EPISODE · Dec 7, 2025 · 54 MIN
Fairytale of New York's full story & the imperishable genius of Steve Cropper
from Word In Your Ear
The boys of the NYPD choir are still singing Galway Bay, so pour yourself a measure of the Rare Old Mountain Dew and warm your toes on the following … … Steve Lillywhite (in Bali!) remembers making Fairytale Of New York and how “a fiery redhead” kicked the Chrissie Hynde duet into touch … the most recent singer-songwriter you could call “a ledge”? … records we loved in our 20s but now feel a bit embarrassing … “discipline and economy, tension and release”: the immortal twangs and tweaks of Steve Cropper and how the MGs redefined the idea of a great record … Green Onions, I Thank You by Sam & Dave and the white heat of Otis Blue’s 24-hour recording ... Tim Buckley’s Greatest Misses ... performative listening: the exquisite awkwardness of the album playback! … the link between Imogen Heap and the Hissing of Summer Lawns … Jon Bon Jovi’s version of Fairytale – “so bad they had to turn the YouTube comments off!” … plus Gram Parsons, the cult of the Blues Brothers, the Monochrome Set and a quiz from birthday guest Peter Petyt: spot the Hepworth/Ellen reviews of yesteryear! The new live version of Fairytale of New York: http://pogues.lnk.to/FONYLiveGlasgow1987 Josh Smith demonstrating Steve Cropper’s guitar parts: https://youtu.be/LJEIwggKAsg?si=29weA4tBQE6ccj1-Help us to keep The Longest Conversation In Rock going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourearHelp us to keep The Longest Continuous Conversation In Rock'n'Roll going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What this episode covers
The boys of the NYPD choir are still singing Galway Bay, so pour yourself a measure of the Rare Old Mountain Dew and warm your toes on the following … … Steve Lillywhite (in Bali!) remembers making Fairytale Of New York and how “a fiery redhead” kicked the Chrissie Hynde duet into touch … the most recent singer-songwriter you could call “a ledge”? … records we loved in our 20s but now feel a bit embarrassing … “discipline and economy, tension and release”: the immortal twangs and tweaks of Steve Cropper and how the MGs redefined the idea of a great record … Green Onions, I Thank You by Sam & Dave and the white heat of Otis Blue’s 24-hour recording ... Tim Buckley’s Greatest Misses ... performative listening: the exquisite awkwardness of the album playback! … the link between Imogen Heap and the Hissing of Summer Lawns … Jon Bon Jovi’s version of Fairytale – “so bad they had to turn the YouTube comments off!” … plus Gram Parsons, the cult of the Blues Brothers, the Monochrome Set and a quiz from birthday guest Peter Petyt: spot the Hepworth/Ellen reviews of yesteryear! The new live version of Fairytale of New York: http://pogues.lnk.to/FONYLiveGlasgow1987 Josh Smith demonstrating Steve Cropper’s guitar parts: https://youtu.be/LJEIwggKAsg?si=29weA4tBQE6ccj1-Help us to keep The Longest Conversation In Rock going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourearHelp us to keep The Longest Continuous Conversation In Rock'n'Roll going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Fairytale of New York's full story & the imperishable genius of Steve Cropper
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