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 ====== Undercover ====== ====== Undercover ======
  
-Power Pop / Punk Rock / New Wave / Alternative Rock\\+Pogo / New Wave / Punk Rock / Gothic / Alternative Rock\\
 Fullerton, California, USA Fullerton, California, USA
  
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 When Undercover released its first album in 1982, it was described by some as "Christian punk," characterized by high-energy anthems, rebellious themes, and short, three-chord songs. Mohawk hairstyles, tattoos, and torn jeans did little to convince people otherwise; nor did the next few albums, which contained punk versions of traditional hymns ("Holy Holy Holy"), shouted vocals ("God Rules"), and simplistic, direct lyrics ("Jesus is the Best"). The CCM Magazine review of their //God Rules// album claimed the band was New Wave rather than punk, as "the anarchy of punk is 180 degrees opposite of these boys." When Undercover released its first album in 1982, it was described by some as "Christian punk," characterized by high-energy anthems, rebellious themes, and short, three-chord songs. Mohawk hairstyles, tattoos, and torn jeans did little to convince people otherwise; nor did the next few albums, which contained punk versions of traditional hymns ("Holy Holy Holy"), shouted vocals ("God Rules"), and simplistic, direct lyrics ("Jesus is the Best"). The CCM Magazine review of their //God Rules// album claimed the band was New Wave rather than punk, as "the anarchy of punk is 180 degrees opposite of these boys."
  
-After the first album, Alba, Hersom, and Paylis all left the band. Alba joined [[The Altar Boys]]. Hersom left [[The Lifesavors]] before they recorded their first album and joined Undercover after their first one was recorded... but before the photo session, so he never actually played on Undercover (hence the “After Tracks" credit on the original cover). Hersom also left before //God Rules// was recorded. Gary Olsen joined on drums, while Taylor filled in the bottom end with keyboard-bass.+After the first album, Alba, Hersom, and Paylis all left the band. Alba joined [[The Altar Boys]] and has also released occasional solo albums through the years. Hersom left [[The Lifesavors]] before they recorded their first album and joined Undercover after their first one was recorded... but before the photo session, so he never actually played on Undercover (hence the “After Tracks" credit on the original cover). Hersom also left before //God Rules// was recorded. Gary Olsen joined on drums, while Taylor filled in the bottom end with keyboard-bass.
  
 "God Rules," the title track of the second album, is the song that set apart Undercover in the Christian music scene from the rest of the "beginning" bands. With the 1983 //God Rules// album, the band signed with [[A&S Records]], which brought wider national distribution. They started traveling and playing more outside of Southern California. "God Rules," the title track of the second album, is the song that set apart Undercover in the Christian music scene from the rest of the "beginning" bands. With the 1983 //God Rules// album, the band signed with [[A&S Records]], which brought wider national distribution. They started traveling and playing more outside of Southern California.
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 ==== Transitions and the Break-Up/Hiatus ==== ==== Transitions and the Break-Up/Hiatus ====
  
-Taylor described the two years between //Boys and Girls// and //Branded// as "the most difficult of my life.... personal tragedy and shattered ideological expectations stripped me of everything." Because of that, 1986's //Branded// took Undercover in a different direction with keyboard-laden melodies and darker, more introspective lyrics. In "Pilate", sung from the point of view of Pontius Pilate, the persona struggles with the guilt of having crucified Jesus, confessing, "I killed him, I killed him after all." Other song titles on this album were "Cry Myself to Sleep" and "Darkest Hour." //Branded// was voted “Album of the Year” by the readers of Harvest Rock Syndicate.+Taylor described the two years between //Boys and Girls// and //Branded// as "the most difficult of my life.... personal tragedy and shattered ideological expectations stripped me of everything." Because of that, 1986's //Branded// took Undercover in a different direction with keyboard-laden melodies and darker, more introspective lyrics. In "Pilate", sung from the point of view of Pontius Pilate, the persona struggles with the guilt of having crucified Jesus, confessing, "I killed him, I killed him after all." Other song titles on this album were "Cry Myself to Sleep" and "Darkest Hour." Taylor's divorce in 1985 influenced some of the darker lyrics, as well caused some controversy at the time. //Branded// was voted “Album of the Year” by the readers of Harvest Rock Syndicate.
  
 After the release of //Branded//, the label it was on ([[Blue Collar Records]]) went under due to the distributor not paying the label the money it was owed. The band had grown tired of the CCM scene, so they recorded a demo of songs without overt spiritual content to shop to major record labels. They started selling the demo and it became known as the //You & I EP//. After the release of //Branded//, the label it was on ([[Blue Collar Records]]) went under due to the distributor not paying the label the money it was owed. The band had grown tired of the CCM scene, so they recorded a demo of songs without overt spiritual content to shop to major record labels. They started selling the demo and it became known as the //You & I EP//.
  
-Undercover played what the band initially saw as its last concert as a functioning band on June 5, 1987. One live show was recorded and released as //3-28-87 Live//. Two songs from the //You & I EP// were played at the concert. Joey "Ojo" Taylor recorded and released a solo album as [[Ojo]] called //Relative// in 1988. Gym Nicholson and Sim Wilson formed a band called [[Boys Club]]. [[Broken Records]] released their first 4 albums on cassette as //Volume 1// and //Volume 2//. Former lead singer Bill Walden joined with members of [[Malcolm and the Mirrors]] to form [[The Mirrors]] and released as album called //I am Not Afraid// in 1990.+Undercover played what the band initially saw as its last concert as a functioning band on June 5, 1987. One live show was recorded and released as //3-28-87//. Two songs from the //You & I EP// were played at the concert. Joey "Ojo" Taylor recorded and released a solo album as [[Ojo]] called //Relative// in 1988. Gym Nicholson and Sim Wilson formed a band called [[Boys Club]]. [[Broken Records]] released their first 4 albums on cassette as //Volume 1// and //Volume 2//. Former lead singer Bill Walden joined with members of [[Malcolm and the Mirrors]] to form [[The Mirrors]] and released as album called //I am Not Afraid// in 1990.
  
 ==== Reuniting as an Alternative Rock Band ==== ==== Reuniting as an Alternative Rock Band ====
  
-The break up of the band proved to be short-lived, as they reunited to record and release //Balance of Power// in 1990. This album also went in a dark gothic alternative rock direction. They continued changing to various alternative rock styles on their next three albums.+The break up of the band proved to be short-lived, as they reunited to record and release //Balance of Power// in 1990. This album also went in a dark gothic alternative hard rock direction. They continued changing to various alternative rock styles on their next three albums. However, the band had intended to get away from the depression of //Branded//. But Nicholson's new wife was tragically killed three weeks before recording started and Taylor's mother was diagnosed with cancer.
  
-On their alternative rock releases, the band would continue to explore aspects of Christian life not frequently addressed by the CCM musicians who were finding increasing acceptance on secular airwaves and with secular audiences. The next several albums each differed slightly in musical tone from the others, but the introspective lyrics would be a constant through the rest of the band's career.+Their 1992 album //Devotion// was viewed as a rebellion to //Balance of Power//, with the band taking a lighter, but still heavy alternative, rock sound. The lyrics also became even more artistic and less direct. After //Devotion//, both Sim Wilson and Gary Olsen left the band.
  
-While the band has seen several members come and go (and come again), Taylor has said on more than one occasion that the band decided sometime after 1994's //Forum// that "Undercover is Ojo, Gym, Sim, and Gary," emphasizing that any other lineup, if any, would in the future be called something else.+For 1994's //Forum//, Undercover recruited Rob Gallas from [[Black and White World]] to sing lead vocals. Drum duties were shared between Chuck Cummings ([[Common Bond]], [[Dakoda Motor Co.]], [[L.S.U.]], [[Aunt Bettys]], and [[Fanmail]]) and David Raven of [[The Swirling Eddies]]. The album was still alternative, but very eclectic in nature. Many people felt that it did not sound like Undercover. Taylor has said on more than one occasion that the band decided sometime after 1994's //Forum// that "Undercover is Ojo, Gym, Sim, and Gary," emphasizing that any other lineup, if any, would in the future be called something else. However, the band seemed to go on another hiatus after //Forum// was released.
  
-==== Reunions and Reissues ====+On their alternative rock releases, the band would continue to explore aspects of Christian life not frequently addressed by the CCM musicians who were finding increasing acceptance on secular airwaves and with secular audiences. These three albums each differed slightly in musical tone from the others, but the introspective lyrics would be a constant through the rest of the band's career. 
 + 
 +==== Reissues and Reunions ==== 
 + 
 +In 1996 and 1997, [[Innocent Media]] released two box set collections of most of the music by Undercover up until that point. //Anthology Volume 1// (1996) was a 2-disc set that contained their first four albums (plus a three bonus tracks). //Anthology Volume 1// (1997) was a 4-disc set that contained their live album and final three albums (plus three bonus tracks). The //You and I EP// was not included on either box set. 
 + 
 +In 2000 and 2001, the band reunited to play two concerts. One was at Cornerstone 2000, and the second was at a [[Gene Eugene]] Benefit concert in 2001. Both concerts were recorded and released. The Cornerstone 2000 set was initially released by M8 music, but was quickly released with a new cover and the //You and I EP// as bonus tracks by [[Innocent Media]] in 2000. The 2001 concert was released as a CD-R by Galaxy 21 Music and [[Innocent Media]] with one new studio track - a cover of "Everyday People." 
 + 
 +The 2001 cover track also ended up serving as a prelude to an entire new album by the Nicholson / Taylor / Olson / Wilson line-up. In 2002, Undercover released //I Rose Falling//, an album that pushed farther into complex, artist rock.
  
 Undercover played two reunion shows in California in August 2005. In a message posted on the band's forum that month, Taylor wrote, "We are internally, as a band, trying to figure out where to go from here and what that might look like, given our life realities and burning desire to fulfill whatever musical calling we might have, too. We appreciate your prayers." Undercover played two reunion shows in California in August 2005. In a message posted on the band's forum that month, Taylor wrote, "We are internally, as a band, trying to figure out where to go from here and what that might look like, given our life realities and burning desire to fulfill whatever musical calling we might have, too. We appreciate your prayers."
 +
 +In 2011 Intense Millennium Records released a newly remastered stand-alone CD of //Branded//. It contained three bonus tracks - a demo of "I'm just a Man" and two live tracks from Cornerstone 2000. The artwork was also re-imagined for this release.
 +
 +In 2018, Lo-Fidelity Records completed a successful KickStarter for deluxe vinyl and CD remastered reissues of //Devotion//. In 2020, they also successfully funded deluxe vinyl and CD remastered reissues of //Balance of Power//.
  
 ===== Discography ===== ===== Discography =====
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 | 1984 | Slaughter of the Innocents ‎(7-inch) | [[A&S Records]] | | 1984 | Slaughter of the Innocents ‎(7-inch) | [[A&S Records]] |
 | 1986 | Branded | [[Blue Collar Records]] | | 1986 | Branded | [[Blue Collar Records]] |
-| 1987 | You & I EP | +| 1987 | You & I EP | B-1 Music | 
-| 1988 | 3-28-87 Live | [[Broken Records]] |+| 1988 | 3-28-87 | [[Broken Records]] |
 | 1988 | Volume 1 | [[Broken Records]] | | 1988 | Volume 1 | [[Broken Records]] |
 | 1988 | Volume 2 | [[Broken Records]] | | 1988 | Volume 2 | [[Broken Records]] |
 | 1990 | Balance of Power | [[Broken Records]] | | 1990 | Balance of Power | [[Broken Records]] |
 | 1992 | Devotion | [[Brainstorm Artists International]] | | 1992 | Devotion | [[Brainstorm Artists International]] |
-| 1994 | Forum | [[WAL]] |+| 1994 | Forum | [[WAL]] / [[Brainstorm Artists International]] |
 | 1996 | Anthology Volume 1 | [[Innocent Media]] | | 1996 | Anthology Volume 1 | [[Innocent Media]] |
 | 1997 | Anthology Volume 2 | [[Innocent Media]] | | 1997 | Anthology Volume 2 | [[Innocent Media]] |
 | 2000 | Live at Cornerstone 2000 | Millennium 8 | | 2000 | Live at Cornerstone 2000 | Millennium 8 |
 +| 2000 | Cornerstone 2000 | [[Innocent Media]] |
 +| 2001 | Gene Eugene Live Benefit Concert | Galaxy21 Music / [[Innocent Media]] |
 | 2002 | I Rose Falling | Galaxy21 Music | | 2002 | I Rose Falling | Galaxy21 Music |
 +| 2011 | Branded (25th Anniversary Edition) | Intense Millennium Records |
 +| 2018 | Devotion (deluxe remaster) | Lo-Fidelity Records |
 +| 2021 | Balance of Power (deluxe remaster) | Lo-Fidelity Records |
  
 ------ ------
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 ==== Branded ==== ==== Branded ====
  
-1986 [[Blue Collar Records]] (BCR003A)+1986 [[Blue Collar Records]] (BCR003A)\\ 
 +2011 Intense Millennium Records (IMR 007)
  
 Sim Wilson - Vocals\\ Sim Wilson - Vocals\\
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   - Come Away With Me (4:44)   - Come Away With Me (4:44)
   - If I Had a Dream (5:02)   - If I Had a Dream (5:02)
 +
 +== 2011 Bonus Tracks ==
 +
 +  - I'm Just a Man (demo) (3:41)
 +  - Tears in Your Eyes (live 2000) (2:06)
 +  - Cry Myself to Sleep (live 2000) (2:29)
  
 ------ ------
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 ------ ------
  
-==== 3-28-87 Live ====+==== 3-28-87 ====
  
 1988 [[Broken Records]] (BRKR 0500) 1988 [[Broken Records]] (BRKR 0500)
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 Contained the entire //Boys and Girls// and //Branded// albums. Contained the entire //Boys and Girls// and //Branded// albums.
 +
 +------
 +
 +==== Balance of Power ====
 +
 +1990 [[Broken Records]] (7100516676)\\
 +2021 Lo-Fidelity (LOFILP026 / LOFICD060)
 +
 +Sim Wilson - Lead vocals\\
 +Gym - Guitar, vocals\\
 +[[Ojo|Ojo Taylor]] - Bass, keyboards\\
 +Gary Dean Olson - Drums, vocals
 +
 +Dennis Murphy - Other voices\\
 +Inki Svensson - Other voices
 +
 +  - World Come Crashing Down (5:14)
 +  - The Way of the Rose (5:01)
 +  - The Eyes of Love (4:54)
 +  - Land of Luxury (4:41)
 +  - Time (6:28)
 +  - Love Me Dangerously (3:03)
 +  - Light of Day (3:06)
 +  - Last Rites (There is no Sky) (4:32)
 +  - Bridge of Life (3:29)
 +  - I Love You So (5:33)
 +  - Mea Culpa / Remember Me (6:21)
 +
 +== 2021 Bonus Tracks ==
 +
 +  - You and I (//You and I EP//)
 +  - Blood and Tears (//You and I EP//)
 +  - Just a Man (alternative mix) (//You and I EP//)
 +  - One to One (//You and I EP//)
 +  - How Far (//You and I EP//)
 +  - The Way of the Rose (Live @ C2K)
 +  - World Come Crashing Down (Live @ C2K)
 +  - You and I ([[Boys Club]])
 +  - Time ([[Boys Club]])
 +  - Love Me Dangerously ([[Boys Club]])
 +
 +------
 +
 +==== Devotion ====
 +
 +1992 [[Brainstorm Artists International]] (7100530679)
 +2018 Lo-Fidelity Records (LOFILP016 / LOFICD054)
 +
 +Sim Wilson - Vocals, cardboard box on "All That I Am"\\
 +Gym - Guitar, wooden box on "All That I Am"\\
 +[[Ojo]] - Bass, keyboards, plastic box on "All That I Am"\\
 +Gary Dean Olson - Drums
 +
 +Steve Griffith - Backing vocals on "Devotion"\\
 +Doug Webb - Saxophone on "Man, Oh Man"\\
 +Clay Jenkins - Trumpet on "Man, Oh Man"\\
 +[[Terry Scott Taylor]] - Additional vocals and vocal arrangements on "Promenade" and "All That I Am"
 +
 +  - Work It Out (4:25)
 +  - Man, Oh Man (5:40)
 +  - Sea of Tranquility (3:47)
 +  - Purple Flowers (4:56)
 +  - Devotion (6:17)
 +  - Promenade (4:46)
 +  - Where I Should Be (3:11)
 +  - Dark Night (4:28)
 +  - All That I Am (3:42)
 +  - So Wonderful (6:09)
 +
 +== Bonus Tracks on 2018 Reissue ==
 +
 +  - Cry Myself to Sleep (Gene Eugene Live Tribute) (3:06)
 +  - Witch Hunt (Gene Eugene Live Tribute) (4:47)
 +  - Devotion (Gene Eugene Live Tribute) (8:08)
 +  - Promenade (Acoustic Live) (4:41)
 +  - Devotion (Cornerstone 2000) (7:28)
 +  - So Wonderful (Cornerstone 2000) (4:12)
 +
 +------
 +
 +==== Forum ====
 +
 +1994 WAL / [[Brainstorm Artists International]] (701151502X)
 +
 +Rob Gallas - Vocals\\
 +Gym - Acoustic guitar, electric guitar\\
 +[[Ojo|Ojo Taylor]] - Bass, organ, Fender Rhodes, keyboards
 +
 +Chuck Cummings - Drums on "Spill," "The Moon and the Blue Around," "Pocket Full of Money," "The Overlook (Hosanna)," and "(Tell Me) Everything About You"\\
 +David Raven - Drums on "Forum (Lullaby)," "Symbol," "Carmenita," "Whoa Nelly," and "Union"\\
 +Squid Taylor - Additional keyboards on "Forum (Lullaby)," and "Union"\\
 +DJ Cut No Slack - Programming on "Forum (Lullaby)"\\
 +Nick Ariondo - Accordion on "Carmenita" and "(Tell Me) Everything About You"\\
 +Jim Sitterly - Violin on "Carmenita" and "(Tell Me) Everything About You"\\
 +Inki Svensson - Backing vocals on "The Moon and the Blue Around" and "Forum (Lullaby)"\\
 +Fred McGregor - Backing vocals on "Pocket Full of Money"
 +
 +  - Spill (4:41)
 +  - The Moon and the Blue Around (5:19)
 +  - Forum (Lullaby) (7:32)
 +  - Symbol (4:36)
 +  - Carmenita (3:44)
 +  - Whoa Nelly (4:09)
 +  - Pocket Full of Money (4:34)
 +  - The Overlook (Hosanna) (3:45)
 +  - (Tell Me) Everything About You (4:00)
 +  - Union (4:55)
 +
 +------
 +
 +==== Anthology Volume 1 ====
 +
 +1996 [[Innocent Media]] (IMD8403)
 +
 +Two CD collection. CD1 one contained the entire //Undercover// and //God Rules// albums, plus one bonus track at the end of the //Undercover// tracks:
 +
 +  - Dying in Love (4:28)
 +
 +CD2 contained the entire //Boys and Girls// and //Branded// albums. The //Boys and Girls// tracks had two bonus tracks. "Slaughter of the Innocents" (1:45) was included as a pre-gap track with these instructions: "To hear Slaughter of the Innocents, manually 'rewind' the CD once Boys & Girls starts. There is no song ID for it because some may not want to hear it every time they listen to the record." Additionally, they included one bonus track at the end of //Boys and Girls// tracks:
 +
 +  - Boys & Girls (Sim Wilson vocals) (3:32)
 +
 +------
 +
 +==== Anthology Volume 2 ====
 +
 +1997 [[Innocent Media]] (IMD8408)
 +
 +Four CD collection. CD1 contained the entire //3-27-87// album plus three bonus tracks:
 +
 +  - One to One (studio version 1993) (4:52)
 +  - Symbol (acoustic version 1993) (3:57)
 +  - O Come All Ye Faithful (1988) (3:28)
 +
 +CD2 contained the entire //Balance of Power// album, CD3 contained the entire //Devotion// album, and CD4 contained the entire //Forum// album.
  
 ------ ------
  
 //(...to be continued...)// //(...to be continued...)//
 +
 +------
  
 ===== Links ===== ===== Links =====
  
   * [[https://web.archive.org/web/20120222090339/http://undercover.medelle.com/|Archive of the Unofficial Undercover Website]]   * [[https://web.archive.org/web/20120222090339/http://undercover.medelle.com/|Archive of the Unofficial Undercover Website]]
undercover.txt · Last modified: 2021/06/01 03:08 by admin