The Pogues: Classic or Dud

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For 'A Rainy Night In Soho' alone, I'll forgive MacGowan just about anything.

― Venga, Sunday, 5 May 2002 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

And 'A Pair Of Brown Eyes'.

― Venga, Sunday, 5 May 2002 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

If I should fall from the grace of God ! "Bury me at sea, where no other ghosts can haunt me"

― naz, Sunday, 5 May 2002 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Shane McGowan = best music critic ever, for expressing his opinion of a Beach Boys record by eating it

― dave q, Sunday, 5 May 2002 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

Ah, that explains his teeth. I'd always imagined he just ate too many sweets.

― Martin Skidmore, Monday, 6 May 2002 00:00 (11 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

last night's whistle test right, 2 of my fave bands doing 2 of
their best songs okay ?
(cocteaus doing 'pearly dewdrops..' r.e.m. doing 'pretty persuasion')
and yet the highlight by a country f-ing mile was shane and company
rattling through 'sally maclenanne' in ust under 3 minutes.
good *god* it was good.

there isn't a 'pick only one' for them yet as far as i can tell so
i'll start and say 'waxie's dargle'.
'thousands are sailing' also killa.

― piscesboy, Friday, 13 June 2003 09:43 (9 years ago) Permalink

absolute classic! 'if i should fall...' is still as good as when it came out.

― joan vich (joan vich), Friday, 13 June 2003 09:48 (9 years ago) Permalink

classic. it's a tough POO, but for now I'll settle for "Summer in Siam"

(Shane was once so wasted during a gig at a festival (i don't remember which, a dutch or belgian one it was) it was almost too painfull to watch... he forgot about the cigarette he was smoking and the lyrics he was singing, just blabbering on. Until someone came from backstage to walk him off stage, supporting him like one supports an old man across the street (only to find out that he actually didn't want to...). The guitarist (clearly fed up with the situation) took over on vocals and they rushed their way through the set)

― willem (willem), Friday, 13 June 2003 10:17 (9 years ago) Permalink

cool, i was going to start a pogues thread because i've been listening to Rum Sodomy & The Lash non-stop all week. classic for its creation of water-tight, perfect aesthetic world, complete on its own terms - ie, for 43 minutes you live in the Pogues version of reality and there isn't a chink of light, no gaps in their vision.

POO is impossible but i'll say 'A Pair Of Brown Eyes' because my girlfriend's in the video! (and it's a classic video too)

― pete b. (pete b.), Friday, 13 June 2003 11:59 (9 years ago) Permalink

Classic for many things, but for me really just one...

I've seen a lot bands over the years, and a lot of them were really good. Really really good. Some were stunning and a few have left my jaw hanging open. Then there's The Pogues. 1987. Hollywood Palladium. The Pogues guitarist was missing for the tour - Joe Strummer was filling in.

Holy cow folks... Calling it a mere show doesn't really begin to describe the malestrom pouring off the stage. A band of desperates who clearly didn't give a fuck about anything but yet somehow channeled that all that unhinged abandon into some spectacular intense playing. I really had no previous experience to compare it to - maybe the final shootout in The Wild Bunch or something. My ass was kicked.

The funny thing was that The Pogues were the opening band that night. The headliners were Los Lobos and this night was their first LA show since "La Bamba" went #1. Los Lobos were indeed great, but one of the first thing Cesar Rosas says is "we''d like to thank The Pogues for kicking our ass tonight".

― Chris Barrus (Chris Barrus), Saturday, 14 June 2003 09:58 (9 years ago) Permalink

I adore Red Roses for Me and Rum, Sodomy & the Lash in their entirety and bits and pieces after that, notably "Gridlock" and "Young Ned of the Hill" (both off Peace & Love). Completely lost interest after that. "Church of the Holy Spook" on Shane first solo album is a great, rolicking single, though.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 14 June 2003 10:08 (9 years ago) Permalink

Classic, classic, CLASSIC. I have been listening to Red Roses for Me and If I Should Fall from Grace with God a lot recently. I think Shane McGowan is one of the most underrated writers in the world today.

"Boys from the County Hell", "Streams of Whiskey" and "Transmetropolitan" are three of the most rip-roaring songs I've ever heard, and when you compare them to beautiful songs like "A Rainy Night in Soho", "Misty Morning, Albert Bridge", "Fairytale of New York" and "Thousands are Sailing", the guy is a total all-round genius.

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 15 June 2003 17:02 (9 years ago) Permalink

I have either not heard them or don't remember what I heard, but If I Should Fall. . . is on my short list of rock CDs to buy eventually. I have a feeling I will like them.

― Rockist Scientist, Sunday, 15 June 2003 17:14 (9 years ago) Permalink

classic. POO is hard, becuz my favorite pogues song was in a movie (automatically loses points) but I don't remember which movie (i don't like movies) - The Old Main Drag.

I'm SUCH a Pogues fan, I even like that albuim without Shane - Waiting For Herb. Heavy nostalgia / ex girl moves for me on that one tho, so no foul

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Sunday, 15 June 2003 22:11 (9 years ago) Permalink

At their peak (early-mid '80's) totally classic, especially live - their annual St Patrick's Day gigs were absolutely essential mayhem. By the end of the decade 'though Shane had lost the plot and the rest of the band were lost without him.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Monday, 16 June 2003 08:32 (9 years ago) Permalink

8 months pass...

It's all about Sally Maclenanne

― dog latin (dog latin), Monday, 23 February 2004 20:56 (9 years ago) Permalink

3 weeks pass...

I finally got around to downloading Shane MacGowan's cover of 'What's Another Year?' the other day - I lost my copy of A Song For Eurotrash a few years ago under mysterious circumstances. It's not as great as I remembered, but it's still good.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 16 March 2004 20:11 (9 years ago) Permalink

4 months pass...

FUCKING A THEY'RE GETTING BACK TOGETHER!!!

"By the way, if you are a Pogues fan living in Glasgow, Newcastle, Birmingham,Manchester, London or Dublin and are hoping to see (the 1987-1990 line up of)The Pogues one last time, December 13 through to December 23 (2004) would be a really bad time to leave town."

The Pogues Reunion 2004

13.12.2004 - Glasgow Academy
14.12.2004 - Glasgow Academy
16.12.2004 - Newcastle Arena
17.12.2004 - Birmingham Academy
18.12.2004 - Manchester Evening News Arena
20.12.2004 - London Brixton Academy
21.12.2004 - London Brixton Academy
23.12.2004 - Dublin Point (MCD)

― Sir Chaki McBeer III (chaki), Monday, 2 August 2004 00:20 (8 years ago) Permalink

"the original line up including Shane MacGowan will play"
http://www.albumvote.co.uk/news/news.php?nid=114

― Pete Scholtes, Monday, 2 August 2004 05:23 (8 years ago) Permalink

Believe it when you see it. Did you guys seen the MacGowan doc, "If I Should Fall from Grace"?
http://www.citypages.com/filmreviews/detail.asp?MID=4055

― Pete Scholtes, Monday, 2 August 2004 05:23 (8 years ago) Permalink

i love pogues!

― Sir Chaki McBeer III (chaki), Monday, 2 August 2004 08:12 (8 years ago) Permalink

C or D? Well, that depends on whether or not I'm drunk at the time!

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!)

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Monday, 2 August 2004 09:40 (8 years ago) Permalink

shane macgowan drinks at my local when he's in london. my friend worked at the bar - she wasn't allowed to clean up all the glasses in front of him, many of them unfinished, for fear it would cause him distress. once, he got off the bar, walked outside, looked around, licked the tip of his finger and checked the direction of the wind, and then trickled back to his seat at the bar.

― matthew james (matthew james), Monday, 2 August 2004 12:10 (8 years ago) Permalink

i'm going to be in the u.k. at that time, i think. this is probably the best news i'll get today.

― lauren (laurenp), Monday, 2 August 2004 14:58 (8 years ago) Permalink

Classic for 'Rum Sodomy and The Lash' & 'Red Roses For Me' - the rest I can take or leave (with a special place set aside for Fiesta as it gets played every time someone at Celtic who doesn't have their 'own' song scores).
POO - Boys From The County Hell

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

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Monday, 2 August 2004 15:12 (8 years ago) Permalink

god i wish i could go to these shows :(

― Sir Chaki McBeer III (chaki), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 00:02 (8 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

i forgot how good waiting for herb is.

― kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 1 December 2005 07:34 (7 years ago) Permalink

pogue mahone though, kinds sucked

― kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 1 December 2005 07:35 (7 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

why is shane in a wheelchair ?

― chaki, Saturday, 31 March 2007 00:46 (6 years ago) Permalink

He fell at their recent Boston gig and fucked up his knee. Had to cancel the first of the three nights in NYC, but played the second and third (the final one being St. Patrick's Day, of course).

Rumor is there'll be a new studio album, but I don't know how excited I am about that prospect. I only like the first three (and the Poguetry In Motion EP).

― unperson, Saturday, 31 March 2007 00:59 (6 years ago) Permalink

thank you.

― chaki, Saturday, 31 March 2007 03:04 (6 years ago) Permalink

I definitely liked the two Pogues albums without Shane - 'Waiting For Herb' was especially great favourite of mine about 13 years ago, though I hardly ever listening them since.

― zeus, Saturday, 31 March 2007 10:05 (6 years ago) Permalink

8 months pass...

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

― Bimble, Wednesday, 26 December 2007 05:11 (5 years ago) Permalink

Happy christmas yer arse.

― rogermexico., Wednesday, 26 December 2007 08:32 (5 years ago) Permalink

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

― ledge, Wednesday, 26 December 2007 12:51 (5 years ago) Permalink

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

― Mr. Odd, Wednesday, 26 December 2007 20:57 (5 years ago) Permalink

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

― Mr. Snrub, Thursday, 27 December 2007 02:31 (5 years ago) Permalink

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

― curmudgeon, Thursday, 27 December 2007 02:33 (5 years ago) Permalink

"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.

― tipsy mothra, Thursday, 27 December 2007 03:06 (5 years ago) Permalink

7 months pass...

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

― Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Sunday, 24 August 2008 19:05 (4 years ago) Permalink

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

― everything, Sunday, 24 August 2008 19:12 (4 years ago) Permalink

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.

― res, Sunday, 24 August 2008 20:03 (4 years ago) Permalink

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

― res, Sunday, 24 August 2008 20:16 (4 years ago) Permalink

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

― tipsy mothra, Sunday, 24 August 2008 21:34 (4 years ago) Permalink

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.

― ailsa, Monday, 25 August 2008 00:40 (4 years ago) Permalink

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.

― res, Monday, 25 August 2008 01:16 (4 years ago) Permalink

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.

― tipsy mothra, Monday, 25 August 2008 03:31 (4 years ago) Permalink

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

― tipsy mothra, Monday, 25 August 2008 03:34 (4 years ago) Permalink

Thanks ILM!!!!!!!!!

― Bimble Is Still More Goth Than You, Monday, 25 August 2008 03:56 (4 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

obligatory st paddy's day pogues video

― hellzapoppa (tipsy mothra), Wednesday, 17 March 2010 12:59 (3 years ago) Permalink

5 months pass...

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

― Hongro Horace (Noodle Vague), Tuesday, 7 September 2010 11:58 (2 years ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

xmas eve in the drunk tank

― BIG MUFFIN (gbx), Sunday, 31 October 2010 00:14 (2 years ago) Permalink

TOO EARLY

(<3)

― master of retardment (ENBB), Sunday, 31 October 2010 00:23 (2 years ago) Permalink

9 months pass...

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

― shining like national dog shit (Neanderthal), Sunday, 14 August 2011 14:06 (1 year ago) Permalink

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.

― Matt M., Sunday, 14 August 2011 17:25 (1 year ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

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

― Poliopolice, Wednesday, 22 August 2012 05:11 (9 months ago) Permalink

2 weeks pass...

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

― Poliopolice, Thursday, 6 September 2012 21:20 (8 months ago) Permalink

That picture is, sadly, both classic and dud.

― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 6 September 2012 21:21 (8 months ago) Permalink

Nice homburg, tho

― Adesso vorrei assistere alle esequie vichinghe (Michael White), Thursday, 6 September 2012 21:24 (8 months ago) Permalink

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

― Poliopolice, Friday, 7 September 2012 14:04 (8 months ago) Permalink

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

― Poliopolice, Friday, 7 September 2012 14:22 (8 months ago) Permalink

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

― EZ Snappin, Friday, 7 September 2012 14:26 (8 months ago) Permalink

Anyone read this?

― Jazzbo, Friday, 7 September 2012 14:48 (8 months ago) Permalink

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.

― Johnny Fever, Friday, 7 September 2012 15:03 (8 months ago) Permalink

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.

― Poliopolice, Friday, 7 September 2012 17:05 (8 months ago) Permalink

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