SHANE MACGOWAN

I've done a couple of posts on the legendary Pogues in the past. Most of those files have been removed, due to their inclusion (in far better quality) on the recent box set.(buy!)

Most out there already know that Pogues front man Shane MacGowan parted ways with them back in the nineties, and launched a solo career. While his output post-Pogues didn't match their output in their heyday, it certainly had it's moments.

A few years back, his label issued a collection of album tracks and b-sides. Not a bad collection, but they didn't catch all the rare oul' stuff. Here's some more:

(files expired)

Shane MacGowan and The Popes - "A Man Called Horse" B-side of the "Lonesome Highway" single.
Shane MacGowan with the Cafe Orchestra - "An Irish Airman Forsees His Death" (W.B. Yeats) Taken from the Yeats tribute album, Now and In Time To Be.
Shane MacGowan and The Popes - "The Hippy Hippy Shake" (Chan Romero cover) From the Christmas Party EP.
The Jesus and Mary Chain with Shane MacGowan - "God Help Me" From TJ&MC's album Stoned and Dethroned.
Shane MacGowan and The Popes - "She Moved Through the Fair" (traditional) This one has been done by pretty much every Irish band ever. Shane's version is from the "Rock and Roll Paddy" single.
Shane MacGowan with Nick Cave - "Lucy" (Nick Cave cover) From Shane and Nick's "What a Wonderful World" single.
Shane MacGowan - "My Way" (Frank Sinatra cover) Recorded for a commercial, and issued as a single, but never put on any of his albums.
Shane MacGowan and The Popes - "King of the Bop" B-side of the "Church of the Holy Spook" single.

Shane MacGowan's post-Pogues discography:

The Snake, 1995
The Crock of Gold, 1997
The Rare Oul' Stuff, 2002 (buy) (best of and rare)

Of course, Shane has in recent years re-united with his Pogue mates, and all is again right with the world. For the love of everything that is good, if you don't already own it, buy The Pogues box set!

THE BOLSHOI (#2)

I posted on British "goth" band The Bolshoi once before. That was quite a little while ago, but I've noticed my page has gotten many hits from folks searching for their music. I figured I'd put a bit more up for their fans.

Several of their singles were issued in limited edition packages under the title Give It Some... Each of these limited versions contained two live tracks recorded at London's Town and Country.

Here's the lot of them. Each volume is presented in reverse order due to "AWay" being introduced as "the last song":

(files expired)

The Bolshoi - "Modern Man" (live) Give It Some. . . Volume 3
The Bolshoi - "Looking For a Life to Lose" (live) Give It Some. . . Volume 3
The Bolshoi - "Family Farm" (live) Give It Some. . . Volume 2
The Bolshoi - "Pardon Me" (live) Give It Some. . . Volume 2
The Bolshoi - "AWay" (live) Give It Some. . . Volume 1
The Bolshoi - "Billy Jean" (live Michael Jackson cover) Give It Some. . . Volume 1
"Family Farm" and "Billie Jean" were only available on these singles. Original versions of all others are on Friends.
. . .and a bonus b-side: The Bolshoi - "MFP" After hearing this you might wonder how a band with such a sence of humor could be lumped in with "goth" music. Taken from the "Sunday Morning" single.

The Bolshoi discography:

Giants, 1985 (ep) (buy expanded import)
Friends, 1986
Lindy's Party, 1987

Also, for those interested, I have re-upped the Peter Gabriel files by request. Get 'em here.

SCREAMING BLUE MESSIAHS

Best known here in The States for their novelty hit "I Wanna Be a Flintstone", the Screaming Blue Messiahs were lead by one Bill Carter. They came out of England in the mid-eighties, and released 3 fantastic albums before breaking up.

I had avoided listening to them when I first heard of them back in the day, largely due to the novelty of said hit. That changed a couple years later, when I heard "Four Engines Burning" off Totally Religious. The guitar hook had me.

I picked up the album, and have been a fan ever since.

They don't have a whole lot of rarities I've come across. A few b-sides, and several tracks on their debut EP that were never put on a full length. That's about it. No unusual soundtrack work or collaborations that I know of.

Here's the little bit I have. This should tide you over while I go about one more busier-than-I-should-be week at work, before I finally get a breather.

(files expired)

Screaming Blue Messiahs - "The Power Glide" B-side of "Smash the Market Place" single.
Screaming Blue Messiahs - "Jerry's Electric Church" B-side of "I Wanna Be a Flintstone"
Screaming Blue Messiahs - "I Want Up" From the debut EP, Good and Gone.
Screaming Blue Messiahs - "Tracking the Dog" From the Good and Gone EP.
Screaming Blue Messiahs - "Good and Gone" Also from the Good and Gone EP.

Screaming Blue Messiahs discography:

Good and Gone, 1984 (EP)
Gun-Shy, 1986
Bikini Red, 1987
Totally Religious, 1989

It appears that all of their albums are out-of-print, but they are about to release a collection of recordings made for the Beeb. Pre-order Live at the BBC here.

BOB MOULD

Another quick one this week. Work's going to keep me mighty busy for the next few weeks, so I'm trying to get a few short posts in when I have a few minutes.

Bob Mould has been performing in various guises since the late 1970s. Starting out in the punk band Hüsker Dü, they released a barrage of critically acclaimed albums, and became one of the first "alternative" bands signed to a major label.

After a decade of recording and touring, the band broke up. Bob took some time to find a new voice and returned a few years later with his first solo album, Workbook. The introspective moody songs on Workbook were a big change from the full-on guitar brash of his previous band, and that turned some of the old fans off. Many others, though (myself included), consider it one of his best works.

After a couple of solo albums, he formed a new band. Calling themselves Sugar, they made quite a bit of a splash in the college-rock scene of the 90s. Sugar lasted a few years, and then it was time to move on again.

Since those days, Bob has again been recording as a solo artist, trying out new styles along the way. Occasionally recording under other monikers (LoudBomb), and touring both solo, and with bands.

Here's just a few things that aren't on his albums. Listen, then go buy the albums.

(all files expired)

From the "Egoverride" single:
Bob Mould - "Wanted Was"
Bob Mould - "Eternally Fried"
Bob Mould - "Doubleface"

From Sugar's "If I Can't Change Your Mind" single:
Sugar - "The Slim" (BBC Session)
Sugar - "If I Can't Change Your Mind" (BBC Session)
Sugar - "Where Diamonds Are Halos" (BBC Session)
Recorded at BBC Studio 4, London. First aired August 24, 1992.

Bob Mould solo discography:

Workbook, 1989 (buy)
Black Sheets of Rain, 1990 (buy)
Bob Mould, 1996 (buy)
The Last Dog and Pony Show, 1998 (buy)
Modulate, 2002
Body of Song, 2005 (buy)
District Line, 2008 (buy)

If you've never heard Bob's stuff, try out "If I Can't Change Your Mind", then pick up Workbook, or Sugar's Copper Blue(buy). You won't be disappointed.