Rain Street

[Pittman]

Coming out of the instrumental break in the studio recording of Rain Street there's a sound-- could be vocal, but I'm not sure. It's like a "woooo" or "vmmm" kind of sound, and it comes at about 1:44, as the music has built up to high gear for the final verses.

Does anyone know what it is?

I love that little sequence... so powerful and perfectly orchestrated.

[Michaelo]

Coming out of the instrumental break in the studio recording of Rain Street there's a sound-- could be vocal, but I'm not sure. It's like a "woooo" or "vmmm" kind of sound, and it comes at about 1:44, as the music has built up to high gear for the final verses.

Does anyone know what it is?

I love that little sequence... so powerful and perfectly orchestrated.

I've just played the section back a few times. I can hear the sound you're talking about. I can't work out what it is though. That is a weird sound. I'd never really thought about it before. Hopefully Philip can enlighten us.

[dawsonn]

theres also a weird ending to the song sounds a bit like that beatles song where the orchestra is tuning up.

[Pittman]

theres also a weird ending to the song sounds a bit like that beatles song where the orchestra is tuning up.

Yeah, the ending's just like a balls-out build-up to calamity. I think it's cool! It actually makes me wonder, since they didn't play it at the show last week, how they end it live.

[Heather]

theres also a weird ending to the song sounds a bit like that beatles song where the orchestra is tuning up.

Yeah, the ending's just like a balls-out build-up to calamity. I think it's cool! It actually makes me wonder, since they didn't play it at the show last week, how they end it live.

It just all seems to come together as far as I remember.

[philipchevron]

theres also a weird ending to the song sounds a bit like that beatles song where the orchestra is tuning up.

Yeah, the ending's just like a balls-out build-up to calamity. I think it's cool! It actually makes me wonder, since they didn't play it at the show last week, how they end it live.

It is, I think I'm right in saying, on our live album.

[Michaelo]

theres also a weird ending to the song sounds a bit like that beatles song where the orchestra is tuning up.

Yeah, the ending's just like a balls-out build-up to calamity. I think it's cool! It actually makes me wonder, since they didn't play it at the show last week, how they end it live.

I remember at the end Jem plays the banjo using a violin bow!

[Pittman]

I remember at the end Jem plays the banjo using a violin bow!

Nice!

Actually, I think it seems possible that the "wooo" sound may have been something bowed.

By the way, Mr. Chevron, thanks so much for your response re: the ending.
Do you happen to have any insight for us on the "wooo" sound? Understandable if it's not something you can recall off the top of your head.

I find it amazing how esoteric some components of recordings can become, particularly for large, dynamic groups like The Pogues. Seems like they can be pretty hard for musicians to recall sometimes-- especially someone else's parts. The ironic thing is that when a band's in the studio, so much time is often spent discussing those things and perfecting everything. I remember talking to Dave Panting from Rawlins Cross about it once in a workshop, and him trying to recall parts from some of their early-90s, eight or ten-piece band recordings-- stuff he'd obviously spent barrels of time arranging, but had been away from for some time.

[TheBlackDog]

A quite simple question: Where is Rain Street?

Been all over the internet for a suggestion. Some people suggest it might be London... dont know if its because The Strand is mentioned. I would however say that you can walk everywhere in the world, pretending its The Strand... Probably just a matter of imagination and level of intoxication.

/dawg

[philipchevron]

I remember at the end Jem plays the banjo using a violin bow!

Nice!

Actually, I think it seems possible that the "wooo" sound may have been something bowed.

By the way, Mr. Chevron, thanks so much for your response re: the ending.
Do you happen to have any insight for us on the "wooo" sound? Understandable if it's not something you can recall off the top of your head.

I find it amazing how esoteric some components of recordings can become, particularly for large, dynamic groups like The Pogues. Seems like they can be pretty hard for musicians to recall sometimes-- especially someone else's parts. The ironic thing is that when a band's in the studio, so much time is often spent discussing those things and perfecting everything. I remember talking to Dave Panting from Rawlins Cross about it once in a workshop, and him trying to recall parts from some of their early-90s, eight or ten-piece band recordings-- stuff he'd obviously spent barrels of time arranging, but had been away from for some time.

Sorry, can't help with the "wooo" sound, unless you mean the 7" of backwards tape we inserted in the mix. When played the right way round, you can just hear Andrew saying "When do I get to sing "The Aria"?

[NewJerseyRich]

Mr C,
I realise you may not be able to answer this but if you would, a Facebooker asks...

"Can you explain this lyric - 'bless me father I have sinned, I got pissed and I got pinned'.
From Rain Street. Does pinned mean injecting drugs??"

I myself don't know if it's slang for drug use, artistic license, or other. Thank you!

[DzM]

Mr C,
I realise you may not be able to answer this but if you would, a Facebooker asks...

"Can you explain this lyric - 'bless me father I have sinned, I got pissed and I got pinned'.
From Rain Street. Does pinned mean injecting drugs??"

Fran takes a stab (so to speak) at this on his Poguetry.com page:

http://www.poguetry.com/hd.htm

[NewJerseyRich]

Mr C,
I realise you may not be able to answer this but if you would, a Facebooker asks...

"Can you explain this lyric - 'bless me father I have sinned, I got pissed and I got pinned'.
From Rain Street. Does pinned mean injecting drugs??"

Fran takes a stab (so to speak) at this on his Poguetry.com page:

http://www.poguetry.com/hd.htm

Thank you DzM for the assist.

[philipchevron]

Mr C,
I realise you may not be able to answer this but if you would, a Facebooker asks...

"Can you explain this lyric - 'bless me father I have sinned, I got pissed and I got pinned'.
From Rain Street. Does pinned mean injecting drugs??"

I myself don't know if it's slang for drug use, artistic license, or other. Thank you!

I tried to respond to that, but once again, I could not figure out how one responds to a poster on your FB page. There does not appear to be an obvious link, so Harry Christian held his silence.

I think Shane means pinned in the sense of "pinned down", the loathsome psychiatric procedure Shane also covers in the song of that name from the same Hell's Ditch sessions but unreleased until Just Look Them Straight In The Eye.......... I believe it is some sort of electroconvulsive (electric shock)procedure and, though Shane's own experience was certainly traumatic, the procedure does sometimes have positive results, though whether that could ever justify its sheer barbarity is an open question. See also Jack Nicholson.

Which is not to say that Poguetry.com's explanation is wrong either. Like most good writers, Shane's work welcomes ambiguity and layered meaning.

By the way, Rich, poguetry.com and the out of print Poguetry book are not connected in any way.

[NewJerseyRich]

I tried to respond to that, but once again, I could not figure out how one responds to a poster on your FB page. There does not appear to be an obvious link, so Harry Christian held his silence.

I think Shane means pinned in the sense of "pinned down", the loathsome psychiatric procedure Shane also covers in the song of that name from the same Hell's Ditch sessions but unreleased until Just Look Them Straight In The Eye.......... I believe it is some sort of electroconvulsive (electric shock)procedure and, though Shane's own experience was certainly traumatic, the procedure does sometimes have positive results, though whether that could ever justify its sheer barbarity is an open question. See also Jack Nicholson.

Which is not to say that Poguetry.com's explanation is wrong either. Like most good writers, Shane's work welcomes ambiguity and layered meaning.

By the way, Rich, poguetry.com and the out of print Poguetry book are not connected in any way.

Thank you again Mr. C, Hope I can help old HC get on to comment.....if your logged into FB and on the Pogues page there should be links under the Posting Person's question next to the time date stamp saying "Comment. Like. Report." just bonk on the "Comment" link and it should open up a small box for you to make your commentary. We look forward to seeing old Harry Christian again soon. I remember Shanes mention of such shock therapy I believe in "A Drink with...S. M. "
I was going to ask the about the Poguetry site vs. book and made an assumption they were connected. I made the correction on FB and appreciate your as always your insightful replies and comments. Thank you.