Category: Motown

‘M is For Motown’, Loggins & Messina and The McGarrigle Sisters Are All On Tap For Thursday, January 11, 2024

Morning, folks! We are on track for a great day here in The Mermaid Lounge with a trip to Motor City planned, our AOW, and some rare gems from Kate & Anna McGarrigle.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m.  M is For Motown: Various Artists

We’ve got five hours of the music that made America dance with Barrett Strong, Eddie Kendricks, Edwin Starr, Eddie Holland, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Jackson Five, Kim Weston, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Marvin Gaye, Martha & The Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Four Tops, The Isley Brothers, The Temptations, The Contours, Rare Earth, Mary Wells, Tammi Terrell, Diana Ross & The Supremes and more!

4:00 p.m.  Album of The Week: Sittin’ In by Kenny Loggins & Jim Messina

Back again for another airing of what was first intended to be a solo album by Loggins, but became Loggins & Messina’s first album together.

7:00 p.m.  Tell My Sister: The Unreleased Recordings of Kate & Anna McGarrigle

We haven’t aired this one for a while, so this is a good time to break it out. This is a rare gem for fans of the McGarrigle sisters, two of the greatest singer-songwriters ever who became fertile ground for the likes of Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Judy Collins and others. Their covers led to Kate & Anna McGarrigle getting their first recording contract.

Get on in here. The Mermaid Lounge is open to all and we’re open all night. What better day to head toward the weekend?

Just Push Play!

Saturday Brings Maria Muldaur’s AOW, Our ‘M is For Motown’ EP and Jesse Winchester as Our Singer-Songwriter, December 9, 2023

Good morning, weekenders! We have arrived at the weekend. Today we bid farewell to Maria Muldaur’s AOW, give you five hours of Motown and Jesse Winchester as our featured singer-songwriter.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Richland Woman Blues by Maria Muldaur FINAL AIRING!

Today we bid farewell to this great blues album by Maria Muldaur and her friends (Bonnie Raitt, John Sebastian, Tracy Nelson and so many more).

11:00 a.m. M Is For Motown: Various Artists

We’ve got all the artists that put Motown on the map, including Barrett Strong, Eddie Kendricks, Eddie Holland, Edwin Starr, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Jackson Five, Kim Weston, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Marvin Gaye, Martha & The Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Four Tops, The Isley Brothers, The Temptations, The Contours, Rare Earth, Mary Wells, Tammi Terrell, Diana Ross & The Supremes and more!

8:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Jesse Winchester NEW!

The first time I saw Jesse Winchester he opened for Emmylou Harris at the Music Hall in Boston. The next time I saw him, he was the headliner at the same venue. I loved him both times. Jesse Winchester was a quiet star in the music business, an exceptional songwriter respected by his peers who found their own voice through Winchester’s songs, like Patti Page, Elvis Costello, Jimmy Buffett, Joan Baez, Jerry Garcia and so many more.

It’s the weekend, peeps! I’ve got one more day, then I’ve got Sunday and Monday for my weekend. The Music Mermaid will keep the ship on course while I’m away.

M Is For Motown!

It’s Motown at Midweek, Followed by Singer-Songwriters Tom Waits and Bob Dylan on Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Welcome to midweek in The Mermaid Lounge. Today we kick it off with our ‘M is For Motown’ EP, followed by Tom Waits, and the love songs of Bob Dylan.

Here’s your midweek lineup:

9:00 a.m. M is For Motown: Various Artists

We’re back with music from Motor City as we give you the best of Motown during the sixties and seventies. You’ll hear Barrett Strong, Eddie Kendricks, Eddie Holland, Edwin Starr, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Jackson Five, Kim Weston, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Marvin Gaye, Martha & The Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Four Tops, The Isley Brothers, The Temptations, The Contours, Rare Earth, Mary Wells, Tammi Terrell, Diana Ross & The Supremes and more!

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

Tom Waits and his trademark gravelly voice are back for his second spin as our featured singer-songwriter for the week.

8:00 p.m. Bob Dylan: The Love Songs

We all know Mr. Dylan, our very first featured singer-songwriter, is undoubtedly the most accomplished musician and performer of his generation, even winning the Nobel Prize for Literature. In fact, his talents redefined the boundaries of literature. However, he didn’t just write social consciousness lyrics. Dylan just happened to write some of the most incredible love songs on the planet. See for yourself.

I could say this would be a great day to join us, but every day is a great day to join us. That’s because we are on 24/7 at no charge to you, we run no commercial advertising, and our D.J. is practically mute. That is every single day.

M is For Motown

Our ‘Water, Water Everywhere’ EP, Roy Orbison, and The Soul Sisters Are All On Tap for Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Good morning, music lovers! We open a brand new month with songs about water in all forms…rivers lakes, streams, oceans…you name it. Roy Orbison returns as our singer-songwriter, and The Soul Sisters pay a visit later.

Here’s your midweek lineup:

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

Why are there so many songs about water? Well, for one thing, the earth is made up of 71% water. You’ll hear Bonnie Raitt, Carole King, Steely Dan, Tom Rush, Donovan, America, Johnny Rivers, 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 and more!

4:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Roy Orbison

Roy Orbison returns to The Mermaid Lounge for his second turn as our featured singer-songwriter for the week.

8:00 p.m. The Soul Sisters, Volume One: Various Artsts

The ladies of soul pay a visit tonight. You’ll hear Aretha Franklin, Kim Weston, Irma Thomas, Etta James, The Ronettes, Martha & The Vandellas, Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Staple Singers, Ann Peebles, The Shirelles, Carla Thomas and more!

Come on, gang! This is the day to tune us in. You’re at midweek and you need a boost to get you through to Friday. We’ve got just what you need on a 24/7 basis at no charge and with no commercial interruption. What’s not to love?

We’re at Midweek!

It’s Simply Sunday With Ronstadt’s “Duets” AOW, and the ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul’ Multi-Artist EP on October 15, 2023

Good morning, weekenders. You’ve got one day left to kick back and relax and that’s today. We keep it simple here with plenty of wide Open Stream on Sundays, and this one is no exception.

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

11:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Duets by Linda Ronstadt NEW!

Last week we selected Emmylou Harris’ Duets album; this week it’s Linda Ronstadt’s turn as she sings with Bette Midler, J.D. Souther, Don Henley, Carl Jackson, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Laurie Lewis, Frank Sinatra, Ann Savoy and Aaron Neville.

3:00 p.m. A Little Bit O’ Soul: Various Artists

This is the Big Kahuna. It’s not just Motown, it covers the full gamut of soul, R & B and (some) Gospel. You’ll hear 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, The Ad Libs, Joe Tex, Wanda Jackson, Ann Peebles, Al Green and more!

Far be it from me to tell you how to live, but I firmly believe that Sunday is a day of rest. That’s why I refuse to work a Sunday (unless my store is in dire straits). It’s a day to spend with family and friends enjoying the simple pleasures of life. Like good music. And we’ve got that covered at no charge to you.

It’s Simply Sunday.

The Final Airing of Our AOW, the Big, Bad Motown EP, and Cat Stevens as Our Singer-Songwriter, Saturday, October 7, 2023

Good morning, music lovers! We’ve got a great lineup for you today as we hit the weekend! Our big show is Motown, mostly centered around the sixties and seventies. Great stuff.

Here’s today’s musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Album of The Week: New York Tendaberry by Laura Nyro FINAL AIRING!

Today will be the final airing of Laura Nyro’s middle album in a great early-career trilogy. Get on it while you can!

12:00 p.m. M is For Motown: Various Artists

The sounds of Hitsville, U.S.A. The music that made America dance. You’ll hear Barrett Strong, Eddie Kendricks, Eddie Holland, Edwin Starr, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Jackson Five, Kim Weston, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Marvin Gaye, Martha & The Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Four Tops, The Isley Brothers, The Temptations, The Contours, Rare Earth, Mary Wells, Tammi Terrell, Diana Ross & The Supremes and more!

8:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Yusuf/Cat Stevens NEW!

Today, we introduce Yusuf/Cat Stevens as our featured singer-songwriter, a troubadour and songwriter who occupied my young world when he first made his debut. I played Teaser & The Firecat until the grooves were gone. He’s a fine songwriter, musician and singer who suffered unjustly because he had converted to Islam prior to the 9-11 fiasco. At one point, they wouldn’t even allow him into the U.S. for his tour. The man is an American, people. Get over it.

It’s Saturday and that makes it officially The Weekend. Brought to you by the Labor Movement. We’re on 24/7. We take our job seriously. We do not need your money or your credit card because we are 100% free. And we do not run commercial advertising. Do it.

Welcome Weekenders!

We’re Weekend Bound With the ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul’ EP, Our AOW and an Ann Peebles Spotlight on Thursday, September 14, 2023

We’re on the downslide to the weekend with our big, bad soul and R & B extended playlist, our AOW from McCartney & Wings and Ann Peebles In the Spotlight this evening.

Here’s today’s musical lineup:

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

We collect all the great artists from Motown, Muscle Shoals, Soulsville U.S.A. and beyond for this one 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, The Ad Libs, Joe Tex, Ann Peebles, Al Green and more.

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Red Rose Speedway by Paul McCartney & Wings

We’re winding down on this gem. The final airing will be sometime on Saturday, so get in on this while you can!

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Ann Peebles

With all the great souls stars out there, sometimes Ann Peebles gets lost in the crowd, but that should never be the case. A fine soul singer, she is best known for her Memphis R & B albums of the seventies. Tune her in.

We’ve got soul on both ends of the programming day here today, with a little bit of McCartney genius in between. A fine day to be in The Mermaid Lounge with the rest of us. Be there or be square, as they used to say.

A Little Bit O’ Soul!

We Visit Hitsville, U.S.A., Robbie Robertson is Back and We Have Some ‘Live’ Little Feat, on Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Good morning, musicologists, and welcome to our midweek mayhem here as we start out with ‘M is For Motown,’ move on to Robbie Robertson and close with Little Feat.

Here’s your midweek lineup:

9:00 a.m. M is for Motown: Various Artists

It’s back with Barrett Strong, Eddie Kendricks, Eddie Holland, Edwin Starr, Gladys Knight & The Pips, the Jackson Five, Kim Weston, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Marvin Gaye, Martha & The Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Four Tops, The Isley Brothers, The Temptations, The Contours, Rare Earth, Mary Wells, Tammi Terrell, Diana Ross & The Supremes and more!

4:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Robbie Robertson

The late, great Robbie Robertson is back for his second turn as our featured singer-songwriter. Robertson was the lead guitarist for The Hawks and Bob Dylan, before taking the helm of The Band and helping them become one of the most influential in the development of Americana music.

8:00 p.m. Little Feat Live at Lisner Auditorium, Washington, D.C., August 18, 1977

On this particular outing, Little Feat brings the Tower of Power horns along. Little Feat is one of the most funky, fun bands ever, particularly their years with Lowell George. Don’t miss it.

We’ve made it to midweek. We don’t have far to go until it’s the weekend again and we’ll be able to relax and kick back. In the meantime, we’re running 24/7 to make life more tolerable.

Hitsville, U.S.A.!

We’re in the Wayback Machine With Volume Two of ‘The Sixties Rotation’ EP, ‘Live’ Janis, and the Jefferson Airplane In The Spotlight Tonight, on Monday, August 28, 2023

We’ve got all sixties programming going on today with volume two of our ‘Sixties Rotation’ EP to start things off, followed by some ‘live’ Janis Joplin and the Jefferson Airpane.

Here’s Monday’s lineup:

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

From the mid-to-latter part of the musical decade with The Mamas & The Papas, Simon & Garfunkel, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead, Buffalo Springfield, Sly & The Family Stone, The Temptations, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Roy Orbison, The Yardbirds, The Animals, Linda Ronstadt, The Byrds, Chuck Berry,James Brown, Blind Faith, Spencer Davis Group, Marvin Gaye, B. B. King, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Wilson Pickett, The Band, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, The Ronettes, The Kinks, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jimmy Cliff, Velvet Underground and more!

4:00 p.m. Janis Joplin Live at Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA, April 12, 1968

Janis played two consecutive nights here, and this recording is from the first show.

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of The Jefferson Airplane

We close out today’s sixties programming with one of the bands that helped to define the San Francisco psychedelic music sound as we put Grace Slick and The Jefferson Airplane In the Spotlight!

It’s all sixties today, and that’s a good thing. It’s the music that helped to inspire us to start this radio station. We’re on 24/7 and you’d be hard pressed to hear a repeat during any given day. We’re also totally free of charge and free of commercial advertising. What could be better?

All Sixties Today!

Saturday Brings Our Multi-Artist ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul’ EP, the Final Airing of This Week’s AOW, and Introduces Roger McGuinn as Our New Singer-Songwriter, August 12, 2023

Good morning, music lovers! We’ve got a busy Saturday here in The Lounge as we start it withour ‘Little Bit O’ Soul’ EP, then move on to The Lovin’ Spoonful and Roger McGuinn.

Here’s today’s musical landscape:

10:00 a.m. A Little Bit O’ Soul: Various Artists

This is the big EP, not just our Motown mix, but all of the great soul singers of the sixties and seventies 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, Edwin Starr, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Sam Cooke, Fontella Bass, Irma Thomas, The Box Tops, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Eddie Floyd, The Ad Libs, Joe Tex, Wanda Jackson, Percy Sledge, Ann Peebles, Al Green and more!

5:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Hums of The Lovin’ Spoonful by The Lovin’ Spoonful FINAL AIRING!

Today is the final airing of The Lovin’ Spoonful’s ambitious third studio album. Tomorrow we’ll have a brand new selection.

8:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Roger McGuinn NEW!

This evening we introduce Roger McGuinn as our featured singer-songwriter for the upcoming week, mainly focusing on his work with The Byrds. As with all of our artists in this series, they don’t just write the music. They sing it as well. And some of these songs are not written by them. But that’s why they call them singer-songwriters.

We’re officially in weekender territory now. We’re out there playing music 24/7 at absolutely no cost to the public, and with no commercial interruption ever. Check it out for yourself.

Welcome Weekenders!