There was a spell, not long after I first got married back in 1988 (something that was fated to be a disaster from the early days), that I seemed to spend a fair bit of time out back, getting drunk with the new but who would prove to be short-lived neighbours either side of the garden fence, listening to The Pogues on a C90 cassette. It was a period when the weather did seem to be nice so we were outside for a fair few nights after work, and there was a fair bit of difference in all our musical tastes other than we all had a soft spot for Shane and his merry gang.1988 was the year that they released If I Should Fall From Grace With God which is easily their biggest-selling and most popular LP which reached #3 in the UK album charts. It is an album which was different from their previous work in as much that the Irish element was fused with other folk-like music from other cultures, including Spain and Turkey. It also had a number of outstanding ballads, the sort of which were perfect for singing along to when you've had one or two many vodkas and the neighbours are happy to join in on harmonies....my own party piece became Thousands Are Sailing, penned by guitarist Phil Chevron which hopefully on its own nails the myth that The Pogues were a one-man lyrical outfit backed by a bunch of semi-talented but lucky pub musicians.
mp3 : The Pogues - Thousands Are Sailing
But from the back of the cupboard I've plucked out a 12" single, and, just like the posting of The Boy With The Thorn In His Side a couple of days back, the lead track is slightly different from that which is on the LP. The 12" version is a couple of minutes longer in length and is a terrific hoe-down, helped by some great backing vocals from Kirsty MacColl, which wouldn't have been all that out of place in a Johnny Cash set when the man in black was at his peak.
Oh and the two live tracks were recorded at the Glasgow Barrowlands on 19th December 1987, a gig I just happened to be at. The one thing I can honestly say about The Pogues is that no matter how good the audio or video recording of one of their gigs, it just could never catch the chaos, mania and sheer joy of actually being part of the audience. Especially when Shane McGowan was semi-sober and could remember the lyrics......
mp3 : The Pogues - If I Should Fall From Grace With God (12" remix)
mp3 : The Pogues - If I Should Fall From Grace With God (7" remix)
mp3 : The Pogues - Sally Maclennane (live)
mp3 : The Pogues - A Pair Of Brown Eyes (live)
Happy Listening.
2 comments:
Thanks JC I saw the Pogues back in the eighties and then again last December. Even though Shane McGowan was far from sober his showmanship was amazing and being in the audience was just as exciting.
That must have been some gig. I think I may have seen them at the Fleadh in London circa 88/89, but can't be sure.
Loved them back than and still do. I reckon they must have sewn the seeds for my own drift into the Folk World. They also remind me of playing snooker with my mum in the spare room on the 5ft table top. Rum, Sodomy and The Lash was about the only album of mine she liked - although I imagine I kept the album title quiet.
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