Show overview
PURE with Howard Thompson launched in 2025 and has put out 146 episodes in the time since. That works out to roughly 450 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a several-times-a-week cadence.
Episodes typically run over ninety minutes — most land between 2h 56m and 3h 12m — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language Music show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 1 months ago, with 28 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2025, with 118 episodes published. Published by Howard Thompson, WPKN.
From the publisher
Airing twice a month on WPKN 89.5FM Bridgeport! howard loves all kinds of music and has collected records ever since his uncle gave him Rock Around The Clock as a 6th birthday present howard worked in the music biz so he could get more free records and meet wondrous people howard made records with Adam & the Ants, Alan Vega, Angel Corpus Christi, Aswad, Barb Jungr, Billy Bragg, Danny Gatton, Eddie & the Hot Rods, the Georgia Satellites, Hamell On Trial, Herb Alpert, Ian Hunter, John Campbell, Judy Tenuta, ManBreak, Motörhead, Peter C Johnson, the Prissteens, the Psychedelic Furs, Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3, Roky Erickson & the Aliens, Rubén Blades, Sally Oldfield, Sara Hickman, Scatterbrain, the Screaming Blue Messiahs, the Slits, the Star Spangles, the Sugarcubes, Susan Fassbender, Tulipomania, Victor DeLorenzo, Yellowman and 10,000 Maniacs to name a few. He was the first to release records by MX-80 Sound, the Real Kids and Suicide in Europe and th’ Faith Healers, the Gipsy Kings, Happy Mondays, Paul Young, the Sisters Of Mercy, and Wham! in the USA howard joined WPKN in May 2010 and is grateful to Steve di Costanzo and Peter Bochan for letting him in. Terry Hopper too, for giving up an hour of The Quest to see if it could work howard thinks Bob Dylan should be President, and ‘Poison’ Ivy Rorschach should be Vice-President
Latest Episodes
View all 146 episodesPURE "Strictly Beans" (for Michael B)
Gone Fishin'
"Mikki's Room, Purely"
PURE PROG
"Fire & Water"
PURE - "Strictly Vegetables"
PURE - "Strictly Stupid"
"Lou Reed, songwriter"
"Catch A Wave" fundraiser (Music Only)
Bob Dylan 85th Birthday Fundraiser (Music Only)
"7"
Ep 136"Women Who Play"
“Women Who Play”Enya: Pax DeorumNico: It Has Not Taken Long Joni Mitchell: Shadows And Light Chicken Shack: I’d Rather Go Blind Björk: Álfur Út Úr Hól Kim Deal: Are You MineDelia Derbyshire: Dr. Who ThemeAnne Müller: Serenade at 2 Julia Holter: Hello StrangerKathryn Tickell & The Side: Penguin NotesLaura Nyro: Up On the Roof Molly Lewis: Whistling in the DarkJuana Molina: Sin DonesTori Amos: I Don’t Like Mondays Moe Tucker: HeroinVictoria Williams: Sweet Jane (w/Lou Reed)Dean & Britta: Not A Young Man Anymore (My Robot Friend Remix) Tom Tom Club: Femme FataleAngel Corpus Christi: The Day John Kennedy DiedRickie Lee Jones: Walk On The Wild SideThe Velvet Underground: Foggy NotionLaurie Anderson: Sharkey’s DayJosephine Foster: I’m a DreamerDave Alvin & The Guilty Women: Downey GirlBridget St. John: NiceBonnie Raitt: Love Has No PrideThe Cramps: Hard Workin' ManKate St. John: Don’t They Know You've GoneAnoushka Shankar: LasyaRachelle Garniez: My Sister and I Bela Fleck & Evelyn Glennie: Presto in G Minor after BachKate Bush: Eat the MusicFrank Zappa & The Mothers: The Dog Breath Variations/Uncle Meat Sheila E: Leader of the Band (feat. Prince & The E Family) Samantha Fish: Runaway The Deadly Nightshade: No Chicken TodayMacy Gray: Let You Win Viv Albertine: If LoveWet Leg: Don’t SpeakThe Slits: Typical GirlsMary Lattimore: Your Birthday at the HuntingtonThe Bangles: Bitchen Summer (Speedway)The She Trinity: He Fought The LawSonny & Cher: The Beat Goes On The Liverbirds: Talking About You Anna Calvi: Ghost Rider Lita Ford: Kiss Me DeadlyThe B-52’s: Love Shack The Cramps: Human FlyTalking Heads: Psycho KillerThe Courettes: Better Without You The Prissteens: Are You ReadyThe 5.6.7.8s: Roadrunner (partial)
Ep 135"Incoming"
“Incoming” (broadcast 2/2/24)Viktor Orri Árnason & Álfheiður Erla Guðmundsdóttir: RöddDaniel Herskedal: TunnelCody Jinks: Sober ThingBrian Protheroe: PinballJJ Cale: MagnoliaGeorgie Fame: Everlovin’ WomanLuna: Friendly AdviceMark Knopfler: Ahead Of The GameRobyn Hitchcock: RatsJohn Craigie: Pagan ChurchStackridge: The Road To VenezuelaWreckless Eric: VeronicaRy Cooder: Dark End Of The StreetDylan Aucoin & The Judice Ramblers: The Prison Of Her MemoryBedsit Poets: London Town Linda Lewis: Hampstead Way Cilla Black: London BridgeNeil Young: Mother EarthTony Trischka w/Billy Strings: Brown’s Ferry BluesMarcia Griffiths & Lloyd Charmers: Play MeAce: How LongGurf Morlix: Spare ChangeIan Gomm: Hold OnBrinsley Schwarz: The Ugly ThingsMick Ronson: Billy PorterRoxy Music: A Really Good TimeBryan Ferry: The 'In' Crowd The Stranglers: (Get A) Grip (On Yourself)Curve: Fait AccompliJD McPherson: White Light/White HeatScott H. Biram: No Man's LandThe Black Crowes: Wanting and WaitingNick Cave & Deborah Harry: On the Other SideLuna: Satellite of LoveDave Edmunds: Need A Shot Of Rhythm 'n' BluesJeff Cotton: On The ThreadHawkwind: EjectionThe Jesus and Mary Chain: jamcod (clean)The Courettes: SHAKE!Prince Fatty: Expansions Dub (feat. Shniece McMenamin)
Ep 134"'22 Clean Up"
“22 Clean-Up” (broadcast 1/20/23)Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders: Movements 2-5 (ft. London Symphony Orch.) Peter Ivers, David Lynch & Alan R Splet: In Heaven (The Lady In The Radiator) Morningface: Sharpening Knives In Heaven (ft. The League of Sonic Discovery)David Bowie: The Bewlay Brothers (2021 Alternative Mix) Marianne Faithfull: The Calm Before The Storm Van Der Graaf Generator: Go Chris Canterbury: Felt the Same Emma Swift: Give Me Strength Robyn Hitchcock: Midnight Tram To NowhereThe Pretty Things: Sickle Clowns Russell Hunter station ID #1The Deviants: Deviation Street Mark Bingham: The Coffle Rolls Ashley McBryde, Brandy Clark, Caylee Hammack, Pillbox Patti: Bonfire At Tina'sGIVĒON: Time (from the film Amsterdam)Ashley McBryde, Benjy Davis: Gospel Night At The Strip Club Addie Brik: Retromingent Jim Keller: 'til The Water Drinks My Bones Loudon Wainwright III: Saw Your Name In The PaperBjörk: Sorrowful SoilPublic Image Ltd: Hawaii SSVU: David Lynch Has a Painting Made of Flies EyesDubmatix station IDDubmatix & The Hempolics: Crazy Days King Princess: Crowbar Devil Devil Love: Break-in' For You Adeem the Artist: Heritage of ArroganceDevil Devil Love: In The Pocket Of Big WendyLCD Soundsystem: new body rhumba (from the film White Noise) Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton: Feelin' Good Bob Weir: Greatest Story Ever Told (feat. Tyler Childers) [Live]the red propellers: behind the yellow line Spiritualized: Sad Days Lonely Nights HeadCat: Rock 'n' Roll Will Save You (live) Ian Hunter: Bed Of Roses
Ep 133"Doo Wop" w/special guest, Chuck Citrin
"DooWop" w/special guest Chuck Citrin (broadcast 3/21/14)The Four Vagabonds: Rosie the Riveter Screamin' Jay Hawkins: Why Did You Waste My Time? The Five Keys: Rocking and Crying Blues The Three Chuckles w/Teddy Randazzo: Runaround The Five Blue Notes: Ooh Baby Drifters (ft. Clyde McPhatter): Lucille Billy Ward & The Dominoes (ft. Jackie Wilson): I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town Tempo Toppers (ft. Little Richard): AlwaysWhispers: Fool Heart Diamonds: Cherry Vernon Green & The Medallions: Buick '59 Flairs: This is the Night for Love Shirley Gunter & The Queens: Oop Shoop The Five Blue Notes: My Gal is GoneElvis Presley: Good Rocking' Tonight Young Jessie: Mary Lou The Cadillacs: Let Me Explain Leaders: Stormy Weather Robins: If Teardrops Were Kisses Moroccos: Red Hots and Chili Mac Joe Weaver & the Don Juans: Baby I Love You SoThe Velours: My Love, Come Back Little Richard: True Fine Mama The Paragons: FlorenceClarence ‘Bad Boy’ Palmer & the Jive Bombers: Cherry Del-Vikings: Hey Señorita Joe Therrien jr. & the Rockets: Hey Babe, Let's Go Downtown The Rob-Roys: AudryDesires: Hey Lena Students: My Vow To YouThe Mothers Of Invention: Go Cry On Somebody Else’s Shoulder The Persuasions: Papa Oom Mow Mow The Channels: You Promised Me Love
Ep 132"PURE w/howard thompson & Kevin Patrick"
"PURE w/howard thompson & Kevin Patrick" (broadcast 3/18/16)Eddie & The Hot Rods: Do Anything You Wanna Do 3:56Loretta Lynn & Conway Twitty: You're the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly 2:30MX-80 Sound: You're Not Alone 3:36Suicide: Cheree 3:40Motorhead: Tear Ya Down 2:39The Psychedelic Furs: Pretty In Pink 3:56Adam & the Ants: Kings Of The Wild Frontier 3:49X: See How We AreMarianne Faithfull: Losing 3:47 Aswad: Ways Of The Lord 3:49John Mayall: Sensitive Kind 5:1410,000 Maniacs: Scorpio Rising 3:11The Sisters of Mercy: This Corrosion 4:22The Cramps: Mean Machine 3:54Sweet: Fox On The Run 3:21The Sugarcubes: Birthday 3:57Lo Fidelity Allstars: Battleflag 3:55Wheatus: Teenage Dirtbag 4:01Danny Gatton: Harlem Nocturne 4:46 Billy Bragg: Help Save The Youth Of America 2:46Suede: Trash 4:02The Georgia Satellites: Keep Your Hands to Yourself 3:22
Ep 131"The Old, The New & The Timeless"
"The Old, The New & The Timeless" (broadcast on 11/17/23)Porcupine Tree: HallogalloBilly Strings, Molly Tuttle: Listen To The RadioMary Lee Kortes: The Music Got Me Here Mary Lee Kortes: Born A Happy GirlMary Lee Kortes: Big ThingsJohnny Ruiz & the Escapers: SorryAmerican Beauties: The RainGary Lucas & John Cale: Peter LorreTulipomania: You Had To Be ThereThe Vacant Lots: DestructionHeartworms: May I ComplyOmar & The Howlers: Crackin’ Up The Mommyheads: Learning To LiveSam Frazier: Cabbage ManKelly Hunt: You Make Me HighVerneri Pohjola: Avance!Brinsley Schwarz: Ever Since You're Gone Smokey Robinson: I Wanna Know Your BodyEmma Swift: I Contain MultitudesThe Kinks: Dedicated Follower Of FashionLindisfarne: We Can Swing TogetherFamily: My Friend the Sun Van Morrison: Two Hound DogsWreckless Eric: Standing Sunday MorningWizzard: See My Baby JiveThe Flamin' Groovies: You Tore Me DownRaspberries: Play On Dwight Twilley Band: I’m On FireMartin Rev: DreamsSuicide: Rocket USA Television: FrictionThe Girls: Jeffrey I Hear YouMX-80: Some Day You'll Be King X: White GirlThe Courettes: Non Ti Lascero (Won't Let You Go)Bilk: RNRBrian Setzer: Girl On The BillboardJoecephus & The George Jonestown Massacre: Sister Anne (ft. Jeff Clayton, Ruyter Suys)Bilk: RNR
Ep 130"Recent Gems" (2017)
“Recent Gems” (broadcast 3/3/17)Soundwalk Collective w/Jesse Paris Smith/Patti Smith: Evening of Light 4:50 Mikel Rouse: Inside the Waste of Time 10:13Simon Fisher Turner: Stem Jars 1:34The Necks: Blue Mountain 20:49Kid Koala w/Emiliana Torrini: Nightfall Pale Blue 2:48Mark Dagley: Uranus Hill Fantasy 3:48Throttle Elevator Music: Playing The Alleyway 5:21Bruce Wooley & Polly Scattergood: Video Killed The Radio Star 4:01Mark Eitzel: An Answer 4:33 David Houston: Almost Persuaded 2:54Alison Krauss: You Don't Know Me 4:16John Prine w/Peter Cooper: I Sang The Song 3:34The Ancient Order of Froth Blowers: Kentish Town Song 4:12 Beránci a Vlci: Isli, Isli 2:56 Queen Ifrica: Lie Dem Ah Tell 3:31 The Heptones: Love Has Many Faces 3:06The Beat (feat. Ranking Roger): On My Way 2:58Madness: Mr Apples 3:32Pete Fowler: One Heart One Song 3:21The Sir Douglas Band: Texas Tornado 2:52Gene Casey: Tony Joe White 4:18JD McPherson: A Little Respect 3:44Delbert McClinton & Self-Made Men: Middle of Nowhere 3:11Robyn Hitchcock: Autumn Sunglasses 5:02 Chuck Prophet: In the Mausoleum (After Alan Vega) 3:46Alan Vega: Video Babe 3:17Ray Davies: Poetry 5:01The Weeklings: Don't Know, Don't Care 2:17The Standells: Try It 2:44Frank Turner: The Sand In the Gears (Live) 3:55Randy Thompson: 33rd Of August 4:32The Godfathers: Till My Heart Stops Beating 4:00Dan Baird & Homemade Sin: Licka Sense 3:54
Ep 129"The Clean Up" (2016)
"The Clean Up" (2016) (broadcast 1/20/17)Nick Lowe: (What's so Funny 'bout) Peace, Love & Understanding (live) Joe Purdy: Kristine Gillian Welch: Paper Wings (Alternate Mix) CeCe Winans: LowlyKathryn Tickell: Water Of Tyne (instr.) Jimmy Scott: For Once In My Live (w/Dee Dee Bridgewater) David Bowie: No Plan Sandy Rogers: Good Dog Nouvelle Vague: Algo Familiar Dr. John Cooper Clarke & Hugh Cornwell: Sweeter Than You MX-80 Sound: So Funny Honeyblood: Ready For The Magic Jungle Fire: La Kossa Rebop Kwaku Baah (feat. Chris Wood): Zagapam (alt. version) Randy Newman: Putin Spanner Big Band: One On One Dan Montgomery: Come In Here Wayne Hancock: Slingin' Rhythm Frankie Miller: Gold Shoes (feat. Francis Rossi) Delbert McClinton & the Self-Made Men: Don't Do It The Western Sizzlers: Black Rose Thievery Corporation: Letter to The Editor (ft. Racquel Jones) Die Antwoord: Gucci Coochie Run The Jewels: Panther Like a Panther (Miracle mix) [ft Trina]Julie's Haircut: Gabbro (reprise) The Vacant Lots: Verschwinden The Early Years: Fluxus Josefin Öhrn + The Liberation: Imagine You Pye Audio Corner: At the Heart of Stasis Flaming Lips: There Should Be Unicorns The Lucid Dream: Nadir Neu!: Hero Hawkwind: Silver Machine Iggy Pop: Gold Sleaford Mods: BHS Throttle Elevator Music: No One To Vote For (excerpt)
Ep 128"Black History Month"... (Plus)
"Black History Month"... (Plus) (broadcast 2/20/26)"Plus" -Andy Thomas: Nothing I Wouldn't Do (For You) (feat. Dori Freeman) Andy Thomas: Little Love MachineAndy Thomas: Highway JunkieRod Stewart: Every Picture Tells A StoryRon Wood: A Certain Girl"Black History Month" -Prince: AvalancheTracy Chapman: Talkin’ Bout a RevolutionSwamp Dogg: I Was Born BlueB.B. King: Why I Sing The Blues, Pt. 1Peter Tosh: Get Up Stand UpThe Heptones: Message From A Black ManAswad: Three BabylonThe O’Jays: Ship AhoyShungudzo: It’s a Good Day (To Fight the System) Michael Kiwanuka: Black Man in A White WorldThe Equals: Police On My BackThe Chi-Lites: (For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People Harold Melvin/Blu Notes: Wake up Everybody (ft. Teddy Pendergrass)James Brown: I’m Black & I'm Proud Say It Loud (Jason Brown Remix)The Staple Singers: Why (Am I Treated So Bad)?George Perkins & The Silver Stars: Cryin’ In The Streets, Pt. 1Peter Tosh: Equal RightsLee "Scratch" Perry: Big Neck Police Jah Lion: Soldier and Police WarNeville Brothers: With God On Our SideCarolina Chocolate Drops: Political WorldMarion Williams: I Pity The Poor ImmigrantStevie Wonder: Blowin’ In The WindCurtis Mayfield: Power to the PeopleGil Scott-Heron: Pieces Of A Man2Pac: Changes [feat. Talent] KRS-One: Sound of da PolicePublic Enemy: Fight the Power (remix 2020)Peter Tosh & the Wailers: Down PressorQueen Ifrica: I Can't BreatheJimmy Cliff: Sufferin’ In The LandJanelle Monáe: Say Her Name (Hell You Talmbout) - excerpt