The "Battle March Medley" was a tune written by Terry Woods from probably the Pogues finest long player, "If I Should Fall From Grace With God." The Pogues hit their stride on this release, broadening their sound from their Irish/Punk roots to now incorporate other influences. Strains of Jazz and Folk with a leavening of exotic middle eastern strains were added to the mix.
The album also featured their most well known ("Stateside" anyway) tune, the Christmas classic "Fairy Tale of New York" which featured a duet between Shane MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl. When released as a single, "Battle March Medley" was the B-Side, at least in the UK.
I had the privilege on seeing the Pogues earlier this year at the Royal Oak Music Theater on what is claimed to be there "Farewell" Tour. Though, by this point, only the Who have had more farewells then the Pogues. If this is to be the last time then indeed they went out with a bang. A more rough, raucous and high energy show has seldom graced these here parts, with the band and audience feeding off each other and sending us off, sweat and beer drenched into the cold spring night. All the Pogues favorites received a turn on the ROMT stage with few twists and turns in their catalog left unexplored.
I have included here the "Battle March Medley" from "IISFFGWG" and the demo for said tune from the excellent 5 disc box, "Just Look Them Straight In The Eye And Tell Them....Poguemahone!" an appropriate title for the "Guiness flavored spit-in-the-eye" that was the Pogues.
I have also thrown in "Fairy Tale of New York" if you somehow didn't hear it this holiday season, or if your brain cells have been fried and you are somehow unable to conjure up this tune in your memory.
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