The Very Best of the Pogues [2013]

by The Pogues

Overview

There's little question that the Pogues were a seminal band, blessed with great musicians, and 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 Elvis Costello-produced second studio album, Rum Sodomy & the Lash, a record that artfully walked the razor's 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 group's 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 group's very sanity and they had to let him go. Ironically, without Shane aboard, the Pogues started to drift and they only lasted through two more albums before calling it a day, leaving behind a body of work that is very well summarized on this compilation, The Very Best of the Pogues. This concentrates heavily on the group's first three albums, where MacGowan's writing was its sharpest and the band sounded best, but it also picks up highlights from more stylisically diverse albums like Peace and Love and Hell's Ditch. That's 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. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	01/22/2013
Label:	Shout! Factory
UPC:	0826663137385
Rank:	5460

Tracks

1. Dirty Old Town
2. The Sunnyside of the Street
3. If I Should Fall from Grace with God
4. The Irish Rover
5. Rain Street
6. A Pair of Brown Eyes
7. Boys from the County Hell
8. Fairytale of New York
9. Body of an American
10. Thousands Are Sailing
11. Sally Maclennane
12. Misty Morning, Albert Bridge
13. Tuesday Morning
14. Rainy Night in Soho
15. Streams of Whiskey
16. The Sickbed of Cuchulainn
17. Young Ned of the Hill
18. Love You 'till the End

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Pogues   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Steve Pyke   Photography
Robb McCaffree   Editorial Supervision
Spider Stacy   Liner Notes,Group Member
Terry Woods   Group Member
Andrew Ranken   Group Member
The Dubliners   Composer
MacColl   Composer
Philip Chevron   Composer,Group Member
Kavana   Composer
Jem Finer   Group Member
Karrie Stouffer   Art Supervisor
Emily Sage   Project Assistant
James Fearnley   Group Member
Derek Dressler   Compilation Producer
Jeff Palo   Project Assistant
Darryl Hunt   Group Member
Bob Fisher   Mastering
Shane MacGowan   Group Member
Jeff Holmes   Cover Art