Specials and One-Off Programmes

A collection of Specials and One-Off Programmes broadcast as part of the RTÉ Radio 1 Music Collection Series

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4th September 2009

Tonight, producer Aidan Butler brings us a selection of music by the musicians who presented the Friday night music programmes on RTE Radio 1 over the last few years

IRISH JACK - 28th August 2009

Iconic Cork music fan Jack Lyons, inspiration for the Who rock opera "Quadrophenia" - author of both a Who biography and Frank & Walters, former postman, bus conductor and the acknowledged godfather of the Mods in conversation with Marcus Connaughton

Produced by Marcus Connaughton

MR DOUGLAS - 21st August 2009

Record producer Alan Douglas, who worked with Eric Dolphy; Thelonius Monk ; Miles Davis ; Dizzy Gillespie (right) - Jimi Hendrix ; comedian Lenny Bruce ; The Last Poets and guitarist John McLaughlin with My Goals Beyond, recalls a life in music.

Presented and produced by Marcus Connaughton

AN AFRICAN AMERICAN IN PARIS - 14th August 2009

The late Arkansas native Luther Allison - sideman with Magic Sam ; Otis Rush and Freddie King, only blues act signed to Motown in early seventies, talks to Marcus Connaughton
about his exile in Paris and a life playing the blues..
Produced by Marcus Connaughton.

Produced by Marcus Connaughton

REBEL MUSIC: REGGAE STORY

Exploring the early musical styles which blended to become what we now know as reggae. Visit the site

IN IT FOR THE LONG RUN

Part One - 16th April 2009

Part Two - 23rd April 2009

Part Three - 30th April 2009

FIFTY YEARD OF ISLAND RECORDS

Part One - 12th March 2009

Part Two - 19th March 2009

Marcus Connaughton presents and produces a two part series on the ground breaking record company started by Chris Blackwell with £1,000 sterling in Kingston, Jamaica. The hits and artists ranged from Millie Smalls' My Boy Lollipop through to Jimmy Cliff; Traffic ; Roxy Music ; Free ; the late John Martyn ; Bob Marley and the Wailers ; Jethro Tull ; Blodwyn Pig ; Nick Drake; Cat Stevens ; Bad Company ; King Crimson ; Fairport Convention ; Spooky Tooth ; ELP ;Grace Jones ; Marianne Faithfull and U2. In 2001 Chris Blackwell was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Bono who had previously inducted Bob Marley in 1994. Blackwell also encouraged the Chrysalis and Bronze labels when they began in the seventies.

Presented and produced by Marcus Connaughton.

A Lifetime in Music - The Story of John McBreen

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Violinist John McBreen has spent a lifetime making music in Ballyjamesduff Co. Cavan. His Gypsy Jazz style of playing in earlier days earned him the title of Cavan's Stephane Grappelli, but his biggest achievements are undoubtedly his own compositions; ranging from showband songs and local ballads to slow airs. Songs include; Lough Sheelin, The Convent Way up in the Hill and Ramblin' Irishman which was a big hit for Larry Cunningham. Another of his songs Show me the Road to Ireland was recorded by Joe Lynch and broadcast many times on his show on RTE Radio 1 Livin' with Lynch. John is regarded as a local treasure in the Cavan area..

He joins The Radio 1 Music Collection to tell us about his life as a shopkeeper and music maker.

Produced by Elizabeth Laragy

EBU FOLK FESTIVAL IN CORK

Part One - 5th June 2008
Part Two - 12th June 2008
Part Three - 19th June 2008

Fifteen European radio stations from Spain to Russia participated in the 2007 edition of this event organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union. It's first visit to Ireland took place last autumn as past if the Cork Folk Festival and we bring you highlights- the brightest and best music and song on offer.

Produced by Peter Browne

Buddy Can You Spare A Dime? - 2nd June 2008

The Wall St. Crash of 1929 and the economic consequences for the lives of ordinary people were mirrored in the popular music of that era in the USA.

Sandy Harsch lets us hear songs and music born of the boom, bust and burst bubbles of the Great Depression 80 years ago

Produced by Peter Browne

STEVE KAUFMAN AND GREG CAHILL - 29th May 2008
Niall Toner talks with two leading exponents of bluegrass music Steve Kaufman and Greg Cahill.

RICKY SKAGGS - 22nd May 2008

Sandy Harsch and the music of bluegrass singer, musician and composer Ricky Skaggs.

CHRIS THILE - 15th May 2008
The month of May has been designated International Bluegrass month and RTÉ Radio 1 is marking it with a host of music programmes celebrating Bluegrass and its musicians. Niall Toner talks with mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile and to members of his band The Punch Brothers.

Bella Fleck - 8th May 2008
Béla Fleck (born July 10, 1958 in New York City, New York) is an American virtuoso banjo player. He is most well known for his work with the band Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, which he has described as "a mixture of acoustic and electronic music with a lot of roots in folk and bluegrass as well as funk and jazz." Many of Béla Fleck and the Flecktones' songs were featured on The Weather Channel's Local On The 8s segments. In conversation with Niall Toner.

Produced by Aidan Butler

THE PAPERBOYS - 1st MAY 2008
The Paperboys are a Canadian group whose influences range from Bluegrass to Mexicana and our own Irish traditional music. In this programme, Niall Toner introduces the music of the band.

Produced by Aidan Butler

CROSSING THE BRIDGE - 27th March 2008
Details the song collectors from Al Lloyd through to the Folkways Collection to the Broadside Ballads and the remarkable Harry Smith Anthology - where the songs came from and who recorded them.

Presented by Pat Horgan and produced by Marcus Connaughton

CHAMPION JACK DUPREE - 20th March 2008
William Thomas Dupree's parents were killed by the Ku Klux Klan while an infant. He was raised by Irish nuns in New Orleans and went on to become Barrelhouse Piano legend and Golden Gloves Boxing Champion.

Presented and produced by Marcus Connaughton.

WHEN SHADOWS GREW BONES - 13th March 2008
When Shadows Grew Bones is a portrait of guitarist John Campbell from Shreveport, Louisiana who took to the road as a blues musician in 1968 at the age of 16 in conversation with Marcus Connaughton.

Presented and produced by Marcus Connaughton.

GALLAGHER @ 60 - 6th March 2008
On Gallagher @ 60 broadcaster and blues aficionado Marcus Connaughton charts the course of the playing career of guitarist, composer and performer who was born on 2 March 1948 and died on 14 June 1995.

Gallagher @60 Features the music of Rory Gallagher with extracts from the RTÉ Radio Archive and the voices of many of his contemporaries and Rory in conversation.

Presented and produced by Marcus Connaughton.

UNDER THE INFLUENCE - JOE DOLAN - 4th January 2008
As a tribute to the late Joe Dolan, who died on St. Stephen's Day, we offer you another opportunity to hear a programme originally broadcast in 2000 when Joe talked with Joe Jackson about the musical influences on his life

Produced by Aidan Butler

DAN PENN AND SPOONER OLDHAM - 30th August 2007
Another chance to hear Sandy Harsch in conversation with two of her heroes - legendary songwriters Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham.

Produced by Aidan Butler

HAL KETCHUM - 23rd August 2007
Sandy Harsh gets Past the Point of Rescue with New York country singer Hal Ketchum and delves into his song writing career.
Producer: Aidan Butler

ELVIS - REMEMBER HIM THIS WAY (Part 2) - 16th August 2007
Presented by Joe Jackson and produced by Aidan Butler

ELVIS - REMEMBER HIM THIS WAY (Part 1) - 9th August 2007
Presented by Joe Jackson and produced by Aidan Butler

KIMMIE RHODES - 2nd August 2007
Sandy Harsch gets up close and personal with Texan singer/songwriter Kimmie Rhodes
Produced by Aidan Butler

SONGS OF THE GREAT WAR (Part 2) - 26th July 2007
The first of two programmes in which singer and musicologist Mick Moloney explores how the World War of 1914 - 18 gave rise to a wide variety of song, from jingoistic morale boosters to laments for the foolishness and tragedy of armed conflict.

Produced by Peter Browne

SONGS OF THE GREAT WAR (Part 1) - 19th July 2007
The first of two programmes in which singer and musicologist Mick Moloney explores how the World War of 1914 - 18 gave rise to a wide variety of song, from jingoistic morale boosters to laments for the foolishness and tragedy of armed conflict.

Produced by Peter Browne

39 & HOLDING - A PORTRAIT OF THE LEE VALLEY STRING BAND - 12th July 2007

The Lee Valley String Band is a musical institution in the Lee Delta. They are held in the highest esteem by aficionados of bluegrass and old time music throughout these islands.

Founded in 1968 in Cork city by Niall Toner (presenter of Roots Freeway on RTÉ Radio 1) along with his brother Colm and handsome Chris Twomey. 39 & Holding - a portrait of The Lee Valley String Band features the voices of Niall Toner & Mick Daly in conversation with Marcus Connaughton journeying through the varied adventures and repertoire of this remarkable outfit.

Produced and presented by Marcus Connaughton

JIM LAUDERDALE - 5th July 2007
Jim Lauderdale, a minister's son from North Carolina, is a celebrated singer and songwriter whose songs have been covered by artists like George Strait, Vince Gill, Jann Browne, Mark Chesnutt and Patty Loveless.

His writing ranges from mainstream country to bluegrass, and Jim has made two albums with bluegrass legend Dr Ralph Stanley. A prolific writer he has already released two albums in 2007 and will feature at Midlands Music Festival at the end of the month.

Presented by Sandy Harsh and produced by Aidan Butler

Bratislava international competition for recordings of folk and traditional music - 31st May 2007
Highlights from an international competition for recordings of folk and traditional music organised by Slovak Radio in Bratislava in March. Folk music's answer to the Eurovision song contest!
Presented and produced by Peter Browne

(In cooperation with the European Broadcasting Union)

Bottles, Steel And Knives - 24th May 2007
Slide guitarist Roy Rogers is in conversation with Marcus Connaughton about his life and music.

Produced by Marcus Connaughton

Cherish The Ladies - 17th May 2007
A programme from a series celebrating women in traditional music. Liz Carroll is the guest on this evening's programme

Produced by Aoife Nic Cormaic.

BB King Blues Man - 10th May 2007
Aidan Butler looks at the life and music of Blues Legend BB King.

Produced by Aidan Butler

Béla Fleck - 3rd May 2007
Béla Fleck (born July 10, 1958 in New York City, New York) is an American virtuoso banjo player. He is most well known for his work with the band Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, which he has described as "a mixture of acoustic and electronic music with a lot of roots in folk and bluegrass as well as funk and jazz." Many of Béla Fleck and the Flecktones' songs were featured on The Weather Channel's Local On The 8s segments. In conversation with Niall Toner.

Produced by Aidan Butler

"One Less Set Of Footsteps" - 26th April 2007
An intimate portrait featuring archive material and the extensive musical repertoire of singer songwriter Jim Croce. Croce had his first hit 35 years ago with 'Operator - That's not the way it feels'.

Presented and produced by Marcus Connaughton

"This Machine Kills Fascists" - 19th April 2007
A portrait of Woodrow Wilson Guthrie known to musicians and fans as Woody Guthrie - the great folksong ballad maker who wrote over a thousand songs between 1932 and 1952 including the anthem - "This Land is Your Land."

Presented by Pat Horgan and produced by Marcus Connaughton

Nils Lofgren - 12th April 2007
Nils Gofren, a childhood keyboard prodigy, is better known for his phenomenal guitar technique. He was discovered by Neil Young and co-opted into Young's band Crazy Horse and moved on to a career with the band Grin and then a successful solo career which he maintains to this day as well as playing in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band replacing Miami Stever Van Zandt.

Presented by Sandy Harsh and produced by Aidan Butler

Billy Joe Shaver - 5th April 2007
Billy Joe Shaver is a songwriter's songwriter, long revered by other writers if not widely known outside the music business. Inspired in equal parts by seeing Hank Williams as a child and by his third-grade teacher who told Billy he could be an important writer, Shaver started writing songs after a stint in the Navy. Despite an intensely turbulent personal life, including losing fingers in a sawmill accident, he succeeded in getting his songs recorded in Nashville in the '70s. Like Kris Kristofferson, Shaver's songs were outside the norm for country and their upfront lyrical content attracted cover versions from Elvis to Patty Loveless, including a No. 1 hit for John Anderson with 'I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal (but I'm Gonna be a Diamond Someday'.

Again like Kristofferson, Billy Joe has taken to film acting. As well, he tours regularly and has released several excellent albums.

Presented by Sandy Harsh and produced by Aidan Butler