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A confused fan at Medusa fora: What the fuck is that all about?!?!
Philip C.: I just have nothing to say on the matter. It is what it is.
A still confused fan: What was it recorded for? Was this intended to be put on a album? A single? Soundtrack?
Philip C.: A single, yes, that's it. We wanted it to be the follow up to "Fairytale of New York" but alas, the record company thought otherwise and released "If I Should Fall From Grace With God" instead...
In fact, the answer regarding the origins of the song is simple enough. Some powerful intoxicating stuff... an offended roadie... an unexpected outcome...
They were taking drugs, they were totally out of it and didn’t notice the mics were turned on during the orgy. A naughty roadie:
- brought drugs
- turned the mics on
- was going to blackmail them.
Why such naughtiness? Well, because they discovered he had drugs and just expropriated them... all of them. That’s what made the roadie mischieviously turn the mics on. He recorded their orgy to be able to show them what fools they make of themselves under influence. And listening to the session he decided he could even blackmail them with the record and maybe not only break their habit to take someone’s drugs but gain some money too. He was dreaming about bright prospects, relaxed his vigilance and when he was back to reality they were listening to the track, totally excited. They loved it so much that they decided to release it as a single.
They sent the recording to their company and demanded it was released as a follow-up to the hugely successful Fairytale of New York. Hoping to finally beat the Pet Shop Boys. A mighty blow... a cruel revenge... "The Pogues strike back". However, the people in the record company were secret fans of Pet Shop Boys – and poseurs, who lacked the essence and guts to release such a unique track. So they chose If I Should Fall From Grace With God instead, a good but toothless, powerless track, which can’t offend. The Pogues were heartbroken... and found some consolation in further robbing of the poor roadie.
They refused to release the Aria just as a B-side or an album track, hoping that a good moment for the mighty weapon of revenge will yet come. At the same time, they made up the story about Broad Majestic Shannon having been refused by the record company as a follow-up to Fairytale of New York. They burned with the desire to blame the company at least for something – but at the same time they were going to continue working with the company and didn’t want to compromise it publicly too much. That is why they chose Broad Majestic Shannon as the allegedly refused song – it sounds very similar to Fairytale of New York, so releasing it as follow-up would seem kinda strange. Therefore the record company was not disgraced by being accused of rejecting such a song. But at the same time the Pogues could grumble about being oppressed. It was a compromise to give everybody some satisfaction but not break successful business relationships.
With the box set, the time for Aria has finally come... Actually, the irresistible desire to finally let the track shine in all its brilliance and be admired by the whole wide world was the main reason for compiling the whole box set...
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