The Undertones are a rock band formed in Derry, Northern Ireland in 1974. From 1975 to 1983, the Undertones consisted of Feargal Sharkey (vocals), John O'Neill, Damian O'Neill, Michael Bradley and Billy Doherty (drums). Much of the earlier Undertones material drew influence from punk rock and new wave; the Undertones also incorporated elements of rock, glam rock and post-punk into material released after 1979, before citing soul and Motown as the influence for the material released upon their final album. The Undertones released thirteen singles and four studio albums between 1978 and 1983 before Sharkey announced his intention to leave the band in May 1983, citing musical differences as the reason for the break up.
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" is a song by the British rock band Queen. Written by Freddie Mercury in 1979, the track is included on their 1980 album The Game, and also appears on the band's compilation album Greatest Hits in 1981. The song peaked at number two in the UK Singles Chart in 1979, becoming the group's first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US in 1980, remaining there for four consecutive weeks. It topped the Australian ARIA Charts for seven weeks. It was the band's final single release of the 1970s.
Seán Feargal Sharkey is a singer from Northern Ireland most widely known as the lead vocalist of punk band The Undertones in the 1970s and 1980s, and for solo works in the 1980s and 1990s. His 1985 solo single "A Good Heart" was an international success. After becoming less musically active in the early 1990s, he has performed various roles supporting the UK's commercial music industry, winning several awards and honours for his work in that area.
"The Way It Is" is a song by American rock group Bruce Hornsby and the Range. It was released in the United States in September 1986 as the second single from their debut album, The Way It Is. The song topped the charts in the US, Canada and the Netherlands in 1986, and peaked inside the top twenty in such countries as Australia, Ireland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
"Spirit in the Sky" is a song by American singer-songwriter Norman Greenbaum, originally written and recorded by Greenbaum and released in late 1969 from the album of the same name. The single became a gold record, selling two million copies from 1969 to 1970, and reached No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 where it lasted for 15 weeks in the Top 100. Billboard ranked the record the No. 22 song of 1970. It also climbed to No. 1 on the UK, Australian and Canadian charts in 1970. Rolling Stone ranked "Spirit in the Sky" No. 333 on its list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Cover versions by Doctor and the Medics and Gareth Gates have also made the No. 1 spot in the UK.
"The Edge of Heaven" is a song by English pop duo Wham!, released on Epic Records in 1986. It was written and produced by George Michael, one half of the duo, and was promoted in advance as Wham!'s farewell single.
"The Loco-Motion" is a 1962 pop song written by American songwriters Gerry Goffin and Carole King. "The Loco-Motion" was originally written for R&B singer Dee Dee Sharp, but Sharp turned the song down.
"Part-Time Lover" is a song by American R&B singer and songwriter Stevie Wonder, released as the first single from his twentieth studio album, In Square Circle (1985). The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, R&B, dance, and adult contemporary charts, becoming Wonder's final number one hit to date. The song's simultaneous chart successes made Wonder the first artist to score a number-one hit on four different Billboard charts. The song was also released as a special 12" version. Lyrically, it tells the story of a man who is cheating on his wife with a mistress, only to find out in the end that his wife is cheating on him as well.
"A Good Heart" is a song by Northern Irish singer Feargal Sharkey, released as the first single from his self-titled debut album. It was released in September 1985 and became a number-one hit in the United Kingdom, Australia, Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
"Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You" is a song written by composers Michael Masser and Gerry Goffin. It was originally recorded by American singer and guitarist George Benson for his 1985 studio album 20/20, released by Warner Bros. Records. This original version was produced by co-writer Masser, and was released as a single in Europe only in 1985. Two years later, in 1987, Hawaiian singer Glenn Medeiros sang his version of the song which became a worldwide success.
Feargal Sharkey is the debut solo album by former Undertones singer Feargal Sharkey, released in 1985. The album peaked at No. 12 in the UK and contains Sharkey's best known single, "A Good Heart", his only No. 1. "You Little Thief" also became a top 10 hit in the UK Singles Chart, reaching No. 5, and "Someone to Somebody" reached No. 64.
"You Needed Me" is a song written by Randy Goodrum, who describes it as being about "unconditional undeserved love". It was a number-one single in the United States in 1978 for Canadian singer Anne Murray, for which she won a Grammy Award. In 1999, Irish pop band Boyzone recorded a hit cover of the song that reached number one on the UK Singles Chart.
"Never Never" is the title of the only single released by the Vince Clarke project, The Assembly, in 1983.
"Someone to Somebody" is a song by Irish singer Feargal Sharkey, which was released in 1985 as the third single from his self-titled debut album. It was written by Geraldine L. Gooden, Michael Torrence, Thomas Gordy and Daniel Kane, and produced by David A. Stewart. The song reached No. 64 in the UK and No. 30 in Ireland.
"More Love" is a song by Irish singer Feargal Sharkey, released in 1988 as the first single from his second studio album Wish. It was written by Benmont Tench and produced by Danny Kortchmar. The song reached No. 44 in the UK. A music video was filmed to promote the single. The B-side, "A Breath of Scandal" was exclusive to the single, and was written and produced by Sharkey. A piano version of "More Love" was included on the 12" and CD formats of the single.
"Out of My System" is a song by Irish singer Feargal Sharkey, released in 1988 as the second single from his second studio album Wish. It was written by Eddie Chacon and Suzanne Valentine, and produced by Danny Kortchmar. The song failed to chart in the UK, but reached No. 45 in Italy.
"I've Got News for You" is a song by Irish singer Feargal Sharkey, released in 1991 as the first single from his third studio album Songs from the Mardi Gras. It was written by Sharkey and Dennis Morgan, and produced by Barry Beckett. The song reached No. 12 in the UK and No. 8 in Ireland.
"Listen to Your Father" is a song from Irish singer Feargal Sharkey, released as his non-album debut single in 1984. It was written by Carl Smyth, and produced by Sharkey and Liquidator Productions. The song reached No. 23 in the UK and No. 22 in Ireland. The B-side, "Can I Say I Love You", was written by Smyth and Sharkey.
"Loving You" is a song by Irish singer Feargal Sharkey, which was released in 1985 as a non-album single. It was written by Sharkey and Jo Callis, and produced by Queen drummer Roger Taylor and David Richards. "Loving You" reached No. 26 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the chart for eleven weeks.
"Sing Our Own Song" is a song written and performed by British reggae group UB40. It features backing singers Jaki Graham, Mo Birch and Ruby Turner and appeared as the ninth and final track on their seventh album, Rat in the Kitchen (1986). Released in 1986, it reached number five on the UK Singles Chart and became a number-one hit in the Netherlands.
