"You Little Thief" is pop vocalist Feargal Sharkey's first single of 1986 and follow-up to previous hit A Good Heart

A Good Heart

"A Good Heart" is a 1985 single by Feargal Sharkey, from his self-titled album.Written by Maria McKee about her relationship with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers keyboard player Benmont Tench and produced by the Eurythmics' David A. Stewart, this was former Undertones singer Feargal Sharkey's third...

. The single had a music video created for promotion. The b-side for the single "The Living Actor" was exclusive to the single.

The single was written by member of Tom Petty's

Tom Petty

Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T...

 band Benmont Tench about his relationship with Maria McKee

Maria McKee

Maria Luisa McKee is an American singer and songwriter. She is best known for her work with Lone Justice and her 1990 UK solo chart-topping hit, "Show Me Heaven".-Music:...

 who had wrote Sharkey's previous hit single A Good Heart

A Good Heart

"A Good Heart" is a 1985 single by Feargal Sharkey, from his self-titled album.Written by Maria McKee about her relationship with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers keyboard player Benmont Tench and produced by the Eurythmics' David A. Stewart, this was former Undertones singer Feargal Sharkey's third...

, based on Tench. Sharkey placed them next to each other on his debut album.

This was Sharkey's second and last major hit, becoming a strong hit throughout Europe.

A special remix 12" single was available, a version of the song remixed by Sharkey himself.

Formats

7" Single

1. "You Little Thief" - 4:31
2. "The Living Actor" - 3:06

12" Single

1. "You Little Thief (Extended Version)" - 5:02
2. "The Living Actor" - 3:06

12" Single (Alternate release)

1. "You Little Thief (Extended Version)" - 5:02
2. "You Little Thief" - 4:31
3. "The Living Actor" - 3:06

12" Single (Special Remix)

1. "You Little Thief (Special Remix)" - 6:13
2. "You Little Thief (7" Version)" - 4:31
3. "The Living Actor" - 3:06

12" Single (Canadian promo)

1. "You Little Thief (Special Remix)" - 6:13
2. "You Little Thief" - 4:31

CD Single

1. "You Little Thief (12" Version)" - 5:02
2. "Listen To Your Father (12" Version)" - 5:00
3. "More Love (12" Version)" - 4:24

Chart performance

Chart (1986)	Peak position
Australian Singles Chart	4
Dutch Singles Chart	10
German Singles Chart	30
Irish Singles Chart	3
New Zealand Singles Chart	38
Swiss Singles Chart	27
UK Singles Chart	5

Personnel

• Producer, Arranged By – David A. Stewart
• Mixed By – Shelly Yakus
• Arranged By – Feargal Sharkey
• Guitar on "The Living Actor" – David Rose (2)
• Producer on "The Living Actor" – Feargal Sharkey