Undercover

A much overlooked Rolling Stones classic.

Sounds good

This early 80's offering from the glimmer twins and company seems to be overlooked in the catalog of the stones, heck even on the rolling stones discography on their own website, "Undercover" is not mentioned. So are the Stones trying to hide history, are they so ashamed of this album trying to make it appear as if it was never recorded."Undercover" is a great album when production techniques were starting to go sour and synthesizers ushered in a dated sound. Every rock band from the previous decade that made classic albums suffered in the 8o's...(Heart,Rush...) The stones get by by a hair with "Undercover" but really suffer with "Dirty Work" and "Steel Wheels" and then redeem themselves with "Voodoo Lounge" in the early 90's. This was their last best effort as a cohesive album from beginning to end. The songs that do have a hint of 80's production and synths is evident on tracks like "Too much Blood" but the horns and melody are so infectious that you can be on the fence with it. There really wasn't a big hit on this record per-se, "Undercover of the night" being the lead cut which was on radio and mtv upon release but didn't really make in impact. Now "Dirty Work" had two singles very memorable "One hit to the body" and "Harlem Shuffle" and Steel Wheels had massive singles and mtv airplay with "Mixed Emotions", "Rock and hard place" and "Almost hear you sigh." Just because an album has hit singles don't make it a great album... or a classic album. Steel Wheels was an album that was placating to pop listeners, its a very safe record, for a big stadium tour was to follow... There was no Stones edge to it, "Too much Blood" is typical stones territory, up there with "Midnight Rambler" and "Sympathy for the Devil" as far as dark themes go, where the stones are great at taking us there with Mick as our tour guide. If you see this album pick it up, skip "Dirty Work" and "Steel Wheels" and go straight to "Voodoo Lounge" and rewrite history as if those 2 albums were never recorded.Undercover is a classic from beginning to end.

A lot of people say EXILE ON MAIN STREET is the last great Rolling Stones album, but this album came out almost ten years later and it's almost as good. I remember in college being depressed all the time, homesick, ignored by professors, picked on by stupid stuck up jocks and rich kids, and I'd hear Mick singing "Too Much Blood" and he'd just make me laugh and laugh. "Oh no, don't saw off me arm. Oh no, don't saw off me leg." At Columbia College in the mid Eighties if you weren't a rich kid from Long Island you were nobody, the victim in a horror movie. Mick got what that felt like and made it funny. And then there was "Pretty Beat Up," which was about being knocked around for no reason and not giving up. And there are songs I didn't even hear until thirty years later, like "Pain Of Love" and "Feel On" which are just as good. A great album, with tons of soul grooves and an authentic reggae feel!

Packaged in perfect condition

All of the original Stones albums have been remastered and I have purchased all of them. The sound quality is great. I am enjoying them all over again.

For whatever reason none of these songs are necessarily my favorites but it totally works as an album. If you’re burned out on other stuff this is always a good listen.

Underrated but one of their best music. Love the songs and Keith sings on one! Better than a head in your refrigerator.