Alan Haber's Pure Pop Radio

Hot on the heels of Drink a Toast to Innocence: A Tribute to Lite Rock, nothing less than a defining example of the art of song compilation, producer Andrew Curry is working on a followup collection that is sure to be the talk of pop music fans this summer.

Here Comes the Reign Again: The Second British Invasion, much like Drink a Toast to Innocence, pairs contemporary artists with songs from a specific era–this time the years 1982-1986, or thereabouts. Here Comes the Reign Again puts the spotlight on songs made famous by groups such as Eurythmics, Culture Club, Human League, the Dream Academy, Soft Cell, Yaz, Madness and many more. A la Drink a Toast to Innocence, contemporary pop artists have applied their musical sensibilities to the task of re-imagining songs like Billy Idol’s “Dancing With Myself” and Madness’s “Our House.” The results are as smashing as you might expect, and come this summer, you will be able to spin them in your domicile with enthusiasm and glee.

Consider Pure Pop Radio your headquarters for Here Comes the Reign Again happenings. We’re already spinning, in rotation, six songs from the compilation, each one preceded by an exclusive, short and meaty introduction from Andrew. You won’t hear these introductions anywhere else. The songs: Chris Collingwood (Fountains of Wayne), “Life in a Northern Town,” originally done by the Dream Academy; David Mead, “Save a Prayer,” originally done by Duran Duran; Eric Barao, “Tainted Love,” originally done by Soft Cell; Taylor Locke, “Dancing With Myself,” originally done by Billy Idol; The Wellingtons, “Only You,” originally done by Yaz; and the Corner Laughers, “Our House,” originally done by Madness. Tune in to hear these great, newly-waxed renditions that you’re going to absolutely love.

Of course, we’ll be speaking with Andrew at length for one of our patented, in-depth interview sessions for Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation when Here Comes the Reign Again is released, but to get you in the groove in the here-and-now we’ve done a short, exclusive interview with him–a sort-of broad strokes conversation that will tell you all you need to know in these early days. And it comes with another exclusive: a very cool factoid about this compilation that will delight you! Click the play button on the black bar below to listen.

Check back here on the Pure Pop Radio website for more you-need-to-know information on what promises to be this summer’s greatest slice of second British invasion wax.