Espionage!

In this latest theme episode, we surveil three songs by sneaky guys from two different Cold War eras. First, we stake out “Secret Agent Man” -- the 1966 hit by Johnny Rivers (1:54). Wherein he reveals the lonely but glamorous life of a spook, and we decode the spy scene and sound of the 60s. It’s a surf-spy-hootenanny! Our next asset is “Wild Angel” by James Bond and the Agents (54:55): not about the spy game per se, but the band’s alias is apropos, so let’s go!. This “Back From the Grave” classic features fuzz, great backing vocals, fuzz, clanging percussion, a cool solo, fuzz, and lyrics that reverse garage tropes. Is it a honeytrap? Then, a communique from the 80s arrives in the guise of “A View To a Kill” by Duran Duran (1:25:55).  An actual Bond theme, and we read the dossier on the band and relive the famous sour note sung by Simon Le Bon in 1985. Get shaken, not stirred!