So's Your U.N.C.L.E.

As a longtime kid from U.N.C.L.E., I'm also a member of the Inner Circle.  Bob Short, who worked on the RETURN movie and a zillion other spiffy things, has presented to us a fan film from 1970, made by some of the first-generation cousins.

This "Thrush Training Film" uses many actual series props, because the filmmakers bought those props from a studio sale.  What a lot of fun!

And here's a map by Bob of various location on the lot, created for THE GOLDEN AFFAIR, the fiftieth anniversary celebration.

Spy on, cousins!
  

Other U.N.C.L.E.s

Here are my other three comps of music from and about The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

MA-67 - U.N.C.L.E. Themes A-Go-Go

01. Man from U.N.C.L.E. Promo - NBC, 1965 (0:14)  

02. Harlem Shuffle (live) - Open Channel D (5:25)  1983

03. Twiggy Twiggy - Pizzicato Five (4:08)  1991

04. Lucid Dream - Meat Beat Manifesto (2:12)  1996

05. Une Very Stylish Fille - Dimitri from Paris (3:17)  1996

06. Dirty Larry - Dimitri from Paris (7:25)  1996

07. The Legend of the Man from U.N.C.L.E. - Paula and the Jetliners (2:14)  1966

08. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - The Ventures (1:46)  1966

09. Illya Kuryakin - Bobby Ellis & The Crystalites (3:20)  1967

10. Napoleon Solo - The Jokers (2:40)  1967

11. The Man from Thrush - Parris Mitchell Strings with Brass (2:36)  1967

12. Illya's Walk - Wyncote Records (1:59)  1967

13. The Thrush Tune - Wyncote Records (2:26)  1967

14. Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E. Promo - CBS, 1983 (0:29)

15. April Dancer - Birdmen of Alkatraz (2:59)  1989

16. The Rock from U.N.C.L.E. - Doctor QE (2:48)  1994

17. My Friend Illya - The Ulterior Motive Orchestra (2:53)  1996

18. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - Santiago Tamura (2:53)  1998

19. The April Dancer Affair - The Monochrome Set (4:23)  1999

20. Napoleon Solo - The Specials (3:07)  2000

21. The Man From U.N.C.L.E. - The Illuminoids (2:53)  2007

22. A Martini Built For Two (live) - Robert Bruce and the Mellowtones (3:41)  2008

23. Meet Mr. Solo (live) - Robert Bruce and the Mellowtones (2:14)  2008

24. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - Revolution for Dogs (2:38)  2008

25. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (live) - Tokyo Sexwhale (1:38)  2009

26. The Case of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - The Vulcans (1:43)  2011

27. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - Robert Short (2:07)  2012

MA-69 - Final Themes from U.N.C.L.E.

01. The Man from Thrush - The Clee-Shays (2:00)   1965

02. The Spy - The Guys from U.N.C.L.E. (2:31)   1966

03. Man from America (Medley: Theme from Man from U.N.C.L.E. - America) - The Ring (7:03)   1980

04. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - The Times (5:14)   1985

05. Illya Kuryakin Looked at Me - Cleaners from Venus (2:58)   1987

06. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - London Theatre Orchestra (2:36)   1996

07. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - TV21 (3:24)   1998

08. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - Johnny Pearson and His London Orchestra (2:04)   1999

09. Agent for Love - Girls from U.N.C.L.E. (2:20)   2000

10. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - Ray Fischer (2:10)   2001

11. The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. - The Four Corners (1:41)   2001

12. Lament for a Trapped Spy - The Moon-Rays (2:14)   2002

13. Run Spy Run - The Moon-Rays (2:03)   2002

14. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - Spy-Fi (2:05)   2003

15. Illya Kuryakin Looked at Me (Slow Version) - Cleaners from Venus (2:52)   2004

16. The Man from Thrush - Jet Set Sweden (3:54)   2005

17. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - Los Tortures (1:40)   2005

18. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - Paul Brooks (2:44)   2005

19. Illya Kuryakin Looked at Me - The Jennifers (3:02)   2006

20. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - Warren Barker Orchestra (2:44)   2006

21. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - The Countdown (2:31)   2007

22. The Man from Thrush - Movie Sounds Unlimited (2:37)   2008

23. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - Chris Rime (featuring Lionel Fortin) (4:56)   2011

24. Napoleon Solo - George Zhen (4:44)   2011

25. Season 1 Theme - Dominik Hauser (1:07)   2012

26. Season 3 Theme - Dominik Hauser (0:41)   2012

27. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - The Grave (2:59)   2012

28. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - West Hell 5 (2:40)   2012

MA-131 - The Post-Terminal Affair

01. The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - Jerry Goldsmith and the London Symphony Orchestra (1:15)

02. McCallum Guest Appearance - The Andy Williams Show (3:48)

03. McCallum Guest Appearance - Hullabaloo (0:59)

04. Robert Vaughn Cameo - The Glass Bottom Boat (0:19)

05. No Tricks - Director-Writer-Producer - Jerry Goldsmith (2:13)

06. The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - Goldsmith arr Fried (0:33)

07. The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - Goldsmith arr Fried (0:35)

08. The U.N.C.L.E. Theme (live) - The Ventures (1:41)

09. Meet Mr Solo (edit) - Goldsmith arr Fried (2:05)

10. The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - Rancho Alamitos High School Concert Band Dance Band Orchestra (0:53)

11. The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - Jet Set Unlimited (2:13)

12. Meet Mr Solo - Goldsmith arr Schifrin (0:58)

13. McCallum-Vaughn Cameos - Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1:13)

14. The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - Ensemble Petit & Screenland Orchestra (2:36)

15. Do the Kuryakin - Ann Boleyn (2:01)

16. She's a Notary - Writer-Director Card - Jerry Goldsmith (0:40)

17. The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - The Los Angeles Radio TV Symphony Orchestra (1:19)

18. Powers Cameo - Please Don't Eat the Daisies (0:24)

19. The Spy in the Green Hat - End Title - Goldsmith arr Fried-Armbruster (0:33)

20. The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. Theme - Jerry Goldsmith (0:37)

21. As Long as I Live - The George Shearing Quintet (1:20)

22. Lips that Glow - Gerald Fried (2:38)

23. The Karate Killers - End Cast - Goldsmith arr Fried (0:26)

24. Escape Route - Sweet Smell of Success - Jerry Goldsmith (2:20)

25. The U.N.C.L.E. Theme (live) - Naked City (2:14)

26. Meet Mr Solo (edit) - Goldsmith arr Fried (1:34)

27. The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - Music Factory (1:18)

28. Meet Mr Solo - Goldsmith arr Shores (0:33)

29. The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - Michigan State U Marching Band (1:02)

30. Night People - Morton Stevens (2:26)

31. The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - 4th Season Alternate 01 - Goldsmith arr Fried (0:39)

32. The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - 4th Season Alternate 02 - Goldsmith arr Fried (0:39)

33. The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - 4th Season Alternate 03 - Goldsmith arr Fried (0:28)

34. The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - 4th Season Alternate 04 - Goldsmith arr Fried (0:31)

35. The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - 4th Season Alternate 05 - Goldsmith arr Fried (0:34)

36. The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - 4th Season Alternate 06 - Goldsmith arr Fried (0:36)

37. Man from Uncle - Prophet (3:23)

38. The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - Miami Pearls Orchestra (2:37)

39. Napoleon's Solo - The Marketts (2:24)

40. The U.N.C.L.E. Theme (live) - Reverb Syndicate (2:08)

41. The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - The Crazy Beatles (1:39)

42. The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - Goldsmith arr Fried (1:16)

43. The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - Goldsmith arr Fried (0:36)

44. The Napoleon Solo - The Meteors (1:56)

45. The Helicopter Spies - End Title - Goldsmith arr Shores (0:27)

46. The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - Tony Freeman (3:19)

47. Dr Goldfoot (and His Bikini Machine) - The Gamblers (1:54)

48. Lament for a Trapped Spy - Gerald Fried (3:11)

49. Main Title - Gina, the Foxy Chick (1:49)

50. Meet Mr Solo - The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - The Summit Six Sextet (3:30)

I thought the cover art for these came out good.  I've only come across a few snippets of U.N.C.L.E.-related music since MA-131.  See you Wednesday!

  

It's the Maxi Musical Month of May 2026!

 Yup, due to my previous file host castrating itself, all my comps (and all files) are migrating to Drime. All this month, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, we'll spotlight some comps from earlier years, which some of you kind readers might not have encountered.

Today the topic is spies.

MA-01 - The Themes from U.N.C.L.E.

1 First Season Main Title revised Original television score 0:55

2 First Season End Title Original television score 1:14

3 Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme Roland Shaw and His Orchestra 2:36

4 “The Deadly Decoy Affair” Main Title Original television score 1:13

5 The Man from Thrush Lalo Schifrin 2:55

6 Roulette Rhumba  Lalo Schifrin 2:06

7 Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme Dick Hyman 2:29

8 To Trap a Spy -  Meet Mr. Solo-End Title Original film score 1:54

9 Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Other TV Themes 1:43

10 Illya The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Other TV Themes 2:30

11 Night People The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Other TV Themes 2:37

12 Second Season Main Title (arr Lalo Schifrin) Original television score 0:36

13 Second Season End Title (arr Lalo Schifrin) Original television score 0:48

14 Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme New Original TV Themes 3:09

15 Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme Hugo Montenegro 1:59

16 Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme Al Caiola 2:00

17 One of Our Spies Is Missing Main Title Original film score 3:07

18 Third Season Main Title (arr Gerald Fried) Original television score 0:30

19 Third Season End Title (arr Gerald Fried) Original television score 0:38

20 Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme Teddy Randazzo 1:33

21 Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme The Challengers 1:38

22 One Spy Too Many  Main Title Original film score 2:49

23 “The Candidate’s Wife Affair” Main Title Original television score 0:28

24 Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme The Jazz All-Stars 2:07

25 The Girl From U.N.C.L.E. Main Title Original television score 0:33

26 The Girl From U.N.C.L.E. End Title Original television score 0:39

27 The Spy in the Green Hat Main Title Original film score 2:08

28 “The Five Daughters Affair” Main Title Original television score 0:41

29 Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme Billy Strange 2:28

30 Fourth Season Main Title Original television score 0:31

31 Fourth Season End Title Original television score 0:36

32 The Karate Killers Main Title Original film score 0:29

33 Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme Swingin' Themes for Secret Agents 2:21

34 The Helicopter Spies Main Title Original film score 2:02

35 Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme The Man from UNCLE Cult TV Classics 2:41

36 Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E. Main Title Original film score 1:17

37 Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme Man or Astro-Man? 1:31

38 Love Ya Illya Alma Cogan 2:27

39 Man from Uncle Moskow 3:30

MA-53 - More Themes from U.N.C.L.E.

01. TV Classic Themes 25th Anniversary - The Men from U.N.C.L.E. Speak (0:17)

02. Jerry Goldsmith & Studio Orchestra - The U.N.C.L.E. Theme from "Solo" (1:19)

03. Brian Fahey Orchestra - Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme (2:40)

04. Television's Greatest Hits (Tee Vee Toons) - Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme (1:24)

05. Cult TV Themes (Hallmark Collection) - Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme (2:38)

06. Jerry Goldsmith & Studio Orchestra - Meet Mr Solo (Nat-King-Cole Style) from "Solo" (3:06)

07. The Film Studio Orchestra - Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme (2:10)

08. The Revengers - Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme (2:08)

09. The Clee-Shays - Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme (1:54)

10. David Lloyd & His London Orchestra - Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme (2:05)

11. Hugo Montenegro - Meet Mr Solo (2:24)

12. Newton Wayland & Houston Symphony - Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme (1:18)

13. Groove Machine - Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme (2:33)

14. The Montague Orchestra - Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme (2:45)

15. The Revengers - Meet Mr Solo (2:13)

16. Ulterior Motive Orchestra - Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme (2:05)

17. Frank Chacksfield & Orchestra - Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme (2:41)

18. Dick Dia - Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme (2:10)

19. Tilsley Orchestra - Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme (2:24)

20. The Agents - Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme (3:13)

21. The Reg Guest Syndicate - Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme (1:46)

22. Jerry Goldsmith & Studio Orchestra - Meet Mr Solo (Samba Style) from "Solo" (2:06)

23. Arthur Fiedler & Boston Pops - Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme (1:18)

24. Parris Mitchell Strings with Brass - Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme (2:32)

25. Wade Denning & The Port Washingtons - Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme (1:46)

26. Ray Martin & His Orchestra - Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme (2:36)

27. American TV Dramas - Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme (2:05)

28. The Kaos Killers - Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme (2:51)

29. The Gallants - Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme (1:57)

30. Daniel Caine - Return of the Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme (2:45)

31. The Revengers - The Man from THRUSH (2:44)

32. Jerry Goldsmith & Philharmonia - Man from U.N.C.L.E. Theme (1:16)

33. Jerry Goldsmith & Studio Orchestra - Meet Mr Solo and End Credits from "Solo" (2:23)

34. Original TV Soundtrack - U.N.C.L.E. Pen sound (0:14)

35. Original TV Soundtrack - U.N.C.L.E. HQ alarm (0:16)

MA-66 - Spy Craze

01. Special Agent - The Eagles (2:20)

02. The Spy - The Original Checkmates (1:59)

03. Agent Double-O-Soul - Edwin Starr (2:45)

04. Would You Believe - George Kent (2:34)

05. 007 - Stan Kenton (2:26)

06. 99 - Barbara Feldon (2:50)

07. Max - Barbara Feldon (2:23)

08. I Spy for the FBI - Jamo Thomas (2:34)

09. The Last of the Secret Agents - Nancy Sinatra (2:46)

10. L'agent Secret - Petula Clark (2:14)

11. Secret Agents - The Olympics (2:26)

12. The Silencers - Vikki Carr (2:59)

13. Come Spy with Me - Smokey Robinson (2:58)

14. Undercover Man - The Edgar Winter Group (3:50)

15. Secret Agent Man - DEVO (3:36)

16. Love Secret Agent - Lew Kirton (4:19)

17. I Spy - The Dooleys (3:08)

18. Spies in the Night - The Manhattan Transfer (4:03)

19. Goodbye, Mr. Bond - Blotto (5:43)

20. Spy vs Spy - Toto Coelo (3:26)

21. Secret Agent - Robin Gibbs (4:54)

22. Hombre Secreto (Secret Agent Man) - The Plugz (1:48)

23. Get Smart - The Kaos Killers (0:58)

24. Secret Agent - Letters to Cleo (2:54)

25. My Baby Loves the Secret Agent - The Detroit Cobras (2:00)

26. Undercover Agent - The Caroloregians (2:43)

27. I Wish I Was a Spy - Peter Bjorn & John (1:51)

Of course, each comes with liner notes with info about each track.

Tell all your friends, it's a MAXI Musical Month of May on both the Record Round-Up and the super Blog!

  

Cards 27-33

Or, more images of things I love!

Being around a pretty girl always makes me act like Max.

Yup, I watched the Beatles cartoon show on ABC on Saturday mornings.  The only storyline I specifically remember involved their meeting a vampire girl.  One of the songs excerpted in the sequence was "Chains," I believe.

The Munsters were clunkier than the Addamses, but still lotsa fun.

Irascible, judgmental, driven -- a perfect example of fallible humanity.

If you love devilish violin music, you know all about Niccolò Paganini, writer of 24 demonic caprices and other fun stuff, all written to showcase his viruosity.

Why yes, this spy is indeed much more suave than the doouble-zero guy.

Well, their music slaps me silly, inspires me, and still provokes folks to stupefaction (and sometimes mockery).

Well, my friends, I'll see you Thursday.  Come on back!

 

Trekking Ahead!

Our joy at getting a Star Trek movie was separate from any opinions about what we got. And we wanted MORE!

This clipping from the Oklahoman of May 25, 1980, was one of the tantalizing tidbits we clung to.

This one, from the October 9, 1980 Oklahoman, gave us more to dream on.

And until then, we could buy the Motion Picture on video, finally, as this ad in the December 6, 1980 TV Guide informed us.

What a great time to be a fan!  See you Thursday.

  

Farewell David McCallum

A week or so after his 90th birthday, David McCallum died.

He was the other Man from U.N.C.L.E.  Beginning in 1964, his outsider-as-cool persona set the fan pattern exploited by Star Trek’s Mr Spock a couple of years later.

And from 2003-2023 he played Dr Donald “Ducky” Mallard on NCIS. In between he played on stage and big screen.

The child of two professional musicians, McCallum released a few albums in the 1960s as conductor. You can find them in a 2019 post on Spock’s Record Round-Up, here. We’ll miss his eye twinkle, his set lips when following a clue, and the humor shown in his understated delivery of a zinger—whether to Napoleon Solo or to Leroy Jethro Gibbs.

  

See you on Monday, October 2, for the commencement of this year's BLOG-O-WEEN!

  

Mannix Trek!

I happened to come across "The Odds Against Donald Jordan," a Mannix episode first aired Marh 1, 1969.  I don’t know if I saw this episode when it originally aired.  I certainly watched many or most of them!

I watched this on March 27, 2022.  Boy, did a couple of the guest stars jump out at me!

Yes, the right-hand femme (semi-)fatale is Susan Oliver, also familiar to us as Vina, the original Orion slave girl, from Star Trek’s first pilot, “The Cage.”

And Walter Lucas, the business partner of the title guy, is played by Captain Terrell of Star Trek II!

(And I ain’t even gonna worry about Schtarker from Get Smart’s appearance!)  Now dig up this twisted tale of lies and betrayal somewhere for yourself!

See you Thursday!

  

I Wouldn't Call Them "Discards"!

On November 13, 1997, Diagnosis Murder aired an episode chock-full of 1960s secret agents.

Fellow spy maven Wesley Britton discusses "Discards" in depth here.

Here's an interview of the principal guests from the November 8, 1997 TV Guide.

Hard to think that this was all 20+ years ago!  *sigh*  Well, see you Monday, my friends!
 

MA-131 - The Post-Terminal Affair

Yes, my friends, it’s been more than six years since our previous compilation of music from, or related to, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.  And believe me – if there are more iterations of music beyond these comps out there in the great somewhere ... then they are either re-iterations (about a kazillion surf-guitar versions on YouTube) or concealed from such databases as Discogs.

Yes, it’s all here for you, along with a 12-page insert booklet detailing the selections.  Here are the tracks:
01. Jerry Goldsmith and the London Symphony Orchestra - The U.N.C.L.E. Theme (1:14)
02. The Andy Williams Show - McCallum Guest Appearance (3:47)
03. Hullabaloo - McCallum Guest Appearance (0:58)
04. The Glass Bottom Boat - Robert Vaughn Cameo (0:18)
05. Jerry Goldsmith - No Tricks - Director-Writer-Producer (2:12)
06. Goldsmith arr Fried - The U.N.C.L.E. Theme (0:32)
07. Goldsmith arr Fried - The U.N.C.L.E. Theme (0:34)
08. The Ventures - The U.N.C.L.E. Theme (live) (1:40)
09. Goldsmith arr Fried - Meet Mr Solo (edit) (2:04)
10. Rancho Alamitos High School Concert Band Dance Band Orchestra - The U.N.C.L.E. Theme (0:52)
11. Jet Set Unlimited - The U.N.C.L.E. Theme (2:12)
12. Goldsmith arr Schifrin - Meet Mr Solo (0:57)
13. Please Don't Eat the Daisies - McCallum-Vaughn Cameos (1:12)
14. Ensemble Petit & Screenland Orchestra - The U.N.C.L.E. Theme (2:35)
15. Ann Boleyn - Do the Kuryakin (2:00)
16. Jerry Goldsmith - She's a Notary - Writer-Director Card (0:39)
17. The Los Angeles Radio TV Symphony Orchestra - The U.N.C.L.E. Theme (1:18)
18. Please Don't Eat the Daisies - Powers Cameo (0:23)
19. Goldsmith arr Fried-Armbruster - The Spy in the Green Hat - End Title (0:32)
20. Jerry Goldsmith - The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. Theme (0:36)
21. The George Shearing Quintet - As Long as I Live (1:19)
22. Gerald Fried - Lips that Glow (2:37)
23. Goldsmith arr Fried - The Karate Killers - End Cast (0:25)
24. Jerry Goldsmith - Escape Route - Sweet Smell of Success (2:19)
25. Naked City - The U.N.C.L.E. Theme (live) (2:13)
26. Goldsmith arr Fried - Meet Mr Solo (edit) (1:33)
27. Music Factory - The U.N.C.L.E. Theme (1:17)
28. Goldsmith arr Shores - Meet Mr Solo (0:32)
29. Michigan State U Marching Band - The U.N.C.L.E. Theme (1:01)
30. Morton Stevens - Night People (2:25)
31. Goldsmith arr Fried - The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - 4th Season Alternate 01 (0:38)
32. Goldsmith arr Fried - The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - 4th Season Alternate 02 (0:38)
33. Goldsmith arr Fried - The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - 4th Season Alternate 03 (0:27)
34. Goldsmith arr Fried - The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - 4th Season Alternate 04 (0:30)
35. Goldsmith arr Fried - The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - 4th Season Alternate 05 (0:33)
36. Goldsmith arr Fried - The U.N.C.L.E. Theme - 4th Season Alternate 06 (0:35)
37. Prophet - Man from Uncle (3:22)
38. Miami Pearls Orchestra - The U.N.C.L.E. Theme (2:36)
39. The Marketts - Napoleon's Solo (2:23)
40. Reverb Syndicate - The U.N.C.L.E. Theme (live) (2:07)
41. The Crazy Beatles - The U.N.C.L.E. Theme (1:38)
42. Goldsmith arr Fried - The U.N.C.L.E. Theme (1:15)
43. Goldsmith arr Fried - The U.N.C.L.E. Theme (0:35)
44. The Meteors - The Napoleon Solo (1:55)
45. Goldsmith arr Shores - The Helicopter Spies - End Title (0:26)
46. Tony Freeman - The U.N.C.L.E. Theme (3:18)
47. The Gamblers - Dr Goldfoot (and His Bikini Machine) (1:53)
48. Gerald Fried - Lament for a Trapped Spy (3:10)
49. Gina, the Foxy Chick - Main Title (1:48)
50. The Summit Six Sextet - Meet Mr Solo - The U.N.C.L.E. Theme (3:30)

Perhaps the most interesting tracks:
·         Track 6 may be the most outré performance of Goldsmith’s theme ever—on kazoos!
·         Tracks 10 and 29, which are school-band performances
·         Track 20, which seems to be aired version of The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.—except the harpsichord is missing!
·         Tracks 31-36, five Gerald Fried arrangements for possible use as 4^th-season opening titles, all rejected
·         Track 49, the U.N.C.L.E. theme appropriated for an X-rated movie!  This was pointed out by a fan whose information I have lost.  I’d love to have his name to share with you

So, relax and enjoy music from the episodes and movies, as well as audio from McCallum’s and Vaughn’s guest appearances on TV shows from the era.  Special thanks to Bruce Button and the Summit Six Sextet for their permission to include a performance from “The Golden Anniversary Affair,” and to graphics wizard Robert Short for permission to adapt his graphic for the cover art.
          

https://www.filefactory.com/file/7au363vs8qak/MA-131PTA.rar

Thanks to all members of U.N.C.L.E. fandom for your suggestions and goodwill!  As always, we welcome your comments!
   

Farewell, Robert Vaughn

            Actor and writer Robert Vaughn, forever in my heart The Man from U.N.C.L.E., died due to leukemia on November 11, 2016.

            He was best known as an actor, of course.  He played Lee in 1960’s The Magnificent Seven.  (The film was remade in 2016, to tepid reviews.)

            Napoleon Solo, his U.N.C.L.E. character, was originally intended as a TV version of James Bond.  Thank heaven that Norman Felton brought Sam Rolfe onboard to develop the concept into the witty creature that the property became.

            Vaughn was hired as the lead under its original title, Solo.  When costar David McCallum rose in fan approbation to become a virtual co-lead -- as happened later with Spock in Star Trek -- Vaughn graciously shared the spotlight.

            As narrated in Cynthia Walker’s boffo book, Work/Text: Investigating the Man from U.N.C.L.E., the NBC series was the first modern TV series to attract a cult fan following.

            During the show’s run (1964-1968), I went from eight to twelve years old.  And my tenth birthday fell on U.N.C.L.E.’s broadcast night, so I had an U.N.C.L.E. birthday party!  At other times, when I played “Man from U.N.C.L.E.” with my best friend, he played Illya; I played Solo.  (Tommy was blond, and I was a brunet, so this made perfect sense.)

            Vaughn was a star or guest on many other TV projects such as Murder, She Wrote, Columbo, and Season Five of The A-Team (one episode, “The Say U.N.CL.E. Affair,” had McCallum as guest star in a wacky episode typical of the silliest of 1980s TV).  From 1972-1974 he was star of the Brit TV The Protectors series.  You can read his over 200 acting credits, from Teenage Caveman to Transylvania Twist, at IMDB.

            Robert Vaughn wasn’t merely an actor.  He cared passionately about many topics, and was an activist for his (defined as liberal) beliefs.  Kudos to him for being actively involved in life beyond acting!

            Vaughn’s master thesis (it was in Communication), about Hollywood’s blacklist era, was titled Only Victims: A Study of Show Business Blacklisting, and was released in book form (Amazon listing).

            His autobiography, A Fortunate Life, was released in 2009 (Amazon link).

            In the 1990s a friend of mine attended a convention at which Vaughn guested, and was kind enough to secure an autographed photo for me.  Thanks, Tamara!

            I salute you, Mr Vaughn, for your acting skills, your involvement in life, and your (unsought)  role as one of our heroes in the fight against evil.

 

Man from U.N.C.L.E. Movie Merchandising, a Lesser Look

In honor of tomorrow's release of the movie on home video, here's a look at some other merchandising of the film.

Unlike some movies whose promo campaigns include tie-in merchandise, the 2015 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. had basically no tie-ins.  Too bad, for us original "kids from U.N.C.L.E.", who were looking forward to toys and paperbacks and the rest.

The only ancillary merchandise for purchase that I know about is the soundtrack by Daniel Pemberton and other performers of the time, which is a fun ride.

However, thanks to my friends at the Channel D Yahoo! discussion group, I was alerted that burger chain Carl’s Jr was doing some merchandising.  Turns out, not much!

But we U.N.C.L.E. fans take what we can find!

Starting a few weeks before the movie’s release, Carl’s Jr replaced their normal “giant-size” cup with a special U.N.C.L.E. cup.

And here’s a bunch of them:

Unfortunately, the chain didn’t have a promotional window cling for the cup, and there weren’t U.N.C.L.E. kids’ meals (wouldn’t that have been GREAT!).

There WAS a counter card, even though some stores didn’t even set it out!

 This one was saved for me, thanks to nice guy Mike at the Carl’s Jr location at NW 23^rd and Broadway in OKC.

While we’re on the topic of U.N.C.L.E. stuff, let’s close with a home-made one.  This U.N.C.L.E. item  was sewn for me by my friend Kathy Porter in 1986.

Fellow agents, your current assignment is to go buy the movie!

See you next time.