By Alan Haber – Pure Pop Radio
The Davenports’ Scott Klass brings melodic joy and talk to this week’s Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation, and the new single from the Weeklings powers an all-new edition of Alan Haber’s Pop Tunes Deejay Show. In other words, it’s another wonderful week of catchy pop on Pure Pop Radio’s specialty shows.
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.
The lovely title song, one of my favorites from Klass’s esteemed catalog, and one of the finest melodic pop songs in recent memory, barely scratches the surface of the joys that this album brings. “I Don’t Know What to Do,” a miraculous Klass and David Myhr cowrite, and the first single, a fine ballad called “Where Shall We Hang Elena?”, are two more gems that will no doubt burrow in your brain upon first listen.
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.
Don’t miss this week’s Pure Pop Radio specialty shows, broadcast as always on Pop that Goes Crunch Radio. Also make note of Pure Pop Radio’s 24-hour stream of the greatest melodic pop in the universe from the ’60s, ’70s and today; click on the Live 365 Listen Now button below to take our mix for a spin. Enjoy!
Pure Pop Radio’s signature shows, Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation (Wednesday, 9 pm ET) and Alan Haber’s Pop Tunes Deejay Show (Thursday, 8 pm ET), air exclusively on Pop that Goes Crunch Radio.
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!
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 
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.
David talks to me about a trip he took from Sweden to the United States, during which he met with his co-writers to come up with snappy songs, some of which appear on Lucky Day. Did you know that, in addition to being a heralded songwriter, David is also a senior lecturer at a music university in the north of Sweden? You’ll hear all about this during the hour. Plus you’ll find out about the big surprise in store for folks who purchase the CD version of Lucky Day!
Alan Haber’s Pop Tunes Deejay Show shifts to once-a-week status beginning this Thursday night, May 17. Thursday nights will kick off at our usual time, 8 pm ET on Pop that Goes Crunch, with super-sized episodes that you won’t want to miss. This week, we’ve got the world radio premiere of Vanilla’s new recording, a spirited cover of the Small Faces’ “Itchykoo Park,” which features none other than Strangely Alright’s Regan Lane.
Plus, you’ll hear new tracks from TSAR’s Jeff Whalen; Astral Drive, which out-Rundgrens Todd Rundgren; Al Shields and the Delahayes; We Are Muffy; the Kennedys; the Tearaways; Gretchen’s Wheel; Rob Bonfiglio; Scot Sax; Seth Timbs; Simon Love; the Electricoke, from the new ’80s-themed compilation, Back in Time; and a choice Beatles cover from the Quick (their 1976 album, Mondo Deco, will soon see reissue from Real Gone Music). And, if that weren’t enough, my snappy deejay patter! It’s an exceptional hour-plus of great melodic pop music.
By Alan Haber – Pure Pop Radio
Airing this Wednesday night at 9 pm ET on Pop that Goes Crunch Radio, my interview with Michael tackles The Two Sided Face, the Supahip’s followup to 2007’s debut, Seize the World. A mix of rock and roll, pop and country influences fuels this fun collection from Michael and Mark Moldre, who entered the studio each day without a written song to sing; by the end of each day, a song was written, performed and mixed. Working without a net has never sounded so good.
Two all-new editions of Alan Haber’s Pop Tunes Deejay Show roll tomorrow and Thursday night at 8 pm ET. A catchy pure melodic pop song from ex-Jellyfisher Roger Joseph Manning Jr.’s upcoming EP Glamping and a lovely new midtempo popper from the always great Gilbert O’Sullivan shine tomorrow night during a show that also features the latest from the Connection’s Brad Marino; Simon Love; Wilson; Blake Jones and the Trike Shop; McPherson Grant; the Ice Cream Conspiracists; the Supahip; Carpenter, Smith and Jones; David Myhr; the Quick; Lane Steinberg, and Soft Hearted Scientists.
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!
By Alan Haber – Pure Pop Radio
This Wednesday, April 18, at 9 pm ET, Anton Barbeau guests on an all-new edition of Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation to talk about his latest album, the fantastic Natural Causes. You’ll hear Anton wax poetic about three of the songs on the album: the wild and woolly “It’s the Coffee that Makes the Man Go Mad,” “Down Around the Radio,” and a remake of “Creepy Tray,” which first appeared as an upbeat bubblegum track on Anton’s 1999 release, Splendid Tray, and is recast in a new version as…well, you’ll have to listen to find out. It’s a truly heartfelt story.
The first of two all-new Alan Haber’s Pop Tunes Deejay Shows rolls tomorrow night at 8 pm ET with new spins from Wilson, the Ice Cream Conspiracists, Secret Friend, the Connection, Lannie Flowers, and Scot Sax, whose new album, Drawing from Memory, is one of the highlights of this year’s crop of melodic pop releases.
On this week’s all-new Pure Pop Radio: In Conversation, Michael Simmons (sparkle*jets u.k., Yorktown Lads, Popdudes) summons sweet summer vibes as he talks to me about his just-released top-pop platter, First Days of Summer.
During this hour-long show, we take a tour through Michael’s musical history and hear all about how he wrote and produced his new songs. First Days of Summer is a spectacular album, no matter the season; join us to hear all about it. (9 pm ET, Wednesday, April 11).
Two new hour-long Alan Haber’s Pop Tunes Deejay Shows spin this week. Tomorrow (Tuesday) night at 8 pm ET, new and new-to-you tracks will be spun from Roy Wood, The Tubes and Olivia Newton-John, David Myhr (the fourth song from his upcoming Lucky Day album), Daisy House, The Junior League, Lannie Flowers (in full Beatlesque mode), McPherson Grant (a lovely new number), The Grand Leve (featuring Longplayer’s Göran Hjerstedt), Bryan Estepa and Coke Belda (a catchy George Michael cover), and more. Plus, my snappy deejay patter!
Secret Friend’s new record, The Divorce Album, releases this Friday, April 6. It may well be the ultimate breakup long player, but it sounds like a happy, peppy pop album, and I predict it will be a favorite of many pop fans this year. Falling somewhere sound-wise between Secret Friend’s expansive second album, Sleeper, and the Linus of Hollywood-produced pure pop debut, Time Machine, The Divorce Album serves up six Fox-written and produced songs and six reinventions of those songs produced by other artists. It’s a fascinating approach, heady lyrically but effervescent musically. It’s a clear winner by an artist not afraid to stretch and keep things interesting.
The first of two Pop Tunes Deejay Shows airs tomorrow night, Tuesday, at 8 pm ET. Don McLean kicks things off with the complete version of his hard-to-beat-after-all-these-years classic “American Pie.” Also on the agenda: new and recent top tracks from Adrian Whitehead, Ian Thompson, The Gold Needles, Jeff Litman, Farrington, Magpie, and more top sounds from across the decades.
We’re back with another Pop Tunes Deejay Show this Thursday night at 8 pm ET. All Day Sucker’s classic 2004 track “Get High” leads this packed show, which features new and new-to-you spins from Matt Bruno, Roger Klug, Crime Scene, Michael Simmons, Lord High Admirals, Fireproof Sam and the Network Stars, Dropkick, The Orange Peels, Radio Days, and TC&I (XTC’s Colin Moulding and Terry Chambers). And more, too, including my snappy deejay patter!