1988 studio album by Feargal Sharkey
| Wish | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Feargal Sharkey | ||||
| Released | 28 March 1988 | |||
| Studio | A&M (Hollywood, Los Angeles, California) | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Producer | Danny Kortchmar | |||
| Feargal Sharkey chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative cover | ||||
 U.S. album cover | ||||
Wish is the second solo album of former Undertones singer Feargal Sharkey. Released in 1988, three years after his successful self-titled solo debut, the album was considered to be somewhat disappointing and was not as successful as its predecessor.
Background
Upon release, Sharkey told the Sunday Independent: "I've never devoted myself so much to an album before, so if it comes out, and nobody gives a damn about it, I would be extremely disappointed, to say the least."
"Blue Days" was inspired by the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Sharkey told the Sunday Independent: "It's about my last return to Derry, and how soul-destroying I found it, seeing what living there has done to all my old friends." He added to Record Mirror: "I wrote the song because I believe that at the end of the day, despite sectarian differences, nobody is happy with what's going on in Ireland." The title was inspired by Rev Ian Paisley's comment: "We will never forsake the blue skies of Ulster for the grey mists of an Irish republic."
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Number One | |
| Record Mirror |  |
Upon release, John Aizlewood of Number One said: "So why is our Fearg hitless? One things for sure, it can't be the music. Wish is a steady grower which creeps up on you like exams, only it's fun to listen to! And does that voice fair quiver? It does indeed. Nice one Fearg, ignore the barrackers." Billboard described the album as an "even-better follow-up" to Sharkey's debut, and one that "should soon be sitting firmly at the top of the charts". Cash Box described the album as "a slickly-crafted collection of pop numbers that should finally enable the artist the edge at Top 40 radio he deserves"
Stereo Review commented: "The first solo album by Feargal Sharkey was so subtle and understated that much of it barely registered. This time around, he's made a record that cannot go unnoticed. With the help of producer Danny Kortchmar, whose guitar playing is the instrumental heart of the album, Sharkey takes a measured soul turn." The reviewer praised five of the album's tracks as "gems", but then added the rest of material "gets thin". They concluded: "Five out of the ten tracks are hardly memorable, but the good ones are very good".
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Cold, Cold Streets" | Danny Kortchmar, David Lasley, Feargal Sharkey | 5:16 |
| 2. | "More Love" | Benmont Tench | 4:35 |
| 3. | "Full Confession" | Danny Kortchmar, Feargal Sharkey, Tim Daly | 3:54 |
| 4. | "Please Don't Believe in Me" | David A. Stewart, Feargal Sharkey, Tim Daly | 4:49 |
| 5. | "Out of My System" | Eddie Chacon, Suzanne Valentine | 4:19 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "If This Is Love" | Feargal Sharkey, Maggie Lee, Tim Daly | 3:43 |
| 2. | "Strangest Girl in Paradise" | Danny Kortchmar, Feargal Sharkey | 4:20 |
| 3. | "Blue Days" | Danny Kortchmar, Feargal Sharkey, Waddy Wachtel | 4:09 |
| 4. | "Let Me Be" | Feargal Sharkey, Mark Goldenberg | 3:13 |
| 5. | "Safe to Touch" | Feargal Sharkey, Steve Jordan | 4:10 |
The CD release contains three changes to the track listing.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Strangest Girl in Paradise" | Danny Kortchmar, Feargal Sharkey | 4:20 |
| 7. | "Let Me Be" | Feargal Sharkey, Mark Goldenberg | 3:13 |
| 9. | "If This Is Love" | Feargal Sharkey, Maggie Lee, Tim Daly | 3:43 |
Charts
| Chart (1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report) | 66 |
| Swedish Albums Chart | 22 |
Personnel
- Feargal Sharkey – vocals
- Beverly D'Angelo – backing vocals (6)
- Charley Drayton – guitar, backing vocals (10)
- Mike Finnigan – organ (2)
- Bob Glaub – bass (2, 8)
- Mark Goldenberg – organ, synthesizer, guitar (9)
- Steve Jordan – drums (1–10)
- Danny Kortchmar – guitar (1–10), bass (1, 3, 7, 8)
- Russ Kunkel – percussion (4)
- David Lasley – backing vocals (1–3, 5–7, 9)
- Maggie Lee – synthesizer, backing vocals (6)
- Arnold McCuller – backing vocals (1-3, 6, 7, 9)
- David Paich – synthesizer, piano (4)
- Keith Richards – guitar (2)
- Jack Sherman – electric 12-string (6)
- Leland Sklar – bass (4, 6)
- Myna Smith Schilling – backing vocals (5)
- Benmont Tench – organ (2, 5, 7)
- Waddy Wachtel – guitar (2, 4, 6, 8)
- Jimmy "Z" Zavala – saxophone (2), harmonica (2)
- Anthony J. Davies – backing vocals, cello (4), keyboards (7, 9), dube (3)
- Technical
- Richard Haughton – photography
- Gary Wathen – art direction
References
- Smith, Robin (26 March 1988). "News: Wishful Thinking". Record Mirror. p. 4. ISSN 0144-5804.
- ^ Hand, Lise (24 January 1988). "Feargal the Fiery". Sunday Independent.
- Dickson, Ian (23 January 1988). "The return of the native". Record Mirror.
- "Wish – Feargal Sharkey". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
- ^ Number One magazine - Albums - John Aizlewood - 9 April 1988 - page 48
- Paisley, Pete (9 April 1988). "Albums". Record Mirror. p. 32. ISSN 0144-5804.
- Billboard magazine - April 16, 1988 - Album reviews - page 64
- Cash Box magazine - April 9, 1988 - Album Releases - page 9
- "Stereo Review - Google Books". 26 May 2010. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 270. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- Steffen Hung. "Feargal Sharkey - Wish". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
External links
| Feargal Sharkey | |
|---|---|
| Studio albums |
|
| Singles | |
| Related articles | |