Category: In The Spotlight

Midweek Brings Music From Britain, Harry Nilsson and a James Taylor Spotlight, On Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We’re at midweek and everything is skidding toward the weekend after today! We’ve got a great lineup starting at 9:00 a.m.

Here’s the midweek lineup:

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

Music from the British Invasion and beyond 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, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Badfinger, The Yardbirds, Traffic, Elton John, Lulu, Pink Floyd, Yes, The Animals, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, Spencer Davis Group, The Rolling Stones, Cream, Donovan, The Searchers and more!

4:00 p.m.  Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Harry Nilsson

Harry’s back for another spin as our featured singer-songwriter.

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

James Taylor is the son of a “Down East Yankee” (as his mother describes herself) and a Down South doctor. Born in New England but raised in North Carolina, we here consider him a native New Englander as he returned to the region. More importantly, James Taylor is one of the most outstanding singer-songwriters of his generation who has sold more than 100 million records worldwide. Tonight he is in our Spotlight.

Let’s go, folks, Tune us in. Everything gets better from this day forward as we move closer to the weekend! Just click the button below.

Midweek Madness!

It’s Tuesday Bluesday With The Allman Brothers, Elton John’s AOW, and Tracy Nelson, January 30, 2024

Good morning, bluesologists! We’ve got a great lineup today with Elton John being the one off-blues program. We open with The Allman Brothers Band and close with Tracy Nelson.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m.  The Allman Brothers Band Sing The Blues

We’ve got just over two hours of The Allman Brothers Band singing some traditional blues music, and it’s a thing of beauty. Today is Volume One; we’re working on scheduling Volume Two.

4:00 p.m.  Album of The Week: Caribou by Elton John

I will agree that this particular album may not have been up to the standards of what Elton John produced during the 70’s, but it’s a pretty damned good album nonetheless. This one holds a few of my favorite Elton songs of all time.

7:00 p.m.  In The Spotlight: The Music of Tracy Nelson

She’s a little bit country and a lot of blues. Tracy Nelson started off with a band called Mother Earth. I loved them. But over the span of a career that began in 1965, Tracy Nelson evolved into a pretty great blues singer and made more than 20 albums over that span.

It’s Tuesday Bluesday. Join us in The Mermaid Lounge, where it’s always jumping on this particular week day.

Tuesday Bluesday!

Today We Head Down to New Orleans, Then It’s Jefferson Airplane and Dan Fogelberg on Monday, January 29, 2024

Welcome to another work week, and we start it out with a trip to New Orleans, where the only thing as good as the food is the music. Then we put Jefferson Airplane In the Spotlight and introduce the underrated Dan Fogelberg as our featured singer-songwriter.

Here’s your Monday musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. Down In New Orleans: Various Artists

This is a great playlist. Not only do you get authentic New Orleans music, but you get music from artists who were born and raised there. You’ll hear Allen Toussaint, BeauSoleil, Clifton Chenier, Dr. John, Buckwheat Zydeco, Irma Thomas, Professor Longhair, Fats Domino, Aaron Neville, Allen Fontenot, Lucinda Williams, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Kermit Ruffins, Louis Armstrong, The Daywalkers, The Neville Brothers, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chance Bushman, The Boogaloo Swamis, Queen Ida & The Bontemps Zydeco Band, Marcia Ball, The Magnolia Sisters and more!

4:00 p.m.  In the Spotlight: The Jefferson Airplane

One of the anchor bands of the sixties, and the band that helped to advance and solidify the status of psychedelic music, led by the great Grace Slick

8:00 p.m.  Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Dan Fogelberg NEW!

Dan Fogelberg was as important an artist to seventies music as anyone, yet he remains an outsider who has not been given his due. He belongs in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame like many of his peers. There is even a petition campaign out there from his fans. Today we introduce him as this week’s featured singer-songwriter.

Before, in between and after we give you our big, wide Open Stream 24/7 at no charge. We ask for no personal information. Simply tap the button below!

Down In New Orleans!

It’s Friday and We’ve Got ‘Paint It Black’, Delbert McClinton and Doris Troy On The Docket, January 26, 2024

Happy Friday, music lovers! We are on a Friday, and that means plenty of wide Open Stream from The Music Mermaid wrapped around this great programming.

Here’s your Friday Funday lineup:

11:00 a.m. Paint It Black: Various Artists

Time to crank this one up: Songs with the color black in the title, lyrics or both with The Rolling Stones (of course), The Beatles, The Move, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, James Brown, Steely Dan, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Nina Simone, Them, Long John Baldry, Fairport Convention, Dr. John, The Kinks, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Laura Nyro, Jackson Browne, k.d. lang, Linda Ronstadt, Jethro Tull and more!

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

Delbert McClinton takes his final spin as this week’s featured singer-songwriter. On Monday, we will introduce another!

8:00 p.m.  In The Spotlight: The Music of Doris Troy NEW!

I’ll bet some people don’t even know her name, but they just might recognize her voice. She had one very big hit here in the U.S. called Just One Look, which she also co-wrote. But Doris Troy never found an artistic footing in the U.S. for some unnamed reason. She did, however, find her mojo in the UK where she found she was a favorite of a guy named George Harrison, who signed her to a contract with Apple Records. He even gave her an office with a piano at Apple Records, and she spent time writing music with George and Ringo. Give her a listen. You’ll like her.

Yes, the weekend is just around the corner now. We’re nearly there. It’s a new year and you see we’ve got some new music with more coming your way. We’ve expanded our general rotation, adding new music and new artists. And we are going to expand our programming hours for our global audience. It gets better from here.

It’s Friday!

We’re at Midweek With a Focus on Folk Music, and a Visit From Delbert McClinton, Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Good morning, folk-ologists! We’re focused on folk today as we open and close with folk music pioneers and those who continue to support the genre.

Here’s your midweek lineup:

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

Today we salute the pioneers of folk, those who have kept the genre flourishing, and those who pay it homage. 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, Led Belly, Tim Hardin, The Kingston Trio, Simon & Garfunkel, Richie Havens, Jackson Browne, Guy Clark, James Taylor, Phil Ochs, Harry Chapin, Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, The Carter Family, Neil Young and more!

4:00 p.m.  Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Delbert McClinton

Delbert stops by at 4:00 p.m. for his second spin as our featured singer-songwriter.

8:00 p.m.  In The Spotlight: The Music of Ian & Sylvia NEW!

Ian & Sylvia was a true folk duo that performed together from 1959 to 1975; after moving to Nashville, they were also instrumental in helping the country-rock genre take hold. They were pretty well respected in their time, but have somehow fallen through the cracks. But today, we put them In The Spotlight where they belong.

Another day is here and we’re delivering the musical goods as usual. We’re totally free of charge and free of advertising. It’s all about the music.

Folk Music Extravaganza!

The Ladies Open and Close the Programming Today; Kristofferson is the Mid. Saturday, January 20, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We essentially turn the lounge over to the ladies today, as ‘Ladies Day Out’ opens the day and the Queen of Soul closes it out later.

Here’s Saturday’s lineup:

9:00 a.m.  Ladies Day Out: Various Artists

We know that no other station plays women’s music like we do. That’s why we do it. You’ll hear five hours uninterrupted with Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon, Emmylou Harris, Petula Clark, Laura Nyro, Cilla Black, Irma Thomas, Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Etta James, Janis Joplin, Carole King, Maria Muldaur, Lucinda Williams, Rosanne Cash, Eva Cassidy, Wendy Waldman, Shawn Colvin, The Ronettes, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Norah Jones, Phoebe Snow, Nicollette Larson, Valerie Carter, Sheryl Crow, Susan Tedeschi, Dusty Springfield and more!

4:00 p.m.  Album of The Week: Jesus Was A Capricorn by Kris Kristofferson FINAL AIRING!

We say goodbye to this album today, but we’ll have another tomorrow. Programming Note: Tomorrow we begin a spell of great albums that will turn fifty years old in 2024. Only a few on this list have been aired as an AOW before, but it was quite a long time ago (we’ve been running this feature for five years now), so they will repeat. But I promise they’ll be like new.

8:00 p.m.  In The Spotlight: The Music of Aretha Franklin

The undisputed Queen of Soul was first noticed singing gospel in her father’s church. Over six decades, she would dominate the world of soul and R&B, with Rolling Stone twice calling her the greatest singer ever. She was the very first female inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Tonight we put Aretha In The Spotlight.

Well, weekenders, we’ve made it to Saturday. I have this one final day to go. My weekend is Sunday/Monday. However, fear not. The Music Mermaid is large and in charge here when I’m not around. You’re in safe fins.

Welcome Weekenders!

Today We’ve Got ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul’, Al Green’s Final Spin, and an Emmylou Harris Spotlight, Friday, January 19, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! Hope all is well where you are and that you’re ready for another day in The Mermaid Lounge where the attitude is easy and the music is fine.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m.  A Little Bit O’ Soul: Various Artists

Soul from all over the spectrum with Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Ronettes, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Jimmy Ruffin, The Drifters, Chuck Berry, Stevie Wonder, Carla Thomas, James Brown, The Shirelles, Etta James, Curtis Mayfield, Sam & Dave, The Staple Singers, Nina Simone, LaVern Baker, The Supremes, Sam Cooke, Edwin Starr, Fontella Bass, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Irma Thomas, The Box Tops, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Eddie Floyd, Percy Sledge, Wanda Jackson, Ann Peebles, Al Green and more.

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

Speaking of the great Al Green, he takes his final spin today as our featured singer-songwriter. On Monday, we will have a brand new artist.

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

I was not a real country fan until I heard Linda Ronstadt. And it was Linda Ronstadt’s music that helped introduced me to Emmylou Harris. I heard Elite Hotel and I was hooked, and have been ever since. Emmylou Harris has deservedly won nearly every music accolade humanly possible. She helped continue to shape country music, while refusing to allow it to define her singing. Tonight she’s our Spotlight artist.

Yes, it’s Friday once again. We’ve nearly made it to the weekend. And what better way to get over the final line than right here with great music at absolutely no charge to anyone and with absolutely no commercial interruption?

A Little Bit O’ Soul

Monday is Back With ‘Under the Sun & Moon’, Chuck Berry, and Al Green as our Singer-Songwriter, January 15, 2024

Happy Monday, Workers! I hope you are remembering the accomplishments of a guy named Martin Luther King on this day. People on the right want to discredit King, but we know the truth and have to thwart that crap.

Here’s your Monday lineup:

11:00 a.m. Under the Sun & Moon: Various Artists

Today we start by breaking out a playlist we haven’t heard for a while, with Cat Stevens, Linda Ronstadt, Laura Nyro, America, The Animals, The Kinks, Gordon Lightfoot, Maria Muldaur, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Tom Rush, Valerie Carter, The Doors, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Little Feat, Bill Withers and more!

4:00 p.m.  In The Spotlight: The Music of Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry was a pioneer in the world of rock and roll, a man who influenced so many, including The Beatles, Linda Ronstadt and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Today we put his music In the Spotlight.

7:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Al Green NEW!

Tonight we introduce Al Green as our featured singer-songwriter. We’ve moved this intro to Mondays (as opposed to Saturdays) going forward.

Monday is a good day to tune us in because it’s the first day of the ugly work week, and we can help ease you back in. We’re on 24/7 at no charge and with no commercial interruption. We’re the starting point.

Monday, Monday!

Our Big, Bad Blues EP, Emmylou Harris, and Susan Tedeschi Are On the Docket, Tuesday, December 27, 2023

Good morning, music lovers! One holiday down and one more coming next week. We begin another work week on Tuesday Bluesday.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

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

This is our big, bad blues EP that covers the full range. You’ll hear Delbert McClinton, Robert Johnson, 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, Elmore James, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Robert Cray Band, J.J. Cale, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, James Cotton, Koko Taylor, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Marcia Ball, Susan Tedeschi, Roomful of Blues, Howlin’ Wolf, Tracy Nelson, Linda Ronstadt and more!

4:00 p.m.  Album of The Week: Evangeline by Emmylou Harris

Emmylou drops in for the second airing of her Album of The Week.

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Susan Tedeschi

Boston born and raised Susan Tedeschi takes the spotlight tonight. Her strong voice and searing guitar work has drawn comparisons to Janis Joplin and Bonnie Raitt. But frankly, she’s all Susan Tedeschi.

Always a busy day here in The Lounge on Tuesday. But there’s plenty of room for all. Remember, five hours of uninterrupted blues begins promptly at 9:00 a.m. Just push the button below.

It’s Tuesday Bluesday!

Monday Brings Us Janis Joplin, Our ’27 And Gone’ Playlist and The Byrds Live at Royal Albert Hall, December 18, 2023

Good morning, and welcome back to the work week. But hey, for those traveling to Christmas celebrations, it’ll be a short one. As we head toward another year, we’re busy little elves planning some changes here.

Here’s your Monday, Monday lineup:

11:00 a.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Janis Joplin

We start off the day with Janis In the Spotlight giving us her special brand of blues-rock.

3:00 p.m.  27 And Gone: Various Artists

The members of the ’27 Club’ pay us a visit mid-afternoon. Hey, this is the stuff of conspiracy theories, almost like the ‘Paul is Dead’ stuff. Is it coincidence that all of these people died at the age of 27? Jimi Hendrix. Janis Joplin. Jim Morrison. Pete Ham (Badfinger). Blind Al Wilson (Canned Heat). Amy Winehouse. Brian Jones. Robert Johnson. Ron “Pigpen” McKernan (The Dead). They’re all here singing to you from the grave this afternoon.

8:00 p.m.  The Byrds Live at Royal Albert Hall, London, UK, May 13, 1971

We’ve got some ‘live’ Byrds closing out the programming tonight. This one’s from Royal Albert Hall in London.

Drop by when you get a chance. We’re on 24/7 (not just during programmed hours), uninterrupted by commercial advertising. And we don’t ask you for a thing. Your money’s truly no good here.

Monday, Monday. Again.