It’s that time of the year again, where we moan about how Fanning’s Fab 50 isn’t what it used to be. John Peel had the right idea with the Festive 50 – choose 3 favourite tracks released in the past year. We’d love to hear Dave play a show of his favourite tracks of the year. Anyway if the readers of a certain blog were to email, tweet or facebook their top 3 we could come up with our own Festive 50 to be published round about when Dave breaks out the eggnog. Anyone up for it?
Just in – Microdisney have announced a a one-off exclusive performance of their seminal album, The Clock Comes Down The Stairs at the National Concert Hall Dublin on 2nd June 2018, tickets on sale Wednesday 29th November at 10am.
Paul McDermott is no stranger round these parts and we’ve been looking forward to the fruits of his latest endeavours since round about when we first heard it was in the works. Paul is a lecturer in media studies and journalism and also has a weekly radio show on DublinCityFM. He previously produced documentaries on Stump! and Finbarr Donnelly and this time out he has turned his attention towards another band from those parts Microdisney. Produced for UCC 98.3FM with assistance of funding from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, ‘Iron Fist In Velvet Glove: The Story of Microdisney’ features interviews with Cathal Coughlan and Sean O’Hagan, bandmates Tom Fenner, Jon Fell, Giordai UaLaoighre and Dave Galvin. Also featured are fellow musicians Mick Lynch (Stump!), Mark Healy and Ciarán O Tuama (Cypress! Mine), Jim O’Mahony (Belsonic Sound) and Stan Erraught (The Stars of Heaven). Paul also speaks to Robert Forster (The Go-Betweens), Geoff Travis (Rough Trade founder), Andrew Mueller (journalist and writer), Elvera Butler (Downtown Kampus and Reekus Records), Gareth Ryan (Kabuki Records and Rough Trade Distribution) and Richard Boon (Production Manager, Rough Trade Records). It’s a fascinating hour of radio which we enjoyed a lot and look forward to listening again. What’s next Paul? 🙂
From Portstewart & Portrush, The Saviours were left to right; John “Junior” Young (bass), Rory Fidgeon (guitar), Paul Gault (vocals), Philip Cartin (drums) and Tim Brolly (guitar). They had previously recorded a number of demos as The Subterraneans but changed their name due to the Dublin act of the same name. They later became Mystic Reign and recorded further demos and released 2 tracks on compilation tapes from Helden Fanzine. This session for Dave Fanning was recorded on 15th Feb 1988.
Bone Shakin Baby (1988)
High Risk Activity (1988)
Crime Of Passion (1988)
Mr Nice Guy (1988)
Katell Keineg is a Breton-Welsh singer-songwriter based in Wales who lived for a time in Ireland. We believe this session dates from 1991 and was recorded live on the Dave Fanning show although Dave may have been absent on this particular night. There were at least 2 tracks performed ‘Watergrasshill’ and ‘Caution To The Wind’.
Tuam’s finest, The Saw Doctors recorded a session for Dave Fanning in June 1990. One of the tracks ‘Captain Joe Fiddle’s’ was released as a B side and the 3 remaining tracks feature below. According to irishrock.org the original lineup of the band were Dave Carton (ex Blaze X) (vocals & guitar), Leo Moran (ex All Cats Are Gray), John Burke and Padraig Stevens. The Saw Doctors are currently working on a new album to be released in 2018. If you know who played on the session or have any other corrections please get in touch. Update: Thanks to a twitter reply adding Pearse Doherty (bass), John “Turps” Burke (mandolin, bouzouki, keyboards), John Donnelly (drums) and [maybe?] Padraic Stevens? (drums) and Tony Lambert (accordion).
Poison (1990)
Presentation Boarder (1990)
Why Do I Always Want You (1990)
The Hothouse Flowers recorded a session for Dave Fanning on October 8th 1985. It featured 4 tracks; ‘Worksong’, ‘Baby’s Coming Home’, ‘Fatman’ and ‘Blues Inc’. We suspect one of these tracks featured here and that we have now located two further songs from the session. The first of these features once again the multi talented Maria Doyle Kennedy on lead vocals. Maria has just released a new self titled solo album and is heading out on the road starting with a show at the Triskel in Cork on Decmber 1st. The Hothouse Flowers last year released their 7th album ‘Let’s Do This Thing‘ and have just announced a show in Vicar St on February 22nd. Thank you to themusicliveon for prompting us to dig out these tracks.
Baby’s Coming Home (1985)
Worksong (1985)
 | Stephen Browne on The Way It Is (1990 Demo) |
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 | Fanning Sessions on Cry Before Dawn (1984 Ses… |
In the absence of an official RTE Fanning Session archive consider this blog a humble starting point. Any musical submissions would be gratefully accepted as are any corrections or recollections... click on the pic to send an email or even better comment on the post in question. We are interested in anything recorded from irish radio or TV in the 1980s and 90s.
