You Little Thief

1985 single by Feargal Sharkey

"You Little Thief"

Single by Feargal Sharkey

from the album Feargal Sharkey

B-side

"The Living Actor"

Released

23 December 1985 (1985-12-23)^[1]

Length

4:31

Label

Virgin

Songwriter(s)

Benmont Tench

Producer(s)

David A. Stewart

Feargal Sharkey singles chronology

"A Good Heart"
(1985)

"You Little Thief"
(1985)

"Someone to Somebody"
(1986)

"You Little Thief" is a song by Northern Irish singer Feargal Sharkey, released in December 1985 as the second single from his self-titled debut album. It was written by Benmont Tench and produced by David A. Stewart. The song reached No. 5 in the United Kingdom and was a hit in several other countries, including Australia, Belgium, and Ireland.

A music video was filmed to promote the single. The B-side, "The Living Actor", was exclusive to the single. It was written by Anthony Moore and Sharkey, and produced by Sharkey. The extended version of "You Little Thief" was created by Sharkey.

Critical reception

On its release, Dave Henderson of Sounds was critical of the song, writing, "More hits for men with quiffs. Sure, it's crap, with a dreadful melody line and rhythm lifted from many a moon ago, but, what's new?"^[2]

Formats

7-inch single
No.	Title	Written by	Length
1.	"You Little Thief"	Benmont Tench	4:31
2.	"The Living Actor"	Anthony Moore, Feargal Sharkey	3:06

12-inch single
No.	Title	Written by	Length
1.	"You Little Thief" (extended version)	Tench	5:02
2.	"The Living Actor"	Moore, Sharkey	3:06

12-inch single (alternate release)
No.	Title	Written by	Length
1.	"You Little Thief" (extended version)	Tench	5:02
2.	"You Little Thief"	Tench	4:31
3.	"The Living Actor"	Moore, Sharkey	3:06

12-inch single (special remix)
No.	Title	Written by	Length
1.	"You Little Thief" (extended version)	Tench	6:13
2.	"You Little Thief" (7-inch version)	Tench	4:31
3.	"The Living Actor"	Moore, Sharkey	3:06

CD single
No.	Title	Written by	Length
1.	"You Little Thief" (12-inch version)	Tench	5:02
2.	"Listen to Your Father" (12-inch version)	Carl Smyth	5:02
3.	"More Love"	Tench	4:24

Personnel

Feargal Sharkey – lead vocals, producer of "The Living Actor", arranger
David A. Stewart – producer and arranger on "You Little Thief", arranger on "The Living Actor"
Shelly Yakus – mixing on "You Little Thief"
David Rose – guitar on "The Living Actor"

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1986)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[3]	4
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[4]	9
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)^[5]	18
Ireland (IRMA)^[6]	3
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[7]	13
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[8]	10
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[9]	38
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[10]	27
UK Singles (OCC)^[11]	5
West Germany (Official German Charts)^[12]	30

Year-end charts

Chart (1986)	Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[13]	41

References

^ Smith, Robin (21 December 1985). "Index: Fearg Single". Record Mirror. p. 3. ISSN 0144-5804.
^ Henderson, Dave (4 January 1986). "Singles". Sounds. p. 18.
^ 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.
^ "Feargal Sharkey – You Little Thief" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
^ "European Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 3, no. 8. 1 March 1986. p. 13.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – You Little Thief". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 10, 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
^ "Feargal Sharkey – You Little Thief" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
^ "Feargal Sharkey – You Little Thief". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
^ "Feargal Sharkey – You Little Thief". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Feargal Sharkey – You Little Thief" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
^ "Kent Music Report No 650 – 29 December 1986 > National Top 100 Singles for 1986". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 16 December 2019 – via Imgur.