Category: New Wave

We’re at Midweek With ‘The Founders’, a James Taylor ‘Spotlight’, and The Pretenders Live in Germany, Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Good morning, music lovers and welcome to midweek. We start out with the founders of rock and roll, then it’s a JT ‘Spotlight’ feature and some live Pretenders!

Here’s your midweek musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Founders: Various Artists

We start our musical journey in the Wayback Machine as we pay respect to those who started it all, including Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner, Hank Williams, Bill Haley & His Comets, Ray Charles, The Drifters, Roy Orbison, Robert Johnson, Carl Perkins, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of James Taylor

Sweet Baby James visits us this afternoon, a singer-songwriting legend whose volume of work speaks for itself.

8:00 p.m. The Pretenders Live at Laeiszhalle, Hamburg, Germany, June 23, 2009

We close it out with a live performance from The Pretenders, a band that has literally been in flux for decades with the only constant being the amazing Chrissie Hynde.

We’re at midweek and that means that tomorrow we’ll be on the downslide to the weekend, the only time we can sort of catch our breath under this misbegotten fascist regime. Music can help us get through this, and we remain free of charge and broadcasting 24/7. The button, my friends, is below.

The Button.

On Monday It’s ‘By The Numbers’, Live BeauSoleil, and the Paul & Elvis Catalogue, April 7, 2025

Happy Monday, working class! It has been rainy for days here in the Boston area, but it’s just fine here in The Mermaid Lounge as we bring you some great programming today, including a brand new playlist of Paul (McCartney) & Elvis (Costello) music!

Here’s your Monday, Monday lineup:

10:00 a.m. By The Numbers: Various Artists

We open up the day with a playlist of songs with numbers in the title, lyrics or both with Three Dog Night, Chicago, Mudcrutch, J.J. Cale, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Alice Cooper, Rosanne Cash, Shawn Colvin, Wilson Pickett, Johnny Rivers, Emmylou Harris, The Grass Roots, Jefferson Airplane, The Byrds, John Lennon, Prince and more.

4:00 p.m. BeauSoleil Live at The Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, MA, March 24, 2007

BeauSoleil happens to be one of the premier, if not the premier, Cajun/Zydeco Band in the world. Today we’ve got them live from Williamstown, Massachusetts.

8:00 p.m. Paul & Elvis: The Collaboration NEW!

That’s McCartney and Costello, who formed a musical alliance in 1987 and produced a series of fantastic songs later used on each other’s albums. Today we have the results of that alliance, along with one memorable live performance of The Beatles’ One After 909, recorded at St. James Palace in London on March 23, 1995. (Costello is a noted Beatles fan.)

Yeah, Monday’s pretty much suck, but we’re here to make them better. We can decidedly make yours better today if you give us a chance. We’re totally free and, even better, we run no commercial advertising. See for yourself how good Monday can be. The button is below.

Paul & Elvis.

‘The British Are Coming’, The Pretenders and Dr. John are All On Tap As We Head For the Weekend, Thursday, October 10, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! We’re over the hump and on the downslide to the weekend. We’ve got our big British music EP, live Pretenders and a Dr. John Spotlight feature.

Here’s your musical lineup:

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

We start with 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, The Rolling Stones, Herman’s Hermits, Them, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Badfinger, The Yardbirds, Traffic, Elton John, Lulu, Pink Floyd, Yes, The Animals, Manfred Mann, Spencer Davis Group, Queen, Donovan and more!

4:00 p.m. The Pretenders Live at Laeiszhalle, Hamburg, Germany, June 23, 2009

Chrissie Hynde battled plenty of sexism before launching the Pretenders in 1978. At the time, the band didn’t have a name but recorded five tracks which eventually got them their start. She eventually named the band after the Platters song, The Great Pretender, which was a favorite song of her ex-boyfriend. The rest, as they say, is musical history. I am not what you’d call a ‘fan’ of the punk music genre, but The Pretenders under the leadership of Chrissie Hynde is one of the best bands on the planet, regardless of genre.

8:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Dr. John

We close out the evening with Dr. John, another music master who managed to combine New Orleans-fueled blues, jazz, R & B, soul and funk into a style all his own.

I’m giving you a break from the drivel of the drill. You know what you need to know about us. Now it’s time to push the button below.

Just Push Play.

Monday’s Back With a New Talking Heads Spotlight, Then Live Mudcrutch and The Magnolia Sisters, September 9, 2024

Good morning, music lovers and welcome to the work week once again. Today we’ve got a brand new Spotlight featuring Talking Heads for starters. It doesn’t end there!

Here’s Monday’s musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: Talking Heads NEW!

Yes, it’s one of our few trips into the 1980’s, even though I found the whole ‘big suit’ thing mildly disturbing at some level. Despite that suit, Stop Making Sense was one of the finest concert films ever made. Little Creatures was one of the finest albums ever made. The sixties and seventies we love; the eighties not so much but these folks definitely made the cut. We’ve got a brand new Spotlight feature for them today.

4:00 p.m. Mudcrutch: The 2016 Tour Best Live Performances

This is a great compilation of songs from Mudcrutch’s 2016 tour and includes the most incredible live performance of Hungry No More (my favorite Mudcrutch song) which was recorded at Boston’s House of Blues. I have two huge regrets in my musical life. Missing this concert was one of them. (The other was missing The Heartbreakers 2017 tour, which would be their last before Tom Petty passed.)

8:00 p.m. The Magnolia Sisters Live at The Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Festival, Rancho Santa Suzanna Community Park, Simi Valley, CA, May 23, 2015

It doesn’t surprise me that you probably don’t know this band. They do not play in the top ten, or even in the standard popular music arena. They are the only all-woman authentic Cajun Band led by legendary Ann Savoy, and they are amazing. We are definitely fans of Cajun/Zydeco music here in The Mermaid Lounge and these ladies deliver.

This is a pretty eclectic lineup today and it plays uninterrupted by commercial advertising. Expand your musical horizons. It won’t cost you a thing. The button is below.

New Talking Heads!

A Janis Joplin Spotlight Feature, A Playlist About Shoes, and Live John Hiatt Awaits You On Friday, July 5, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! Once again we’ve made it to the end of the working week. We’ve got some great stuff to get you through this last day before the weekend arrives!

Here’s your musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Janis Joplin

The reigning queen of blues-rock with Big Brother & The Holding Company, The Kozmic Blues Band and as a solo artist kicks off the festivities at 10:00 a.m.

3:00 p.m. Those Shoes: Various Artists

Who knew there were so many songs about shoes? You’ll hear from Steve Winwood, Elvis Presley, The Eagles, Little Feat, Norah Jones, Laura Nyro, Leon Russell, Traffic, The Beatles, Supertramp, Betty Everett, The Band, Paul Simon and more!

8:00 p.m. John Hiatt Live at The Bottom Line, New York City, NY, October 7, 1988 NEW!

John Hiatt is another of those singer-songwriters who puts people on the map. His songs of redemption and relationships have been covered by nearly one hundred artists, from Linda Ronstadt (a brilliant rendering of his We Ran), to Steve Earle to Iggy Pop. Today we put him In The Spotlight singing his own music.

Here we are on the cusp of another weekend. We’ve got your back as we work our way through the day. Before, in between, and after this programming we give you our big, wide Open Stream on a 24/7 basis, at no charge and with no commercial interruption. Just use the button below.

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It’s Valentines Day and Love Is In the Air, Along With Elvis Costello as Our Singer-Songwriter, Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! Yes, it’s Valentines Day once again. Time for love (and, of course, loss), and we’re giving you both sides of the coin today!

Here’s your musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. True Love Always: Various Artists

Yes, we start out with the romantic side of the coin first with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Mamas & The Papas, The Band, Delaney & Bonnie, Swing Out Sister, Boz Scaggs, Guy Clark, Tom Rush, The Hollies, Neil Young, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt and more!

4:00 p.m.  Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Elvis Costello

Another Elvis drops by The Lounge today on his second spin as our featured singer-songwriter for the week.

8:00 p.m.  Nothing But Heartbreak: Various Artists

Then, there’s the other side of the “love” coin. You’ll hear Carole King, Elvis Presley, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Warren Zevon, Rod Stewart, Cat Stevens, The Pretenders, Them, Jackson Browne, John Prine and more!

We’re on point and in tune today, and love is in the air. We’re on 24/7 with no commercial interruption and at no cost to the general public. No lie. No bait and switch. We’re all about the music. See for yourself. Use the button below.

Happy Valentines Day!

It’s a Busy Monday With ‘Working Songs’, Rickie Lee Jones, Van Morrison and Elvis Costello, February 12, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! I was a bit overexuberant last night and went off the ledge on scheduling today. (We’re actually exploring a bit of late-night programming for our overseas listeners!)

Here’s your Monday, Monday lineup:

11:00 a.m. Working Songs: Various Artists

Quite appropriate on a Monday morning as the work week begins. You’ll hear from The Staple Singers, Van Morrison, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, John Lennon, Slim Harpo, Neil Young, Jim Croce, Little Feat, Bob Dylan, Jesse Winchester, Maria Muldaur and more!

4:00 p.m.  In The Spotlight: The Music of Rickie Lee Jones

Over five decades this great singer-songwriter has recorded songs in a variety genres, including jazz, rock, pop, soul and R&B.

7:00 p.m.  Van Morrison Live at The Bottom Line, New York, NY, November 1, 1978

Van the Man is a staple around these parts. We haven’t heard him for a while, so we thought it was about time we break him out of mothballs.

10:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Elvis Costello NEW!

Here we have another great Elvis, but it’s Costello. You can love him or hate him, but the man broke barriers and is a hell of a singer-songwriter. He’s one of the very few of his generation that I actually listen to.

Another Monday in paradise…at least for me since my “weekends” fall on Sunday-Monday. We’ve got some great music today and we’re toying with late-night programming. We’ll see how it goes. Our overnight listeners are generally outside the U.S. Give us a listen.

Just Push Play. Please. And Thank You.

Back to The Real World With Our ‘Water, Water Everywhere’ EP and The Pretenders In the Spotlight Later, Friday, November 25, 2022

Good Morning, Musicologists. Now, I’m all messed up with a Thursday holiday. I feel like this is Monday but, in fact, it’s Friday and my week is almost over (one more day tomorrow). That is what I’m thankful for in case anyone wants to know. And this great job I have messing with the music.

Here’s today’s lineup:

11:00 a.m. Water, Water Everywhere: Various Artists

Did you know that the earth is 71% water? I’m sure I’ve said this before. I have a tendency to repeat myself. Luckily, we don’t repeat a lot of music too quickly. But it is, and there is no shortage of songs on the subject of water. You’ll hear Paul McCartney, Deep Purple, Joe Cocker, Simon & Garfunkel, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Otis Redding, Neil Young, Elton John, 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, Steely Dan, Tom Rush, Donovan and more!

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

The Pretenders is one of those bands that just dug its hooks into me, and Chrissie Hynde is a goddamned force of nature, a pioneer and an authentic woman rocker who just won’t quit. We haven’t heard this one for a while, but it’s here tonight. It’s also one of our playlists that’s about to get an update, so next time around it’ll be expanded. In the meantime, enjoy.

It’s the day after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday. Now, most people think of Black Friday as the start of the Christmas shopping season. Personally? I think of it as life in hell if you’re in the retail world. And it remains life in hell until Christmas is over. But here in The Mermaid Lounge? The living is easy. We’ve got great music to help you get you through these trying capitalist times. And no. We will not play Christmas music. We promise.

Black Friday Retail Blues

We’re At Mid-Week With Minimalist Programming, Except for The Pretenders and the #BecomeUngovernable House Playlist, Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Good Morning, Music Lovers! We’ve got a wide Open Stream for most of the day today except for The Pretenders and our house playlist.

We put Chrissie Hynde & The Pretenders in the spotlight today

Here’s today’s line-up:

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

We’ve got one of my favorite women rockers here, who also happens to be the leader of a great band. Chrissie Hynde remains underrated, except here in The Mermaid Lounge. She just released an album of Bob Dylan covers that’ll knock your socks off. We’ll be featuring that as our upcoming Album of The Week.

7:00 p.m. The #BecomeUngovernable House Playlist: Various Artists

Here we have some of the music that inspired us to start this station back in 2017. It features The Beatles, Barry McGuire, The Chambers Brothers, Arlo Guthrie, Edwin Starr, Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds, The Who, Ten Years After, and many more!

In between all of this, we’ve got wide Open Stream delivered by The Music Mermaid. We’re uninterrupted by commercials, don’t employ mouthy DJ’s, and we’re totally free. What more could you ask for?

www.tinyurl.com/Ungovernable-Radio

J.J. Cale & Leon Russell at Paradise Studios, The Pretenders In The Spotlight, and The Shadow Returns, Friday, January 15, 2021

Good Morning from The Mermaid Lounge, where we play the best music on the planet. And it’s all free. Every fucking day.

The Pretenders.

Here’s today’s line-up:

11:00 a.m. J.J. Cale and Leon Russell in Session Live at Paradise Studios, Los Angeles, June 1979 NEW!

Back in 1979, J.J. Cale and Leon Russell go together in Russell’s Paradise Studios for a session of great music. We have it here for you today.

3:00 p.m. The Shadow: 07 League of Terror

The final airing of this week’s episode of The Shadow. Get it while you can. We will have a new episode come Monday.

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

To be honest, this is one of the few bands I enjoyed at this time (aside from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers). The Pretenders made some great music, and Chrissy Hynde is often overlooked as a pioneer female rocker. Forget Joan Jett. Chrissie Hynde is where it’s at.

Come on, people. This is your opportunity to get in on some great music for free. Totally free. Absofuckinglutely no strings attached of any kind. No shit.

www.tinyurl.com/Ungovernable-Radio