Rum Sodomy & The Lash [Original recording remastered]

The Pogues | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 19, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 1985
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Rhino
• ASIN: B000H8SFMA
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (79 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,383 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #7 in Music > World Music > Celtic > Rock
  • #61 in Music > World Music > Europe > British Isles > Ireland

Track Listings

1. The Sickbed Of Cuchulainn

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 Gentlement Soldier

12. The Band Played Waltzing Matilda

13. A Pistol For Paddy Garcia

14. London Girl

15. Rainy Night In Soho

16. Body Of An American

17. Planxty Noel Hill

18. The Parting Glass

Editorial Reviews

1985's Rum, Sodomy & The Lash, their brilliant second LP was produced by Elvis Costello who also brought the Pogues on tour and later married the band's Cait O'Riordan. #445 on Rolling Stones magazine's '500 Greatest Albums Of All Time'. Highlights include The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn, 'I'm A Man You Don't Meet Everyday' (sung by Cait), their definitive take on The Band Played Waltzing Matilda, and the stunning 'A Pair Of Brown Eyes,' presenting MacGowan's lyrics and vocals in all their 'dilapidated glory' (Costello phrasing). Six bonus rarities include 'A Pistol for Paddy Garcia', 'London Girl, and 'The Parting Glass'. Poetic opening words from Tom Waits and in-depth liner notes from David Quantick.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A rare bird: a truly original album February 8, 2004

By Robert Moore HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

The 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.

Although 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.

While 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.

I'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. Read more ›

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Drink to Shane's masterpiece! June 1, 2001

By Poor Napoleon VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

Too 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.

Of 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.

But 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.

The 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.

Irish 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.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars best of the Pogues May 19, 2005

By J.J. Langr

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

It 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.

The 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."

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Pogues At Their Best February 6, 2005

By Pogues Fan

Format:Audio CD

"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.
Now "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.