Album Review: 20th Century Paddy - The Songs Of Shane MacGowan

What happens when Shane MacGowan’s songs are sung by his friends, admirers and musical descendants? Lovingly compiled by his wife Victoria Mary Clarke, working closely with his sister Siobhán, 20th Century Paddy offers an astonishing demonstration of the breadth, power and beauty of his material.

Clarke’s instruction was simple: “Do what you want. Do it your way.” The results are marvellously varied, with all 36 acts finding their own way into MacGowan’s songbook. Lyra turns ‘Streets Of Sorrow/Birmingham Six’ into a sweeping, cinematic anthem; Primal Scream transplant ‘A Pair Of Brown Eyes’ into the Byrds’ jingle-jangle terrain; and Lisa O’Neill makes ‘Dark Streets Of London’ a haunting vaudeville tune.

Johnny Mac and The Faithful take ‘Fiesta’ onto the football terrace, while Pinch Of Snuff’s brilliantly unruly ‘Donegal Express’ sends The Popes hurtling through a fresh blast of Pogues punk.

Others take the straighter path of affectionate homage, like Bruce Springsteen on ‘A Rainy Night In Soho’, Dropkick Murphys on ‘The Body Of An American’, and Johnny Depp and Imelda May on ‘Haunted’. Hearing these tunes embraced by such different voices prompts renewed appreciation of their emotional reach.

Kingfishr tease out the sadness beneath ‘The Sunnyside Of The Street’, recasting it as plaintive indie folk, and Mundy turns ‘Victoria’ into a banging rocker. Steve Earle’s ‘If I Should Fall From Grace With God’, meanwhile, suggests MacGowan could have thrived as an American folk balladeer. Elsewhere, MacGowan’s contemporaries U2 salute him with a blistering ‘Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah’, while Liam Ó Maonlaí seems possessed by his spirit on ‘The Broad Majestic Shannon’. Similarly, Damien Dempsey’s ‘Sally MacLennane’ is a kindred soul raising a glass. And Tom Waits – who memorably likened The Pogues to sailors on shore leave – joins the crew for ‘Summer In Siam’.

Crucially, the Popes years receive substantial attention. Amble’s ‘The Snake With The Eyes Of Garnet’, Picture This’ ‘Aisling’ and The Murder Capital’s ‘The Song With No Name’ invite a reassessment of work often overshadowed by The Pogues’ catalogue.

Subplots also abound. The Pogues themselves revisit ‘Gabrielle’, MacGowan’s glorious 1979 Nips single. David Keenan brings provincial swagger to ‘The Sick Bed Of Cuchulainn’, and Garron Noone lends ‘White City’ a suitably hungover ache. Bob Geldof channels Shane’s wildness on ‘St. John Of Gods’, Kate Moss takes a minimalist approach to ‘Lonesome Highway’, and the late Glen Hansard’s infectious energy electrifies ‘Bottle Of Smoke’.

Among the most affecting contributions is ‘London You’re A Lady’ with Shane’s last band, Cronin, marvellously channelling the grandeur of Peadar Ó Riada’s original string arrangement, before MacGowan’s unmistakable sampled voice enters. The musicians’ personal history with the man gives the stellar performance an additional emotional charge.

Camille O’Sullivan majestically closes with ‘You’re The One’, originally sung by MacGowan & Moya Brennan. With 50% of artist royalties going to the Dublin Simon Community, there’s every reason to pick up a copy – or two.

9/10