Peace and Love - Opinions?!

[Heather]

I've said this before and I'll say it again, Peace and Love is the most underrated Pogues album of the MacGowan era. Opinions for this album, differ, most people think this album marked the beginning of the end for the band. I thought the band were still in fine form, under the circumstances of constant touring (Shane even missed the entire Bob Dylan tour) and Shane's inconsistent behavior. Remember by the time they started recording the album Shane had become deeply involved with the acid house scene. Some say Shane's songwriting is well below par, but those people must not have heard White City or London You're a Lady. Terry Woods also provides two excellent numbers, as does Jem Finer. Overall this is more of democratic effort by the band, each one of the members provides their own insights. All in all not the Pogues best album, but a very solid effort following the wake of If I Should Fall From Grace With God, especially the new remastered version which contains the excellent traditional numbers The Star of the County Down (which was played brilliantly live, when I saw them in Atlantic City on March 11,) and The Limerick Rake. Also, Terry Woods and Ron Kavana's Everyman Is A King is wonderful and should have been on the original album.

Best songs

1. London You're a Lady
2. White City
3. Young Ned of the Hill
4. Boat Train
5. Misty Morning, Albert Bridge
6. Down All the Days
7. Lorelei
8. USA
9. Cotton Fields
10. Gartloney Rats

Gridlock, Night Train To Lorca, and Tombstone are okay

The only real throwaway track is Blue Heaven

am i the only one who actually likes blue heaven?

No, I think it's OK.

[Michaelo]

Blue Heaven wouldn't feature on my list of favourite Pogues songs, in fact I doubt it would make my Pogues top 50. Having said that, I think it's an ok track. I don't understand why it is so universally derided.

[Plastic Paddy]

There is no doubt that P&L did not reach the dizzy heights of the previous three LPs (CDs?) but Young Ned is worth the cost of it by itself.

The others are bonus tracks

[Heather]

Blue Heaven wouldn't feature on my list of favourite Pogues songs, in fact I doubt it would make my Pogues top 50. Having said that, I think it's an ok track. I don't understand why it is so universally derided.

No it wouldn't appear in mine either, but it's an OK song.

[pogues22]

No offense to Philip Chevron, because Thousands Are Sailing and Lorelei are outstanding, but Blue Heaven is the worst song of the MacGowan era Pogues. It just sounds so cheesy and corny to me. I heard the song originally started out very well, but as they were laying it down in the studio, to many musical arrangements and songwriting changes spoiled the overall quality of the song.

[Irish Rover]

Blue Heaven wouldn't feature on my list of favourite Pogues songs, in fact I doubt it would make my Pogues top 50. Having said that, I think it's an ok track. I don't understand why it is so universally derided.

No it wouldn't appear in mine either, but it's an OK song.

Yeah i don't mine it either

[Michaelo]

No offense to Philip Chevron, because Thousands Are Sailing and Lorelei are outstanding, but Blue Heaven is the worst song of the MacGowan era Pogues. It just sounds so cheesy and corny to me. I heard the song originally started out very well, but as they were laying it down in the studio, to many musical arrangements and songwriting changes spoiled the overall quality of the song.

I think that's harsh. There are worse songs than that- Six To Go and Rainbow Man spring to mind.

[SkaPunkAndOtherJunk]

No offense to Philip Chevron, because Thousands Are Sailing and Lorelei are outstanding, but Blue Heaven is the worst song of the MacGowan era Pogues. It just sounds so cheesy and corny to me. I heard the song originally started out very well, but as they were laying it down in the studio, to many musical arrangements and songwriting changes spoiled the overall quality of the song.

I think that's harsh. There are worse songs than that- Six To Go and Rainbow Man spring to mind.

i like "six to go." i don't really like rainbow man that much though.

[Maija]

...Blue Heaven is the worst song...

I think Gridlock and Tombstone are faaar worse

[Michaelo]

i like "six to go." i don't really like rainbow man that much though.

"Worse" was a bad choice of word to use on my part, as it implies I think they are bad songs. I don't actually dislike those songs (or any others The Pogues recorded)- I just think Blue Heaven is a better song than either of them.

[Heather]

No offense to Philip Chevron, because Thousands Are Sailing and Lorelei are outstanding, but Blue Heaven is the worst song of the MacGowan era Pogues. It just sounds so cheesy and corny to me. I heard the song originally started out very well, but as they were laying it down in the studio, to many musical arrangements and songwriting changes spoiled the overall quality of the song.

I think that's harsh. There are worse songs than that- Six To Go and Rainbow Man spring to mind.

i like "six to go." i don't really like rainbow man that much though.

I don't mind Six To Go, but I quite like Rainbow Man.

[Beisty]

I think Six To Go and Rainbow Man are quite good. They may be a bit 'different' but that's just Terry being Terry isn't ti?

[sheva]

I love Peace and Love (listened to it yesterday, as a matter of fact), and I like Blue Heaven a lot. To these ears, it's a nice little slice of the sort of catchy, breezy, intelligent pop that only comes from the UK and Ireland. Its worst sin is that it's a product of its time - it's got "late 80s/early 90s" stamped all over it. I feel the same way about Tuesday Morning - these songs sound a bit dated, in stark contrast to the timelessness that's the hallmark of most Pogues songs. Funny thing is, I never really liked Tuesday Morning all that much until I saw and heard them do it live - now it's grown on me.

[Celtic.Dave]

Funny thing is, I never really liked Tuesday Morning all that much until I saw and heard them do it live - now it's grown on me.

Same with me.Also i got very,very sick of Dirty Old Town(not saying i hate it,the song is one of the greats),cause its always played and if its not FONY its DOT that people tend to know and play of the Pogues.But after hearing it live and everyone singing it with the band its one of the best live songs.

[CraigBatty]

...its DOT that people tend to know and play of the Pogues.But after hearing it live and everyone singing it with the band its one of the best live songs.

One of the great songs of the 20th century. People in Tierra del-fecking Fuego know the words to that song. Up the MacColls!