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Classic Albums - If I Should Fall From Grace With God

© Stephen William Gray

The fourth essential album that every self-respecting folkie should have is the Pogues' "If I Should Fall From Grace With God". This was the Pogues' third album, and on it they began to explore other musical fields without leaving behind their established Celtic folk sound.

The title track gives us a typical Pogues song - full ensemble, riff-based with accordian and banjo to the fore. It was inspired by MacGowan's visit to the Andalucian desert, where the locals fought a long war to keep usurpers out.

No punches pulled, either, on the second track "Turkish Song of the Damned" - a half-spoken story song, using appropriate eastern scales, with a catchy chorus you weren't expecting. Signs of a future change in direction from their earlier folk-based hits.... but what's this?...the exit is a straight diddley-diddley jig.

Like most Pogues songs "Bottle of Smoke" comes in at a gallop. This is a rough-hewn gem about having a flutter on the horses. Our hero "Bottle of Smoke" comes in at 25 to 1 and the drinks are duely bought.

Then a complete change in tempo and in sentiment. The now-familiar piano intro to "Fairytale of New York", their Christmas classic. You can listen to this over and over and it still sounds fresh. The feisty duet between MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl powers the bitter-sweet lyrics. "I could have been someone...then so could anyone".

"Metropolis" is one of a series of recognisably Pogues' instrumentals. Is it Irish? Is it the score for a spaghetti western? A strange hybrid. Fast-forward to "Thousands are Sailing", Phil Chevron's powerful emigration song. "Post cards we're mailing of sky blue skies and oceans, from rooms the daylight never sees, where lights don't glow on Christmas Trees". A simple backing arrangement lets Shane's vocal shine through - not something that can be said about all Pogues' songs, where the listener usually has to pay close attention to catch the poetry.

On side two (if you are listening on vinyl) is "Fiesta" - to me one of the highlights of the Pogues' canon. I can't listen to it without recalling the hilarious promotional video, directed by Ade Edmundsen of the BBC comedy "the Young Ones. The brass playing is tremendous and melds well with the accordions and mandolins. And the words are such tongue-in-cheek nonsense which perfectly complement the feel. How did Cait O'Riodan get into those Spanish lyrics? And who but MacGowan could rhyme accordione with macaroni and successfully get away with it?