Devo – “Secret Agent Man” (1979) Review | Take Me to the (Johnny) Rivers
Kronomyth 2.2: Security clearance (I can’t get no).
Devo’s mutated cover version of Secret Agent Man, a song popularized by Johnny Rivers in 1966, has its origins in the band’s mid-Seventies performances. A more polished version appeared on the band’s second album, Duty Now for the Future, and was released as a single in what was probably an attempt on the label’s part to duplicate the success of “Satisfaction.” It’s more “Rock Lobster” than Rolling Stones, a novelty with a knife. Also worth noting are the lyrics; Devo’s version differs almost completely from the original lyrics. Mark Mothersbaugh appears to be responsible for the new arrangement and lyrics, although it’s his brother, Bob Mothersbaugh, who sings the lead vocals. Different markets got different B sides: in the U.S., it was the album track Red Eye, in Japan, The Day My Baby Gave Me a Surprize (Japan wins) and, in the UK, the nonalbum track Soo-Bawlz made its first official appearance. All three Bs are manic numbers with sexual innuendo. These days, you can find all three on the expanded edition of Duty Now for the Future.
The Product
A1. Secret Agent Man (P.F. Sloan/Steve Barri) (3:32)
B1. Red Eye (Mark Mothersbaugh/Gerald V. Casale) (2:49)
Original 7-inch single version (Europe)
A1. Secret Agent Man (P.F. Sloan/Steve Barri/Mark Mothersbaugh) (3:32)
B1. Soo-Bawlz (Mark Mothersbaugh) (2:23)
Original 7-inch single version (Japan)
A1. Secret Agent Man (P.F. Sloan/Steve Barri) (3:35)
B1. The Day My Baby Gave Me a Surprize (Mark Mothersbaugh) (2:41)
The Plastic
Released on 7-inch single on July 18, 1979 in the US (Warner Bros., WBS 49028), the UK (Virgin, VS 280), Germany (Virgin, 100 861-100) and Japan (Warner Bros., P-430W) with regional picture sleeve.
