The Pogues - Rum Sodomy & The Lash (40th Anniversary Edition) (2025)

Prepare to raise a glass and stomp your feet as The Pogues' seminal album, 'Rum Sodomy & The Lash,' celebrates its 40th anniversary. Originally released on August 5th 1985, the album captured the raw energy and poetic lyricism that defined The Pogues, solidifying their place as one of the most influential bands of their generation.Today (August 5th) marks the 40th anniversary of that original release date.

This 40th anniversary reissue will come in a collectible 2LP red marble vinyl edition and a Deluxe 2CD set, both offering the original album plus a bonus disc that brings together the legendary Poguetry In Motion EP, with tracks from the July 1985 BBC Janice Long session, plus original single B sides. The bonus disc is completed by rare live versions of A Pair Of Brown Eyes and Sally MacLennane recorded at Glasgow Barrowlands in 1987 and a rough mix of Poguetry In Motion outtake, the band' s version of The Lovin’ Spoonfuls Do You Believe In Magic, all currently unavailable.

Produced by Elvis Costello, Rum Sodomy & the Lash was the second studio album by the London-based, Irish folk punk band. Produced by Elvis Costello, who was originally brought in to work on the singles, but extended his stay to work on the entire album. At the time he said "I saw my task was to capture them in their dilapidated glory before some more professional producer fucked them up."[ Tthe album was released on 5 August 1985 and reached number 13 on the UK charts. It features the singles A Pair Of Brown Eyes, Sally MacLennane and Dirty Old Town.