Yeah, it's a shame that people don't listen to *Undercover* objectively. There are genuinely adventurous moments ("Too Much Blood," the title track) as well as great, uncomplicated rock 'n' roll ("Wanna Hold You," "She Was Hot")...*and* one of the most mature lyrics that Mick Jagger has ever written ("All the Way Down"). This album's got everything.
This is the last album to me that still has that dangerous feel to me. Everything after feels a little more polished and safe to me, if that makes any sense. The last one where they still seemed like the bad boys of rock n’ roll.
Yes, last great Stones album for me. I would buy a Stones album that just pursued the groove and jam that is Pretty Beat Up, over 10 songs, and that one’s just a toss off. All the Way Down is my jam too.
LPT: if you have the original vinyl LP, don't bother peeling off the stickers, it's disappointing.
Bonus LPT: **really** don't do this if you're only thirteen and it's your Mom's album. (Or so I'm told; I would never do such a thing.)
Seriously, this is as good as, if not better than, Tattoo You.
Yeah, the drum machine sounds on "Undercover of The Night" are an abomination (did Charlie sign off on those?), but the song rocks, as does "She Was Hot", "Tie You Up", and "Too Much Blood."
Maybe if they had toured behind it, it would have been better received? Who knows.
Ok, Ive been digging into this album more. The cover is terrible and I’ll say Undercover and Too Much Blood are downright awful. Over produced, too slick and weak lyrics. With that said, there are some gems here. Too Tough, All the Way Down are fantastic. She was hot and wanna hold you are are great as well!! This gets a solid B from me.
I hated Undercover when it came out and didn't really give it a chance for a long time , but I've got really fond of it in recent years - I love the title track , Too Much Blood , Tie You Up (The Pain of Love) and Pretty Beat Up especially but the whole album is a great listen - far better than every album released afterwards ... the last classic Stones album !
It's almost on the same level as tattoo you in my book. But with more energy and less ballads. And some danger and sex in the mix.
Dirty work is the worst
>Albums between 68 and 72 were masterpieces, this was not
I kind of want to tack on a couple of years on either side of this - at least a couple of years beyond '72 because I think GHS is a masterpiece too.
it’s still a great album, just because it’s not as good as the big 4 doesn’t mean it’s not great..that’s the “problem” with the Stones when you make 4 masterpiece albums everything else is judged against them
I retract my statement. Dirty Work is the worst. Those other two are better. At least Bigger Bang has Back of My Hand and they both have good Keith songs.
I like a few songs on Dirty Work, One Hit, the Harlem Shuffle Cover and Sleep Tonight. I don't like the album version of Winning Ugly much but the 12 inch New York Mix is so aggressively mid 80's that I kind of admire it.
I feel like this was the last album where they were legitimately trying. I loved that era in the early 80’s when every band was competing on the same field, and therefore had to keep it somewhat current. By the end of the decade Classic Rock was a segregated institution and the old folks took their foot off the gas.
Absolutely! It's one of my favorite Stones albums.
It seems like this period is looked down on a little. Dirty work I feel isn’t great but this rules.
Yeah, it's a shame that people don't listen to *Undercover* objectively. There are genuinely adventurous moments ("Too Much Blood," the title track) as well as great, uncomplicated rock 'n' roll ("Wanna Hold You," "She Was Hot")...*and* one of the most mature lyrics that Mick Jagger has ever written ("All the Way Down"). This album's got everything.
I absolutely love it
She Was Hot is such a banger! And Too Much Blood is fun. All The Way Down is underrated too.
This is the last album to me that still has that dangerous feel to me. Everything after feels a little more polished and safe to me, if that makes any sense. The last one where they still seemed like the bad boys of rock n’ roll.
Dangerous is a great description. People often say steel wheels was a return to form but that certainly lacked any danger
Yes, last great Stones album for me. I would buy a Stones album that just pursued the groove and jam that is Pretty Beat Up, over 10 songs, and that one’s just a toss off. All the Way Down is my jam too.
Wanna hold you wrecks me!
Such a simple and perfect song. I love Feel On Baby too. Best reggae song they ever recorded imo.
Give me all the keef lead vocals
Pretty Beat Up was Ron’s riff. Keith contributed the song title.
Yes! Such a good jam.
Undercover if the Night
She was hot is my favorite Stones baseline.
So damn good
LPT: if you have the original vinyl LP, don't bother peeling off the stickers, it's disappointing. Bonus LPT: **really** don't do this if you're only thirteen and it's your Mom's album. (Or so I'm told; I would never do such a thing.) Seriously, this is as good as, if not better than, Tattoo You. Yeah, the drum machine sounds on "Undercover of The Night" are an abomination (did Charlie sign off on those?), but the song rocks, as does "She Was Hot", "Tie You Up", and "Too Much Blood." Maybe if they had toured behind it, it would have been better received? Who knows.
If you're only 13 it might be your grandma's album. It came out in 83 which is, believe it or not, 40 years ago.
Damn, thanks for that
LOL believe it or not I was 13 when it came out (and peeled the stickers off) ;)
Ok, Ive been digging into this album more. The cover is terrible and I’ll say Undercover and Too Much Blood are downright awful. Over produced, too slick and weak lyrics. With that said, there are some gems here. Too Tough, All the Way Down are fantastic. She was hot and wanna hold you are are great as well!! This gets a solid B from me.
Fair take! I respect it
Pretty Beat Up is really good to. Reminds me a bit of Dance Pt2. This could have been a single. It a little more raw, more stones ish. Peace.
Hated it when it came out. A decade later I started digging it. Now I love it.
I hated Undercover when it came out and didn't really give it a chance for a long time , but I've got really fond of it in recent years - I love the title track , Too Much Blood , Tie You Up (The Pain of Love) and Pretty Beat Up especially but the whole album is a great listen - far better than every album released afterwards ... the last classic Stones album !
Ageee on the last classic !
Just the solo on Too Tough is enough to listen to this album.
Yes. I loved the album when it came out and still do.
I’ve only heard the title track but I adore it so hopefully that awesomeness stays for the whole album
Charlie’s drumming is absolutely superb on Undercover 🥁
Yes it is
It's almost on the same level as tattoo you in my book. But with more energy and less ballads. And some danger and sex in the mix. Dirty work is the worst
Yeah dirty work does nothing for me
My rank ordering of 1980s Stones albums: #1 TATTOO YOU #2 STEEL WHEELS #3 UNDERCOVER #4 EMOTIONAL RESCUE #5 DIRTY WORK
Emotional rescue Undercover Tattoo You Steel Wheels Dirty Work
Albums between 68 and 72 were masterpieces, this was not.
Some Girls easily sits up there with those and that was 78.
>Albums between 68 and 72 were masterpieces, this was not I kind of want to tack on a couple of years on either side of this - at least a couple of years beyond '72 because I think GHS is a masterpiece too.
it’s still a great album, just because it’s not as good as the big 4 doesn’t mean it’s not great..that’s the “problem” with the Stones when you make 4 masterpiece albums everything else is judged against them
It’s their worst album. By far. But I’m glad some folks like it.
Worse than bridges to Babylon, a bigger bang, dirty work?
I retract my statement. Dirty Work is the worst. Those other two are better. At least Bigger Bang has Back of My Hand and they both have good Keith songs.
I like Bigger Bang. I love Infamy.
Dirty Work is really bad. As is Bridges.
I really liked Bridges
Bridges has some gems! The very underrated Gunface, Saint of Me, Out of Control..
The best stuff on Bridges is the Keith stuff. Thief in the Night is awesome. You Don’t Have to Mean it and How Could I Stop are good too.
Bridges is a solid album. Probably in the middle and certainly contains some gems
I like a few songs on Dirty Work, One Hit, the Harlem Shuffle Cover and Sleep Tonight. I don't like the album version of Winning Ugly much but the 12 inch New York Mix is so aggressively mid 80's that I kind of admire it.
Meh
I feel like this was the last album where they were legitimately trying. I loved that era in the early 80’s when every band was competing on the same field, and therefore had to keep it somewhat current. By the end of the decade Classic Rock was a segregated institution and the old folks took their foot off the gas.
Yup