The Joe Jackson Interviews

Joe Jackson goes to war for Christy Moore against critic Diarmuid Doyle in 1996. Had Christy sold out or not? You decide!

In 1996 music critic Diarmuid Doyle wrote in the Irish newspaper the Sunday Tribune, a scathing review of Christy's latest album Grafitti Tongue, and he claimed that Moore had soul out. I responded with my own review of the album in The Irish Times and Mike Murphy then hosted a war of words between Doyle and I.  

Nick Cave 1994 Part Two. Nick discusses the tensions in his psyche, his view of love as a site of war and peace, and much more

This is part two of an interview I did with Nick Cave in 1994, and which is available in print form on my website joejacksoninterviewer.com. 

 

Here we carry on the discussion from the tensions that tore Elvis apart - that's how I ended Part One of this series of podcasts - to the subject of the tension that sit at the soul of Nick Cave himself. And how he views love in a more realistic sense than in usually the norm in pop/rock music, and movies, namely a battleground in which the one you love is also your tormentor. 

Nick Cave and Joe Jackson 1994. Two Elvis "nuts" discuss the King in all his glory. Special edition podcast.

For Elvis fans only, maybe. This is a section I took from my Nick Cave interview part one podcast, and given that I am an Elvis nut, and he is, to coin a phrase many might use, I decided to make the king the focus of this podcast. If you don't like Elvis, Nick or me, best to avoid! 

Nick Cave 1994 Part One. Nick on Scott Walker, Leonard Cohen and Elvis Presley

This is the first part of a ninety-minute interview I did with Nick at the time of the release of his album Let Love in. We kicked off by talking about his passion for his heroes such as Scott Walker, Leonard Cohen and Elvis Presley

Damien Dempsey The Music That Made Me. Damien on Phil Lynott, Christy Moore, Sinead O Connor plus "real stuff" about class, drugs and his background

This was the second interview I did with Damien, and true to form, he took the chat beyond the usual trivia people too often talk about on music shows. Here he is telling truths and talking "real stuff" about, yes, the music that made him, and his own music, but also about a far broader range of relevant subjects. 

The "unbearably sensuous singing" of Doris Day, plus more.

In 1995 I wrote for The Irish Times an article in which I said the recordings of Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett and, in particular, Doris Day needed to be seriously reaccessed. I sure as hell stand over that, in terms of Doris Day whom, a quarter-century later has not, I believe, been given the credit she deserves as a vocalist. For the Doris Day "endless virgin" movie stereotype and listen without prejudice as George Michal might say. 

Neil Sedaka 1997 Podcast Clarification. Sedaka actually says "I'm no Barry Manilow, come on! I have balls!" Listen and believe

Yesterday, June 4th 2021, I uploaded a celebration of Neil Sedaka and his music. Sadly, one group of Sedaka fans claimed Neil "would never" use the language I said he had during an interview with me when he dismissed any comparison between himself and Barry Manilow. I do not like being accused of telling lies about interviews or interviewees so for the record - and much as this will upset fans of Manilow - here is the actual quote from Neil and oh yeah his admittance that he tried "reefers" in the 60s. Now don't go saying he didn't say that! 

A Celebration of Neil Sedaka. "Don't compare me to Barry Manilow. I have balls, soul and substance, Manilow doesn't!"

This is a personal appreciation of the music of Neil Sedaka. It's a radio show broadcast I did in 1997, having interviewed Sedaka twice and whose music I have loved since I was a child. He hated being compared to Barry Manilow and di say "I have balls, I have soul, I have substance, Barry Manilow doesn't." Oops!

David Gray The Music That Made Me 2. Gray talks about Madness, The Specials, White Ladder, and Lost Songs 1995-1998.

Part two of the interview I did in David's home in 2000 at the time of the release of his album Lost Songs 195-1998. In this podcast he plays for me some of his favourite songs by The Specials and Madness, talks about the phenomenal success of White Ladder, in Ireland, and sings a few songs from Lost Songs 1995-1998

Joe Jackson Celebrates Gay Byrne. The phone chat with Gay that helped me find my father's family.

In early 1997 Gay Byrne, Ireland's finest and most famous broadcaster interviewed me about my latest book, Troubadours and Troublemakers, an anthology of my interviews with the likes of Richard Harris, Bono, Edna O'Brien and Gerry Adams. However what Gay, who was fascinated by any tale involving adopted children, really wanted to talk about was my father Joe Jackson senior, who had not only been adopted but also sent to remand school - where we now know he was sexually abused by Christian Brothers though I wasn't aware of this at the time - for stealing a few slices of bacon. This is the first of a two-podcast series and in the second Gay interviews myself and Miriam Dunne, my father's sister who I met for the first time thanks to the interview in this podcast.