"Wednesday Week" almost sneaks The Undertones into the UK Top Ten

The Undertones : Wednesday Week

[Purchase]

In June of 1980 The Undertones released their UK#11 hit "Wednesday Week". The single rose in the charts while The Undertones tried to conquer America on a four week tour. Michael Bradley remembers the tour this way :

"Two shows a night" looks great on a poster, but to actually do two shows on one stage on one night was a new experience for us. I was especially concerned as I was wearing the same shirt on stage as I had put on that morning getting dressed. I would wear it for the second show as well. Change my shirt in front of the rest of the band? Are you mad? One of the support bands was called the Psychotic Pineapple - they had a large walking pineapple which arrived on stage during their performance, as far as I remember. All we had was Feargal's naked chest. Jimmy Carter was the President and still we weren't successful in subjugating the USA. I'll never understand show business.

The band made fans out of some American critics. Trouser Press sent Ira Robbins to interview the daring boys from Derry moat of whom still live at home with their parents. Robbins' conclusion:

  So there you are: a glam-rock singles band that is decidedly unglamorous. A punk band that's as smooth as you'll get 'em. A bunch of nice guys that don't take shit from anyone. A group from Ulster that doesn't feel the need to constantly remind everyone of that fact. A pop band that may never make it big in America. The only group on earth that objects to overly favorable reviews and articles. Undoubtably the most exciting new thing to come along all last year. And the last to admit it.

The B-side " I Told You So" was originally recorded for a Smash Hits flexi-disc.