The Men They Couldn't Hang - Ironmasters 12"

I'm sure most people know all about this classic single, but if you don't then your in for a real treat. Around the time that "The Pogues" blended Irish Folk Music with Punk there was another band "The Men They Couldn't Hang" (TMTCH) who were doing the rounds. in my opinion they deserved the fame and recognition that the Pogues achieved, but as often is, it didn't quite happen. For me some of their songs surpassed anything the Pogues did (even though I loved the Pogues, and still do), and "Ironmasters" is one of those songs.

"Ironmasters" starts of like a gentle folk song and then builds up, getting louder and faster, until it fully bursts into life. Listen to it and see what you think, for me this is one of my all time favourite singles. On the b-side you get two great covers "Donald Where's Your Troosers" and the brilliant "Rawhide" which lots of bands seemed to cover in the mid eighties.

TMTCH were outstanding live, although I'm sure for some of you who saw them can remember how rough some of their gigs were, it was unusual if there wasn't at least one fight, which I think was mainly down to the speed and energy of many of their songs. They were regulars at the Mean Fiddler and the Sir George Robey and did have a fair size following, but clearly not big enough to break into the big time.

I was playing their excellent debut album "Night Of A Thousand Candles" (link to buy below) and whilst listening to one of their fastest stage favourites "Walkin Talkin" and for the first time noticed its similarity (although its about 10 times faster) to Johnny Cash's "The Wreck Of Old 97", anyone agree? leave a comment.

Band: The Men They Couldn't Hang
Label: Imp Records:
Year: 1985
Tracks:
1. Ironmasters
2. Donald Where's Your Troosers
3. Rawhide

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl

If you like this then your in luck, there are two albums worth getting, the first is their best and debut album: (if you want these tracks plus their other single "Greenback Dollar) you will have to buy this on iTunes)

Night of a Thousand Candles by Men They Couldn't Hang
Their second album "How Green Is The Valley" is worth buying just for their single "Shirt Of Blue" although this is a collectors version in CD or vinyl, so it cheaper to buy this on iTunes.

How Green Is The Valley by The Men They Couldn't Hang

The Men They Couldn't Hang - Gold Rush 12"

This was their 4th single released on Mercury records, and is in response to a request in the comments from Radomir in Croatia in a previous TMTCH posting.

The comment said the b-side 'Ghosts Of Cable Street' is a different version to the album, and as so often with singles I found all three tracks on this single are. So here they are for you to try.

First up is the a-side 'Gold Rush' which is one minute longer than the album version, made up mainly of an instrumental (for me I prefer the shorter album version). The b-side 'Ghosts of Cable Street' is a political number (as many of TMTCH tracks were) concerning The Battle of Cable Street in 1936 (Check out the link for the history, if your interested). This is the pick of the tracks in my opinion (it's a little faster and 30 seconds longer than the album) and has a little more punch than the album version. Last up is a live favorite from their first album, but again a different version, you have to love any version of this one.

So leave a comment and tell us what you think of these three and if you know the originals, are these an improvement or not.

Band: The Men They Couldn't Hang
Label: Mercury
Year: 1983
Tracks:
1. Gold Rush
2. The Ghosts Of Cable Street
3. Walkin' Talkin'

Ripped from glorious scratched vinyl

If you like this post, it looks like their second classic album, ' How Green Is My Valley' which also includes the alternate version of 'Gold Rush' and 'Ghosts Of Cable Street' is no longer available, so your have to settle for their best album, their debut 'Night Of A Thousand Candles', buy it here:

Night of a Thousand Candles