On February 28th 2020, BMG are pleased to announce the release of The Undertones ‘West Bank Songs 1978-1983 – A Best Of’, featuring 30 tracks from their original recording period, 1978-1983. Compiled by the band.
Available as a double LP with 2x140g coloured vinyl discs with gatefold sleeve, the release features 7 top 40 hits (including 4 top 20s): ‘Teenage Kicks’, ‘My Perfect Cousin’, ‘Here Comes the Summer’, ‘Jimmy Jimmy’, ‘You’ve Got My Number (Why Don’t You Use It!)’, ‘Wednesday Week’, ‘It’s Going to Happen!’ plus the Kevin Shields 2016 remix of ‘Get Over You’. Mastered from HD master sources under the supervision of Undertones guitarist Damian O’Neill, the tracks are taken from the band’s 4 critically acclaimed original studio LP’s; ‘The Undertones’ (1979), ‘Hypnotised’ (1980), ‘Positive Touch’ (1981) and ‘The Sin of Pride’ (1983).
With LP artwork inspired the Rolling Stones’ ‘Aftermath’ – an important influence on the band, ‘West Bank Songs’ also features a 12-page booklet, including rare and previously unseen photos, with new notes written by Undertones bassist Michael Bradley. The gatefold sleeve includes excerpts from the Faber & Faber book ‘Fried & Justified: Hits, Myths, Break-Ups and Breakdowns in the Record Business 1978-98’ by Mick Houghton.
Pre-order link here
THE UNDERTONES
‘WEST BANK SONGS 1978-1983 – A BEST OF’
DOUBLE LP, COLOURED VINYL WITH GATEFOLD SLEEVE
RELEASED FEBRUARY 28TH 2020 VIA BMG
30 TRACKS
COMPILED BY THE UNDERTONES
GATEFOLD SLEEVE WITH COLOURED VINYL & NOTES BY MICK HOUGHTON
RECORDINGS FROM THE FIRST 4 STUDIO LP’s, INCLUDING ALL THE HITS
12 PAGE INSERT WITH NOTES BY MICHAEL BRADLEY + RARE & UNSEEN BAND PHOTOS
The Undertones emerged from Derry, Northern Ireland in 1974, the result of five friends learning how to play basic rock and roll. Even by the standards of that decade, Derry was not the rock and roll capital of anywhere and with no live bands worth watching, they learned their trade by listening to mail order records, reading one of the few copies of NME that made it to Derry but most of all from listening to John Peel’s show on BBC Radio One.
Practicing in their bedrooms eventually led to the band recording ‘Teenage Kicks’ in 1978 on Terri Hooley’s Good Vibrations label in Belfast. A copy was sent to the legendary DJ John Peel and he liked the track so much he played it twice in a row on his radio show!
Eventually signing to Sire Records, ‘Teenage Kicks’ was re-released, resulting in the band’s first appearance on Top of the Pops. Over the next five years, John O’Neill, his younger brother Damian, Feargal Sharkey, Billy Doherty and Michael Bradley crafted numerous punkpop gems and would go on to release 13 singles and 4 studio LP’s, before disbanding in May 1983.
The Undertones re-formed in 1999 with singer Paul McLoone, subsequently recorded 2 new LP’s and have been touring regularly ever since. They played Glastonbury Festival in June 2005, recently marked their 40th anniversary, and have just completed a 46 date, 2019 world tour.
Tracklist:
SIDE 1
- You’ve Got My Number (Why Don’t You Use t!)
- Male Model
- Hypnotised
- Billy’s Third
- The Way Girls Talk
- True Confessions
- Wednesday Week
- (She’s A) Runaround
- There Goes Norman
SIDE 2
- Teenage Kicks
- Tearproof
- Jump Boys
- The Love Parade
- Soul Seven
- Girls Don’t Like It
SIDE 3
- Jimmy Jimmy
- When Saturday Comes
- Julie Ocean
- My Perfect Cousin
- Family Entertainment
- Beautiful Friend
- I Know A Girl
SIDE 4
- Get Over You’ (Kevin Shields Remix 2016)
- Girls That Don’t Talk
- Forever Paradise
- Here Comes The Summer
- It’s Going To Happen
- Bittersweet
- You’re Welcome
- Listening In
Upcoming shows:
07/05/2020 – Boiler Shop, Newcastle Tickets on sale here Wednesday 4th December 10am
08/05/2020 – Academy 2, Manchester Tickets on sale here Wednesday 4th December 10am
09/05/2020 – O2 Academy, Liverpool Tickets on sale here Wednesday 4th December 10am
15/05/2020 – Roadmender, Northampton Tickets on sale here Wednesday 4th December 10am
17/05/2020 – Electric Ballroom, London Tickets on sale here Wednesday 4th December 10am
22/05/2020 – Leadmil, Sheffield Tickets on sale here Wednesday 4th December 10am
23/05/2020 – Earlham Park ‘Lets Rock Norwich’ (1pm show) Tickets on sale now here
23/05/2020 – Stone Valley South Festival, Hertfordshire (9pm show) Tickets on sale now here
24/05/2020 – Bearded Theory Festival, Walton-on Trent, England Tickets on sale now here
04/06/2020 – Y Plas (Student Union), Cardiff Tickets on sale here Wednesday 4th December 10am
05/06/2020 – Cheese & Grain, Frome Tickets on sale here Wednesday 4th December 10am
06/06/2020 – Chalk, Brighton Tickets on sale here Wednesday 4th December 10am
06/08/2020 – Rebellion Festival, The Winter Gardens, Blackpool Tickets on sale now here
Special guest all dates (except Sheffield): Hugh Cornwell Electric
Special guest Sheffield: Neville Staple Band