(Yes, clearly I have too much time on my hands.)

I've been transferring the Stones' catalog to one of my iPods recently, and yesterday I got to Undercover. Every reference I've checked uses that one-word title. But on both the front cover and disc, the name is clearly split into two words: "Under Cover." So which is correct, and why?

The (more or less) title track is certainly one word--"Undercover of the Night." I vote for one word.

I went to the Stones' official website to see how it was spelled there ... and guess what, the album is missing from their discography! It's like Mick and Keith personally didn't want you to know, Ven.

Grammatically, "under cover" should be two words as it's used for the album title (a double meaning) and the single title ("under cover of the night" as in "under cover of darkness", not "an undercover agent"). But grammar is meaningless in the context of an artistic creation, it's really whatever the band intended. You could decide that the way it's printed on the cover is correct, or the way it's printed in the song title is correct.

Without an official statement from the Stones, it's probably best to default to Jimbo's judgment.

Normally Jimbo's word is good as gold to me, but even he can't trump my OCD tendencies. That space between the words is there, and it's not going away....

Guess I'll have to ask Mick next time I run into him.

I don't have any of my Stones stuff here (see my earlier post about my Britney stuff) but the song "Undercover Of The Night" is always spelled in just that manner, even when it has popped up on other Stones discs. And Linda once gave me the link to a Stones site that spells it as one word http://www.timeisonourside.com/lpUndercover.html

"Undercover" as one word, definitely.

How about Rolling Stones or The Rolling Stones?

The official site clearly says The Rolling Stones:

http://www.rollingstones.com/

Bizarre that Undercover is not listed! Will check some official Stones publications tonight.

This reminds me of my thread over whether the early stuff by Manfred Mann should be alphabetized before or after the Manic Street Preachers.

(For the record, I picked before. If I ever buy any stuff by Manfred Mann's Earth Band, that will go after.)

Authority/reasons?

I understand the title of the song "Undercover Of The Night" uses the one-word "undercover," but to me that's not a sufficient reason to assume the title of the album is meant to be the same. Again, I turn everyone's attention to the space in the actual printed title on the cover. Why is it ignored?

All are consistent in using Undercover (as well as "The Rolling Stones").

One of the greatest record covers, ever!

(The back side, too).

Love that backside!

I enjoy the album....maybe not their best but its enjoyable to me ( I owned it on lp.....might have been the last Stones lp I bought).

Not really. The cover just says "Rolling Stones". If anyone has their vinyl handy, I'd be interested in knowing what it says on the record label and spine.

The record label is in the top photo above -- appears to be all one word.

I don't know how I missed the label, but what I was looking for if it was Rolling Stones or The Rolling Stones.

I enjoy it too; I remember first buying it on cassette. I'd love to see an deluxe version with the extended 12" version of "Too Much Blood" and "Think I'm Going Mad" (the B-side of "She Was Hot")

Speaking of the "She Was Hot" 45, here's the back of the original picture sleeve. Again, note the spelling of the title of the album:

The use of "Undercover" on the original vinyl label is compelling enough evidence for me. Thanks!

I was disappointed that Virgin didn't release a mini-lp CD version of Undercover along with the rest of the 70s/80s catalog. The colorforms would've been a nice touch.

Or a "Dirty Work" mini-sleeve, wrapped in red cellophane!

Go with Jimbo, Ven. He is wise is all matters relating to the Stones. He has all their CDs...and even the ones they didn't make.

The book According To The Rolling Stones also lists the title as Undercover