Robin Gibb – Secret Agent/Robot (Canada 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1984

“Secret Agent” was the second single and title track from Robin Gibb’s third solo album.

Robin wrote lyrics with their brother Maurice. Maurice played synthesizer and keyboard but played relatively little on the finished track in favor of Rob Kilgore’s expertise. Robin had long been interested in electronic sound and Maurice was a willing accomplice. The concept was to carry on the sound of the big freestyle hit by Shannon, her 1983 song “Let the Music Play”, which is why Robin brought in the same producers, Mark Liggett and Chris Barbosa, and musicians Rob Kilgore and Jim Tunnell to work on the song and album.

“Secret Agent” was released as a single in August 1984 as the follow-up to the previous single “Boys Do Fall In Love” but the single failed to chart.

SIDE A:
Secret Agent (Extended Dub Mix) 5:40

SIDE B:
Robot (Extended Dub Mix) 5:17

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Polydor – PDSX 2264
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: Canada
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

NOTES:
Original versions available on the Robin Gibb Album, Cassette and CD “Secret Agent”.

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net


THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus:  Ortofon 2M Black PnP MkII
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp:
Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC:
Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning
: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans
: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!


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Grant
Grant
May 11, 2024 4:23 pm

Love Robin Gibb and all the music with his brothers – thank yoU!!

Joey
Joey
May 9, 2024 3:48 am

I haven’t heard this one. This has that Shannon sound as well as an early Pet Shop Boys vibe, even the video has that kind of style, like “It Couldn’t Happen Here.”

Martika
Martika
May 8, 2024 9:36 pm

Never heard of this track, but it has a very strong Madonna vibe! Thank you!

Carlos
Carlos
May 8, 2024 4:36 pm

Thanks Paul, I didn’t know that record existed!!!!

DJ XREY
DJ XREY
May 8, 2024 2:13 pm

Atlantic dropped the ball on this one: I never got a copy of this from their promo guy, nor did we get one in the mail at the radio station. I also notice the US version on Mirage has the vocal versions (b/w “Robot”) where the international versions use the dub on the 12″ and some of the 7″ releases (b/w “King Of Fools”)

DJ XREY
DJ XREY
May 8, 2024 1:57 pm

This has that ’80s bass feel reminiscent of “Into The Groove”; and this is one time he doesn’t sound like Robin Gibb!

Last edited 6 months ago by DJ XREY
Jeff
Jeff
Reply to  DJ XREY
May 9, 2024 8:36 am

Yes, I was quite surprised that Robin didn’t sound like a BeeGee here!

Have a nice day, DJ XREY!!

Jeff

Retro Hound
Retro Hound
May 8, 2024 12:39 pm

Oh yes!!!!! Loved Robin Gibb’s Boys Do Fall In Love! How cool that it was a response to Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Want To Have Fun. But this follow-up is a real closet 80’s!! I’m pretty sure I do recall seeing the video. Looking forward to these extended dub mixes. Wow I can see you’re having fun with the closet 80’s theme! Like you mentioned, it allows for more flexibility, which is always to our benefit. Thank you!!

Last edited 6 months ago by Retro Hound
DJ XREY
DJ XREY
Reply to  Retro Hound
May 9, 2024 1:09 pm

Wow! We were one of the first CHRs to play Cyndi from her first album before a single was pulled and remixed; we played “Boys” by Robin Gibb (US#37) yet I never knew these two hits had a connection. Thanks, Retro Hound!

Retro Hound
Retro Hound
Reply to  DJ XREY
May 9, 2024 2:10 pm

Interesting tidbit for sure. And I love hearing about your experience in CHR, thanks for sharing! So sad what’s become of terrestrial radio. You were there back when the DJ had autonomy to take some chances on album tracks, etc. What a time for radio! You were lucky to be a part of it. If you don’t mind me asking, you must have met some of the reps or artists themselves?

DJ XREY
DJ XREY
Reply to  Retro Hound
May 9, 2024 3:26 pm

Though I’ve worked for some stations that weren’t always “new music aggressive”, I have been fortunate enough to meet a few artists and celebrities along the way.

ING
ING
May 8, 2024 12:05 pm

Oh wow this is going to be so much fun! Looking so forward to this…
Wow, what great background information!!!!
Thanks!

Last edited 6 months ago by ING
Jeff
Jeff
May 8, 2024 11:54 am

I am living for this post, Paul!! I am such a tremendous fan of Chris Barbosa, Mark Ligget, Robbie Kilgore and Jimmy Tunnel, it’s a phenomenal lineup of a production team. I love that these are dub versions too. Chris Barbosa and company brought out the best with them. I’m freaking out because this record is new to me!

Any more records by these guys I would certainly eat up! Many, many sincere thanks for records like these!!

Jeff

Jeff
Jeff
Reply to  DjPaulT
May 9, 2024 8:33 am

Thank you, Paul! I would welcome any other records you may have from these guys. The Ligosa Records label has some fine productions of Liggett and Barbosa. I was so sad concerning their falling out. Chris Barbosa said he was very much influenced by the music of John Robie and Arthur Baker, especially, “One More Shot” and “I.O.U.” even calling them the first “Freestyle” records.

Jeff

DJ XREY
DJ XREY
Reply to  Jeff
May 9, 2024 1:02 pm

I know their productions from Shannon’s hits, but never knew they had their own label or imprint. Like roommates, marriages, and other partnerships, businesses based from friendships always seem to go south because of $$$.

Jeff
Jeff
Reply to  DJ XREY
May 10, 2024 8:08 am

Yes, the Ligosa imprint was fantastic! The first release (I think) was by a group called Loose Touch. The song is, “Bad of the Heart” which was later released by George Lamond on Columbia records and made George a very popular artist. Monet, was another famous artist from the Lagosa label. I’m sorry the label folded after a bit. Like you said, sometimes relationships suffer because of greed and all.

Have a good one, DJ XREY!!!

Jeff