“The Love Parade” / “Like That” (Ardeck ARDS 11) October 1982

The Undertones | The Love Parade | (Ardeck) 1982 | A disillusioned song from the Derry boys which, though it lacks the punch of a ‘Jumps Boys’ or the irreverence of a ‘My Perfect Cousin’, trots along at a pleasing pace with an unusually sixties-style organ backing.

Feargal’s voice is still pretty unbeatable, and though this one’s not a classic it’s a good listen and a worthwhile buy. (Sounds, 23/10/82)

The Undertones | The Love Parade | (Ardeck) 1982

Sixties-sounding pop, sweet and glorious and not what the paying customer is snapping up this week at all. Still, I can live without an Undertones-go-reggae record (strings version on the B-side) and I expect you can too. They continue to go their own way, and well. (Record Mirror, 23/10/82)

Oh dear, after coming back from their concert in Kilburn like Moses returning from the mount with his tablets, this one comes to embarrass me. The first time I heard it I thought it was a total disaster; the second time I thought it was a mistake; and on the third spin I noticed a refrain but knew it was still well below par. It shouldn’t be like that – with The Undertones, I expected an instant euphoria and this is nowhere near that.

It starts with Sharkey singing like a size 12 ballet dancer in a size seven leotard, and throughout his voice is strained and disembodied. The overall sound is far too close to the tinny psychedelia of the ‘Nuggets’ compilation and sounds like too many steps back from the progression they made on their last LP. I await the new LP with more than a little trepidation. (NME, 23/10/82)