# 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.

## 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

Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| NME | 6/10 |
| Number One | |
| Record Mirror | |
Upon its 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." In a mixed review, Neil Taylor of NME described the album as "AOR meets soul", on which the "high points are those tracks where sincerity and not synthesis is the key". Taylor praised Sharkey's "million dollar voice" and felt it was "majestically exploited" on the slower tracks, whereas the more uptempo ones "lack guts" and "have a contrived bite and appear a shade bland". He also noted that Sharkey's "commercial growth has been more or less matched by his Americanisation".
In the US, 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 caled it 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 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 tracks as "very good gems", but felt the rest of material "gets thin".

## In popular culture

The album is partially heard and mentioned in the 1990 Christmas Special episode of “Only Fools and Horses”, in which the character Rodney Trotter bought a copy of the album for his wife Casandra as a Birthday present.

## Track listing

The CD release contains three changes to the track listing.

## 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