It's the very first Stones album I bought when it came out in 1983, and it still is one of my faves. Yes it sounds dreadfully 80's, but it's a beautiful high energy album with Jagger at its best.
Every time I listen to Undercover, which isn't often, I enjoy it very very much, but have to pretend the slick production is not there. That drum machine on Undercover of the Night took some getting used to, not that I have a problem with drum machines... if New Order does it....
But anyway, I think both Undercover and Dirty Work would be badass minus the production, and are miles better than that bloated piece of crap BTB.
I registered onto this forum just to reply to this post. Undercover is what turned me on to the Stones. Undercover was my introduction to the Stones at age 13 and it was the first Stones album that I bought. I have been hooked since then. The machine gun rattle that opens the title song still echoes in my head like it is 1983. I just love this album and just dont undertand the mixed feelings among Stones fans with respect to this album.
After having heard aImost every Jagger/Richards song at least a 1000 times, I continue to believe that Undercover is stunningly well produced and mixed. In my opinion it is the only Stones album that perfectly blends the raw Stones sound with modern day production. Everything from the cover design (which as been mostly pathetic since then) to the lyrics, showcase carnage, relentless bloodletting and kinky sex. The sound is "tight", the guitars are loud, scratchy and have some of the most authentic Stones style leads guitars. The arrangements are compact and the song order makes the album cohesive.
For me UNDERCOVER is the last album where the STONES sound threatening and violent, unforced but dangerous, sleazy, gritty, ragged and natural. Undercover represents everything that I ever liked about this band and after the Big 4, Undercover continues to be my favorite Stones album
Interesting post, ws66... I'm a fan of the album too, but only so far.
It's great for me until "Wanna Hold You," which changes the mood and just doesn't fit. Might be ok later in the album, but overall there aren't enough good songs on the album to fulfill the statement that it opens with. Both sides kind of piffle out. I like "Too Tough," but "All the Way Down" is just ok, lightly entertaining, and "It Must Be Hell" starts off well--you can really hear the main players in the band interacting--but falls flat after that.
They certainly tried hard on this one. Is it better than Emotional Rescue, which sounds effortless yet might have more good songs?
I think what the album is missing is what all great stones albums have -- a well chosen cover! Maybe an old murder ballad... Are there any covers in the outtakes?
Can an average Stones fan can list instantly more than five tracks on these 2 albums. Doubt it. Hopefully, they could do it on Steel Wheels, VL, BTB and ABB.
Love some of the songs ..... a lot. Great Charlie. Best of Bill. Guitars on fire.
BUT.....it is not a well balanced album.....just too much up-tempo stuff and not even one ballad.
(For all its bad press Dirty Work was well balanced).
Pretty Beat Up is a throwaway track. Nice groove but goes nowhere. A good out-take.
Must Be Hell is one of their all-time worst tracks. So manufactured. The lines 'Living in the world, suffering in the world like you' and the accompanying instrumentation are clumsy and embarassingly bad. So much cliched stuff on that one track, it's hard to believe. A bad out-take, (dressed up/produced to look like a classic).