Is Undercover The Stones' Most Overlooked Album? 

I own this album and probably listened to it 5 to 10 time ever. After watching this video I listened to it again and really liked it. I forgot how good it was.

Undercover is a fascinating, weird album. There's a gloomy atmosphere that emanates from this album. I love it. As a die-hard Stones fan, it's great to finally have such an interesting RU-vid channel with such a precise focus on the Stones' work. Thank you so much🙏🏻

Every track is AMAZING....videos to die for....God bless The Rolling Stones.

One of my favorite Stones albums--& sooo underrated. Fun fact: the initial Rolling Stone magazine review gave it 4 stars. But when sales did not match Tattoo You, they downgraded their rating to 2 stars--especially weird since in the Seventies post-Sticky Fingers, it was usually the reverse: pan the album initially, then upgrade the review later. The sound on this album set the template for many of their later releases, such as portions of A Bigger Bang, Doom & Gloom, etc.

I totally agree. This is a very good and sooooo underrated album. A real battle between modern Mick and traditional Keith. And the balance they find in the end is what makes the album not great but very good.

Yes. It's in my top 10 favorite stones albums. It's absolutely fantastic!

One of their grooviest albums... Though the overall tone is a bit dark, it's riff-tastic. 💜

Undercover of the Night should have been a smash hit...Top notch catchy song and in that era a compelling video (the banned one) .

I have to be honest, my first listening to this album was in 1983 on a cassette on a crappy Sony Walkman. Then, in the 90’s I bought it on CD, and I still wasn’t thinking that this was a great Stones album/CD. I do recall listening to it while watching The Day After a couple of weeks later---Undercover was on continuous play. Likewise, when I watched Threads a year later, it was on my headphones while watching….i just thought Undercover of the Night was a post Apocalyptic song at the time. But, a year ago, on eBay, I was able to purchase an unopened record from 1983. I played it on my Fluance turntable, mcintosh receiver and Klipsch RF7 III’s, and damn did this album finally reveal itself to me. Man, sonically it is better than Tattoo You, and I can finally understand what Mick was trying to do. Yeah, it’s a great album.

Love Undercover. Thank you for rehabilitating it to its rightful status in the Stones' catalogue ❤

The first time I got to know Rolling Stones was through the album Tattoo You. Even the album was my brother's album that I didn't buy. I understand that you might wonder how I could be unfamiliar with the Rolling Stones. However, as a Korean living in Korea during the era of military dictatorship, the Rolling Stones were viewed as a more controversial band compared to the Beatles. Unlike the Beatles, their music was prohibited by the government. for a long time. I've heard of them without knowing anything about them but it was a completely different world of music from 1980 pop and 70s hard rock that I heard before and I still think it's a completely different new thing from any group of music. And the album that I bought with the money my mom gave me for my birthday was a live album called still life. The roar of the huge audience was the first large-scale performance I encountered, and the performance of the first song under my thumb kept ringing in my head. After that, I looked forward to the new album a lot, but the album that came out then was undercover. That album was very disappointing, perhaps because of the high expectations. If you listen to it now, under cover of night was a pretty good song, but nevertheless, it felt like there was unnatural drumming and boring guitar. What's unfortunate is that the concept of this song is okay, but I feel that something needs to be refined. The music video also felt somewhat sloppy. People say the dirty work album is like a very bad album, and I admit that somewhere in the sound is pop and there's something weird about it, but at least Keith Richard's guitar was gorgeous and cool.

One of my favorites !!

Fantastic!

Always thought the Stones should have sued Michael Jackson for pinching the riff from Must be Hell for his hit Black and White.

Suprisingly this is actually my favourite era. Simply because it was my gateway into the Stones. Born in 73 and I remember discovering my dad's copy of Hot Rocks as a kid and finding interest in Paint it Black and 19th Nervous Breakdown. But as I grew towards my teenage years, MTV gave me Start Me Up, Shes So Cold and Undercover. This was MY Stones! Isnt it fantastic they've always been there, through all these years. Love the channel.

If you’re a true Stones you know that every one of their albums have some great songs; do what I do, compile them all in a great playlist

There is a lot to like on Undercover - Undercover, She Was Hot, Too Much Blood, Too Tough to name a few. I love the production and I thought it was a breath of fresh air when it came out.

I love this album I remember buying it at the record store in the fall of 83. Great songs like Too much blood, too tough and It must be hell to name of few! So underrated this album that I always enjoyed. Thanks for sharing this review

Another comment I might add, I reading that during the recording of Too Much Blood that Mick seemed almost possessed, as in the video, and the person observing it, said the look in Mick’s eyes was nothing he had seen before and literally scared him. When one plays with fire, they’re bound to get burnt…….Hang Fire baby

Good points. I Completely agree. I love this album. It's a top 5 album for me.

The best album for me, so fresh and distanced for what you were and are used to with the stones. Each song is great and different , no album fillers at all.

Álbum maravilhoso. A lista de ótimas canções é imensa: Undercover of the night, She was hot, The pain of love, Wanna hold you, Too much blood, All the way down…

She was hot is still one of the best rockers the Stones put out. Raunchy and sexy, best Keith's solo in the studio, it swings, it grooves. It's absolutely brilliant.

Funny that Pretty Beat Up doesn't do much for you. I love the shuffling beat on it. Very special! Further, I agree completely with you about the Stones adjusting their sound to the times. It was (and continues to be) essential for their survival as a great rock band, along with their roots in R&B and the blues (the Mick-Keith dynamic). On Hackney Diamonds I'm not crazy about the massive guitar sound; 10-20 years on we may find the band made the right choice changing up their sound. And who knows, perhaps it helps attracting a new audience. I see it as an ongoing thing that keeps the band relevant.

To me it is a stellar album to listen through from beginning to end. Much appreciated as it is the Stones expanding their sound in the way that Black and Blue and Emotional Rescue had done before Doesn't suffer from the worst of thet 80's sound the way recordings like Dylan's Empire Burlesque or some of the Jagger tracks on Dirty work do

In the moment when this album came out I was 13 yo, and I liked the songs I heard on the radio and on the tv. When She's the Boss came out I got into my rebel period, and the Undercover album was the first of the Rolling Stones for me; not counting Rolled Gold and Rewind - and not aware of the story behind it I was just stunned, I loved it. This album was the best one I ever heard. Today I know it's not the best album of all times, but I don't think that it has to be weaker than any other in any times day or night. It's more than a superb album. I love every second of it.

“It Must Be Hell” grabbed my attention the first time I ever heard it for one undeniable reason…all the subtleties/nuances in the guitar work. I challenge the staunchest legacy fans to put on some headphones and give it a close listen. Keith puts everything we love about his style of playing into this song. There’s not a single part of the choruses or verses that he plays the same way twice, from beginning to end. Love this album!

Awesome record

Nice narrative Justin, I was not into the 80s synth and drums, but it did grow on me, ..time mark 0:39. Mick is breaking all rules on handling Vinyl per the Post Discogs Era Vinyl code

Great reaction I love this album especially the video from she was hot.

We know what we got to do, and get the Stones (so called fan disappointment) albums out and circulated and appreciated. Great to do this and expose! AS far as most overlooked, I would say most post 81' is not respected, overlooked and not listened to as much as the obvious. This time period is the challenge to present our case. As you defined well, percussion all over this, I think 4 contributors. You did a great job bringing out your points and "why" fans need to re-evaluate this album with open arms and ears again. As we know, so so many fans want the old Stones, and that is not how they groove. That has to be accepted and understood first before listening to this. I look forward to working on this one myself, in time.

It's a very FUN album to listen to...IMO!

I made a similar playlist after Hackeny Diamonds was released (as well as making Justin's): Undercover (not late-era, but is the aural seed of Doom & Gloom), Rough Justice, Sweet Neo-Con, Anybody Seen My Baby.

That album was my favorite at the time. As a drummer myself I used to put it on my srereo and put it loud so I could play drums alon with it in my practice room

This was my first cd I bought from the Stones so it holds a very special place in my collection. There are some gems on it. I could care less what critics or fans who don’t like it. I knew of Some Girls and Tattoo You but I was a pre teen - so I bought this and knew it didn’t have the hits as those but I will’ed myself to like this with repeated plays. I still go to it - Undercover of the Night, She Was Hot but I love Pretty Beat Up and It Must Be Hell.

About She Was Hot (and the extended version): without the keybords (too 80's), could be like a new Dance Little Sister. Wonderful listen Charlie improvisin in the outro!!

It is ok to be biased towards albums and eras that you grew with when you were a teen. But my love for Undercover (and I do love this album) is something completely different: I discovered it in my 30s, about the last Stones album that I cared to listen at all. And I loved it immediately! Which, to a certain degree, means that it is objectively a very good album 😉 I agree with you Justin on, like, everything you said here, and thank you for that. Except for 'She Was Hot'. Sometimes, when I listen to this song, it seems to me that it is the best one they've ever written - and it is always the chorus. I mean the synths are just perfect here: mixed just the right way - not too shiny or annoying, with the electrified sound dating back, frankly, to the 70s rather than trying to sound "contemporary" in 1983. And boy, the countermelody during the "lost bayou" part is heavenly: played with taste and subtlety by great Chuck Leavell, it raises the song to another level: dreamy and nostalgic. This is pure perfection to my ears.

I bought this record the day it came out. More than any Stones album this one could really benefit from a complete Remix, like the Replacements Tim album. They should let Glynn Johns take a stab. I once read Ian Stewart had said something about how this record was shaping up to be a great Stones album until he heard the final mix. I think if the 80’s veneer were removed and it was mixed in more of a classic rock style it would definitely shine brighter.

Big Stones fan!!! I do enjoy this album

I like Undercover it’s a gritty album. When it came out in 83. I thought it got lost with so many albums out at that time. But to me it’s just as good as Tattoo You.

Justin! Once again you've gotten me out of my comfort zone, and into another great Stones LP...thanks so much! I was young enough to embrace Undercover when it first came out, being a rowdy teen, who loved to party and dance. I have fond memories of dancing up a sweat to Undercover and Too Much Blood. It's nice to go back to this one, and to listen to it with mature ears, and to watch those incredible videos. It reminds me of what a genius Mick is, how his video performances really add to the songs. And yes, some of those lyrics ARE quite raunchy but, that's the Stones in a nutshell: down and dirty! And that's why we love them! PS I happen to LOVE when Mick raps...whether on Too Much Blood, on Shattered, or on Miss You. He is simply the coolest! PPS you are such a great Ambassador for the Rolling Stones, I so appreciate your thoughtful take on things...thanks again!

Very pleased to find this review. A great album that I have consistently returned to over the years.

Undercover is certainly one of THE oddities in the Stones’ cannon. The tracks that take risks and attempt to go with the ‘80s vibe (Undercover of the Night, Feel On Baby, Too Much Blood) absolutely (and completely against the odds) “work”. I also like Tie You Up (the Stones and sexual sadism a match made in heaven!!) and Pretty Beat Up (listen to its snaking bass line - played by Keith!!). The rest of it so so but totally agree - its risks alone warrant more love. Don’t understand why Undercover of the Night is rarely played live. It was the last great Stones single before Doom and Gloom.

I was in 9th grade and bought it at my local record store, Melody Lane, in Lakewood, OH. I had $100 to spend and bought 4-5 albums with my XMAS money. My favorite one on it actually is Pretty Beat Up! lol and Too Tough. I remember bringing the album home and wondering what would be underneath those stickers. Relieved after peeling. lol Didn't want to get in trouble!

Great video. I do love the album myself. I'm surprised that you don't feel Pretty Beat Up belongs on the album. That song, along with Tie You Up are my favorites. Actually I think it would have fit nicely on Black & Blue. It has that repetitive groove going on & the sax solo is Amazing!! Another cool track from the album is Feel On Baby. Took me a while to warm up to it but I now think it's great. Lyrically it seems to be pretty much a love song but musically it has this creepy vibe that makes the whole song rather dark just like most of the album. I do agree with you about I wanna hold you. Doesn't really belong. I have heard Mick say it's kind of a throwback of an early Lennon/McCartney type of song & that's the problem with it. It's very innocent sounding . Not dark enough to be on this eerie masterpiece. LOL That's my 2 cents.

I was in High School when this came out...the second NEW stones album I bought...loved it then and love it now...still throw it on occasionally.

Thanks!

DIRTY WORK gets my vote.

How about a post script about Think I'm Going Mad? Loving your work!

I love this album. It ranks in my Top 10 Stones albums of all time.

Great analysis of She Was Hot. This was my first new record as a 12 year old Stones fan and I've always loved this song. I think I understand why a bit more now.

agreed. there is def some cool stuff on that album

I'll go ahead and say this and get this out of the way,for me this is the best album ever. I love every single song. Too Much Blood is an incredible track. Wanna Hold You for me is one of Keef's best songs.

I would like to do an virtual album of all the Stones under the radar songs ....

Love this album! So much energy! Didn't understand why it got lesser reviews. I love Wanna Hold You! haha! A little dark lyrically. But jammin! Thx for the vid!

We waited two years for this album. I have been along side this album since Day One.

I think Undercover is sort of a litmus test for one’s love of the band. Pretty Beat Up spoke to me particularly and I liked the band’s ballsy take on Tie You Up and All the Way Down. Let’s be honest, in youth navigating the world of sex and relationships can be a brutal, raw and hurtful realm. As a guy who had a heartbreak or two, I liked that the band addressed these facts and had a sort of a “give as good as one gets” attitude on the topic.

Undercover is in my top ten stones albums

This album is definitely overlooked great tracks on it. It must be hell is a stand out!😜

I have loved this album from the first time I listened to it. It's tight, rhythm based, and intense beginning to end. The experiments and fusions work. The sound is of it's time unfortunately. Still, I can't understand why this album isn't more fondly remembered.

tidbit for you, justin. bill wyman plays bass on Undercover of the night . robbie shakespeare plays on Feel on baby. -- on nov 1 1983 mick was interviewed by Alan Bangs at king george V hotel in paris to promote the album. when discussing the opening song, mick says that it is him ,charlie and bill on the basic track with ronnie overdubs and percussion by moustopha cisse and brahms condoul. the interview was broadcast on radio back in early december 1983. ---- just trying to help a fellow stones fan with vital ( not really ) information. cheers .!!

One of my favorites and most played of ALL the albums I own. I like it better than HD, which is saying a lot, because that new one is darn good.

Hard to believe this album came out 40 years ago. People don't understand that 1983 was a very odd year for music you had Michael Jackson's thriller Duran Duran new wave and rap music coming into focus. It's very hard for a more stately band to capture a new sound yet the stones pull it off on a few songs on this album.

Great album, they should have toured behind it. The extended mix of undercover should have been the the one on the album. Pain of love is my favorite off the album!!

Undercover I agree is a brilliant song ....I feel that some of the licks and grooves should be accentuated in the mix(brought forward ) because there is so much going on

Just paused to listen to She Was Hot extended. Great tip. I love Undercover and Tie You Up but over the years I think I've listened most often to Pretty Beat Up which I find to be a delightfully dirty, underbelly, jail-vibe jam.

Perfectly said Justin. Soundwise, this is a very diverse album.

I have never understood the negativity surrounding this album. I loved it when it came out and I still do. Probably a top ten album of theirs for me.

I dont underrate Undercover at all, remember that horrible Muriel Grey interviewing/ shouting down Mick Jagger on The Tube TV show banging on about the violent scenes in Undercover and Too Much Blood ( suggesting the Stones were using violence to sell their album and Mick staying cool. Thanks Hang Fire for your continuing devotion to the Rolling Stones, looking foward to the next one🕺👅🎵🎶🎸🥁🕺👅☘️🇮🇪

If I had to list their most overlooked albums Flowers Between the Buttons Goats Head Soup Black and Blue Undercover

Great video! I thought of a topic for you to cover. Do an in-depth video on the 4 new songs they wrote for 40 Licks. I haven’t seen much info on that.

I already was onfluenced by Charlie Watts and had been only 2 years at the time I learned to play drums. I was 18 or 19; at the time. But continued learning to play. I was in a few lical bands and then stopped in 2011/2012. Now semi retired drummer Hobby more now than anything. A good run from 1991-2012/2012, Then tried to testart in 2013 but didn't work out st the time. But I did it.

I love the album. In my top 5 Stones albums. It's like a mix of Exile and Emotional Rescue. Its the last album of their more youthful side before stepping over the hill and jettisoning that edge they had, with relevant content and their loose and candid approach. Agreed, Wyman's bass line on Too Much Blood is fantastic and often overlooked.

The album could have been much more successful if they had put a thicker sound on it. This would have fitted to most of the songs

Sly and Robbie always added fresh stuff to any production. for me as well, Stones are the best when they're out of their comfort zone. in this regard, Too Much Blood is their most fascinating song post-1980 for me. they should've tried at least once live, what a ride of a track. but even for older fans, how's She Was Hot not a classic like Start Me Up ? maybe it's down to the confusion as it's been previously declared that She's in fact So Cold. they should've put out the long version on the 12" single, I remember back then being very disappointed as a ten year old that it only featured the album version on there. I hope there'll be a deluxe edition of the album at one point

I remember the release of this album because I had just come to South Florida to go to University. It was a time of Miami Vice, South American Cocaine lord's and generally a wild time to be in Miami. The songs on this album fit right into that theme. It was also around the time Keith started getting his act together and he married Patty. At that time Keith was still kind of an intimidating junkie who carried around guns and knives. Most fans were waiting to hear Keef had died of an OD. I'm glad Keef is still with us. This album definitely reminds me of my "wilder" days 😄

Here’s my issue with Undercover. It was the album that broke the string - no real hit singles and the album failed to reach #1. In 1983 the idea a new Rolling Stones’ album wouldn’t reach #1 was just mind boggling. And it would only get worse with Dirty Work.

Undercover and dirty work I feel are overlooked and presumably for same reasons thier seems to be a point where some fans don't wish to hear anymore changes,the stones were never just one dimensional, but synths ,80's production seems to be breaking point for considerable amount of people. Maybe my coming into music around 86 meant a different outlook,I had heard 3 or 4 sixties albums before but 86 was first year I searched out music .

completely agree! Ive always figured Undercover was a great album. The 80s were just weird. hehe

"I Wana Hold You" should have been saved for another album, as it sounds totally different than everything else on Undercover. Sounds like it came from one of their early 60's albums.

Absolutest most underrated album as well as Dirty Work (The Rolling Stones were tired, Mick wanted his solopart, Keith wanted to go on tour ... there might by arguments between them, but the result of this album is to me one of the hardest, loudest album I have ever heard)!!!

It’s a Solid Album. The Title Track is epic Tie You Up Pretty Beat Up and It Must be Hell Rock out I am not a fan of the Drum Sound (80’s Compression) but otherwise a cool Album. Jagger’s Lyrics are fantastic. Too Much Blood is a classic dance tune

Having lived through the transition from 70's to 80's I believe the 70's was a decade of "flavours" that left room for bands to explore their own sound and for the most part they were successful, among the "top" bands anyway. You could easily tell what band was on the radio by the opening chords or at most the first couple of bars. In the 80's there was a shift toward a more uniform sound where more and more bands started sounding alike. Technology had something to do with this but not exclusively . MTV and videos became more popularly than radio, and the visual presentation started being more important than the song. It was the first decade I remember where there was less room for diversity. Different genres didn't coexist on the musical spectrum as much as it did in the 70's. Like many bands coming out of the 70's The Stones (mainly Mick) got caught up in a mindset that called for a new 80s sound. Just my thoughts on it, and I'll leave it up to the individual to decide whether it worked or not. It is worth noting that The Stones would eventually return to their classic albeit more mature sound starting with Steel Wheels in 1989.

Totally agree Justin!! Is the most overlooked stone album of the entire discography. I agree too with the highlights (the riff of Undercover is 100% Keith but the solo of Ronnie behind the riff is fantastic as also the solo and Charlie drums). Wanna hold you is a great Keith song but if you listen live in the Bridges to babylon tour is better than the studio version (I think it should be recorded better on the album, the plain sound that has is horrible). The another classic hit She was hot has on the album a guitar repeat effect that is a little too long and annoying at the end (the Shine a Light live version sound better I think, more vibrant and exiting). I love so much Tied you up, Too much blood (great video, great story) and It must be hell too. Maybe Undercover with Steel Wheels and Voodoo Lounge (that are the best last studio albums post 81') are the lastest studio albums with real stone classics hits (Dirty Work has the great One Hit to the body, Harlem shuffle that is the stone classic hit in the album is actually a cover song).

Great analysis of this album you have presented. It will be very helpful when I go back and revisit the album. While I have have always stuck with the Stones like barnacles on a pier, Undercover went Underplayed in my album collection. Perhaps it was the negative reviews and it not measuring up to the commercial performance of the last three albums that I treated it like the child who grew up and did not live up to the parents expectations. Will I am looking forward to getting to know this long lost son who I lost contact with many years ago. Take Care Lawrence :).

Hey yeah... I recall Undercover of the Night album, and I can dig your enthusiasm for it... I remember buying it thinking what the hell is this? Uhm, unlike you I didn't like or appreciate the opening track... it didn't make sense doing something like er Jimmy Hendrix doing 'Machine-gun' or something like that. Too much Blood makes more sense, and is probably the best track on the album... I know the story it's based on, but however, whatever. I thought some of the tunes you mentioned at the 'bottom' of the album like 'Too Tough' 'Pretty Beat Up. and 'It must be Hell' actually makes the album good... as you said all the guitar-work that was put in was great. Then, funny enough one of those trax actually use some bits of an earlier tune called 'Dance' ...quite liked that. So great, keep up the good work... watched you the other night, talking, walking us through the making of 'Hackney Diamonds. Ps. perhaps I should lissen to Undercover again!

I'm curious about your first Stones album and when you jumped on the train. If I had to guess I would say Steel Wheels era.

Time flies, isn't it? It was the first Stones album that i got to know. And i did it in 1991, because in 1983 i would be about 6-7 yrs old:) Personally, i always liked the sound of it. I also think that the first 3 songs are musically fantastic, the 4th sung by Keith gives it some balance, before the climate changes slightly with Feel on babe and Too much blood (both are really cool). Pretty beat up? Maybe a bit boring as a song, but has this great rhythm i always enjoyed... i have a small problem with the next two songs tho. I like them, but they seem bit like fillers here. They quite fit before the final song (which again has a great production) so that's quite alright. Overall, i think in many ways it is a very strong album, and maybe has some qualities that would rank it higher than other TENS like Some Girls, Emotional Rescue and Dirty Work. Maybe it's just sentiment speaking or maybe... :) maybe UNDERCOVER is simply the one for the die hard Stones fans and not for anyone else??... Thanks for bringing this, mate, and greetings from Szczecin, PL.

For 19 minutes and 36 seconds I waited so patiently for three words which never came and why I’ll never know…… Feel On Baby I guess you can say well every number on the album can’t be talked about, but apparently everyone but one can be. As mentioned, and if you see fit, please devote some time to this stones reggae classic. The 12 inch dub version as well.

I agree, but how you could ignore Feel on Baby, the most overlooked diamond of the album?

Absolutely! Great album. Same with Emotional Rescue. I know I rant and complain about newer albums but totally agree. I think their run from Between the Buttons to Undercover are untouchable. There are only two songs that I don't like through that run. Oh Cherry Oh Baby and Indian Girl. Those are instantly skippable and on my streaming service the downloads of those songs are deleted from the albums. Love your choice! I'd love a doc from Flipside on this record as there is not a lot of info on this time period. I do think Mick used alot of outside musicians on his songs. I'm curious about when Charlie's addictions started. I know Steve Jordan and Anton Fig played the majority if not all the drums on DW. Mick has stated as one of the reasons he didn't want to tour DW is the state of the band's health. Keith looks pretty good in the pictures in that time frame. Weird to think Charlie would have been one of the guys to prevent a tour. But they have certainly toured when Keith and/or Ronnie have had addiction problems but Charlie would have to be in good shape to play drums for 2 hours a night on a tour.

I think it is there most underrated album.

I always start with saying, our personal "Time line" is the key- A High school kid like me thought of Undercover and Tattoo You as "Our" albums. New and current sounds and videos to enjoy. Why do music fans and Stones 'fans' dismiss this album? 1980's album by most every band are plagued by dubious trendy technology that quickly was abandoned. Maybe the art direction could be called into question. Undercover (and Dirty Work) do not have classic slap the poster on your wall graphics. Perhaps the real tragedy was the lack of touring 1983-1988. Had more songs been given live arrangements, they would have been more fondly remembered. "Undercover of the Night", to me sounded good played live onstage. Mick seemed to attempt to perfect the live arrangement for a few tours 1989-1994-1999, etc. but would soon drop the only live representation of the album. I I was ecstatic when they revived" I Wanna Hold You" for The Bridges To Babylon Tour, and "She Was Hot" for the Bigger Bang Tour. Really, it could be the new MTV era pushing so many other acts on "sheeople". Tends became fashionable to follow, and new, less worthy corporate controlled (=$) bands were pushed. General music fans turned their sights elsewhere. Where fans di nit like 'dancy horn arrangements' on "Too Much Blood" , they went ape a year and a half later for Phil Collin's Sussudio. (?) For me, this is still and album I like to play- "Too Tough" is a hidden gem to the uninitiated. Maybe the only forgettable, skippable track is "Feel on Baby", but even that has some great Harmonica playing and some cool sounding Mick and Keith call and response backing vocals. A real hybrid of blues and dub reggae. So really, every track on this 1983 album has something to offer. Slashing riffs and some nice guitar figures even a taste of "Honkey Tonk Women" in "It Must Be Hell", The groove and Keith's bass runs on Ronnie's "Pretty Beat Up" is fun. We'd sneak on with 12"mixes of "Undercover of the Night" and "Too Much Blood" at parties...Girls still danced. Some dismiss another of these tracks, but the weaving and Mick's cutting lyrics and reflection we noted as a lesson, along with the boozy or dream like vocal bridge assist "All The Way Down". Give it a few repeated listens folks. Decide for yourself.

Wish they would had released an edit single of She's so Hot. I love the song but for the casual listener it doesn't work.

First music Where mick and Keith are over 40, and i think that answers a lot -- where/when the idea of being a solo artist was engendered into Mick. So i think with that backdrop Undercover suffers. It's Mick taking Stones to newer places that Keith wasn't ready to go. Tattoo You is an amazing album to me, but you make a good point that they were mostly rehashed songs therefore not exemplary of their nature in the time. And that to me is why Undercover seems out of phase. It's a Jagger album polishing his chops for branching out on his own. Never liked Undercover, but I'll give it a second listen based on your insightful redress. Dude, you should've been a rock critic in the 60s or 70s. You have great articulation in your analysis. Love this channel.

Totally fantastic record. Love it love it love it. But I'm with Mick: They're all good!

Great piece! Though I disagree about the #4 chart ranking. It was a huge disappointment and seemed to have set Jagger reeling. Think about it. You're coming off a decade plus of consecutive #1 albums and the most recent album was one of the most popular of those. You have teamed up with a hotshot video producer to grab the attention of MTV and have released it in Q4 to capitalize on holiday sales. Also this is your first music statement created and released in the 80's. You factor in all of this with more than enough Stones fans, and music fans in general, who should be chomping ar the bit for new truly 80s Stones and #1 should be a breeze. Plus you have the album coming on the heels of a top 10 hit (a luxury even the IORR album didn't have and it hit #1). I mean if you're Mick you are expecting another #1 album. But nope, it stalls at #4. 4!! It's like draft day and the once assured #1 pick is still in the green room halfway through round #1 of the draft. I love Undercover but the album laid an egg saleswise. The signs came early as it only debuted at #35 and was just #13 a week later. It would jump nine more places in week 3 and all ready to make its slower than expected rise to the top, right? Two of the tbree albums ahead are long in the tooth 52 and 24 chart weeks respectively. But nope none of the top 3 have budged and Undercover is now stuck at #4 a second week. And that is when it peaks. The streak of #1 studio albums is snapped by Lionel Ritchie, the Police and Michael Jackson. Insult to injury the following week as old friend Linda Ronstadt hits #3, knocking the Stones to 5th as the descent of Undercover begins before the New Years confetti falls. Emotional Rescue was #1 for 7 weeks, Tattoo You for 2 months, Some Girls and Black & Blue 2 weeks, Goats Head Soup 3 weeks... There are more #1s of course but you get the picture. A Stones studio album wasn't just expected to hit #1 but to have multi-week runs there. Peaking only at #4 obviously shook Jagger to the core and gave Richards further ammunition for the upcoming WW III. In less than a year Stones news goes from rumors of Stones opening 1984 Olympics to a Jagger solo album being produced. Undercover stalling at #4 was a huge deal and the fallout influenced the band long after.

Never mentioned: the last great album cover by the band.

I love this album start to finish. If the Stones always did the same thing, what fun would that be? And thanks for the overview.

I like this album quite a bit. Do I think it's a classic? No. But it has some classic songs. Background: My mom was a huge Stones fan in the 60s and 70s (I was born in 67) so I grew up on the Stones, but my first Stones record that I bought was Tattoo You. So I bridge the classic with the more modern era. Undercover and Too Much Blood to me are classics, but I don't think there is a bad track on here. Feel On Baby is probably the weakest. I really like Wanna Hold You... It's a very underrated Keith song is and is just pure hummable pop rock. Pretty Beat Up is a great tune that would have sounded great on Ronnie's Slide On This album. All The Way Down, Too Tough and She Was Hot are catchy pop rockers. It Must Be Hell is a great rockin jam to close things out. Reminds me a bit of the noisy jam of It Means A Lot from Keith's Talk is Cheap. It's a perfect Stones album to put on when you feel tired of all the big hits and want something that will get you moving and still feels fresh. I have an hour drive into the city today and am going to take this album for the ride.