Listen to Your Father
| "Listen to Your Father" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Feargal Sharkey | ||||
| B-side | "Can I Say I Love You" | |||
| Released | September 1984[1] | |||
| Format | 7" single, 12" single | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 3:14 | |||
| Label | Virgin Records, Zarjazz | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Carl Smyth | |||
| Producer(s) |
Feargal Sharkey Liquidator Productions | |||
| Feargal Sharkey singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Listen to Your Father" is a song from Irish singer Feargal Sharkey, released as his non-album debut single in 1984. It was written by Carl Smyth, and produced by Sharkey and Liquidator Productions (i.e. the British ska band Madness). The song reached No. 23 in the UK and No. 22 in Ireland.[2][3] The B-side, "Can I Say I Love You", was written by Smyth and Sharkey.
The single was the first to be released on Zarjazz Records, a sub-label of Virgin which had been formed that year by Madness. All members of Madness performed on the record minus lead singer Suggs. When "Listen to Your Father" became a hit, Sharkey left the label to sign with Virgin as Madness had not required him to sign a contract with their label.[4]
A music video was created to promote the song. Sharkey performed the song on popular UK music show Top of The Pops with members of Madness as backing musicians.[5] Madness members Smyth and Mark Bedford also appeared with Sharkey on UK show Saturday Starship to promote the single and the Zarjazz label.[6]
On 24 November 1985, the song was performed live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, during Madness' tour to promote their Mad Not Mad album. Sharkey performed lead vocals, with Madness singer Suggs introducing Sharkey as "Mr Teenage Kicks", referring to the Sharkey's hit song with his ex-band The Undertones.[7]
Formats
| 7" single | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Written by | Length |
| 1. | "Listen To Your Father" | Carl Smyth | 3:14 |
| 2. | "Can I Say I Love You" | Smyth, Feargal Sharkey | 3:30 |
| 12" single | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Written by | Length |
| 1. | "Listen To Your Father (Extended Version)" | Smyth | 5:00 |
| 2. | "Can I Say I Love You" | Smyth, Sharkey | 3:52 |
Chart performance
| Chart (1984) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Irish Singles Chart[3] | 22 |
| UK Singles Chart[2] | 23 |
Personnel
- Jill Furmanovsky - photography
- Feargal Sharkey, Liquidator Productions - producer
- Michael Brauer - extended remix of "Listen to Your Father"
References
- ↑ "Feargal Sharkey - Listen To Your Father / Can I Say I Love You? - Zarjazz - UK - JAZZ 1". 45cat. 2014-03-30. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- 1 2 "FEARGAL SHARKEY | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- 1 2 Jaclyn Ward - Fireball Media Group - http://www.fireballmedia.ie. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- ↑ "That Close - Suggs - Google Books". Books.google.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
- ↑ "Madness with Feargal Sharkey Listen to Your Father". YouTube. 2009-11-08. Retrieved 2012-06-23.
- ↑ "YouTube". youtube.com. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
- ↑ "Madness/1985/85.10.22". Archived from the original on 2010-12-04. Retrieved 2011-07-02.