Songs About ‘Water, Water Everywhere’, a Don McLean Spotlight and Emmylou Harris Saves The Day, Thursday, August 15, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! We’re headed for the weekend and we’ve got a great lineup in store for you today, including the concert that saved the Ryman!

Here’s your Thursday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Water, Water Everywhere: Various Artists

Songs about the element that occupies 71% of our planet from Paul McCartney, Deep Purple, Joe Cocker, Simon & Garfunkel, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Otis Redding, The Doobie Brothers, Valerie Carter, Bob Dylan, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Al Green, Loggins & Messina, Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, Linda Ronstadt, Spirit, The Grass Roots, The Beach Boys, Lindisfarne, Van Morrison, Bonnie Raitt, Carole King, Tom Rush, Donovan, America, Johnny Rivers and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Don McLean

You might remember him best from his epic anthem American Pie, but Don McLean was so much more than that. He released more than 40 gold and platinum records over his career.

8:00 p.m. Emmylou Harris & The Nash Ramblers Live at The Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN, April 30-May 2, 1991

This most excellent concert from Emmylou Harris & The Nash Ramblers saved and transformed the iconic Ryman Auditorium, the original home of the Grand Ole Opry.

Join us. We’re not kidding. We don’t cost a dime and we make it so easy that it’s ridiculous. We’re not interested in your credit card number or your personal information. We won’t bombard you with emails. All you need to do is hit the button below.

On Tuesday Bluesday It’s Music From the Windy City, a Buddy Guy Spotlight and Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, August 13, 2024

Good morning, bluesologists! We’ve got quite the lineup today as we pay homage to one of the greatest bluesmen of all time who just announced his retirement at the age of 88.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Best of Chicago Blues: Various Artists

This morning we head to the Windy City to hear Otis Rush, Willie Dixon, Albert King, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Bo Diddly, 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. In The Spotlight: The Music of Buddy Guy

Buddy Guy has announced his “retirement” at the age of 88. Now, it doesn’t mean he’ll never play music again. Depends on how he feels. It just means he can’t guarantee it. Old bluesmen never really go away.

8:00 p.m. John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers Live at The BBC, London, UK, 1965-1967

We close out the programming today with some John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers recorded live at BBC Studios in London between 1965 and 1967.

Yeah, it’s another Tuesday Bluesday and we’re cooking here in The Mermaid Lounge. Join us. Before, in between and after we’ve got our big, wide Open Stream and we play the best music on the planet. For free. The button’s below.

We Head ‘Down To New Orleans’, Hear Some ‘Lost’ Cream and Neil Young at Shoreline, Monday, August 12, 2024

Good morning, music lovers, and welcome to another work week. We’ve got some great stuff lined up for you today, including some music from New Orleans to start us off!

Here’s your Monday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Down In New Orleans: Various Artists

We take a trip to one of the best music areas of the nation this morning to hear authentic regional music along with the music of artists born in New Orleans. You’ll hear BeauSoleil, Clifton Chenier, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Buckwheat Zydeco, Tony Joe White, Lucinda William, Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Irma Thomas, The Boogaloo Swamis, The Neville Brothers, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zydeco Band, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Daywalkers and more.

4:00 p.m. The Lost Cream Tapes, 1967

We hear some great lost live music from the original group. If you are a Cream fan, and we are here, this is a must hear. The sound quality is excellent.

8:00 p.m. Neil Young & Crazy Horse Live at Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View, CA, October 1, 1994

More great live music from a great road warrior and his favorite back-up band of all. Live from Shoreline.

We’re here morning, noon and night on a 24/7 basis at no charge to you and with absolutely no commercial advertising. Just use the button below!

Country Sunday Brings The Flying Burrito Brothers, the ‘Are You Ready For The Country’ EP & Poco, August 11, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! We’re making it a country kind of Sunday with our big EP in between The Flying Burrito Brothers and the great little band called Poco, one of the first legit country-rock bands.

Here’s your Sunday Funday musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Flying Burrito Brothers Live at The Palomino Club, No. Hollywood, CA, June 8, 1969

We open with a band in the forefront of the country-rock genre; this version with both Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman.

1:00 p.m. Are You Ready For The Country: Various Artists

This afternoon, we’ve got country and country-rock filling up the airwaves with The Eagles, Asleep at The Wheel, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, The Byrds, Emmylou Harris, Neil Young, Guy Clark, Steve Earle, Dolly Parton, Poco, Linda Ronstadt, Alison Krauss & Union Station, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Jerry Jeff Walker, Johnny Cash, Gram Parsons, John Prine, Tom Rush, Willie Nelson, Townes Van Zandt, Rosanne Cash, Carlene Carter, Kris Kristofferson, The Desert Rose Band and more!

This evening we debut a Spotlight featuring one of the very first legitimate country-rock bands on the music scene. Poco was born in 1968 out of the ashes left behind by the breakup of Buffalo Springfield. This is another long-standing item we can finally check off the list.

The British Own The Programming With Our Big EP, a John Lennon Spotlight, and Live Stones, Saturday, August 10, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! Today our programming comes from across the pond, as they say, with our ‘British Are Coming’ EP, a Lennon Spotlight and The Stones live in Toronto!

Here’s today’s musical lineup:

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

We kick it off with our big, bad British Invasion and beyond EP. You’ll hear 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 (no disco, please), the Moody Blues, Them, Herman’s Hermits, The Rolling Stones, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Badfinger, The Yardbirds, Traffic, Elton John, Pink Floyd, Yes, The Animals, Spencer-Davis Group, Cream, Donovan, The Searchers and more!

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

Today we begin a bit of solo Beatle stuff with our John Lennon Spotlight feature which covers his time with his mates, the Plastic Ono Band, and his solo career.

8:00 p.m. The Rolling Stones Live at Palais Royale, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, August 16, 2002

We close out the British programming today with The Rolling Stones live in Canada.

Yes, it’s officially Saturday and here we all are. In Boston, it’s a heavy rain day as we are visited by the remnants of Hurricane Debby. But it matters not. Because inside, it’s dry and the music is amazing. Just hit the button below.

Friday Brings Spotlights From Norah Jones and Randy Newman, Then It’s Three Great Texas Singer-Songwriters Together at The Bluebird Cafe, August 9, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! We’re up and ready to go here today with some pretty eclectic programming from five great singer-songwriters, and it starts out with our newest Spotlight featuring Norah Jones.

Here’s your musical lineup:

We have knocked off another big one on our to-do list with the addition of this new Spotlight featuring singer-songwriter Norah Jones.

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Randy Newman

Another great singer-songwriter is In the Spotlight this afternoon in Randy Newman.

8:00 p.m. Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark & Steve Earle Live at The Bluebird Cafe, Nashville, TN, September 3, 1995

Back in 1995, Guy Clark’s wife Suzanna wanted to raise money for the Interfaith Dental Clinic, which cared for the oral health of uninsured, low-income working people and their children, and this gathering of three of the greatest singer-songwriters on the planet.

We Spend Thursday ‘Under The Influence’, Then It’s Bob Marley & The Wailers and Closing With CSNY, August 8, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! Musical artists agree that “love” is probably the most sung about topic in the world, but drink and drugs can’t be far behind! We managed to locate five hours of music on the topic.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Under The Influence: Various Artists

Spend some mind-bending time with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Byrds, Arlo Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Linda Ronstadt, Little Feat, The Rolling Stones, Small Faces, Jimi Hendrix, Steely Dan, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Talking Heads, Neil Young, The Beatles, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Foreigner, Jonathan Edwards, John Lee Hooker, Donovan and more!

4:00 p.m. Bob Marley & The Wailers Live at The Beacon Theater, New York, NY, May 1, 1976

The Legend and his mates live at the iconic Beacon Theater in New York.

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

We close out the program with our second favorite supergroup behind the Traveling Wilburys, and that’s CSNY (or sometimes, CSN and sometimes Y, depending up on how you look at it). Bands are like families. Sometimes they grind on each others’ nerves, but despite their sometimes contentions relationship, this band poured out a ton of great music.

We’re on the mark 24/7 with some of the best music on the planet. Best of all, we’re totally free and do not clog up the gears with commercial advertising.

At Midweek It’s Travelin’ Fever, a McCartney Spotlight and Live Little Feat On Wednesday, August 7, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! Today we’ve got the midweek peak with our multi-artist ‘Travelin’ Fever’ EP, a Macca Spotlight feature (without his Beatle mates), and some vintage live Little Feat!

Here’s your midweek lineup:

9:00 a.m. Travelin’ Fever: Various Artists

We hit the road today with Canned Heat, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Box Tops, Arlo Guthrie, The Allman Brothers Band, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, The Doors, Tom Rush, The Byrds, Little Feat, The Band, Willie Nelson, Edwin Starr, The Traveling Wilburys, Del Shannon, Janis Joplin and more! (By the way, I’m trying to cut down on the name dropping in these posts.)

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Paul McCartney

Today we have Macca without his Beatle mates as we explore his music with Wings and as a solo artist. He’ll be back with The Beatles soon!

8:00 p.m. Little Feat Live at Ebbets Field, Denver, CO, July 20, 1973

Tonight we’ve got a concert from one of the best damned live bands on the planet with the Lowell George version of Little Feat. (Yes, the ONLY version of Little Feat for me.)

We’re on 24/7 at no cost with great programming and our big, wide Open Stream. All you’ve got to do is hit the button below. We’re not kidding. See for yourself.

The Ladies Open Tuesday Bluesday, Then It’s The Allman Brothers Band and Live Yardbirds Later, August 6, 2024

Good morning, bluesologists! We open this fine Tuesday Bluesday with our multi-artist ‘Ladies Sing the Blues’ EP, then it’s The Brothers singing the blues and the 90’s version of the reformed Yardbirds playing at Bluesfest.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

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

The ladies are large and in charge for the morning and into early 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. The Allman Brothers Band Sings the Blues, Volume One

We did this backwards, playing volume two last week. But hey, rules were made to be broken, so we did. This is also part of Martin Scorcese’s fantastic blues documentary.

This is a reformed Yardbirds band under the leadership of original drummer Jim McCarty. This performance was recorded for broadcast by WDR in Germany.

Come Spend Monday With Hot Tuna, Laura Nyro, and Some Villains, Scumbags and Lowlives, August 5, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! We’re back to the work week today and we’ve got a lineup fit for a Monday, including a brand new Hot Tuna Spotlight feature.

Here’s your Monday, Monday musical lineup:

This great blues-rock band was formed back in 1969 by ex-Jefferson Airplane members Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen and is ready to tour again in 2024. Although many members come and go and the lineup is fluid, the two anchors remain the constant. They are one of our favorite bands here in The Mermaid Lounge.

3:00 p.m. Villains, Scumbags and Lowlives: Various Artists

Bad humans have always been a topic for musicians. Today you’ll hear Queen, Jethro Tull, Lesley Gore, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Shawn Colvin, Linda Ronstadt, Foo Fighters, The Eagles, Warren Zevon, Foreigner, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Supertramp, Jim Croce, Jimi Hendrix and more!

8:00 p.m. Laura Nyro Live at Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, March 31, 1976

Laura Nyro’s songs have put many singers on the map, but there’s nothing like hearing her sing them herself.