The Pogues: Classic or Dud

Ah hell, who am I kidding? Classic for Rum, Sodomy & The Lash, the finest record I own with the name "Elvis Costello" on it.

BTW, I too saw Joe Strummer playing with the Pogues (Detroit, '87) during the same tour that Chris mentioned upthread, and everything he says about that show was right on. As far as I can remember...

(They did "London Calling"! Sounded GREAT!)

The Joe Strummer tour was reviewed in one of the UK weekly mags with the classic headline "Rum, Sodomy and The Clash".

My book here says it's Shane McGowan's birthday today. He's 50 years old.

Happy christmas yer arse.

Last night he was on Harry Hill's TV Burp singing Fairytale of New York with a beluga whale.

Shouldn't this topic be "Classic or Drunk"?

It is astounding that Shane MacGowan is still alive but Kirsty MacColl is dead.

And I think he will be touring with the Pogues in America in March 2008

"ferried around america with the pogues" might be a better construction. but he made 50, that's an achievement. the man's liver gives hope to us all. really all his organs deserve respect.

Will someone please, please, please tell me who the woman is singing on this. I don't believe it's Kirsty MacColl. Please. Is this on a Pogues album? It's a b-side isn't it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN-8JpgmA0s

Sounds like Belinda Carlisle but it's probably Cait O'Riordan.

that's Cait O'Riordan, who used to play bass for the Pogues until Daryl Hunt took over from "If I Should Fall..." Unfortunately, she married Elvis Costello after he produced "Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash."

That song was written by Shane MacGowan but it's on the Sid and Nancy soundtrack. It's also on the excellent Pogues box set that just came out.

incidentally, MONUMENTAL CLASSIC. That box set kicks fucking ass.

also a great version of that song with sinead o'connor on shane's first solo album.

It was a single in its own right as well. As tipsy says, there's a version on "The Snake" as well featuring Sinead O'Connor.

Sinead O'Connor version is not as good, IMHO. And his solo version of "Rake at the Gates of Hell" is fucking terrible compared to the original. But, shockingly, he made another amazing Christmas song after he went solo. It's called "Christmas Lullaby" and unbelievably, it's nearly as good as "Fairytale of New York." That song was on a limited edition single only, alas.

i sort of prefer the sinead version, it's more wistful and draws out the melody more. both are great though. "you looked so cool you could have put out vietnam" is one of my favorite shane lines.

here's the video to the album version of shane/sinead. (produced by trevor horn!)

Thanks ILM!!!!!!!!!

obligatory st paddy's day pogues video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TejJDFt6Tkk&feature=related

and now I am lying here and I've had too much booze

xmas eve in the drunk tank

TOO EARLY

(<3)

i'm sad to say, i must be on me way
So buy me beer and whiskey cos I'm goin far away

Still one of the best live shows I've attended was the Pogues along with Joe Strummer back in 1988 or so. Listen to 'em less than I used to, but still got a place in my heart for RUM, and even for HELL'S DITCH.

James Fearnley has written an AMAZING memoir about his time with the Pogues. I pretty much read it start to finish nonstop today. He's a phenomenally good writer, and boy does it tell a good story.

http://www.amazon.com/Here-Comes-Everybody-Pogues-ebook/dp/B007Q25LBI/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345612229&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=here+comes+everyone+fearnley

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/06_01/poguesMS0206_468x370.jpg

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/06_01/poguesMS0206_468x370.jpg

That picture is, sadly, both classic and dud.

Nice homburg, tho

That, my friends, is the face of a man who has lived life on his own terms.

http://i.imgur.com/8FLJn.jpg

it's amazing what a set of dentures can do.

With the teeth in he looks like Steve Coogan on a bender.

Anyone read this?
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51BByiRCCvL._SS500_.jpg

My book here says it's Shane McGowan's birthday today. He's 50 years old.

― Bimble, Wednesday, December 26, 2007 12:11 AM (4 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I like to think Bimble had a book with every musician's birthday in it and he'd finish off each day by looking through it and choosing to whom he'd wish a happy birthday.

I was going to get that book, but haven't yet. You can read sections of it on Amazon. What I read of it, it seemed somewhat academic to me. The author also wrote a positive review on Amazon for James Fearnley's (Pogues accordion player) book.

Sad news:

http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2013/1008/479139-pogues-member-phil-chevron-has-died/

At least it was peaceful...

:(

RIP. As Joe Strummer noted, he was great at that insanely fast Irish triple-time strumming thing.

He wrote "Lorelei" and "Thousands are Sailing," two of the best Pogues tracks (power ballads?). Sad,

Yeah, I love both of those. R.I.P.

You’re the measure of my dreams

That one is breaking me right now

fully sobbed over that line again today

Some people they are scared to croak
But Jimmy drank until he choked

WE WALKED HIM TO THE STATION IN THE RAINNNN

WE KISSED HIM AS WE PUT HIM ON THE TRAIN

That was my first response when heard about his death, just posted the chorus to Sally MacLennane. We sang him a song of times long gone, though we knew that we'd be seeing him again.

FARRR AWAAAY!!

heard them say that Jimmy's making money far away
And some people left for heaven without warning

me fave:

Now Jimmy didn't like his place in this world of ours
Where the elephant man broke strong men's necks
When he'd had too many Powers

Strangely, the lines that tend to get to me are

For to shift a few tons of this earthly delight

Yes to shift a few tons of this earthly delight

I know Shane didn't write that song but the way he delivers it just kinda works for me

His delivery is at least as much a part of his appeal as his writing.

And yet he was one of the rare songwriters whose lyrics are good on the page as well

Stumbled on this after watching an RTE Late Late Show tribute to McGowan from yesterday...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otVTYS1fR6c

(bah, can't embed, but it's Shane and many of the same people from the tribute from the other night, from 2019. Shane in not great shape but sings a bit alongside a large band including Terry Woods)

I don’t know enough about Puddles the clown to have an opinion of him, but this is a pretty delightful performance of “A Man You Don’t Meet Every Day” with THE actual Cait O’Riordan.

https://fb.watch/oQBALSjS81/?mibextid=cr9u03

every time I see a Puddles video I'm kind of blown away, that guy has a great voice and good schtick

(xxpost) if you ever wanted to see Martin O'Malley (yes that one) sing a Pogues song you can see it here

RS Album Guide

https://i.imgur.com/gd095xW.png

lol @ Waiting for Herb one-star. before I knew anything about The Pogues I wanted to get one of their albums because I'd heard good things about them and that album was the only one of theirs on the rack, and rather than do research, I picked it up, and was very confused by what I was hearing. didn't even realize it was a Shane-less album at the time.

suspect it'd be easier to like if it's not your first foray into Pogue-dom and you can hear it in context but never got through the first listen

Tuesday Morning is a really good song. The rest of the album I don't remember! I don't remember hating it though. It was better than the next one.

weirdly it was produced by Michael Brook (of Eno/Lanois and Edge's 'infinite guitar' fame)

J.D.C. = J.D. Considine?

i'm amazed there isn't more chat about the funeral. it was literally the craziest thing ever.

i can't find the whole thing online but it was cool to see Nick Cave do Rainy Night and Hansard do Fairytale. Lots of love in there. Was the terribly old man in the front pew McGowan's father? Also, was the casket in a wicker basket?

yes and yes. his father seemed to be emotionally in turmoil throughout while everyone else was having the time of their lives, his wife especially. not being judgemental here; it was very fitting, but very, very odd seeing his wife leaping over pews to dance. i'm not sure how typical this was but if it was, i have to say nobody seemingly does a funeral like the irish. well, maybe the good folk of new orleans can compete.

he was ill for so long I can't blame her for trying to finally have a good time.

i felt a bit of a kinship with his Dad being the only one not clapping, something about applause at a funeral in a church that feels slightly craven/sacriligious

always feel a bit overcome for parents who outlive their children
he’s quite up there iirc, isnt he in his mid 90’s?

but the funeral also felt v mcgowan & the highspiritedness was of course appropriate for him & his vibe