Poguetry in Motion

Poguetry in Motion is an EP by The Pogues and their first single to make the UK Top 40. It peaked at Number 29. It features the songs "London Girl", "Rainy Night in Soho", "The Body of an American" and "Planxty Noel Hill".

"Planxty Noel Hill" refers to Noel Hill, a renowned traditional Irish musician who, at the time of the release of the band's second album, Rum Sodomy and the Lash, claimed that the Pogues were disrespecting the whole Irish music tradition. Planxty has come to mean something akin to "cheers", though its use in the song's title is insincere. On the first Pogues tour of Ireland, some members of the band participated along with Hill in a panel discussion on Irish radio, during the course of which Hill described the music of the Pogues as a "terrible abortion" (the incident is described in and the quote is taken from "The Lost Decade"). The confrontation occurred during the course of a studio debate on RTÉ Radio hosted by BP Fallon.

The EP's tracks were not originally featured on any Pogues album but are included as bonus tracks on the 2004 re-issue of Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash.

The song "Body of an American" was featured on the TV series The Wire during police officer wakes. The Pogues also played this song as their second song on the 1990 St Patrick's Day episode of Saturday Night Live^[2]. A cigarette smoking MacGowan, appearing quite inebriated, finished the song smoking and drinking while sitting on the drum riser during the extended live instrumental outro.

Track listing

All songs written by Shane MacGowan except where noted

1. "London Girl" – 3:06
2. "Rainy Night in Soho" – 5:37
3. "The Body of an American" – 4:50
4. "Planxty Noel Hill" (Jem Finer) – 3:13

References

1. ^ Robert Christgau: CG: The Pogues
2. ^ "Rob Lowe/The Pogues Episode Recap". http://www.tv.com/saturday-night-live/rob-lowe-the-pogues/episode/105593/recap.html.