Band Name: The Undertones
Music Album: Listening In. Radio Sessions 1978-1982
Album Release Date: November 2024
Music Genre: Punk Rock Indie Rock
Record Label: Sanctuary Records
Album Release Country: United Kingdom
Music Record Type: 27 Tracks CD
The Undertones formed in Derry, Northern Ireland, in 1975. Their debut EP, Teenage Kicks, was released by Belfast record shop owner Terry Hooley on his Good Vibrations label in September 1978. The song captivated Britain's top DJ, John Peel, who played the song on his BBC radio show. This attracted a deal from Sire, which released the band's debut LP in April 1979. That Autumn, The Undertones earned kudos as a support act on the Clash's American tour.
A second LP, Hypnotised, was recorded and released in 1980, followed in 1981 by their first LP for EMI, Positive Touch. The Sin Of Pride was released in 1983, shortly before the Undertones split up in the summer of 1983 after a series of summer festival gigs.
Feargal Sharkey launched a short-lived solo career, while the O'Neills won critical plaudits - but little sales - for their tough-minded political band, That Petrol Emotion. Hopes of re-forming the original lineup for John Peel's 50th birthday fell apart after the O'Neills' father died. Their first new album in 20 years, Get What You Need, was released in September 2003.
Original Line-up: John and Damian O’Neill - guitar; Michael Bradley - bass; Billy Doherty - drums; Feargal Sharkey - vocals.
| Session 1: John Peel | ||
| 1 | Get Over You | 2:54 |
| 2 | Top 20 | 1:59 |
| 3 | She Can Only Say No | 0:36 |
| 4 | Male Model | 1:52 |
| Session 2: John Peel | ||
| 5 | Listening In | 2:15 |
| 6 | Family Entertainment | 2:35 |
| 7 | Billy's Third | 1:51 |
| 8 | Here Comes The Summer | 2:01 |
| Session 3: John Peel | ||
| 9 | Nine Times Out Of Ten | 2:34 |
| 10 | The Way Girls Talk | 2:42 |
| 11 | Whiz Kids | 2:28 |
| 12 | Top Twenty | 2:02 |
| Session 4: John Peel | ||
| 13 | Girls That Don't Talk | 2:22 |
| 14 | Tear Proof | 2:17 |
| 15 | What's With Terry | 3:17 |
| 16 | Rock N Roll | 3:07 |
| Session 5: John Peel | ||
| 17 | The Positive Touch | 1:55 |
| 18 | You're Welcome | 2:11 |
| 19 | When Saturday Comes | 2:47 |
| Session 6: Richard Skinner | ||
| 20 | Like That (Song No. One) | 2:57 |
| 21 | Bye Bye Baby Blue | 3:23 |
| 22 | Beautiful Friend | 3:05 |
| 23 | (Just Like) Romeo And Juliet | 2:08 |
| Session 7: John Peel | ||
| 24 | Untouchable | 3:16 |
| 25 | The Love Parade | 4:11 |
| 26 | Luxury | 2:25 |
| 27 | The Sin Of Pride | 3:45 |
This compilation brings together all seven BBC radio sessions done for John Peel (except tracks 20 to 23 done for Richard Skinner):
- 1 to 4: recorded October 1978 at Studio One, Downtown Radio, Belfast. First transmission: 16/10/78.
- 5 to 8: Recorded 22/01/79 at BBC Maida Vale 4, London. First transmission: 5/02/79.
- 9 to 12: recorded 7/05/79 at Phoenix Studio, London. First transmission: 11/06/79.
- 13 to 16: recorded 21/01/80 at BBC Maida Vale 4, London. First transmission: 23/01/80.
- 17 to 19: recorded 16/11/80 at Eden Studios, London. First transmission: 9/12/80.
- 20 to 23: recorded 16/08/81 at BBC Maida Vale 4, London. First transmission: 26/08/81.
- 24 to 27: recorded 8/11/81 at Private Studio. First transmission: 7/12/81. [Booklet says 8/11/1982 and 7/12/1982 respectively but that is incorrect; the liner notes confirm that it is 1981].
Track 20: Like That was originally transmitted as Song Number 1.
℗ 2004 The copyright in this compilation is owned by Sanctuary Records Group Ltd
© 2004 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd.
Released under licence courtesy The Undertones Ltd. and by arrangement with BBC Music.
Made in the E.U.
All songs published by West Banks [sic] Songs Ltd / MCA Music Ltd
except track 16 published by MCA Music Ltd and track 23 published by Jobette [sic] Music (UK) Ltd.
Tracks 1 to 8, 13 to 16 and 20 to 23 - Released by arrangement with BBC Music.
Tracks 9 to 12, 17 to 19 and 24 to 27 - Released under licence courtesy The Undertones Ltd.
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