Underneath the Radar

This article is about the album. For the song from the album, see Underneath the Radar (song).

Underneath the Radar
Studio album by
Underworld
Released16 February 1988 (1988-02-16)
Recorded1987
GenreFunk, rock, synthpop
Length48:06
LabelSire[1]
ProducerRupert Hine[2]
Underworld chronology
Underneath the Radar
(1988) 		Change the Weather
(1989)
Singles from Underneath the Radar
  1. "Underneath the Radar"
    Released: April 1988
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[4]

Underneath the Radar is the debut album by Underworld, released in 1988.[5][6] The album was a success in Australia, South Africa and the US (where it reached number 139 on the Billboard 200). The title track of the album was released as a single which reached top five on the ARIA singles charts and number seventy-four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

The album was recorded in one continuous single take and was promoted as such to underscore the technical expertise of the band members.[7] Promotional appearances for the album's release featured the band playing the entire album live and in sequence.

Critical reception

Trouser Press wrote that "Rupert Hine’s production of Underneath the Radar gives it a sturdy dance backbone and the familiar sound of late-'80s British techno- beat; Heaven 17 leaning towards the Thompson Twins."[2] MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide deemed the album "much more of a modern rock effort."[1]

Track listing

All songs by Karl Hyde, Rick Smith, and Alfie Thomas.

No.TitleLength
1."Glory! Glory!"5:42
2."Call Me No.1"5:05
3."Rubber Ball (Space Kitchen)"3:38
4."Show Some Emotion"4:24
5."Underneath the Radar"6:05
6."Miracle Party"1:26
7."I Need a Doctor"4:51
8."Bright White Flame"5:09
9."Pray"5:43
10."The God Song"6:01

Personnel

  • Karl Hyde — lead vocals, guitars
  • Alfie Thomas — guitars, backing vocals
  • Rick Smith — keyboards, backing vocals
  • Baz Allen — bass
  • Bryn B. Burrows — drums

Production

Charts

Chart (1988) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[8] 32
U.S. Billboard 200[9] 139

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[10] Gold 35,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 1181.
  2. ^ a b "Freur". Trouser Press. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  3. ^ AllMusic review
  4. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 8. MUZE. p. 349.
  5. ^ "Underworld | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  6. ^ Thompson, Dave. "Underworld Dubnoboxsetbasswithmyheadman". Goldmine Magazine: Record Collector & Music Memorabilia.
  7. ^ "Happy Anniversary: Underworld, UNDERNEATH THE RADAR | Rhino". rhino.com.
  8. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Underneath the Radar – Underneath the Radar". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  9. ^ "Underworld". Billboard.
  10. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 28 November 2021.