Kurt Reil Interview Podcast Fever, Every Little Thing is Fab, Scott Gagner Wednesday Night on In Conversation. It’s the Week Ahead on Pure Pop Radio!

Get down, get funky pop fans! The week ahead on Pure Pop Radio is nothing less than a sweat-induced, feverish pinata full of melodic pop excitement!

Ken Michaels’ Every Little Thing…For the Beatles Fan Who Craves All Things Fab! Airs Every Monday at 9 pm ET on Pure Pop Radio!

First, the fab and gear vibes go crazy tonight at 9 pm ET, March 31, with the latest installment of Ken Michaels’ Every Little Thing. Ken delivers the Fab Four vibes as he presents an interview with George Harrison in which George speaks about perhaps his biggest Beatles number, selections from the McCartney II remaster, and a salute to the great Larry Williams, featuring his songs as recorded by the Fabs, John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band, Paul McCartney, and John Lennon. Don’t be a “Bad Boy” or a “Dizzy Miss Lizzie”–join Ken for another hour-long slice of Beatles fun!

Win a signed copy of the Grip Weeds’ Inner Grooves!

Second, the interview with the Grip Weeds’ Kurt Reil that ran last week on Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation is now up and at ’em on our PodOMatic podcast page. Find out all about the Grip Weeds’ latest album, a great collection of “Rare and Under-Released” tunes that will amaze and delight your ears. It’s another one of our patented in-depth talks that practically blows your mind! Don’t miss it!

And, finally, third and not least, the terrific Scott Gagner, whose new album, Rise and Shine, is a hall-of-fame-worthy collection of all manner of lovely ballads that I predict will wind up on many of this year’s best-of lists, is this week’s guest on Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation. Yes, Rise and Shine is that good–great, even. You’ll hear Scott talk about his musical life leading up the release of Rise and Shine and hear about songs included in that album. It’s a spirited talk that will fascinate you and draw your attention to another of the great melodic pop albums that practically call out to you. Air dates are this Wednesday, April 2 and Thursday, April 3 at 8 pm ET.

Scott Gagner’s marvelous Rise and Shine

So, set your alarm clocks for all of these very cool, melodic events and make your week one to remember! Enjoy!

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Listen to Kurt Reil on Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation on PodOMatic!

March 31, 2014Alan Haber's Pure Pop Radio Leave a comment

Scott Gagner Guests on Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation on April 2 and 3; Exclusive Acoustic Session Included

Scott Gagner. His new album, Rise and Shine, is spectacular.

On Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation, we love to talk to artists who may be new to listeners. Next week, we’re thrilled to be chatting with a singer-songwriter who’s been releasing great records for a number of years and has recently released one that will surely wind up on this year’s best-of lists–a record that is about as perfect as the greatest gifts in life can be.

This record, Rise and Shine, is a lovely document–a melodic creation with a warm, beating heart worn on its sleeve. Every once in a while, an album like this comes at you at a hundred miles an hour and demands that you pay close attention. In these still early days of 2014, Scott Gagner’s song cycle is that wonderfully-realized album. This collection of lovely melodies stands tall from the gorgeous opening ballad, “I’ve Taken a Shine to You” to the closing, achingly beautiful number, “Sentimental Lullaby.” Gagner’s soulful vocals are alive, resonating from the emotional foundation that grounds these dozen gems. Rise and Shine is nothing short of a masterpiece, as affecting a collection of songs as you’re likely to hear all year.

During this typically in-depth interview, you will hear songs from Rise and Shine performed acoustically, exclusively by Scott for Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation. You will also hear about Scott’s musical life, from his early days and his first writing efforts to the masterful designs he creates for his albums and a whole lot more.

Scott Gagner’s marvelous Rise and Shine

Air dates for this program are Wednesday and Thursday, April 2 and 3, at 8 pm ET. If this is your first exposure to Scott Gagner and his music, you won’t want to miss this chance to familiarize yourself with this great artist. If you’re a longtime fan, you already know where we’re coming from. This is a can’t miss show. See you there.

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March 27, 2014Alan Haber's Pure Pop Radio Leave a comment

Win! Win! Win! An Autographed Copy of the Grip Weeds’ Inner Grooves is Up for Grabs!

Win a signed copy of the Grip Weeds’ Inner Grooves!

Hey, cats and kittens: This week, on Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation (airing Wednesday and Thursday, March 26 and 27), we’re running our in-depth interview with the great Kurt Reil from the Grip Weeds. In conjunction with that interview, we’re giving away an autographed copy of the band’s latest CD, Inner Grooves (Rare and Under-Released Tracks). All four of the band members have signed this dandy collectible. Wouldn’t it look spiffy in your collection?

You bet it would! Well, this very cool prize could be yours. To enter, simply fill out the form below and put the answer to the following question in the Comments box: What is the full name of the Grip Weeds’ latest CD? Inner Grooves (_______?_______). That’s it!

Enter only once, please, and enter before midnight on Monday, March 31. You must type the answer to the question in the Comments box to be eligible. We’ll announce the winner on Tuesday, April 1.

Now, get to it! Win yourself something already! And thanks, as always, for listening to Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation. Well, thanks for listening to the station, too! You all rock!

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March 25, 2014Alan Haber's Pure Pop Radio Leave a comment

Pure Pop Radio Sizzles this Week!

It’s sizzling on Pure Pop Radio!

Despite the fact that it’s not summer here at Pure Pop Radio headquarters, we’re hearing the chorus of Sly Stone’s “Hot Fun in the Summertime,” because our airwaves are sizzling with the excitement of this week’s special programming.

Ken Michaels’ Every Little Thing…For the Beatles Fan Who Craves All Things Fab! Airs Every Monday at 9 pm ET on Pure Pop Radio!

First up tonight, at 9 pm ET, is this week’s notable edition of Ken Michaels’ Every Little Thing–notable because it’s show number nine, number nine, number nine… That should raise the neck hairs on end for most Beatlemaniacs. For this go-round, Ken is spinning a cool Beatles cover from Emmylou Harris (“Here, There and Everywhere”); playing a couple of Wings classics; running a special, archival interview with Billy Preston, accompanied by a quartet of spiritual numbers such as Preston’s “Sing One for the Lord”; and presenting the weekly theme segment, this time focusing on songs with years in the titles, like Paul McCartney and Wings’ “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five.” And don’t miss the weekly trivia question at the end of the show. Sounds like an hour well spent! Number nine, number nine, number nine…

This week’s guest on Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation is none other than the great Kurt Reil from the Grip Weeds. In this typically wide-ranging interview, you’ll hear about the long, detailed history of the Grip Weeds and go inside the band’s latest release, Inner Grooves – Rare and Under-Released Tracks–a delicious melange that covers just about all of the band’s musical colors. If you’ve ever wanted to know what makes this band tick, this is the interview for you. And, of course, we play a selection of cuts from this wonderful, hall-of-fame-worthy collection. Air dates are Wednesday and Thursday, March 26 and 27, at 8 pm ET.

The Grip Weed’s Kurt Reil gets the beat going!

Last week’s Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation interview with Jamie Hoover and Steve Stoeckel, aka Jamie and Steve, is now available for listening and/or downloading on our PodOMatic podcast page. Jamie and Steve go in-depth, from conception to realization, on four of the great songs from their new EP, Circling (“Spin Drift,” “Origami Woman,” “You,” and “Wonder Girl”). This is a fascinating and unique look at how songs get written, played and produced from two of our greatest artists. You won’t want to miss this show! Maneuver over to our podcast page to listen.

The animated Jamie and Steve in the “Imaginary Cafe” video, created by Cool King Chris

Paul Revere and the Raiders!

We’ve also served up a classic, bonus interview for you. We’ve gone back to December 12, 1998 and the old, weekly, live Pure Pop Radio show for an invigorating talk with none other than Paul Revere, from Paul Revere and the Raiders. For those of you who have never heard Revere interviewed, he’s a master of the craft with any number of fascinating anecdotes at hand. You won’t want to miss one of pop music’s greatest showmen telling tales of his long and melodic career. Check it out on our podcast page–click here to make the magic happen!

Every way you look at it, this week Pure Pop Radio is sizzling with lots of exciting programming. Thanks for listening, and enjoy!

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Listen to Jamie & Steve and Paul Revere on Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation on PodOMatic!

March 24, 2014Alan Haber's Pure Pop Radio Leave a comment

It’s Time to Spill the Beans! Next Week on Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation, We Present…

Who’s hiding in the drummer’s shadow?

So we were playing around yesterday, teasing you all about the identity of next week’s guest on Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation. Who was going to emote behind the In Conversation microphones? Who was going to go in-depth and lay the details of their musical life on the line?

Well, a couple of folks guessed the identity of next week’s guest. We didn’t think our clues were going to make the guessing such an easy process! But that’s the way it goes, and now it can be revealed: Next week’s guest is none other than the great Kurt Reil from the Grip Weeds!

The Grip Weed’s Kurt Reil gets the beat going!

In this typically wide-ranging interview, you’ll hear about the long, detailed history of the Grip Weeds and go inside the band’s latest release, Inner Grooves – Rare and Under-Released Tracks–a delicious melange that covers just about all of the Grip Weeds’ musical colors. If you’ve ever wanted to know what makes this band tick, this is the interview for you. And, of course, we play a selection of cuts from this wonderful, hall-of-fame-worthy collection.

Air dates are next Wednesday and Thursday, March 26 and 27 at 8 pm ET. This is like a college-level course that will leave you with a hankering for much more Grip Weeds. Cue up those CD’s, folks! Get ready to rock!

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March 21, 2014Alan Haber's Pure Pop Radio Leave a comment

Top Secret! Who’s Next Week’s Mystery Guest on Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation?

Mystery drummer!

The name of next week’s guest on Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation, which we’ll announce tomorrow at noon ET, is cloaked in mystery for no other reason than it’s fun to guess…for you. We already know who we’re talking about!

We’ve put the spotlight on more than three dozen melodic pop artists since In Conversation began. We’re thrilled to next fix our lights on this person, whose band we have admired and enjoyed for a very long time.

So, let’s see. Here’s another clue or two for you all. This person lays down the steady beat and strums for a hugely popular, powerhouse band that calls the northern neck of the east coast of the US its home. The band’s latest album is a collection of rare and righteous tracks–“diamonds in the rock,” according to the band’s website. These folks rock, roll, pop and just generally cause a top-notch melodic ruckus.

Tune in here tomorrow, March 20, at noon ET, when we unveil the name of our next In Conversation guest. Yeah!

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March 20, 2014Alan Haber's Pure Pop Radio Leave a comment

This Week’s Gonna Be Like Finding Brigadoon Two Days a Year! Fantabulous!

It’s like finding Brigadoon, we tell ya!

It’s like a volcano erupting, like finding Brigadoon two days a year, like winning a stuffed animal in one of those drop-the-claw-and-win-a-prize machines you find in restaurants along the New Jersey Turnpike. It’s like, wow, a pretty darned exciting week ahead on Pure Pop Radio!

Ken Michaels’ Every Little Thing…For the Beatles Fan Who Craves All Things Fab! Airs Every Monday at 9 pm ET on Pure Pop Radio!

Coming up tonight at 9 pm ET, it’s the latest edition of the fabbest Beatles radio show this side of Liverpool: Ken Michaels’ Every Little Thing. This time around, Ken is spinning a classic tune from Mary Hopkin, interviewing famed recording engineer Dennis Ferrante, who worked with John Lennon, and going all acoustic for a special set. As usual, Every Little Thing is not to be missed!

The animated Jamie and Steve in the “Imaginary Cafe” video, created by Cool King Chris

This week, Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation is celebrating the release of the latest recordings from Jamie and Steve, aka Jamie Hoover and Steve Stoeckel. The duo’s new release is an EP called Circling, and it’s another home run–another reason to celebrate melodic pop music. Jamie and Steve gather around the In Conversation microphones to talk in-depth about four of the songs, and you get to hear them, masterpieces all. Tune in tomorrow night–Tuesday, March 18–at 8 pm ET for all of the fun. The show replays on Wednesday, March 19 at 8 pm ET.

And, speaking of In Conversation, our lively, funny, full-of- cool-information and rockin’ and poppin’ interview with Cool King Chris and, wearing his producer’s hat, Jamie Hoover, which aired last week, is now available for listening and/or downloading on our PodOMatic podcast page. Never before have we put the spotlight on musical magicians who apparently moonlight as standup comedians, but there’s always a first time. This one’s going into the In Conversation Hall of Fame, folks!

Cool King Chris Makes Magic at the Microphone!

So don’t miss this week’s top-flight Pure Pop Radio events: Ken Michaels’ Every Little Thing, tonight at 9 pm ET; Jamie and Steve on Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation, tomorrow night and Wednesday night at 8 pm ET; and last week’s In Conversation interview with Cool King Chris and Jamie Hoover, now posted on our PodOMatic podcast page for listening and/or downloading.

Much more to come this week here on the Pure Pop Radio website. Stay tuned!

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Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation on PodOMatic!

March 17, 2014Alan Haber's Pure Pop Radio Leave a comment

Alan Haber's Pure Pop Radio

Alan Haber's Pure Pop Radio is the premiere website covering the melodic pop scene with in-depth reviews of new and reissued recordings, and a wide variety of features. Welcome to the number one home for coverage of the greatest melodic pop music in the universe.

Monthly Archives: March 2014

Kurt Reil Interview Podcast Fever, Every Little Thing is Fab, Scott Gagner Wednesday Night on In Conversation. It’s the Week Ahead on Pure Pop Radio!

Scott Gagner Guests on Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation on April 2 and 3; Exclusive Acoustic Session Included

Win! Win! Win! An Autographed Copy of the Grip Weeds’ Inner Grooves is Up for Grabs!

Pure Pop Radio Sizzles this Week!

It’s Time to Spill the Beans! Next Week on Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation, We Present…

Top Secret! Who’s Next Week’s Mystery Guest on Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation?

This Week’s Gonna Be Like Finding Brigadoon Two Days a Year! Fantabulous!