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 all rose to the challenge,” Terry Draper says about “Calling Occupants (Of Interplanetary Craft),” Klaatu’s momentous signature song that opened the band’s debut album, 3:47 E.S.T., but he might as well have been referring to Sir Army Suit, the Canadian trio’s triumphant third album, released in August 1978 and now celebrating its 40th anniversary.
The challenge Terry, John Woloschuk and Dee Long were faced with, as they gathered to work on Sir Army Suit–really no challenge at all–was to write and record relatively short radio-friendly songs that would increase Klaatu’s marketplace footprint. And with wonderful nuggets such as “Juicy Luicy,” a catchy disco parody; “Tokeymor Field,” a hummable soft-pop romantic romp inspired by the music of the Young Rascals; and “Older,” a rocker about making time count before it’s gone, success should have been a fait accompli. And it was, for fans who held 3:47 E.S.T. and Hope, Klaatu’s previous two albums, dear.
Welcome, then, the year 1978, in which a number of influential, or simply beloved, albums were released, from the Who’s Who Are You, Warren Zevon’s Excitable Boy, and the Police’s Outlandos d’Amour to the Talking Heads’ More Songs About Buildings and Food, the Cars’ self-titled debut, and Bruce Springsteen’s Darkness on the Edge of Town. For melodic pop fans, and especially for fans for whom the Beatles are dearest, Klaatu’s diverse, thoroughly enjoyable third album, Sir Army Suit, was also king upon its release in August.
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.
Klaatu’s John Woloschuk
Alan Haber’s Pure Pop Radio is the original 24-hour Internet radio station playing the greatest melodic pop music from the ’60s to today. From the Beatles to the Monkees, the Posies, McPherson Grant, the Connection and the New Trocaderos, we play the hits and a whole lot more. Tune in by clicking on one of the listen links below.
Pure Pop Radio’s got you covered this week; our specialty shows are sizzling with melodic pop power! What’s in store? We’ve got two major Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation shows, a classic spin of treasured vinyl on Brian Bringelson’s Needle Meets Vinyl, and a hot-button edition of the Beatles roundtable, Things We Said Today.
Wrapping up this week’s run of Pure Pop Radio specialty shows, our panel of Beatles experts–Ken Michaels, Steve Marinucci, Al Sussman and Allan Kozinn–juggles a trio of timely topics on an all-new Things We Said Today this Thursday night at 8 pm ET. The learned quartet discusses the interplay of influences between the Beatles, the Beach Boys and Bob Dylan; the in-depth discussion, available online, about all things Fab with author Mark Lewisohn and TV personality and talk show host Conan O’Brien; and Philip Norman’s book Paul McCartney: The Life. The book is viewed by Ken and his cohorts as a mixed bag as far as quality is concerned; this is sure to be a controversial program.
Klaatu’s John Woloschuk talks to Alan Haber on tonight’s exclusive, all-new edition of Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation. Make a note: This very special program airs tonight, Wednesday, November 18 at a very special time: 9 pm ET (6 pm PT), after Brian Bringelson’s Needle Meets Vinyl, which will also air at a special time: 7:30 pm ET (4:30 pm PT).
