Every weekday between 1 and 5pm we play tracks from our #spotlightartist. They’re an artist with a body of work which has stood the test of time. We’ll play the hits – but also some deep cuts. Listen ad-free through New Zealand via @tunein at https://goo.gl/VL6m3NS
One of the biggest touring rock and roll bands in the US during the 1970s, you don’t really hear much from this band now, apart from their ubiquitous single “Centrefold”. Peter Wolf led a tough bar band who were hugely popular live but struggled to win in the singles chart. Often good songs like “Give It To Me” didn’t quite turn out to be as strong in the studio as they were live.
“Centrefold” changed all that, hitting no. 1 in the US singles charts in early 1982 and staying there for six weeks. Unfortunately tensions between Wolf and Seth Justman (the main songwriter) led to the band’s demise soon after. We’ll check out some of their lesser known tracks this week as well as big ones like “Love Stinks” (later featured in the film The Wedding Singer).
We don’t always agree with Pitchfork reviews, but 
Rüfüs Du Sol – Treat You Better
Richard Ashcroft – That’s When I Feel It
Billie Eilish – When The Party’s Over
NEIKED – How Did I Find You (feat. Miriam Bryant)
Openside – Work Out
Florence + The Machine formed in 2007, featuring Florence Welch on lead vocals, with Isabella “Machine” Summers and other collaborators. Archetypal Indie rock, Florence’s belting vocals are an outstanding feature. This week we’ll enjoy music from their initial 2009 album Lungs, Ceremonials (2011) and How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful (2015). Their most recent album High As Hope from a couple of months ago is still in rotation and was an Album of the Week a couple of months ago. A very consistent band with a great repertoire already.
Meg Mac – Give Me My Name Back
Jess Glynne – Thursday
Ella Mai – Whatchamacallit (ft. Chris Brown)
Maggie Rogers – Light On
Sia – I’m Still Here
Most of us probably know Chris de Burgh solely for his smash hit “Lady In Red”. This hit the top ten in at least nineteen countries in 1986 and has been a staple of Adult Contemporary radio and ‘Love Song’ compilations ever since. “Don’t Pay The Ferryman” from 1983 saw him make his first foray into the Top 40 in the UK and USA, yet Chris had been plying his trade since he signed his first recording contract in 1974, gaining exposure supporting Supertramp on tour. Intriguingly his 1970s albums were pretty successful in Europe and South America, but he failed to make much progress in the UK and USA. He was actually born in Argentina to a British Dad and Irish Mum, and lived in a variety of countries before settling in Ireland. He is described as an ‘art rocker’ who occasionally writes some pop material. We think you’ll enjoy listening to a selection of his quality music this week, from through his career.
Some of the highlights of Loving The Alien include two double-disk concert albums, a remake of Never Let Me Down (1987 album) and a bunch of dance mixes. We’ll highlight some of our favourite tracks off the box set from this master musician this week.
Abby Wolfe – Win You Over
Mountain Boy – 52
Mitch James – Old News
Yumi Zouma – Powder Blue / Cascine Park
Mel Parsons – I Got The Lonely
British acts started getting some exposure in the US in 1962, with three acts including “Telstar” by The Tornados reaching No 1 on the Hot 100. The term really belongs to the era beginning in late 1963 when disk jockeys began playing “I Want To Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles. This spawned a massive craze known as Beatlemania, surfed by other British acts including The Animals, The Rolling Stones, Searchers and Zombies. We’ll enjoy a range of great songs from this era this week in our “Spotlight Artist” slot.