The Pogues: Rum Sodomy & the Lash [2005; Bonus Tracks] CD Track Listing

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The Pogues Rum Sodomy & the Lash [2005; Bonus Tracks] (1985)
Rum Sodomy & The Lash (Remastered + Expanded)\n\nOriginally Released 1985\nRemastered + Expanded CD Edition Released January 11, 2005 \n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: "I saw my task... was to capture them in their dilapidated 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 band's 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 Cuchulainn," 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 people's songs. Bassist Cait O'Riordan's haunting performance of "I'm a Man You Don't 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. -- Mark Deming\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: A triumph, produced by Elvis Costello. Shane MacGowan has never sounded so intense, nor has the band played with such authority. A classic melding of punk-era-defined sensibilities and the magic of Celtic traditionalism. Features a stirring version of Eric Bogle's classic "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda." -- John Dougan\n\nAmazon.com Editorial Review\nProduced by Elvis Costello, the Pogues' second album brilliantly courted Irish drinking music with the thornier aspects of punk. Cait O' Riordan would eventually marry the producer and leave the band, but Shane MacGowan always made it his show and here he exploits his barfly voice to full effect. "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" is worthy of Tom Waits, while "A Pair of Brown Eyes" is as sentimental as he gets. The addition of Uillean pipes, fiddle, and horns make this a grand statement about how all music can be filtered down to blood and guts and made to rock. --Rob O'Connor \n\nAmazon.com Product Description\nProduced by Elvis Costello, this is the second album by the Pogues, first released in 1985 on MCA in the U.S. on LP and cassette, but never on CD. This WEA/ Stiff edition features all 13 of the tracks found on the American release,including 'Sally MacLennane', 'A Pair Of Brown Eyes', 'The Sick Bed Of Cuchulainn', 'Dirty Old Town', 'The Band Played Waltzing Matilda', 'I'm A Man You Don't Meet Every Day' and 'Wild Cats Of Kilkenny'. \n\nAmazon.com Product Description\nRemastered & expanded version of 1985 album includes six bonus tracks, "A Pistol For Paddy Garcia", "London Girl", "Rainy Night In Soho", "Body Of An American", "Planxty Noel Hill", & "The Parting Glass". WSM. 2004. \n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nbest of the Pogues, May 19, 2005\nReviewer: Jeff Langr (Colorado Springs, CO United States)\nIt doesn't get any better than this. If this album doesn't move you, then you've already been shoved into the ground. Which may not matter, 'cause there's still a drink waiting for you in Shane's world. While If I Should Fall From Grace With God is often hailed as their pinnacle, the raw power of the Pogues and MacGowan is most evident here. Rum Sodomy & the Lash is definitely my favorite, and in my top ten favorite albums ever. \n\nThe re-release is great, with the addition of the Poguetry in Motion tracks (and two more), particularly Rainy Night in Soho. (For even more recent Pogues re-releasing, check out Nick Cave's B-Sides and Rarities collection, which features his duet with Shane on "What a Wonderful World," as well as Cave's rendition of "Rainy Night in Soho.") The repackaging is nice, with a booklet containing brief comments by Tom Waits, liner notes, some great photos, and of course complete lyrics for those who have a tough time remembering 'em all. I particularly love MacGowan's substitution of "Spring's a girl from the streets at night" for the printed "Spring's a girl in the street at night."\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nIncredibly fun and interesting Irish drunk music! Who would've known The Pogues were so good?, January 13, 2006\nReviewer: C. Cross "music lover" (New Haven, CT USA)\nI'll be honest and say that I was always hesitant when it came to The Pogues. My dad and some of my friends liked him, but when they described them as drunk Irish singer/songwriters I kind've lost interest. One day, however, my dad forced me to listen to this album, and BOY is this awesome! Not only does it sound extremely interesting and unique, but it's great fun! Everything about this album is fantastic - the singer, the lyrics, the instrumentation...you'd be hardpressed to find something here that you WON'T like. The songs are usually pretty funny and occasionally are even emotional, but basically it's just a fun album that is good for any occasion. The musicianship here is excellent and the band "sounds" like The Pogues, so I have no idea who else to compare them (I don't have any other album, out of my personal 1,900 ones that I own, that sounds anything like this). The icing on the cake is that the singer himself is extremely likable, and he has a TON of personality. Basically, if you want to hear something different and fun, then The Pogues' "Rum Sodomy & the Lash" is a fantastic album to get! Absolutely recommended! \n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nand it was all for a pair of brown eyes, May 19, 2006\nReviewer: Melvin Poindexter (Hollywood, FL)\nWell here's a rock band you don't see everyday. Irish themed pop music. I like it. Every song on this album is great, and Elvis Costello produced it, the legend he is. You will feel great after hearing this record.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nThe Pogues best album, November 9, 2005\nReviewer: FireGrade (Great Britain)\nThis is the Pogues tour-de-force. Their best album by far. If you only buy one Pogues album then make it this one. And then buy the first two. \nThis still has plenty of raw Irish tunes, and Shane's voice is at its peek.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nThe Pogues At Their Best, February 6, 2005\nReviewer: Pogues Fan\n"Rum, Sodomy and the Lash," is simply put brilliant from "The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn to the Band Played Waltzing Matilda." Elvis Costello was brought on board as the album's producer and gave this release a more polished sound than "Red Roses For Me," without taking away the raw power that made their debut album great. Shane MacGowan was also growing as a songwriter as well, with such beautiful ballads as "A Pair of Brown Eyes and The Old Main Drag," to the drunken rave-ups of "Sally MacLennane". This release was also the beginning of the MacGowan/Finer songwriting team (the new Lennon/McCartney,) with the excellent instrumental "Wild Cats of Kilkenny." Finer would also provide the surreal instrumental of "A Pistol For Paddy Garcia," as well. The Pogues also proved that they had an ear for other people's songs from Ewan MacColl's "Dirty Old Town, Phil Gaston's "Navigator, to the traditional "I'm A Man You Don't Meet Everyday," sung beautifully by Cait O'Riordan (she would later marry Elvis Costello). Overall, I'm at a cross to decide whether this album, or "If I Should Fall From Grace With God," is the Pogues best album. So, I declare a tie, both of these albums show the band at their most creative peak and utter brilliance. \nNow "Rum, Sodomy and the Lash" contains the entire "Poguerty In Motion," EP. This release featured three of MacGowan's best penned songs. Starting with "London Girl," which reminds me a bit of the Nips, but with a bouncy accordion. "A Rainy Night In Soho," is one of the best ballads Shane has ever written. "The Body of an American," returns to the "Irish soul, equipped with swifting uileann pipes. "Planxty Noel Hill," is an excellent Jem Finer instrumental. Finally the traditional reworking of "The Parting Glass," is on here as well. \n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nHow could you not fall in love with this???, December 24, 2004\nReviewer: E. E. Darcey (Washington, DC)\nA remastered Rum, Sodomy is worth the extra dosh on its own. Throw in the entirety of the long unavailable EP, Poguetry in Motion and you've got a winner. Anyone with an ounce of soul needs this one.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nARRRR. FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT. YE IRISH DRINKERS...., June 19, 2006\nReviewer: wally gator "the only" (USA)\nI myself was raised on Irish drinking music from a very small age. Being a large percent of Irish myself, it has never been uncommon for some of the elder relatives to get smashed, and role out the drinkin' songs, for some large, sloppy group sing-a-longs. \nPersonally, I like the style. Especially when it gets loud and rowdy, and chaotic. When you assemble a small group at the bars, that manages to scare the rest of the bar, just a little. There is a somewhat popular breed of this music these days ala Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly. But these bands did not create this style on their own. They sang along with their elders too, who likely may have been singing along to THE POGUES. \nThis album was released in 1985, and was back when the band had not completely become a rock and roll band. In later years they would sort of drift away from the solid Irish sound. This album is a lot of traditional style Irish drinkin' music. With all the drunken rage and intensity you should expect. Look at Shane McGowan. He's a filthy bastaaaad. Keeps it real all the way. Songs about fightin' the good fight called life, and sometimes even love and other things. DIRTY OLD TOWN is the one that stands to be the most well known, but just about every song is worthy. \nAlso as a treat is Cait O' Riordan, who wouldn't stay in the band very long, but was on ship for this voyage. She sings the killer MAN YOU DON'T MEET EVERYDAY, which you may catch me being completely mesmorized by after a few stiff drinks. \nThe Pougues may not be as heavy as todays popular Irish/punk rock, but you should be sure to realize that they pretty much started the trend, long before it was a trend. Making those rowdy old Irish songs, a little more rowdy, so we can all get down to fightin'. \nThis pre-dates the POGUES more rockin' stuff, but it has enough fire in it to be a worthy addition to any drinkin' mans collection.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nLove this album - title comes from, January 1, 2005\nReviewer: T. Teague\na quote by Winston Churchill: "Don't tell me about British naval tradition; it's all rum, sodomy and the lash."\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nA rare bird: a truly original album, February 8, 2004\nReviewer: Robert W. Moore (Chicago, IL USA)\nThe Pogues and the Mekons proved that punk was more attitude than anything. Just as the Mekons blended punk with country and produced something that was as edgy as anything that had come out before, so the Pogues, playing what on many levels seemed to be traditional Irish folks music. But unlike much Irish music (which I nonetheless love), there is no nostalgia at work here. There is no longing for a largely demised culture here, but traditional forms expressing contemporary experience. Moreover, the Pogues dealt with subject that more traditional Irish bands were have preferred to ignore: prostitution, dissipation (as opposed to mere drunkenness), and hopelessness. From first to last this album proclaims that life ain't pretty.\nAlthough the Pogues were a great band down to every last member, the heart of the band was Shane MacGowan, who managed to convey a down-and-outer just this side of the DT's and death. His vocals drive every song he sings upon, and he is remarkable for the way he can sound utterly dissipated and yet still sing with remarkable emotion. Although he writes many of the album's songs, his finest moments are on songs written by others, such as their version of Ewan MacColl's "Dirty Old Town" and Eric Bogle's "The Band Played Waltzing Maltida." MacColl's version is lovely and only slightly melancholic, sounding almost more like a tin pan alley number than the haunted version that the Pogues would produce. MacGowan doesn't remake Eric Bogle's great anti-war song to the same extent, but the way he passionately tortures every syllable creates one of the most amazingly vocal performances on record. To this day, the Pogues's version of "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" remains my favorite version of that great song, as well as my favorite Shane MacGowan performance.\n\nWhile MacGowan was the heart and soul of the Pogues, it truly was a great band, and not merely a showcase for MacGowan's remarkable vocal talents. He wasn't the only excellent singer in the band, as the remarkable performance of "I'm a Man You Don't Meet Everyday" by Cait O'Riordan, who ceased playing base for them after this album to marry the album's producer, Elvis Costello. While the Pogues may not match the better traditional bands in their instrumental prowess, they nonetheless stood alone in their depiction of the seamier side of life. And no traditional bad possessed a singer with the demonic passion of Shane MacGowan.\n\nI'm on the fence as to whether this album or IF I SHOULD FALL FROM GRACE WITH GOD is my favorite Pogues album. I listen to both often. This one is a bit rawer and is less polished, and might therefore edge the other one, but then there are no epic masterpieces (except for "The Band Played Waltzing Maltida") on RUM, SODOMY, AND THE LASH to match "Fairytale of New York" or "Thousands are Sailing." I'll close by adding that the title of this album could very well be my favorite in the history of rock. The title, in fact, expresses perfectly the spirit of the album.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nsailing strong., September 24, 2002\nReviewer: "ahksil" (annapolis, md usa)\nwhen the album is titled "rum, sodomy and the lash," and gericault's painting 'le radeau de la medusa' serves as the cover art, you know you're in for a wild ride. \nshane and the boys kick off this powerful release with "the sick bed of chuchulainn." bodhran drums roll as shane sets the stage when suddenly they sprawl into verse and his vivid tales ignite as accordians jump and tin whistles wail. the song tosses and tumbles like a ship hurled into treacherous waves. as expected, shane's lyrics are clever and course.\nthe swell subsides as the crew sails through the next few tracks. these tunes are rich and well constructed. while we sympathize with an unfortunate lad encountering harsh realities on "the old main drag," we are charmed with an invitation to have a drink with a "man you don't meet everyday," and take pity on a broken-hearted soul who is longing for "a pair of brown eyes." \nthe vessel soon docks and you wander into a pub filled with merriment and laughter. you sit back and drink while you listen to a tale of sweet "sally maclennane." this catchy drinking tune is laced with festive pipes, a bellowing accordian, and a steady beat occasionally throwing in marching measures. the sing-along chorus with suck you in and you'll be shouting with the rest.\nthe fiddles, uileann pipes, bass, and percussion on this album are reckless in the most orderly fashion. shane's lyrics are smart and shrewd, and either touching or abusive. his vocals are gruff and powerful and just plain great.\nBUY THIS ALBUM. PLAY IT LOUD. SING ALONG. ...or billy will have himself a "bloody good fight."\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nNot just the greatest title for anything ever..., September 5, 2001\nReviewer: darragh o'donoghue (dublin, ireland)\nOne of the cliches in talking about the Pogues is that they fuse the Celtic tradition with punk rock. while it is true that the aggressive momentum, confrontational vocals and determinedly 'low-rent' subject matter could not exist without the influence and milieu of late-70s punk (and are certainly not to be found in, say, the Wolfe Tones), the label gives a limiting view of the Pogues' versatility. \nThe use of the ballad form, in the sense of old story-telling narrative, and the underworld, unromantic romanticism has kindred spirits in Tom Waits and Nick Cave. 'A Pistol for Paddy Garcia' infuses ceili with great gusts of Ennio Morricone, while 'Jesse James' is a raucous country/bluegrass hoe-down.\n\nEven the 'traditional music' tag is misleading. It doesn't do justice to the rich musical textures, the keening mandolins or fervent brass. it certainly doesn't do justice to the songwriting genius of Shane MacGowan. His melodies, song-structures, even his language owe a debt to traditional Irish music - what's different is the passion, the personal experience, the rich empathy. \n\nThese songs aren't the usual, cynical rehashes of rebel and drinking songs we find in 'modern' trad. music, aimed at tourists (the fact that MacGowan isn't first generation Irish gives his work a hard clarity missing from the lachrymose, self-pitying genre). they are poetic documentaries of exile and emigrant life. The invocation of Irish mythology, history and social life of course records centuries of injustice, of course constructs a definite identity, but it is an identity in foreign parts, England, Australia, America, alone, vulnerable, subject to the blows of history and death. \n\nIn the incredibly sad and tragic ballads (and if you don't break down weeping at 'And the band played Waltzing Matilda', you're very very lucky) and in the playful death- and exile-defying boisterousness of the fast ones, The Pogues embody the two sides of Irish - and, naturally, universal - experience: the rememberance of things past and communal, which were probably never as good as we thought they were; and the bleak solitude of the here and now, with history offering no comfort.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nDrink to Shane's masterpiece!, June 1, 2001\nReviewer: Timothy Larabee (San Antonio, TX United States)\nToo often, If I should Fall from Grace With God is at the top of many lists of Pogues fans, but their real masterpiece has to be their prior album, an album with a good mix of traditional Irish songs with a dose of the Pogues passion for punk, and some of Shane Macgowan's best originals. \nOf Shane's original songs, The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn is a great opener, with the lyrics of a drunken Irishman (like Shane)and raw punk power. Shane gives one of his best vocal performances, speeding his vocal through such lines "And in the Euston Tavern/you screamed it was your shout/but they wouldn't give you service/so you kicked the windows out/they took you out into the street/and kicked you in the brains/so you walked back in through a bolted door and did it all again." Shane tells tales like a classic Irishman, but with the zest of punk rebel.\n\nBut the Pogues can be sad, as they weave their way through Shane's "Pair of Brown Eye's" or add spice to Eric Bogle's wartime tale "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" where Shane tells the tale with such sincerity that he presents himself as the showman no one ever believed Shane could be with his reputation.\n\nThe Pogues have fun on a couple of songs too. Particularly joyful is the rendition of "The Gentleman Soldier," which with the Pogues having as much fun as they are, sounds more like a Monty Python skit in the making than a tradition Irish song, as Shane rushes his way through the songs two characters with such humor and glee.\n\nIrish music fan, pogues fan, punk fan, or just a music fan will find something on this album that's a celebration of all great things about music.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nI wouldn't dare try to describe the music on this CD..., March 23, 2000\nReviewer: "dudlocked" (Ireland currently in Brazil)\n... not by my meager hand. Except to say that all of my buddies and I know every single word of every single song on this album, and no matter where in the world we are, we have it close by (I'm in Brazil at the moment). The only argument between us is where in the top 3 albums of all time this CD falls. Every Christmas night,with us all at home in Ireland, ends up in a huge sing song at my house, and after copious amounts of whiskey this CD finishes the night with everyone standing arm in arm and roaring the last song (Waltzing Matilda) at the top of our voices. An essential companion for living - not just for life.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nIt's no "If I should Fall From Grace...", February 7, 2000\nReviewer: Eric Thornton (Chicago, Il)\nI loved, and I mean LOVED the Pouges album "If I Should Fall From Grace W/God". To me it is one of the best albums I've ever heard. This one, on the other hand, was a disappointment. I was fully looking forward to more druken Irish wailing, but this one is more like it's recorded 3 hours after the pub has shut down, and everyones to drunk to walk. It seems to be more ballad oriented than "this band and I are gonna come down there and kick your arse if ya dinna start dancin', laddie". If you like sad slow songs, buy this album. If you like to dance and pretend you're getting in fights, get "If I Should Fall From Grace".\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nbeautiful, February 4, 2000\nReviewer: beulah mahound (the south)\nNot only is this the best Pogues record, it is surely one of the four or five best records of the last twenty-five years or so. Somehow it got overlooked over the years, but that just makes it more of a treasure. A sentimental,drunken, joyous, chaotic and beautiful piece of work. It's all here. Worthy of being mentioned alonside Joyce in the annals of Irish culture. For the uninitiated, don't make too much of this "punk" talk, for while there is a certain shared spirit, this is definitely not a punk record.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nNothing like it at all., March 8, 1999\nReviewer: "singedcat" (Portland)\nIn 1984 I started working at my college radio station. We customarily circled good tracks on the backs of the albums with "good" or "Don't play--has "f" word" on the back. Flipping through our mangy stacks one day, one album stood out with elaborate and conflicting opinions warring on the cover. One reviewer had scratched out all the other notes and put "I wouldn't wipe my a$$ with this album, it's so bad." I still have Rum, Sodomy & the Lash, and I'm still glad I stole it.\n\nHalf.com Album Notes\nDigitally remastered reissue of the famed Irish band's classic sophomore album from 1985 that saw the band come into their own with classic tracks like "Dirty Old Town", "The Band Played Waltzing Matilda" and more. Includes 6 great bonus tracks of rarities and b-sides. YEAR: 1985
This rock cd contains 18 tracks and runs 64min 46sec.
Freedb: 0f0f2c12
Buy: from Amazon.com

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