Category: Blues-Rock

It’s Friday and We’ve Got Chuck Berry, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, and ‘The Founders’ EP on January 17, 2025

Good morning, musicologists and welcome to Friday! We’ve got a lot of ‘founders’ in the mix today. Even The Heartbreakers contribution contains songs from the founders or rock and roll!

Here’s your Friday lineup:

10:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry was a true pioneer of rock n’ roll as we know it. John Lennon cited Berry as a hero and one of his main musical influences, stating “If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it Chuck Berry.”

2:00 p.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: The Fillmore ’97 Covers

During The Heartbreakers legendary 20-night Fillmore residency, they surely covered many of ‘The Founders’ songs. The qualities that make TPATH a great rock and roll band also made them the greatest cover band. You’ll hear them cover songs by Little Richard, J.J. Cale, The Kinks, Booker T & The MGs, Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead, Them, Bo Diddley, Bill Withers, The Byrds, John Lee Hooker, Ricky Nelson and more!

5:00 p.m. The Founders: Various Artists

We have the founders themselves taking us into the night. You’ll hear Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner, Hank Williams, Bill Haley & His Comets, Ray Charles, The Drifters, Roy Orbison, Robert Johnson, Carl Perkins, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters and more!

We’re here. We’re free. We’re on 24/7. We do not run commercial advertising. We don’t ask you for a credit card or personal information. We’re all about the music. See for yourselves. The button is below.

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Thursday Brings Songs About Water, Live Eva Cassidy, and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on Thursday, January 16, 2025

Good morning, music lovers. We head toward the weekend once again with a great, eclectic lineup of music that starts with songs about water!

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Water, Water Everywhere: Various Artists

We start out with songs about water from Paul McCartney, Deep Purple, Joe Cocker, Simon & Garfunkel, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Otis Redding, The Doobie Brothers, Bob Dylan, Valerie Carter, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Al Green, Loggins & Messina, Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Spirit, The Grass Roots, Carole King, Van Morrison, Tom Rush and more!

4:00 p.m. Eva Cassidy Live at Blues Alley, Georgetown, Washington, D.C., January 2-3, 1996

This afternoon we’ve got the late, great Eva Cassidy, who left us far too soon at the age of 36, live from a great venue called Blues Alley.

8:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

We close with an iconic country band that has graced the music scene for more than half a century.

We’re on the way to the weekend and music can make the journey so much more pleasant. We’re free. We’re on 24/7 without commercial interruption. And the button is below.

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On Wednesday, We Keep It Simple With a Big, Wide Open Stream Day! January 15, 2025.

Good morning, music lovers. It’s a day to appreciate our Open Stream as we are going to leave it at that all day and night, right up until 9:00 a.m. tomorrow! Enjoy!

Remember, there’s never any advertising. We’re completely free. And there are no DJ’s to talk through your songs. The button is below.

OPEN STREAM DAY!

It’s Tuesday Bluesday and It’s Windy City Blues, Live Freddie King, and a Delbert McClinton ‘Spotlight’, January 14, 2025

Good morning, bluesologists! Here we are again on another Tuesday Bluesday and we’re cooking with blues from the Windy City, Freddie King and Delbert McClinton!

Here’s your musical lineup:

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

We’re cooking the Chicago blues today 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. Freddie King Live at The Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA, September 3, 1970

Freddie King drops by The Lounge this afternoon with a great performance from the fabled Fillmore!

8:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Delbert McClinton

One of the greatest electric bluesmen ever closes out our programming tonight with music that covers nearly six decades in the business.

We start the festivities at 9:00 a.m. as usual and we’re all blues programming all day. Before, in between and after we have our big, wide Open Stream that may or may not be blues. It all depends on what The Music Mermaid pulls out of her hat. The button is below.

Tuesday Bluesday!

Monday’s Back With Our ‘Friends of Mine’ EP, a Curtis Mayfield ‘Spotlight’ and Live Warren Zevon, January 13, 2025

Good morning, music lovers! We’re back to another Monday, but the music is just fine here in The Mermaid Lounge. Great way to start the week with an EP that’s been on a short hiatus!

Here’s your Monday, Monday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Friends of Mine: Various Artists

We start it up with Open Stream With a Theme about friends, both good and bad, with The Guess Who, Willie Nelson, War, The Beach Boys, Linda Ronstadt, Todd Rundgren, Amy Winehouse, The Doors, Simon & Garfunkel, John Brine, Joan Baez, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Beatles, The Byrds, Carole King, Steppenwolf, Paul McCartney, Jackson Browne, Lou Reed, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Loggins & Messina, Free, Leon Russell, Talking Heads, Robert Johnson, Argent and more!

4:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Curtis Mayfield

An extraordinary singer, songwriter, guitarist and record producer known as the “Gentle Genius.” Mayfield is recognized as one of the most influential and socially-conscious African American musicians in popular music, first known to the public as the leader of The Impressions during the civil rights movement.

8:00 p.m. Warren Zevon Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK, January 25, 1988

We close out the Monday programming with a live performance by the late, great Warren Zevon at Hammersmith Odeon in London.

One more time: We’re totally free of charge (no strings) and completely free of commercial advertising. We’re not here to make money. We’re here to play the greatest music on the planet. The button is below.

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We Bring On the Soul With Otis Redding, Our ‘M is For Motown’ EP, and Nina Simone on Sunday, January 12, 2025

Good morning, Weekenders! We’re making it a soulful Sunday today with a great programming that features a new live performance by Nina Simone, vintage 1963!

Here’s your Sunday funday lineup:

10:00 a.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Otis Redding

Known as The Big O, Otis Redding would not live to see how popular and influential he would become to the music world. He died in a plane crash in 1967 just after writing and recording Sittin’ On The Dock of The Bay. The song was released in January 1968 and would become the first posthumous number-one record on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the R&B charts. You can read all about Otis Redding here.

1:00 p.m. M is For Motown: Various Artists

We break into the Motown vault with Barrett Strong, Eddie Kendricks, Eddie Holland, Edwin Starr, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Jackson Five, Kim Weston, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Marvin Gaye, Martha & The Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Four Tops, The Isley Brothers, The Temptations, The Contours, Rare Earth, Mary Wells, Tammi Terrell, Diana Ross & The Supremes and more!

8:00 p.m. Nina Simone Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, April 12, 1963 NEW!

Singer, songwriter, pianist and activist, Nina Simone is a gem. We love her here in The Mermaid Lounge. Tonight we have a great live performance from Carnegie Hall that we’ve never aired before. Enjoy!

It’s a soulful Sunday here in the Mermaid Lounge. Tune us in. We’re totally free of charge and free of commercial interruption. See for yourselves. The button is below.

Soulful Sunday!

Our Big Country EP, The Lovin’ Spoonful and The Byrds Are All On the Docket for Saturday, January 11, 2025

Good morning, music lovers! We’ve got a great lineup for you Weekenders today starting with our big country and country-rock EP, then it’s The Lovin’ Spoonful and The Byrds bringing up the rear!

Here are the details, Weekenders:

9:00 a.m. Are You Ready for The Country: Various Artists

We only play real country here when we play country; none of that Jason Aldean crap. You’ll hear The Eagles, Asleep at The Wheel, Hank Williams, The Byrds, Patsy Cline, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, Guy Clark, Steve Earle, Dolly Parton, Poco, Linda Ronstadt, Alison Krauss, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Townes Van Zandt, Jerry Jeff Walker, New Riders of The Purple Sage, Carlene Carter, Rosanne Cash, The Desert Rose Band, Kris Kristofferson, Gram Parsons, Tom Rush, The Highwaymen and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Lovin’ Spoonful

John Sebastian and his mates were one find band back in the day, one that helped define the San Francisco sound.

8:00 p.m. The Byrds Live at The Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, CA, February 8, 1969

Another of our favorite bands here, with a changing lineup with the exception of stalwart Roger McGuinn, the band’s leader. Joining him for this performance were Gene Parsons (drums), Clarence White (guitar) and John York (bass). Enjoy!

Well, Weekenders, it begins today. I have one more day in hardware hell, but The Music Mermaid is always on duty and will take care of you until evening. The button is below.

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On Friday It’s Paul Revere & The Raiders, Our ‘All Fired Up’ Playlist and Van Morrison Live in NY, January 10, 2025

Good morning, music lovers and welcome to Friday. We’re on the cusp of the weekend and we have some great music for you today starting off with something new!

Here’s your musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Paul Revere & The Raiders NEW!

Yeah, baby a great little band and a hit machine. Formed in 1958, the had amazing chart success in the sixties and seventies, charting 12 Top 30 hits between 1966 and 1969. This is long overdue.

2:00 p.m. All Fired Up: Various Artists

Open Stream with a theme this afternoon with Basia, Electric Light Orchestra, The Rolling Stones, Steve Winwood, The Doors, Hank Williams, Three Dog Night, Joni Mitchell, Shawn Colvin, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Bob Dylan, Ann Peebles, Patti Smith, Jimmy Cliff, Bruce Springsteen, Warren Zevon, The Move, Stevie Ray Vaughan and more. It’s almost an EP, but not quite.

8:00 p.m. Van Morrison Live at The Bottom Line, New York, NY, November 1, 1978

We close it out with a great performance by Van “The Man” Morrison at The Bottom Line. I’m not particularly fond of the man. He can be annoyingly self-absorbed, but he is a brilliant artist. We make some allowances.

One more day and you will be on your official weekend. Mine doesn’t start until Sunday but, hey, that’s the retail life isn’t it? I refuse to work Sunday retail, so Sunday and Monday are my weekend days. Get on it, folks. The button is below.

All Fired Up!

It’s The British Invasion and Beyond on Thursday, along with Simon & Garfunkel, and Clapton & Winwood, January 9, 2025

Good morning, musicologists and welcome to Thursday. We head for the weekend with music from across the pond, Simon & Garfunkel ‘Spotlight’ and live Clapton & Winwood.

Here’s Thursday’s lineup:

9:00 a.m. The British Are Coming: Various Artists

We kick it off with music from across the pond with The Beatles, The Who, Dave Mason, Electric Light Orchestra, Petula Clark, The Zombies, The Hollies, Dusty Springfield, Small Faces. Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Kinks, The Dave Clark Five, The Bee Gees, The Moody Blues, Rod Stewart, George Harrison, Them, Herman’s Hermits, The Rolling Stones, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Badfinger, The Yardbirds, Elton John, The Yardbirds, Lulu, Pink Floyd, Yes, The Animals, The Spencer Davis Group, Donovan, Cream and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Simon & Garfunkel

One of the greatest duos of all time actually met and started out while in grammar school. Over their long career they sold more than 100 million records worldwide. Today they are ‘In the Spotlight’.

8:00 p.m. Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood Live at Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, February 25-28, 2008

Two musical legends join forces for one great concert stint at Madison Square Garden. We’ve got it for you tonight.

Here we are again headed for the weekend. Thankfully, I might add. We’ll get you there in fine form. Just see for yourself. It’s free and effortless. The button is below. Just use it.

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It’s Midweek and We’re ‘Under The Influence’ With The Beatles and The Supergroups, Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Good morning, musicologists, and welcome to the middle of the week. Tomorrow we’ll be heading for the weekend once again! We have a great Wednesday lineup.

Here’s your midweek lineup:

9:00 a.m. Under The Influence: Various Artists

Being under the influence is the subject of many a song as evidenced by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Byrds, Arlo Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Little Feat, Linda Ronstadt, The Rolling Stones, Small Faces, Jimi Hendrix, Steely Dan, New Riders of The Purple Sage, Talking Heads, Neil Young, The Beatles, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Foreigner, Jonathan Edwards, John Lee Hooker, Donovan and more!

4:00 p.m. Trippin’ With The Beatles

This afternoon we explore The Beatles psychedelic catalogue, an extraordinary journey. Did you know that Paperback Writer is considered one of the earliest examples of a psychedelic song?

8:00 p.m. Sounds of The Supergroups, Volume One: Various Artists

Tonight we close it out with the Supergroups, like Cream, Blind Faith, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Highwaymen, The Super, Super Blues Band (Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf & Bo Diddley), Manassas, and two of the best damned supergroups of all time, Trio (Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton & Emmylou Harris) and our faves, The Traveling Wilburys. You know, nobody ever speaks of Trio as a supergroup, at least not the music media which still entrenched in misogyny, but that is exactly what Trio was.

Like I said earlier, we’re headed for the weekend after today, and we aim to get you there in style. We’re on 24/7 with no commercial interruption. Ever. The button is below.

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