Freezing while "Adding tracks to library"... only when iPod connected

Ok - here's the deal...

- I launch Songbird - all is well
- I plug in iPod
- It mounts, connects and is browseable in Songbird - all is well
- I drag a new folder of MP3s into my "watch" folder
- Songbird dialog comes up "adding tracks to library"
- Few seconds later, the dialog still there, and Songbird has stopped responding
- I wait 10 minutes - still nothing - Songbird still "not responding"
- I then EJECT my ipod via the system tray Add/Remove Hardware
- Ipod successfully ejects
- I wait 10 more minutes - Songbird still "not responding"
- I then go to Task Manager and END PROCESS of songbird.exe - it ends
- I then relaunch Songbird - all is well, the new tracks are in the songbird library
- I then reconnect my Ipod - it mounts and is browseable
- Ipod library INITIALLY shows that *1* track from the new folder was copied over
- However after Ipod finishes MOUNTING, that 1 track no longer shows up - like it was never copied over

- ........ All above repeats when I try re-dragging folder to Songbird Library

Also
- This happens with multiple folders - not just one particular folder.
- Up until now Songbird was performing pretty well - not sure what has changed besides my library is quite large now
- I'm running VISTA Ultimate SP1 32bit, 4GB RAM, Intel Core 2 Quad CPU

Please help! I really don't want to go back to iTunes! :'(