HISTORICAL LP RELEASES - UK & OVERSEAS

Miscellaneous Releases Digital Only Releases  Historical 7” & 12” Single Releases Current Releases

Understanding the labels and why there are so many re-issues:
In 1978 The Undertones signed with Sire Records of New York whose records were released via Warner Bros. In 1982 after a contractual dispute The Undertones left Sire with their catalogue and signed with EMI Records of London who released the record on the band’s notional label Ardeck. Ardeck never operated as a real label signing bands etc. it was and is still just an imprint. In 1993 after another contractual dispute the band left EMI again with their catalogue. From now on the records would only be licensed. In 1993 they signed a license deal with Castle Communications who initially released the records on the Dojo label but soon moved them to the Essential Label. In North American the catalogue was licensed to Rykodisc until 2003. Castle Communications was purchased by the Sanctuary Records Group who re-issued the catalogue on Sanctuary including in North America. In 2008 the band left Sanctuary and the catalogue is now licensed to Union Square Music.
All the versions below are only available second hand.

OVERSEAS RELEASES
Spanish.  S 60.276. 
Germany.  200-681320.
France.  C068 63028.
New Zealand.  SRK 6071.
CD RELEASES

1994
DOLE CD 101.  A straight CD re-issue, credited as The Original Undertones LP.  This version reproduces the original artwork, including inner sleeve, and has a playing time of a mere 28 minutes!  This release is clearly for completists only and was only available via mail order.

July 1983
ARDM 1647391.
Having left Sire Records the LP was re-issued on the band’s own Ardeck label via EMI.  The basic packaging remains faithful to the Sire release, although the inner sleeve is demoted to black only!
1987
FA 3188.
Budget re-issue on the Fame label, dating from October 1987.  No inner sleeve included.
1994
DOJO LP 191.
DOJO re-issued the band’s entire back catalogue in May 1994, with each LP appearing on 10” vinyl.
Copies were limited to 500 of each LP, with each copy numbered via a sticker on the sleeve.  These limited pressings were initially only available from HMV stores. Plain white inner sleeves were used.

To add further confusion, DOJO pressed the LP again in 1996, using the same catalogue number as the 10” had previously adorned.  This time they opted for the full size 12” LP format, and included seven bonus tracks (in addition to the original LP running order) thus:

Smarter Than U/ Emergency Cases/ Top Twenty/ Really Really/ Mars Bars/ She Can Only Say No/ One Way Love. Completists should note that the last track on side one is Jimmy Jimmy, while side two opens with True Confessions The artwork for the rear of the sleeve is also altered to allow for the bonus material, and Alex Ogg’s sleeve notes.  DOJO substituted the re-recorded version of True Confessions with the Good Vibrations EP take.

OVERSEAS RELEASES
America. SRK 6081.
Straight copy of the UK issue, complete with flimsy inner sleeve.  Every copy I’ve seen of this has a gold promo stamp on the cover.
Spain. SRK 6081.
No inner sleeve is issued with this version, although the sleeve features a printed circle declaring, Inclui Jimmy Jimmy E Teenage Kicks.
Dutch.  WBN 56.748.
No known variations here.
Japan.  IMPP 16081.

CD RELEASES
1987
CDFA 3188.
The band’s debut made it’s debut onto CD in October 1987, on EMI’s budget Fame label.  However, this release was quickly deleted.
May 1994
DOJO CD 191. Contains all the tracks from the second issue (see above) plus Smarter Than You / Emergency Cases / Top Twenty / Really really / Mars Bars / She Can Only Say No / One Way Love. Sleeve notes by Alex Ogg.  A limited edition of 500 picture disc CD’s were also issued.  As with the limited vinyl release, each copy is numbered via a sticker on the case, and has the same catalogue number as the standard version. 
1994
ESMCD 484.
On Essential/Castle Communications This version remains the same as the DOJO issue, apart from minor catalogue number changes etc.
RCD 10293.
The American re-issue on Rykodisc, which includes the same bonus tracks as the UK re-issue.

2000
ESMCD 831. Reissue Castle.  This is really a combination of the original white cover and colour cover versions.  The artwork makes use of the white cover design, with sleeve notes by Paul Lester of Uncut magazine incorporating comments from both Mickey and Damian.  Ten bonus tracks are included, but the tracks are essentially the same as earlier re-issues.  Notable variations are the inclusion of both versions of True Confessions, along with the addition of You’ve Got My Number & Let’s Talk About Girls (formerly included on Hypnotised). 
2005
SMRCD023. As above

1983
ARDM 1647421.
Re-issued by Ardeck in July 1983.  This re-issue remains fairly faithful to the Sire original, the only notable difference being that the inner sleeve photo’s appear in black and white on this version.
1987
FA 3145.
Another re-issue, this time on EMI’s budget Fame imprint.  No printed inner sleeve is provided, some copies are stickered with The Undertones featuring Feargal Sharkey.

1994
DOJO LP 192.
This is another of DOJO’s limited 10” pressings.  As before, 500 copies were produced, with a numbered sticker on the sleeve.

OVERSEA’S RELEASES
The below don’t differ greatly from the standard UK issue.  Any notable variations are indicated.
Portugese.  SRK 6088 NP. 
Real cheapo quality pressing.  The printed inner sleeve is substituted with a black and white folded insert.
America.  SRK 6088. 
I’m certain this came with a colour inner sleeve.
France.  2C 070 63828. 
Colour inner sleeve.
New Zealand.  SRK 6088. 
Colour inner sleeve, printed on card.
Australia.  SRK 6088.
No further details.
Germany.  202 203-320. 
Basically the same as the UK issue, not sure about the inclusion of an inner sleeve.
Japan.  RJ-7671. 
Most Japanese releases are far superior to their UK counterpart, and this is no exception.  The sleeve is the same as the UK one, and has a paper OBI band around it.  In the place of an inner sleeve is a four page insert, complete with lyrics.  I’ve only seen a promo copy of this, complete with red promo sticker on sleeve, but it’s fair to assume that a stock issue exists.

CD RELEASES
1994
DOJO CD 192.
This LP had never appeared on CD until DOJO issued it thus in May 1994.  In addition to the original LP, the following bonus tracks are included: You’ve Got My Number / Hard Luck (Again) / Let’s Talk About Girls / I Told You So / I Don’t Wanna See (You Again)
500 picture CD’s were also issued, each numbered via a sticker on the case. Sleeve notes by Alex Ogg.

1994
ESMCD 486.
Essential Records: As Above.
RCD 10294.
Rykodisc American re-issue, same bonus tracks as UK re-issue are included.

2000
ESMCD 832.  Re-issue including three bonus tracks.  Sleeve notes by Paul Lester of Uncut magazine incorporate comments from both Mickey and Damian.  In line with the original LP, also includes a miniature cardboard lobster!
06076-81316-2 USA release. Same as ESMCD 832

2005
SMRCD 230. As Above

* There are no full size, so to speak, re-issues of this LP as such.  EMI did once have the LP as part of it’s Price Attack series, copies are identical to the originals and merely sported a mid-price label on the cover.
1994
DOJO LP 193.
The only true re-issue, another 500 copy 10” offering from DOJO.  As before, each copy has a numbered sticker on the cover.

OVERSEA’S RELEASES
Again, nothing vastly different here compared to the UK issue.  Unless noted, all the below came with the same inner sleeve and embossed outer sleeve as the UK version.
Greece.  14C 062-64367. 
No inner sleeve included.  This has old style orange and brown EMI labels, rather than Ardeck ones.
America.  ST-12159. 
The Undertones became label mates with Pink Floyd, as this was released on the Harvest label!  Inner sleeve printed on thick card.
Yugoslavia.  LSEMI 73130.
France.  2C 070-64367. 
Germany.  1C 064-64367. 
The band logo and LP title appears enlarged on the front cover of this.
Spanish.  10C 064-64307. 
Allegedly, this has a different cover to the UK issue.  I’ve never seen a copy, but I’m told the only difference is that the embossed shapes are printed in grey.
Dutch.  064-64307. 
Pretty much faithful to the UK version.
Japan.  EMS-81431. 
As with all Japanese releases, this comes accompanied by an insert and an OBI band around the outer sleeve.  The insert features the artwork from the UK inner sleeve, but opens out to display an interview with the band (in Japanese) plus full lyrics in English.

CD RELEASES
1994
DOJO CD 193.
In common with the other DOJO re-issues, bonus tracks are included in the form of:
Kiss In The Dark/ Beautiful Friend/ Life’s Too Easy (Re-recorded version)/ Fairly In The Money Now
Again, the obligatory 500 picture CD’s were issued.

ESMCD 485.
Re-issue on Essential/Castle. Same track listing as the DOJO release.

RCD 10295.
American Rykodisc re-issue, complete with the same bonus tracks that grace the UK re-issue.
17th April 2000
ESMCD 853.  Castle/ Essential re-issue. Bonus tracks are: Fairly In The Money Now / Julie Ocean (7” version) / Kiss In The Dark / Beautiful Friend / Life’s Too Easy (re-recorded version).
As per the other Castle re-issues, extensive sleeve notes are provided by Paul Lester with input from both Michael Bradley & John O’Neill. 
2005
SMRCD333. Sanctuary re-issue as above.

1994
DOJO LP 194.
10” vinyl re-issue.  Once again, 500 copies – . each one with a numbered sticker on the sleeve.

OVERSEAS RELEASES

Germany.  1C 064-65009. 

No exciting variations compared to the UK issue.

Netherlands  064-65009.
France   2C 068-65009 
As above.
Australia.  AX.701625. 
Sample/promo issue on the Axis/EMI label.  Both labels are printed Sample Not Sale, and credit The Undertones featuring Feargal Sharkey – which suggests that this was issued while Feargal’s solo career was flourishing. 

CD RELEASES
1994
DOJO CD 194.
Another fine re-issue/re-packaging job, courtesy of DOJO.  Bonus tracks included are as follows:
Bittersweet/ You Stand So Close (But You’re Never There)/ Turning Blue/ Like That/ I Can Only Dream/ Window Shopping For New Clothes
Thankfully, the ‘unreleased’ tracks from the 1983 mis-pressing were salvaged for this release.  Amongst the bonus tracks there is a truly previously unreleased song, I Can Only Dream.
In common with the three LPs preceding it, The Sin Of Pride was also issued as a 500 copies picture CD.

ESMCD 487.
Again, exit DOJO enter Essential.

RCD 10296.
This American Rykodisc re-issue gave The Sin Of Pride it’s first ever US release!  Same bonus tracks as the UK re-issue are included.
17th April 2000
ESMCD 834.  Castle re-issue. Bonus tracks are: The Love Parade (12” version) / Like That / You’re Welcome (version) / Crisis of mine (version) / Family Entertainment (version) / Turning Blue / Window Shopping For New Clothes/ Bittersweet / You Stand So Close / I Can Only Dream. The tracks marked ‘version’ are actually the live versions from the Love Parade 12” single, which arrived on CD at last.  For those of you who like track time spotting, take note that on the DOJO CD version of this LP, I Can Only Dream clocks in at 6.58 – while on this latest version it’s grown to 7.45
2005
SMRCD235. Sanctuary re-issue as above.

A great compilation of all the band’s singles. The cover, a shot titled dressed to grill, depicts a young lady decked out in various meat items many years before Lady Gaga copied it. Excellent sleeve notes by Mick Houghton. Some people hate the sleeve others love it. The band were not really involved in this release as they had recently split up and were not really paying attention.

The idea of the LP was to make it initially available with a ‘free’ LP of all the B sides, with a transparent sticker on the sleeve explaining this.  There never was a single version of the LP released in the UK.  The only omission on the LP is the lengthy Hard Luck (Again).

OVERSEA’S RELEASES
America.  ST-12358. 
This appeared as a single LP in America on Capitol. Let’s Talk About Girls is added to end of side two.

Germany.  C064 165428.
Single LP, so A sides only are featured.
Japan.  EMS-81675. 
Remaining faithful to the UK issue, this is the double set.  Outer cover OBI and insert should be intact.  Promo copies also exist. 

Superb compilation  issued to cash-in on Feargal’s solo career.  Once again, Mick Houghton provides sleeve notes for this LP.  Forever Paradise is featured in an edited form for the benefit of this LP. Subtitled “featuring Feargal Sharkey’ understandably managed to upset the whole the band.

FA 3226
A straight forward re-issue of the above.
** An Australian ‘sample’ copy of this LP is rumoured to exist.
CD
CDP 7463652.
Simply the CD equivalent of the vinyl version.

This Undertones compilation, released on Essential/Castle Music.  This is basically a re-issue of All Wrapped Up.  As the title suggests, this double disc set rounds up all the band’s A and B sides.  The packaging is superb, standard history style sleeve notes are provided by Paul Lester (Uncut magazine), while Michael Bradley takes us through the LP track by track with his own anecdotes.  The whole thing is housed in a white embossed cardboard slipcase, with a vintage Rainbow gig poster thrown in for good measure. 

Hard Luck is the LP version not Hard Luck (Again), the true B side of My Perfect Cousin.  Julie Ocean is the LP version, and not the single version.  Life’s Too Easy should, rightfully, be the re-recorded version – again the LP version has been used.  Bye Bye Baby Blue should be the alternate version from the Got To Have You Back 12” single, but instead the Sin Of Pride LP track appears.  Chain Of Love is the LP version, which is basically the same as the single version but omits Feargal’s brief spoken segment.

2005
SMEDD 422
Exactly the same as ESDCD 788 except the white slipcase lost it’s embossment as a cost cutting measure.