Name: The Undertones
Brand: The Undertones

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

4050538995640

Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2024-01-19

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Warner Music Group

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

Total Cap

Black LP

Artist

The Undertones

Genre GB

Punk / Hardcore

Label GB

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.

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 before the Undertones split up after a series of summer festival gigs.

Feargal Sharkey launched a short-lived solo career while the O'Neills won critical plaudits for their tough-minded political band That Petrol Emotion. Hopes of re-forming the original lineup fell apart after the O'Neills' father died. Their first new album in 20 years Get What You Need was released in September 2003.

BMG Rights Management, formerly known as Bertelsmann Music Group, is a global music conglomerate with a rich history in the industry. Originally formed in 1985 as a joint venture between Bertelsmann AG and RCA, BMG has since evolved into a powerhouse of music production and distribution.

In 1986, Bertelsmann acquired full ownership of RCA and Arista Records through the purchase of their joint venture's stock from General Electric. The following year, these labels were merged under the umbrella of Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG), solidifying its position as a major player in the music world.

In 2004, BMG joined forces with Sony Music to create Sony BMG Music Entertainment. However, in 2008, Bertelsmann sold its stake in the company, leading to the formation of BMG Rights Management. Today, BMG continues to thrive as a leading record label and distributor worldwide.

The Undertones formed in Derry, Northern Ireland, in 1975 and released their debut album The Undertones in 1979 which peaked at #13 in the UK Charts.  John and Damian O'Neill partnered infectious guitar hooks to '60s garage, '70s glam rock, with Feargal Sharkey's signature vocal quaver. Those qualities came together on their breakout hit "Teenage Kicks," whose simplicity harked back to '60s ideals of when the song was king.

This classic debut record infuses so much unabashed joy in two-minute three-chord pop songs, and there's little pretension in their unapologetically teenage worldview, that even the darker hints of life in songs like the suicide-themed "Jimmy Jimmy" are delivered with a sense of optimism at odds with so many of their contemporaries. 

Music GB

Discover The Undertones by The Undertones. This classic debut album on BMG features infectious guitar hooks and the breakout hit "Teenage Kicks". Available in LP format.