KCRW S.N.A.P. – July 4th 1988

dodSad to think that Deidre O’Donoghue, in the first rank of Sprout enthusiasts, didn’t live much past the 2000 tour that occupied Sproutology for so much of last month. I like to think she made one of the shows, or at least heard the Cambridge show, but she was to die suddenly in 2001.

But in 1988, she was hosting S.N.A.P. (“Saturday Night Avant Pop”) and clearly some way beyond overexcited to host Paddy for an interview on the show. Now she persuaded Paddy to play a few songs, and the songs – including a surprise acoustic version of Wichita Lineman – have been circulating forever, but for me it’s the interview itself that’s a joy. O’Donoghue is clearly utterly besotted with Paddy and flirts clumsily in a slightly starstruck manner throughout. But she knows her stuff and it’s a lovely conversation, drawing you in. Slick and professional it certainly isn’t. Endearing it is.

So presented here is a new transfer from a decent tape of the whole thing. Most copies circulating run between slow and very slow, but this is at the correct speed, checked against the songs that were played from the records. Never sounded better.

The taper has edited the songs, so it’s not quite the entire S.N.A.P. experience, but it’s pretty good. And for those who can’t be bothered with all of it, there’s a playlist just with the music.

“Deirdre was as passionate about music–and especially about discovering new music–as anyone I’ve ever heard on radio. For her it was never about hits or popularity, but about talent and emotion. And she had a gift for expressing that in a way that made her enthusiasm contagious.” – Steve Hochman

 

5 thoughts

  1. LOve listening to radio interviews interspersed with songs. Its the interaction with paddy and DJ that really makes this very interesting and fun to listen to. Wish i could download it and listen at my lesure whilst cycling …

  2. It’s just delightful!
    The way Paddy’s music travels, just driven by his incredible voice and the piano, that makes me feel very near to the spirit of his music!
    I love it how the piano clusters appeals to the sustained melody motives, it makes the spirit just rise in the air.
    In Hey Manhattan, the harmonic subtleties of the chord sequence comes very good across, better than in the original, that makes us want more of such a performance!
    Dear Paddy, please more of this!!!!!

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