Shout! Factory to Kick Off 2013 with New Pogues Compilation

This season has been as good a time as any to look someone in the eye and say “POGUE MAHONE!” Legendary Irish-British rockers The Pogues have celebrated the 25th anniversary of their most endearing single, the unorthodox Christmas tune “Fairytale of New York” (featuring a notable guest vocal from Kirsty MacColl) with a special physical and digital reissue earlier this month (undoubtedly gunning for the coveted Christmas No. 1 single slot, having peaked at No. 2 in its original release year and placing strongly within the U.K. Top 20 since 2005). And on January 22, Shout! Factory will release a brand-new career-spanning compilation for the group.

Formed not in Ireland but King’s Cross, London, and comprised of English and Irish musicians (lead singer Shane McGowan chief among the latter camp), The Pogues’ intriguing blend of punk rhythms with traditional Celtic arrangements earned them a wide following in Europe. An opening slot for The Clash during their last major live performances led to a deal with Stiff Records; onetime Stiff artist Elvis Costello produced their breakthrough sophomore album, 1985’s Rum Sodomy and the Lash and would later marry the band’s departing bassist, Cait O’Reardon.

Following Stiff’s bankruptcy, the band signed to Island and enjoyed their greatest commercial success with singles “Fairytale of New York” and “Irish Rover” and 1988’s If I Should Fall from Grace with God. But a seeming inconsistency to capitalize on their own successes, combined with the increasing unreliability of MacGowan – battling alcoholism, he was fired from the group in 1991 and replaced first by The Clash’s Joe Strummer and then band member Spider Stacy – sank The Pogues’ fortunes almost as soon as they began. The band broke up in 1996, but reunited with MacGowan in 2001 for a tour of England; today, the band continues to perform live (with no intentions to record new music), splitting their time between the U.S. around St. Patrick’s Day and the U.K. around Christmas. (A 30th anniversary show will commence at London’s O2 on December 20.)

The 18-track compilation features tracks from every Pogues LP, as well as an eight-page booklet featuring new liner notes by Spider Stacy. Order The Very Best of The Pogues at Amazon U.S. and Amazon U.K., and check out the full track list after the jump.

The Very Best of The Pogues (Shout! Factory, 2013)

1. Dirty Old Town
2. The Sunny Side of the Street
3. If I Should Fall from Grace with God
4. The Irish Rover (with The Dubliners)
5. Rain Street
6. A Pair of Brown Eyes
7. Boys from the County Hell
8. Fairytale of New York
9. Body of an American
10. Thousands Are Sailing
11. Sally MacLennane
12. Misty Morning, Albert Bridge
13. Tuesday Morning
14. Rainy Night in Soho
15. Streams of Whiskey
16. The Sickbed of Cuchulainn
17. Young Ned of the Hill
18. Love You ‘Til the End

Tracks 1, 6, 11 and 16 from Rum Sodomy and the Lash (Stiff, 1985)
Tracks 2 and 5 from Hell’s Ditch (Island, 1990)
Tracks 3, 8 and 10 from If I Should Fall from Grace with God (Pogue Mahone, 1988)
Track 4 from non-LP single – Stiff BUY 258, 1987
Tracks 7 and 15 from Red Roses for Me (Stiff, 1984)
Tracks 9 and 14 from Poguetry in Motion (Stiff, 1986)
Tracks 12 and 17 from Peace and Love (Island, 1989)
Track 13 from Waiting for Herb (WEA, 1993)
Track 18 from Pogue Mahone (WEA, 1995)