Listen to this Classic Ben Folds Interview from 1996 as You Lose Yourself in the Just-Released Box Set, Brick
The release of the massive, 13-disc box set Brick (Edsel), covering all of the Ben Folds Five and Ben Folds solo releases and a whole lot more, prompted me to set the WAYBAC machine for March 26, 1996–just one year after the original, weekly Pure Pop Radio show began.
On that day, more than 22 years ago, I conducted a short but oh-so-sweet interview on the run with the great Ben Folds, just after his high-energy (read: energetic and LOUD) Ben Folds Five show at Washington, D.C.’s 9:30 Club concluded. The self-titled, first Five album had been released only seven months prior, but you would never have known it by the roaring reaction from the packed crowd.
My power-packed chat with Ben began just outside his dressing room and continued down to the stage where he and his band set to breaking down his setup and packing their instruments and equipment into a waiting U-Haul truck. This included Ben’s 1972 well-worn Baldwin piano, a well-used specimen if ever there was one. Ben and I talked about his approach to playing piano, being compared to Elton John and Billy Joel, and his love of the Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star,” which the band played that night and subsequently covered on record. And lots more.
This is one of my favorite interviews that I’ve done over the years. I hope you enjoy it.
Listen to my interview with Ben Folds from March 26, 1996 by clicking the play button on the following player, or click on the Pure Pop Radio button to the left to download (then right click and choose “Save audio as” to save the file to your computer). (This interview is presented in scoped format; the songs have been removed due to copyright concerns.)
Listen to a wide selection of previously-aired Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation interviews by clicking here.
Pure Pop Radio plays the greatest melodic pop music from across the decades, 24 hours a day (broadcasts end August 25). Listen by clicking on the Live365 Listen Now button at left. Hear us once and you’ll be a listener for life. Join us, won’t you? You’ll be glad you did!
By Alan Haber – Pure Pop Radio
The decision to take Alan Haber’s Pure Pop Radio and the Pop Tunes Deejay Show off the air was a difficult one; I have been broadcasting various forms of Pure Pop Radio on and off for 23 years. I had hoped to continue broadcasting for a long time to come but, sadly, my health issues have come between me and that possibility.
I will now be concentrating on writing reviews and features here on the Pure Pop Radio website. Soon, I will be presenting a multipart salute to Klaatu’s classic Sir Army Suit album, which was released 40 years ago this month. You’ll be treated to in-depth audio interviews with the band members
The music reviewer’s job, the same as it ever was, is to paint a picture with words that convince you that an album either isn’t worth a scintilla of your time (which, of course, we don’t do here) or should rise to the top of your must-buy list. So, we talk about an artist’s influences and how he or she fits into the scheme of things that matter to you and yours. Are the songs good? Are they catchy? Do they matter?
Now Playing in Rotation on Pure Pop Radio: “Ride the Wind,” “All in the City,” “Two to Tango,” “Free,” “What Am I Gonna Do (Lunar City Heartache),” and “Yesterday Man”
The Davenports’ Scott Klass joined me for a typically in-depth hour on the July 18 edition of Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation to talk about his wonderful new album, Don’t Be Mad at Me, another feather in the Davenports’ cap. That’s a particularly apt way to describe a collection of 10 melodically-charged, literate pop songs gathered under one roof.
The Playlist:
