Category: In The Spotlight

At Midweek It’s Vol. 2 of Our Sixties Rotation, Tom Petty, and ‘Live’ Peter Tosh, Wednesday, February 28, 2023

Good morning, music lovers and welcome to another day in The Lounge. We’ve got more sixties, Tom Petty’s incredible songwriting on display, and some ‘live’ Peter Tosh later.

Here’s your midweek music:

9:00 a.m. The Sixties Rotation, Volume Two: Various Artists

We’ve got them all. In addition to all the above artists, you’ll hear Chuck Berry, Roy Orbison, the Temptations, B. B. King, Marvin Gaye, Elvis Presley, The Yardbirds, The Animals, Wilson Pickett, the Stone Poneys, The Band, the Box Tops, Jimmy Cliff, Velvet Underground, Strawberry Alarm Clock and more!

4:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Tom Petty

Dr. Petty is back with his second turn as our featured singer-songwriter for this week as we wind down on this year-long feature.

8:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Peter Tosh

Peter Tosh was an original founder of The Wailers before he set out on a successful solo career. Tonight we put him In the Spotlight.

Once again we’re on 24/7 and are totally free. No charge ever, no credit card requirement and no personal information asked. We’re all about the music.

Midweek Mayhem!

We’ve Got a Great Sunday On Tap With Queen, Our House EP and Birthday Boy George Harrison, February 25, 2024

It’s another Sunday here in The Mermaid Lounge and it’s also George Harrison’s birthday. We will celebrate that with our closing program. Before that it’s Queen’s new AOW and our multi-artist House EP.

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

10:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Sheer Heart Attack by Queen NEW!

The band’s third studio album was released in November 1974, and was a departure from the progressive sound of their first two album. It focused instead on more pop-centric songs and traditional rock, eventually leading to the Queen ‘sound.’ The album propelled the band to mainstream popularity in the UK and the rest of the world. Happy 50th!

1:00 p.m. The #BecomeUngovernable House EP: Various Artists

The music of the sixties (primarily) and seventies was the inspiration for starting this experiment. You’ll hear Barry McGuire, The Temptations, Edwin Starr, Peter Tosh, The Beatles, T. Rex, The Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bob Dylan, Country Joe & The Fish, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Joan Baez, CSNY, Pink Floyd, The Animals, The Plastic Ono Band, Paul McCartney & Wings, Joni Mitchell, Sam Cooke, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Three Dog Night, Jimmy Cliff, Marvin Gaye, Phil Ochs, Tom Rush, Pete Seeger, The Band, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Linda Ronstadt and more!

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of George Harrison

Today we celebrate what would be George Harrison’s 81st birthday by putting him In the Spotlight featuring his muisc with The Beatles, The Traveling Wilbury’s and as a solo artist.

We’re not so simple anymore on Sundays as we expand our horizons. We keep collecting more music and we simply have to put it out there. We’re on 24/7. Programming is only part of what we offer. We have a great, big wide Open Stream of more than 27,000 songs continually rotating with no commercial interruption. Give us a shot.

#BU House EP

We Start Out With ‘Live’ Kinks, Then It’s Willie Nelson and America, on (Finally) Friday, February 23, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We are doing something a bit different and kicking off the programming with some ‘live’ music. Then we move on to Willie Nelson and close out the programming with America.

Here’s today’s musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Kinks Live at The Palladium, New York, NY, December 31, 1980

We kick off the day with The Kinks’ New Year’s Eve performance from 1980.

2:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Willie Nelson FINAL AIRING!

Today is Willie’s final day as this week’s featured singer-songwriter. But don’t worry, his music is part of our daily standard rotation.

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

I always refer to America as a ‘great little band’ for some reason. I think that’s because I believe their music somehow got lost in the shuffle of the seventies. Their string of hits wasn’t lost, but their absolute best music remained in the background, and their creativity really took off when a guy named Sir George Martin (the fifth Beatle) began working with them. We believe they belong In the Spotlight.

Yes, we’ve made it to the end of another work week as I contemplate more changes to the programming (mostly related to airing programs in the late-night hours for our worldwide audiences). In the meantime, we remain free 24/7 with no commercial interruption. Give us a shot. The button’s below.

Just Push Play.

We Focus on Folk On The Downslide To the Weekend With Our EP and A New Roches Spotlight, Thursday, February 22, 2024

Good morning, folkologists! We are focusing on the genre today to open and close our programming. In between, we’ve got The Stones and their Album of The Week.

(C)IRENEYOUNGFOTO.COM

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Folk Music From A-To-Z: Various Artists

This, my friends, is the musical genre that birthed the protest song movement.Today we give you the anchors and those who simply love the genre and pay homage to it. You’ll hear John Prine, Dave Van Ronk, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul & Mary, Odetta, Cat Stevens, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Beatles, Arlo Guthrie, Bonnie Raitt, Joan Baez, The Band, Eric Andersen, Tom Rush, Judy Collins, Nanci Griffith, Jesse Winchester, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Lead Belly, Tim Hardin, The Kingston Trio, Simon & Garfunkel, Richie Havens, Jackson Browne, Phil Ochs, Guy Clark, Harry Chapin, Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, The Carter Family, Neil Young and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: It’s Only Rock N’ Roll by The Rolling Stones

The Stones return to The Mermaid Lounge for another round of our AOW.

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

Here’s a band of sisters who never, in my opinion, reached the level of respect that they deserved despite making some fine music. Today, we put them In the Spotlight. They have not yet been added to our big folk EP, but they’ll be there for the next airing.

Join us today as we focus on folk. We’re on 24/7 at no charge to you and with no commercial interruption. Just hit the button below.

Focus On Folk!

Sunday Brings The Rolling Stones’ AOW, Our EP About The Night, and The Mamas & The Papas, February 18, 2024

Good morning on this not-quite-as-simple Sunday as we offer three bits of programming for the first time on a Sunday! The shape of things to come? Well, we have a lot of music.

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

10:00 a.m. Album of The Week: It’s Only Rock n’ Roll by The Rolling Stones NEW!

Another on our list of albums turning 50 years old this year, it’s the 12th studio album by the Rolling Stones and their final with Mick Taylor as guitarist. He would soon be replaced by Ron Wood. The album combines traditional blues and rock and roll sound with elements of funk and reggae. It went to number one in the U.S. and number two in the UK.

2:00 p.m. Here Comes The Night: Various Artists

We’re back with songs about the night in the title, lyrics or both with Warren Zevon, The J. Geils Band, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Them, The Beatles, Patti Smith, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bruce Springsteen, The Kinks, Electric Prunes, Phoebe Snow, Joe Walsh, The Eagles, The Ronettes, John Cougar Mellencamp, The Doors, Poco, Emmylou Harris, Neil Diamond, The Animals, The Rolling Stones, Don McLean, Steve Winwood, The Traveling Wilburys, Sam Cooke, Jimmy Cliff, Bonnie Raitt and more!

8:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Mamas & The Papas

We’ve been remiss and have allowed too much time to lapse before spinning this one. In spite of the fact that this band only recorded together from 1965 through 1968, they were a defining force in the music of the sixties and a mainstay of the Laurel Canyon scene. They made some of the best music of their generation.

It’s Sunday. It’s a day of rest. Kick off your shoes and stay a while. We’ve got great programs and a whole lot of big, wide Open Stream all at no charge to you. We don’t ask for personal info and we don’t track you…because we’re not trying to sell you anything.

Sunday Funday!

Saturday It’s ‘Ode To Morning,’ the Final Airing of ELO’s AOW, and The Miracles In The Spotlight, February 17, 2024

Good morning, weekenders! It is here and we are loaded with great music today. We hope you get a chance to join us.

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Ode To Morning: Various Artists

We kick off the morning with songs about the morning. You’ll hear Cat Stevens, Hoyt Axton, The Beatles, Neil Young, The Rascals, Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez, James Taylor, Gram Parsons, Simon & Garfunkel, Taj Mahal, Dan Fogelberg, Linda Ronstadt, Harry Chapin, Three Dog Night, Ry Cooder, Tim Buckley, Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan, Jonathan Edwards, Townes Van Zandt, Badfinger, Christ Hillman and more.

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Eldorado by Electric Light Orchestra FINAL AIRING!

We bid this album farewell today as we continue our journey through the albums turning 50 this year. Tomorrow, we’ll have a brand new album for you.

8:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

Tonight we feature the first successful band for Motown Records, led by one of the best singer-songwriters in the business, Smokey Robinson. There is no doubt that this band has stood the test of time.

As always, it’s a great day to tune us in. We’re here 24/7 and we’re totally free. We’re also totally free from commercial interruption. We’re all about the music.

Welcome Weekenders!

On Friday It’s The Band ‘Live’ in Asbury Park, Elvis Costello, John Prine and Joni ‘Live’ in Cali, February 16, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We have a busy Friday on tap for you all today with a great collection of artists sprinkeled into our big, wide Open Stream.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Elvis Costello FINAL AIRING!

Elvis Costello takes his final turn as this week’s featured singer-songwriter. We’ll have a new artist for you on Monday.

12:00 p.m. The Band Live at The Casino Arena, Asbury Park, NJ, July 20, 1976

The Band is very simply one of the best ever bands on the popular music scene. They started as Bob Dylan’s back-up band and became one of the most influential musical entities of their time. If we added a new House Band, it would be these guys.

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

We’re dusting this baby off as we have been remiss. Mr. Prine is one fine singer-songwriter and a man who is most respected by his peers. He always had a unique outlook on life and his wry and sometimes sarcastic viewpoints were part of his charm.

8:00 p.m. Joni Mitchell Live at the Santa Barbara Bowl, Santa Barbara, CA, September 9, 1979

We close things out by taking a trip back with Joni Mitchell to her 1979 Shadows and Light Tour. I was lucky enough to see that tour as it passed through Boston.

We have a great lineup today as we toy with expanding programming and, perhaps, even into the wee hours of the morning. It’s a work in progress. One thing that will not change, however, is the fact that we are totally free 24/7 with no commercial interruptions.

Friday is Here!

It’s a Busy Monday With ‘Working Songs’, Rickie Lee Jones, Van Morrison and Elvis Costello, February 12, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! I was a bit overexuberant last night and went off the ledge on scheduling today. (We’re actually exploring a bit of late-night programming for our overseas listeners!)

Here’s your Monday, Monday lineup:

11:00 a.m. Working Songs: Various Artists

Quite appropriate on a Monday morning as the work week begins. You’ll hear from The Staple Singers, Van Morrison, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, John Lennon, Slim Harpo, Neil Young, Jim Croce, Little Feat, Bob Dylan, Jesse Winchester, Maria Muldaur and more!

4:00 p.m.  In The Spotlight: The Music of Rickie Lee Jones

Over five decades this great singer-songwriter has recorded songs in a variety genres, including jazz, rock, pop, soul and R&B.

7:00 p.m.  Van Morrison Live at The Bottom Line, New York, NY, November 1, 1978

Van the Man is a staple around these parts. We haven’t heard him for a while, so we thought it was about time we break him out of mothballs.

10:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Elvis Costello NEW!

Here we have another great Elvis, but it’s Costello. You can love him or hate him, but the man broke barriers and is a hell of a singer-songwriter. He’s one of the very few of his generation that I actually listen to.

Another Monday in paradise…at least for me since my “weekends” fall on Sunday-Monday. We’ve got some great music today and we’re toying with late-night programming. We’ll see how it goes. Our overnight listeners are generally outside the U.S. Give us a listen.

Just Push Play. Please. And Thank You.

Saturday It’s Back To The Roots With ‘The Founders’ EP, Dylan, and The Supremes In The Spotlight, February 10, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! We jump into the Wayback Machine this morning and take a trip back to those who made all of this possible; the artists who inspired the music that inspired us. Got that?

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m.  The Founders: Various Artists

This is our newest EP, introduced for the first time on New Year’s Eve 2023. You will 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!

4:00 p.m.  Album of The Week: Planet Waves by Bob Dylan FINAL AIRING!

Another of our 50th birthday albums takes its final spin today. Tomorrow we’ll have a new birthday disc.

8:00 p.m.  In The Spotlight: Diana Ross & The Supremes

The Supremes were originally founded as The Primettes back in the early 60’s. They would eventually become one of the artists that would help put Motown on the map. Tonight we put them In the Spotlight.

Just think…while I’m laboring away in retail hell, you could be listening to some great music! Today in the Boston area, we’re on track to break temperature records at 59 degrees…in February. Unheard of. Then, according to the weather wonks, it’s a snowstorm on Monday night. I am now leery of such predictions. Nope. But I digress. Join us.

Saturday In the Lounge!

Friday is Here and We’ve Got Harry Nilsson, Gordon Lightfoot and ‘Live’ Susan Tedeschi on Tap, February 9, 2024

Good morning, music lovers. Along with that we’ve got plenty of big, wide Open Stream to get us through the final work day of the week!

Here’s your musical lineup:

11:00 a.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: Harry Nilsson FINAL AIRING!

The late, great Harry Nilsson takes his final spin as our featured singer-songwriter, but do not worry. He’s a big part of our standard rotation.

4:00 p.m.  In The Spotlight: The Music of Gordon Lightfoot

We haven’t aired this one in a while. We have been remiss, and we are now making amends.

8:00 p.m.  Susan Tedeschi Live at The Moody Theater, Austin, TX, June 17, 2003 NEW!

We close out the formal programming with a fantastic performance by Boston-born blues artist Susan Tedeschi, recorded for Austin City Limits. We’re proud to call Susan Tedeschi a native Bostonian.

Let’s storm into the weekend in style. Tune us in. We’re on 24/7 with no breaks, no vacations and no bullshit. We don’t charge for the music. We don’t run commercial advertising. We’re anti-capitalists.

It’s Finally Friday!