Every month I contribute a segment to the Cocktail Nation radio show from Australia, where I offer a brief introduction to an interesting corner of pop culture and play cuts from soundtracks. This month I decided to return to one of my top-two favorites -The Avengers- and to the world of post-war British jazz. I'm sure Spy Vibers are familiar with Laurie Johnson's theme to The Avengers TV series, which seemed to blend the Edwardian charm of John Steed with Emma Peel's mod energy, and helped to put the "swing" in Swinging London. But music from the earlier years of the series channeled a different time, when London was still buzzing to the riffs of modern jazzmen like George Webb and Trad stalwarts such as Chris Barber. Among this crowd was Johnny Dankworth, husband of Cleo Laine and leader of the first British jazz band invited to play at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1959 -incidentally, the year of Brubeck's Time Out, Ah Um by Mingus, Kind of Blue by Miles Davis, and the year Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club was founded. The late Fifties and early Sixties was an interesting transition period between the back alleys of film noir and trench-coat clad detectives to the more youthful and playful world of the spy boom. John Steed actor, Patrick Macnee, quipped the initial series was "more dirty Mac than Saville Row." Dankworth's theme to The Avengers was right on course with these trends, providing a more somber atmosphere to the first cast of characters (Steed, Dr. Keel, Cathy Gale, and singer Venus Smith). Viewers in the US didn't get to see this early period of The Avengers, but genre fans in the late Fifties would have recognized the jazz vibe from programs such as Peter Gunn and Johnny Staccato. Hear Dankworth's 1961 track in my segment on Cocktail Nation. Johnny Dankworth appeared in one of my favorite films, All Night Long (1962), a jazz interpretation of Shakespeare's Macbeth, starring Patrick McGoohan (The Prisoner), Richard Attenborough (The Great Escape), Geoffrey Holder (Live and Let Die), and with appearances by Dave Brubeck, Charles Mingus, John Scott (The Avengers, Goldfinger, Pink Panther), and many other music talents. Dankworth also went on to score the spy movies Modesty Blaise and Fathom. Enjoy! 

Selected related posts: New Avengers comics, Avengers Blu-ray sets, Diana Rig R.I.P., Umbrella Man, Shakespeare Spies Rigg, Rigg eBook, Avengers Season 5 Titles, Avengers Interview: Michael Richardson, Avengers Interview: Rodney Marshall I, Avengers Interview: Rodney Marshall II, Rare Avengers Scripts, Lost Avengers Released, Season 5 Blu-ray speed comparison, Jean Varon Fashion, Mini-Killers, Mrs. Peel Audio Dramas.

Greetings, Spy Vibers! A new school year starts again tomorrow. I'll be teaching my usual courses in filmmaking, photography, and drawing. Much of the summer was spent dealing with health stuff, but I did start a super fun dive into classic kung fu movies and comics. In addition to all the films streaming for free on Prime, I've been enjoying archival Blu-ray editions by distributors such as Arrow, Eureka, and 88 Films, plus the Marvel comic series, Master of Kung Fu (great for its run of Spy Vibe stories!). And the 4k editions of Bruce Lee's output just arrived at my doorstep, which I'm looking forward to checking out. Which all brings me to finally let Spy Vibers know about my latest episode on the Cocktail Nation radio show. Every month I contribute a short introduction to a classic film or show and play cuts from the score. Immersed as I've been in kung fu, I decided to dedicate my August segment to Roger Moore's second outing as James Bond in The Man with the Golden Gun. As I mention in the show, it's not going to be the top of anyone's best-of 007 list, but I think the film has some wonderful elements hiding underneath the cheap laughs and sometimes TV-movie appearance. First and foremost, Christopher Lee always makes a fantastic villain (he was also Ian Fleming's cousin!). And I think the film presents well overall during the scenes set in Asian locations. For younger readers, it's important to know that MWTGG was clearly tapping the kung fu craze sweeping the globe at the time. And landing within five months of Bruce Lee's death, it would be just one project in a tidal wave of martial arts media such as Bruceploitation films, kung fu comics and magazines, novelty songs, TV shows, and films making the rounds of grindhouse theaters everywhere. MWTGG isn't a great film, but I do think, within the context, it's a light-hearted and fun nod to what was happening at the time. More than that, John Barry's score for the movie has always been a favorite. With its mix of trad jazz and Asian nuances, I've always enjoyed the record for its mysterious and romantic atmosphere. You can check out my brief intro and hear a track over at Cocktail Nation. Lastly, I also want to note the sad passing this week of two Sixties artists, Alain Delon (le Samourai) and Peggy Moffitt (Blow Up, Who Are You, Polly Maggoo?). They were two of the most iconic and stylish faces of the period and inspired generations. 

Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Blu Baron, Joe 90 Blu, Man in a Suitcase Blu, ITC Book, Spy Vibe Radio: Dankworth Avengers, Mancini Book, Shinobi Blu, Exoticon 2, Spy Vibe Radio: Richard Diamond, Prisoner figures, Blu Manchu, Blu Prisoner, Byron Janis R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio: Blake and Mortimer, Champions Podcast, ITC Book, Bond Event, Black Tight Killers Blu, New Persuaders Book, David McCallum R.I.P., Avengers Blu Sets, Spy Vibe Radio: Adventures in Paradise, The Secret Service book, World of Giants, Tiki Events, Cold War Classical, Paul at 81, 007 Comic Exhibit, Exotikon Event, Bond 60th Event, The Baron Blu-ray, Mission: Impossible in 4k, Jane Bond Strip, SV Radio: The Man Called Flintstone, Lupin III 50th, SV Radio: OSS117, McCartney 1964, Spy Vibe Radio: Hunter, Spy Vibe Radio: Gao Dalli CID 999, Bond Beatles 60th, William Klein R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio: M Squad, Spy Vibe Radio: Mr. Broadway, Agent King, Spy Vibe Radio: John Kling, Spy Vibe Radio: Unknown Man of Shandigor, Danger Man Podcast, Spy Vibe Radio: Dr. Mabuse, Bowie Day, Interview: Girls Guns Gadgets, Shandigor Blu, Shag Palm Springs, New Bond Novel, Hi-Fi Book, Judex Serial Blu, UFO Comics, Interview: John Buss, ITC Magazine, Interview: Kaiser Marionettes, Belmondo R.I.P., 007 Corgi Event, Space 1999: The Vault, Shag Eames Lounge, Firecracker Exotica, Spy Vibe Radio: Lola Albright, Tikyaki 5-0, Godzilla Scores, Mid-Century Village, Spy Vibe radio: Nicola Conte, Men's Adventure Quarterly, Billy May Frenesi, Gary Numan, Spy Vader Spy, Chris Barber Legacy, Phantom Retrospective, Astro-Man, Spy Vibe Radio: Batman, James Bond Lexicon, Ray Cathode, Spy Vibe Radio: Johnny Staccato, Matt Helm Blu, Cold War Auction, Avengers Francavilla Prints, Avengers 60th Event, Irma Vep Blu, Avengers Keel Design, Ronnie Scott's Doc, The Avengers 60th Design, Art of Pan Books, John Le Carre R.I.P., Sean Connery R.I.P., New 007 Vinyl, Burke's Law Ska, Dieter Rams Complete, 2-Tone Doc, Spy Vibe Radio: Vendetta Part 2, Diana Rigg R.I.P., Moog Micky Dolenz, Beetle Bailey 70th, RSD Spies Vinyl, Ian Fleming Tribute, Fellini Box Set, Spy Vibe Radio: Vendetta, The Saint Podcast Bonus, The Saint Podcast, Barber Lotus, Trad Roots, Morricone R.I.P., Fleetway Spy Designs, John Steel Casebooks, ITC Podcast: The Persuaders, Dazzle Ships, Spy Vibe Radio: Raumpatrouille, Remembering Richard Sala, Crime & Spy Jazz books, Numan is FAB, Bruce Lee Blu, RSD Vinyl Spies, James Bond's DB5, UFO CD Set, Spy Vibe radio: Phantom Agents, Steranko is Revolutionary!, Interview: The Saint I Ain't, Diabolik Interview, New 007 Song, Diabolik Figures, Diabolik Sounds, Diabolik Set Design, Diabolik Park Ride, Danger Diabolik Blu, Count Arthur Strong, Honey West Title Cards, Bowie Day, Neil Innes R.I.P., Claudine Auger R.I.P., OHMSS at 50, Italian Job 50th OST, Charles Schulz Modern, Paul Desmond, Python 50th, Randall Hopkirk 50th, Thunderbirds Day, Lazenby Returns to MI6, Dr. John R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio: Lupin III, Lupin Ska, Spy Vibe Prime, Zigomar Translation, The Village: Part 1

Greetings, Spy Vibers! It's been a busy season for me teaching filmmaking, photography, and drawing once again. My latest episode on the Cocktail Nation radio show went live at the beginning of the month and I'm finally adding a post here so Spy Vibers can check it out. Every month I contribute a short introduction to a classic film or show and play cuts from the score. Immersed as I've been lately in kung fu movies, I devoted August to Roger Moore's second outing as James Bond in The Man with the Golden Gun. And when September came around it was natural to then turn my attention to that greatest icon of the martial arts world, Bruce Lee! Lee was born in San Francisco in 1940 and raised in Hong Kong. A child actor, student of Wing Chun master Ip Man, and a scrappy fighter with a talent for getting into trouble, Lee went to the States at nineteen to study and straighten out his life. With a dream of creating a national chain of kung fu schools, Lee was active in public demonstrations of martial arts, which eventually caught the attention of Hollywood. Producer William Dozier had plans to make a James Bond-style television series loosely based on Charlie Chan, called Number One Son, and Lee was lined up as the star. But as we now know, Dozier's Batman became the priority and Lee found himself in development hell. Number One Son fell through, but Green Hornet was in! Although not a great starring role -Lee's "Kato" was essentially a traditional Hollywood house-boy role with added action scenes- but his charisma on screen was inescapable. The series only lasted a season. By the early 1970s Lee was once again back in Hong Kong and building what would be his great, albeit brief, career in major action films. My focus for the radio show was Enter the Dragon, Lee's last completed film, which mixed his blinding-speed abilities with a story about a British intelligence mission to thwart an evil mastermind with an island lair. Sadly, Lee passed away just shortly before the film's debut; actor George Lazenby (On Her Majesty's Secret Service) was waiting to meet him at a restaurant to discuss their new project, but Lee never arrived. During his US career, Lee taught stars such as James Coburn (Our Man Flint) and he worked as an action coach for various projects, including the Matt Helm spy flick, The Wrecking Crew. Apparently he also liked to work out to the music from TV's Mission: Impossible, so it was a cool bonus that Enter the Dragon was scored by Lalo Schifrin. You can hear my brief intro and a cut from the soundtrack here. Spy Vibers who are interested in spending more time in this Spy-Fu world should also check out the great run of Marvel's 1970s comic, Master of Kung Fu, by Doug Munch and Paul Gulacy. It's out of print, but I recommend volume #2 of the Epic Collection (see below). You'll love it! And if you have nostalgia for the UK poster magazine, Kung Fu Monthly, check out b&w archive editions on Amazon and color editions at Kung Fu Monthly. By sheer coincidence, just this morning, the city of Oakland officially renamed a street Bruce Lee Way to commemorate an early martial arts school he founded there. Spy Vibers visiting the Bay Area can also check out a cool Bruce Lee exhibit at the Chinese Historical Society. Great to see his legacy celebrated! 

Selected Spy Vibe Posts: Arabesque 4k, 60s Hong Kong Spies Blu-ray, Spy Vibe Radio: Man with the Golden Gun, Blu Baron, Joe 90 Blu, Man in a Suitcase Blu, ITC Book, Spy Vibe Radio: Dankworth Avengers, Mancini Book, Shinobi Blu, Exoticon 2, Spy Vibe Radio: Richard Diamond, Prisoner figures, Blu Manchu, Blu Prisoner, Byron Janis R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio: Blake and Mortimer, Champions Podcast, ITC Book, Bond Event, Black Tight Killers Blu, New Persuaders Book, David McCallum R.I.P., Avengers Blu Sets, Spy Vibe Radio: Adventures in Paradise, The Secret Service book, World of Giants, Tiki Events, Cold War Classical, Paul at 81, 007 Comic Exhibit, Exotikon Event, Bond 60th Event, The Baron Blu-ray, Mission: Impossible in 4k, Jane Bond Strip, SV Radio: The Man Called Flintstone, Lupin III 50th, SV Radio: OSS117, McCartney 1964, Spy Vibe Radio: Hunter, Spy Vibe Radio: Gao Dalli CID 999, Bond Beatles 60th, William Klein R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio: M Squad, Spy Vibe Radio: Mr. Broadway, Agent King, Spy Vibe Radio: John Kling, Spy Vibe Radio: Unknown Man of Shandigor, Danger Man Podcast, Spy Vibe Radio: Dr. Mabuse, Bowie Day, Interview: Girls Guns Gadgets, Shandigor Blu, Shag Palm Springs, New Bond Novel, Hi-Fi Book, Judex Serial Blu, UFO Comics, Interview: John Buss, ITC Magazine, Interview: Kaiser Marionettes, Belmondo R.I.P., 007 Corgi Event, Space 1999: The Vault, Shag Eames Lounge, Firecracker Exotica, Spy Vibe Radio: Lola Albright, Tikyaki 5-0, Godzilla Scores, Mid-Century Village, Spy Vibe radio: Nicola Conte, Men's Adventure Quarterly, Billy May Frenesi, Gary Numan, Spy Vader Spy, Chris Barber Legacy, Phantom Retrospective, Astro-Man, Spy Vibe Radio: Batman, James Bond Lexicon, Ray Cathode, Spy Vibe Radio: Johnny Staccato, Matt Helm Blu, Cold War Auction, Avengers Francavilla Prints, Avengers 60th Event, Irma Vep Blu, Avengers Keel Design, Ronnie Scott's Doc, The Avengers 60th Design, Art of Pan Books, John Le Carre R.I.P., Sean Connery R.I.P., New 007 Vinyl, Burke's Law Ska, Dieter Rams Complete, 2-Tone Doc, Spy Vibe Radio: Vendetta Part 2, Diana Rigg R.I.P., Moog Micky Dolenz, Beetle Bailey 70th, RSD Spies Vinyl, Ian Fleming Tribute, Fellini Box Set, Spy Vibe Radio: Vendetta, The Saint Podcast Bonus, The Saint Podcast, Barber Lotus, Trad Roots, Morricone R.I.P., Fleetway Spy Designs, John Steel Casebooks, ITC Podcast: The Persuaders, Dazzle Ships, Spy Vibe Radio: Raumpatrouille, Remembering Richard Sala, Crime & Spy Jazz books, Numan is FAB, Bruce Lee Blu, RSD Vinyl Spies, James Bond's DB5, UFO CD Set, Spy Vibe radio: Phantom Agents, Steranko is Revolutionary!, Interview: The Saint I Ain't, Diabolik Interview, New 007 Song, Diabolik Figures, Diabolik Sounds, Diabolik Set Design, Diabolik Park Ride, Danger Diabolik Blu, Count Arthur Strong, Honey West Title Cards, Bowie Day, Neil Innes R.I.P., Claudine Auger R.I.P., OHMSS at 50, Italian Job 50th OST, Charles Schulz Modern, Paul Desmond, Python 50th, Randall Hopkirk 50th, Thunderbirds Day, Lazenby Returns to MI6, Dr. John R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio: Lupin III, Lupin Ska, Spy Vibe Prime, Zigomar Translation, The Village: Part 1, Monkey Punch R.I.P., Bubble Girl 63, ITC Soundtracks, Full Article