Here’s a live album from Undercover that was recorded on 3-28-87, hence the name, at Six Flags Magic Mountain. The album has the vocal stylings of The Smiths we heard on their previous album, Branded. The album features all the usual hits from previous album but also has 2 previously unreleased tracks, “You and I” and “One to One”. The album is very well engineered and probably one of the better live albums in the late 80’s. I heard that this album was unofficially billed as their retirement tour but of course that proved to be untrue with many more albums coming out after this.
Tracklist
1 – Is Anyone Thirsty – 4:12
2 – I’m Just A Man – 3:46
3 – God Rules – 1:22
4 – Three Nails – 3:27
5 – Boys & Girls – 3:43
6 – I Love God – 4:08
7 – Cry Myself To Sleep – 2:32
8 – Darkest Hour – 3:32
9 – Build A Castle – 4:00
10 – Pilate – 3:07
11 – You And I – 2:55
12 – I’d Rather Stay – 2:58
13 – One To One – 3:59
14 – Come Away With Me – 4:42
15 – If I Had A Dream – 5:22
Credits
Artwork [Logo] – Rick Griffin
Backing Vocals [Support Singers] – Jim Chevalier, Joy Broome, Riki Michele
Bass, Keyboards – Joey (Ojo Taylor)
Design [Album Design] – Gene Eugene, Riki Michele
Design [Album Design], Photography By – Brian Ray
Drums – Gary Olson
Engineer – Ray Thompson
Engineer [Assistent Engineer] – Tim Pinch
Guitar – Gym (Gym Nicholson)
Lead Vocals – Sim Wilson
Mixed By [Mixing Assistent] – Dave Hackbarth
Mixed By, Producer, Design [Album Design] – Ojo Taylor
Photography By [Gary’s Drums] – Steve Lanning
Companies, etc.
Mixed At – 3-D Studios, Costa Mesa CA.
Mastered At – Motown Recording Studios
Edited At – Motown Recording Studios
My favorite Undercover efforts are “Balance of Power” and “Devotion” that came just after this one. The first album seems a deep and introspective dive into pain and crying out to God, done up in heavy chords, with some hooks that dig into the brain. Devotion is a tribute to the Christian heart that has battled the pain and sorrow and come out on the other side ready to move on with the love of God in hand. Sim Wilson has the perfect voice for this musical style. I have to admit to knowing every word of all the songs to the BOP album, often cranking up while driving or working or hanging out around home. I was a youth pastor for many years and had several kids myself, so I was always playing Christian rock music wherever we went. Imagine driving down the road with a van crammed full of kids, with all these voices singing to “Land of Luxury” with gusto!