Category: In The Spotlight

We Close Out the Work Week With Our ‘In Your Dreams’ EP and Pink Floyd In The Spotlight, on Friday, July 29, 2022

Good Morning, Musicologists! We are closing out the work week in fine style today with our ‘In Your Dreams’ EP and Pink Floyd up later. It’s been a while for this one!

We start the morning with ‘In Your Dreams’

Here’s today’s musical offering:

11:00 a.m. In Your Dreams: Various Artists

We all have a dream world. Some of us live in one; others visit for short periods of time and come back to reality. I say this now after looking around at the human condition here in America. But that’s another story for another day on a different venue. You will hear from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Aerosmith, Crowded House, the Moody Blues, The Eurythmics, Van Morrison, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Nanci Griffith, The Electric Prunes, Fleetwood Mac, Roy Orbison, The Mamas & The Papas, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Jimmy Buffett, The Allman Brothers Band, Supertramp, Randy Newman, Aretha Franklin, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Bob Dylan, Widespread Panic, The Youngbloods, Jimmy Ruffin, Jackson Browne, Mudcrutch, Patsy Cline, Joe Walsh, Bruce Springsteen, k.d. lang, Dusty Springfield and more!

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Pink Floyd

Tonight we spend a little time with Pink Floyd for the first time in a while. We end the drought this evening promptly at 7:00 p.m. And remember, what’s going on here? It’s not a drill, as they say.

We’re on for today, as we are every day. Although we do wish the heat would dissipate and make life livable again. It’s really just to hot for too many days on end. But we’re cool here in The Mermaid Lounge. Join us.

In Your Dreams

Midweek Brings Our ‘Sixties Rotation, Volume Two’ EP and We Celebrate Mick Jagger’s Birthday With The Rolling Stones in the Spotlight Later, Wednesday, July 27, 2022:

Good Morning, Music Lovers! We are at midweek in The Mermaid Lounge and we’ve got our focus squarely on the sixties today. We kick it off with volume two of our ‘Sixties Rotation’ EP.

We bring you The Sixties starting at 10:00 a.m. today!

Here’s your midweek line-up:

10:00 a.m. The Sixties Rotation, Volume Two: Various Artists

Today’s rotation is the second focused on the music of the sixties, and is mostly the mid-to-late timeframe. You’ll hear The Mamas & The Papas, Simon & Garfunkel, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead, Buffalo Springfield, Sly & The Family Stone, The Temptations, The Beach Boys, Roy Orbison, The Animals, The Yardbirds, Linda Ronstadt, The Byrds, Chuck Berry, James Brown, Blind Faith, The Spencer Davis Group, Elvis Presley, The Box Tops, The Doors, Marvin Gaye, Wilson Pickett, The Band, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, The Ronettes, The Kinks, Jimmy Cliff, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Zombies, Donovan, The Velvet Underground, and more!

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Rolling Stones

Today, we celebrate (albeit, belatedly) the 79th birthday of Mick Jagger, born on July 26, 1943. The Stones were founded in 1962 in London, England and have been on the music scene for six decades. That’s what I call staying power.

We’ve seen a great metamorphosis over the last month, with more and more people from the U.S. joining our international listeners. Let’s keep that up. We have no money for advertising because we get no money from advertising. We simply do not accept commercial advertising of any form, so there’s no income. We rely on word-of-mouth, so please help us out!

The Sixties Rotation 2!

The Work Week is Back and We’ve Got The Hollies, Linda Ronstadt & a Trifecta Afternoon On Tap, Monday, July 25, 2022

Good Morning, Workers! We’re facing another work week and it starts off steamy both inside and out as we’ve got some brand new ‘live’ Linda Ronstadt later on, along with The Hollies and some Trifectas.

Here’s today’s musical landscape:

11:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Hollies

Formed in Salford, England, in 1962, the Hollies were a force in music throughout the sixties and into the seventies and were most known for their distinctive three-part harmonies. But let’s not get too damned technical here: They were just a great band and one of the most influential British Invasion bands.

2:00 p.m. Open Stream with Afternoon Trifectas!

We haven’t had one of these afternoons in a while, so it is about damned time.

2:00 p.m. Guy Clark

3:00 p.m. Sam Cooke

4:00 p.m. Canned Heat

5:00 p.m. Valerie Carter

6:00 p.m. Norah Jones

7:00 p.m. Linda Ronstadt Live at The Calderone Concert Hall, Hempstead, NY, January 29, 1975 NEW!

Linda Ronstadt was the christening act in the opening of the Calderone back in the day and Tom Rush was her opening act. This performance from 1975 was broadcast on WLIR-FM and most of the songs are from Don’t Cry Now and Heart Like a Wheel. I have seen Ronstadt perform live 39 times in my lifetime, and she never disappointed. Ever. This one is no exception.

Join your friends. We’ve got Croatia, Romania, Spain, the UK, France, Germany, Greece, The Faroe Islands, Australia, Canada, and some folks in Kansas, New York, and Florida on this morning. Make your Monday more tolerable.

It’s Monday, Monday

Our Roots are Showing With The ‘Folk Music From A-To-Z’ EP, Baez Sings Dylan, Shawn Colvin, and LIVE DEAD! Later, Saturday, July 16, 2022

It’s another full-on Saturday here in The Mermaid Lounge with some great folk music roots showing through today. You won’t want to miss this one!

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

10:00 a.m. Folk Music From A-to-Z: Various Artist

This one’s always a treat, folks. We’ve got the luminaries of the folk music scene along with those who pay very able tribute to the craft. Folk represents the origins of the protest music movement in so many ways. You’ll hear Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, John Prine, Dave Van Ronk, 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, Joni Mitchell, The Stone Poneys, Harry Chapin, Phil Ochs, The Kingston Trio, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Lead Belly, Tim Hardin, Simon & Garfunkel, Richie Havens, Jackson Browne, The Carter Family and many more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Baez Sings Dylan by Joan Baez FINAL AIRING!

What can we say about this one. The perfect album for a folk music kind of day. This is the swan song for this one. We’ve got a brand new album all ready for tomorrow.

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Shawn Colvin

Today we put a great artist In the Spotlight in Shawn Colvin, a woman who has one foot firmly planted in folk and another wherever she pleases at any given moment. One thing is for certain, you always know Shawn Colvin’s true roots.

10:00 p.m. LIVE DEAD! The Grateful Dead Live at The Roscoe Maples Pavillion, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, February 9, 1973 NEW!

We’ve got another new soundboard recording of The Dead, this one from Palo Alto. Almost thought I’d have a rare repeat until this one fell in our lap here. Enjoy.

We’re cooking here in The Lounge today with The Music Mermaid at the helm. You’ll be in great hands while I spend my final day toiling with the entitled consumer masses. She’s ready and raring to go as we get off to an early start. And remember, we’re always 100%, no-strings-attached, no surprises free. All day every day for eternity.

Folk Music Fiesta!

We Inch Closer to The Weekend With Our ‘Paint It Black’ Playlist, John Prine In The Spotlight, and Our AOW, Thursday, July 14, 2022

Good Morning, Musicologists! Here we are again on the weekend doorstep and we’ve got some really great stuff for you today interspersed among all that wide Open Stream!

Here’s your musical landscape for Thursday:

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

Yes, today it’s songs about black, the color. In the title, lyrics or both. You’ll hear The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Wallflowers, The Doobie Brothers, The Move, Steely Dan, Johnny Cash, Amy Winehouse, The Hollies, Stephen Stills, Warren Zevon, The Band, Nina Simone, Tom Rush, k.d. lang, The Grateful Dead, Fairport Convention, Dr. John, The Kinks, Guy Clark, J. D. Souther, Curtis Mayfield, Linda Ronstadt, The Flying Burrito Brothers, and more!

3:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Baez Sings Dylan by Joan Baez

This is our next-to-last airing of this week’s AOW. The final airing will be sometime on Saturday. On Sunday, we’ll have a brand new selection to play for you.

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of John Prine

We bring John Prine back into the spotlight. He’s been gone for far too long. We’ve got a new Prine playlist coming, along with some new ‘live’ music from him. In the meantime, we’ve got a great spotlight feature while we wait. One of the greatest singer-songwriters of his generation here. Included in this playlist is his live version of Angel From Montgomery with Bonnie Raitt.

Come on, folks. We’ve got a International meeting of the minds currently tuned in with listeners from the UK, Chile, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Italy, Australia, Russian Federation, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Switzerland, and points beyond. Join them.

Cursor here, please.

It’s Tuesday Bluesday and We’ve Got Our ‘The Best of Chicago Blues’ EP and Marcia Ball In The Spotlight Later, July 12, 2022

Good Morning, Bluesologists! We’ve got our great extended playlist featuring the Chicago Blues today along with Marcia Ball later. Sandwiched in between is our Album of The Week.

It’s The Best of Chicago Blues to kick off the day at 10:00 a.m.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

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

This just officially grew up and became an EP in June, and you will 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!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Baez Sings Dylan by Joan Baez

This is the second airing of this great album, as we inject a little bit of folk into the day. We have the work of two folk luminaries here.

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

Marcia Ball is a blues singer, songwriter and superb pianist raised in Vinton, Louisiana. Her style is best summed up as a marriage of Texas stomp-rock and Louisiana swamp-blues. She was awarded the Contemporary Blues Album of The year in both 2002 and 2004. If you don’t know Marcia Ball, you should tune this Spotlight feature in tonight.

Here we are again. Before, after and in between our programming we’ve got wide Open Stream courtesy of The Music Mermaid. We run 24/7 uninterrupted by commercial advertising. And did I mention that we’re totally 100% free, no strings attached. Ever.

The Best of Chicago Blues!

It’ll Be a Better Monday With Mudcrutch Madness, Fats Domino, and Some ‘Live’ CCR Bringing Up the Rear, July 11, 2022

Good Morning, Musicologists! We haven’t had a Mudcrutch Monday Madness for far too long now, so that’s how we’ll kick off the day, followed by Fats Domino In the Spotlight, and ‘live’ CCR later!

Here’s today’s lineup:

11:00 a.m. MUDCRUTCH MONDAY MADNESS!

Today’s madness is the full catalogue. Just over two hours of every song Mudcrutch ever made before they morphed into our House Band, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. This is the band that left Gainesville for L.A. all those years ago. In 2008, Petty would reunite the band with it’s original members, Mike Campbell, Benmont Tench, Randall Marsh, and Tom Leadon, to great success.

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Fats Domino

The question remains: Did Fats Domino invent rock n’ roll? You know, nobody can say for sure. Rock n’ Roll had its own group of ‘founding parents’ as I like to call it, and surely Fats Domino is high up on that list. One thing is for sure, nobody can definitively say he wasn’t the first guy to play that music.

7:00 p.m. Creedence Clearwater Revival Live at The Fillmore West, San Francisco, July 4, 1971

Speaking of bands with a unique sound, this band of brothers definitely qualifies. You instantly know who’s singing that song when you hear it. Four guys from Berkeley who sound like they just came out of the Bayou.

No doubt about it. Monday’s suck. Every week I’m eternally grateful that Sunday and Monday are my weekend days. Somehow, it makes the rest of the week go faster. I know. It’s all psychological, but it works for me. In the meantime, if you work somewhere where you can multitask, grab yourself some ear buds, pull up a tab, and tune us in. It’ll make Monday oh so tolerable.

Mudcrutch Madness!

We Head to the Weekend With Lucinda Williams In the Spotlight, Jethro Tull ‘Live’ On Stage and Our Steely Dan AOW, Thursday, July 7, 2022

Good Morning, Music Lovers! We begin the final slide toward the weekend today with some great programming. This is the place to be.

Later today we bring you some ‘live’ Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull.

Here’s your musical journey:

11:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Lucinda Williams

Ah, Lucinda Williams, a Louisiana native with that great twang in her voice as she sings the blues, some country, country-rock, folk and whatever she just about wants. She is undoubtedly one of the great treasures in popular music, somewhat underappreciated but certainly not by her peers. We’ve got her In the Spotlight to start off the day.

3:00 p.m. Album of The Week: The Royal Scam by Steely Dan

This is the next-to-last airing of this week’s selection by The Dan, a band whose albums never disappoint as they’ve successfully managed to marry their great jazzy arrangements with their insatiable rock energy. On Sunday, this one will be in the record books. Saturday will be the final airing. Plan wisely.

7:00 p.m. Jethro Tull Live at The Capitol Centre, Landover, MD, November 21, 1977

I don’t know how many of you have had the opportunity to see the band live on stage, but I’ve seen them a few times in my day. There is no way to describe Ian Anderson on stage, and you’re certainly not watching video here, but his flute playing is legendary and their songs are timeless.

Get on it, people. It’s all downhill from here and you might as well make it an enjoyable slide into the weekend, where we some more great program awaits your arrival. We’re on 24/7 with no commercial interruption and we won’t cost you anything but time.

Just Do It, People!

We’re On The Downslide to The Weekend With ‘Live’ Neil Young, Emmylou Harris In the Spotlight, and Our AOW, Thursday, June 30, 2022

Good Morning, Musicologists! We are on the way to the weekend effectively this morning, and we’ve got three pieces of great programming today to help get you there.

Here’s today’s programming:

11:00 a.m. Neil Young Live at The Cellar Door, Washington, D.C., recorded in 1970 NEW!

This collection of live performances was recorded during Young’s six live performances in Washington in 1970. It is vintage Neil Young from his early albums and from his Buffalo Springfield years. It also features the only known recording of Cinnamon Girl (a Mermaid Lounge favorite) with young playing piano.

3:00 p.m. Album of The Week: American Beauty by The Grateful Dead

We’re at the next-to-last airing of American Beauty. The final will be sometime Saturday and, by Sunday, it will be a thing of the past as we have a new selection waiting in the wings.

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Emmylou Harris

It’s time to put Emmylou in the spotlight again. Over the cours of her career she has evolved into one of the most influential contributors to the country and country-rock music scene. She has released dozens of singles and albums over her career and has won 14 Grammy Awards. She became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1992, ws inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2008, and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.

Great day to tune us in, as is every day. I know. I sound like, well, a broken record. But I can’t help myself. I can’t understand for the life of me why people would prefer to pay for their music. Or have to put up with commercial advertising and chatty DJs. What are you waiting for?

Just Push Play!

It’s Our Official ‘Summertime’ Kick-off With a Brand New Playlist, Badfinger at the BBC, and Joni In The Spotlight, Monday, June 27, 2022

Good Morning, Music Lovers! We hope we can brighten your work-week start today with some great music. It’s summertime, and we’ve got some brand new music for you.

We officially kick off summer with a brand new playlist today!

Here’s your Monday programming:

11:00 a.m. Summertime: Various Artists NEW!

This is the beginning of a week where we feature some new music. We start here with our new ‘Summertime’ playlist. We’ve got songs with the word summer, summertime, and variations thereof in the title but, if you listen closely, you’ll hear some surf music in there as well. You’ll hear from Paul McCartney, Electric Light Orchestra, Eddie Cochran, Joni Mitchell, Sly & The Family Stone, Poco, The Blue Stingrays, The Doors, The Beach Boys, Jimmy Cliff, Joan Baez, Foo Fighters, Donovan, Paul Simon, Van Morrison, Nina Simone, John Prine, Johnny Rivers, Gary Hoey, The Desert Rose Band, Dick Dale & His Del-Tones, The Stone Poneys, Chrissie Hynde, Bob Dylan, The Surfaris, Nanci Griffith, and more!

4:00 p.m. Badfinger: Live at The BBC Studios, 1972-1973

Today’s live music offering is Badfinger, a true power pop band that made some great music in its time. Today we’ve got them live at BBC Studios in London recorded in 1972 and 1973. Undoubtedly the best signing ever by Apple Records.

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Joni Mitchell

It’s been a spell since we featured Joni Mitchell In the Spotlight, so we’re remedying that little miscue today. She’s kind of the sound of summer in a way. We’ve always loved Joni’s music here in The Mermaid Lounge. She is one of the most brilliant singer-songwriters on the planet.

Come on. It’s Monday. And we all know Monday’s suck. I’ve been sick with COVID for a second time here and I return to retail hell myself tomorrow, so why not join me today in kicking back and enjoying some great tunes.

Happy Monday!