Do you know what, I’m not sure he does. I heard an excellent interview a few years ago that I think got recommended on here. It was a series about songwriting, so they were discussing the process of songwriting and discussed his hero, Jimmy Webb, as I think he was to be next on the show. But whenever the hosts complimented Paddy he was genuinely grateful and came across as a pretty humble chap who didn’t realise that he was up there with the Jimmy Webbs of this world. It was a great listen, so worth looking for, what with me having given you so much information to go on!
Had I known it was his birthday I’d have sent him a present of two external hard drives. One he can keep, but the other he can fill with all those unreleased albums and return to me.
This is the podcast – you’re right it is excellent. They have a very AW friendly back catalogue, including Jimmy Webb (^), Mike Scott, Billy Bragg, Chris Difford, Glen Tilbrook, Paul Simon, Ron Sexsmith, Field Music, Neil Hannon, Kevin Godley, Robin Hitchcock, Robbie Robertson, Jason Isbell, Adam Duritz, Sparks, Cat Stevens, Andy Partridge, Neil Innes, and to go full circle Thomas Dolby ( among many, many others) https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/sodajerker-on-songwriting/id479679002?mt=2&i=1000249762261
Thanks! There’s at least half a dozen more I’ll be listening to too, although I’ve a feeling I’ve already listened to the Chris Difford one. As much as I like Squeeze, I actually like Difford’s solo stuff even more. It’s very reminiscent of the great Stephen Duffy.
Thanks gents, will definitely have to check out some of those (after I catch up with my long backlog of Buxton podcasts…)
I concur that he may not realise how much he means to some people – the whole reason it took him years to release a follow-up to Jordan seems to be down to some very mild criticism of what he offered the record company next.
I was in Bradford yesterday on business and I walked past St. Georges Hall (currently being refurbished). The last gig I saw there was Prefab Sprout on October 10th 1990 with my new girlfriend who is now my wife. A great gig promoting Jordan: The Comeback. They were crisp, tight, enigmatic and actually quite sexy…or at least that’s how “I remember that”; it might have been the company. Support was from the Trashcan Sinatras and during ‘Hey Manhattan’ Paddy drolly sang “Just to think the Trashcans sang here too”. How we laughed, how we smiled, how we felt happiness and tentatively found closeness.
So many songs I could pick but I’m going to choose something recent, ‘Mysterious’. It’s the closing on track on their last album ‘Crimson/Red’ released back in 2013 (5 years!). I still believe there’s gold in them thar Paddy McAloon song-writing hills but If it proves to be the last release from the great man it’s a fitting swan song.
His “Portrait of the artist as a consumer” from the NME 1983, alongside labelmate and fellow Durhamite Moooartiin Stephenson. Musical choices very interesting – we gotta live one here…
Moose the Mooche says
This song came into my head just yesterday. (I had six things on my mind…)
…love whatever the cost.
colrow26 says
One of our best songwriters….heres an early classic…
monsignorbonehead says
I have very little interest in meeting my heroes, but I’d love to meet Paddy, just to tell him how great he is (in case he didn’t know.)
Paul Wad says
Do you know what, I’m not sure he does. I heard an excellent interview a few years ago that I think got recommended on here. It was a series about songwriting, so they were discussing the process of songwriting and discussed his hero, Jimmy Webb, as I think he was to be next on the show. But whenever the hosts complimented Paddy he was genuinely grateful and came across as a pretty humble chap who didn’t realise that he was up there with the Jimmy Webbs of this world. It was a great listen, so worth looking for, what with me having given you so much information to go on!
Had I known it was his birthday I’d have sent him a present of two external hard drives. One he can keep, but the other he can fill with all those unreleased albums and return to me.
Lemonhope says
This is the podcast – you’re right it is excellent. They have a very AW friendly back catalogue, including Jimmy Webb (^), Mike Scott, Billy Bragg, Chris Difford, Glen Tilbrook, Paul Simon, Ron Sexsmith, Field Music, Neil Hannon, Kevin Godley, Robin Hitchcock, Robbie Robertson, Jason Isbell, Adam Duritz, Sparks, Cat Stevens, Andy Partridge, Neil Innes, and to go full circle Thomas Dolby ( among many, many others)
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/sodajerker-on-songwriting/id479679002?mt=2&i=1000249762261
Lemonhope says
alternatively try this
https://www.sodajerker.com/podcast/
Paul Wad says
Thanks! There’s at least half a dozen more I’ll be listening to too, although I’ve a feeling I’ve already listened to the Chris Difford one. As much as I like Squeeze, I actually like Difford’s solo stuff even more. It’s very reminiscent of the great Stephen Duffy.
monsignorbonehead says
Thanks gents, will definitely have to check out some of those (after I catch up with my long backlog of Buxton podcasts…)
I concur that he may not realise how much he means to some people – the whole reason it took him years to release a follow-up to Jordan seems to be down to some very mild criticism of what he offered the record company next.
Ahh_Bisto says
I was in Bradford yesterday on business and I walked past St. Georges Hall (currently being refurbished). The last gig I saw there was Prefab Sprout on October 10th 1990 with my new girlfriend who is now my wife. A great gig promoting Jordan: The Comeback. They were crisp, tight, enigmatic and actually quite sexy…or at least that’s how “I remember that”; it might have been the company. Support was from the Trashcan Sinatras and during ‘Hey Manhattan’ Paddy drolly sang “Just to think the Trashcans sang here too”. How we laughed, how we smiled, how we felt happiness and tentatively found closeness.
So many songs I could pick but I’m going to choose something recent, ‘Mysterious’. It’s the closing on track on their last album ‘Crimson/Red’ released back in 2013 (5 years!). I still believe there’s gold in them thar Paddy McAloon song-writing hills but If it proves to be the last release from the great man it’s a fitting swan song.
Moose the Mooche says
His “Portrait of the artist as a consumer” from the NME 1983, alongside labelmate and fellow Durhamite Moooartiin Stephenson. Musical choices very interesting – we gotta live one here…
http://itstartswithabirthstone.blogspot.com/2017/03/martin-stephenson-paddy-mcaloon.html
Ahh_Bisto says
Neither of them had ‘Shopping’ down for ‘Likes’ or ‘Loves’?
WTF?
ip33 says
Not forgetting this, absolutely stunning.