The Undertones [Extra tracks]

Salvo's 2009 enhanced CD reissue of The Undertones wonderful debut album (30th Anniversary) differs from last year's Sanctuary reissue of the same in a few ways worth pointing out.

Here's a detailed breakdown (67:38 minutes):

Tracks 1 to 14 make up the 1st pressing of their debut LP "The Undertones" on Sire Records SRK 6071 initially released in May 1979 in the UK - January 1980 on Sire Records SRK-6081 in the USA. (The 14th track, the 50-second long "Casbah Rock" at the end of Side 2 is listed on the label, but not on the album sleeve). The original sleeve had a black and white photo (as pictured above) with a distinctive red die-cut inner sleeve - the reissue (explained below) had colour artwork but with a black inner sleeve (also used on the US issue). The album was recorded at Eden Studios in Acton in London in January 1979 and produced by ROGER BECHIRIAN.

Cashing in on the huge renewed response to their anthem "Teenage Kicks" - the album was reissued a second time in the UK as Sire Records SRK 6081 in November 1979 with a different front and inner sleeve and 2 added singles. "Teenage Kicks" was slipped in as Track 5 on Side 1 inbetween "I Gotta Get" and "Wrong Way", while the 2nd single "Get Over You" was added on as the 1st Track on Side 2 - making a 16-song version of the LP. The Sanctuary issue of 2008 uses the 16-track line-up rather than the original 14. Of course with a little bit of number programming, the new Salvo issue allows you to program either.

Tracks 15 to 18 are the full 4 songs of their debut "Teenage Kicks" EP issued on the privately pressed Good Vibrations Label (GOT 4) in September 1978 - produced by the band themselves. None of the songs turned up on the debut LP and it has remained a highly sought-after and collectable vinyl piece ever since. (This CD actually mistakes the track order - it should read - A1 is "Teenage Kicks", A2 is "Smarter Than You', B1 is "True Confessions", B2 is "Emergency Cases")

Tracks 19 to 21 are the 3 tracks of their 2nd maxi single "Get Over You" issued on Sire Records SIR 4010 in January 1979 in the UK. "Really Really" and "She Can Only Say No" are the B-sides and again all 3 songs were non-album.

Tracks 22 to 24 are their 4th UK single "Here Comes The Summer" b/w "One Way Love" and "Top Twenty". It was another maxi release, however, the 'single version' on the A-side differs to the version than ended Side 1 of the LP - while the 2 B-sides were again non-album.

Track 25, "Mars Bars", is the non-album B-side to their 3rd UK 7" single "Jimmy Jimmy" issued on Sire Records SIR 4015 in April 1979 (on lime green vinyl).

Tracks 26 and 27, "You've Got My Number (Why Don't You Use It)" b/w "Let's Talk About Girls", are also non-album tracks - their 5th UK 7" single on Sire Records SIR 4024 issued in September 1979 in the UK.

Tracks 29 to 31 are live John Peel Sessions recorded for the BBC at the Phoenix Studios on 7 May 1979

Track 32 is a video track from 1978 of "Teenage Kicks" (filmed in Primrose Hill in London)

As you can see, this new Salvo issue (SalvoCD017) has 31 audio tracks plus 1 video track tagged on at the end - the 2008 Sanctuary issue of last year has only 26 audio tracks. There's also a new card wrap outside the jewel case using the original LP artwork, a 20-page booklet which pictures ticket stubs, buttons, 7" sleeves and band photos - and there's detailed and witty liner notes by their bass player MICHAEL BRADLEY. The remastering has been done by ANDY PIERCE at Masterpiece and is fantastically clear, really clean and in your face. As a downside, it would have been nice to hear more from either their great frontman and singer FEARGAL SHARKEY or especially JOHN O'NEILL - the band's principal songwriter.

While the album itself is a blast, what puts this issue into the stellar is the truly brilliant 17 extra tracks - stunning power-pop B-sides like "One Way Love" and "Let's Talk About Girls". And the four Peel Sessions tracks allow you to hear just how piss'n'vinegar they really were as a live act (I wish I'd seen them).

And then of course there's 'that' song - every time I hear The Undertones blistering debut 45 "Teenage Kicks", I can't help but think of the much-loved and sadly missed champion of Punk and New Wave music - the British DJ and Presenter JOHN PEEL. He adored the band with a passion and the hand-written lyrics to "Teenage Kicks" are framed in his home and literally etched above his final resting place (he was the first to air the song in September 1978). Ten seconds into its thrashing riff it's easy to know why - it's thrilling - it's ballsy - it's life itself - and it's as fresh now as is was back then - a full 30 years ago.

Derry's finest are held in huge affection by so many music lovers and not without reason. I loved returning to this album, I really did.

"I wanna hold her, wanna hold her tight...get teenage kicks right through the night..." Too Goddamn right!

Probably best described as New Wave rather than punk, the Undertones' debut is a true classic. Teenage Kicks is the song many people know, partly from John Peel's frequent praise for it . But it actually isn't my favourite- that honour goes to their first single True Confessions, with grinding guitars backed with neat lyrics. Get Over You, Billy's Third, She's A Runaround and Here Comes the Summer are at the pop end, showcasing the band as lovesick teenagers longing for what they can't have (in a similar way to current groups like Ash and early Green Day). Aggressions and tensions are more powerfully released on numbers like Male Model, Family Entertainment and the interesting top 20 smash jimmy Jimmy. But the review can't end without a mention of the bonus tracks. Generally mroe throwaway in conception than the album tracks, but still bouncing with youthful frivolity, with Mars Bars particularly stunning with its comedic lyricisms.

I have to admit I bought this album for 'Teenage Kicks' and the summer classic 'Here Comes the Summer' but what I got was so much more than I expected. The tunes are so catchy that one listen of 'Top Twenty' will have it running though your head for days. The Undertones have a raw sound about them, some of the songs seem almost unfinished or underdeveloped (many of the tracks are under two minutes) but they sound good and in a world of formulated 'perfect' pop its actually quite refreshing.

Other tracks to listen out for are the Beatlesesque (or is it more like the Monkees?) 'One Way Love', the excellent 'Mars Bars' and the "I swear I've heard this one before from somewhere" 'You've Got My Number (Why Don't You Use It!)'.

*Update*

First of all I have to point out that my review is for the 26 track version of this album released in 2000 by Essential/Castle Music Ltd (ESMCD 831). I have since become aware that there is now a 31 track(2 CD)version been released by Salvo Music Ltd (SALVOCD017). The version I have has the same track listing as the version re-released by Santuary in 2004.

The extra 5 tracks you get in the 2009 2 CD Salvo version are:

Here Comes The Summer (Single Version)
Top Twenty (Peel session)
Nine Times Out Of Ten (Peel session)
The Way Girls Talk (Peel session)
Whizz Kids (Peel session)

And you get the "Teenage Kicks" video as part of the enhanced CD feature.

I did my review way back in 2003 and I stand by it. The Undertones debut album really is fantastic no matter which version you choose to buy. The B-sides are a must have and the follow up album "Hypnotised" is brilliant too.

Overall 5 out of 5. Great Stuff!