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Undertones

From: Derry

Active: 1975-1983

Style: Punk/Powerpop

Lineup:

Bio:

Classic powerpop punk. The debut single and the Hypnotized LP are indispensible.

The debut single was recorded at Wizard Studios in June 1978. The band had already been rejected by Radar, Stiff and Chiswick by this time. It was released in September on Good Vibrations and within a month or so the band had signed to Sire. The Sire reissue charted well and on October 22nd 1978 the band made it's debut appearance on Top of the Pops.

The Undertones are very well served elsewhere on the net so I don't intend to repeat it all here. I list all UK releases here plus any interesting foreign releases. Singles in exotic foreign picture sleeves or with sufficiently different contents are considered interesting -- Canadian Sire promos in company sleeves are not! For a complete discography check out the official site or even better the exhaustive unofficial site at theundertones.net (see links below). Also check out the Punk in Derry site for more background info.

Some notes: Ardeck was the bands own label launched in 1981. Feargal Sharkey later launched a successful solo career, releasing mainstream pop records. He later worked in the music business. Other members worked as the inexplicably underachieving That Petrol Emotion who recorded some great songs, but never quite managed that killer LP.



 


Discography

• Teenage Kicks EP
7" - Good Vibrations Records - GOT 4 - UK - September 1978 - different colored poster PS [7000 copies]
1st press with titles printed upside down and Undertones credit on cover
2nd press with titles printed correctly but no Undertones credit on cover
7" - Sire Records - SIR 4007 - UK - October 1978 - matt black finish title sleeve
12" - Ardeck Records - 12 ARDS 1 - UK - June 1983 - uses Sire sleeve

Notes:
The Good Vibrations poster cover was printed on various colour sheets including white, pink, mustard and green. Produced by Davy Smith of Wizard Studios who later recorded as No Smokin' as a direct result of the success of "Teenage Kicks". Engineered by Davy Shannon, who also played on No Smokin''s single.

• Teenage Kicks / Smarter Than You
7" - Sire Records - WBN 17585 - Netherlands - 1980 - unique PS



• Teenage Kicks / True Confessions
7" - EMI Records - 2C 008-62177 - France - 1980 - unique PS


• Teenage Kicks / Emergency Cases
7" - Ardeck Records - ARDS 1 - UK - June 1983 - PS (uses Sire sleeve)


• Get Over You // Really Really / She Can Only Say No
7" - Sire Records - SIR4010 - UK - 19 January 1979 - scarce PS


• Jimmy Jimmy / Mars Bars
7" - Sire Records - SIR 4015 - UK - 20 April 1979 - black vinyl/regular PS
7" - Sire Records - SIR 4015 - UK - 20 April 1979 - green vinyl/PVC PS
7" - Sire Records - 100 679-100 - Germany - 1979 - unique PS
7" - Sire/Hispavox Records - 45-1869 - Spain - 1979 - unique PS


• s/t
LP - Sire Records - SRK 6071 - UK - May 1979 - inner sleeve, B&W cover
LP - Sire Records - SRK 6081 - UK - November 1979 - inner sleeve, colour cover, bonus tracks
LP - Ardeck Records - ARDM 1647391 - UK - July 1983 - colour cover, bonus tracks
LP - Fame Records - FA 3188 - UK - October 1987 - colour cover, bonus tracks
8track - Sire Records - M8S 6081 - USA - 1979


• Here Comes the Summer // One Way Love / Top 20
7" - Sire Records - SIR4022 - UK - 13 July 1979 - PS
7" - Ardeck Records - ARDS 4 - UK - 1983 - PS

Notes:
The Ardeck reissue was available only as part of a double-pack with ARDS 6 (below)


• You've Got My Number / Lets Talk About Girls
7" - Sire Records - SIR4024 - UK - September 1979 - diecut PS
7" - Sire Records - 2C 008-63503 - France - 1979 - different PS
7" - Sire Records - 101 164-100 - Germany - 1979 - UK front cover on both sides



• s/t EP
10" - Sire Records - TONE1 - 1980? - promo only EP, 1000 copies, some numbered

Notes:
The back cover contains the text "This is a limited edition of 1000. Your personal number is_____" with a hand-written number in the space provided. Un-numbered copies are not overruns, they are simply un-numbered copies. For some reason (writers cramp?!), not all 1000 copies were numbered.



• My Perfect Cousin / Hard Luck / I Dont Wanna..
7" - Sire Records - SIR 4038 - UK - March 1980 - yellow border
7" - Sire Records - WBN 17618 - NL - March 1980 - red border
7" - Ardeck Records - ARDS 6 - UK - October 1983 - red border
2x7" - Ardeck Records - ARDS 6 - UK - October 1983 - double-pack with ARDS 4
12" - Ardeck Records - 12 ARDS 6 - UK - October 1983


• Hypnotised Appetizer EP
12" - Sire Records - SAM 120 - UK - 1980 - 6-track promo, custom black PS with white graphics


• Hypnotized LP - Sire Records - SRK 6088 - UK - April 1980 - inner sleeve + "lobster mobile"
LP - Sire Records - WBN 56821 - NL - April 1980 - inner sleeve
LP - Sire Records - RJ-7671 - Japan - 1980 - obi + insert
LP - Ardeck Records - 15 7643 - NL - July 1983


• Wednesday Week / I Told You So
7" - Sire Records - SIR4042 - UK - June 1980 - PS
7" - Sire Records - 102 330-100 - Germany - 1980 - different PS


• When Saturday Comes // Jimmy Jimmy / My Perfect Cousin
7" - Sire Records - PSR 461 - UK - 1981 - PS, promo only, some with 1981 euro tour sticker
7" - EMI Records - 1A-006-64587 - Netherlands - 1981 - PS


• It's Going To Happen / Fairly in the Money Now
7" - Ardeck Records - ARDS 8 - UK - April 1981


• Positive Touch
LP - Ardeck Records - ARD 103 - UK - May 1981 - inner sleeve


• Julie Ocean (different version) / Kiss in the Dark
7" - Ardeck Records - ARDS 9 - UK - July 1981


• Beautiful Friend / Life's Too Easy
7" - Ardeck Records - ARDS 10 - UK - February 1982


• Love Parade / Like That
7" - Ardeck Records - ARDS 11 - UK - October 1982
• Love Parade EP
12" - Ardeck Records - 12 ARDS 11 - UK - October 1982

Notes:
The 3 live-in-the-studio tracks on the B-side include between song banter.



• Got To Have You Back / Turning Blue
7" - Ardeck Records - ARDS 12 - UK - March 1983
7" - EMI Records - 1A-006-65119 - Netherlands - 1983 - different PS
12" - Ardeck Records - 12 ARDS 12 - UK - March 1983


• Sin of Pride
LP - Ardeck Records - ARD163 - UK - March 1983 - black inner sleeve


• Chain Of Love / Window Shopping
7" - Ardeck Records - ARDS 13 - UK - April 1983
• All Wrapped Up (A+B sides)
2xLP - Ardeck Records - ARD 1654283 - UK - November 1983
• All Wrapped Up (A sides)
LP - Capitol Records - ST-12358 - USA - 1983


• s/t (The Video Music Collection)
VHS - ??? - UK - 1984
collects 6 promo videos


• Cher O'Bowlies
LP - EMI Records - EMS 1172 - May 1986
LP - EMI-Fame Records - FA 3226 - 198?

Notes:
Issued during Feargal Sharkey's solo success.


• Save Me / Tear Proof
7" - Ardeck Records - ARDS 14 - UK - May 1986
• Save Me / Tear Proof / I Know A Girl
12" - Ardeck Records - 12 ARDS 14 - UK - May 1986


• Peel Session 22.01.79
12" - Strange Fruit Records - SFPS 016 - UK - November 1986
CDS - Strange Fruit/Castle - SFPSCD 016 - Holland - 1989
Entered the UK indie singles chart on 20.12.86 for a 8 week run peaking at #6


• Peel Sessions 1979-1982
LP - Strange Fruit Records - SFR 103 - November 1989
Collects three Peel sessions


• Teenage Kicks. The Story of the Undertones
DVD - ??? - 2005

Notes:
65 minute made-for-TV documentary including seven promo videos plus live footage from the 1999 reunion



• An Anthology
2xCD - Salvo - SALVODCD209 - UK - 22 September 2008
First disc is a best of, the second contains 27 previously unreleased demos and live recordings.

Notes:
65 minute made-for-TV documentary including seven promo videos plus live footage from the 1999 reunion



Radio Sessions

• 1st Peel Session
Broadcast 1 October 1978
Recorded at Studio 1, Downtown Radio, Northern Ireland


• 2nd Peel Session
Broadcast 22 January 1979
Recorded at Maida Vale Studio 4


• 3rd Peel Session
Broadcast 21 January 1980


• 4th Peel Session
Broadcast 8 November 1982


Bootlegs

• BBC In Concert #232 (19 April 1980)
LP - details?
this should exist as a BBC transcription disc.


• Live To Air
LP - Happy Porpak Records - SEX 3532 - Australia 0 1980s
Split LP with The Buzzcocks

Notes:
A murky AM copy of the BBC In Concert #232 show. The entire original disc is squeezed on to one LP side -- it sounds terrible! A pity, as like most Happy Porpak titles, this is a very nice looking bootleg.



• Teenage Kicks - Live!!
LP - no label - ULST-5 - 1980s
Another copy of In Concert #232, similarly murky sound -- avoid!


• BBC In Concert #256 (19 May 1981)
LP - BBC Transcription Services - CN 3830/S - 1981 - green+black label
• Classic In Concert #21 (19 May 1981)
LP - ???

Notes:
Recorded live at The Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead on 19 May 1981. Catalogued by the BBC at In Concert 3256 and Classic In Concert #21. The latter may not exist as a transcription disc.



• "Whatever You Want"

Notes:
The Undertones were recorded live at The Ace, Brixton on 18 November 1982 for later broadcast on Channel 4's TV show "Whatever You Want". As far as I know this show has not turned up on bootleg. Was it broadcast?



• Sight And Sound In Concert (22 February 1983)
LP - BBC Transcription Services - ??? - UK - 1983

Notes:
Sight And Sound In Concert shows were simultaneous TV and FM radio broadcasts, so this show was always common on tape and is now circulating on DVD-R. Although I haven't seen a copy yet, there must be a BBC Transcription disc. Recorded at The Regal Theatre in Hitchin on 22 February 1983. Note this is not BBC IN Concert #302.



• BBC In Concert #302 (15 March 1983)
LP - BBC Transcription Services - CN 4177/S - UK - 1983
• BBC College Concert #33 (15 March 1983)
LP - ??? - USA - ???
• School Bullies (15 March 1983?)
CDR - CTM Records - ??? - 2005?

Notes:
Live at Reading University. 15 March (or possibly 16 March) may be the broadcast date rather than the actual recording date. BBC College Concert #33 is a USA pressing of BBC In Concert #302 for distribution to US college radio stations. The School Bullies CDR claims to be from 18 March 1983 but this is probably an error.



• Unearthed
LP - Nasty Nasty Records - NASTY 005 - ??? - 300 numbered copies


• TV Collection 1978-1981
DVDR - CTM - ??? - 2005

Notes:
Collection of TV performances including Top of the Pops appearances 1978-1980; Old Grey Whistle Test 1979; Something Else BBC 1980 ("There Goes Norman"); Rockpalast 1980; and BBC Sight & Sound 1981 special.



• Live in Essen 1981 (17 October 1981)
DVDR - bootleg

Notes:
The Undertones performance at the Grugahalle, Essen on 17 October 1981 was broadcast live on German TV (Rockpalast). This DVDR contains the full length concert (21 tracks, 55mins approx) plus five original promo videos: Teenage Kicks / My Perfect Cousin / Wednesday Week / It's Going To Happen / The Love Parade



• An Anthology
Previously Unreleased Live & Demos
LP - ??? - ??? - UK?/Sweden? - 2008 - foc, clear vinyl

Notes:
Bootleg LP regurgitating the first 15 (of 27) tracks of the second disc of the officially released "An Anthology" 2xCD set. This is the kind of release that gives bootlegs a bad name. Did we really need a vinyl rip of (half of) the CD? Zero imagination has gone into this bootleg. Even the front cover is recycled. Avoid.




Help!

We need your help to correct and/or complete this entry. If you can provide more information about this band, have scans, photos or any other memorabilia we can use, or spare copies of any releases, then please get in touch.




See Also: Feargal Sharkey, That Petrol Emotion

External Links: www.theundertones.com (official site), theundertones.net (exhaustive fan site) is no longer online, Punk in Derry



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