Category: Folk Music

The Women Dominate the Day With Nina Simone, Joni Mitchell, and Bonnie Raitt, on Thursday, March 10, 2022

It’s International Women’s Week and we continue to celebrate here in The Mermaid Lounge. We have some great programming on tap for you today. So, come celebrate with us.

Bonnie Raitt, Joni Mitchell and Nina Simone represent the women of music today!

Here’s Thursday’s musical landscape:

11:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Nina Simone

Nina Simone was an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, and civil rights activist. Her musical style married many genres, including jazz, blues, folk, classical, gospel and pop, and is often referred to as The High Priestess of Soul.

3:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Home Plate by Bonnie Raitt

We say this every week, so why stop now. We are winding down on this week’s Album of The Week. This will be the second-to-last airing of Home Plate, so time’s a wasting if you want to hear it here. Saturday will be the final airing before a new selection is made.

7:00 p.m. Joni Mitchell Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO, July 30. 1983

There are not many people who do not know Joni Mitchell. Her influence on pop music is legendary. She helped to expand and legitimize the folk music genre, but her repertoire covers many genres. In addition to folk music, Joni has drawn on pop, jazz, rock, and classical as she sings about romance and womanhood, as well as social and philosophical beliefs. She’s a woman of many musical styles and colors.

Come on, ladies. Get on this great International Women’s Week ride before the carnival is taken down. (Quite frankly, we consider every week women’s week, but we’re playing more than usual this week.) We run 24/7 at no charge to anyone; hell, we don’t even request personal information. Nor to we track it for our advertisers. And that’s because we do not accept advertising. Get the picture yet?

Ladies In Charge!

We Hit Our Midweek Stride With Our ‘Travelin’ Fever’ EP and Laura Nyro Live at The Fillmore, Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Good Morning, Travelers and Daydreamers. Today we’ve got our EP all about hitting the road, and we continue our celebration of the women of music with Laura Nyro.

Laura Nyro is one of the greatest singer-songwriters of her generation.

Here’s your midweek line-up:

10:00 a.m. Travelin’ Fever: Various Artists

When we were kids, my friends and I dreamed of buying a VW van and driving across country. We pretty much never made it out of the driveway, although we did drive to Nashville to visit the Grand Ole Opry. In this playlist you’ll hear Jackson Browne, Dan Fogelberg, The Box Tops, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Canned Heat, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, The Who, The Eagles, Janis Joplin, Del Shannon, Guy Clark, Asleep at the Wheel, Jesse Winchester, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Led Zeppelin, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Little Feat, Willie Nelson, the Marshall Tucker Band, Fats Domino and more!

7:00 p.m. Laura Nyro, Live at The Fillmore East, New York, NY, March 30, 1971

Sweet Blindness, Gonna’ Take a Miracle, Stoned Soul Picnic, Eli’s Coming…Laura Nyro wrote some brilliant songs that put others on the map. But there’s nothing quite like hearing her sing them herself. See for yourself tonight at 7:00 p.m.

We’re out there playing music for your listening pleasure 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. All totally free of charge, and we do not accept any advertising. We pay for this out of pocket as a labor of love. Tune us in. We’re not kidding here. No strings.

We’re Free 24/7

It’s Tuesday Bluesday and We Celebrate The Blues and Women’s Week Together, March 8, 2022

Good Morning, Bluesologists! Yes, it’s Tuesday Bluesday and today we manage to deliver the blues and continue our tribute to the women of music quite handily, I must say!

We’ve got The Best of Chicago Blues on tap this morning!

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday line-up:

11:00 a.m. The Best of Chicago Blues: Various Artists

Yeah, this one is scheduled for an upgrade in the near future, but it’s still pretty damned good. You’ll hear Otis Rush, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Bo Diddley, Willie Dixon, Koko Taylor, Howlin’ Wolf, Magic Slim, Son Seals, Lonnie Brooks, Buddy Guy, Sonny Boy Williamson, and more! My friend Dave loves the Chicago Blues. He tunes it in every time.

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Home Plate by Bonnie Raitt

It’s perfect that this is our album of the week. Call it serendipity. Although Bonnie Raitt refuses to be pigeon-holed into one specific style of music and has expanded her repertoire over her long career, she is still a blues artist at heart and every song she makes has that blues aura about it. This album delivers on that. And did I mention that she plays that slide guitar like she was practicing in the womb?

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Marcia Ball

Here we have another great female blues artist who has been at it for nearly half a century. Born in Orange, Texas and raised in Vinton, Louisiana, she’s more than qualified to sing the blues. USA Today once described Marcia Ball as “a sensational, saucy singer and superb pianist… where Texas stomp-rock and Louisiana blues-swamp meet.” If you don’t know her by now, perhaps this is an excellent time to get to know her.

Every Tuesday is a blues day here in The Mermaid Lounge, and we are always on the hunt for great blues music to add to our repertoire. Join listeners today from Canada, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Germany, Netherlands, Ireland, the UK, and points beyond. We’re totally free 24/7. The music never stops.

Tuesday Bluesday!

We Barrel Into Women’s Week With A Broad Spectrum of Programming From The Pioneers, on Monday, March 7, 2022

Good Morning, aficionados of music, particularly women’s music. Let’s face it, women still get the short end of the stick in the music world. And I’m not talking contractually. I’m talking as someone who listens to other radio stations and knows that women still do not get enough air time.

These are just a few of the women you’ll hear today!

Here’s your opening day line-up:

11:00 a.m. The All-Girl Revue, Volume Four: Various Artists

We’ve got five volumes of this so far, and this is the one we haven’t heard in the longest time. So, today is the day we break it out. You’ll hear Linda Ronstadt, Nicolette Larson, Shawn Colvin, The Shirelles, Phoebe Snow, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Rosanne Cash, Bonnie Raitt, Lucinda Williams, Carole King, Valerie Carter, Petula Clark, Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield, Lydia Pense & Cold Blood, and more!

3:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Aretha Franklin

It’s only fitting that the first one In the Spotlight this week is the undisputed Queen of Soul, the first woman ever inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame, and whose career spanned a half century.

7:00 p.m. Linda Ronstadt & Friends: Duets and More

In spite of her incredibly successful solo career and her position as the Queen of Rock during the 70’s, Linda Ronstadt always preferred singing with others and dreamed of being in a girl group. She finally achieved that when she joined up with Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris for the Trio albums. Here you’ll hear her sing with J. D. Souther, Randy Newman Ry Cooder, Hoyt Axton, Wendy Waldman, Neil Young, Ann Savoy, Paul Simon, Rosemary Clooney, Aaron Neville, Maria Muldaur and more. And you’ll hear her as lead vocalist, background singer, and harmony singer.

Every week is women’s week here in The Mermaid Lounge. People who listen to us regularly already know that. But this is a very special week, and we’re very happy to put the pedal to the metal and give you that little extra. We’re always free, and we’re always on the air 24/7. What could be better?

WOMEN’S WEEK!

We Kick Off International Women’s Week With Our ‘The Female Species’ EP, and Bonnie Raitt Owns Our Album of The Week, Sunday, March 6, 2022

Good Morning, Musicologists! You all know we’re focused on giving women a greater broadcast voice in music, and what better way to do that than celebrating International Women’s Week! We’ve got a great line-up for you today, and great plans for the week.

We kick off International Women’s Week today!

Here’s today’s line-up:

11:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Home Plate by Bonnie Raitt NEW!

Home Plate, released in 1975, was Bonnie Raitt’s fifth studio album. Although she’s mostly described as a blues singer, Bonnie Raitt has managed to expand that repertoire over the years while maintaining her blues roots. And did we mention she plays that Fender Stratocaster like she was born with it in her hands? She is one of the finest slide guitarists on the planet. I loved Bonnie Raitt before this album. After Home Plate was released, it became adoration.

3:00 p.m. The Female Species: Various Artists

This will be a week to celebrate the women of music, but we start with songs that celebrate women, ladies, girls in the title, lyrics or both. Women have long been the subject of much joy and heartache in the music world, and we’ll give it to you here. You’ll hear from Talking Heads, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Jackson Browne, The Boogaloo Swamis, John Mayall, Hot Tuna, The Eagles, Elvis Presley, Fleetwood Mac, Electric Light Orchestra, Percy Sledge, The Beatles, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, America, Roy Orbison, Billy Joel, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Aretha Franklin, Linda Ronstadt, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, The Temptations, and more!

We updated this list in February, so there’s an updated playlist under the Playlist tab of this blog.

This may seem like a modest start to the festivities, but stick around. The week is just beginning. We have some old favorites on tap and some new additions as we bolster our rotation with new and diverse women’s music.

Welcome To Women’s Week!

The Original Sixties Rotation EP, The Final Airing of “Revelator” and LIVE DEAD! Later, Saturday, March 5, 2022

Good Morning, Musicologists! It has certainly been a challenging week having to put in more hours than normal in retail hell, but hey, the music is fine here in The Mermaid Lounge.

We’ve got the ORIGINAL Sixties Rotation EP on tap for today!

Here’s Saturday’s line-up:

9:00 a.m. The Original Sixties Rotation: Various Artists

Today we bring you the music that inspired our little radio station and launched a new generation of music never to be equaled. You’ll hear The Monkees, Sonny & Cher, Mary Wells,, Dusty Springfield, Tommy James & The Shondells, The Drifters, The Beatles, Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Hollies, Petula Clark, Buddy Holly, The Kinks, Neil Diamond, The Band, The Yardbirds, The Searchers, The Rolling Stones, Donovan, Bob Dylan, The Temptations, The Beach Boys, and more.

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Revelator by Tedeschi Trucks Band FINAL AIRING!

Today we bid a fond farewell to Revelator, the great studio debut album by the Tedeschi Trucks Band. When you wake up on Sunday, we’ll have a brand new selection for you.

10:00 p.m. LIVE DEAD! The Grateful Dead Live at Assembly Hall, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, IL, February 22, 1973 NEW!

Another great soundboard concert from the road warriors, this one from the University of Illinois. Remember, no two shows are ever the same…even on the same tour.

Great day to tune us in. Before, in between, and after, we have our great wide Open Stream courtesy of The Music Mermaid, who is always fully in charge and ready to go. We run on musical adrenalin 24/7 with no commercial interruptions and no endless DJ chatter. Just music.

The Sixties!

Friday Brings Our ‘Here Comes The Night’ EP and The Allman Brothers Live at A & R Studios Later, March 4, 2022

Good Morning, Musicologists! I just got called into work…again, and I’m on the run. But today? We’ve got some great programming lined up.

We’ve got The Brothers live at A & R studios later!

Here’s your Friday line-up:

11:00 a.m. Here Comes The Night: Various Artists

You know what the J. Geils Band says, the night time is the right time. And so it goes that there are many songs about the night. Aside from the J. Geils Band, you’ll hear Warren Zevon, Poco, Cat Stevens, Neil Diamond, Bonnie Raitt, Joe Walsh, The Traveling Wilburys, Linda Ronstadt, The Ronettes, Joni Mitchell, Wilson Pickett, Dr. John, Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Gregg Allman, Steeler’s Wheel, Phoebe Snow, Sam Cooke, The Electric Prunes, Jimmy Cliff, and more!

7:00 p.m. The Allman Brothers Band, Live at A & R Studios, New York, August 26, 1971

Tonight, we bring back a live in-studio performance that we haven’t heard for a while. The night time is always the right time for these guys. Don’t miss it.

Before, in between, and after our programming, we bring you the best wide Open Stream. See for yourself by tuning us in. There’s no need for a credit card. All you need is a computer.

Here Comes The Night

It’s Not Just Tuesday Bluesday, But It’s Fat Tuesday, and That Means We Head Down to New Orleans, March 1, 2022

You know what they say, Music Lovers! Beware the Ides of March. But today? It doesn’t get any better as Fat Tuesday falls on Tuesday Bluesday, and that means a pretty good dose of Bluesiana!

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday line-up:

11:00 a.m. The Best Louisiana Blues, Volume 1: Various Artists

I’ve spent a fair amount of time in Louisiana, New Orleans mostly, and I can tell you that the music is unbeatable. That’s where I was introduced to the Daywalkers and Chance Bushman, both local artists who have found their way into our rotation. But today, you’ll hear from the blues masters, like Clarence Frogman Henry, Little Walter, Bobby Charles, Muddy Waters Slim Harpo, Louisiana Red, Warren Storm, to name several. Don’t miss it.

3:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Revelator by Tedeschi Trucks Band

Better still, it’s an all-blues Tuesday this week since we’re airing today’s premier electric blues bands and their debut killer album, Revelator. There’s no denying the greatness of Tedeschi Trucks, and that Derek Trucks is the finest blues guitarist on the planet right now.

7:00 p.m. The Best Louisiana Blues, Volume 2: Various Artists

We’re back in Louisiana for a spell this evening with volume two of our blues selection today. You’ll hear Big Bill Broonzy, Smiley Lewis, The Big Bopper, Earl King, Cookie & The Cupcakes, Lightnin’ Slim, Warren Storm, Frankie Ford, Joe Jones, more Muddy Waters, Slim Harpo, and Clarence Frogman Henry.

I made a great Fat Tuesday lunch for a friend on Monday. You should make yourself one today and enjoy all this great music. Hell, it won’t cost you a thing but time.

IT’S FAT TUESDAY!

We Close Out The Month With Music Banned On The Airwaves, The Animals, and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live, Monday, February 28, 2022

Good Morning, Music Lovers! February certainly is a short month, but we’re closing it out in style with some excellent programming, including a brand new playlists of songs banned ’round the world!

Hard to believe this song was banned, but that’s what happens when you “Imagine there’s no heaven.”

Here’s your musical programming for today:

11:00 a.m. Banned On The Airwaves: Various Artists NEW!

This certainly isn’t an EP, but it was fun to put together. Thanks to my compadre Dave Denton for the idea! These are songs that have been banned from different locations around the world, not just here in America. Some of them defy logic, I must say. For example, My Generation by The Who was banned by the BBC because they felt it was disparaging to people who stutter. Sailing by Rod Stewart was banned because of the war in the Falkland Islands (incidentally, this was not the only nautical song banned at this time). God Only Knows by the Beach Boys was banned because, well, God just wasn’t used in rock n’ roll music. This Note’s For You by Neil Young was banned because it was anti-capitalist.

In addition to these guys, you’ll hear Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (yes, it’s true), The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Shirelles, Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Van Morrison, and more. There’s a list of songs and artists under the Playlist tab. Scroll down to the bottom. By the way, this is not an exhaustive list.

3:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Animals

The Animals were certainly one hell of a band. Steeped in R & B, the blues and rock, they were formed in Newcastle upon Tyne in the early sixties, then moved to London when they began to gain traction. Eric Burdon was the perfect lead vocalist for this band.

7:00 p.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live at The PPL Center, Allentown, PA, September 16, 2014

Speaking of great bands, we give you The Heartbreakers live on the Hypnotic Eye tour. It’s hard to believe that a band can produce such brilliant material over a forty-year span, but this album proved to be one of The Heartbreakers’ finest ever. Sadly, this would also be their final album ever as Tom Petty would prematurely pass into the great wide open a week after their 40th Anniversary Tour in 2017. Nevertheless, their music lives on eternally here in The Mermaid Lounge.

The set list for this show is also under the Playlist tab. Again, scroll down to the bottom.

Come on, folks. Music makes nearly all things tolerable. The only exception would be the GOP, but I digress and we don’t want to ruin the mood here. Hey, we’re anti-capitalist too. We don’t charge you anything to tune us in. We don’t ask for a credit card or personal information. In fact, we will have no bloody idea who you are. So do it.

IMAGINE.

What Could Be Better Than Tedeschi Trucks With Our Latest AOW, George Harrison In The Spotlight, and A (Musical) British Invasion? Sunday, February 27, 2022

Good Morning, Weekenders! Yes, it’s Sunday here in The Mermaid Lounge, and we’ve got a great line-up today, kicking off a bit early with our Album of The Week!

Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi (center) are the musical power couple at the core of Tedeschi Trucks Band.

Here’s your kick-ass line-up:

9:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Revelator by Tedeschi Trucks Band NEW!

Susan Tedeschi has been around for a while, and so has Derek Trucks. But they put it all together in 2011 with the debut album of their fine band, Revelator. If you like blues-rock, this is is where you should be, people. Recorded in Susan and Derek’s Swamp Raga Studios in Jacksonville, Florida, the band shows that they are more than just a great ‘live’ band. Co-produced by Derek Trucks and producer/engineer Jim Scott, Revelator went on to with the Best Blues Album at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, and Derek Trucks has established himself as one of the finest guitar players on the planet. Find out why.

11:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of George Harrison

George Harrison’s birthday was on February 25. We may be a bit late here in The Mermaid Lounge on birthdays but we’re never a dollar short. We play Harrison’s best stuff as the lead guitarist of The Beatles, as Nelson Wilbury, and from his solo efforts. Happy Birthday, George.

4:00 p.m. The British Are Coming! Various Artists

Finally, we immerse you in the sound of music from across the pond, a key part in rock n’ roll’s journey to legitimacy. You’ll hear The Beatles, The Zombies, The Who, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Hollies, Yes, Them, Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Animals, The Dave Clark Five, Rod Stewart, Lulu, The Searchers, Petula Clark, Rod Stewart, The Bee Gees, The Yardbirds, The Pretenders, Herman’s Hermits, Blind Faith, Cream, The Spencer Davis Group, and more!

Jump on in, folks. The music’s fine. And it’s all free, from start to finish. You don’t need no stinking credit cards. There’s no form to fill out. And there’s no personal details asked. Just do it.

Just Do It.