This digest of popular songs in my library takes a stance on law enforcement, crime and secret services.
| Title | Artist | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Mission Impossible | London Philharmonic Orchestra | The theme of Mission Impossible is composed by the Argentine-American musician Lalo Schifrin (born Boris Claudio Schifrin). The 1966 TV series Mission Impossible is created by Bruce Geller who also wrote, produced, and directed the TV detective series Mannix (1967–1975) for which Lalo Schifrin also composed the theme. |
| Mannix | Billy May | The theme of Mannix is composed by the Argentine-American musician Lalo Schifrin (born Boris Claudio Schifrin) who also composed the theme of the 1966 TV series Mission Impossible. Both series were created by Bruce Geller. |
| The Pink Panther Theme | Henry Mancini and His Orchestra | “The Pink Panther Theme” is a jazz composition by Henry Mancini written as the theme for the 1963 film The Pink Panther and released as single in 1964. The movie features Peter Sellers as the French police detective Inspector Jacques Clouseau. The “Pink Panther”, the Maharajah, is the largest diamond in the world. |
| Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow | Sammy Davis Jr. | “Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow”, written by Morgan Ames and Dave Grusin, is the theme song for the TV show “Baretta,” which ran from 1975 to 1978, performed by Sammy Davis Jr. The song reflects the mood and style of the detective-themed series. |
| Cowboys & Gangsters | Gichy Dan | “Cowboys & Gangsters” by Gichy Dan is written by Ronald Bruce Rogers. Silken-voiced Staten Island crooner Gichy Dan, aka Frank Passalacqua, was the precursor to Kid Creole and the Coconuts. |
| Les Dalton | Joe Dassin | “Les Dalton” (“The Daltons”) is a 1967 song by Joe Dassin. The song is based on The Daltons, the characters from the comic strip series Lucky Luke. |
| Stool Pigeon | Kid Creole & The Coconuts | “Stool Pigeon” by Kid Creole & The Coconuts was originally released in 1982, telling the story of a character who acts as an informer or spy, often referred to as a “stool pigeon”. |
| Ma Baker | Boney M. | “Ma Baker” by Boney M. was originally released in 1977 and tells the story of the legendary criminal Ma Barker and her gang, a life of crime and the inevitable downfall. Kate Barker, born Arizona Clark, who had four sons who became gangsters in the fashion of Bonny & Clyde and John Dillinger. |
| Bonnie And Clyde (ft. Serge Gainsbourg) | Brigitte Bardot | “Bonnie and Clyde” was released by Brigitte Bardot and Serge Gainsbourg in 1968, romanticising the infamous criminal couple Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, their life of crime and the inevitable tragic end. |
| The Friends Of Mr. Cairo | Jon and Vangelis | “The Friends of Mr. Cairo” is a track from the album of the same name by Vangelis. The song features vocals by Jon Anderson of Yes and is known for its cinematic and progressive sound. The song makes reference to Joel Cairo (Mr Cairo), a movie character of John Houston’s movie “The Maltese Falcon” in which a San Francisco private detective deals with three unscrupulous adventurers, all seeking a jewel-encrusted falcon statuette. The track also incorporates sound effects and voice impressions of Humphrey Bogart, Sydney Greenstreet, and Jimmy Stewart. |
| Secret Agent Man (James Bond Is Back) | Bruce Willis | “Secret Agent Man” is a cover of the classic song, performed by Bruce Willis in 1987, about the life of a secret agent. |
| For Your Eyes Only | Sheena Easton | “For Your Eyes Only” is the title song from the 1981 James Bond film, performed by Sheena Easton, about love and loyalty, in the context of a James Bond film. |
| Gangsters | The Specials | “Gangsters” is the debut single by The Specials, released in 1979, “Gangsters”, addressing the issue of youth violence and crime in the UK and highlights the challenges faced by young people in a troubled society. |
| Watching The Detectives | Elvis Costello & The Attractions | “Watching the Detectives” is a single by Elvis Costello & The Attractions, released in 1977, exploring themes of paranoia, surveillance, and the impact of violence on television and reflects on the media’s influence on society. |
| Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress | The Hollies | “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress” by The Hollies was released in 1972 and is a tale of a government agent and a femme fatale. The story of a mysterious woman against a backdrop of criminal activity. This is the only Hollies single without any backing vocals. The reason why Clarke is the only singer on this record is that he didn’t intended the song to be released on a Hollies album, but as a record of his own. |
| I Never Wear White | Suzanne Vega | “I Never Wear White” by Suzanne Vega was released in 2014 and is about personal identity and the refusal to conform to societal expectations. It touches on themes of self-expression and individuality. |
| Men In Black | Will Smith | “Men in Black” is the theme song for the 1997 film of the same name, performed by Will Smith. Smith starred in the comedy thriller with Tommy Lee Jones. It references the secretive and often humorous nature of the Men in Black who monitor extraterrestrial activity on Earth. The song interpolates Patrice Rushen’s 1982 hit “Forget Me Nots,” with the chorus lyric changed from “To help you to remember” to “They won’t let you remember” to go along with the theme of the movie, as the Men In Black erase memories of people who have witnessed extraterrestrial activity. |
| All Along The Watchtower | Jimi Hendrix | This was written and originally recorded by Bob Dylan in 1967, but it was the Jimi Hendrix cover that made the song famous. Jimi Hendrix’s version was released in 1968. It often conveys a sense of foreboding and existential questioning. |
| Bakerman | Laid Back | “Bakerman” by Laid Back, released in 1989, featuring Danish singer Hanne Boel, was inspired by writer John Guldberg’s dream about a baker who was secretly an executioner. The lyrics include the phrase “Sagabona kunjani”, which Guldberg has described as a Swahili phrase meaning “Hello, how are you?”. Laid Back is a Danish electronic music duo from Copenhagen, formed in 1979 consisting of John Guldberg (vocals, guitar, bass) and Tim Stahl (vocals, keyboards, drums, bass). |
| Baker Street | Gerry Rafferty | “Baker Street” by Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty, released in 1978, is about a man who dreams of owning a house and living away from his nearest town. Rafferty wrote it while staying in a friend’s flat on Baker Street in London. The famous saxophone riff was performed by Raphael Ravenscroft. One of the most famous residents of Baker street is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. He lived at 221-B Baker Street. |
| Something In The Air | Thunderclap Newman | “Something in the Air” by Thunderclap Newman, released in 1969, captures the spirit of the late 1960s and the counterculture movement. It expresses a sense of optimism and change in the air. |
| Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves | Cher | “Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves” is one of Cher’s biggest solo hits released in 1971 and tells the story of a girl born into a family of marginalized individuals, exploring themes of judgment and prejudice. |
| Police And Thieves | Junior Murvin | “Police and Thieves” is a reggae song by Junior Murvin released in 1976, addressing social and political issues, specifically commenting on the conflict between law enforcement and the community. |
| Give Up Your Guns | The Buoys | “Give Up Your Guns” by American band The Buoys, released in 1971, advocates for peace and non-violence. It encourages individuals to let go of weapons and embrace a more harmonious approach to conflict. |
Sources
The information sources of the song facts include, but are not limited to, Wikipedia, songfacts.com, discogs.com, secondhandsongs.com, YouTube and artists’ related websites.
