What's your favourite Pogues' album cover?

[JohnG]

For me it has to be IISFWG, musically the best album too.

It has stark simplicity. The members of the band aren's striking silly poses, but have an air of calm authority about them, dressed in understated black, and staring into the camera lens. They're featured with their instruments - including accordian, whistle, and mandolin - showing this is no ordinary rock or pop band. Shane is leaning on a bodhran, showing the Irish strand. The bodhran is on a trunk...hinting at travel, featuring in tracks such as South Australia and Thousands are Sailing.

[Mick Molloy]

R,S & L

[Zuzana]

The bodhran is on a trunk...hinting at travel, featuring in tracks such as South Australia and Thousands are Sailing.

Funny thing is that the trunk was a virtue made of necessity as The Story Of The Pogues explains:

'Philip Chevron was in agony. His ulcer had flared up agan, really badly, and he could barely stand. (...) „I woke up one morning and I could hardly get out of bed,“ says Chevron. „I phoned up Frank [Murray, the Pogues manager] and said, ‘I can’t make it to the photo session today.’ He said, ‘If you don’t get to the photo session you’re not on the fucking album sleeve.’ He said, ‘Do whatever it takes, get yourself here and then you can sit down.’ In fact, it’s one of those things that worked in our favour As soon as they knew I needed to sit down for most of the session, the photographer brought in this luggage.“
The luggage was a big, old-fashioned trunk which Philip sat on for the photo shoot, surrounded by the rest of the group, all in black suits, holding their instruments. This would become one of the most famous – and appropriate – images of the Pogues.
„It looked perfect,“ says Chevron. „It spoke of emigrants, although the luggage was there mainly for me to sit on. That’s why it arrived in the first place. Again, the Pogues turn disaster into triumph.“'
(Carol Clerk: Kiss My Arse - The Story Of the Pogues)

Anyway, I agree with Mick - the R,S & L version of 'The Raft Of the Medusa' rules. Wonder how these fora would have been called if the band had chosen a simple shot of the band members for the cover.

[Billie]

The Raft of the Medusa in Rhum Sodomy and The Lash, for sure. Also because the Gericault painting is one of my favourites.

[strummercalling]

IISFFG, but with the Joyce cover. A very clever idea. That was the version I had first, and how I always picture that album.

[pogues24]

Hands down the cover of Rum, Sodomy and the Lash is the best. I think it is the best album cover of all time, but that is just my opinion. I do like the cover of If I Should Fall From Grace With God a lot, as I do the cover of Peace and Love (love the six-fingered Scottish boxer.) My guilty pleasure has to be the album cover of Hell's Ditch, it looks almost like a pirate's treasure map.

Iain

[MacRua]

My guilty pleasure has to be the album cover of Hell's Ditch, it looks almost like a pirate's treasure map.

I always had a soft spot for tiny (and very lonely) red fox on it...

[Bud Byrne]

Would be Rum, Sodomy and the Lash. Hell's dich would be second.

[Johan From Sweden]

Would be Rum, Sodomy and the Lash. Hell's dich would be second.

I´d also say Rum, Sodomy and the Lash and IISFFG on 2:nd place.

[The Duke of Ingmar]

Rum first, Ditch second, If I should fall third. Herb fourth.

[Michaelo]

Not sure if I prefer Rum or Fall.
I know it's not an album, but my favourite sleeve of all is Summer In Siam.

[pogues24]

My favourite single sleeve has to Jack's Heroes, although Summer In Siam is a good one.

Iain

[AllBusiness37]

Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash is cool, but I have to go with If I Should Fall from Grace with God.

[rumsodomyandthelash]

Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash is cool, but I have to go with If I Should Fall from Grace with God.

Compliments , Compliments

[MacRua]

As for favourite single sleeve - must be Honky Tonk Women