Bob wrote:
> "Secret Agent Man" HAS to be one of the coolest songs ever, along with "Peter
> Gunn". I guess the fact that Sloan wrote it explains why it has that wickedly
> cool surf guitar intro.
Apparently he originally wrote it as 15-second theme for the US
version of the British TV series 'Dangerman', performed by Johhny
Rivers. According to Sloan, "The Ventures, the genius guitar
instrumental group, heard the demo and recorded and released
the song way before Rivers even had a finished song." see
http://www2.gol.com/users/davidr/sloan/aboutsongs.html
As a 'covers slut', Bob, you'll be impressed that there have been
around 40 covers of the song in addition to Rivers and Devo - some
quite surprising - ie Bruce Willis, Hank Williams Jr, Willie Mitchell
(what ever happened to him? - I loved him as a teenager and bought
several of his singles - a bit like Junior Walker & The All Stars, who
I also loved), UK singer Twinkle (who I only remember for a song
called 'Terry' - a pale English version of the 'Leader of the Pack'
motorbike crash theme - vroom, vroom!! "Please wait at the gate of
heaven for me, Terryeeeee!), and Argentinian stars 'Barbra & Dick'
(Wally's probably got all their albums!!).
PaulC
PS Struggling for a Joni connection, I see Willie Mitchell now owns
a club on Beale Street
