The Undertones

How do you follow a perfect single like ‘Teenage Kicks’? Why, craft an album that is similarly fresh, powerful and invigorating. They may have been mere striplings at the time, but – with Roger Bechirian in the producer’s chair – The Undertones pulled it off with a rare combination of self-belief and panache, marshalling their energies superbly to create an unforgettable debut (especially in its ‘re-released’ format of October 1979, which included ‘Teenage Kicks’ and the single version of the rollicking ‘Here Comes The Summer’). Feargal Sharkey’s banshee tenor surfs triumphantly over the wonderfully exuberant playing of the O’Neill brothers, John and Damian, Michael Bradley and Billy Doherty. There’s an infectious and marvellously pithy bubblegum simplicity to songs like ‘Jimmy Jimmy’ and ‘I Know A Girl’ (its 16 songs occupy all of 33 minutes!) but the record has a thumping rock’n’roll heart.

No 7 in 2009, as voted for by over 200 Irish musicians. Down from No 5 in 2004.