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Secret Agent is a studio album by Chick Corea, recorded and released in 1978. It is a musically diverse release that features Corea’s long-standing collaborators Joe Farrell on reeds and woodwinds, percussionist Airto, and vocalist Gayle Moran (Corea’s wife). Al Jarreau sings “Hot News Blues”, and a four piece brass section and string quartet also appear.

Reception

DownBeat gave the album 4 stars. Douglas Clark wrote in his review, “Despite its flaws, this album cooks, and good solos abound. Corea and Farrell each have a few; Vizzutti has a nice flugelhorn spot on Funk and Bunny Brunel punches out a good chorus on Park, as does Airto on timbales.Corea is in control, but his band is with him all the way”.

Track listing
All pieces are composed by Chick Corea unless otherwise noted.

Side one
“Golden Dawn” – 3:39
“Slinky” – 5:42
“Mirage” – 2:11
“Drifting” – 4:09
“Glebe St. Blues” – 6:58
Side two
“Fickle Funk” – 5:05
“Bagatelle, No. 4” (Béla Bartók) – 3:34
“Hot News Blues” – 6:18
“Central Park” – 5:22

Personnel
Chick Corea – acoustic piano (A1, B2); Fender Rhodes electric piano (A2, A3, A5, B1, B3, B4); Hohner clavinet (A5, B4 ); Minimoog, Multimoog & Oberheim Eight Voice synthesizers (A1 to A4, B2 to B4); backing vocals (B4); percussion
Allen Vizzutti – trumpet (A1, A2, A4, A5, B4); flugelhorn (B1)
Bob Zottola – trumpet (A1, A2, A4, A5, B4)
Ron Moss – trombone (A5, B4); bass trombone (B4)
Jim Pugh – trombone (A1 to A5, B4); bass trombone (B4)
Joe Farrell – flute & alto flute (A2, A4); bass flute (A4); tenor saxophone (A5); soprano saxophone (B1)
Bunny Brunel – fretless bass (A1, A2, A4 to B1, B3, B4)
Tom Brechtlein – drums (A1, A2, A4, A5, B3, B4)
Airto Moreira – percussion (A2, A4, B4); Hi-hat (B1)
Charles Veal – violin & viola (A1, A5, B4); backing vocals (B4)
Carol Shive – violin (A1, A5, B4); backing vocals (B4)
Paula Hochhalter – cello (A1, A5, B4); backing vocals (B4)
Gayle Moran – lead vocals (A4, A5, B2); backing vocals (B4)
Al Jarreau – lead vocals (B3)

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Released: 1978
Recorded: 1978
Studio: Producers Workshop, Los Angeles (tracks A1 to B1, B3, B4) & Kendun Recorders, Burbank, California, USA (track B2)
Length: 42:58
Label: Polydor
Producer: Chick Corea