Category: Acoustic Music

It’s Tuesday Bluesday With Our Chicago Blues EP, Elvis Presley, and Jimmy Reed In The Spotlight, November 14, 2023

It’s a bluesy kind of day here. I’m back on the floor in retail hell, unfortunately. And The Music Mermaid is holding down the fort here.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Best of Chicago Blues:Various Artists

It’s the blues from the Windy City with Otis Rush, Willie Dixon, Albert King, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Bo Diddley, Koko Taylor, Lowell Fulson, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy, Magic Slim, Sonny Boy Williamson, Son Seals, James Cotton, Paul Butterfield, Elmore James, Jimmy Reed, Otis Spann and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Elvis Presley by Elvis Presley

Elvis is back with his debut album. (By the way, we did give you the expanded edition of this album.) This is undoubtedly our favorite time for Elvis music, when he was immersed in the Nashville and Sun sessions.

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Jimmy Reed

This is a full Chicago blues day, as the great Mr. Reed was also in our Chicago blues EP today. Jimmy Reed was born in Mississippi in 1925 to a sharecropper family. He was a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who was active from the 1940’s up until 1976, when he passed at the age of 50. His guitar style attraced both blues audiences and non-blues audiences.

Tuesday Bluesday is always a great day to tune us in, folks. It’s blues programming all day with our big, wide Open Stream in between. Give it a try. You need no money or credit cards. And we do not interrupt the music with commercial advertising.

Tuesday Bluesday!

On Monday, It’s Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and a New Beatles Playlist, November 13, 2023

Good morning, worldwide workers! We’re back to Monday and we’ve got just what the doctor ordered for your day, including a brand new Beatles playlist in the evening slot.

Here’s your Monday musical lineup:

11:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Neil Young

Neil Young turned 78 yesterday, and today we are celebrating his infinitely brilliant career by putting him In the Spotlight, where he belongs.

4:00 p.m. Bob Dylan Live at Budokan, Tokyo, Japan, February 28 & March 1, 1978

This afternoon we’ve got a Dylan concert from Budokan, recorded on February 28 and March 1 of 1978. We haven’t heard this one in a while, so it’s time to break it out.

7:00 p.m. The Beatles: The Love Songs NEW!

Yes, it’s a new playlist for the station, and it also includes the Beatles’ brand new and final single together, Now And Then, which has shattered a number of records since its release on November 3. It is the fastest-selling single of the century as it skyrocketed to the number one slot in England, over a half century after the legendary band broke up. It’s a thing of beauty, and so is this playlist.

We’ve got it all here for you today: Three totally legendary performers to kick off your week. What more could you ask for? (Except another day off, which we cannot grant.) Get in on it. It all starts at 11:00 a.m. and, as always, before, after and in between our programming it’s Open Stream time.

The Beatles Are Back!

It’s Simply Sunday With Our AOW and the ‘Here Comes The Night’ EP, November 12, 2023

Good morning, children, and welcome to Sunday in The Mermaid Lounge where the programming is light and the open stream is the norm.

Here’s your Sunday lineup:

11:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Elvis Presley by Elvis Presley NEW!

Yes, we are Elvis lovers here in The Mermaid Lounge. He is one of our forefathers; one of the artists that people like The Beatles, Tom Petty, The Rolling Stones, and so many others that we play invoke as their inspiration. There were others to be sure, like Fats Domino, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Big Mama Thornton (the original Hound Dog hit was hers), but today we focus on Elvis because he did the one thing the others needed to complete the cycle: He made that music accessible to everyone and helped usher in rock n’ roll. This is Elvis’ debut album, released March 23, 1956. This is our favorite time frame for Elvis music, and today he owns our Album of The Week.

3:00 p.m. Here Comes The Night: Various Artists

Today it’s our ode to the night time. The dark hours. You’ll hear Warren Zevon, the J. Geils Band, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Them, The Beatles, Van Morrison, Patti Smith, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bruce Springsteen, The Kinks, the Electric Prunes, Phoebe Snow, Joe Walsh, The Eagles, The Ronettes, John Cougar Mellencamp, The Doors, Emmylou Harris, Poco, Neil Diamond, The Animals, The Band, the Rolling Stones, Don McLean, Steve Winwood, Cat Stevens, The Traveling Wilburys, Sam Cooke, Jimmy Cliff, Bonnie Raitt and more!

We are here 24/7 at no charge, and we love playing music for free because that means we don’t have to go out and find advertisers to keep us going. We’re the ultimate anti-capitalist radio station.

Here Comes The Night!

The ‘What’s In a Name’ EP and Music From Two Guys Named Tom are On Tap for Saturday, November 4, 2023

Good morning, weekenders! We are starting off the weekend with some fine music as we play our ‘What’a In a Name’ EP, bid farewell to Tom Rush and his AOW, and introl Tom Waits as our new featured singer-songwriter.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. What’s In a Name: Various Artists

What’s in a name? Ask William Shakespeare. Or you can ask Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Them, Janis Joplin, Simon & Garfunkel, The Beach Boys, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Donovan, Steve Winwood, Bonnie Raitt, Shawn Colvin, Carly Simon, Warren Zevon, Laura Nyro, Bobbie Gentry, The Kinks, Three Dog Night, The Association, Joni Mitchell, Badfinger, Linda Ronstadt, Steely Dan, Chi Coltrane, Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart, James Taylor, Tony Joe White and more.

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Merrimack County by Tom Rush FINAL AIRING!

Today is the final airing of Tom Rush’s great album, Merrimack County. Tomorrow we’ll have a brand new album featured here.

8:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Tom Waits NEW!

Tom Waits brings his signature gravelly voice to The Mermaid Lounge as he sings about the underbelly of society (most of the time). Tonight he becomes our featured singer-songwriter.

We’re officially at the weekend. What could be better? What we’ve got right here. Great music 24/7 at no charge and with no commercial interruption. No shit.

What’s In a Name?

Heading Toward the Weekend With the ‘Travelin’ Fever’ EP, Tom Rush, and Sir Paul McCartney, Thursday, November 2, 2023

Good morning, music lovers! We are in great company here as we roll along toward the weekend.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Travelin’ Fever: Various Artists

There are topics, and then there are topics. There are loads of songs about life on the road and traveling in general. We’ve got them today with Canned Heat, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jackson Browne, Steve Miller Band, Bonnie Raitt, Dan Fogelberg, Bruce Springsteen, Linda Ronstadt, Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney & Wings, The Doors, The Eagles, Little Feat, The Band, Willie Nelson, Edwin Starr, Janis Joplin, Guy Clark, The Byrds, Joan Baez, The Traveling Wilburys, Asleep at The Wheel, Mudcrutch, Loggins & Messina, Buffalo Springfield, Tom Rush, The Guess Who, Ray Charles, Marshall Tucker Band, The Beatles, Bob Dylan and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Merrimack County by Tom Rush

We’re winding down on this great album, so get in on it while you can. The final airing will be on Saturday, time TBD.

7:00 p.m. Paul McCartney Live at Citi Field, New York, NY, July 17-21, 2009

Tonight we close the programming with Macca recorded live at Citi Field in New York City. I never got the chance to see The Beatles live, leaving a musical hole in my life. However, I did get to see Sir Paul at Fenway Park in Boston and it was everything it was cracked up to be and then some. Tonight we have his New York performance from 2009.

We’re getting closer now. The weekend is on the horizon. And we’ve got some great new music coming up in November, including an expansion of our general rotation and some of our older playlists. Stand by.

Just Push Play, People.

It’s Tuesday Bluesday With The Allman Brothers Band, Roomful of Blues and Tom Rush’s AOW in Between, October 31, 2023

Good morning, Bluesologists! We close out the month of October with a Tuesday Bluesday on tap, and that is a fitting way to exit the month.

Here’s your musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. The Allman Brothers Band Live at A & R Studios, New York, NY, August 26, 1971

The brothers get together at A & R studios for a live session, and we’ve got it here to start your programming day.

3:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Merrimack County by Tom Rush

It’s fitting that Tom Rush is this the owner of this week’s AOW because Tom Rush just happens to be a hell of a blues artist in addition to being a folk artist.

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Roomful of Blues

Roomful of Blues is in its sixth decade making some of the most innovative blues music on the planet. Check it out for yourself tonight!

Tuesday Bluesday is always a great day to get a flavor for what we are. In the hours between all the great blues, you’ll hear rock, rock n’ roll, reggae, folk, Americana, country, country-rock and more (just no rap, hip hop or disco). See for yourself.

Tuesday Bluesday!

Back to the Working World With Bobbie Gentry, Karla Bonoff and Our Petty Month Finale, Monday, October 30, 2023

Good morning, working folks! It’s back to the real world, and we’re here to see that your transition is a more pleasant one with some great programming.

Here’s your musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. Bobbie Gentry Live at BBC Studios, London, UK 1968-1969

The reclusive Bobbie Gentry brought along two friends in James Taylor and Donovan when she graced the studios at the BBC. Gentry was a brilliant songwriter who only ever wanted to write for others, so she was a reluctant star. She eventually just walked away, but left some great music behind.

3:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Karla Bonoff

Here we have another brilliant female songwriter who has helped to put other singers on the map, like Linda Ronstadt. In turn, Linda Ronstadt has shone a light on Karla Bonoff. And that’s how this works. As it turns out, and as Ronstadt will tell you, Karla Bonoff can sing. She’s in our Spotlight today.

7:00 p.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live at The Piazza Napoleone, Lucca, Italy, June 9, 2012

We close out Tom Petty’s birthday month with a great live performace from Lucca, Italy.

Hey, it’s Monday. It happens once a week and there’s not a damned thing we can do about it. But there is something we can do to make it less bleak, and that is to play great music. We’re here 24/7 with no commercial interruption and at no charge to you!

Just Push Play.

It’s Simply Sunday With Tom Rush’s “Merrimack County” and Volume Two of Our Sixties Rotation, October 29, 2023

Good morning, music lovers and welcome to another simple Sunday here in The Mermaid Lounge. We’re light on programming today but have plenty of wide Open Stream.

Here’s Sunday’s musical lineup:

11:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Merrimack County by Tom Rush NEW

One of my favorite albums of all time (his ninth) with my favorite Tom Rush song ever in Kids These Days. Rush is rightfully called a pioneer of the singer-songwriter genre. His interpretations put plenty of them on the map, including Joni Mitchell. In addition to that, he has managed a solo singing career that has spanned sixty years. A New England born and bred favorite.

3:00 p.m. The Sixties Rotation, Volume Two: Various Artists

We take you back to the sixties again for some mid-to-late decade sounds with The Mamas & The Papas, Simon & Garfunkel, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead, Buffalo Springfield, Sly & The Family Stone, The Temptations, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Roy Orbison, The Yardbirds, The Animals, Linda Ronstadt, The Byrds, Chuck Berry, James Brown, Blind Faith, Spencer Davis Group, Elvis Presley, The Box Tops, The Doors, Marvin Gaye, B. B. King, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Wilson Pickett, The Band, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, The Ronettes, The Kinks, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jimmy Cliff, Velvet Underground and more!

Come on. You know you want to give us a shot. So, just do it. It is not going to cost you a penny and it’s not a free trial. We’re anti-capitalists who air our music for free 24/7 with no commercial interruption. Just do it.

Just Do It. Will Ya?

The Best of Reggae & Ska, Singer-Songwriter John Fogerty, and New Heartbreakers are All on Tap for Friday, October 27, 2023

Good morning, musicologists! We’ve made it to Friday, and that is always a good thing because we are officially weekenders!

Here’s today’s musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. The Best of Reggae, Rocksteady and Ska: Various Artists

We’ve got all the greats you know, and some you may never have heard. You’ll hear Prince Buster, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Judy Mowatt, Jimmy Cliff, Basil Gabbidon, The Rhythm Aces, Derrick Morgan, Laurel Aitken, Count Lasher, The Jiving Juniors, Marcia Griffiths, Rita Marley, Desmond Dekker & The Aces, The I-Threes, Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh, Toots & The Maytals and more!

4:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of John Fogerty FINAL AIRING!

We bid a fond farewell to John Fogerty today, the heart and soul of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Tomorrow we’ll introduce a brand new artist.

8:00 p.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: The Fillmore ’97 Covers NEW!

We’re pretty obsessed with The Heartbreakers as a cover band. No doubt about it, they’re the best. They respect the intentions of the composers and play them the way they were meant to be played. Their heralded 20-night residency at the famed Fillmore in 1997 was an amazing feat, changing the set list every night, allowing the fans to request songs and help build the show, and having special guests like Roger McGuinn and John Lee Hooker on stage with them. Tonight we give you a couple of hours of covers from the Fillmore ’97 residency. Not to be missed.

We’ve made it to the end of the week and that is, without a doubt, a good thing. Especially since I leave on vacation today. But hey, the beauty of running an Internet radio station is that you can do it from anywhere. And so we shall. Stay tuned…

Just Push Play.

It’s Tuesday Bluesday With Our Big, Bad Blues EP, Steve Winwood and Our AOW, and Muddy Waters & Johnny Winter, October 24, 2023

Good morning, bluesologists! We’re back with another Tuesday Bluesday and The Music Mermaid is ready to go! Read on for detail!

Here’s your bluesy lineup:

9:00 a.m. Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blues: Various Artists

This is the big kahuna. The all-inclusive, uninterrupted five-hour blues extravaganza with Delbert McClinton, Robert Johnson, B.B. King, Little Walter, Slim Harpo, Ry Cooder, Canned Heat, John Lee Hooker, The Animals, Albert King, Johnny Winter, Muddy Waters, Little Feat, Bonnie Raitt, The Yardbirds, Janis Joplin, The Rolling Stones, Bobby “Blue” Bland, The Allman Brothers Band, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Elmore James, Robert Cray Band, J.J. Cale, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, James Cotton, Koko Taylor, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Marcia Ball, Duane Allman, Susan Tedeschi, Roomful of Blues, Howlin’ Wolf, Tracy Nelson, Linda Ronstadt and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Roll With It by Steve Winwood

Steve Winwood is a legend in these parts, a pioneer with Traffic, Blind Faith, and The Spencer Davis Group. This was Winwood’s fifth solo studio album, and it was his most commercially successful.

8:00 p.m. Muddy Waters: The Johnny Winter Sessions

Muddy Waters and Johnny Winter were a musical marriage made in heaven. Winter came along later in Muddy’s career and produced three albums for him, winning Grammys along the way. You can read more about it in this excellent article. Tonight, we bring you Muddy Waters and Johnny Winter together in session. And they bring along Pinetop Perkins (piano) and James Cotton (mouth harp). Don’t miss this one!

Tuesday Bluesday is always a busy day in The Lounge. Be here or be square. We start it off with five hours of uninterrupted blues promptly at 9:00 a.m. See you then.

Tuesday Bluesday!