Undercover
Released: November 1, 1983
Label: Rolling Stones
Popular Songs:
- Undercover of the Night (YouTube)
- She Was Hot (No Official YouTube Video Available)
- Too Much Blood (YouTube)
Songs You Need to Listen To:
- All The Way Down (No Official YouTube Video Available)
- Wanna Hold You (YouTube)
Dirty Work
Released: March 24, 1986
Label: Rolling Stone, Columbia
Popular Songs:
Songs You Need to Listen To:
Review Written By: Andy Trcka
November 1, 2019
My friend Brad and I forever have it out for one another. We disagree about political candidates, on-goings around The Paul (i.e. paid parking on Grand Avenue), and music (for example, I’m sane and dislike David Bowie). One of our biggest quarrels involves people: Brad believes I like too many, I think Brad needs to like more. Aside from the David Bowie disagreement, the reality is, to varying degrees, we’re both right and wrong. This is worth mentioning because I wonder if my over appreciation of people has leaked into other facets of my life? For example, music.
Sometime this spring Michael Kopischke called me out for not listening to enough Stones. He then asked me to alert him to some quality tunes or albums that might otherwise fly under his radar. Doing this would require diving deeply into their catalog to refamiliarize myself. Needless to say, I accepted Michaels’s request. Honestly, of all the favors a friend could ask, one that involves listening to kickass rock and roll is hardly drudgery. I decided to start with albums I hadn’t called upon in a while. Chief amongst these were the lukewarm mid-80s offerings Undercover and Dirty Work. This might be my artist/musical bias speaking, but I figured there had to be some previously unearthed gems from these efforts; despite their undistinguished critical reception. In fact, when I told my brother Joe I was endeavoring to digest Dirty Work he said, “good luck getting through it.”
While mowing grass, as the background at backyard BBQs, cranking away at work – I spent a month immersed in Dirty Work and Undercover. And yes, I learned to really enjoy PARTS of these albums. Admittedly, I cut artists I enjoy slack…for goddsake I once spent an entire summer with Dylan’s Under the Red Sky on heavy rotation. As detailed in the reviews below, for some, enjoying as much as I do, I might be cutting the Stones too much slack. But I genuinely believe every Stones track has a situation of which it’s optimally enjoyed. It’s just a matter of finding the situations!
Recently Tim Kopischke and I were in Minneapolis to attend a living room concert hosting Matt Talbot of Hum. About 50 mid-90s alternative music fanatics crowded into a living room. TK and I had never been to a concert in such an intimate setting and were unsure of exactly what to expect. We did know a 6 pack of beer was needed to properly enjoy the show. So we juked up to Lake street to pick up some suds. “Undercover of the Night” was playing loudly at Chicago Lake Liquors. Previously I had never liked that song, but at that moment, in the urban humdrum that is Lake Street…I loved it. The store was a crossroads: winos cobbling together enough coin for a Steel Reserve, dapper businesspeople debating 12 or 16-year-old scotch, college kids lugging torso-sized 30 packs of lager, and TK and I procuring Summit EPA to enjoy while sitting on the floor of a stranger. “Undercover of the Night” song couldn’t fit the scene more perfectly.
Odd are greatly against these albums becoming your favorites. In fact, even as a devout Stones fan I’d roll my eyes if you said as much. But as far as mediocre efforts are concerned, these two records aren’t that bad. Sure, according to Brad’s logic, my friendliness might extend itself a little too far, including towards these albums, but I promise you there’s some good stuff!
Dirty Work
The stones slowly developed their own 80’s/rock/upbeat/jammy sound. It’s a studio polished sound “One hit (to The Body)” is an example of this sound, so are “You Got Me Rocking” & “Sparks Will Fly”). One or two of these “rocking” songs sprinkled in a Setlist are ok, if not fun, but not more than that. Dirty Work (given the time it was released) has a number of songs at this sound/tempo (perhaps too many).
Internal strife and troubles plagued the recording of this album. Mick and Keith were enthralled in their usual creative differences. Sadly, according to Wikipedia’s description of the recording sessions, Charlie Watts was absent from some sessions as he was battling heroin addiction. Most disturbingly, founding member Ian Stewart died of a heart attack in December 1985. An uncredited, hidden track, “Key To The Highway” (Stewart piano solo) concludes the album. It is a touching tribute to an original Stone. In his autobiography (Life) Keith Richards says: “Ian Stewart. I’m still working for him. To me, the Rolling Stones is his band. Without his knowledge and organization…we’d be nowhere (quote pulled from Wikipedia).”
Given I enjoy a smattering of their modern, up-tempo rockers, there are a few songs worth a listen (especially if mixed into a setlist/playlist). As album – lyrically it is thin, there is no flow, and it’s a mishmash of influences (e.g. the reggae’ish “Too Rude”). Overall, it suffers the same error of much late-career Stones…overproduction.
Every classic rock band has some stinkers. As far is stinkers are concerned, this stinks but could smell worse. Songs worth a listen include “Sleep Tonight,” “One hit (to The Body),” “Fight,” “Harlem Shuffle.”
Undercover
Digging into mid-80’s Stones is like a watching a 40-year-old Major Leaguer. Sure you’ll see some greatness, i.e. an occasional homer. But in reality, strikeouts are more frequent, bases are rarely stolen and they might even be missing from the lineup. This era is widely regarded as the pits for the stones, their worst. Much has been written of Mick and Kieth’s feud(s) during this period. Classic albums can emerge from such tumult, think Abbey Road or Let It Be.
Unfortunately Undercover is not such a case. Their tensions are evident as the flow of the album isn’t exactly inspiring. However, like the silver-haired slugger who won’t hang up the cleats and occasionally hits a game-winner, Mick and company deliver a handful of treats with Undercover.
The Good…
“All The Way Down,” could slip nicely into Some Girls. While lyrically simple, “Too Tough” is a fun rocking song. While I already noted it, I need stress you shouldn’t expect too much lyrical depth in Undercover. Listening is fun, bu for maximum enjoyment, watch the video for “Too Much Blood.” The Stones must have been motivated by Michael Jackson and decided to make their own miniature horror movie/video. Regardless of their motivations, “Too Much Blood” is pleasing. And let us not forget of the only discernable hit of the album still regularly played in concert – “She Was Hot.” This is perhaps their last “classic” hit.
The Bad…
You might find some enjoyment in the following tracks, but they didn’t move me. “Feel on Baby” is just too busy. “Pretty Me Up,” while not outwardly terrible, is worth skipping because stylistically it isn’t distinguishable amongst a number of the fast-paced rockers on the album. Overall on Undercover and the follow-up album (Dirty Work) there is a problem with tempo and style; many songs kinda bleed together. “Tie You Up” is just flat-out not worth a listen.
Regarding Undercover and Dirty Work…
If I had my druthers these albums would have been combined into a single album. Perhaps the title could have been Dirty Undercover? Fortunately, the music industry has evolved and we have the power to create our own versions of Dirty Undercover! I suggest the following as a playlist:
| Track | Album |
| Too Much Blood | Undercover |
| One Hit (To The Body) | Dirty Work |
| Sleep Tonight | Dirty Work |
| Fight | Dirty Work |
| She Was Hot (Live Version Click Here) | Undercover |
| All The Way Down – Official Version (alternate Version click here) | Undercover |
| Harlem Shuffle | Dirty Work |
| Wanna Hold You – Official Version (Live Version click here) | Undercover |
| Too Tough | Undercover |
| Key To The Highway (Piano Instrumental) | Dirty Work |
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