If I struggled to find a few songs to like on the Rolling Stones "Undercover" back in 1983, I’m struggling to find one I don’t like now. Some songs, like “Too Much Blood” and “She Was Hot,” are all-out, fantastic record making, the latter building up slowly, modulating and finally exploding. “Pretty Beat Up” has a groove so nasty, you can see the sweat through the speakers. "It Must Be Hell" has a riff that was recycled for the inferior "Rock And A Hard Place," my least favorite track on "Steel Wheels." It's better here. And Keef’s “Wanna Hold You” is a hook machine.
So it's not your Decca-era Rolling Stones, or your holy run of Mick Taylor Rolling Stones, and that's okay. It doesn't need to be. It's 1983 Rolling Stones and it deserves better for sheer audacity.
On a five star scale-
1983- **1/2
2025- ***1/2
Next Monday, Volume Two of Records That Are Better Now Than They Were Then.
39 comments:
This was the first Stones album I bought when it first came out so I have always loved it. I was 13 years old. It sounded nasty and transgressive and I am going to listen to it again now!
Great Richie Havens Who cover. Who knew Havens was still making music in 2008? I listened to the Undercover tracks, and while they are a bit better than my memory, I’m not at your level of enthusiasm. But what I did notice is that Charlie Watts is flipping great (no surprise). I mean I knew that, but he makes these songs worth hearing again.
I'm listening through headphones, and you're absolutely right. It is fantastic record making, and the songs aren't bad.
I totally agree with you. Rolling Stones albums always seem to get better with time.
Captain Al
I always though that album was underrated.
And BTW -- that Richie Havens Who cover is pretty freaking amazing. 😎
I’m on this bus. I’ve read a few critics who believe that this was the last great Stones album. :)
I love this topic. And, you are spot on. I wonder if we were grading on a curve in 83 without realizing it.
I have another theory, something I am trying to write up but haven't been able to put together without sounding like a jerk. (Though that has never stopped me before.) But it's basically about forming an opinion and running with it. Like climbing Everest and getting so far up, there is no turning back.
"Sgt Pepper" is the best Beatles' album. (No it isn't.)
"Bob Dylan can't sing." (Yes he could.)
"The Grateful Dead suck." (No they don't.)
"Stones became shit once Ron Wood joined." (Wrong again.)
"Disco sucks." (Nope.)
Most don't have the time or desire to go back and reevaluate. I have both and it's been very rewarding over the last 20 years.
I really liked this album when it came out but aside from the title track and She Was Hot, haven't spent much time with it in decades. So will need to revisit. I think the album was considered under rated as it was the follow up to Tattoo You and didn't match that. And then came the dreadful Dirty Work.
This happens to me all the time. The latest example is The Beach Boys' "That's Why God Made the Radio". When it was first released, I hated it. Since Brian's passing I've been going back and re-listening to a lot of stuff that I had dismissed and found that I loved their last. album.
I can't remember the last time I even attempted to listen to "Undercover", as I've always had a very poor opinion of it.
This is a great idea. Looking forward to subsequent volumes.
Great new topic! Thanks for sharing.
I am in full support of this new weekly feature.
I don’t think I’ve listened to this album since shortly after it came out. Always did like the title track.
This is a great topic! I think on a lot of these records when they were released, we graded on a reverse curve; our expectations were so high based on their output over the previous decade, it was hard to look objectively at their current output. Looking back 40 years later, it's clearer where there was true inspiration and where they were following the trends of the day. That being said, Undercover to me is the last of the Stones still being kind of greasy, unpolished and dangerous. I love it!
Bryan
That was me, by the way.
You have some great points in the Everest comment.... makes me think I should listen again to Goodbye Cruel World and It's Hard and maybe a few others
Spent my early teens with Aftermath, but the Tattoo You/Undercover/Dirty Work triptych always brought me enjoyment. Are they better than Beggar's Banquet or Let It Bleed? Nope, but what is?
Another example of the Everest thing...and I have dozens thanks to my years in music retail---I had a regular who hated Springsteen. The first time he said it, we were listening to the "Tracks" box so I asked, "Why do you hate him?" He said in a very smackable tone, "I'm not from Jersey. I don't own cars. I don't like the beach. I never worked in factory."
Okay, I get it. You can't/won't try to relate. That wasn't the problem. The problem was, for ten years, if Bruce was playing, he'd say the exact quote in the same smackable tone, to anyone who would listen.
People heard music they didn't like 50 years ago and still use that memory to explain all subsequent music. It's really annoying.
That should read: "to explain away all subsequent music."
Hey, Kevin M:
I love half of Dirty Works!
Captain Al
The beginning of a great series. Looking forward to more.
First of all, I LOVE the Stones early-80's mall-parking-lot years. And I think one of the best things about aging is that I get to look at music again and see what speaks to me now. I used to think that Lou Reed was a flat-out genius. I'm realizing now that it was mostly because he acted like a genius and I was very impressed by that when I was younger. I still think the VU was genius. Reed's solo work seems a lot spottier now and, honestly, a lot more nasty. On the other hand I just watched the Billy Joel doc. I've hated Billy Joel my whole life, like it was part of my identity. The doc changed my mind. The guy is just a flat out great songwriter. May not always be my thing but there's no denying the talent (at least to me). But I really love revisiting stuff and realizing that I've changed and can listen with new ears.
I too wasn't crazy about Undercover when I first heard it but now I think it's really good. After initially loathing Dirty Work I now also enjoy it a lot as well. Too Rude and Sleep Tonight are great Keith songs and with the exception of Winning Ugly and Back to Zero (which I can take or leave) the rest of the album is pretty good. I would acknowledge that the legacy of the Stones before Ronnie Wood is more iconic but I find that I listen to the Ronnie years albums more than the pre-RW years so if I'm honest with myself I'd have to say that I like that era best.
I've been an unabashed Billy Joel fan since "Turnstiles." That doc only sealed the deal for me. Billy is another who gets the "Rock & Roll For Dummies" snobbery. But I will say, some of Billy Joel's biggest hits are truly horrible. I guess if you didn't sign up early, it might be hard to sign up after hearing "Big Shot" and "Still Rock & Roll To Me." Though after the doc, I don't mind those anymore. (Actually, still hate "Big Shot.")
Big Shot was my Hating Billy Joel origin story. And I still steer clear of that one. But I've revised my opinion on a lot of the other stuff.
I wouldn't say that "Undercover" and "Emotional Rescue" are "better" than their more esteemed predecessors, "Tattoo You" and "Some Girls," but I think I enjoy them more, thanks to some combination of their own merits and overexposure to the predecessors.
I love the "better now than then" idea. "Goodbye Cruel World" and "Mighty Like a Rose" are two EC albums that fall into that category for me. Also "Caribou" and :Rock of the Westies." Bruce H.
Agree, great idea for a series.
Now see what you have done? Soon everyone is gonna re-evaluate Voodoo Lounge and say what a great record that is LOL
Like all the above commenters, I think this series is a great idea. Undercover sounds stronger today than yesterday…and I’m diggin’ it! But the thing that drove me here today is the Reggae Album of the Week. Two Sevens Clash is Culture at their finest moment (and they have tons of great moments!) Big Up!
"I have another theory, something I am trying to write up but haven't been able to put together without sounding like a jerk. (Though that has never stopped me before.)" Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
cmealha: yeah, That's Why God Made The Radio is pretty good. Esp the title track and the closer "Summer's Gone, " which has added poignancy since Brian died. But was always lovely.
I would fess up to Shelby Lynne's I Am Shelby Lynne. I really liked her Western swing album Temptation (though I think she felt shoehorned into it) and so I Am Shelby Lynne was not what I wanted from her and I bristled at all the acclaim saying "Finally!" as if she'd never done anything good before so it took me a long time to come around to it. But it's a lot easier to talk about albums I got too excited about and now downgrade, though I try to be reserved in praise.
Above comment by me re: Culture should read “Culture at their fine first moment” etc…
I really liked the Billy Joel doc, but still hate his records. That said, I've always thought line about walking through Bed-Stuy alone was a cool NY-centric bit on par with Lou Reed.
interesting premise
That’s a great idea! 10 - 15 years later, it’s almost like a new release- I remember a few songs of the songs I liked at the time, but not the rest of the album. And since it’s been sitting there for years, I’m not comparing it the most recent albums that preceded it. That should be interesting!
And most importantly, it's a mother of an album to dance to. Expressively. Avoid overthinking it. Just dive into the groove and let it free you. It ain't any good if it doesn't make me glisten.
VR
Yep, I agree. Picked up Undercover cheap several years ago just because, knowing that I liked a couple of songs and was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked the rest of it. I'm glad to own it.
Hey, I am thrilled to find people who haven't written off the Stones for the mid 80s albums - Undercover and Dirty Work are both fascinating to me. I tried to love Steel Wheels as much as them but I can't quite pull that off.
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