Bruce Springsteen Covers “A Rainy Night In Soho” To Launch Shane MacGowan Tribute Album
Bruce Springsteen is leading the tribute to one of songwriting’s great wild hearts. Victoria Mary Clarke and Rubyworks have announced ’20th Century Paddy – The Songs of Shane MacGowan,’ a tribute album honoring the everlasting legacy of the late Pogues frontman, and the first single has arrived: Springsteen’s reimagined version of the classic “A Rainy Night in Soho,” out now on all streaming platforms worldwide.
The title carries deep meaning. Shane MacGowan inspired it himself, as ’20th Century Paddy’ is an album he had always wanted to make. Now it becomes a sonic love letter to a catalogue that shaped generations.
Springsteen spoke about what made MacGowan singular. “Shane was all naked, bottomless humanity. Threatening to force us to ask ourselves if we were living deeply, authentically. He was raw, hilarious, no apologies and profound. His soul was filled with the transgressive and ecstatic properties of the saints.”
The guest list is staggering. The album brings together a wide-ranging mix of icons and contemporary disruptors, each bringing a unique perspective to the songs that defined MacGowan’s career, including Dropkick Murphys, Hozier, Johnny Depp, Kate Moss, Primal Scream, Steve Earle, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Libertines, The Pogues and Tom Waits.
The release carries a charitable heart. Honoring MacGowan’s legacy, 50 percent of the artist’s royalties will be donated to the Dublin Simon Community to provide lifesaving housing and healthcare for those experiencing homelessness. The album arrives November 13th across formats including digital and a limited-edition deluxe bookpack featuring 3 LPs, 2 CDs and a 56-page book of memorabilia and liner notes.
Springsteen’s take on “A Rainy Night in Soho” sets a stirring tone for the whole project, honoring MacGowan’s spirit while making the song his own. The single is out now.