Wish (Feargal Sharkey album)
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.
| Wish | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1988 | |||
| Recorded | A&M Studios, Hollywood, California | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Label | Virgin | |||
| Producer | Danny Kortchmar | |||
| Feargal Sharkey chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Alternative Cover | ||||
 US album cover. | ||||
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."[1]
"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."[1] 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."[2]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Billboard | favourable[4] |
| Cash Box | favourable[5] |
| Number One | [6] |
| Stereo Review | mixed[7] |
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."[6] 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".[4] 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"[5]
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".[7]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Written by | 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 | Written by | 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 | Written by | 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)[8] | 66 |
| Swedish Albums Chart[9] | 22 |
Personnel
- Beverly D'Angelo - Background Vocals (6)
- Charley Drayton - Guitar, Background Vocals (10)
- Mike Finnigan - Organ (2)
- Bob Glaub - Bass (2, 8)
- Mark Goldenberg - Organ, Synthesizer, Guitar (9)
- Steve Jordan - Drums (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- Danny Kortchmar - Guitar (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10), Bass (1, 3, 7, 8)
- Russ Kunkel - Percussion (4)
- David Lasley - Background Vocals (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9)
- Maggie Lee - Synthesizer, Background Vocals (6)
- Arnold McCuller - Background Vocals (1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9)
- David Paich - Synthesizer, Piano (4)
- Keith Richards - Guitar (2)
- Feargal Sharkey - Vocals
- Jack Sherman - Electric 12 String (6)
- Leland Sklar - Bass (4, 6)
- Myna Smith Schilling - Background 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 - Background Vocals (all), Cello (4), Keyboard (7,9), Dube (3)
- Technical
- Richard Haughton - Photography
- Gary Wathen - Art direction
References
- 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 | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
- Billboard magazine - April 16, 1988 - Album reviews - page 64
- Cash Box newspaper - April 9, 1988 - Album Releases - page 9
- Number One magazine - Albums - John Aizlewood - 9 April 1988 - page 48
- "Stereo Review - Google Books". 2010-05-26. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
- 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 2012-06-23.