1985 was a good year for musically for me as it was the year I discovered Tom Waits and his album Rain Dogs but it was also when I first encountered the music of The Pogues.

The album was Rum, Sodomy and the Lash which apparently was taken from a quote from Winston Churchill about the Royal Navy but that is another story.

Immediately I loved the band’s take on mixing Irish music with their take on folk punk. But the focal point was vocalist Shane MacGowan who was latterly regarded as a poet and has sadly died at the age of 65 years old. And many tributes have since been paid.

The album cover of the 1985 album used the artwork of the Raft Of The Medusa with images of the various band members superimposed onto the various figures in the painting.

According to t’internet The Raft of Medusa portrays victims of a shipwreck adrift on the sea without food and water at the moment they signal to a distant ship. The painter chose to represent a dramatic moment of the instant when survivors regain hope of rescue.

Needless to say I loved the barroom bravado of their songs and it was very similar to a few of the other bands I was following at the time.

I remember, at the time, some of my friends were not of the same opinion as me as to the merits of The Pogues’ music they actually started a campaign that the “Pogues are awful” but needless to say I ignored their arguments.

And then 1987 Fairytale of New York hit the charts and the rest is history. Sadly that might have been the time that Shane MacGowan burned out and we will take it as read as it was the start of the end of his participation with the band.

I watched the documentary film by Julien Temple – Crock Of Gold: A Few Rounds With Shane MacGowan – and it was truly sad to see how he had ended up.

But after the announcement of his death I decided to compile my top 10 tracks by The Pogues (and not necessarily with Shane singing the vocals) and it goes without saying that Fairytale would be in there so that is not included:

• Streets of Sorrow/Birmingham Six.

I love this combination of the two tracks and it highlighted the plight of the Birmingham Six which were later released in what was clearly a miscarriage of justice.

• Sally MacLennanne

This is a brilliant pub song and it includes the classic line “Jimmy played Harmonica in the pub where I was born”. Only Shane could have written it.

• I’m A Man You Don’t Meet Every Day

Okay so this is not Shane singing but it is a wonderful rendition by Cait O’Riordan.

• Sick Bed Of Cuchulainn

Possibly the track that hooked me into The Pogues and another barroom rabble rouser.

• A Pair Of Brown Eyes

Another poetic nod to Irish pubs.

• Dirty Old Town

Unfortunately I cannot help but think of my old home town when I hear this track.

• If I could Fall From Grace with God

This was the track that highlighted the band’s progression following Rum, Sodemy and the Lash and..

• Waxies Dargle

Again another Irish drinking song as is the following track.

• Streams of Whiskey
• Dark Streets of London

And this is a love letter to London.

While that is the top 10 it is worth noting that all the tracks are from the first three albums which on reflection are the best. And, like all lists of this type, it is probably subject to change. However, also worthy of mention are:

• Young Ned of the Hill

Again a rabble rousing track and it would be fair to say they do not hold Oliver Cromwell in high regard although Shane did not sing on this track.

• Boat Train

I remember this was one of the tracks as we were slumming it on the ferry to France in 1989 so it was quite appropriate.

• Misty Morning Albert Bridge

Such a lovely track.

• Summer In Siam

And finally a friend reminded me of this track which was possibly Shane’s Swansong with the Pogues as it was his last album with the band.