The Junipers’ Robyn Gibson pops by Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation tomorrow to chat about his (in our words) “buoyant exercise in the art of homage,” Bob of the Pops Vol. 1. We’re so excited for you to hear this rather charming conversation that we’re airing it twice tomorrow, May 31: noon and 8 pm (both times ET).
Bob of the Pops Vol. 1 gathers together 14 glorious, sweetly-sung covers of some of Robyn’s favorite songs from (mostly) the 1960s and 1970s. These mostly reverent renditions of such beloved chestnuts as The Beatles’ “Nowhere Man,” The Who’s “I Can’t Reach You,” and The Hollies’ “Listen to Me” star in this collection that is a free download on Bandcamp (run, don’t walk!).
Robyn says fun is the point of these recordings, and he’s absolutely right–if you close your eyes, you can actually feel the fun just dripping from these covers of some of the greatest pop songs of all time. You’ll hear all about how Robyn approached recording and a whole lot more.
As a bonus, and to whet your appetite for Bob of the Pops Vol. 2, which will be available from Futureman Records before you know it, you’ll hear Robyn talk about one of the tracks contained therein: his version of The Dukes of Stratosphear’s “Vanishing Girl” (sounding so much like The Hollies). Bring it on!
Don’t miss The Junipers’ Robyn Gibson talking with me on Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation about Bob of the Pops Volumes 1 and 2, tomorrow at both noon ET and 8 pm ET. See you on the radio.
Did you also know that Brian has a new band with Oliver Lieber, son of rock royalty classic songwriter Jerry Lieber (of Lieber and Stoller fame)? Well, he does, and the band’s called The Bayonets. Their smashing new album, Crash Boom Bang!, an exciting expansion (two extra tracks!) of the 2014 self-released collection, comes out on May 17 on JEM Records. The packaging, by the way, is also smashing.
Brian sits in with me tonight, Tuesday, May 9, at 9 pm ET to talk about how he met Oliver and decided to form The Bayonets. Brian also waxes poetic about songwriting and, in particular, lyric writing. You’ll hear two -pop-rockin’ songs from Crash Boom Bang!, “Sucker for Love” and the Rolling Stones-y slow burner, “Cotton Candy.” Hooks galore are in store. (We’re currently playing both of these songs, plus many others, in rotation; check our review and song list coming soon.)
This being a short week, what with Thanksgiving looming large in our legend (your obligatory George Harrison reference for today), we’ve got just two, tasty specialty shows for you, sure to spice up any festive holiday spread (and let us not forget, our music library is 9,100-plus tunes strong).
Tonight’s all-new episode of Jammin’ James Riley’s Catching a Wave (8 pm ET) serves up a potpourri of summertime sounds from such artists as Dick Dale, Kylie Hughes, the Monkees, Papa Doo Run Run, the Explorers Club, and Dion. Wax up your surfboards and tune in to feel the warmth of the musical summer sun.
Tomorrow night’s first-run Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation (8 pm ET) finds Alan Haber catching up with Beatlefan Executive Editor Al Sussman in a wide-ranging 90-plus minute show during which the topic is songs that hit and should have hit number one in the years 1964-1969. Al looks at each song played during the show from a historical perspective, touching on its popularity and the reasons why it made the chart grade, or almost hit the mark. If you’re a chart history buff, this is a must-listen-to episode.
Looking ahead to December (we simply can’t believe the year is only 41 days from becoming 2017), we’ve got our third annual Holiday Popapalooza coming up. We’ll be spinning Christmas pop songs from noon on December 24 through to the last moments of Christmas day. You’ll hear all kinds of pop and roll from across the decades, including new releases such as a sprightly holiday tune from Somerdale, just signed to the Jem Records label. And, of course, your favorite pop artists will check in with custom holiday IDs to help make your season merry.
Al Sussman, Beatlefan executive editor and co-host of the weekly Beatles roundtable Things We Said Today, heard here on Pure Pop Radio, returns to Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation next Tuesday, November 22 at 8 pm ET to talk about classic chart hits and near hits.
Two of the hottest releases of the year are discussed by two of the most beloved melodic pop groups working today on this week’s sparkling pair of Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation episodes.
Tomorrow night, Tuesday, November 15 at 8 pm ET, the Legal Matters converge on our In Conversation microphones to talk to Alan Haber about their brand-new, hall-of-fame album, Conrad. Andy Reed, Chris Richards, and Keith Klingensmith provide the in-depth background on an album that sets a new standard for vocal harmonies. You’ll hear three songs and the stories behind them, including the remarkable “Lull and Bye.”
The Nines’ Steve Eggers joins Alan this Wednesday, November 16 at 9 pm ET to go in-depth on his new album Alejandro’s Visions, a lovely tribute to the song styles that fuel the Great American Songbook, doo-wop, Beach Boys-styled harmonies, Jeff Lynne, the Four Freshman and other touchstones. Three songs will be spun, and you’ll find out which records might surprise you if you were able to look through Steve’s record collection!
And now, to get our week’s worth of programming off and running, we’re pleased as punch to announce that Pure Pop Radio is the first affiliate to air tonight’s all-new edition of Ken Michaels’ Beatles get-together, Every Little Thing, starring the Weeklings. Ken talks to the Weeklings themselves and plays two sparkling tracks from the group’s new album, Studio 2, which comes out this Friday via Jem Records. Also on tap tonight, beginning at 8 pm ET: the usual top-flight group of songs from the Beatles, from their group and solo years.
Make a nice sandwich and pour a hot cup of soup in time to check in with Pop 4’s Scott McPherson on Wednesday, November 16 at 1 pm ET. On this week’s edition of The Weird and the Wonderful, Scott will be spinning a selection of songs that wear their influences on their sleeves. Tracks from Elvis Costello, the Spongetones, Teenage Fanclub, XTC, the Sugarplastic, the Fraternal Order of the All (aka Andrew Gold and friends), and the Cowsills are just the collective tip of the musical iceberg on Scott’s seventh show, with tons more shows to come.
Winding up this week’s specialty show lineup is our esteemed panel of Beatles experts on an all-new edition of Things We Said Today, the premiere Fabs roundtable. This week, Ken Michaels, Steve Marinucci, Al Sussman and Allan Kozinn talk about the Beatles and politics, and discuss Paul McCartney’s latest soundtrack song: Does our panel feel that “In the Blink of an Eye,” featured in the new animated film, Ethel and Ernest, makes the grade? Tune in and find out.