"Official Music" FAQ

What's the deal with this rumored box set?


On January 16, 2006 Philip Chevron described the box set project in this way

THE POGUES have a substantial archive of recordings which have never been released, though some of the tracks have escaped over the years on bootlegs etc. It is planned that, at some point in the near future (sorry, we cannot be more specific than that right now) the cream, or at least the most interesting of this material will be compiled by the band for release as a multi-disc Box Set.

There is so much material to source and then listen to - session outtakes, radio sessions, demos, non-album rarities, movie music, rehearsal tapes etc, that we cannot yet commit to a definite release date. Nor can we say with any authority what will appear on the box set and what will be quietly returned to the archive. Darryl and myself have put ourselves in charge of the project, though only because someone had to. But ultimately, the final choice of tracks will be made by The Pogues as a whole. In addition, both ourselves and the record company will want to release this material at a time it will have some impact on the market, a factor which should also enable us to keep the price down.

I should say that a major start was made on this project at the time we were remastering our 7 studio albums in 2004. Nick Robbins, who did the actual remastering from original tapes was alert to the Box Set project and made a point of setting aside many recordings as he came upon them on the tapes. About half our material is, therefore, already in the digital domain, a fact which allowed, for example, the original "Fairytale Of New York" demo to be heard properly in the 2005 BBC The Story Of Fairytale Of New York film.

Incidentally, while we are confident we have the best tape sources available for most of our material, there may yet be some material of which we only have copy masters. So if you think you may be sitting on a "lost" gem, please do get in touch. We won't ask any awkward questions unless you want us to. And no, I'm sorry, we won't "trade" rarities with you (you know who you are!), though you will be properly appreciated and credited in the packaging for your assistance.

Until we are closer to fruition on this, the only possible answer I can give to the question "Will Donegal Express/Pinned Down/Murder SKA/The Travelling People/The Rocky Road To Dublin/Danny Boy...etc etc" is: "Maybe, maybe not."

when is it going to be produced? will u b able to buy it on this site?

philipchevron wrote:

tyler wrote:Was that live set already released on the Pogues Ultimate Collection disc 2?

For reasons of space we had to leave off four numbers, a crime for which, I now see, we will pay in perpetuity.

I see why you left 4 numbers. But not why those 4. Parting glass can be only my love, but White City and Star of the County Down are all-around favourit, or at least I think so.

tyler wrote:Was that live set already released on the Pogues Ultimate Collection disc 2?

For reasons of space we had to leave off four numbers, a crime for which, I now see, we will pay in perpetuity.

Was that live set already released on the Pogues Ultimate Collection disc 2?

Zuzana wrote:

philipchevron wrote:I met Mr Warners (or Mr Rhino, as he is now apparently called) backstage at Brixton the other day and he is keen to discuss the rarities box set afresh, so there may be some movement on that too in this Anniversary Year. [i.e. 2007]

Thanks for the info Zuzana - I must have missed that thread. If Rhino are now potentially involved then that can only be good news as far as I'm concerned - they've got a great track record on re-releasing (or newly releasing) archive material, from the Velvet Underground to Larry Levan. Cool.

Ad Brixton 2001 (the list looks the same, so I guess it is it) - couldn´t those tracks left out be included there? They´re imho one of best songs from whole gig, and I really miss them (reason why I listen to bootleg instead of live CD mostly). Or if they could be left somewhere on the internet for download (maybe some access key could be included with live CD).

Well I might as well be the first person to ask this year - any chance of it appearing in 2007?!?!

Many thanks for all the information on the box set Mr. C - I trust you will keep us up to date as the project progresses.

Might I just ask a question/make a suggestion? Is there any chance that a dvd might be included (a la The Band, Thin Lizzy box sets etc)? Surely there is some great footage lying in the archives or would there be licensing/ownership issues here? I'd love to see something like that included, would be a fantastic little bonus.

Just a thought.....

I'd be happy with any boxed set that contains anything I haven't heard yet. Whether it was recorded during soundchecks, on the bus, in the kitchen etc.

I'd be just as happy to hear every little studio session, outtake, mistake and misshap as well in a boxed set, rather than track 1, track 2, track 3 etc etc. In effect, I really liked the format of the Beatles' Anthology discs...just a lot of fun to hear all the little bits and pieces of this and that that go together to make the final product (albums etc.).

Sometimes, or quite often really (as long as you can make thing out), it's the not-so-perfect renditions of songs that are best. ie: I prefer the first, 7" version of Matilda over the more polished RS&tL version, though it is awesome too. Simmilarly, I really like the format of the early Wild Rover and Leaving of Liverpool. They sound to me like they were recorded with a single mic or something with everyone sittile around the kitchen table. But what do I know? They could've involved many days of preparation and rehearsal just to pull off.

Anyway, whatever the box set includes, I'm sure I'll buy it. Hopefully I'll have bought all the remastered CDs by then

Mr. Chevron, I know I'm still asking the same damn questions, but is the new box set going to include some of the demos that you guys did during the post-Shane years, like "Hot Asphalt," and "North Sea Hole," cause to be honest with you I haven't heard any of those. Also, do you know where I can find rare CDs of you guys live. A couple of "mom 'n pop" record shops carry some hard to find material, but it simply isn't enough. I guess I don't have to tell you, here in Virginia, most people are stuck on Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphy's, but to me there simply ripping you guys off.

Also, where are some interesting sites to visit in Ireland. I plan on taking a trip there soon. My great grandfathers are from Sligo and Cork, and other places as well. So any thoughts

Thanks,
Iain

i would love for this box set to come out, along with another tour. THat would be amazing (expecially since I missed the Xmas 05 tour )

and when the box comes out and you tour perhaps you'll play a selection or two for us! 'Magic' with Cait

Kilmichael wrote:Mr C, I feel like a cheeky ingrate for even asking this after you took the time and trouble to provide us with such a detailed answer, but just an observation. One of the things I've always loved about the Pogues is the great live versions you've done of (what I assume are) unrecorded tracks, such as Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue, Goodnight Irene, Japan, Darklands, White Light/White Heat, Spider's version of Johnny Come Lately, Straight To Hell with Joe, etc. etc. It would be fantastic if the Box Set included a live disc of mixing desk recordings of at least some of these tracks, which I personally thing are an essential part of the Pogues canon. Any thoughts?

Actually, most of these songs were so shortlived in the show that we do not really have acceptable versions of most of them, at least no better than the widely circulated bootleg recordings. Paul Scully tried to capture "Goodnight Irene" live every night in March 1988 and every night, the tape ran out halfway through.

We do actually have a proper multi-track live recording of Joe & The Pogues from the Forum, London in 1991. Perhaps at some stage in the distant future, we will get together with Joe's family (estate) and try to release it.