If your vibe is groovy spy soundtracks from the 1960s, then get ready to dust off your record player! Network UK continues their music line with the upcoming release of The Prisoner and Gideon's Way (Edwin Astley) pressed on 180gram "virgin" vinyl. The soundtracks are being transferred from the original analog tape elements at AIR Studios by John Weber and Ray Staff (Muse, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin). Collectors take note! The Prisoner will be available in two editions: black vinyl in gatefold sleeve (1,000 copies) and white vinyl presented in an overprinted transparent sleeve (500 copies). More info at Network. In addition, Network is celebrating the new releases by running a huge sale on soundtrack LPs and CD box sets (up to 55% off!). Titles include Man in a Suitcase, Randall and Hopkird (Deceased), The Champions, Danger Man, Department S, Jason King, The Prisoner, The Protectors, The Saint, and more! Sale ends March 2nd. Item list here. Enjoy! Spy Vibe's 2013 announcement of Network's LP line here.
Happy Birthday to Federico Fellini! Born on this day in 1920, Fellini transitioned through the Italian Neo-Realism movement to revolutionize cinema by freely weaving memory, dream, and fantasy into film narrative. Essential works: La Strada, La Dolce Vita, 8 1/2, Juliet of the Spirits, Amarcord. Below: the director on the set of 8 1/2 (1963). Images by photographer Tazio Secchiaroli.
Spy Vibe's sister site, Illustrated 007, shares our great love for foreign editions of James Bond novels. It's endlessly fascinating to see how book designers around the globe have tried to capture Ian Fleming's adventures for their readers. Peter at Illustrated 007 recently posted an assortment of original cover designs from Thailand that are worth checking out. The hardcover edition below of Fleming's short-story collection, For Your Eyes Only, adopted graphics originally made to promote the film, From Russia With Love. I enjoy the way the colors and text/image layout, with overlapping and crude borders, evokes a kind of layering of vintage advertisements on a wall- I can almost feel the humidity of a 1960s night in Bangkok! Also below: Diamonds Are Forever, Dr No, From Russia With Love, and Goldfinger. Illustrated 007 link here. Here are some related Spy Vibe posts about book designs: Bond Danish, Bond Japanese Editions, Double 007 Designs, Buku Rocket Designs SE Asia, Double 007 Designs II, The 10th Victim: German Edition, Man From UNCLE Japanese Editions, UNCLE & Batman Manga, The 10th Victim Japanese Edition, Rare Ian Fleming found. Enjoy!
Sad news in the Spy Vibe world this week. Brian Clemens, writer and producer of The Avengers, and co-creator of The New Avengers and The Professionals, has passed away at age 83. Born in 1931, Clemens published his first short story at age 12 before bringing his uncanny talent for storytelling to a host of iconic shows like Man From Interpol, The Sentimental Agent, The Protectors, Adam Adamant Lives!, The Baron, The Champions, The Persuaders, The Adventurer, and Father Dowling Mysteries. He even co-wrote the pilot episode for Patrick McGoohan's Danger Man, View From the Villa, in 1960. His many film credits include Mission to Morocco, See No Evil, Dr. Jekyll & Sister Hyde, The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, Captain Kronos- Vampire Hunter, and Highlander II: The Quickening. According to his son, Samuel, one of the last things Clemens did before he died was watch The Avengers, reflecting, "I did quite a good job." Brian did indeed, and his legacy lives on in his work. His 1961 pilot episode for The Avengers, Hot Snow, introduced the world to a mysterious agent named John Steed, who would go on to work with a number of companion characters, including Cathy Gale, Mrs. Emma Peel, and Tara King. Hot Snow was adapted into an audio drama by Big Finish last year. The Avengers series has been compiled in a number of DVD and Blu-ray sets. Check your region's vendors for more information. My own introduction to the spy genre was through Brian Clemens. Long before I heard of James Bond, James West, or Jim Phelps, Steed and Mrs Peel established my template for "cool" with his vision of eccentric spies saving the world in style. I owe so much to him. Learn more: George and Samuel Clemens talk to Roberto Perrone on BBC about their father here (starts at 1:32:30), Tribute page on Facebook here. Brian Clemens chats with the BBC about his career below.
