Let Christy Take It

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

Thanks to our sponsor Irish Woodcraft, please check them out at https://irishwoodcraft.ie

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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Thanks to our sponsor Irish Woodcraft, please check them out at https://irishwoodcraft.ie

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/

Thanks to our sponsor Irish Woodcraft, please check them out at https://irishwoodcraft.ie

On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Junior Brother, songwriter, musician, and one of the most distinctive voices in Irish music today. From a quiet upbringing in rural Kerry, where music wasn’t always front and centre, to carving out a singular path through Ireland’s alternative folk scene, Ronan Keeley’s journey is one shaped by curiosity, instinct, and a deep connection to place. What began with a “crappy little guitar” and a lot of imagination has grown into a body of work that’s both rooted in tradition and boldly experimental. His debut album earned a Choice Music Prize nomination and marked him out as an artist doing things very much on his own terms, uncompromising, expressive, and unafraid to follow his instincts. But it was in leaving home, and looking back from a distance, that his songwriting really began to take shape, drawing on rural landscapes, memory, and a sense of belonging. We talk about finding your own voice, literally and figuratively, the influence of artists like Damien Dempsey, and why singing in your own accent became such a defining part of his sound. There’s also plenty on his latest album The End, a record shaped by isolation, folklore, and the strange, beautiful idea of being led astray only to find your way home again. It’s a thoughtful, honest conversation about creativity, identity, and staying true to your path, even when it takes you somewhere unexpected.
 
Let Christy Take It are proud to bring you Junior Brother.
 
If you enjoy our show please like and subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts.
 
Thanks to our sponsor Irish Woodcraft, please check them out at https://irishwoodcraft.ie

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

If you enjoy our show please Like and subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts

Thanks to our sponsor Irish Woodcraft, please check them out at https://irishwoodcraft.ie