On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Lloyd Cole, one of Britain’s most respected singer-songwriters. As the frontman of Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, he helped shape alternative music in the 80s with classic albums like Rattlesnakes, before going on to build a critically acclaimed solo career spanning more than four decades. In this fascinating conversation, Lloyd looks back on the formation of the Commotions, the stories behind songs like Perfect Skin and Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken and the literary influences that have always been at the heart of his songwriting. He also opens up about the pressures of success, the creative tensions that eventually led to the band’s breakup, and why moving to New York gave him the freedom to reinvent himself as a solo artist. We also discuss his love of music, from David Bowie and Bob Dylan to Steely Dan and disco, his ever evolving approach to songwriting, and why he believes the key to a lasting career is trusting your own artistic instincts rather than following trends. Insightful, honest and full of humour, it’s a conversation with an artist who continues to challenge himself creatively while remaining true to his own unique vision.

Let Christy Take It are proud to bring you Lloyd Cole.

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Photo Credit: Doug Seymour

On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Don McLean, legendary singer songwriter, master storyteller, and the voice behind some of the most enduring songs ever written. Growing up in New York listening to old 78 RPM records, Don developed a love of music that would shape his life. After teaching himself guitar and finding his place in the folk scene, he followed his creative instincts with determination and conviction. Inspired by artists like Buddy Holly and mentored by folk icon Pete Seeger, he built a remarkable career spanning more than six decades. We explore the making of American Pie, the cultural phenomenon that introduced the immortal phrase “the day the music died.” More than fifty years later, the song remains one of popular music’s most celebrated works and has been recognised by the Library of Congress, which selected it for preservation in the National Recording Registry for its lasting cultural and historical significance. Don also reflects on protecting his artistic vision, the inspiration behind classics such as “Vincent,” and why he has always prioritised authenticity over commercial success. Along the way, we discuss his admiration for Buddy Holly, the story behind “Killing Me Softly,” his perspective on the changing music industry, and the passion that still draws him back to the stage. The result is an honest and insightful conversation with a songwriter whose music has become part of the soundtrack of generations.

Let Christy Take It are proud to bring you Don McLean.

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Photo Credit: Jeremy Westby / 2911 Media

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On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Thomas Dolby, musician, producer, inventor, storyteller, and one of the most inventive minds to emerge from the golden age of synth-pop. Best known for classics like “She Blinded Me With Science” and the groundbreaking album The Golden Age of Wireless, Dolby’s career has taken him far beyond the world of 80s pop stardom. From building homemade synthesizers out of discarded circuit boards in South London, to performing with David Bowie at Live Aid, producing landmark records for Prefab Sprout, and later becoming a pioneer in music technology and Silicon Valley innovation, his story is one of constant reinvention. In this conversation, Thomas reflects on the grey, chaotic energy of 1970s London, the explosion of punk and electronic music, and how he carved out a sound that brought warmth and humanity to synthesisers at a time when electronic music often felt cold and mechanical. He shares hilarious stories including working with eccentric British scientist Magnus Pyke and explains how a global novelty hit unexpectedly opened the door to a deeper, more personal body of work. We also talk about busking in the Paris Metro, touring with bands like The Fall and Gang of Four, the pressure and excitement of performing at Live Aid with Bowie, and his belief that the best music comes from emotional honesty rather than chasing trends. Later in the episode, Thomas opens up about life beyond pop fame from launching tech companies during the dot-com boom, helping pioneer early mobile ringtone technology with Nokia and developing ambitious new live shows that blend music, storytelling, and orchestral performance.

Let Christy Take It are proud to bring you Thomas Dolby.

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On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Scott Gorham, legendary guitarist and a defining force behind Thin Lizzy. From leaving California for London in the mid ’70s to landing one of the most life changing auditions in rock history, Scott’s journey into Thin Lizzy is as surreal as it is iconic. He takes us back to the day he met Phil Lynott, the instant chemistry within the band, and how he found his place in a sound rooted in Irish identity, melody, and power. We get into the golden years, the writing and recording of classics like “The Boys Are Back in Town” and “Bad Reputation,” the pressure surrounding Jailbreak, and the making of the legendary Live and Dangerous. Scott shares stories from the road, the studio nerves, and the moments that could have gone either way but somehow turned into rock history. There’s also a real sense of Dublin running through it all, a city Scott still holds close and a heartfelt reflection on Phil Lynott: his generosity, his creativity, and the struggles that came with it. Beyond Thin Lizzy, we talk about Scott’s decision not to carry the band’s name forward without Lynott, leading instead to new chapters with Black Star Riders, as well as his personal battles with health, recovery, and finding creative outlets beyond music through art and drawing. It’s a conversation full of stories, honesty, and perspective, about legacy, resilience, and what it really means to be part of something timeless.

Let Christy Take It are proud to bring you Scott Gorham.

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Photo Credit: Denis O’Regan - https://denis.uk/artworks/categories/10-thin-lizzy/

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On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Joe Philpott, songwriter, musician, author, and founder of both Rubyhorse and the White Horse Guitar Club, a Cork artist whose story spans ambition, burnout, reinvention, and rediscovery. From forming Rubyhorse as teenagers in Bishopstown, Co. Cork to chasing the dream across America, Joe’s journey took him from local gigs to major label deals, billboard success, and appearances on US late night television. Along the way life on the road brought its own challenges. After years of touring coast to coast, navigating the collapse of the music industry, and living what Joe describes as an “outlaw existence”, the cracks began to show and he eventually stepped away. What followed was not an exit from music, but a transformation. Joe immersed himself in music and healthcare across Europe, working in hospitals, rehabilitation centres, palliative care, and community programmes, rediscovering music not as business, but as a service. That philosophy now runs through everything he does, including the White Horse Guitar Club, a collective built less on ambition and more on connection, presence, and shared experience. We also talk about his memoir, All Roads Lead to Where You’re From: Bishopstown to the Beatles, written after a doctor’s warning forced him to slow down and reassess. Whether discussing the influence of John Prine, or reflecting on advice he’d give his younger self, Joe speaks with the hard earned clarity of someone who’s lived the highs and survived the troughs. Join us as we talk about American dreams, Cork roots, George Harrison’s generosity, walking away at the right time, falling back in love with music, and why sometimes the most extraordinary things grow from the most ordinary beginnings.

Let Christy Take It are proud to bring you Joe Philpott

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On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Ron Sexsmith, Canadian singer, songwriter, master melodist, and one of the most quietly revered writers of his generation. From discovering a dusty box of records under his family stereo as a child, from doo-wop, Johnny Cash, The Everly Brothers, and Buddy Holly’s It Doesn’t Matter Anymore. Ron’s lifelong relationship with song began early. That Buddy Holly record, in particular, ignited something profound: melody, mortality, and the magic of songwriting all colliding at once. From there came The Beatles, The Kinks, Elton John, country music, Leonard Cohen and, ultimately, Gordon Lightfoot, the songwriter who showed him that you didn’t have to be a rock star to move people.

You could just stand still and sing the truth. We talk about the moment everything changed at 21, when becoming a father sparked a songwriting frenzy that led to Speak with the Angel and set his career in motion. Ron reflects on finding his own voice over time, a voice fully realised by the time of Retriever, and the craft behind his songs: the structural worries, the demoing process, knowing when a lyric has said enough, and why he still believes in the album as a complete, living statement. We also dive into his fiercely independent “no co-writing” rule for his own records, his deep admiration for writers like Ray Davies and Gilbert O’Sullivan.

From touring relentlessly to curating deeply personal tribute shows to Gordon Lightfoot and Warren Zevon, Ron remains as devoted to the song as ever, whether it’s his own or one he carries entirely from memory, lyric for lyric, as part of what he jokingly calls his “savant” superpower.

Join us as we talk to Ron about melody, memory, songwriting discipline, album-making, missed label opportunities, and the thread that runs through a body of work spanning decades, a songwriter growing older, wiser, and still chasing the perfect song.

Let Christy Take It are proud to bring you Ron Sexsmith.

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Photo Credit: Kerry Vergeer

On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Marky Ramone, drummer, songwriter, and former member of one of the most influential bands in music history, the Ramones. Emerging from the gritty punk scene of 1970s New York, the Ramones helped redefine rock music with their fast, loud, and unapologetically direct sound. As a key member of the band during both their classic and later years, Marky was behind the kit on some of their most celebrated recordings and relentless world tours, helping to cement the Ramones reputation as one of the greatest live bands of all time. Their legacy was later recognised with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, acknowledging their lasting impact on generations of artists and fans. Beyond the Ramones, Marky’s musical journey has included time with bands such as Dust and Richard Hell and the Voidoids, as well as a lifelong dedication to drumming, touring, and keeping punk rock’s spirit alive. He’s also the author of the memoir Punk Rock Blitzkrieg, where he tells the story of his life in music. Join us as we talk to Marky about the raw early days at CBGB’s, meeting Jimi Hendrix as a teenager, life on the road with the Ramones, the challenges and triumphs of staying sober in the middle of chaos, and the deep friendships that shaped the band, as well as his ongoing mission to keep the Ramones music alive for future generations, including his upcoming Dublin show where fans can expect a full throttle, 35-song Ramones set, played exactly as it was meant to be heard.

Let Christy Take It are proud to bring you Marky Ramone

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