That name on the tip of your lips is Patrick McGoohan and his opening line in the British series (1960-62) “Danger Man” was:  “Every government has its secret service branch. America – CIA; France – Deuxième Bureau; England – MI5. NATO also has its own. A messy job?  Well that’s when they usually call on me, or someone like me. Oh yes, my name is Drake, John Drake.”

“Danger Man” was broadcast two years prior to the first Bond film, “Dr. No” (McGoohan actually turned down the role of “Bond, James Bond”) and later became internationally known as “Secret Agent Man” (1964-66), with McGoohan’s character becoming, later still, “The Prisoner” (1967-68).

It was in 1963 when “Danger Man” was slated to be broadcast in the States as “Secret Agent Man” the following year, that 21 year-old Johnny Rivers was asked to record the theme song, written by Steve Barri and P. F. Sloan.  At first the singer song-writer (born John Henry Ramistella in New York and raised in Louisiana) balked at the idea, feeling that he didn’t have sufficient talent to make a record on an international label.  But common sense prevailed and the recording was a hit. A few years later, in 1966, Johnny Rivers recorded a live version at ‘Whisky A Go Go’ in Hollywood, which sold more than a million copies, achieving gold disc status and reaching Number 3 on the Billboard charts.  Ready now for your number?

TODAY’S SONG – Friday 24 February 2012

Secret Agent Man

There’s a man who leads a life of danger

To everyone he meets he stays a stranger

With every move he makes, another chance he takes

Odds are he won’t live to see tomorrow

Secret Agent Man

Secret Agent Man

They’ve given you a number

And taken away your name

 Beware of pretty faces that you find

A pretty face can hide an evil mind

Oh, be careful what you say

You’ll give yourself away

Odds are you won’t live to see tomorrow

Secret Agent Man

Secret Agent Man

They’ve given you a number

And taken away your name

Secret Agent Man

Secret Agent Man

They’ve given you a number

And taken away your name

Swingin’ on the Riviera, one day

And then layin’ in the Bombay alley next day

Oh no, you let the wrong words slip, while kissing persuasive lips

The odds are you won’t live to see tomorrow

Secret Agent Man

Secret Agent Man

They’ve given you a number

And taken away your name