RSD VINYL SPIES

New releases: Record Store Day titles have just been announced and there are a few items listed that will interest Spy Vibers. If you haven't heard of Record Store Day, RSD is basically a biannual happening where local music shops carry limited-edition pressings made especially for the events. It's been a great way to support local businesses and to get hard-to-find music into the hands of collectors. Stores will put the inventory out for sale on April 18th, often starting early in the morning, and RSD releases are usually either limited to small editions or have some quality not found in wider releases that (can, but not always) sometimes follow. So if you spot something you really want, it's a good idea to arrive early! Browsing the list, I spied five titles to recommend to our readers: The first is actually similar to a compilation I've been really wanting to produce myself (hey, music distributors, let's collaborate!): Soul Jazz Records has put together a compilation of spy-related Ska tunes (I could curate a collection three times the content!) called Soul Jazz Records Presents 007: License to Ska!. What makes this especially neat for collectors is that it will be released as five 7" singles (limited to 1,000!). Very cool, as the original 45s are very hard to track down! Three recommendations are a trio of Austin Powers soundtracks making their first appearance on vinyl! The debut, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, will be a 2LP set (limited to 1,500), while the others, The Spy Who Shagged Me and Goldmember, will be single LPs (editions of 3,000). And for UK collectors, check out Kiss Kiss Bang Bang: Double pack coloured vinyl 7" 4-track compilation of covers of the James Bond themes of Dame Shirley Bassey. Indie heroes pay tribute to Bond and Bassey. David Gedge (the Wedding Present) teams up with Louise Wener (Sleeper) on the unused Thunderball theme; Mr Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. The Left Outsides provide an atmospheric, pastoral, psychedelic take on Diamonds Are Forever. Darren Hayman (Hefner) re-imagines Goldfinger with his own chorus of Bond girls. DJ Downfall and Theoretical Girl's icy cool synthpop Moonraker will please fans of Ladytron, Black Box Recorder and Flying Lizards. RSD editions can sometimes be available on-line after the event, but it's best not to count on ordering; better to support your shops. Also, remember that with limited numbers, many shops will not receive all of the titles. And a warning: eBay prices are usually outrageously inflated. Anyway, fun tunes coming! Let me know if you pick anything up and how it sounds. Enjoy!

Selected Spy Vibe Posts: 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, New Year Cosmonauts, 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, Spy Vibe Radio: Public Eye, UFO Prime, Spaceship to Mars, Modesty Blaise Companion, Spy Vibe Radio: Fantomas, George Day, Fantomas Blu, Dark Shadows Doc, Bedazzled Blu-ray, Mary Quant Exhibit, Laika Calypso, Lost in Space Japan, Spy Dust Calypso, Atomic Cafe, John Barry Mono, Interview: John Barry Book, Land of the Giants Score, Skyfall Concert, Dearest Emma, Spy Vibe Radio: Upperseven, Ogilvy at Elstree, Mabuse Propaganda, Bond Beatles Day, Spy Vibe Radio: Liquidator, Diabolik LP, Fab Dresses, Eurospy Music Collection, Beetle Bailey in West Berlin, Why Mort Walker?, Spy Vibe radio: The Beatles Help!, Avengers Critical Guide, The Spotnicks, Benny Spies, James Pond 0017', Satire Stones, Annette Andre Book, Cat Day, Spy Vibe Radio: Get Smart, Caine: My Generation, Interview: Ian Ogilvy, Horror of Party Beach, Sylvie Vartan Renown, Ringo At 78, Dark Shadows Strips, Spy Vibe Radio: Flint, Archie Batman 66, Paul at 76, Beatles Pac-Man, Spy Vibe Radio: Jerry Cotton, The Invaders, 007 Horowitz Book Tour, McGoohan/Prisoner Event at Elstree, The Prisoner Interviews Vol 1, British Underground Press, Interview: Fab4 Mania, Bond Cocktail Book, Bond at Bletchley, Spy Smasher, Spy Vibe Radio: Peter Gunn, Agent Zero M, New Prisoner Comic, Dr. No Villains Edition, Spy Vibe Radio: Danger Diabolik, Dr. No 60th, Oy-Oy-Seven, Spy Vibe Radio (UFO), Cold War Comic Strips, Thunderball Event, Mission to India, Mort Walker Celebration, Peter Wyngarde Celebration, Batman 66 Exhibit, Prisoner Fifty Event, Ian Fleming Publications 2017-2018, Interview: Ed Hulse Pulp, Avengers Audio Drama, Interview: Callan At 50, Interview: Playboys, Spies, Private Eyes, TWA Returns, Spy Vibe Radio 8, Interview: Ryan Heshka, Mid-Century Modern Schulz, Agent Werewolf, Johnny Sokko 50th, Interview: Trina Robbins, Eddie Izzard, The Prisoner Capt Scarlet 50th, Hugh Hefner R.I.P., Jack Good R.I.P., Interview: Shaken Not Stirred, Callan 50th, Spy Vibe Radio 7, The Prisoner 50th Event, Spy-Fi Event, Kaho Aso 007, Two Million, Bo Diddley, Carnaby Pop, Le Carre Events, Billy Bragg Skiffle, Elvis 68, Jack Kirby The Prisoner, Casino Royale Concert, Review: The Prisoner Vol 2, Interview: The Prisoner Essential Guide, Maud Russell Mottisfont, Spy Vibe Radio 4, Batman Gallants, Adam West R.I.P., Village Triangle, Roger Moore R.I.P., Spy Vibe Radio 3, Sgt Pepper 50th, Satanik Kriminal OST, 60s Overdrive, Make Love in London, Spy Vibe Radio 2, Spy Vibe Radio 1, James Bond Strips, Propaganda Mabuse, Interview: Police Surgeon, XTC Avengers, 1966 Pep Spies, Batman Book Interview, Exclusive Fleming Interview, Avengers Comic Strips, Robert Vaughn RIP, UNCLE Fashions, Thunderbirds Are Pop!, Interview: Spy Film Guide, Lost Avengers Found, The Callan File, Mission Impossible 50th, Green Hornet 50th, Star Trek 50th, Portmeirion Photography 1, Filming the Prisoner, Gaiman McGinnins Project, Ian Fleming Grave, Revolver at 50, Karen Romanko Interview, Mod Tales 2, Umbrella Man: Patrick Macnee, New Beatles Film, The Curious Camera, Esterel Fashion 1966, Exclusive Ian Ogilvy Interview, 007 Tribute Covers, The Phantom Avon novels return, Ian Fleming Festival, Argoman Design, Sylvia Anderson R.I.P., Ken Adam R.I.P., George Martin R.I.P., The New Avengers Comics, The Phantom at 80, 007 Manga, Avengerworld Book, Diana Rigg Auto Show, The Prisoner Audio Drama Review.

DEAN MARTIN

Dean Martin was born on this day in 1917. The crooner/actor is best remembered by Spy Vibers for his role as Matt Helm in the film series from the 1960s. Based on the popular novels by Donald Hamilton, Martin portrayed the character in four films: The Silencers (1966), Murderer's Row (1966), The Ambushers (1967), and The Wrecking Crew (1969). Noted by Mike Myers as an inspiration for Austin Powers, Martin's Matt Helm played up the camp and swinging 60's conventions that were being established during the spy boom. His gadgets included a revolving bed that tipped him into a giant bath and mini-bars stashed in every location he might frequent (including his car). One of my favorite elements of the films is the use of experimental and mod fashion. The audience is often treated to a fashion shoot with models dressed in imaginative (and revealing) outfits, and female spies sometimes get to wear gun bras ("booby traps," quips Martin) ala Mike Myers' fembots. Simply put, the movies are a hoot! Happy birthday Dean Martin! What a lovely voice and legacy of laughs and classic recordings.

I have a spy novel coming out. Get ready to meet MIKI ZERO, a Japanese fashion model and spy from 1965! Stay tuned and follow Spy Vibe by clicking the Follow link at top right of this page.

Check Spy Vibe for recent posts about our fiendish villains archive, Cold War Comics, Sam Mendes back for Bond, Spy Vibe heroes and Wild Things, book design dopplegangers, Christopher Lee, Bettie Page, Dashiell Hammett, Miles Davis, WWII spy Krystyna Skarbek, recycled James Bond covers, interview with Fu Manchu author William Maynard,  Man From UNCLE manga. new James Bond omnibus, Orson Welles the Shadow, rare Piero Umiliani Kriminal soundtrack, new Beatles Yellow Submarine game, James Bond audio book re-issues, Mid-Century Modern in Peanuts, Ralph Byrd Dick Tracy, my review of SKYFALL and more. Spy Vibe is now on Pinterest! Check out our image archives and follow us here.

Ian Fleming on Spy Vibe: recent posts include Fleming birthday tribute, Ian Fleming Music Series links: Noel Coward, Whispering Jack Smith, Hawaiian Guitar, Joe Fingers Carr, new Ian Fleming Catalog, discovery of one of Ian Fleming's WWII Commandos, James Bond book covers, Ian Fleming's Playboy interview for Kindle, Spy Vibe's discovery of a rare Ian Fleming serialization, Fleming's Royal gold typewriter, Ian Fleming's memorial address, and our Ian Fleming image archive link here.

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Austin Powers Sale- ended

AUSTIN POWERS SALE TODAY- ended
The Austin Powers box set is in Amazon's gold box today. Between the over-the-top gags, Spy Vibers will enjoy nods to Jason King, 007 and Blofeld, The Avengers, Flint, Matt Helm, Casino Royale, Kommissar X/Joe Walker, The 10th Victim, Thomas Crown Affair, and more. Great deals on DVD and Blu-ray editions of these now classics spy spoofs from Mike Meyers. See the Spy Vibe website for video clips. Best, agent J