Category: In The Spotlight

On Wednesday It’s Our ‘Friends of Mine’ EP, an Elton John Spotlight, and a Great Fab Four Playlist, April 3, 2024

Good morning, music lovers and welcome to midweek here in The Mermaid Lounge. We’ve got a great lineup, including a great Beatles playlist featuring songs with time changes.

Here’s your midweek musical lineup:

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

We’ve all got friends, some good friends and some not so much. There’s no shortage of songs about friends, and you’ll hear The Guess Who, Willie Nelson, War, The Beach Boys, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Todd Rundgren, Linda Ronstadt, Queen, REM, Simon & Garfunkel, John Prine, Carole King, The Grateful Dead, Lou Reed, Robert Johnson, Hank Williams, The Kinks, Joan Baez, The Beatles, Carly Simon, Tracy Nelson, The Byrds, Desmond Dekker, Jackson Browne, Steppenwolf, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Elton John, Argent, Maria Muldaur, Otis Redding and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Elton John

When Elton John stepped into the music world in 1969, we had no idea how good he was going to be. Over more than five decades, he and his writing mate, Bernie Taupin, have created some great music together.

8:00 p.m. The Beatles: A Change In Time

There is absolutely no debate that The Beatles are the greatest rock band in the world, bar none. They created the music that changed the world, and — encouraged by the great George Martin — employed creative techniques that set them apart from the rest. Tonight we have a playlist of Beatle songs incorporating time changes.

We’re at midweek. After today, we’ll be on the downslide to the weekend once again. So, why not get there in style with the best music on the planet. That’s what we’re all about.

Midweek Madness!

It’s The First Tuesday Bluesday of a New Month With ‘Ladies Sing The Blues,’ Buddy Guy and Janis Joplin, April 2, 2024

Good morning, bluesologists and welcome to Tuesday Bluesday! We’ve got more blues every Tuesday now and we’ve got some great plans moving forward!

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Ladies Sing The Blues: Various Artists

The ladies take over The Lounge this morning and into the afternoon. You’ll hear Billie Holliday, Big Mama Thornton, Ruth Brown, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Koko Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Christine McVie, Marcia Ball, Ellen McIlwaine, Susan Tedeschi, Irma Thomas, Tracy Nelson, Etta James, Linda Ronstadt, Sippie Wallace, Bessie Smith, Shawn Murphy, Angela Strehli, Aretha Franklin, The Blues Broads and more!

4:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Buddy Guy

Buddy Guy takes over the spot today that was once occupied by our AOW. Spend some time with a great blues guitarist and singer starting at 4:00 p.m.

8:00 p.m. Janis Joplin & The Kozmic Blues Band Live at The Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands, April 11, 1969

We jump into the Wayback Machine for this one tonight as we go back to 1969 for a great Janis Joplin performance.

It’ll be a crowded house in The Mermaid Lounge today, but there is plenty of room for everyone. We’re here 24/7 totally free of charge. We don’t ask for credit cards or personal information, and we do not run commercial advertising. We’re all about the music.

Tuesday Bluesday!

The Weekend Begins With The Sixties Rotation, Linda Ronstadt, and The Tedeschi Trucks Band, Saturday, March 30, 2024

Good morning, weekenders and welcome to The Mermaid Lounge where we give you our ‘Original Sixties Rotation’ to start, followed by Heart Like A Wheel, and closing with The Tedeschi Trucks Band.

Here’s your musical lineup:

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

Nothing like The Sixties from a musical perspective, and we’ve got the early-to-mid portion of the decade this morning with The Beatles, The Monkees, Simon & Garfunkel, Sonny & Cher, The Everly Brothers, The Searchers, The Drifters, Dusty Springfield, The Dave Clark Five, Johnny Rivers, Bob Dylan, The Animals, Petula Clark, The Rolling Stones, Procol Harum, The Turtles, Del Shannon, The Temptations, James Brown, Fontella Bass, The Box Tops, Them, The Left Banke and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Heart Like A Wheel by Linda Ronstadt FINAL FINAL!

Today we not only say farewell to a brilliant album but also to our Album of The Week features, which has been in place for five years. Time to move on, but we will be featuring albums as part of our standard rotation.

8:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of The Tedeschi Trucks Band

What we have here is the best damned blues-rock and on the planet led by a brilliant blues singer in Susan Tedeschi, and the best blues-rock guitarist in the business in Derek Trucks.

The weekend is here, people and we are geared up for a great weekend of music as we make several programming changes. But there are things that never change: We never charge for our musical programming, and we don’t ask for your personal information. We’re all about the music, not making money.

Welcome, Weekenders!

It’s Monday and We’ve Got Linda Ronstadt, The Flying Burrito Brothers and a CCR Spotlight Later, March 25, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We are on a roll here with a bit of a new approach. We’ve got a lot of music already in our arsenal and we’re adding new live ‘gigs’ and Spotlights.

Here’s Monday’s music:

10:00 a.m. Linda Ronstadt Live at Television Center Studios, Hollywood, CA, April 24, 1980

Another great live performance by the undisputed Queen of Rock (sorry, Taylor). This was recorded at a time when Ronstadt was at the peak of her reign as America’s most popular singer.

3:00 p.m. The Flying Burrito Brothers Live at My Father’s Place, Roslyn, Long Island, NY, November 28, 1976

One of the pioneering bands of the country-rock genre whose members were ever present in the Laurel Canyon scene. Today they are live from an iconic venue.

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Creedence Clearwater Revival

In 1969 alone, Creedence released 3 albums, had 4 hit US singles, performed on the Ed Sullivan show twice, toured the US and headlined the Woodstock Festival. They went on to become one of the most successful bands of its generation and the music has stood the test of time.

It’s supposed to be sunny here today, but as I look at my weather app, it ends there. Today will be followed by four days of rain. Nobody will convince me that the weather in the Boston area isn’t changing. Virtually no snow three years running, but plenty of rain. But I digress. Tune us in. We’re on 24/7. We’re totally free. And there’s no commercial advertising.

Just Push Play.

It’s ‘Color My World’, Joni Mitchell’s AOW, and Carly Simon, Thursday, March 14, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! I’m still lost in the COVID fog, so we are running a bit behind, but better late than never. We’ve got a full slate of good stuff for you today!

Here’s your Thursday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Color My World: Various Artists

Ah, yes, we return again to colors in song titles, lyrics or both with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Donovan, Booker T. & The MG’s, Electric Light Orchestra, Procol Harum, Joni Mitchell, The Who, Amy Winehouse, Sam & Dave, Badfinger, Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, Elvis Costello, Neil Young, Jefferson Airplane, The Hollies, Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Cream, Marvin Gaye, Lucinda Williams, John Hiatt, J.D. Souther, Linda Ronstadt and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Court & Spark by Joni Mitchell

We’re back with this masterpiece of an album. It could not be any more perfect than it already is, and it has more than stood the test of time.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Carly Simon

We continue on with Women’s (Music) History Month with a Carly Simon spotlight.

Tune us in, folks. We’re here 24/7 totally free of charge for your listening pleasure. We give you music uninterrupted by commercial advertising. Just do it.

Just Push Play, People.

It’s Midweek With Our ‘What’s In A Name’ EP, The Big O, and The Allman Brothers Band, Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Good morning, music lovers. Still battling COVID, but definitely on the mend and feeling better. Sorry I’m running late, but trying to get a bit more sleep than usual.

Here’s your midweek music:

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

We love name droppers and we’ve got plenty here including 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. In The Spotlight: The Music of Otis Redding

The Big O was introduced to the world at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. Just months later he would be killed in a plane crash, only three days after recording “Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay.” It became the first posthumous No. 1 single in US chart history and sold over four million copies worldwide. We remember him today.

8:00 p.m. The Allman Brothers Band Live at The Fillmore East, New York, NY, March 12-13, 1971

We close out the programming tonight with a great performance by the brothers at the east coast venue of The Fillmore.

Get on board the music train, folks. We’re on 24/7, not just when we have programming scheduled, and we’re totally free of charge. No commercial advertising either because we don’t make a profit. Ever.

Free Music, Just Push Play!

Tuesday Bluesday Brings ‘Best of Chicago Blues’, Joni Mitchell’s AOW, and Ellen McIlwaine In the Spotlight, March 12, 2024

Good morning and welcome to another Tuesday Bluesday in The Mermaid Lounge! We kick it all off with some Windy City blues today!

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

10:00 a.m. Best of Chicago Blues: Various Artists

We kick it all off this morning with sounds of the Windy City. You’ll hear 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!

5:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Court & Spark by Joni Mitchell NEW!

This was, in fact, our Album of The Week in 2020, but it is back for its 50th anniversary, and fifty years later, it still sizzles.

8:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Ellen McIlwaine

It’s funny how some people seem to fall through the cracks and never become the stars they should have been. A powerful singer and great slide guitarist, Ellen McIlwaine should have been widely accepted, in my opinion, yet she had more of a cult following than anything else. See for yourself tonight.

Join us on Tuesday Bluesday, undoubtedly one of our most popular days. We’re on 24/7. We’re totally free. And we do not accept commercial advertising. What’s not to love?

Tuesday Bluesday!

It’s Tuesday Bluesday and the Ladies Are In Charge, Followed by Steely Dan, Then Brand New Rory Block, March 5, 2024

Good morning, bluesologists and welcome to Tuesday Bluesday. Today we add Rory Block to our standard rotation and air her new Spotlight feature! It’s Women’s History Month!

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Ladies Sing The Blues: Various Artists

The women of the blues are large and in charge today. You’ll hear Billie Holliday, Big Mama Thornton, Ruth Brown, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Koko Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Christine McVie, Marcia Ball, Ellen McIlwaine, Susan Tedeschi, Irma Thomas, Tracy Nelson, Etta James, Linda Ronstadt, Sippie Wallace, Bessie Smith, Shawn Murphy, Angela Strehli, Aretha Franklin, The Blues Broads and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Pretzel Logic by Steely Dan

Steely Dan’s back for their second spin with Pretzel Logic as our Album of The Week.

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Rory Block NEW!

Rory Block is one of those artists whose feet are firmly planted in the blues, particularly in the more traditional blues vein and in country blues. She boasts great acoustic blues chops. Perhaps the ‘fame’ others have experienced have eluded Rory Block, but the seven-time blues award winner has is the universal respect of the blues music community.

Join us on this fine Tuesday Bluesday as we add Rory Block to our great blues rotation. We’re on 24/7 at no charge and without commercial interruption. The button awaits you.

Tuesday Bluesday is Here!

Monday Brings Our ‘By The Numbers’ Playlist, Shawn Colvin’s Spotlight and Lennon-McCartney, March 4, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We’re back to the work week, but all is well here in The Lounge. Today we close out our singer-songwriter series with the best.

Here’s your Monday music:

10:00 a.m. By The Numbers: Various Artists

We start with songs with numbers in the title, lyrics or both from Three Dog Night, Chicago, J. J. Cale, Steely Dan, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Jefferson Airplane, Alice Cooper, The Beatles, Emmylou Harris, The Grass Roots, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Paul Simon, Rosanne Cash, Johnny Rivers, The Searchers and more!

3:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Shawn Colvin

It’s Women’s History Month, so we feel the need to pick up our game here a bit in the month of March. We start today by putting singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin in the spotlight.

7:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of John Lennon & Paul McCartney NEW!

We close out this version of our Singer-Songwriter Series with the best songwriting duo in the history of popular music from the band that changed everything. Nothing else needs to be said. All you need to do is listen.

Yes, we’re back into the work week for sure, but all is not lost. We will give you a great musical backdrop for your week. All you need to do is hit the button below.

Lennon-McCartney

We’ve Got ‘The Female Species’ EP, Queen’s AOW, and Bobbie Gentry In The Spotlight Later, Thursday, February 29, 2024

Good morning, musicologists and welcome to the downslide to the weekend! We’ve got quite an eclectic lineup today, including songs about women, girls, dames, sistahs, ladies and all that stuff.

Here’s your Thursday lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Female Species: Various Artists

We start out the programming with songs about women in all their forms. You’ll hear Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Jackson Browne, Talking Heads, The Boogaloo Swamis, Hot Tuna, John Mayall, The Eagles, Elvis Presley, Electric Light Orchestra, Fleetwood Mac, Percy Sledge, The Beatles, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, America, Roy Orbison, Billy Joel, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, the Beach Boys, The Temptations, Linda Ronstadt and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Sheer Heart Attack by Queen

We’re winding down on this one. The final airing will be sometime Saturday.

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Bobbie Gentry

Did you know that Bobbie Gentry charted 11 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 during her career, and that she was one of the first female performers to write and produce her own material? Well, it’s true. Although she was a reluctant star who simply took herself out of the stardom loop, her talent and contributions should never be forgotten.

I can hear the wind outside; it’s been going all night. Yesterday here it was 55 degrees; today it’ll be 33. So, if you’re where I am and you don’t have to be anywhere, why not simply tune us in? We’re on 24/7 and we’re totally free. No strings. No kidding.

The Female Species!