The Medusa Fora

Eric V wrote:No. No cover album. No duets with the Wolftones, Enya, Ronnie, etc... Just the Pogues... new material. (Maybe just a new version of a traditional song, but not a whole album of them) If not, then we'll all love the existing Pogues songs and they can play when and where they want to. Yes, playing a few other cities in the US would be great for our brethren on the West coast and the Midwest, and yes there are thousands in "the rest of Europe" who would love for the Pogues to come to town some day, but come on... I'd much rather see them do whatever makes them happy and musically productive and original... if that means putting out solo stuff or playing a collaborative role with some other acts then fine... we could all use some expansion of our horizons.

If a band have been playing together for so long as the Pogues have done.
On the way they have probably stumbled over some songs that they really liked. The next thing is to say "What a nice song, but we could have done it better".
I'm sure the Pogues have some favourite songs that they thought they could have done better than the original artist
Would love to hear Pogues version of "In The Ghetto"

celticjunk wrote:

Eric V wrote:I would not want a cover album. I'd rather stick pins in my eyes.

So you don't want a new album from the band
That's OK it's your opinion, my opinion is that they could do a fantastic coveralbum with some favourite songs and mix it with some new songs and that would be really nice and a smart thing to do from the band

No, I did not say I don't want a new album. I said no "cover album." They are better than that. A cover album would be a bit pathetic at this stage. There is enough skill and talent in this band to write their own material. I've read/heard that at the end of Shane's days with the band long ago, they were playing cover tunes in concerts at least in part due to the state of Shane (and possibly others), and in retrospect many would probably agree that it was horrible waste of tallent. I'm not offering that up to start yet another "why can't Shane pull it together?" discussion, rather I would like to just point out that this sort of thing did happen before.... band plays covers because it is expedient... crowd loves it because it is the Pogues.... and later it is nothing that either is particularly proud of. There -- I'm done. Thank you. (standing by to be flamed by lovers of Pogues cover songs )

Well on all the Pogues albums they recorded afew covers.
Which i liked and loved like all of us.So yeah its a good idea for them to cover someones else's tune.But the band can all right songs and great ones with that.So they should just bring out a new Pogues albums with their own stuff,with the hint of afew classics in there.

Anonymous wrote:Forget the covers! There's too much talent in the band for that. A dozen originals! They could do it in their sleep if they chose.

Exactly.

Celtic.Dave wrote:Well on all the Pogues albums they recorded afew covers.
Which i liked and loved like all of us.So yeah its a good idea for them to cover someones else's tune.But the band can all right songs and great ones with that.So they should just bring out a new Pogues albums with their own stuff,with the hint of afew classics in there.

Yea... don't get me wrong. The covers on their albums are great Pogues versions of traditional Irish/folk songs. I love that. But not a whole album of that.

Eric V,

Am not the one askin for a whole album of cover songs.Just it would be good if they put one or two in there.Cause they have done so well with the other cover songs they did.
And my guess is,if and when they start to record a new album there will be afew new covers on there.

Peace. I agree with you. I'm just spewing and you happened to be the last post. Just the suggestions I am reading about the guys doing a cover album makes me think that there are people out there who are actually interested in the Pogues doing a few Stones songs, maybe a Deep Purple cover, something from Mariah Carey, etc... Doesn't sit well with me. But yes, I agree that a few really good covers would not be inappropriate.... and I'll even concede that they don't all have to be Irish folk songs, either. Just good music, and not "sell-out schlock." And I'm not going to concern myself with the idea any more because I can't see em selling out on anything ...except live shows.

Eric V wrote:No, I did not say I don't want a new album. I said no "cover album." They are better than that. A cover album would be a bit pathetic at this stage. There is enough skill and talent in this band to write their own material. I've read/heard that at the end of Shane's days with the band long ago, they were playing cover tunes in concerts at least in part due to the state of Shane (and possibly others), and in retrospect many would probably agree that it was horrible waste of tallent. I'm not offering that up to start yet another "why can't Shane pull it together?" discussion, rather I would like to just point out that this sort of thing did happen before.... band plays covers because it is expedient... crowd loves it because it is the Pogues.... and later it is nothing that either is particularly proud of. There -- I'm done. Thank you. (standing by to be flamed by lovers of Pogues cover songs )

I also don't think that a covers-only album would be a good idea but I am sure we wouldn't get such an album.
However, I don't see what Shane's state has got to do with their choice of playing covers? Are you trying to suggest that they played cover songs because Shane wasn't able to do his own songs justice?
Oh and I really like the Pogues versions of Darklands and Maggie May.

In If I should Fall from Grace With God, the DVD documentary, Nick Cave is interviewed and they are discussing the unravelling of the Pogues. He refers to Shane's (and I said "others" above because it possibly wasn't just Shane) condition and how several shows degenerated into (I think)Rolling Stones covers, etc... I believe Shane was aware of teh final product, so lets not discuss Mr. Cave's accuracy... If Shane wanted it cut, I'm sure it would have been.

From that and other readings I gathered that at some point as Shane was on the way out, the Pogues played crowd pleasers to get through the tour.
True or not, I think they are an immensely talented bunch of guys and at least in my mind they collectively are on that top shelf of bands. I would much rather hear them express themselves, good or bad, and not play an album full of Best of the 70s and 80s, and 90s.

So shoot me! Everyone has their own opinion. Some may not back me here, but there it is.

celticjunk wrote:I would love to hear them do Hot Asphalt, Finnegans Wake, Strange Fruit, My Way, Like a Virgin, Knowing Me Knowing You, When I'm Up I Can't get Down, Oxford Girl, Batsheeba Smiles, Teddy Bear, Folsom Prison Blues and so on .............
That would be cool

... and by the way, the above selection is what set me off from the start. I don't think I got past Like a Virgin. Maybe others have some favorites they would like to hear. Lord knows Cash resonates with me, and Folsom Prison Blues is what got me hooked. And yeah, I can hear Shane singing it.

Anyone ever considered this: they do an album and it sucks

I sure it wouldn't but hey they're living legends now and no-one is going to take that away from them: new album or the great old songs everyone loves so much

Mick Molloy wrote:Anyone ever considered this: they do an album and it sucks

I sure it wouldn't but hey they're living legends now and no-one is going to take that away from them: new album or the great old songs everyone loves so much

The suggestion before was that they put out a quick one of covers. They wouldn't do it, but I just thought the idea floating around on their web site deserved some healthy debate rather than just floating on.

Hey, I have a giant inflated snowman in my front yard... some in my neighborhood might think its an eyesore. Fuck em. Its there!

Eric V wrote:

celticjunk wrote:I would love to hear them do Hot Asphalt, Finnegans Wake, Strange Fruit, My Way, Like a Virgin, Knowing Me Knowing You, When I'm Up I Can't get Down, Oxford Girl, Batsheeba Smiles, Teddy Bear, Folsom Prison Blues and so on .............
That would be cool

... and by the way, the above selection is what set me off from the start. I don't think I got past Like a Virgin. Maybe others have some favorites they would like to hear. Lord knows Cash resonates with me, and Folsom Prison Blues is what got me hooked. And yeah, I can hear Shane singing it.

You take all this too seriously and
You probably don't understand that the Pogues have always been a band where you can play whatever music you want to play.
They have been playing Jazz, Reggae, Ska, Rock, Worldmusic and so on
They have always felt this freedom in their music and if the boys want to record an album of songs they like and songs they think they can do a real good recording of I think they should do that
About musical freedom
I can say that one of the best Jazztrios today sometimes play ABBA's Knowing Me Knowing You at their concerts http://www.thebadplus.com

Eric V wrote:

Mick Molloy wrote:Anyone ever considered this: they do an album and it sucks

I sure it wouldn't but hey they're living legends now and no-one is going to take that away from them: new album or the great old songs everyone loves so much

The suggestion before was that they put out a quick one of covers. They wouldn't do it, but I just thought the idea floating around on their web site deserved some healthy debate rather than just floating on.

Hey, I have a giant inflated snowman in my front yard... some in my neighborhood might think its an eyesore. Fuck em. Its there!

I have never suggested that the Pogues "put out a quick one of covers" that's your word.
It's all in their hands what they want to do and my idea with the recording of their favourite music and do the "Mother of all Coveralbums" could be a really fantastic record.
A suggestion in the future read carefully the messages before you answer them

They could do a Pogues unplugged album.Thousands , Old Main Drag etc....