Album: Red Roses for Me by The Pogues (1984)
Genre: Folk | Style: Punk | Mood: Happy
Format: Album

Description: "Red Roses for Me" was the first full length album by the London-Irish band The Pogues and was released in 1984. It is filled with traditional Irish music performed with punk influences. Traditional songs and ballads mixed with Shane MacGowan's "gutter hymns" about drinking, fighting and sex was innovative at the time. Or as lead singer MacGowan explained the music: "I couldn't believe that nobody else were doing it, so we went on doing it ourselves..." The title "Red Roses for Me" is the name of a play by Sean O'Casey, though his works do not show any direct influence upon the band. O'Casey's song of the same name has been recorded by The Dubliners. The album reached number 89 in the UK album charts.
The front of the album shows the band with the exception of drummer of Andrew Rankin (pictured in inset) sitting in front of a picture of United States president John F. Kennedy. The back features Shane MacGowan pictured with his foot in a cast. Accordion player James Fearnley has a bottle sticking out of his coat, while bass player Cait O'Riordan is seen holding a can of beer.

Artist Background: The Pogues are a Celtic punk band from London, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before breaking up in 1996. The band reformed in 2001, and has been playing regularly ever since, most notably on the US East Coast around St Patrick's Day and across the UK and Ireland every ... Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Related Artists: Shane MacGowan and The Popes, The Dubliners, Flogging Molly, The Mary Wallopers

Music Scene: Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Tags: Folk, Punk, Happy, 1980s, Album

Additional Context: Based on 2 votes. Available on Discogs marketplace


"Red Roses for Me" was the first full length album by the London-Irish band The Pogues and was released in 1984. It is filled with traditional Irish music performed with punk influences. Traditional songs and ballads mixed with Shane MacGowan's "gutter hymns" about drinking, fighting and sex was innovative at the time. Or as lead singer MacGowan explained the music: "I couldn't believe that nobody else were doing it, so we went on doing it ourselves..." The title "Red Roses for Me" is the name of a play by Sean O'Casey, though his works do not show any direct influence upon the band. O'Casey's song of the same name has been recorded by The Dubliners. The album reached number 89 in the UK album charts.
The front of the album shows the band with the exception of drummer of Andrew Rankin (pictured in inset) sitting in front of a picture of United States president John F. Kennedy. The back features Shane MacGowan pictured with his foot in a cast. Accordion player James Fearnley has a bottle sticking out of his coat, while bass player Cait O'Riordan is seen holding a can of beer.

Album: Peace and Love by The Pogues (1989)
Genre: Folk | Style: Punk | Mood: Happy
Format: Album

Description: Peace and Love is a 1989 album by The Pogues, their fourth full-length studio production.
The album continued the band's gradual departure from traditional Irish music. It noticeably opens with a heavily jazz-influenced track. Also, several of the songs are inspired by the city in which the Pogues were founded, London ("White City", "Misty Morning, Albert Bridge", "London You're a Lady"), as opposed to Ireland, from which they had usually drawn inspiration. Nevertheless, several notable Irish personages are mentioned, including Ned of the Hill, Christy Brown, whose book Down All The Days appears as a song title, and Napper Tandy, mentioned in the first line of "Boat Train", and was adapted from a line in the Irish rebel song "The Wearing of the Green". Likewise the MacGowan song "Cotton Fields" draws on the Lead Belly song of the same name.

Artist Background: The Pogues are a Celtic punk band from London, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before breaking up in 1996. The band reformed in 2001, and has been playing regularly ever since, most notably on the US East Coast around St Patrick's Day and across the UK and Ireland every ... Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Related Artists: Shane MacGowan and The Popes, The Dubliners, Flogging Molly, The Mary Wallopers

Music Scene: Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Tags: Folk, Punk, Happy, 1980s, Album

Additional Context: Based on 2 votes. Available on Discogs marketplace


Peace and Love is a 1989 album by The Pogues, their fourth full-length studio production.
The album continued the band's gradual departure from traditional Irish music. It noticeably opens with a heavily jazz-influenced track. Also, several of the songs are inspired by the city in which the Pogues were founded, London ("White City", "Misty Morning, Albert Bridge", "London You're a Lady"), as opposed to Ireland, from which they had usually drawn inspiration. Nevertheless, several notable Irish personages are mentioned, including Ned of the Hill, Christy Brown, whose book Down All The Days appears as a song title, and Napper Tandy, mentioned in the first line of "Boat Train", and was adapted from a line in the Irish rebel song "The Wearing of the Green". Likewise the MacGowan song "Cotton Fields" draws on the Lead Belly song of the same name.

Album: The Very Best of The Pogues by The Pogues (2013)
Genre: Folk | Style: Punk | Mood: Happy
Format: Compilation

Artist Background: The Pogues are a Celtic punk band from London, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before breaking up in 1996. The band reformed in 2001, and has been playing regularly ever since, most notably on the US East Coast around St Patrick's Day and across the UK and Ireland every ... Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Related Artists: Shane MacGowan and The Popes, The Dubliners, Flogging Molly, The Mary Wallopers

Music Scene: Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Tags: Folk, Punk, Happy, 2010s, Compilation

Additional Context: Based on 1 votes


Album: Rum Sodomy & the Lash by The Pogues (1985)
Genre: Folk | Style: Punk | Mood: Happy
Format: Album

Artist Background: The Pogues are a Celtic punk band from London, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before breaking up in 1996. The band reformed in 2001, and has been playing regularly ever since, most notably on the US East Coast around St Patrick's Day and across the UK and Ireland every ... Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Related Artists: Shane MacGowan and The Popes, The Dubliners, Flogging Molly, The Mary Wallopers

Music Scene: Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Tags: Folk, Punk, Happy, 1980s, Album

Additional Context: Based on 2 votes. Available on Discogs marketplace


Album: The Rest of the Best by The Pogues (1992)
Genre: Folk | Style: Punk | Mood: Happy
Format: Compilation

Artist Background: The Pogues are a Celtic punk band from London, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before breaking up in 1996. The band reformed in 2001, and has been playing regularly ever since, most notably on the US East Coast around St Patrick's Day and across the UK and Ireland every ... Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Related Artists: Shane MacGowan and The Popes, The Dubliners, Flogging Molly, The Mary Wallopers

Music Scene: Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Tags: Folk, Punk, Happy, 1990s, Compilation


Album: The Ultimate Collection by The Pogues (2005)
Genre: alternative rock
Format: CD

Artist Background: The Pogues are a Celtic punk band from London, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before breaking up in 1996. The band reformed in 2001, and has been playing regularly ever since, most notably on the US East Coast around St Patrick's Day and across the UK and Ireland every ... Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Musical Influences: Shane MacGowan, James Fearnley, Cait O’Riordan, Terry Woods

Related Artists: Shane MacGowan and The Popes, The Dubliners, Flogging Molly, The Mary Wallopers

Music Scene: Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Tags: alternative rock, 2000s, CD


"The Ultimate Collection" by The Pogues captures the raw, spirited essence of their signature Celtic punk sound. The production is straightforward, allowing the gritty textures of traditional Irish instrumentation to shine through. Tracks like "Sally MacLennane" and "Streams of Whiskey" feature lively tempos and energetic arrangements, driven by robust accordion and tin whistle melodies. The album balances raucous pub anthems with more contemplative pieces like "A Rainy Night in Soho," which showcases a softer, more atmospheric side. The Pogues' distinctive blend of rock energy and folk authenticity is evident in the rough-hewn vocal delivery and the dynamic interplay between instruments, creating a sound that is both timeless and unmistakably their own.

Album: The Ultimate Collection by The Pogues (2005)
Format: Compilation

Artist Background: The Pogues are a Celtic punk band from London, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before breaking up in 1996. The band reformed in 2001, and has been playing regularly ever since, most notably on the US East Coast around St Patrick's Day and across the UK and Ireland every ... Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Related Artists: Shane MacGowan and The Popes, The Dubliners, Flogging Molly, The Mary Wallopers

Music Scene: Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Tags: 2000s, Compilation


Album: If I Should Fall From Grace With God by The Pogues (1988)
Genre: Folk | Style: Punk | Mood: Happy
Format: Album

Description: If I Should Fall from Grace with God is a 1988 album by The Pogues. It reached number 3 in the UK album charts.

Artist Background: The Pogues are a Celtic punk band from London, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before breaking up in 1996. The band reformed in 2001, and has been playing regularly ever since, most notably on the US East Coast around St Patrick's Day and across the UK and Ireland every ... Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Related Artists: Shane MacGowan and The Popes, The Dubliners, Flogging Molly, The Mary Wallopers

Music Scene: Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Tags: Folk, Punk, Happy, 1980s, Album

Additional Context: Based on 3 votes. Available on Discogs marketplace


If I Should Fall from Grace with God is a 1988 album by The Pogues. It reached number 3 in the UK album charts.

"30 Years" by The Pogues offers a raw and spirited collection that captures the band's signature blend of folk and punk energy. The production is straightforward, allowing the gritty textures of traditional instruments like the tin whistle, accordion, and banjo to shine through. The album's tempo varies, with tracks like "Streams of Whiskey" and "Boys From the County Hell" delivering high-octane energy, while songs like "The Auld Triangle" provide a more measured, anthemic pace. The sound is distinctly rugged, characterized by its unpolished, live feel that emphasizes the communal, pub-like atmosphere. This collection stands out for its ability to evoke a sense of place and time, immersing listeners in a vibrant, storytelling tradition.

Album: 30 Years by The Pogues (2013)
Format: Compilation

Artist Background: The Pogues are a Celtic punk band from London, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before breaking up in 1996. The band reformed in 2001, and has been playing regularly ever since, most notably on the US East Coast around St Patrick's Day and across the UK and Ireland every ... Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Related Artists: Shane MacGowan and The Popes, The Dubliners, Flogging Molly, The Mary Wallopers

Music Scene: Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Tags: 2010s, Compilation


Album: Pogue Mahone by The Pogues (1995)
Genre: Folk | Style: Punk | Mood: Happy
Format: Album

Description: Pogue Mahone is the seventh and last studio album by The Pogues, released in 1996. The title is a variant of the Irish phrase póg mo thóin, meaning "kiss my arse", from which the band's name is derived. It was the band's second studio album recorded after the departure of Shane MacGowan, and features Spider Stacy in the role of lead singer.

Artist Background: The Pogues are a Celtic punk band from London, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before breaking up in 1996. The band reformed in 2001, and has been playing regularly ever since, most notably on the US East Coast around St Patrick's Day and across the UK and Ireland every ... Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Related Artists: Shane MacGowan and The Popes, The Dubliners, Flogging Molly, The Mary Wallopers

Music Scene: Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Tags: Folk, Punk, Happy, 1990s, Album

Additional Context: Rating score: 6. Based on 1 votes. Available on Discogs marketplace


Pogue Mahone is the seventh and last studio album by The Pogues, released in 1996. The title is a variant of the Irish phrase póg mo thóin, meaning "kiss my arse", from which the band's name is derived. It was the band's second studio album recorded after the departure of Shane MacGowan, and features Spider Stacy in the role of lead singer.

"Essential Pogues" captures the raw, spirited fusion of folk and punk that defines The Pogues' sound. The album's production is straightforward, emphasizing the gritty, unpolished energy that permeates each track. Traditional folk instruments like the accordion, tin whistle, and banjo are layered with electric guitar and driving percussion, creating a rich, textured soundscape. The tempos vary from the raucous, high-energy "Fiesta" to the more reflective "Summer in Siam," maintaining a dynamic flow throughout. The Pogues' distinctive sound is characterized by its boisterous, celebratory mood, even when tackling somber themes, as heard in "Fairytale of New York." The album's vibrant, chaotic energy and heartfelt storytelling make it a quintessential representation of their unique style.

Album: Essential Pogues by The Pogues (1991)
Genre: Folk | Style: Punk | Mood: Happy
Format: Compilation

Artist Background: The Pogues are a Celtic punk band from London, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before breaking up in 1996. The band reformed in 2001, and has been playing regularly ever since, most notably on the US East Coast around St Patrick's Day and across the UK and Ireland every ... Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Related Artists: Shane MacGowan and The Popes, The Dubliners, Flogging Molly, The Mary Wallopers

Music Scene: Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Tags: Folk, Punk, Happy, 1990s, Compilation


"30:30: The Essential Collection" by The Pogues encapsulates the raw, spirited energy synonymous with their sound. The album's production is straightforward, capturing the raucous, pub-fueled atmosphere that defines their music. Instrumentation is rich with traditional Irish elements, featuring tin whistles, accordions, and banjos, layered over driving guitar and rhythmic percussion. The tempos vary from the frenetic pace of "Fiesta" to the more measured, melancholic tones of "A Pair of Brown Eyes." Textures are gritty and unpolished, lending authenticity to tracks like "Dirty Old Town" and "The Sickbed of Cúchulainn." The album's distinctive character lies in its ability to blend storytelling with a visceral, communal energy, making each song feel like a timeless, boisterous celebration.

Album: 30:30: The Essential Collection by The Pogues (2013)
Format: Compilation

Artist Background: The Pogues are a Celtic punk band from London, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before breaking up in 1996. The band reformed in 2001, and has been playing regularly ever since, most notably on the US East Coast around St Patrick's Day and across the UK and Ireland every ... Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Related Artists: Shane MacGowan and The Popes, The Dubliners, Flogging Molly, The Mary Wallopers

Music Scene: Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Tags: 2010s, Compilation


Album: The Best of The Pogues by The Pogues (1991)
Genre: Folk | Style: Punk | Mood: Happy
Format: Compilation

Description: The Best of the Pogues is a 1991 greatest hits compilation album by The Pogues. The album was dedicated to the memory of Deborah Korner.

Artist Background: The Pogues are a Celtic punk band from London, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before breaking up in 1996. The band reformed in 2001, and has been playing regularly ever since, most notably on the US East Coast around St Patrick's Day and across the UK and Ireland every ... Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Related Artists: Shane MacGowan and The Popes, The Dubliners, Flogging Molly, The Mary Wallopers

Music Scene: Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Tags: Folk, Punk, Happy, 1990s, Compilation


The Best of the Pogues is a 1991 greatest hits compilation album by The Pogues. The album was dedicated to the memory of Deborah Korner.

Album: Just Look Them Straight in the Eye and Say… Pogue Mahone!! by The Pogues (2008)
Genre: Folk | Mood: Happy
Format: Compilation

Artist Background: The Pogues are a Celtic punk band from London, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before breaking up in 1996. The band reformed in 2001, and has been playing regularly ever since, most notably on the US East Coast around St Patrick's Day and across the UK and Ireland every ... Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Related Artists: Shane MacGowan and The Popes, The Dubliners, Flogging Molly, The Mary Wallopers

Music Scene: Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Tags: Folk, Happy, 2000s, Compilation

Additional Context: Rating score: 9. Based on 1 votes. Available on Discogs marketplace


Album: Waiting for Herb by The Pogues (1993)
Genre: Folk | Style: Punk | Mood: Happy
Format: Album

Description: Waiting for Herb is a 1993 album by The Pogues, their first without former lead singer Shane MacGowan. The album saw the band continue to expand their musical reach past the traditional Irish roots it had been founded on, and was only their second full-length album without a single traditional song. The album featured the track "Tuesday Morning", which was the band's first Top Twenty hit since "Fairytale of New York."
With MacGowan (who was often considered the heart, soul, head and liver of the band) departed, his singing and songwriting duties fell to the other members. While Spider Stacy took the role of lead vocalist, much of the songwriting fell to Jem Finer, who along with Terry Woods had previously been the most prolific songwriter apart from MacGowan. However, the album saw contributions by other members who had not written songs for the band previously, including James Fearnley, Andrew Ranken, and Darryl Hunt. Ranken also sang lead vocals on "My Baby's Gone".
Upon the album's release, there was some speculation that the "Herb" in the title referred to marijuana; however, according to Stacy it was from the name of a German pornographic cartoon character.

Artist Background: The Pogues are a Celtic punk band from London, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before breaking up in 1996. The band reformed in 2001, and has been playing regularly ever since, most notably on the US East Coast around St Patrick's Day and across the UK and Ireland every ... Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Related Artists: Shane MacGowan and The Popes, The Dubliners, Flogging Molly, The Mary Wallopers

Music Scene: Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Tags: Folk, Punk, Happy, 1990s, Album

Additional Context: Rating score: 6. Based on 1 votes. Available on Discogs marketplace


Waiting for Herb is a 1993 album by The Pogues, their first without former lead singer Shane MacGowan. The album saw the band continue to expand their musical reach past the traditional Irish roots it had been founded on, and was only their second full-length album without a single traditional song. The album featured the track "Tuesday Morning", which was the band's first Top Twenty hit since "Fairytale of New York."
With MacGowan (who was often considered the heart, soul, head and liver of the band) departed, his singing and songwriting duties fell to the other members. While Spider Stacy took the role of lead vocalist, much of the songwriting fell to Jem Finer, who along with Terry Woods had previously been the most prolific songwriter apart from MacGowan. However, the album saw contributions by other members who had not written songs for the band previously, including James Fearnley, Andrew Ranken, and Darryl Hunt. Ranken also sang lead vocals on "My Baby's Gone".
Upon the album's release, there was some speculation that the "Herb" in the title referred to marijuana; however, according to Stacy it was from the name of a German pornographic cartoon character.

Album: The Very Best Of… by The Pogues (2001)
Genre: Folk | Style: Punk | Mood: Happy
Format: Compilation

Description: The Very Best is a collaboration between London-based DJ/production duo Radioclit and Esau Mwamwaya, a singer from Lilongwe, Malawi. Their music has been described as an Afro-Western mix of dance, hip-hop, pop, and the traditional music of Malawi.

Artist Background: The Pogues are a Celtic punk band from London, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before breaking up in 1996. The band reformed in 2001, and has been playing regularly ever since, most notably on the US East Coast around St Patrick's Day and across the UK and Ireland every ... Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Related Artists: Shane MacGowan and The Popes, The Dubliners, Flogging Molly, The Mary Wallopers

Music Scene: Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Tags: Folk, Punk, Happy, 2000s, Compilation

Additional Context: Rating score: 2. Based on 1 votes


The Very Best is a collaboration between London-based DJ/production duo Radioclit and Esau Mwamwaya, a singer from Lilongwe, Malawi. Their music has been described as an Afro-Western mix of dance, hip-hop, pop, and the traditional music of Malawi.

Album: Hell's Ditch by The Pogues (1990)
Genre: Folk | Style: Punk | Mood: Happy
Format: Album

Description: Hell's Ditch is the fifth full-length album by The Pogues, and the last to feature front man Shane MacGowan as a member. Released in 1990, the album continued the group's slow departure from Irish music, giving more emphasis to rock and straight folk rock, and forsaking their earlier staples of traditional compositions almost entirely. MacGowan parted with the band after the release of the album, due to problems with his abuse of alcohol and drugs, which had been leading to deterioration of his reliability as a performer.
Several of the songs on the album have Asian themes, in sound or in content, notably "Summer in Siam", "The House of Gods", and "Sayonara", although only the latter has a noticeably far-eastern tune. The song "Lorca's Novena" draws on MacGowan's affinity for Spain (particularly Almería, which he discovered years earlier when filming Straight to Hell), and the famous Spanish poet Federico García Lorca. The song tells of the poet's murder by Francisco Franco's Nationalist supporters in the Spanish Civil War, and how his body, never having been recovered, was said to have walked away. "The Wake of the Medusa" is a first person narrative inspired by Théodore Géricault's painting "The Raft of the Medusa," which appeared on the cover of the band's second album, Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash. The title track "Hell's Ditch" is based largely on the life and writings of French author and playwright Jean Genet, in particular The Miracle of the Rose and Our Lady of the Flowers, with its vulgar description of squalid prison life.
The album was produced by The Clash's Joe Strummer, who later served as a temporary replacement for MacGowan when the band went on tour. The cover-art for the album was designed by Josh Shoes.

Artist Background: The Pogues are a Celtic punk band from London, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before breaking up in 1996. The band reformed in 2001, and has been playing regularly ever since, most notably on the US East Coast around St Patrick's Day and across the UK and Ireland every ... Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Related Artists: Shane MacGowan and The Popes, The Dubliners, Flogging Molly, The Mary Wallopers

Music Scene: Part of the London, England music scene. Emerged in the 1980s era. Associated with Folk movement. Known for Punk style.

Tags: Folk, Punk, Happy, 1990s, Album

Additional Context: Rating score: 7. Based on 1 votes. Available on Discogs marketplace


Hell's Ditch is the fifth full-length album by The Pogues, and the last to feature front man Shane MacGowan as a member. Released in 1990, the album continued the group's slow departure from Irish music, giving more emphasis to rock and straight folk rock, and forsaking their earlier staples of traditional compositions almost entirely. MacGowan parted with the band after the release of the album, due to problems with his abuse of alcohol and drugs, which had been leading to deterioration of his reliability as a performer.
Several of the songs on the album have Asian themes, in sound or in content, notably "Summer in Siam", "The House of Gods", and "Sayonara", although only the latter has a noticeably far-eastern tune. The song "Lorca's Novena" draws on MacGowan's affinity for Spain (particularly Almería, which he discovered years earlier when filming Straight to Hell), and the famous Spanish poet Federico García Lorca. The song tells of the poet's murder by Francisco Franco's Nationalist supporters in the Spanish Civil War, and how his body, never having been recovered, was said to have walked away. "The Wake of the Medusa" is a first person narrative inspired by Théodore Géricault's painting "The Raft of the Medusa," which appeared on the cover of the band's second album, Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash. The title track "Hell's Ditch" is based largely on the life and writings of French author and playwright Jean Genet, in particular The Miracle of the Rose and Our Lady of the Flowers, with its vulgar description of squalid prison life.
The album was produced by The Clash's Joe Strummer, who later served as a temporary replacement for MacGowan when the band went on tour. The cover-art for the album was designed by Josh Shoes.

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