Red Roses for Me

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Red Roses for Me
Studio album by The Pogues
Released	1984
Genre	Punk rock, Celtic rock
Length	40:12
Label	WEA International
Producer	Stan Brennan
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Robert Christgau (B+) link
The Pogues chronology
Red Roses for Me (1984) Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash (1985)

Red Roses for Me was the first full length album by the London-based band The Pogues and was released in 1984. Its filled with traditional Irish music performed with punk influences. Traditional songs and ballads mixed with Shane MacGowan's "gutter hymns" about drinking, fighting and sex was innovative at the time. Or as lead singer MacGowan explained the music: "I couldn't believe that nobody else were doing it, so we went on doing it ourselves..." The title "Red Roses for Me" is the name of a play by Sean O'Casey, though his works do not show any direct influence upon the band. O'Casey's song of the same name has been recorded by The Dubliners. The album reached number 89 in the UK album charts.

The front of the album sees the band with the exception of drummer of Andrew Rankin (pictured in inset) sitting in front of a picture of United States president John F Kennedy. The back features Shane MacGowan pictured with his foot in a cast. Accordion player, James Fearnley, has a bottle sticking out of his coat, while bass player Cait O'Riordan is seen holding a can of beer.

[edit] Track listing

The original UK LP has the following track listing

1. "Transmetropolitan" (MacGowan) - 4:15
2. "The Battle of Brisbane" (MacGowan) - 1:49
3. "The Auld Triangle" (Brendan Behan) - 4:20
4. "Waxie's Dargle" (Traditional) - 1:53
5. "Boys from the County Hell" (MacGowan) - 2:56
6. "Sea Shanty" (MacGowan) - 2:24
7. "Dark Streets of London" (MacGowan) - 3:33
8. "Streams of Whiskey" (MacGowan) - 2:32
9. "Poor Paddy" (Traditional) - 3:09
10. "Dingle Regatta" (Traditional) - 2:52
11. "Greenland Whale Fisheries" (Traditional) - 2:36
12. "Down in the Ground Where the Dead Men Go" (MacGowan) - 3:30
13. "Kitty" (Traditional) - 4:23

[edit] Bonus Tracks

The first CD issue of the album had a total of 14 tracks, adding "Whiskey You're the Devil" as track 8. In 2004 a remastered CD was issued adding a total of 6 bonus tracks to the original UK album listing. "Repeal of the Licensing Laws" was the B-side of their second single. "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" was the B-side of their first single. "Whiskey You're The Devil" was the B-side of their third single. "The Wild Rover" was the B-side of their fourth single.

1. "The Leaving of Liverpool" (Traditional)
2. "Muirshin Durkin" (Traditional)
3. "Repeal of the Licensing Laws" (instrumental) (Stacey)
4. "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" (Eric Bogle)
5. "Whiskey You're The Devil" (Traditional)
6. "The Wild Rover" (Traditional)

[edit] Performers

• Shane MacGowan – Vocals/Guitar
• Jem Finer – Banjo
• Spider Stacy – Tin Whistle
• James Fearnley – Accordion
• Cait O'Riordan – Bass Guitar
• Andrew Ranken – Drums
• Phil Chevron – Guitar on Bonus Tracks