The Man From U.N.C.L.E.   “Theme Song” b/w “The Vagabond” by the Gallants   (l-r)   Leo G. Carrol, Robert Vaughn (Napoleon Solo) and David McCallum (Illya Kuryakin)   The series which ran on NBC stations from 1964 – 1968 included contributions from James Bond creator Ian Fleming, Robert Towne (Chinatown) and Sci-fi author Harlan Ellison.   U.N.C.L.E. of course stands for the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement.   U.N.C.L.E.’s archenemy was a vast organization known as THRUSH.   The original series never explained what the acronym THRUSH stood for, but in several of the U.N.C.L.E. novels   it was expanded as the Technological Hierarchy for the Removal of Undesirables and the Subjugation of Humanity.   THRUSH’s aim was to conquer the world.     I learned about the cold war from watching TV like this.     (I’ll post the equally awesome “Girl from U.N.C.L.E.” album soon)

Here’s the soundtrack EP for Josephine Siao’s 1967 film The Golden Cat (飛賊金絲貓), another one of her sadly unavailable “Jane Bond” movies. (Pathe/EMI Records)   (China)     “Hear this at Soft Film and Explore the ephemeral past of Chinese entertainment from Hong Kong, the U.S.A., and around the world: vaudeville pioneers, flappers, aviatrices, burlesque dancers, hula hoopers, movie queens, sex bombs, jade girls, tomboys, pin-ups, sour beauties, girl jocks, swordswomen, and go-go girls.”

Shirley Bassey sings “Goldfinger” from the quintessential James Bond film of the same name from 1964.   Pictured is Sean Connery (the only real 007) with his trusty silencer.     This EP is from Mexico.

“Bullet”   Original Bollywood Soundtrack with music by RD Burman   Starring Dev Anand   EMI India (1976)

Shelly Manne & His Men Play More Music From Peter Gunn – Son Of Gunn !!   Contemporary Records (1959)

Joe Gordon (tp) Richie Kamuca (ts) Victor Feldman (vib,mar) Russ Freeman (p) Monty Budwig (b) Shelly Manne (d)

“Senor 007″   Ray Barretto   United Artists   (1965)   One of our favorite Ray Barretto albums of the 60s — a real gem from the pre-Latin Soul years! The album’s a clear attempt to cash in on the James Bond craze of the time — issued by United Artists, who were releasing the Bond films, but also had Ray under contract during the period too. But despite that simple gimmick, it’s a great little set — with a quality level that goes way beyond Bond soundtracks, or the usual from Barretto at the time! The tracks are all hard and groovy, with an excellent jazz feel — and some killer arranging from Ray that’s right up there with the work he did for his legendary Charanga Moderna album! You may recognize the song titles — but their versions here are superb, and the album’s filled with many many wonderful moments that step out with mad rhythms and great jazzy touches. Titles include “Mister Kiss Kiss Bang Bang”, “OO7″, “Search For Vulcan”, “Thunderball”, and “Goldfinger”. Nice “spy” shot of Ray on the cover, too!   — Dusty Groove

Thunderball, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. & Other Secret Agent. Design Records.

A French ep of early James Bond soundtrack music. Pye Records.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!” “Thunderball and Other Secret Agent Themes” Eliott fisher and His Orchestra.   Capitol Records.