Rum Sodomy & The Lash (1LP)

Combining the spirit of Punk with traditional Irish Folk music, The Pogues were one of the most radical bands of the 1980’s. Their instantly recognizable and politically tinged music helped them achieve 5 consecutive top 20 albums in the UK as well as producing the hit single ‘Fairytale of New York’ which is widely regarded as the greatest Christmas song of all time.

Produced by Elvis Costello, The Pogues’ sophomore release, 1985’s Rum, Sodomy & The Lash, brought the band’s talents into sharp relief with 12 tracks. The album’s title is adapted from a Winston Churchill quote, “don’t talk to me about naval tradition. It’s nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash.” Featuring new guitarist Philip Chevron, the album included some of the band’s best work — “A Pair Of Brown Eyes,” “Navigator,” and the righteous anger of “The Sick Bed Of Cuchulainn.” The iconic artwork sees The Pogues members replacing their faces on top of the men on the raft in the famous The Raft of the Medusa painting by Peter Mennim.