Puffy AmiYumi outside of Japan...
, features the melody of "Secret Agent Man" -- minus the chorus—with different lyrics appropriate to the Teen Titans.
The song was played at the end of Bowfinger
Bowfinger
Bowfinger is a 1999 comedy cult film directed by Frank Oz. It depicts a down-and-out filmmaker in Hollywood attempting to make a film on a small budget with a star who does not know that he is in the film...
, in the film-within-a-film where Bobby Bowfinger (Steve Martin
Steve Martin
Stephen Glenn "Steve" Martin is an American actor, comedian, writer, playwright, producer, musician and composer....
) plays a secret agent/action hero much like John Drake or James Bond, with Jiff Ramsey (Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy
Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician....
) playing his partner. When they are attacked by a group of ninjas, the songs segues into a cover version of "Kung Fu Fighting
Kung Fu Fighting
"Kung Fu Fighting" is a disco song written by Jim Brusatto and Vivian Hawke performed by Carl Douglas, and composed and produced by Biddu. It was released as a single in 1974, at the cusp of a chopsocky film craze, and eventually rose to the top of the British and American charts, in addition to...
".
In 2000, the song was featured on the soundtrack to the film The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle is a 2000 comedy film based on the television cartoon The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show by Jay Ward. The animated characters Rocky and Bullwinkle shared the screen with live actors portraying Fearless Leader , Boris Badenov , Natasha Fatale , and FBI agent Karen...
. A new edition of the sheet music for the song featured a cover showing the characters from the film. The soundtrack for the film was composed by Mark Mothersbaugh
Mark Mothersbaugh
Mark Allen Mothersbaugh is an American musician, composer, singer and painter. He is the co-founder of the new wave band Devo and has been its lead singer since 1972. His other musical projects include work for television series, films, and video games....
of Devo
Devo
Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
, which famously covered the song.
It has also been covered by surf punk pioneers, Agent Orange
Agent Orange (band)
Agent Orange is an American punk rock band formed in Orange County, California in 1979. The band is one of the first to mix punk rock with surf music. They first gained attention with their song "Bloodstains" which they released on their own 7" E.P. An early demo of the song was presented to...
in 1984 on the When You Least Expect It EP.
Heavy metal band Cirith Ungol
Cirith Ungol (band)
Cirith Ungol was a Californian heavy metal band who formed in 1972 and split up in May 1992. They drew influences from other metal groups such as Black Sabbath and Thin Lizzy, as well as Iggy and the Stooges...
covered the song on their Servants of Chaos compilation.
The Pagans
The Pagans
The Pagans were an early American punk rock band from Cleveland, Ohio that was originally active from 1977 to 1979 before briefly reforming in 1982 and disbanding the following year...
, a punk band from Cleveland, covered the song live and it appears as the B-side of the "Dead End America" 7" as well as on the "Live Road Kill" compilation.
The theme song for TUFF Puppy and Special Agent Oso
Special Agent Oso
Special Agent Oso is a current Disney Channel series created by Ford Riley. The program was originally part of the Playhouse Disney block intended for preschoolers...
are parodies
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
version of this song.
The song has been adapted by Walmart for use in a previous TV commercial with the lyrics changed to "He's the rollback man."
In Phineas and Ferb
Phineas and Ferb
Phineas and Ferb is an American animated television comedy series. Originally broadcast as a preview on August 17, 2007, on Disney Channel, the series follows Phineas Flynn and his English stepbrother Ferb Fletcher on summer vacation. Every day the boys embark on some grand new project, which...
, Perry the Platypus
Platypus
The platypus is a semi-aquatic mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. Together with the four species of echidna, it is one of the five extant species of monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young...
has his own version of this song.
On February 23, 2000, a Japanese cover by Secret Agent (including members such as Higashiyama Noriyuki, Nishikido Ryo, and other Johnny's Juniors) was released.