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'80s sophisti-pop

English rock band Roxy Music in concert at Wembley Arena in London, England, during their Avalon Tour, September 1982. Guitarist Phil Manzanera is on the left, with bass player Alan Spenner behind him, and singer Bryan Ferry on the right.
English rock band Roxy Music in concert at Wembley Arena in London, England, during their Avalon Tour, September 1982. Guitarist Phil Manzanera is on the left, with bass player Alan Spenner behind him, and singer Bryan Ferry on the right. Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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by Jake Rudh

August 11, 2023

It's no secret that I'm a massive fan of the soft and smooth sounds of '70s and '80s yacht rock it's why I celebrate it on these airwaves each and every summer. Well something else I like to celebrate annually on The Current is the smooth and soft sounds of '80s classic alternative artists, aka sophisti-pop, and it just happens to be that this is the week. So get ready to turn down the lights and turn up the Sade, Bryan Ferry, Simply Red and more this Thursday night, as we sophisticate the world of pop music '80s style.

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