Rum, Sodomy & the Lash

by The Pogues

Overview

"I saw my task... was to capture them in their delapidated 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

Product Details

Release Date:	06/16/2015
Label:	Rhino
UPC:	0825646255894

Tracks

1. The Sick Bed of C¿¿chulainn
2. The Old Main Drag
3. Wild Cats of Kilkenny
4. I'm a Man You Don't Meet Every Day
5. A Pair of Brown Eyes
6. Sally MacLennane
7. Dirty Old Town
8. Jesse James
9. Navigator
10. Billy's Bones
11. The Gentleman Soldier
12. And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Pogues   Primary Artist
Dick Cuthell   Horn
Philip Chevron   Guitar,Mandolin
Jem Finer   Banjo
Henry Benagh   Fiddle
James Fearnley   Accordion
Tommy Keane   Pipe
Cait O'Riordan   Bass,Vocals
Shane MacGowan   Vocals
Spider Stacy   Vocals,Tin Whistle
Terry Woods   String Instrument
Andrew Ranken   Drums

Technical Credits

Paul Scully   Engineer
Elvis Costello   Producer
Bob Kraushaar   Engineer
Ewan MacColl   Composer
Gem   Composer
Philip Chevron   Arranger,Musician,Producer
Jem Finer   Arranger,Composer,Musician
Fiachra Trench   String Arrangements
Eric Bogle   Composer
Peter Mennim   Cover Painting
Phil Gaston   Composer
Nick Robbins   Engineer
The Pogues   Arranger
James Fearnley   Arranger,Musician
Cait O'Riordan   Arranger,Composer
Dave Jordan   Engineer
Shane MacGowan   Arranger,Composer,Musician
Spider Stacy   Arranger,Composer,Musician
Traditional   Composer
Andrew Ranken   Arranger,Composer,Musician