Category: Jazz-Rock

It’s Snowing Outside The Mermaid Lounge, but We’ve Got Our Sixties Rotation EP and Donovan In The Spotlight To Get Us Through This Mess, Friday, February 25, 2022

Good Morning, Musicologists! If you live here in the Boston area, you know that we were all standing outside a couple of days ago without so much as a jacket on. Today? Today, it’s another foot of snow. Welcome to New England in February. But we’ve got some hot tunes here for you today.

Comin’ at you at 11:00 a.m. EST. The music that inspired us!

Here’s your Friday musical landscape:

11:00 a.m. The Sixties Rotation, Volume Two: Various Artists

There’s no sense denying it, we here in The Mermaid Lounge are lost in the past and find no release in most (but not all) of today’s music. People tell me I must be open-minded, but I actually don’t. Nope. Life is too short to listen to bad music. So, we don’t. This is the music that inspired the station. You’ll hear The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, The Four Tops, Buffalo Springfield, Roy Orbison, The Yardbirds, Bob Dylan, James Brown, Chuck Berry, Donovan, The Box Tops, Vanilla Fudge, Sly & The Family Stone, Cream, The Zombies, The Doors, The Chambers Brothers, The Rolling Stones, The Animals, The Who, The Temptations, and more! That’s five hours of commercial-free, uninterrupted music.

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Donovan

Donovan was a very big part of the sixties sounds, so his presence in the spotlight today is particularly fitting. His unique sound came from fusing pop, jazz, folk, psychedelic rock and world music. He was a favorite when I was young, and remains so today.

In a few hours, I’ll be digging myself out and heading off to work. But if you don’t have to be anywhere today, this would be a great day to tune us in. All you have to do is give us a shot. And we’re not talking about buying a subscription that you can “cancel anytime.” Don’t you love that shit? We do not require a credit card or a subscription here. The only thing you must have is an Internet connection. End of story.

The Sixties Are Back!

Another Monday and We’re Between Heaven & Hell, We Put Steely Dan In The Spotlight, and Deliver That Sweet Soul Sound This Evening, February 21, 2022

Here we are again, people. The beginning of another work week. But we’ve got some great music for you today as we celebrate Walter Becker’s birthday and Black History Month. But hey, here in The Mermaid Lounge, every month is Black History Month.

We celebrate Walter Becker’s birthday with Steely Dan In the Spotlight

Here’s your Moan-Day line-up:

11:00 a.m. Between Heaven & Hell: Various Artists

We start the day with a real Monday playlist because on Monday we are generally between heaven and hell. Here we have references to heaven and hell in the title and lyrics, and you’ll hear from Donovan, The Eagles, Led Zeppelin, The Byrds, ZZ Top, Van Morrison, Lucinda Williams, Elvis Presley, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Fats Domino, Foo Fighters, The Grateful Dead, and more.

3:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Steely Dan

After the 60’s the music of the 70’s was a bit of a letdown. (It only got worse in subsequent decades, by the way.) But Steely Dan was one of those bands who was an oasis in the middle of a desert. Love this band and the rap that they can’t reproduce their sound ‘live’ on stage was bullshit, by the way. That was not my experience when I saw them. Today we (belatedly) celebrate Walter Becker’s birthday by putting Steely Dan In the Spotlight.

7:00 p.m. That Sweet Soul Sound: Various Artists

I’d say we’re celebrating Black History Month, but every month is Black History Month here in The Mermaid Lounge. If it weren’t for black music, there would be no rock n’ roll. And no. Elvis never said he invented rock n’ roll. He deferred to his black counterparts on that issue. You’ll hear from Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers, The Four Tops, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Roberta Flack, Rare Earth, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Fontella Bass, Edwin Starr, The Friends of Distinction, The Isley Brothers, Sly & The Family Stone, James Brown, Ray Charles, Etta James, Ben E. King, Mary Wells, Ann Peebles, The Temptations, Jackie Wilson, and more.

Your Monday doesn’t have to be a bad experience. Not when you’ve got access to all this great music totally free 24/7. No lie, people. We’re all about the music. People over profits. We live that here.

Free Music 24/7

At Midweek, We Put the Music of New Orleans Front and Center with Our ‘Down In New Orleans’ EP and Dr. John In the Spotlight, January 12, 2022

Good Morning, Music Lovers! We’ve taken our NOLA fetish out of the closet and have put it in the mainstream. It’s no longer just for airing during Mardi Gras week. (And we start a bit early today.)

Not only does New Orleans have great food, but it also has great music!

Here’s your midweek line-up:

10:00 a.m. Down in New Orleans: Various Artists NEW!

We usually dust this playlist off once a year, but that is a thing of the past. Today, we move it into the mainstream after a bit of an updating. It not only features authentic New Orleans music, but highlights the musicians who were born in Louisiana, like Lucinda Williams, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Dr. John, and Allen Toussaint. In addition to those artists, you’ll hear BeauSoleil, Clifton Chenier, The Neville Brothers, Tony Joe White, Professor Longhair, Irma Thomas (The Soul Queen of New Orleans), Allen Fontenot, Aaron Neville, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Chance Bushman, The Daywalkers, The Boogaloo Swamis, Kermit Ruffins, The Magnolia Sisters, The Meters, Queen Ida & The Bon Temps, Boozoo Chavis, and many more. Chance Bushman and The Daywalkers are local NOLA artists whose music I had the pleasure of hearing during a 2014 trip. The Boogaloo Swamis, oddly enough, were a band we fell in love with here in Boston at a local place called Johnny D’s in Somerville, Massachusetts. We hope you enjoy this extended playlist.

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

We thought we’d make all of the programming a celebration of New Orleans today, and we could think of nobody more deserving of the Spotlight than Dr. John, also known as The Nitetripper. Dr. John was a New Orleans legend whose career spanned decades. He was musically active from the 1950’s up until his death in 2019. His musical style combined New Orleans blues, jazz, funk and R & B.

Before, in between and after our programming, you’ll be treated to our wide Open Stream courtesy of The Music Mermaid. We stream 24/7 at no charge to you whatsoever. We run no commercial advertising, and we do not ask for either a credit card or your personal information. We’re all about the music.

NOLA Rules!

Saturday in The Mermaid Lounge Brings Our ‘The Female Species’ EP, the Final Airing of ‘Teaser and the Firecat’ and LIVE DEAD! January 8, 2022

Happy Saturday, Weekenders! It is here, and we’ve got the gang from Europe all tuned in and ready to go. Some of ’em have been there all night. What are you doing today? I know what you should include as part of your day, but I won’t unduly influence you.

We start the day with our EP about The Female Species…it may not be what you think.

Here’s your Saturday musical landscape:

12:00 p.m. The Female Species: Various Artists

Nope. It’s not 4+ hours of music by women. We’ve got that one in the hopper for mid-month. This one is musicians singing songs about women; songs with the word ladies, girls, or women in the title or lyrics…or both. You’ll hear Talking Heads, Jackson Brown, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Boogaloo Swamis, John Mayall, Hot Tuna, The Eagles, Elvis Presley, Fleetwood Mac, Percy Sledge, Electric Light Orchestra, The Beatles, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, America, Roy Orbison, Billy Joel, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, The Temptations, The Beach Boys, Linda Ronstadt, and more!

7:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Teaser and the Firecat by Cat Stevens FINAL AIRING!

This is the swan song for Teaser and the Firecat. Tomorrow when you roll yourselves out of bed, we’ll have a brand new album feature.

10:00 p.m. LIVE DEAD! The Grateful Dead Live at Manor Downs, Austin, Texas, July 4, 1981 NEW!

We’ve got another new soundboard recording of a great Dead live show here for your listening pleasure. But then again, the fact remains that every show sounds “new” when it comes to The Grateful Dead. (And by the way, no matter what they tell you, The Grateful Dead aren’t The Grateful Dead without Jerry Garcia.)

Before, in between, and after we give you all that great Open Stream courtesy of The Music Mermaid. She has impeccable taste in music, I must admit, and never fails to please. Speaking of which, we’ll be adding some new music over the next few weeks, so stay tuned!

Cursor Here Please!

It’s a Snowy Morning in the Beantown Area and We’ve Got ‘Travelin’ Fever’ in The Mermaid Lounge…Along With Eva Cassidy In the Spotlight Later, Friday, January 7, 2022

Good Morning, Music Lovers! Here we are on our first snowy morning of the season. It’s a great day musically to get snowed in. I am not that fortunate as I must dig myself out in the next couple of hours. But you, my friends, are all set for the day here.

Today we’ll help you get to know Eva Cassidy as we put her In The Spotlight.

Here’s your snow day line-up:

11:00 a.m. Travelin’ Fever: Various Artists

For some, there’s nothing like the lure of the open road…no ties, no roots, just going. It’s a popular subject in the music world as well, as you will see if you tune us in this morning. 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, Led Zeppelin, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Beatles, Linda Ronstadt, The Grateful Dead, Edwin Starr, The Marshall Tucker Band, Emmylou Harris, Little Feat, The Byrds, Willie Nelson, Arlo Guthrie, Carole King, Fats Domino, and many more!

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

Eva Cassidy is someone we here in The Mermaid Lounge are still getting to know ourselves. She was largely unknown outside of the D.C. area for most of what can only be called a very short career by most standards. She died tragically from melanoma at the age of 33. She moved in and out of various bands, did some time as an artist, and then returned to music. You can read more about Eva here. We are still sourcing more of her music, but felt as though we had enough to spotlight her, so we did. We promise this will be updated, but Eva has a beautiful and emotive soprano voice and she lends it wonderfully to interpretations of jazz, pop, folk and blues. We have a recording of her live at Blues Alley in Georgetown that we’ve played before. We’ll get it back on the programming circuit in the next several weeks.

What could be a better antidote to winter than getting socked in with great music? Why fret? Just push the button below. We promise it won’t cost you a penny. And we also promise no commercials or self-absorbed disc jockeys. Honest.

Press Here

We’re at Midweek With Our New ‘Ode To Morning’ EP and The Pretenders In The Spotlight, Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Good Morning, Music Lovers! We have hit our midweek stride here in The Mermaid Lounge, and we’ve got a brandy new playlist for you all today! We are starting a bit earlier today!

We’ve got our brand new ‘Ode To Morning’ EP up first thing this morning!

Here’s your musical landscape for today:

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

We’ve been airing our ‘Here Comes The Night’ EP for a few months now. It’s about time we had our ‘Ode To Morning’ answer. We launch it today with what could be our most eclectic collection of artists ever, including Nanci Griffith, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Dusty Springfield, Linda Ronstadt, Townes Van Zandt, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Electric Light Orchestra, Harry Nilsson, Emmylou Harris, The Wallflowers, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Norah Jones, Todd Rundgren, Gordon Lightfoot, Willie Nelson, Jefferson Airplane, Harry Chapin, Three Dog Night, Fairport Convention, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Hot Tuna, Chris Hillman, Badfinger, Cat Stevens, Taj Mahal, Hoyt Axton, James Taylor and more!

You can check out the complete EP playlist under the Playlist tab. Just scroll to the bottom!

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Pretenders

We haven’t aired this one in a while, and it’s high time we did. The Pretenders were formed in 1978 by kick-ass Chrissie Hynde, also the band’s primary songwriter and one hell of a guitarist. It’s a great way to close out the day’s programming

Before, in between, and after our programming, we have wide Open Stream under the thoughtful guidance of The Music Mermaid. And by the way, we won’t cost you a penny. Just push play.

Just Push Play!

It’s Sunday in The Mermaid Lounge With Our New AOW and The Women of Music Fully in Charge, December 19, 2021

Welcome to another Sunday in the Lounge. Today we have a vintage Album of The Week for you, and we have turned the musical reins over to the women of music. I don’t know a radio station that actually does any of that. We made a commitment to giving female artists a bigger voice. Take advantage of it.

Here’s today’s line-up:

11:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Big Brother & The Holding Company by Big Brother & The Holding Company

This was the band’s debut album, released on August 23, 1967, with Janis Joplin as their main singer. It was recorded over a three-day stretch in December of 1966. After the band’s blowout success at the Monterey Pop festival in 1967, Columbia Records took over their contract and re-released the album with two additional songs and with Janis Joplin’s name on the front cover. Album reviews are mixed on this one, and we really don’t pay much attention to that stuff anyway. Regardless of the status of the album, it was the birth of Janis Joplin’s all too short, but oh so sweet, career.

3:00 p.m. Ladies Day Out: Various Artists

The ladies return to take you through the afternoon and evening, making it clear that they are not second class citizens on this station. You’ll hear Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Carly Simon, Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders), Petula Clark, Laura Nyro, Cilla Black, Irma Thomas, Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Janis Joplin, Carole King, Maria Muldaur, Lucinda Williams, Rosanne Cash, Wendy Waldman, Eva Cassidy, Shawn Colvin, The Ronettes, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Susan Tedeschi, Phoebe Snow, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Nicolette Larson, Norah Jones, and more!

It’s certainly a day of rest, unless you’re supporting capitalism during the holiday season. Personally, I think the gift of music is a wonderful thing. You can listen in, turn your friends on to us, and it won’t cost you a penny. Or them, for that matter. We don’t play the same music over and over and over. We don’t charge for our content. We do not run commercials. And we’re here for you 24/7. What more could you want in your stocking?

The Women Rule!

We’ve Got ‘Travelin’ Fever’ at Mid-Week, and We Put Steely Dan In the Spotlight Later, Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Gooooooood Morning, Music Lovers everywhere! We’ve hit mid-week once again and we’ve got our most excellent ‘Travelin’ Fever’ EP to kick off the day. We put Steely Dan front and center a bit later.

We put The Dan In the Spotlight later, but first we go Travelin’

Here’s your mid-week programming:

11:00 a.m. Travelin’ Fever: Various Artists

In the time of COVID, I’m not interested in planes, trains, or boats packed with people, so I’ll live vicariously through this great EP. You’ll hear Jackson Browne, Dan Fogelberg, The Box Tops, Canned Heat, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, The Who, The Eagles, Janis Joplin, Guy Clark, Del Shannon, Asleep at The Wheel, Jesse Winchester, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Led Zeppelin, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, and more!

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Steely Dan

I’ve heard some pretty dumb comments about Steely Dan. You know, like they can’t reproduce their sound “live.” Having seen them, that’s bullshit. Steely Dan made some of the absolute best music of the seventies and eighties. They fused pop, jazz, and rock into a sound all it’s own. They are In the Spotlight here tonight.

It’s December, so give yourself a Christmas present that’s totally free. Better still, try us out and then give a gift to someone you know loves music. Tell them about us. That’s free too. No commercials. No mouthy DJ’s. No hidden costs. No personal information required. Merry Fucking Christmas. Tune us in.

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It May Be Monday, But We’re Rockin’ With The Sixties and The All-Girl Revue 3, December 6, 2021

Good Morning, Audiophiles! It’s another Monday here on the planet earth, but we have your musical needs covered fully today. I promise.

We interrupted our regular programming yesterday for the Tom Petty Ph.D. Special, so today you’re treated to The Original Sixties bash!

Here’s your Moan-Day line-up:

11:00 a.m. The Original Sixties Rotation: Various Artists

We did switch gears yesterday to celebrate Tom Petty’s honorary doctorate, so we are running yesterday’s EP today! And it’s always good to start out the work week with the music that inspired this station. You’ll hear The Beatles, Sonny & Cher, Mary Wells, Dusty Springfield, Tommy James & The Shondells, The Drifters, The Monkees, Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Hollies, Petula Clark, Buddy Holly, The Kinks, Neil Diamond, The Band, The Temptations, The Beach Boys, The Yardbirds, The Searchers, The Rolling Stones, Donovan, Bob Dylan, and many more! It’s totally uninterrupted!

7:00 p.m. The All-Girl Revue, Volume Three: Various Artists

We haven’t cued this one up for a while, so it’s a treat for me too since I am home and hanging in The Mermaid Lounge on Mondays! You’ll hear Linda Ronstadt, Valerie Carter, Phoebe Snow, Judy Collins, Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell, Melissa Etheridge, Bonnie Raitt, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Wendy Waldman, Melanie, Susan Tedeschi, Aretha Franklin, Lydia Pense & Cold Blood, Shawn Colvin, Sarah McLachlan, and more!

We’ve got your musical needs covered every day here in The Mermaid Lounge. We’ve got quite a crew on this morning from around the planet, including Germany, Italy, Greece, The Netherlands, Faroe Islands, Russian Federation, France, the UK, Canada, Switzerland and points beyond. Why not join them?

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OoooohWheee! The End of Another Work Week! We Celebrate With Our ‘Here Comes The Night’ EP and Put George Harrison In the Spotlight, Friday, December 3, 2021

Good Morning, Musicologists! Today we give you another of our patented extended players, and pay homage to George Harrison (aka, Nelson Wilbury) who has been gone for twenty years now.

We put George Harrison In the Spotlight later.

Here’s Friday’s programming:

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

Today we give you another uninterrupted extended playlist of great music that talks about the night in either the title, lyrics…or both. You’ll hear Warren Zevon, the J. Geils Band, Poco, Cat Stevens, Neil Diamond, Bonnie Raitt, The Traveling Wilburys, Joe Walsh, The Ronettes, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell, Emmylou Harris, Dr. John, Bob Dylan, (Wicked) Wilson Pickett, Gerry Rafferty & Steeler’s Wheel, Sam Cooke, Phoebe Snow, Gregg Allman, The Electric Prunes, Jimmy Cliff, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Beatles, and many more!

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of George Harrison

Monday of this week (November 29) marked the 20th anniversary of George Harrison leaving this planet. We may be a bit late, but we’re never a dollar short because money means nothing here in The Mermaid Lounge. Today we pay homage to Harrison as a Beatle, as the founder of The Traveling Wilburys, and as a solo artist.

Tom Petty once said of George Harrison, “I would assure all his fans that George was as beautiful as they pictured him. And maybe more.” Nothing else needs to be said here.

Before, in between, and after we have our untouchable wide Open Stream, circulating 27,000 songs and growing weekly. Tune us in. It’s all on us. No hidden fees. No personal information required. Just a couple of good ears and a computer tab will do it. (Oh, yeah, you can also listen on your phone.)

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