Description
The self-titled debut album by the American alternative rock band Undercover was released on MRC Records in 1982, a sub-label of Maranatha! Music. The album was recorded by Tim Pinch and Dan Willard at Rapture Repertory Theatre’s Warehouse and C.C.C.M. on Pinch’s Mobile Recording (except for “Look It Up”, recorded at Whitefield Studio in Santa Ana, California). Produced by Dan Willard and band member Joey Taylor. Arranged by the band.
On the debut album Undercover featured Bill Walden (lead vocals, alto sax), Joey Taylor (organ, piano, synthesizer, casiotone, vocals), Ray Hersom (rhythm guitar, after tracks), Jim “Nuclear” Nicholson (all guitars, vocals), Rick Alba (bass and vocals) and Danny Pavlis (drums and vocals).
Joe Taylor outlines the years between 1976 and Undercover’s formation in 1980:
I went from Calvary Chapel over to John Wimber’s church. At the time it was just a Bible study in his living room; eventually it became Calvary Chapel of Yorba Linda and later Vineyard Christian Fellowship. John’s son Chris was a founding member of Lifesavors. Before Lifesavors he was in a band called Boaz and I was in a band called JC Rose. Both bands had lineups that were constantly changing and intermixing. Eventually, they became Lifesavors and we became Undercover. The idea of being in a rock band and singing Christian music… you had the Jesus movement and such, but we were going to take that to a whole new level. We weren’t thinking about it in those terms, though. We were playing the music we liked and singing about what was important to us.
[Interview with Joe Taylor of Undercover. Excerpt from the book ‘First and Forgotten: The Story of Christian rock’s neglected pioneers as told by the artists themselves’ by Jerry Wilson, 2008]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Excuse Us” – 2:45
A2. “Heal Me” – 2:15
A3. “I’ll Be A Fool” – 1:15
A4. “Francine” – 2:45
A5. “It’s Official” – 2:20
A6. “Turn Your Head” – 2:45
A7. “Look It Up” – 2:40
Side Two
B1. “Read It In A Letter” – 2:05
B2. “Daddy-O” – 1:15
B3. “Tonight” – 1:47
B4. “Stop” – 2:50
B5. “He’s In Love With You” – 2:45
B6. “I.C.U.” – 2:40
B7. “He Gives We Have” – 2:25
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by MRC Records. Re-issued on CD and cassette by Broken Records in 1988 as a part of the compilation album Undercover Vol. 1 also featuring God Rules, the band’s sophomore album.
Interview with Bill Walden of Undercover, June 2024.
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