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GasLightStreet

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Witness

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GasLightStreet
.....

When people go on about how Continental Drift is great, they talking about the Mick solo song that precedes and postcedes the Musicians of Jajouka part? Never heard anything compelling about it.

In the first place, as I have also written elsewhere, the song is meant to be heard in relation to its middle instrumental part. That is, maybe the track is a piece of music as much as a song.

Secondly, I also find the verses attractive as such. They have got a feel and convey a mood, to me akin to "Can You Hear the Music". Apparently not to you, who from an Album talk thread also seem to appreciate that GHS-song almost as much as I do.

I think that's what's confusing. The Stones liked the Musicians of Jajouka part so much they used it for the three tours show intro but the Speed Of Light bit is waffly, really, unlike Can You Hear The Music or even If You Really Want To Be My Friend.

I find Too Much Blood to be much more interesting, especially Mick's talking, and the remixes were hilarious.

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Stoneage
Maybe if they had released it in 1979 it would have been better received? It connects better with that time and vibe and those albums (SG, ER). I guess TY was the odd one out. Hard to follow that success.
And U is very different from TY. The music stage had changed a lot between the late seventies and late 1983.

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Witness

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Four Stone Walls

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GasLightStreet

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Witness

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GasLightStreet

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matxil

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HMS
I wonder if there is really anybody around who likes Mick Jagger´s "Let´s Work". I guess not even Mick likes it. I remember I turned to stone, as I first heard it, I simply couldn´t believe what I heard. I felt incredibly ashamed for Mick, it's by far the lowest moment of his career.

I remember when it came out. I'd just recently become a Stones fan, whereas most of my friends only listened to new-wave. We were having some beers, watching MTV and then this "song" came on. A very embarrassing moment. I remember that one of my friends even said: "Oh well, it's not worse than the Stones". And what with Dirty Work that had just come out, I couldn't even blast him away with as much force as I'd've liked to.

If that doesn't sum up DIRTY WORK as being as awful as it is nothing does.

Your friend was wrong, though - Let's Work is worse than all of DIRTY WORK.

And look at the lineage - DIRTY WORK, Let's Work... Rock And A Hard Place.

Awful. DIRTY WORK makes VOODOO LOUNGE seem like EXILE ON MAIN STREET.

GasLightStreet's post on page 1 of the thread was like this. Then it is obvious what was added as new text a couple of posts before this.

I don't get that bullshit fake one above by Four Stone Walls.

What FSW was saying - but he had mistakenly replied to GLS's final remark prematurely -

is that Dirty Work is better than all of Voodoo Lounge ( mainly a turkey - which is an insult to turkeys) - and that Let's Work - the single - is better than most stuff on VL.

But ok - this is an Undercover thread.

Initially I thought it was a good to great album - but now not. Has not stood test of time. But the sessions sound good. Band working well together.

Keith didn't like the finished product.

I think he far preferred Dirty Work. As do I. It has more Life. Not still life either.


Eddy

To me there is a thread of continued and interrelated greatness through SOME GIRLS, EMOTIONAL RESCUE and UNDERCOVER. With a better reception to UNDERCOVER, that thread could have gone on and resulted in further albums in more or less the same vein. Somehow, UNDERCOVER, in that respect like EXILE ON MAIN STREET, is one of their less easily approchable albums. Maybe that was an unforseeable fatal fact at that junction in their career with the repeated need to renew their fanbase at large, and when much of the old generations of fans had become too lazy. Possible following albums might then have been more easily approchable. It was not be, however.

Instead reduced incentives to create new music and resulting increased disagreement on music contributed to a break down of the continued thread, and DIRTY WORK came about. Later on, the band reformed from almost disbandment. But from then, following albums became separate attempts with years in between. In that way, DIRTY WORK, STEEL WHEELS (despite the great track "Continental Drift") and VOODOO LOUNGE (despite the almost great "Love Is Strong") were to constitute a slump in the recorded output by the Stones. Apparently another selection of songs among the available half-finished recorded material for VOODOO LOUNGE could have led to a better album. Later on, I think that I am not alone in regarding BRIDGES TO BABYLON as an album, verging on the semi-great, with at least some daring involved..

But I consider UNDERCOVER as THE album, when the Rolling Stones as a studio band at their last peak anew were at crossroads, but this time where the outcome was more than before partly outside their control.

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ProfessorWolf
my main cd player is a sony cdp-55 from 1986
which i guess is kinda looked down upon by audiophiles because of its mid 80's dac however i like it but i doubt it'll be capable of sacd playback though i'm intrigued by the technology and will keep an eye out for a capable player during my thrift store hunts

but i did get cbs copies of undercover, tattoo you, and sticky fingers for $2 each a couple days ago and listening to them in comparision with my 2009 universal undercover, sticky fingers and 2021 tattoo you with the above mentioned cd player and thru audio technica ath-m50x headphones i hands down prefer the cbs even for sticky fingers which i agree does sound a bit muddy but in a way that i like and think sounds right with the music thanks for the advice next i'm gonna see if i can get a copy of satanic on one them west german cds very intrigued by what that will sound like

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ironbelly

Are there any differences in terms of tonality and loudness?

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ironbelly

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ProfessorWolf
my main cd player is a sony cdp-55 from 1986
which i guess is kinda looked down upon by audiophiles because of its mid 80's dac however i like it but i doubt it'll be capable of sacd playback though i'm intrigued by the technology and will keep an eye out for a capable player during my thrift store hunts

but i did get cbs copies of undercover, tattoo you, and sticky fingers for $2 each a couple days ago and listening to them in comparision with my 2009 universal undercover, sticky fingers and 2021 tattoo you with the above mentioned cd player and thru audio technica ath-m50x headphones i hands down prefer the cbs even for sticky fingers which i agree does sound a bit muddy but in a way that i like and think sounds right with the music thanks for the advice next i'm gonna see if i can get a copy of satanic on one them west german cds very intrigued by what that will sound like

Generations apart

The Rolling Stones - Undercover [Rolling Stones Records-EMI CDP 7 46024 2 ]
Japan for Europe, November 7, 1983,
Toshiba pressing plant
Matrix: CDP 7 46024 2 CP35-3087-1 1A1

This is 'true first pressing' from glass master -1, father 1, mother A, stampler 1.

The Rolling Stone - Undercover [Rolling Stones Records - Universal UICY-79248]
Japan only SHM-CD, December 4, 2020. Paper-jacket edition to commemorate 30th Anniversary of the 1st visit of The Rolling Stones to Japan.
JVC pressing plant
Matrix: UICY-40072 H1T [4xUniversal logo]
SID Mastering code: IFPI L236
SID Mould code: IFPI 4011

This one is the latest edition.

Are there any differences in terms of tonality and loudness? Judge yourself. These are graphs for Track 01 - Undercover.
Original spectra


Difference spectra (RSR-EMI was used as a baseline)

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treaclefingers

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Four Stone Walls

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GasLightStreet

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Witness

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GasLightStreet

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matxil

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HMS
I wonder if there is really anybody around who likes Mick Jagger´s "Let´s Work". I guess not even Mick likes it. I remember I turned to stone, as I first heard it, I simply couldn´t believe what I heard. I felt incredibly ashamed for Mick, it's by far the lowest moment of his career.

I remember when it came out. I'd just recently become a Stones fan, whereas most of my friends only listened to new-wave. We were having some beers, watching MTV and then this "song" came on. A very embarrassing moment. I remember that one of my friends even said: "Oh well, it's not worse than the Stones". And what with Dirty Work that had just come out, I couldn't even blast him away with as much force as I'd've liked to.

If that doesn't sum up DIRTY WORK as being as awful as it is nothing does.

Your friend was wrong, though - Let's Work is worse than all of DIRTY WORK.

And look at the lineage - DIRTY WORK, Let's Work... Rock And A Hard Place.

Awful. DIRTY WORK makes VOODOO LOUNGE seem like EXILE ON MAIN STREET.

GasLightStreet's post on page 1 of the thread was like this. Then it is obvious what was added as new text a couple of posts before this.

I don't get that bullshit fake one above by Four Stone Walls.

What FSW was saying - but he had mistakenly replied to GLS's final remark prematurely -

is that Dirty Work is better than all of Voodoo Lounge ( mainly a turkey - which is an insult to turkeys) - and that Let's Work - the single - is better than most stuff on VL.

But ok - this is an Undercover thread.

Initially I thought it was a good to great album - but now not. Has not stood test of time. But the sessions sound good. Band working well together.

Keith didn't like the finished product.

I think he far preferred Dirty Work. As do I. It has more Life. Not still life either.


Eddy

If Dirty Work has "life", then it ain't one worth living I'm afraid.

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Four Stone Walls
11 years later they could not better Undercover which is not that great anyway.


Dirty Work and Steel Wheels should be cherished.

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Four Stone Walls

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treaclefingers

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Four Stone Walls

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GasLightStreet

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Witness

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GasLightStreet

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matxil

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HMS
I wonder if there is really anybody around who likes Mick Jagger´s "Let´s Work". I guess not even Mick likes it. I remember I turned to stone, as I first heard it, I simply couldn´t believe what I heard. I felt incredibly ashamed for Mick, it's by far the lowest moment of his career.

I remember when it came out. I'd just recently become a Stones fan, whereas most of my friends only listened to new-wave. We were having some beers, watching MTV and then this "song" came on. A very embarrassing moment. I remember that one of my friends even said: "Oh well, it's not worse than the Stones". And what with Dirty Work that had just come out, I couldn't even blast him away with as much force as I'd've liked to.

If that doesn't sum up DIRTY WORK as being as awful as it is nothing does.

Your friend was wrong, though - Let's Work is worse than all of DIRTY WORK.

And look at the lineage - DIRTY WORK, Let's Work... Rock And A Hard Place.

Awful. DIRTY WORK makes VOODOO LOUNGE seem like EXILE ON MAIN STREET.

GasLightStreet's post on page 1 of the thread was like this. Then it is obvious what was added as new text a couple of posts before this.

I don't get that bullshit fake one above by Four Stone Walls.

What FSW was saying - but he had mistakenly replied to GLS's final remark prematurely -

is that Dirty Work is better than all of Voodoo Lounge ( mainly a turkey - which is an insult to turkeys) - and that Let's Work - the single - is better than most stuff on VL.

But ok - this is an Undercover thread.

Initially I thought it was a good to great album - but now not. Has not stood test of time. But the sessions sound good. Band working well together.

Keith didn't like the finished product.

I think he far preferred Dirty Work. As do I. It has more Life. Not still life either.


Eddy

If Dirty Work has "life", then it ain't one worth living I'm afraid.

I mean that DW has vitality. Keith and Ronnie are totally engaged and creative.

The opening track on side one grabs you from the 'get go's. Best opener since Rocks Off or Hot Stuff.

Winning Ugly on side 2 ditto.

Harlem Shuffle, Fight, Dirty Work, Had It with You and yes Hold Back -

all immediate and fresh.

Undercover's rockers are kind of cliched and stale by comparison. Parodies.
Title track and too much blood are different. But essentially they are all Jagger songs and it's done to his script.

Undercover is great cos it's more Keith ( with Ronnie).

People berate Back to Zero. Guitar interaction great and spontaneous.

Compare Pretty Beat Up. Lame, and conceptually.

It must be Hell. Sure is. Worst album closer ever.
Bereft of any originality or life.

Desperate stuff.

In that context, creatively, Dirty Work was a breath of fresh air.

Hail Hail Rock-'n'-roll - hail KR with his mojo back and in the groove

showing how to truly end an album too.


What I like about U album now is Watts and Wyman, together. And Wyman on Too Much Blood.

Cheers, (me dears)

Time to get some Sleep Tonight.

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GasLightStreet
All The Way Down is better than any song on DIRTY WORK.

Critically, musically, performanceally... and whatever other 'ly's exist.

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liddas

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GasLightStreet
All The Way Down is better than any song on DIRTY WORK.

Critically, musically, performanceally... and whatever other 'ly's exist.

I'll give DW a couple of spins in your honor!

C

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KeithNacho
Conclusions. Undercover is not so good album, and DW is not that bad. I find both week, but both have very nice moments

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Gfmsoccer

It Must Be Hell is one of my favorite songs, because of the great guitar riff.

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Irix

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Gfmsoccer

It Must Be Hell is one of my favorite songs, because of the great guitar riff.

Soul Survivor re-played.