The album's title is taken from a quotation attributed to Winston Churchill: "Don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy, and the lash."
The title was suggested by drummer Andrew Ranken, who said "it seemed to sum up life in our band". The cover artwork is based on The Raft of the Medusa,
a painting by Théodore Géricault, with the faces of the men on the raft painted by the artist replaced by those of the members of the band by illustrator
Peter Mennim. wikipedia
Peter Mennim. wikipedia
On the image above, the original album cover art design is superimposed over the painting The Raft of the Medusa. The painting can be distinguished from its
different tone on the sides; darker at left and lighter at right. One can tell that the album cover art was lifted not from the centre of the painting but
somewhat to the right. The combined images was converted to monochrome and the framing was added to make an 18" by 10" poster.
This is the painting The Raft of the Medussa by Théodore Géricault.
This is the original album cover art design.
No. 144, The Virgin All-Time Album Top 1000; No. 440, Rolling Stone, The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
A third of Jeff Roesgen’s book documents the making of the album, with input from all of the Pogues except Shane [McGowan] and Cait [O'Riordan]. The other
two-thirds, woven through the narrative, place the band on board The Medusa as she makes her fateful voyage from France to Senegal. It’s a remarkably
effective technique. I’d always thought of this record as a product of the post-punk politics of 1980s England and Ireland – but by placing the band in the
early 19th century with a surrounding cast of soldiers, officers, navvies, as well as profoundly incompetent members of the ruling class, Roesgen highlights the
extraordinary achievement of the Pogues on this album. It’s a glorious celebration of the underdog, of the destitute and the downtrodden. 333sound.com
The Raft of the Medusa, painting by Théodore Géricault; replacements by Peter Mennim.
Album produced by Elvis Costello. Stiff (UK & Europe), MCA (US & Canada), 1985.
(A) The Sick Bed of Cúchulainn - The Old Main Drag - The Wild Cats of Kilkenny - I'm a Man You Don't Meet Every Day - A Pair of Brown Eyes - Sally MacLennane
(B) Dirty Old Town" - Jesse James - Navigator - Billy's Bones - The Gentleman Soldier - And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda
