The Pogues | ||
| Allmusic Biography : By demonstrating that the spirit of punk could live in traditional Irish folk music, the Pogues were one of the most radical bands of the mid-80s. Led by Shane MacGowan, whose slurred, incomprehensible voice often disguised the sheer poetry of his songs, the Pogues were undeniably political -- not only were many of their songs explicitly in favor of working-class liberalism, but the wild, careening sound of their punk-injected folk was implicitly radical. While the band was clearly radical, they also had a wickedly warped sense of humor, which was abundantly clear on their biggest hit, the fractured Christmas carol "Fairy Tale of New York." The groups first three albums -- Red Roses for Me, Rum Sodomy & the Lash, If I Should Fall from Grace with God -- were widely praised in both Britain and America, and by 1988 they had earned substantial cult followings in both countries. Yet MacGowans darkly romantic, wasted lifestyle, which was so key to their spirit and success, ultimately proved to be their downfall. By the end of the decade, he had fallen deep into alcoholism and drug addiction, forcing the band to fire him if they wanted to survive. The Pogues carried on without him in the early 90s, playing to a slowly shrinking audience before finally disbanding in 1996. MacGowan, an Irish punk inspired by the Clash, formed the Pogues in 1982 after playing with the London-based punk band the Nipple Erectors, a group that was later called the Nips. MacGowan met Spider Stacy in a London tube station, where Stacy was playing a tin whistle. The two began working together, drafting former Nip Jim Fearnley to play guitar. Naming themselves Pogue Mahone -- a Gaelic term meaning "kiss my ass" -- the trio began playing traditional Irish tunes in London pubs and streets, eventually adding Jem Finer (banjo, guitar), Andrew David Ranken (drums), and Cait ORiordan (bass) to make it a full band. As the group developed into a sextet, they added MacGowans original songs to their repertoire, and began earning a reputation as a wild, drunken, and exciting live act. Shortening their name to the Pogues, the group released an independent single, "Dark Streets of London," in early 1984 and supported the Clash on their summer tour. By the fall, they had signed with Stiff Records and had released their acclaimed debut Red Roses for Me. The album was a critical hit, establishing the Pogues as one of the most vital, and certainly one of the most political, bands in Britain. Early in 1985, they added guitarist Philip Chevron and recorded Rum Sodomy & the Lash with producer Elvis Costello. The album was an underground success and was widely praised, especially for MacGowans songwriting -- not only in the U.K., but also in the U.S., where they were becoming college radio staples. Instead of following Rum Sodomy & the Lash with a new album, the Pogues took nearly a full-year hiatus from recording, releasing the Poguetry in Motion EP in 1986 and appearing in Alex Coxs film Straight to Hell in 1987. By 1988, ORiordan had left the band to marry Costello, and she was replaced by Darryl Hunt; banjoist Terry Woods was also added to the band. Early in 1988, they signed to Island Records and released the Steve Lillywhite-produced If I Should Fall from Grace with God later that year. The album became the groups biggest hit, generating the number two U.K. single "Fairytale of New York," which featured vocalist Kirsty MacColl. Although the Pogues were peaking in popularity, MacGowans relentless drug and alcohol abuse was beginning to cripple the band. Although neither the 1989 hit single "Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah" or Peace & Love (also 1989) were noticeably affected by his excesses, MacGowan missed the Pogues prestigious opening dates in 1988 for Bob Dylan and stalked the stage like a madman during a pivotal Saturday Night Live performance. By 1990s Hells Ditch, Spider Stacy and Jem Finer began singing the bulk of the Pogues material. Despite positive reviews, Hells Ditch was a flop, and the group wasnt able to support the record because of MacGowans behavior. Consequently, he was asked to leave the band in 1991; three years later, he returned with a new band, the Popes. For subsequent tours, the Clashs Joe Strummer filled in as lead vocalist, but by the time the band recorded their comeback, Waiting for Herb, in 1993, Stacy had become the permanent vocalist. Waiting for Herb was kindly reviewed, yet was also ignored, as was 1995s Pogue Mahone. The following year, the Pogues announced they were disbanding after 14 years in the business. They stayed dormant for the rest of the 90s while MacGowans work with the Popes slowly came to an end and other members sought their own creative avenues. In 2001, the group made amends with MacGowan and reunited for a short British tour. This goodwill carried through the next decade as the group continued to play short international tours and make one-off appearances eventually releasing a box set of rarities (Just Look Them Straight in the Eye and Say....POGUE MAHONE!!) in 2008 and a live album (The Pogues in Paris: 30th Anniversary Concert) in 2012. Just prior to the release of their career-spanning 30 Years box set in 2013, the groups longtime guitarist Philip Chevron passed away from esophageal cancer. Chevron was the author of one of the Pogues most revered songs, "Thousands Are Sailing," and had become a sort of unofficial spokesperson for the band in its later period. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 22 Title: Red Roses for Me Released: 1984 Tracks: 13 Duration: 40:17 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Transmetropolitan (04:15) 2 The Battle of Brisbane (01:49) 3 The Auld Triangle (04:20) 4 Waxie’s Dargle (01:53) 5 Boys From the County Hell (02:56) 6 Sea Shanty (02:24) 7 Dark Streets of London (03:33) 8 Streams of Whiskey (02:32) 9 Poor Paddy (03:09) 10 Dingle Regatta (02:52) 11 Greenland Whale Fisheries (02:36) 12 Down in the Ground Where the Dead Men Go (03:30) 13 Kitty (04:23) |
| Red Roses for Me : Allmusic album Review : What set the Pogues apart from any number of other energetic Irish traditional bands was the sheer physical force of their performances, the punky swagger of their personalities, and Shane MacGowans considerable gifts as a songwriter. Unfortunately, none of these qualities comes through very clearly on their first album, Red Roses for Me. While the Pogues are in good form here, the production (by Stan Brennan) is thin and lacks the body or nuance to capture the finer details of the performances, robbing this recording of the fire the group would display on their later albums. And its clear that MacGowan had not yet fully matured as a songwriter; there are a handful of superb songs here, such as "Transmetropolitan," "Streams of Whiskey," and "Down in the Ground Where the Dead Men Go," but some of the others suggest MacGowan was still learning how to fit all his ideas into his songs. Red Roses for Me is good and rowdy fun, but on Rum Sodomy & the Lash and If I Should Fall from Grace with God, the Pogues would prove they were capable of a lot more than that. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 22 Title: Rum Sodomy & the Lash Released: 1985 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:04:38 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Sickbed of Cúchulainn (03:00) 2 The Old Main Drag (03:20) 3 Wild Cats of Kilkenny (02:49) 4 I’m a Man You Don’t Meet Every Day (02:55) 5 A Pair of Brown Eyes (05:00) 6 Sally MacLennane (02:44) 7 Dirty Old Town (03:45) 8 Jesse James (02:58) 9 Navigator (04:12) 10 Billy’s Bones (02:03) 11 The Gentleman Soldier (02:04) 12 The Band Played Waltzing Matilda (08:14) 13 A Pistol for Paddy Garcia (02:31) 14 London Girl (03:04) 15 Rainy Night in Soho (05:36) 16 The Body of an American (04:48) 17 Planxty Noel Hill (03:12) 18 The Parting Glass (02:14) |
| Rum Sodomy & the Lash : Allmusic album Review : "I saw my task... was to capture them in their delapidated glory before some more professional producer f--ked them up," Elvis Costello wrote of his role behind the controls for the Pogues second album, Rum Sodomy & the Lash. One spin of the album proves that Costello accomplished his mission; this album captures all the sweat, fire, and angry joy that was lost in the thin, disembodied recording of the bands debut, and the Pogues sound stronger and tighter without losing a bit of their edge in the process. Rum Sodomy & the Lash also found Shane MacGowan growing steadily as a songwriter; while the debut had its moments, the blazing and bitter roar of the opening track, "The Sick Bed of Cúchulainn," made it clear MacGowan had fused the intelligent anger of punk and the sly storytelling of Irish folk as no one had before, and the rent boys serenade of "The Old Main Drag" and the dazzling, drunken character sketch of "A Pair of Brown Eyes" proved there were plenty of directions where he could take his gifts. And like any good folk group, the Pogues also had a great ear for other peoples songs. Bassist Cait ORiordans haunting performance of "Im a Man You Dont Meet Every Day" is simply superb (it must have especially impressed Costello, who would later marry her), and while Shane MacGowan may not have written "Dirty Old Town" or "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda," his wrought, emotionally compelling vocals made them his from then on. Rum Sodomy & the Lash falls just a bit short of being the Pogues best album, but was the first one to prove that they were a great band, and not just a great idea for a band. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 22 Title: Poguetry in Motion Released: 1986-02 Tracks: 4 Duration: 16:46 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 London Girl (03:03) 2 Rainy Night in Soho (Oboe version) (05:47) 3 The Body of an American (04:47) 4 Planxty Noel Hill (03:09) |
 | Album: 4 of 22 Title: If I Should Fall From Grace With God Released: 1988-01-01 Tracks: 15 Duration: 51:49 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 If I Should Fall From Grace With God (02:21) 2 Turkish Song of the Damned (03:27) 3 Bottle of Smoke (02:47) 4 Fairytale of New York (04:33) 5 Metropolis (02:50) 6 Thousands Are Sailing (05:28) 7 South Australia (03:28) 8 Fiesta (04:13) 9 Medley: The Recruiting Sergeant / The Rocky Road to Dublin / The Galway Races (04:02) 10 Streets of Sorrow / Birmingham Six (04:39) 11 Lullaby of London (03:32) 12 The Battle March Medley (04:10) 13 Sit Down by the Fire (02:17) 14 The Broad Majestic Shannon (02:55) 15 Worms (01:03) |
| If I Should Fall From Grace With God : Allmusic album Review : If Rum Sodomy & the Lash captured the Pogues on plastic in all their rough-and-tumble glory, If I Should Fall from Grace with God proved they could learn the rudiments of proper record making and still come up with an album that captured all the sharp edges of their musical personality. Producer Steve Lillywhite imposed a more disciplined approach in the studio than Elvis Costello had, but he had the good sense not to squeeze the life out of the band in the process; as a result, the Pogues sound tighter and more precise than ever, while still summoning up the glorious howling fury that made Rum Sodomy & the Lash so powerful. And Shane MacGowan continued to grow as a songwriter, as his lyrics and melodies captured with brilliant detail his obsession with the finer points of Anglo-Irish culture. "Fairytale of New York," a glorious sweet-and-sour duet with Kirsty MacColl, and "The Broad Majestic Shannon" were subtle in a way many of his previous work was not, "Birmingham Six" found him addressing political issues for the first time (and with all the expected venom), and "Fiesta" and "Turkish Song of the Damned" found him adding (respectively) faux-Spanish and Middle Eastern flavors into the Pogues heady mix. And if you want to hear the Pogues blaze through some fast ones, "Bottle of Smoke" and the title song find them doing just what theyve always done best. Brilliantly mixing passion, street smarts, and musical ambition, If I Should Fall from Grace with God is the best album the Pogues would ever make. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 22 Title: Peace and Love Released: 1989-07-25 Tracks: 14 Duration: 45:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Gridlock (03:33) 2 White City (02:31) 3 Young Ned of the Hill (02:45) 4 Misty Morning, Albert Bridge (03:01) 5 Cotton Fields (02:51) 6 Blue Heaven (03:36) 7 Down All the Days (03:45) 8 USA (04:52) 9 Lorelei (03:33) 10 Gartloney Rats (02:32) 11 Boat Train (02:40) 12 Tombstone (02:57) 13 Night Train to Lorca (03:29) 14 London You’re a Lady (02:56) |
| Peace and Love : Allmusic album Review : Shane MacGowans potent appetite for alcohol was evident from the time the Pogues cut their first album, but by the time they got to work on Peace and Love in 1989, it was evident that hed gone far past the point of enjoying a few pints (or many pints) and had sunk deep into drug and alcohol dependence. The Pogues were always far more than just MacGowans backing band, but with the groups principal songwriter and lead singer frequently unable to rise to the occasion, the recording of Peace and Love became a trying experience, with the rest of the band often scrambling to take up the slack for their down-for-the-count frontman. Given the circumstances, the Pogues deliver with greater strength than one might expect on Peace and Love; while MacGowans vocals are often mush-mouthed and his songwriting is markedly beneath his previous standards, Terry Woods contributes two terrific traditional-style numbers ("Young Ned of the Hill" and "Gartloney Rats"), Philip Chevrons "Lorelei" is a superb tale of lost love (he and Darryl Hunt also teamed up for a fine bit of Celtic-calypso fusion on "Blue Heaven"), and Jem Finer brought along a trio of strong originals. Musically, Peace and Love found the band stretching their boundaries, adding accents of film noir jazz on "Gridlock," rockabilly on "Cotton Fields," straight-ahead rock on "USA," and power pop on "Lorelei," though the groups highly recognizable Celtic-trad-on-steroids style is never far beneath the surface. Peace and Love isnt as good as the two Pogues albums that preceded it (which represent the finest work of their career), but it does make clear that MacGowan was hardly the only talented songwriter in the band -- though the fact that the sets most memorable songs were written by others did not bode well for the groups future. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 22 Title: Hell’s Ditch Released: 1990 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:04:46 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Sunnyside of the Street (02:44) 2 Sayonara (03:06) 3 The Ghost of a Smile (02:58) 4 Hell’s Ditch (03:03) 5 Lorca’s Novena (04:40) 6 Summer in Siam (04:07) 7 Rain Street (04:01) 8 Rainbow Man (02:45) 9 The Wake of the Medusa (03:04) 10 House of the Gods (03:46) 11 Five Green Queens and Jean (02:35) 12 Maidrin Rua (01:47) 13 Six to Go (03:00) 14 Whiskey in the Jar (02:41) 15 Bastard Landlord (03:09) 16 Infinity (02:48) 17 Curse of Love (02:43) 18 Squid Out of Water (03:47) 19 Jack’s Heroes (03:06) 20 Rainy Night in Soho (04:48) |
| Hell’s Ditch : Allmusic album Review : After the embattled recording of the Pogues Peace and Love, with Shane MacGowan clearly at odds with his bandmates and their musical direction while contributing little in the way of new songs, Hells Ditch seemed at once like a step forward and a step back for the group. While Peace and Love suggested the Pogues had grown weary of the hot-rodded Celtic sounds that had been their trademark, Hells Ditch found the band back in more familiar territory and sounding much refreshed; if there wasnt anything as manic as the high points of Rum Sodomy & the Lash or If I Should Fall from Grace with God, these sessions reveal the Pogues had found their feet and were sounding like a band again, and while a few of MacGowans songs lead them through his fascination with Asian and Latin accents, the musicians were able to fuse them with their own trademark style rather than being subsumed by them; the Pogues rarely sounded as graceful or a comfortable as they do on Hells Ditch. However, MacGowans songwriting still hadnt regained the fire and acidity that made the groups first three albums so powerful, and Terry Woods and Jem Finer dont quite pick up the slack. More importantly, while Joe Strummers production served the band well, he was seemingly too fond of MacGowan to tell him when his vocals were all but unintelligible, and many of the songs are all but sunk by Shanes sloppy, mush-mouthed, and booze-addled delivery, which is difficult to unravel even by his standards. While there are many pearly moments on Hells Ditch that suggest the work of a happier and more unified band than on their previous albums, MacGowans poorly focused performances are a handicap the Pogues couldnt overcome, and it seems appropriate this was the bands last studio album with their primary songwriter and frontman. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 22 Title: Essential Pogues Released: 1991 Tracks: 14 Duration: 53:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Sunnyside of the Street (02:44) 2 If I Should Fall From Grace With God (02:21) 3 Lorelei (03:33) 4 Thousands Are Sailing (05:28) 5 White City (02:31) 6 Fairytale of New York (04:33) 7 Fiesta (04:13) 8 Rain Street (04:01) 9 Turkish Song of the Damned (03:29) 10 Summer in Siam (04:07) 11 Misty Morning, Albert Bridge (03:01) 12 Blue Heaven (03:36) 13 Honky Tonk Women (02:56) 14 Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah (long version) (06:44) |
| Essential Pogues : Allmusic album Review : Essential Pogues doesnt cover Red Roses for Me or Rum Sodomy and the Lash, so it isnt a definitive collection. However, it does capture the majority of the highlights from their Island albums and functions as a good introduction to the band. One complaint: the tedious extended remix of "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah" was included instead of the punchy, energetic original single. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 22 Title: The Best of The Pogues Released: 1991 Tracks: 14 Duration: 52:40 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Fairytale of New York (04:33) 2 Sally MacLennane (02:44) 3 Dirty Old Town (03:45) 4 The Irish Rover (03:40) 5 A Pair of Brown Eyes (03:41) 6 Streams of Whiskey (02:32) 7 A Rainy Night in Soho (04:45) 8 Fiesta (04:13) 9 Rain Street (04:01) 10 Misty Morning, Albert Bridge (03:01) 11 White City (02:31) 12 Thousands Are Sailing (05:28) 13 The Broad Majestic Shannon (02:52) 14 The Body of an American (04:48) |
| The Best of The Pogues : Allmusic album Review : Good import - look for it. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 22 Title: The Rest of the Best Released: 1992 Tracks: 16 Duration: 50:48 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 If I Should Fall From Grace With God (02:21) 2 The Sickbed of Cúchulainn (03:00) 3 The Old Main Drag (03:19) 4 Boys From the County Hell (02:56) 5 Young Ned of the Hill (02:45) 6 Dark Streets of London (03:33) 7 The Auld Triangle (04:20) 8 Repeal of the Licensing Laws (02:09) 9 Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah (03:18) 10 London Girl (03:15) 11 Honky Tonk Women (02:56) 12 Summer in Siam (04:07) 13 Turkish Song of the Damned (03:27) 14 Lullaby of London (03:32) 15 The Sunnyside of the Street (02:44) 16 Hell’s Ditch (03:03) |
| The Rest of the Best : Allmusic album Review : The Rest of the Best is a solid sampling of the Pogues output up to 1994, even when one considers that the collection in a way amounts to the second best-of, since The Best of the Pogues was released less than a year before this collection. Though the album suffers from a sequencing problem, with three of its strongest songs out of the way right off the bat, theres a lot to like across its 16 tracks, excluding the bands miserably bland take on the Rolling Stones "Honky Tonk Women." The collection makes a case for Shane MacGowan as a kind of witty and wise Buddha for the inebriated of the world. His bandmates expertly handle serene ballads like the touching "Summer in Siam" and the subtle, acoustic "Lullaby of London" as well as they rock out in full Irish folk song revelry on "If I Should Fall From Grace With God" and "The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn." The album does a decent job of collecting some of MacGowans most poetic lyrics. Its a good showing of the broad, emotional, and humorous themes MacGowan favors, giving a glimpse into the lives of individuals who just cant get their acts together. Singing "Now Im lying here Ive had too much booze/Ive been shat on and spat on and raped and abused" and detailing beatings from "coppers" and being robbed of every last penny, MacGowan comes across like a master storyteller. Despite big-name producers like Joe Strummer, Elvis Costello, and Steve Lillywhite, many of the recordings dont catch the magic of the Pogues that works its way out of the bands full-length albums. Since the collection goes back and forth chronologically, the variation from under-produced to fully orchestrated songs gets a bit jarring. Presenting the Pogues as punk Irish folksters who arent afraid to tackle traditional ballads or document lifes absurdities, The Rest of the Best is a quality sampler of the bands Shane MacGowan-fronted years despite its flawed sequencing. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 22 Title: Waiting for Herb Released: 1993-10-19 Tracks: 12 Duration: 46:35 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Tuesday Morning (03:30) 2 Smell of Petroleum (03:13) 3 Haunting (04:04) 4 Once Upon a Time (03:55) 5 Sitting on Top of the World (03:37) 6 Drunken Boat (06:38) 7 Big City (02:41) 8 Girl From the Wadi Hammamat (04:53) 9 Modern World (03:55) 10 Pachinko (03:09) 11 My Baby’s Gone (02:24) 12 Small Hours (04:31) |
| Waiting for Herb : Allmusic album Review : With driving force Shane MacGowan gone, the Pogues ended up with the same problems the Band experienced minus Robbie Robertson. MacGowans struggles with the bottle, and in turn the band, added the needed danger that kept things fiery and hotheaded. Without him the Pogues turned rootsy and effortless to a fault. The playing is there but the songs have lost their sharp edge. Spider Stacys only writing contribution, "Tuesday Morning," is the best of the lot with a catchy hook and lazy way, while the oddball "Pachinko" proves that MacGowan didnt have the exclusive rights to creativity. Otherwise, there is one pensive song after another and depth ends up being the victim. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 22 Title: Pogue Mahone Released: 1995 Tracks: 13 Duration: 43:43 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 How Come (02:49) 2 Living in a World Without Her (03:20) 3 When the Ship Comes In (03:13) 4 Anniversary (04:05) 5 Amadie (01:53) 6 Love You Till the End (04:32) 7 Bright Lights (02:32) 8 Oretown (03:50) 9 Pont Mirabeau (03:30) 10 Tosspint (03:31) 11 Four O’Clock in the Morning (03:12) 12 Where That Love’s Been Gone (03:50) 13 The Sun and the Moon (03:20) |
| Pogue Mahone : Allmusic album Review : Pogue Mahone (Gaelic for "kiss my arse") is the seventh and final studio album from lauded progressive Irish folk pioneers the Pogues. After the departure of Shane MacGowan, co-founder Spider Stacy found himself at the helm, singing and sharing songwriting duties with the rest of the group. If their post-MacGowan debut, Waiting for Herb, was a respectable attempt at recapturing the shape-shifting, genre-splitting days of classic tracks like "Fiesta," "Lorelei," and "Night Train to Lorca," Pogue Mahone is a celebration of the bands inception. Panned by critics and fans who refused to take a "Shane-less" Pogues seriously, both records are a testament to the bands enormous vault of talent. Stacy, who spent most of his career in MacGowans shadow, rose to the occasion on Herb, offering up what must have been years of oppressed material, most of it remarkable. This time around its the rest of the group that gets a shot at emptying their catalogs. In fact, Mahone is actually multi-instrumentalist Jem Finer and drummer Andrew Rankens baby. For the most part they succeed in re-installing the traditional spark that made the group so electrifying in the 80s. Pub rockers like Finers "Bright Lights" and Rankens French rave-up "Amadie," while suffering from murky production, are rousing, raucous, and delightful, making one wonder what the publics reaction would have been had Pogue Mahone been a debut from a band nobody had ever heard of. [In 2005, WEA International reissued a re-mastered and expanded version of Pogue Mahone with the the bonus tracks "Eyes Of An Angel" and a previously unreleased mix of "Love You Till The End."] | ||
 | Album: 12 of 22 Title: The Very Best Of… Released: 2001-03-02 Tracks: 21 Duration: 1:17:13 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Dirty Old Town (03:45) 2 The Irish Rover (03:37) 3 Sally MacLennane (02:44) 4 Fiesta (04:13) 5 A Pair of Brown Eyes (03:41) 6 Fairytale of New York (04:33) 7 The Body of an American (04:48) 8 Streams of Whisky (02:32) 9 The Sickbed of Cúchulainn (03:00) 10 If I Should Fall From Grace With God (02:21) 11 Misty Morning, Albert Bridge (03:01) 12 Rain Street (04:01) 13 White City (02:31) 14 A Rainy Night in Soho (04:45) 15 London Girl (03:15) 16 Boys From the County Hell (02:56) 17 The Sunnyside of the Street (02:44) 18 Summer in Siam (04:07) 19 Hell’s Ditch (03:03) 20 The Old Main Drag (03:19) 21 The Band Played Waltzing Matilda (08:09) |
 | Album: 13 of 22 Title: If I Should Fall From Grace / Peace and Love Released: 2003-08-15 Tracks: 29 Duration: 1:36:56 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 If I Should Fall From Grace With God (02:21) 2 Turkish Song of the Damned (03:27) 3 Bottle of Smoke (02:47) 4 Fairytale of New York (04:33) 5 Metropolis (02:50) 6 Thousands Are Sailing (05:28) 7 South Australia (03:28) 8 Fiesta (04:13) 9 Medley: The Recruiting Sergeant / The Rocky Road to Dublin / The Galway Races (04:02) 10 Streets of Sorrow / Birmingham Six (04:39) 11 Lullaby of London (03:32) 12 The Battle March Medley (04:10) 13 Sit Down by the Fire (02:17) 14 The Broad Majestic Shannon (02:55) 15 Worms (01:03) 1 Gridlock (03:33) 2 White City (02:31) 3 Young Ned of the Hill (02:45) 4 Misty Morning, Albert Bridge (03:01) 5 Cotton Fields (02:51) 6 Blue Heaven (03:36) 7 Down All the Days (03:45) 8 USA (04:52) 9 Lorelei (03:33) 10 Gartloney Rats (02:32) 11 Boat Train (02:40) 12 Tombstone (02:57) 13 Night Train to Lorca (03:29) 14 London You’re a Lady (02:56) |
 | Album: 14 of 22 Title: The Ultimate Collection Released: 2005-03-05 Tracks: 44 Duration: 2:33:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Rainy Night in Soho (04:44) 2 Sally MacLennane (02:44) 3 The Irish Rover (03:40) 4 Dirty Old Town (03:45) 5 Fairytale of New York (04:32) 6 Streams of Whiskey (02:32) 7 If I Should Fall From Grace With God (02:21) 8 Fiesta (04:13) 9 The Body of an American (04:48) 10 Misty Morning, Albert Bridge (03:01) 11 Repeal of the Licensing Laws (02:09) 12 Boys From the County Hell (02:54) 13 The Sunnyside of the Street (02:44) 14 A Pair of Brown Eyes (03:41) 15 Summer in Siam (04:07) 16 The Sickbed of Cúchulainn (03:00) 17 London Girl (03:04) 18 Tuesday Morning (03:30) 19 White City (02:31) 20 Hell’s Ditch (03:03) 21 Young Ned of the Hill (02:45) 22 Thousands Are Sailing (05:28) 1 Streams of Whiskey (02:39) 2 If I Should Fall From Grace With God (02:27) 3 Boys From the County Hell (02:52) 4 The Broad Majestic Shannon (02:51) 5 Young Ned of the Hill (03:19) 6 Turkish Song of the Damned (03:13) 7 Rainy Night in Soho (05:05) 8 Tuesday Morning (03:16) 9 Rain Street (03:29) 10 A Pair of Brown Eyes (03:55) 11 Repeal of the Licensing Laws (02:10) 12 The Old Main Drag (03:31) 13 Thousands Are Sailing (04:58) 14 Body of an American (04:28) 15 Sally MacLennane (02:50) 16 Lullaby of London (03:37) 17 Dirty Old Town (03:50) 18 Bottle of Smoke (02:42) 19 The Sickbed of Cuchulainn (03:33) 20 Fairytale of New York (04:36) 21 Fiesta (04:36) 22 The Irish Rover (03:39) |
| The Ultimate Collection : Allmusic album Review : For those who only know the Pogues from their duet Christmas hit with Kirsty MacColl, "Fairytale of New York," or dont know anything about the Irish group at all, this album is an excellent place to start. Featuring 23 highlights from the groups catalog -- with three tracks from Red Roses for Me, eight from Rum Sodomy & the Lash, five from If I Should Fall from Grace with God, three each from Peace and Love and Hells Ditch, and just one track from Waiting for Herb, recorded as Shane MacGowan sank deeper into alcoholism -- Ultimate Collection is a fair summary of the bands output over a period of nearly 20 years. They were never a singles band -- in fact, their only Top Ten hits were the aforementioned Christmas single and a duet with the Dubliners on the traditional Irish jig "The Irish Rover" -- but the Pogues nevertheless became one of the most successful traditional Irish folk bands, with their defining points consisting of Shane MacGowans distinctive slurring vocals and working-class political lyrics. They had released hit collections previously, but both the 1991 albums The Best of the Pogues and The Essential Pogues were condensed 14-track albums, and 2001s The Very Best of the Pogues contained 21 tracks on a single CD. This double CD is a revamped version of the latter album, but also includes a bonus disc featuring a full show recorded at the Brixton Academy in 2001, featuring live versions of many of the tracks featured on disc one. As the years go by, the Christmas hit "Fairytale of New York" appears to get more and more popular, originally peaking at number two in 1987, number three in 2005, number six in 2006, and number four in 2007, as the tale of two sparring aging partners has consistently topped the U.K.s polls of the nations favorite Christmas records, and inclusion of this one track does The Ultimate Collection no harm at all. | ||
 | Album: 15 of 22 Title: Dirty Old Town Released: 2005-09-27 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:04:07 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Streams of Whiskey (02:32) 2 A Pair of Brown Eyes (05:00) 3 Dirty Old Town (03:45) 4 Sally MacLennane (02:44) 5 Dingle Regatta (02:52) 6 Turkish Song of the Damned (03:27) 7 Metropolis (02:50) 8 Thousands Are Sailing (05:28) 9 A Rainy Night in Soho (05:31) 10 Misty Morning, Albert Bridge (03:01) 11 I’m a Man You Don’t Meet Every Day (02:55) 12 Gridlock (03:32) 13 Young Ned of the Hill (02:45) 14 Tuesday Morning (03:30) 15 Paris St. Germaine (03:02) 16 Drunken Boat (06:36) 17 Love You ’Till the End (04:31) |
 | Album: 16 of 22 Title: Just Look Them Straight in the Eye and Say… Pogue Mahone!! Released: 2008-06-02 Tracks: 110 Duration: 5:54:19 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 The Kerry Polka (01:28) 2 The Rocky Road to Dublin (03:13) 3 Boys From the County Hell (“radio‐friendly” version) (02:47) 4 NW3 (02:52) 5 The Donegal Express / The Hen and the Cock Are in Carrickmacross (03:46) 6 Do You Believe in Magic? (02:42) 7 Hot Asphalt (02:28) 8 Danny Boy (03:25) 9 Maggie May (04:28) 10 Haunted (03:34) 11 The Travelling People (04:05) 12 Eve of Destruction (03:38) 13 My Baby’s Gone (demo) (02:24) 14 North Sea Holes (03:41) 15 Garbo (aka In and Out) (02:45) 16 The Last of McGee (02:45) 17 Afro‐Cuban Be‐Bop (alt. mix) (02:47) 18 Young Ned of the Hill (dub version) (03:46) 19 Pinned Down / I’m Alone in the Wilderness (04:48) 20 When the Ship Comes In (demo) (03:11) 21 Waxies Dargle (live) (01:47) 1 Repeal of the Licensing Laws (demo) (02:08) 2 Dark Streets of London (demo) (02:37) 3 Greenland Whale Fisheries (demo) (02:39) 4 Streams of Whiskey (demo) (02:32) 5 The Auld Triangle (03:50) 6 Poor Paddy on the Railway (03:02) 7 Sea Shanty (demo) (02:20) 8 Transmetropolitan (demo) (03:10) 9 Kitty (demo) (03:29) 10 Boys From the County Hell (02:52) 11 Connemara, Let’s Go! (aka Down in the Ground Where the Dead Men Go) (demo) (02:59) 12 Billy’s Bones (02:05) 13 The Old Main Drag (03:19) 14 Sally Maclennane (02:52) 15 The Town That Never Sleeps (02:06) 16 Something Wild (02:20) 17 Driving Through the City (02:47) 18 Rainy Night in Soho (Oboe version) (05:47) 19 Fairytale of New York (extract from 1st demo) (04:33) 20 Fairytale of New York (extract from 2nd demo) (05:15) 21 Fairytale of New York (extract from 3rd demo) (02:11) 22 Navigator (live) (04:18) 1 The Aria (02:42) 2 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (03:45) 3 Haunted (demo) (03:29) 4 Love Theme From Sid and Nancy (01:42) 5 Junk (02:56) 6 Glued Up and Speeding (01:27) 7 Paris (01:09) 8 A Needle for Paddy Garcia (02:28) 9 JB 57 (01:44) 10 Bowery Snax / Spiked (03:54) 11 Hot Dogs With Everything (02:50) 12 Rince Del Emplacada (03:14) 13 The Rake at the Gates of Hell (02:26) 14 Turkish Song of the Damned (03:56) 15 If I Should Fall From Grace With God (02:31) 16 Battle March (demo) (02:22) 17 Lullaby of London (demo) (04:48) 18 Shanne Bradley (demo) (03:22) 19 Streets of Sorrow (demo) (02:08) 20 Thousands Are Sailing (extract) (04:14) 21 The Balinalee (02:57) 22 Nicaragua Libré (02:36) 23 Japan (live) (03:02) 1 Sally Maclennane (live) (02:48) 2 A Pair of Brown Eyes (live) (03:40) 3 Kitty (live) (03:42) 4 Maggie May (live) (04:23) 5 Dirty Old Town (live) (03:48) 6 The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn (live) (03:19) 7 Fiesta (7″ single remix) (03:54) 8 If I Should Fall From Grace With God (remix) (04:18) 9 Johnny Come Lately (04:02) 10 Boat Train (demo) (02:48) 11 Night Train to Lorca (demo) (02:50) 12 The Mistlethrush (02:45) 13 Got a Lot O’ Livin’ to Do (02:28) 14 Victoria (02:51) 15 Murder (version 1) (02:53) 16 Lust for Vomit (02:20) 17 The Wake of the Medusa (demo) (03:14) 18 The Black Dogs Ditch (04:07) 19 Aisling (02:24) 20 Murder (version 2) (02:39) 21 Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah (long version) (06:44) 22 Maidrín Rua (03:17) 23 Johnny Come Lately (live) (03:02) 1 Johnny Was (03:26) 2 Miss Otis Regrets / Just One of Those Things (04:44) 3 All the Tears That I Cried (03:33) 4 The One and Only (03:43) 5 Afro‐Cuban Be‐Bop (single version) (02:53) 6 Turkish Song of the Damned (live) (04:09) 7 London Calling (live) (03:27) 8 I Fought the Law (live) (02:48) 9 The Girl From the Wadi‐Hammamat (demo) (04:15) 10 Moving to Moldova (demo) (05:15) 11 Call My Name (02:44) 12 The Sun and the Moon (demo) (02:17) 13 Living in a World Without Her (demo) (03:13) 14 Who Said Romance Is Dead? (demo) (04:11) 15 Sound of the City Night (demo) (03:36) 16 Four O’Clock in the Morning (demo) (02:37) 17 The Star of the County Down (live) (03:15) 18 White City (live) (02:27) 19 Medley: The Recruiting Sergeant / The Rocky Road to Dublin / The Galway Races (live) (03:54) 20 The Parting Glass / Lord Santry’s Fairest Daughter (live) (03:52) 21 Goodnight Irene (live) (03:37) |
 | Album: 17 of 22 Title: Original Album Series Released: 2009 Tracks: 68 Duration: 3:44:27 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Transmetropolitan (04:15) 2 The Battle of Brisbane (01:49) 3 The Auld Triangle (04:20) 4 Waxie’s Dargle (01:53) 5 Boys From the County Hell (02:56) 6 Sea Shanty (02:24) 7 Dark Streets of London (03:33) 8 Streams of Whiskey (02:32) 9 Poor Paddy (03:09) 10 Dingle Regatta (02:52) 11 Greenland Whale Fisheries (02:36) 12 Down in the Ground Where the Dead Men Go (03:30) 13 Kitty (04:23) 1 The Sickbed of Cúchulainn (03:00) 2 The Old Main Drag (03:19) 3 Wild Cats of Kilkenny (02:49) 4 I’m a Man You Don’t Meet Every Day (02:55) 5 A Pair of Brown Eyes (05:00) 6 Sally MacLennane (02:44) 7 A Pistol for Paddy Garcia (02:31) 8 Dirty Old Town (03:45) 9 Jesse James (02:58) 10 Navigator (04:12) 11 Billy’s Bones (02:03) 12 The Gentleman Soldier (02:04) 13 And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda (08:07) 1 If I Should Fall From Grace With God (02:21) 2 Turkish Song of the Damned (03:27) 3 Bottle of Smoke (02:47) 4 Fairytale of New York (04:33) 5 Metropolis (02:50) 6 Thousands Are Sailing (05:28) 7 South Australia (03:28) 8 Fiesta (04:13) 9 Medley: The Recruiting Sergeant / The Rocky Road to Dublin / The Galway Races (04:02) 10 Streets of Sorrow / Birmingham Six (04:39) 11 Lullaby of London (03:32) 12 The Battle March Medley (04:10) 13 Sit Down by the Fire (02:17) 14 The Broad Majestic Shannon (02:55) 15 Worms (01:03) 1 Gridlock (03:33) 2 White City (02:31) 3 Young Ned of the Hill (02:45) 4 Misty Morning, Albert Bridge (03:01) 5 Cotton Fields (02:51) 6 Blue Heaven (03:36) 7 Down All the Days (03:45) 8 USA (04:52) 9 Lorelei (03:33) 10 Gartloney Rats (02:32) 11 Boat Train (02:40) 12 Tombstone (02:57) 13 Night Train to Lorca (03:29) 14 London You’re a Lady (02:56) 1 The Sunnyside of the Street (02:44) 2 Sayonara (03:07) 3 The Ghost of a Smile (02:58) 4 Hell’s Ditch (03:03) 5 Lorca’s Novena (04:40) 6 Summer in Siam (04:07) 7 Rain Street (04:01) 8 Rainbow Man (02:46) 9 The Wake of the Medusa (03:04) 10 House of the Gods (03:46) 11 5 Green Queens and Jean (02:35) 12 Maidrín Rua (01:47) 13 Six to Go (02:58) |
 | Album: 18 of 22 Title: In Paris: 30th Anniversary Concert at the Olympia Released: 2012-11-12 Tracks: 24 Duration: 1:32:47 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Streams of Whiskey (03:12) 2 If I Should Fall From Grace With God (02:45) 3 The Broad Majestic Shannon (03:15) 4 Greenland Whale Fisheries (02:58) 5 A Pair of Brown Eyes (03:37) 6 Tuesday Morning (03:57) 7 Kitty (03:44) 8 The Sunnyside of the Street (03:33) 9 Thousands Are Sailing (05:28) 10 Repeal of the Licensing Laws (02:28) 11 Lullaby of London (03:36) 12 The Body of an American (04:57) 13 Young Ned of the Hill (03:44) 14 Boys From the County Hell (03:04) 15 Dirty Old Town (04:08) 16 Bottle of Smoke (03:14) 17 The Sickbed of Cúchulainn (03:49) 1 Sally MacLennane (03:20) 2 Rainy Night in Soho (05:34) 3 The Irish Rover (03:50) 4 Star of the County Down (03:08) 5 Poor Paddy on the Railway (03:31) 6 Fairytale of New York (05:08) 7 Fiesta (06:39) |
 | Album: 19 of 22 Title: Live in London Released: 2013 Tracks: 22 Duration: 1:19:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 If I Should Fall from Grace with God (02:54) 2 Sayonara (02:58) 3 Cotton Fields (02:56) 4 Young Ned of the Hill (05:14) 5 Rain Street (03:34) 6 Repeal of the Licensing Laws (01:52) 7 Tombstone (03:10) 8 Turkish Song of the Damned (03:31) 9 Gartloney Rats (02:22) 10 London Calling (03:24) 11 Thousands Are Sailing (04:55) 12 The Sunnyside of the Street (02:53) 1 Straight to Hell (07:02) 2 Medley: The Recruiting Sergeant / The Rocky Road to Dublin / Galway Races (04:09) 3 Dirty Old Town (03:31) 4 The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn (03:42) 5 The Star of the County Down (02:41) 6 I Fought the Law (03:17) 7 Hell’s Ditch (03:33) 8 Brand New Cadillac (01:53) 9 Fiesta (05:17) 10 Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah (04:19) |
 | Album: 20 of 22 Title: 30 Years Released: 2013 Tracks: 112 Duration: 6:23:37 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Transmetropolitan (04:27) 2 The Battle of Brisbane (01:49) 3 The Auld Triangle (04:20) 4 Waxie’s Dargle (01:53) 5 Boys From the County Hell (02:56) 6 Sea Shanty (02:24) 7 Dark Streets of London (03:17) 8 Streams of Whiskey (02:32) 9 Poor Paddy (03:09) 10 Dingle Regatta (02:52) 11 Greenland Whale Fisheries (02:36) 12 Down in the Ground Where the Dead Men Go (03:30) 13 Kitty (04:46) 1 The Sickbed of Cúchulainn (03:00) 2 The Old Main Drag (03:20) 3 Wild Cats of Kilkenny (02:49) 4 I’m a Man You Don’t Meet Every Day (02:55) 5 A Pair of Brown Eyes (05:00) 6 Sally MacLennane (02:44) 7 Dirty Old Town (03:45) 8 Jesse James (02:58) 9 Navigator (04:12) 10 Billy’s Bones (02:03) 11 The Gentleman Soldier (02:04) 12 And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda (08:07) 1 If I Should Fall From Grace With God (02:21) 2 Turkish Song of the Damned (03:27) 3 Bottle of Smoke (02:47) 4 Fairytale of New York (04:33) 5 Metropolis (02:50) 6 Thousands Are Sailing (05:28) 7 Fiesta (04:13) 8 Medley: The Recruiting Sergeant / The Rocky Road to Dublin / The Galway Races (04:02) 9 Streets of Sorrow / Birmingham Six (04:39) 10 Lullaby of London (03:32) 11 Sit Down by the Fire (02:17) 12 The Broad Majestic Shannon (02:55) 13 Worms (01:03) 1 Gridlock (03:17) 2 White City (02:31) 3 Young Ned of the Hill (02:45) 4 Misty Morning, Albert Bridge (03:01) 5 Cotton Fields (02:51) 6 Blue Heaven (03:36) 7 Down All the Days (03:27) 8 USA (04:52) 9 Lorelei (03:33) 10 Gartloney Rats (02:32) 11 Boat Train (02:40) 12 Tombstone (02:57) 13 Night Train to Lorca (03:29) 14 London You’re a Lady (02:56) 1 The Sunnyside of the Street (02:44) 2 Sayonara (03:07) 3 The Ghost of a Smile (02:58) 4 Hell’s Ditch (03:03) 5 Lorca’s Novena (04:40) 6 Summer in Siam (04:07) 7 Rain Street (04:01) 8 Rainbow Man (02:46) 9 The Wake of the Medusa (03:04) 10 House of the Gods (03:46) 11 5 Green Queens and Jean (02:35) 12 Maidrín Rua (01:47) 13 Six to Go (02:58) 1 Tuesday Morning (03:30) 2 Smell of Petroleum (03:13) 3 Haunting (04:04) 4 Once Upon a Time (03:55) 5 Sitting on Top of the World (03:37) 6 Drunken Boat (06:38) 7 Big City (02:41) 8 Girl From the Wadi Hammamat (04:53) 9 Modern World (03:55) 10 Pachinko (03:09) 11 My Baby’s Gone (02:24) 12 Small Hours (04:31) 1 How Come (02:49) 2 Living in a World Without Her (03:20) 3 When the Ship Comes In (03:13) 4 Anniversary (04:05) 5 Amadie (01:53) 6 Love You Till the End (04:32) 7 Bright Lights (02:32) 8 Oretown (03:50) 9 Pont Mirabeau (03:30) 10 Tosspint (03:31) 11 Four O’Clock in the Morning (03:12) 12 Where That Love’s Been Gone (03:50) 13 The Sun and the Moon (03:20) 1 If I Should Fall From Grace With God (02:55) 2 Sayonara (02:58) 3 Cotton Fields (02:57) 4 Young Ned of the Hill (05:15) 5 Rain Street (03:35) 6 Repeal of the Licensing Laws (01:53) 7 Tombstone (03:11) 8 Turkish Song of the Damned (03:31) 9 Gartloney Rats (02:23) 10 London Calling (03:24) 11 Thousands Are Sailing (04:55) 12 The Sunnyside of the Street (02:53) 13 Straight to Hell (07:03) 14 Medley (04:09) 15 Dirty Old Town (03:31) 16 The Sickbed of Cúchulainn (03:43) 17 The Star of the County Down (02:42) 18 I Fought the Law (03:17) 19 Hell’s Ditch (03:33) 20 Brand New Cadillac (01:53) 21 Fiesta (05:17) 22 Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah (04:19) |
| 30 Years : Allmusic album Review : "And so it arrived at interested decks across the London…" writes late Pogues guitarist Philip Chevron in the liner notes to the bands career-spanning 30 Years box set. He is referring to Red Roses for Me, the 1984 debut of the band he had not yet joined. Having been formed two years prior by some former punks named Shane MacGowan, Spider Stacy, and Jem Finer, the band had already made a name for itself in the London club scene playing a boozy, spirited take on traditional Irish music under the name Pogue Mahone. Following a self-released single, the group signed with Stiff Records, who delivered the record to interested decks across London, thus beginning a legendary and tumultuous career that would come to an end 12 years later following the release of their final studio album, aptly titled Pogue Mahone. This is not the bands first box set, nor is it their first set of remasters, but 30 Years (which includes each of their seven studio albums) is notable for offering remixed versions of two of their albums along with a 1991 live disc recorded during Clash legend Joe Strummers brief stint replacing the then-recently fired MacGowan on lead vocals. When youre as beloved as the Pogues, tampering with your recorded legacy can be risky business. Another remaster is practically expected every time a bands catalog gets overhauled, but remixing entire albums is rarer and can be off-putting for fans who hold the original versions in such high esteem. Fortunately, theyve trod lightly, offering tasteful and revealing new editions of both Red Roses for Me and 1989s Peace and Love. The 2013 version of Red Roses for Me is very subtly altered, with original engineer Nick Robbins toning down some of the reverbs and adding a welcome bit of punch to the whole affair. The updated remix for Peace and Love is far more drastic and should ultimately please fans who found the original version too ornate and dense. Stylistically, much of Peace and Loves heavily reverbed and densely overdubbed mix was seen as an attempt to cloak Shanes waning vocal abilities. Its long been a bone of contention for many fans (and apparently for the band) which has been seemingly resolved by Lillywhites lean but aggressive remix. Still, there was a lovely grandeur to the albums original sound that matched both the Pogues shambling struggles and the gaudy decadence of the late 80s. Hardcore fans will probably want to own both versions. The collections only non-studio disc features the bands last London concert with Joe Strummer at the helm, recorded in December 1991. It was a pairing that made sense in the wake of MacGowans departure, and Strummer gives himself 110-percent, stomping, hollering, and strumming his way through a Hells Ditch-era set which also included Pogues-backed versions of the Clashs "London Calling" and "Straight to Hell." The inclusion of this live set offers yet another glimpse into why the Pogues saga has been so captivating to follow. | ||
 | Album: 21 of 22 Title: The Very Best of The Pogues Released: 2013-01-22 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:07:47 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Dirty Old Town (03:46) 2 The Sunnyside of the Street (02:45) 3 If I Should Fall From Grace With God (02:22) 4 The Irish Rover (04:08) 5 Rain Street (04:02) 6 A Pair of Brown Eyes (05:02) 7 Boys From the County Hell (02:56) 8 Fairytale of New York (04:34) 9 Body of an American (04:49) 10 Thousands Are Sailing (05:28) 11 Sally MacLennane (02:43) 12 Misty Morning, Albert Bridge (03:02) 13 Tuesday Morning (03:33) 14 Rainy Night in Soho (05:41) 15 Streams of Whiskey (02:33) 16 The Sickbed of Cúchulainn (03:00) 17 Young Ned of the Hill (02:45) 18 Love You Till the End (04:30) |
| The Very Best of The Pogues : Allmusic album Review : Theres little question that the Pogues were a seminal band, blessed with great musicians, led by Shane MacGowan, a songwriter of major vision and talent. This was apparent on their initial Stiff singles but it truly blazed on their debut, Rum Sodomy & the Lash, an album that artfully walked the razors edge between Irish traditionalism and venomous, working-class punk. Though they became more accomplished in later albums, they never strayed from this template. What did change, however, was the groups consistency, largely because their fortunes were tied too closely to those of MacGowan. His talent burned intensely, but like a supernova, it flamed out quickly as the singer sank into an abyss of liquor and drugs. He could still turn out some great moments, but his unpredictability became a major liability for the groups very sanity and they had to let him go. Ironically, without Shane aboard, the Pogues started to drift and they only lasted through one more album before calling it a day, leaving behind a body of work that is very well summarized on the European-only compilation, The Very Best of the Pogues. This concentrates heavily on the groups first three albums, where MacGowans writing was its sharpest and the band sounded best, but it also picks up highlights from erratic albums like Peace and Love and Hells Ditch. Thats not to say this is a perfect collection; it has a tendency to play toward their traditional folk inclinations, which means it overlooks such wonderful moments as their stomping Motown salute "Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah," one of the very best singles of the late 80s and early 90s. Even so, this collection is as good a single-disc retrospective as it could be, and it comes very close to capturing the Pogues at their very best. | ||
 | Album: 22 of 22 Title: 30:30: The Essential Collection Released: 2013-03-11 Tracks: 30 Duration: 1:44:41 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Sally MacLennane (02:44) 2 If I Should Fall From Grace With God (02:21) 3 Love You Till the End (03:53) 4 Fairytale of New York (04:33) 5 Dirty Old Town (03:45) 6 The Irish Rover (04:06) 7 The Body of an American (04:48) 8 A Pair of Brown Eyes (05:00) 9 Streams of Whiskey (02:32) 10 The Sickbed of Cúchulainn (03:00) 11 Fiesta (04:13) 12 Boys From the County Hell (02:56) 13 Kitty (04:23) 14 The Sunnyside of the Street (02:44) 15 Summer in Siam (04:07) 1 Whiskey in the Jar (02:41) 2 A Rainy Night in Soho (04:45) 3 Misty Morning, Albert Bridge (03:01) 4 Rain Street (04:01) 5 Tuesday Morning (03:30) 6 Greenland Whale Fisheries (02:36) 7 The Old Main Drag (03:19) 8 The Parting Glass (02:14) 9 Young Ned of the Hill (02:45) 10 Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah (03:18) 11 Thousands Are Sailing (05:28) 12 Turkish Song of the Damned (03:27) 13 The Broad Majestic Shannon (02:55) 14 Repeal of the Licensing Laws (02:12) 15 The Limerick Rake (03:12) |