The song which sees Kirsty MacColl and Shane MacGowan trading insults has the words "faggot" and "slut" edited out to "avoid offence", but after a day of criticism from listeners, the band, and MacColl's mother, the decision is reversed and the original version played in full.
Ewan MacColl | Kirsty MacColl | Kirsty Williams | Kirsty | They Don't Know (Kirsty MacColl song) | Kirsty Young | Kirsty Sword Gusmão | Kirsty Howard | Kirsty Cotton | Kirsty Almeida | Catriona MacColl |
During the 1990s which included contributions from the likes of: Kirsty MacColl, Eddi Reader and Ralph McTell as well as many musicians including ('Rolling Stones' guitarist) Mick Taylor and Sonny Landreth.
The Pogues' most commercially successful song, "Fairytale of New York" from If I Should Fall from Grace with God, was written as a duet for O'Riordan and MacGowan, but the band eventually recorded it with Kirsty MacColl singing the female part.
Also prominent were the ballads "Thousands Are Sailing", "The Broad Majestic Shannon", and the Christmas hit, "Fairytale of New York", a duet with Kirsty MacColl.
Following this, he has worked for performers and groups including Kirsty MacColl, Rachel Sweet, Ratt, Fuzzbox, Riff Regan, Baby Tuckoo, The Edge (the band, not the U2 guitarist), San Diego's Puppies, and Multi-Story.
The album contains both politically charged songs, such as the attack on the school system and unemployment, "To Have and To Have Not," and love songs such as "The Milkman of Human Kindness" and "A New England" (which was later a hit for singer Kirsty MacColl.)
Among other well known musicians he has played with are guitarist John Williams, pianist Robert Mitchell, Jools Holland, Kirsty MacColl, Ibrahim Ferrer and Omara Portuondo.
He later became a record producer, producing albums for artists such as Hanoi Rocks, Dumb Blondes, Lenny Kravitz, The Scientists, Department S, John Martyn, Melanie, Kirsty MacColl, The Cult and Lloyd Cole.
Tracey Ullman's 1983 cover of Kirsty MacColl's "They Don't Know" features tubular bells in a celebratory manner, reminiscent of wedding bells.