Entertainment

Jumpin’ Jack Sparrow

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In 2008, Pogues vocalist Shane MacGowan sang a sailor’s song from the 1800s called “Leaving of Liverpool” at a show in Dublin, with Lou Reed on guitar. MacGowan’s enthusiasm — probably fueled by a pint or six — got the best of him, and as he twirled his microphone Roger Daltrey-style, he just missed smashing Reed in the head.

“Lou’s been doing tai chi for decades,” says music producer Hal Willner, who assembled that show in tribute to his star-studded 2006 album, “Rogues Gallery.”

“He ducked, and did one of those Bruce Lee moves of his — he’s incredible that way,” Willner says. “Anyone else would have . . . I can’t imagine. [It would’ve been:] ‘Rock and roll animal killed by leader of the Pogues with a flying microphone.’ ”

On Tuesday, the delightfully eclectic follow-up, “Son of Rogues Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs Chanteys,” could inspire incidents even more rambunctious, as it features dream collaborations such as Tom Waits with Keith Richards and Patti Smith with Johnny Depp, as well as contributions from Iggy Pop, Sean Lennon and Marianne Faithfull.

While the collaborators weren’t always together in the studio, the recordings led to some memorable moments, such as Richards’ joy at finding just the right part to accompany Waits’ stirring growl on “Shenandoah.”

“Keith didn’t just come and play. He had to get into the soul of it,” says Willner. “He went through it five or six times, and then he just tuned in — did a beautiful solo, then sang along.”

Willner said he knew Richards had found the right riff when he flashed “that smile. There was that lightning bolt. It wasn’t just that he played it beautifully. It was that he played it beautifully as only Keith can. He’s one of those guys that when he plays two notes, you know who it is.”

Another pleasant surprise came from MacGowan.

“Shane has his own way,” says Willner. “He comes in, looks around, knocks a few back, and tries to explain it to the band. You go, ‘Is he gonna get it together?’ Then, he goes into the vocal booth and nails it on the first take, and you see that face — that Peter Lorre, mad-love smile.”

But if there’s a real shock on this record, it’s the guitar playing of executive producer Depp, who came up with the idea (along with director Gore Verbinski) while filming “Pirates of the Caribbean.” He nails solid solos on “Leaving of Liverpool” with MacGowan and “The Mermaid” with Patti Smith.

“He’s got his Keith [Richards] stuff down. You could definitely hear his influences,” says Willner. “He’s totally professional, and he listens to this kind of music a lot.”

A related show is planned for England, but there’s no word on whether we’ll see a larger tour, or another record. Willner says it all depends on whether the album-buying, concert-going public shows as much love for this music as the artists involved.

“It depends on you guys,” he says. “[For me], there’s nothing like putting these happenings together. It’s happy music. It makes people feel good.”