This appears to be a CD reissue of a Billy Strange album but with a few extra tracks thrown in, which explains why Jim Rockford is thrown in with a bunch of movie and television spies.

Billy Strange doesn't even get to open the record. Neil Norman does, with an instrumenal version of "All Time High" that segues into the "James Bond Theme". They call the whole thing "Octopussy".

Then Strange gets to take on the theme from "I Spy" and it's really good, solid, hard to mess that up.

But then we ditch Strange for the Olympic Orchestea's theme from "Reilly: Ace of Spies" and this really doesn't fit in at all. It's a nice, fake classical orchestral piece but musically clashes with the rest of the record and just comes across as dull.

Next is Burt Bacharach's "Casino Royale", which feels a little sluggish compared to the original.

Finally we get some killer electric guitar tone for John Barry's "The Ipcress File". Actually it might be baritone guitar. They throw in the famous drum beat that opens "Be My Baby" and also have a pretty tough backbeat throughout.

"Thunderball" is, thankfully, another guitar feature, though this time the tone is snarly and sounds like just the bridge pick-up is being used. Some good sax playing in the background too.

The guitar also sounds awesome on Jerry Goldsmith's theme from "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.". Again I suspect baritone. There's some cool keyboard playing but they changed the meter from 5/4 to 4/4 and that's a shame.

A Neil Norman arrangement of the theme from "The Prisoner" follows this, another piece that wasn't on Strange's original album. It's a good-faith take on the original but lacks its energy.

Now we get to hear the "James Bond Theme" for the second time and of course kills that famous guitar riff.

Nothing's ever going to improve on the original recording, whether the soundtrack or album version, of Jerry Goldsmith's "Our Man Flint" theme, but I don't mind hearing this one. The guitar is great, of course, and there's some good flute playing and interesting use of horns.

"Moonraker" is one of my favorite Bond themes and this is another Neil Norman addition. Eh, it's too fast and discoey for my taste.

Then we take a break from swinging entirely for the slow, moody, atmospheric "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold". It's in 3/4 and has a chilly, damp feel to it, perfectly appropriate.

When people did a record like this they tried to put an original piece of their own on it so they could get publishing royalties. Presumably that's what "Run Spy, Run" is, even though that's also the name of the first Nick Carter: Killmaster book, which came out the year before this record. It's a cool tune and would have done well as the theme for a secret agent movie or tv show.

Probably the most famous 12/8 movie or tv theme in history (what are some others?) comes up next: "Get Smart". The rhythm section starts out having to keep things pretty straight, then suggest a "Peter Gunn" feel before there's an explosion of great guitar, saxophone and organ playing. Which was really needed. It wasn't especially exciting until that happened.

My favorite of all Bond themes, "You Only Live Twice", happens now. The original will always be the greatest but there are several great covers. The one by The Quiets is maybe the best I've heard. This one is respectable but lacks intensity.

"007" is a great action cue that's in many of the Bond films. I used to play it in my first band! Or at least I tried to. It's a nice feature for Strange's guitar, which always sounds great. But it's another one that sounds kind of watered down. It might have something to do with the recording or mixing or mastering. It goes into a kind of goofy saxophone solo too.

The energy picks up a bit for "Goldfinger" and the guitar is bright and sharp and engaging.

Finally there's "The Rockford Files" because... well, I don't know why. Different decade, different genre. But whatever. I always love to hear it and while this isn't as good as the original—it's a little too slow, for one thing—it's cool to hear Strange's low-toned and tremoloey guitar playing this terrific melody.