ROCKS OFF - The Rolling Stones Message Board

Welcome, Guest. Please Login or Register

ROCKS OFF - The Rolling Stones Message Board

Free optional entertainment since (at least) 14 July 1998

© The Rolling Stones

[ROCKSOFF.ORG][GIGOGRAPHY 1962-2023][ROCKSOFF ARCHIVES] [IORR NEWS][FORO EN ESPAÑOL][BIRTHDAY'S LIST] [MICK JAGGER] [KEITHFUCIUS] [CHARLIE WATTS] [RONNIE WOOD] [BRIAN JONES] [MICK TAYLOR] [BILL WYMAN] [IAN "STU" STEWART] [NICKY HOPKINS] [MERRY CLAYTON] [IAN 'MAC' McLAGAN] [LINKS] [PHOTOS] [JIMI HENDRIX] [TEMPLE] [ADMIN]

ROCKS OFF - The Rolling Stones Message Board › GENERAL › MAIN BOARD › 40 years of UNDERCOVER...Discuss

(Moderators: Gazza, Voodoo Chile in Wonderland)

‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›

Pages: 1

40 years of UNDERCOVER...Discuss (Read 664 times)

Paranoid Android

Rocks Off Regular

Offline

The Rocks Off Ladies Rule
You Bastards!!

Posts: 5,976
Chapel Hill, NC
Gender: male

40 years of UNDERCOVER...Discuss
Nov 7^th, 2023 at 10:51am

I've said it before...

I LOVE THIS ALBUM

!!

From Wiki:

The making of Undercover was an arduous process, largely because Jagger and Richards' famous mid-1980s row began during these sessions. Jagger was keenly aware of new styles and wanted to keep The Rolling Stones current and experimental, while Richards was seemingly more focused on the band's rock and blues roots. As a result, there was friction, and the tension between the two key members would increase over the coming years. A compounding factor was the fact that Richards had emerged (to an extent) from his self-destructive lifestyle of the previous decade, and thus sought a more active role in the creative direction of the band, much to the chagrin of Jagger, who had enjoyed nearly a decade in relative control of the band.

From the radio/MTV friendliness of the title track on to She Was Hot (so glad I got to here that live in AC,2006!!)
to the grisly song titles...the album oozes with guilty pleasures from start to finish.

Pretty Beat Up is a total rocker of the highest degree and brings up weird self-pitying images in those lyrics.
Who hasn't felt like that at times???

Too Much Blood?? Its considered a single (release, MTV video and all) but has never been played live
(would have been great to see/hear IMO...maybe with updated "Jagger rap").
It's never even been included in any compilation...(but Doom&Gloom has, go figure!).

Anyway...love it...and gonna listen to the album on the way home today with the top off (and the heat on, lol)
Should almost work out at 45 minutes long.

Wonder why I Think I'm Going Mad was left off and relegated to a b-side of SWH...Gazzapedia? Any ideas?

IP Logged

Gazza

Unholy Trinity Admin

Offline

Rat Bastid "We piss
anywhere, man.."

Posts: 13,186
Belfast, UK
Gender: male

Re: 40 years of UNDERCOVER...Discuss
Reply #1 - Nov 7^th, 2023 at 11:26am

I will defend the greatness of 'Feel on Baby' to my dying breath

And I like the dub version too

Its a loud, violent album - which seems to be a conscious decision because there are versions of well over 30 OTHER songs that have been bootlegged many of which, if fully realised, would have steered the album in a somewhat different direction

I think like most 80's albums, the production hasnt aged well.

Title track an absolute barnstormer too. And the three videos were excellent. Every single one of them managed to get banned or censored for various reasons (in the case of 'She Was Hot', one reason was for product placement of a soft drink)

The 'Fully Finished Outtakes' collection that circulated in 2021 threw up some gems - Mick's rewrite of Otis Redding's 'I've Got Dreams to Remember' , the horn driven 'Big Truff' and a finished version of 'Still In Love' (one of the most beautiful hooks on any Stones song, released or otherwise)

I always thought 'Pretty Beat Up' was a bit of a throwaway that could have been worked on more. Check out the 'Art Collins Tapes' that circulated a while back and theres a terrific instrumental of it with a brass section (its booted as 'Pretty Beat Up (XMAS Issue)'' - no idea why)

'I Think I'm Goin' Mad' has a strange history. It was actually recorded in early 1979 for 'Emotional Rescue' but didnt make the cut. They worked on it again for 'Undercover' and theres a 14 minute version with Keith on vocals. The version that they released as the B-side to 'She Was Hot' in early 1984 though is a 1979 version - but they've removed the original sax part by Bobby Keys and overdubbed a new one by David Sanborn (if you're familiar with David's work he has a distinctly more jazzy sound than Bobby)

Always liked that track. Deserved to be better known. They missed a trick when it was omitted from Virgin's heavily flawed 'Rarities' cash-in in 2005.

By all accounts, they couldn't find the master tape. Roll Eyes

IP Logged

ThomasOliver Rocks Off Regular Offline Posts: 170 Gender:	Re: 40 years of UNDERCOVER...Discuss Reply #2 - Nov 7^th, 2023 at 12:00pm Love this album. Bought it the day it was released. Quite different from the previous album Tattoo You. It became the last album during the lifetime of Stu. Sadly I no Iongrr have the insert which I think was for fans to join their official fan club.
Back to top	IP Logged

Brainbell Jangler

Rocks Off Regular

Offline

Rocks Off Rules You Bastards

Posts: 1,317
Portland, OR
Gender: male

Re: 40 years of UNDERCOVER...Discuss
Reply #3 - Nov 7^th, 2023 at 1:48pm

I remember watching a TV discussion of "violence in music videos" at the time; two panelists and a moderator. One guy was attacking the video for "Undercover of the Night" as being gratuitously violent; the other countered that the video was about political violence in Central America (Remember the shot of the Holiday Inn with "Bienvenidos San Salvador"?). The first guy was actually clueless enough to say that there was no political content in the video!

"The ROLLING STONES are more than just a group--they are a way of life."--Andrew Loog Oldham

IP Logged

ronnie-woody Rocks Off Regular Online Rocks Off Rules You Bastards Posts: 410 Gender:	Re: 40 years of UNDERCOVER...Discuss Reply #4 - Nov 7^th, 2023 at 2:15pm Don't like this one at all...probably among my bottom 5 of Stones records...one of my friends really loves it so I gave it another try recently for her sake but I still cannot stand it, except for like 3-4 song that I enjoy
Back to top	IP Logged

The Wick

Rocks Off Regular

Offline

Posts: 970

Re: 40 years of UNDERCOVER...Discuss
Reply #5 - Nov 7^th, 2023 at 3:00pm

Hugely underrated. Production on some of the songs makes them appear less than they are. Undercover being one of them, and the lyrics are at a touch dodgy but they explored some wonderful sounds. Feel On Baby is wonderful, and All The Way Down could have been so much more. Don't think this was written by Julian Cope but a great write up on Julian Cope's blog about it: https://www.headheritage.co.uk/unsung/thebookofseth/the-rolling-stones-undercove...

IP Logged

Paranoid Android

Rocks Off Regular

Offline

The Rocks Off Ladies Rule
You Bastards!!

Posts: 5,976
Chapel Hill, NC
Gender: male

Re: 40 years of UNDERCOVER...Discuss
Reply #6 - Nov 7^th, 2023 at 4:26pm

Gazza wrote on Nov 7^th, 2023 at 11:26am:

I always thought 'Pretty Beat Up' was a bit of a throwaway that could have been worked on more.

I love this song, but totally agree with your comment.

I always thought they could play PBU for their infamous walks to/from the B-stage...always thought a great cue for Hot Stuff as well.
Both songs are strut worthy

IP Logged

Voodoo Chile in Wonderland

Unholy Trinity Admin

Offline

The Stones are back you
bastards!!!!

Posts: 16,011
Wonderland
Gender: male

Re: 40 years of UNDERCOVER...Discuss
Reply #7 - Nov 7^th, 2023 at 7:58pm

I love this album too, that's why we have a header for it since 00:00 UK time, the picture on the header is my album, I bought it since it was released, not the very same day.

It was the one announcing Bill German's "Beggars Banquet" fanzine

Three videos from this album were recorded in Mexico City: "Undercover of the Night", "She Was Hot" and Too Much Blood", the first one before the release of the album

For me it is a great album, which, like GHS, was overshadowed by its predecessor.

Fav track: All

I only get my rocks off while I'm sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeping with your girlfriend!!

IP Logged

The Wick Rocks Off Regular Offline Posts: 970	Re: 40 years of UNDERCOVER...Discuss Reply #8 - Nov 7^th, 2023 at 9:04pm In light of Gazza's mention of Pretty Beat Up and your love of the album Voo, can't help but mention Ronnie Wood's live version, which is the best version of this song anywhere. Don't doubt you've heard it, but it's just so good and Bernard Fowler sings the hell out of it:
Back to top	IP Logged

Gazza

Unholy Trinity Admin

Offline

Rat Bastid "We piss
anywhere, man.."

Posts: 13,186
Belfast, UK
Gender: male

Re: 40 years of UNDERCOVER...Discuss
Reply #9 - Nov 8^th, 2023 at 9:36am

Brainbell Jangler wrote on Nov 7^th, 2023 at 1:48pm:

Classic interview on 'The Tube' when 'Undercover of the Night' came out and the video got banned

Muriel Gray gets up to her neck in self righteousness whilst Mick and Julien Temple tear her a new arse

IP Logged

Gazza Unholy Trinity Admin Offline Rat Bastid "We piss anywhere, man.." Posts: 13,186 Belfast, UK Gender:	Re: 40 years of UNDERCOVER...Discuss Reply #10 - Nov 8^th, 2023 at 9:53am Part of The Night - 58:56 I've Got Dreams to Remember - 1:16:00 Still In Love - 1:38:25 Big Truff - 1:45:34
Back to top	IP Logged

Goo Rocks Off Regular Offline Rocks Off Rules You Bastards Posts: 551 USA Gender:	Re: 40 years of UNDERCOVER...Discuss Reply #11 - Nov 8^th, 2023 at 12:09pm Great LP….. love the outtake of All the Way Down
Back to top	IP Logged

Gazza Unholy Trinity Admin Offline Rat Bastid "We piss anywhere, man.." Posts: 13,186 Belfast, UK Gender:	Re: 40 years of UNDERCOVER...Discuss Reply #12 - Nov 10^th, 2023 at 1:41pm Nice podcast from Justin on this record, uploaded today
Back to top	IP Logged

mojoman Rocks Off Regular Offline HMERLS Posts: 6,528 joyzee Gender:	Re: 40 years of UNDERCOVER...Discuss Reply #13 - Nov 13^th, 2023 at 9:00pm First record I spun after HD. The album doesn’t get old, the lady still does not approve of the refrigerator part……
Back to top	IP Logged

Pages: 1

ROCKS OFF - The Rolling Stones Message Board › GENERAL › MAIN BOARD

‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›

(Moderators: Gazza, Voodoo Chile in Wonderland)