Undercover (dance group)
Encyclopedia
Undercover were a dance music
group
from the UK
, who had two Top 10 hits
in 1992. The vocals
on all the group's songs were sung
by John Matthews, The band were formed in 1991, and are still active today.
of Gerry Rafferty
's 1978 UK/U.S.
hit "Baker Street
". It became their biggest hit when it reached #2 in the UK Singles Chart
in September 1992, held off from the top only by another dance track "Rhythm is a Dancer" by Snap. It was the 11th biggest selling single of 1992 in the UK, and also attained major chart success across europe, selling over a quarter of a million units in Germany alone.
Undercover released five more chart singles
. The second single was a cover of Andrew Gold
's "Never Let Her Slip Away
", coincidentally also originally from 1978. It reached #5, and stayed in the UK chart
for a total of 11 weeks. After the success of these two singles, an album, Check Out the Groove, was released, reaching #26 in the UK Albums Chart
. "I Wanna Stay With You" (a cover of the Gallagher and Lyle
song) and "Lovesick", both from 1993, managed #28 and #62, respectively. In 1994, Undercover released a new single, "Best Friend", and their second album, Ain't No Stopping Us. .
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
group
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
from the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, who had two Top 10 hits
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
in 1992. The vocals
Human voice
The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, etc. Its frequency ranges from about 60 to 7000 Hz. The human voice is specifically that part of human sound production in which the vocal folds are the primary...
on all the group's songs were sung
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
by John Matthews, The band were formed in 1991, and are still active today.
Overview
The first single they released was a cover versionCover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Gerry Rafferty
Gerry Rafferty
Gerald "Gerry" Rafferty was a Scottish singer songwriter best known for his solo hits "Baker Street", "Right Down the Line", "Days Gone Down", "Night Owl", "Get It Right Next Time", and with the band Stealers Wheel, "Stuck in the Middle with You". Rafferty was born into a working-class family in...
's 1978 UK/U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hit "Baker Street
Baker Street (song)
"Baker Street" is a ballad written and first recorded by Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty. Released as a single in 1978, it reached #1 in Canada, #2 in the US, #3 in the UK, #1 in Australia and #9 in the Netherlands...
". It became their biggest hit when it reached #2 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in September 1992, held off from the top only by another dance track "Rhythm is a Dancer" by Snap. It was the 11th biggest selling single of 1992 in the UK, and also attained major chart success across europe, selling over a quarter of a million units in Germany alone.
Undercover released five more chart singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
. The second single was a cover of Andrew Gold
Andrew Gold
Andrew Maurice Gold was an American singer, musician and songwriter. His works include the Top 10 single "Lonely Boy" , as well as the singles "Thank You for Being a Friend" , and "Never Let Her Slip Away" ....
's "Never Let Her Slip Away
Never Let Her Slip Away
"Never Let Her Slip Away" is a song written by Andrew Gold, who recorded it for his third album, All This and Heaven Too. The single reached #5 on the UK Singles Chart chart and #67 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978. Freddie Mercury, in an uncredited appearance, recorded sparse backing vocals with...
", coincidentally also originally from 1978. It reached #5, and stayed in the UK chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
for a total of 11 weeks. After the success of these two singles, an album, Check Out the Groove, was released, reaching #26 in the UK Albums Chart
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
. "I Wanna Stay With You" (a cover of the Gallagher and Lyle
Gallagher and Lyle
Gallagher and Lyle was the Scottish pairing of singer-songwriters Benny Gallagher and Graham Lyle.-Career:They joined forces in 1959, initially as members of the local Largs based band, The Bluefrets. They began writing original material for the band and also wrote "Mr Heartbreak's Here Instead"...
song) and "Lovesick", both from 1993, managed #28 and #62, respectively. In 1994, Undercover released a new single, "Best Friend", and their second album, Ain't No Stopping Us. .
Singles
- "Baker StreetBaker Street (song)"Baker Street" is a ballad written and first recorded by Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty. Released as a single in 1978, it reached #1 in Canada, #2 in the US, #3 in the UK, #1 in Australia and #9 in the Netherlands...
" 2 Germany, #2 Switzerland; #2 UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
; #2 Netherlands; #3 Austria; #7 Sweden, September 1992 - "Never Let Her Slip AwayNever Let Her Slip Away"Never Let Her Slip Away" is a song written by Andrew Gold, who recorded it for his third album, All This and Heaven Too. The single reached #5 on the UK Singles Chart chart and #67 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978. Freddie Mercury, in an uncredited appearance, recorded sparse backing vocals with...
", UK #5, November 1992 - "I Wanna Stay With You", UK #28, February 1993
- "Lovesick", UK #62, August 1993
- "Best Friend", 1994
- "Viva England", UK #49, July 2004
Albums
- Check Out the Groove, UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#26, December 1992 - Ain't No Stopping Us, 1994