BURKE'S LAW SKA

Greetings Spy Vibers! As many of you know, music history looms large here in the Spy Vibe lair and one of my passions is looking at how Calypso and Ska reflected the Spy Boom in the 1960s. Even before Dr. No and Chris Blackwell's help to add the contemporary sounds of Jamaica to the aural landscape of 007, songwriters had been commenting on pop culture as they would on topical events of the day. I've dreamed of curating a compilation someday, though the legal side of such a project sounds daunting. In the meantime, we can share via Youtube (as links stay active) and help expose spy fans to some cool island classics. I've been deep into research and writing for my upcoming Spy Vibe book and one of the benefits has been catching a bit more of a few shows that I hadn't explored as fully in the past. One such program was Amos Burke Secret Agent, the espionage-focussed third season of Burke's Law (1963-1966. The revamped show followed the spy trend for the final 17 episodes to mostly good results, although Gene Barry did seem perhaps a bit old for the role by then. The series also helped spawn the Honey West series, after Anne Francis had portrayed West in a season two story called Who Killed the Jackpot? Also in 1965, Jamaican artist Prince Buster released a cool tune dedicated to Amos Burke, called It's Burke's Law, from the Blue Beat album It's Burke's Law (Jamaica Ska Explosion). Other tracks included Al Capone, Gun the Man Down, and a space-age tune called Trip to Mars. Not all songs from this genre featured story-related lyrics, and this is the case here with It's Burke's Law. Prince Buster established the theme at the top of the tune and then he and the band riffed (and scatted) through the groove. Check it out. Enjoy! Reminder to Spy Vibers in the UK: you can still catch the Warhol exhibit at the Tate, which has been extended into November. Related posts: Lupin Ska, James Bond Ska, Ranking Roger, Laika Calypso, Spy Dust Calypso, Selecter Bond, Pussy Galore Calypso, Island UNCLE, The Saint Rocksteady, Phantom Agents, 2-Tone Doc, Spy Vibe Radio: The Saint. 

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HONEY WEST: ANNE FRANCIS R.I.P.

Emma Peel of The Avengers wasn't the only female crime-fighter to slip into a black catsuit in 1965. Honey West, a character introduced in a series of novels by Skip and Gloria Fickling, was brought to life by actress Anne Francis. Francis first appeared as Honey in guest spots in Burke's Law (1963-1966), sparking the interest of ABC to develop 30 Honey West episodes. The show was produced by Aaron Spelling, who would go on to create another mystery/adventure with strong female roles, Charlie's Angels (1976-1981).


Honey West centered around a young woman who took over her father's detective agency and dished out justice with the aid of cool gadgets and a male side-kick (John Ericson). Although the production lacked the panache of The Avengers, some effort was made to create a stylish environment for the world of Honey West- the most memorable element being her exotic pet, a sleek ocelot! Actress Anne Francis (Forbidden Planet, Alfred Hitchcock, Man From U.N.C.L.E., Mission Impossible) passed away on January 2nd at the age of 80. Here are samples from Honey West, including an ABC promo introducing the show. More about Honey West at Thrilling Detective here and the Museum of Broadcast Communications here.