A new tribute album honoring the late Shane MacGowan of the Pogues features contributions from Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, and over two dozen other artists. Titled 20th Century Paddy: The Songs of Shane MacGowan, it is set for release on November 13 via Rubyworks. Springsteen's cover of 'A Rainy Night in Soho' is available now, accompanied by a personal note praising MacGowan's profound influence.
The tribute album 20th Century Paddy: The Songs of Shane MacGowan celebrates the legacy of Shane MacGowan, who died on November 30, 2023, at age 65. As frontman of the Pogues, MacGowan was known for his cranky, tongue-in-cheek delivery of songs about Ireland's misadventures, including the band's biggest U.S. single, 'Fairy Tale of New York.' The album draws its name from a project MacGowan always wanted to pursue, according to his wife, Victoria Mary Clarke.
Bruce Springsteen contributes a cover of the Pogues' 1986 classic 'A Rainy Night in Soho,' now available via digital outlets. In a personal note, Springsteen reflects on MacGowan's artistry: "His soul was filled with the transgressive and ecstatic properties of the saints." He adds, "I don’t know who’ll be listening to my music in 100 years, but I know they’ll be listening to Shane’s." Springsteen describes MacGowan as "raw, hilarious, no apologies and profound," and recounts a warm afternoon spent with him and his wife shortly before his death.
Tom Waits provides a cover, marking his first new studio recording in eight years. Other participants include the Pogues themselves with a modern rendition, the Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream, Steve Earle, Dropkick Murphys, Glen Hansard, Hozier and Jessie Buckley, Johnny Depp and Imelda May, Kate Moss, Lisa O'Neill, the Libertines, and more. A full tracklist and additional artists will be announced soon.
The album will be released as a two-CD or three-LP set, or a deluxe bookpack edition with memorabilia and liner notes. Preorders are available now, with a portion of artist royalties benefiting the Dublin Simon Community for homelessness support.
The Pogues have faced losses in recent years, including bassist Darryl Hunt and drummer Andrew 'The Clobberer' Ranken.
