By Alan Haber – Pure Pop Radio
This week, we’re celebrating the 40th anniversary of Klaatu’s momentous third album, Sir Army Suit, because, as I often say, history is important. With each song, with each collection of songs that we treasure from our favorite artists, we strengthen the musical foundation that we build upon.
It is important to know where things come from. Klaatu’s Sir Army Suit came after the group’s eclectic first album, 3:47 E.S.T., and the follow-up, the orchestrated concept long player Hope. Sir Army Suit was an attempt to build on Klaatu’s strengths with shorter, radio-friendly songs sporting indelible melodies, clever chord progressions, picturesque lyrics, and creative production for the purpose of increasing the band’s marketplace footprint.
Shorter, radio-friendly songs. No problem! From the opening classic “A Routine Day” to “Perpetual Motion Machine,” a sprightly tune about acquiring the gift you didn’t know you needed, this is what Sir Army Suit delivered. Moreover, the album served up a diverse musical experience that continues to resonate with fans today.
Klaatu’s John Woloschuk, Dee Long and Terry Draper spoke to me recently about Sir Army Suit, an album they look back on fondly. Click on the photos below to hear what they have to say about one of the great melodic pop albums of our time (then right-click on the stream graphic to download each interview).
John Woloschuk looks back at Sir Army Suit
Dee Long looks back at Sir Army Suit and ahead to new music
Terry Draper takes a look at Sir Army Suit
In the spirit of our ongoing celebration of Sir Army Suit, on the occasion of the album’s 40th anniversary, we return this Friday with John, Dee and Terry each talking about three of their favorite Klaatu songs. Don’t miss it.
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. The 24-hour Pure Pop Radio stream ran from 2013 to August 25, 2018. Welcome to your number one home for coverage of the greatest melodic pop music in the universe from the ’60s to today.
We continue spreading the melodic joy on Thursday, July 12, when an all-new edition of Alan Haber’s Pop Tunes Deejay Show rolls at 8 pm ET. The contents of this show are a mystery at this time (even to me, because I haven’t recorded the show yet!). You can expect the usual mix of new and new-to-you classics from across the decades, with a special emphasis on the latest releases. It’s going to be the usual hour full of fun!
Pure Pop Radio on Live 365 plays the greatest melodic pop music from across the decades, 24 hours a day. 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!
The Quick, which featured Danny Wilde, later of the Rembrandts, as lead vocalist, were shepherded by the legendary Kim Fowley and producer and engineer Earle Mankey, who was a member of Halfnelson, which later became Sparks. The Quick’s one and only album, featuring clever arrangements and harmonies galore, pops and rocks with abandon. Danny and I talk about the origins of the Quick, recording Mondo Deco, and other topics, including how he came to get Rolling Stone Charlie Watts’ drum sticks (hint: Charlie gave them to Danny). Plus, you’ll hear three songs from Mondo Deco, including their mondo-creative cover of the Beatles’ “It Won’t Be Long.”
The Grand Leve’s self-titled album is a wonderful mix of pop-rock songs performed by Göran, Ulf Holmberg (ex-Longplayer), and Ian Haugland, the drummer for Swedish rockers Europe. Grand melodies abound in this new collection, a must for fans of melodic pop music. Göran and I talk about the Grand Leve, and survey his musical journey from his time in the hit pop band Visitors to his work with Ian in Brains Beat Beauty and his time with Ulf in Longplayer and, subsequently, the Longplayer Orchestra.
This Thursday night at 8 pm ET on Pop that Goes Crunch Radio, I’m back with another all-new edition of the Pop Tunes Deejay Show, this time around featuring the Red Button’s latest release, “Ooh Girl,” featuring Herman’s Hermits’ Peter Noone on lead vocal. You won’t want to miss this one.
The September 27 edition of Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation took on a bit of an international flavor: California popsters and husband and wife Karla Kane and Khoi Huynh from the Corner Laughers sat side-by-side with Nottingham, England’s Mark and Helen Luker, from Fun of the Pier. The lovely musical quartet joined me for a fun half-hour to talk about their new album releases that melodic pop fans will love.
Three tracks from their respective albums were spun: the lively, heartfelt song about Karla and Khoi’s daughter, “Octavia A,” from the Corner Laughers’ 2015 album, Matilda Effect; “Past/Future,” from Fun of the Pier’s lovely, new, and very first album, 14:42; and Karla’s imaginatively arranged pop song, “All Aboard,” from her about-to-be-released, fantastic solo album, King’s Daughters Home for Incurables.
During this program, you’ll find out what makes these magical, musical magicians sing, and you’ll discover exactly what Fun of the Pier’s album title means (hint: always keep batteries at hand!).
Listen to the Pop Tunes Deejay Show on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8 pm ET (two different shows every week); In Conversation airs every Wednesday night at 9 pm ET. Don’t miss a minute!
This week, Alan Haber’s Pop Tunes Deejay Show rolls out lucky show 13, and Karla Kane and The Fun of the Pier’s Mark and Helen Luker star on a sparkling international edition of Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation. And that’s not all!
Tomorrow night at 8 pm ET, The Pop Tunes Deejay Show is stocked full of some of the strongest new melodic pop releases now making waves across the musical landscape. Two new tracks in progress from Daisy House, and the latest from Carpenter Caswell, The Successful Failures and Strangely Alright play alongside tracks from Randy Newman, Coke Belda (a bonus track from the forthcoming Spanish edition of his new Bee Gees tribute), Fallon Cush and a whole lot more. Plus: my snappy deejay patter! And fear not: The Pop Tunes Deejay Show returns for another round of catchy melodic pop from across the decades this Thursday night at 8 pm ET.
Wednesday night at 9 pm ET, The Corner Laughers’ Karla Kane and Khoi Huynh and The Fun of the Pier’s Mark and Helen Luker sit in on Pure Pop Radio: Conversation to talk about their triumphant All Aboard tour, bristling with international flavor, and their latest, top-flight releases: Karla’s first solo album, King’s Daughters Home for Incurables, and The Fun of the Pier’s 14:42.
Star Time on Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation
The Pop Tunes Deejay Show is Poptastic!
We offer to you, as November gets ready to morph into December and work of a holiday nature within these hallowed halls continues apace, a trio of our regular specialty shows to keep things of all sorts on track. Your nighttime soundtrack on Pure Pop Radio? Why, we don’t mind if we do.
Tonight at 8 pm ET, Jammin’ James Riley fires off another summer-infused set of sun-drenched tunes on Catching a Wave. Perched in front of your Internet radio receptacle, you will delight in Jammin’ James’ spins from artists such as Keith Sykes, Eddie and the Showmen, Jan and Dean, the Beach Boys, Dick Dale, and many more.
For this week’s The Weird and the Wonderful, hitting the Internet airwaves at 1 pm ET on Wednesday, Scott McPherson’s gathered up quite the catchy lunchtime meal composed of catchy, top-flight songs, including sumptuous specimens from Jellyfish, Aimee Mann, Paul McCartney, KC Bowman, the Semantics, and George Harrison. Much more, too? Certainly, but you’ll have to tune in to find out the score.
Thursday night’s all-new gathering, at 8 pm ET, of our Beatles experts on Things We Said Today sees Ken Michaels, Steve Marinucci, Al Sussman and Allan Kozinn greet Chip Madinger, co-author of Lennonology, Strange Days Indeed – A Scrapbook of Madness. Chip joins in on an in-depth look at John Lennon’s Imagine album, currently celebrating its 45th anniversary.
