By Alan Haber – Pure Pop Radio
Put a guitar in Fernando Perdomo’s hands–you pick the genre–and you’ll get a performance that will knock your socks off or, alternatively, blow your mind.
Perhaps both, if you catch him on an especially good day.
Perdomo talks with me about the Laurel Canyon sound of the mid-1960s and the film that celebrates it–Echo in the Canyon, now playing at a theater near you–on this week’s all-new edition of Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation (listen below). (We also talk about the groovy soundtrack album.)
Echo in the Canyon is the glorious, passionate big-screen celebration of the Laurel Canyon sound of the mid-1960s that found music makers like the Mamas and the Papas, the Byrds and Buffalo Springfield making history and touching hearts around the world with their soon-to-be-classic recordings, waxed at some of the most famous studios in history. The film deftly spins a magical, melody-rich tale, told through interviews with iconic performers like David Crosby, Michelle Phillips, and Jackson Browne, and performances by the Echo in the Canyon band, headed by Jakob Dylan.
Perdomo, who plays in the Echo in the Canyon band along with such stellar musicians as Geoff Pearlman, Matt Tecu, and Jordan Summers, talks about how he got this golden gig and what it was like to play with such heavyweight guests as Beck, Stephen Stills, and Neil Young. The film, now playing in theaters nationwide, is memorialized on the powerful soundtrack, produced by Andrew Slater, who also directed.
The soundtrack releases on CD tomorrow, June 28, and on vinyl August 2. Thirteen classic songs are featured, including the Byrds’ “Goin’ Back,” the Mamas and the Papas’ “Go Where You Wanna Go,” and Buffalo Springfield’s “Expecting to Fly.” Here is a taste of the great sounds contained in the film and on the soundtrack:
Listen below to my in-depth interview with Fernando Perdomo, talking about the 1960s Laurel Canyon sound and this moment’s magical, musical experience, Echo in the Canyon, on this week’s all-new edition of Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation.
Listen to my interview with Fernando Perdomo about the 1960s Laurel Canyon sound memorialized in Echo in the Canyon by clicking the play button on the following player, or by clicking 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).
Be on the lookout for the announcement of the next all-new edition of Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation, coming soon.
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Listen to a wide selection of archived Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation shows by clicking here.
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. We’ve been around since the first weekly Pure Pop Radio shows, which began broadcasting in 1995, and the 24-hour Pure Pop Radio station, which ended last August.
Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation, hosted by Alan Haber, is the Internet’s premier talk show presenting melodic pop music artists in conversation about their work. New episodes appear here exclusively on the Pure Pop Radio website. Podcast versions of previously-aired episodes are archived here.
Welcome to your number one home for coverage of the greatest melodic pop music in the universe from the ’60s to today.
By Alan Haber – Pure Pop Radio
Tomorrow night (Wednesday) at 9 pm ET, the Davenports’ Scott Klass joins me for for a typically in-depth hour on the latest Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation program. The Davenports’ new album, Don’t Be Mad at Me, is another feather in the band’s cap, offering up 10 melodically-charged, literate pop songs for your listening, dancing and romancing pleasure.
An hour’s worth of songs that will also burrow in your brain will happily spin during this Thursday night’s all-new Pop Tunes Deejay Show (8 pm ET), which offers up new and new-to-you tunes from the Weeklings–a tantalizing cover of the Beatles’ “Baby, You’re a Rich Man”–and three more Weeklings classics; new tracks from Nick Piunti, Bubble Gum Orchestra, Farrington, Dana Countryman, Ginger Root, Sean Solo, Astral Drive, and Vanilla; and classics from Harpers Bizarre, Jim Boggia, Matthew Sweet and Susannah Hoffs. Plus: a fun set devoted to the music of NRBQ.
Pure Pop Radio 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!
On Thursday night at 8 pm ET, an all-new edition of Alan Haber’s Pop Tunes Deejay Show rolls with the brand new single from the Weeklings, a typically Weeklings-ized version of a Beatles tune. This time around, they’ve made “Baby, You’re a Rich Man” their own, and embedded an Easter egg–the Weeklings’ specialty–that you have to be paying close attention to catch. But don’t worry–I’ve provided a clue for you all.
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!
A brand-new, hot off the mixing board catchy nugget from Klaatu’s Terry Draper is the centerpiece of this Thursday night’s edition of Alan Haber’s Pop Tunes Deejay Show (8 pm ET). “Altitude Adjustment” is the perfect earworm for the rapidly approaching summer season; I would be surprised if you’re not singing along upon first listen. We’ve got the exclusive world premiere of this terrific new song that is slated for inclusion on an upcoming vinyl retrospective from Terry entitled In My Garden.
Klaatu alert: Dee Long’s visit to Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation, first aired November 6, 2013, zeros in on Klaatu’s classic album Sir Army Suit, which is celebrating its 40th trip around the sun this year. Tomorrow night, June 13, you will hear Dee look back at the making of Sir Army Suit and talk about three of his songs included on the album: “Everybody Took a Holiday,” “Perpetual Motion Machine,” and “Cherie.” It’s fun to go in-depth on this classic album from one of the great melodic pop bands of all time. Tune in at 9 pm ET on Pop that Goes Crunch Radio.
This Thursday night at 8 pm ET, the 56th edition of Alan Haber’s Pop Tunes Deejay Show rolls with the world premiere of Kai Danzberg’s new summer single with Dana Countryman, “My Beautiful Day.” A wonderful, tuneful celebration of all things melodic and, of course, Beach Boys-y, the song was co-written with Dana. Dana’s wife Tricia is also present with some lovely background vocals. “My Beautiful Day” will be available to purchase, and I highly recommend that you do so, from this Friday, June 15 on Kai’s 
Astral Drive finds Phil Thornalley doing most of the heavy lifting for a joyous tour de force composed of original songs that echo the catchy sounds that the Hermit of Mink Hollow made all those many years ago. Thornalley, a legendary producer and songwriter whose lengthy list of credits includes co-writing Natalie Imbruglia’s “Torn,” producing the Cure’s album Pornography when he was 21 years old, and working as an engineer at London’s RAK Studios for producers Mickie Most, Steve Lillywhite and Alex Sadkin, fell in love with Todd Rundgren’s music when he heard Todd’s song “Useless Begging.” The rest, as they say, is history.