Category: Power Pop

Friday Brings Us Three Legends in Leon Russell (Spotlight), and ‘Live’ Gigs by Bob Dylan and Linda Ronstadt, On May 17, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We are offering up three giants of music today for your listening pleasure as we barrel toward the weekend!

Here’s your Friday lineup:

10:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Leon Russell NEW!

Leon Russell is a musical legend whose career spanned 60 years. During that time he was a sought-after session musician, part of several bands and boasted a successful solo career. During that time he made some incredible music that spanned genres including rock & roll, country, R&B, blues rock and the Tulsa sound. Today he’s in our Spotlight.

3:00 p.m. Bob Dylan Live at Royal Albert Hall, London, UK, May 17, 1966

We jump into the Wayback Machine for this Dylan concert that, ironically, took place 58 years ago today.

8:00 p.m. Linda Ronstadt Live at Calderone Concert Hall, Hempstead, NY, January 29, 1975

Before she conquered the music world and started selling out arena venues, Linda Ronstadt played in small but popular music theaters like the now-defunct Calderone Concert Hall. This show took place just after the release of her breakout album, Heart Like A Wheel, released on November 19, 1974.

Jump on board today. You won’t regret it. We’ve got some great artists on tap sprinkled throughout that great, big, wide Open Stream. And we’re totally free with absolutely no commercial advertising. What’s not to love?

Leon, Bob & Linda

We’re In A Colorful Mood With a Nina Simone Spotlight and Some ‘Live’ Heartbreakers, Thursday, May 16, 2024

Good morning, musicologists and welcome to the downslide to the weekend. Today we begin with the ‘Color My World’ multi-artist EP, get into some Nina Simone and then Tom Petty and the band are live from Lucca, Italy.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Color My World: Various Artists

We open up with Open Stream with a Theme; that’s how we view our EP’s. You’ll hear The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Donovan, Booker T. & The MGs, Electric Light Orchestra, Procol Harum, Joni Mitchell, The Who, Amy Winehouse, Sam & Dave, Badfinger, Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Elvis Costello, Neil Young, Jefferson Airplane, The Hollies, Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Cream, Marvin Gaye, Lucinda Williams, John Hiatt, J.D. Souther, Linda Ronstadt and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Nina Simone

Was there anything Nina Simone could not do? She was a singer, songwriter, pianist, composer, arranger and civil rights activist. Her style encompassed many genres, including classical, folk, gospel, blues, jazz, R & B and pop. Today she’s in our Spotlight.

7:00 p.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live at The Piazza Napoleone, Lucca, Italy, June 29, 2012

We go back to 2012 for this great Heartbreakers show from Lucca, Italy.

Once again, the mantra: We’re here 24/7 at no cost to the listening public (and we’re worldwide) and with no interruptions from commercial advertising. Nope. The button’s below.

Color My World.

Thursday Brings Our ‘British Are Coming’ EP, Blind Faith Live in ’69 and a Jeff Lynne’s ELO Spotlight, May 9, 2024

Good morning, music lovers, and Thursday shall be decreed British origin. Our programs are dedicated to songs from across the pond and British artists!

Here’s your musical lineup:

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

I remember the British Invasion well because it began with The Beatles, of course. And it was a blast! You’ll hear The Beatles, The Who, Dave Mason, ELO, 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, Them, Herman’s Hermits, The Rolling Stones, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Badfinger, The Yardbirds, Traffic, Elton John, Lulu, Pink Floyd, Yes, The Animals, Cream, Donovan, The Searchers, The Spencer Davis Group and more!

4:00 p.m. Blind Faith Live at The Earl Warren Showgrounds, Santa Barbara, CA, August 16, 1969

We’re back in The Wayback Machine this afternoon for an oldie with Blind Faith.

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: Jeff Lynne’s ELO

Otherwise known as Electric Light Orchestra, a fine band indeed. And any guy who became a Traveling Wilbury is just fine by me. They’ve been busy on their farewell tour this year and they’ll be blowing through Boston in September. It’s a good time to put them In The Spotlight!

We’re edging toward the weekend once again, my good friends. We’re still totally free and devoid of commercial advertising. We’re all about the music.

The British Are Coming!

We Close Out Fillmore Fest With A Bang With The Heartbreakers & Music From The Final Days, Monday, May 6, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! Since we’re operating on an ‘eight days a week’ basis, we took an extra day for Fillmore Fest and we’ll close it out in style

Here’s your Fillmore Fest lineup:

10:00 a.m. The Fillmore: The Last Days

Bill Graham’s vaunted Fillmore closed in 1971, a couple of years after The Fillmore East, both the victims of the penchant for booking large arena venues for concerts. The final shows include performances by Hot Tuna, Boz Scaggs, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Cold Blood, The Elvin Bishop Group, The Grateful Dead and more!

6:00 p.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live at The Fillmore West, San Francisco, January-February 1997

The Fillmore, of course, was reborn in San Francisco and other cities as well and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers took advantage of the small venue to play a legendary run of 20 sold-out nights in 1997 where they tore up the big arena set lists and allowed the attendees to write down song requests for the band. They played over 100 different songs during their 20-night run, including a series of covers paying tribute to those who inspired them that were simply amazing. Some of those covers included the Kinks’ You Really Got Me, The Dead’s Friend of The Devil, Bill Withers’ Ain’t No Sunshine and J.J. Cale’s Call Me The Breeze. There were also special guests, like John Lee Hooker and Roger McGuinn, who joined them on stage. We usually play this selection in three parts, but today it’s a one-sitting event to close out Fillmore Week.

Hell, it’s Monday all over again. What could be better than pulling up a new tab and joining our final day of Fillmore Fest? The button’s below.

Farewell, Fillmore Fest!

Saturday Brings ‘In Your Dreams,’ Jackson Browne and Laura Nyro Continues Our Fillmore Week, May 4, 2024

Good morning, weekenders! We’re back for another weekend and we’ve got some great music on tap for you today, starting with our ‘In Your Dreams’ EP.

‘In Your Dreams’ begins at 9:00 a.m.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. In Your Dreams: Various Artists

Who knew there were so many songs about dreams? Well, there are. And we didn’t even included all of them. You’ll hear The Everly Brothers, The Moody Blues, Van Morrison, The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Monkees, The Mamas & The Papas, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Linda Ronstadt, Randy Newman, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Buffett, Widespread Panic, Jackson Browne, Mudcrutch, Aretha Franklin, Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison, Harry Chapin, Townes Van Zandt, Electric Prunes, Dusty Springfield, Melissa Etheridge, John Prine, Tom Rush, Electric Light Orchestra and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Jackson Browne

The Prince of L.A. (I forget who called him that) is In The Spotlight today. He is, without a doubt, one of the finest singer-songwriters of his generation.

8:00 p.m. Laura Nyro Live at The Fillmore East, New York, NY, March 30, 1971

Speaking of brilliant singer-songwriters, here’s one who left the planet far too soon. Her music, however, lives on.

We’re here 24/7 at no charge to the listening public. And no. There isn’t any commercial advertising either. We’re all about the music.

Join The Dream State

It’s Sunday and The Ladies Own the Morning, Followed by The I-Threes and Some ‘Live’ ELO, April 28, 2024

Good morning, musicologists and welcome to another Sunday in The Mermaid Lounge where the music is free and the living is easy. The ladies rule the morning and early afternoon.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Ladies Day Out: Various Artists

The ladies are back to rule The Lounge this morning with Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon, Emmylou Harris, Petula Clark, Laura Nyro, Cilla Black, Irma Thomas, Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Etta James, Janis Joplin, Carole King, Maria Muldaur, Lucinda Williams, Rosanne Cash, Eva Cassidy, Wendy Waldman, Shawn Colvin, The Ronettes, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Norah Jones, Phoebe Snow, Nicolette Larson, Sheryl Crow, Susan Tedeschi, Dusty Springfield, Valerie Carter, Dolly Parton and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The I-Threes

Without a doubt the most influential all-woman Reggae band is In The Spotlight this afternoon. The I-Threes are Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths, and Judy Mowatt.

8:00 p.m. The Electric Light Orchestra Live at The Paris Theatre, London, UK, April 19, 1973

Jeff Lynne’s ELO (not what they were called back in the day; but it is now) is here to close out the programming for today with a great live show at The Paris Theatre. They are on the road now for their farewell tour, and blow through Boston in September.

Join us on this fine, sunny Sunday (at least it is here for the moment) as we play the best music on the planet 24/7, free of charge and free from commercial advertising.

Sunday Funday!

Saturday Brings a J.J. Cale Spotlight, ‘Folk Music From A-To-Z’ and Linda Ronstadt at The Record Plant, April 27, 2024

Good morning, music lovers and weekenders alike! We have made it intact, and we are celebrating with some great music today.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of J. J. Cale

Has there been a musician in history so revered who missed out on what we now call ‘the big time’? J.J. Cale invented the Oklahoma sound and his songs have propelled many an artist, but ‘fame’ eluded him. And perhaps that was by choice. Bobbie Gentry deliberately shunned the limelight. All we know is that artists like Tom Petty and Eric Clapton revered his handiwork, and we love him at the radio station, so we are putting him In the Spotlight.

12:00 p.m. Folk Music From A-To-Z: Various Artists

We’ve got five hours of folk music uninterrupted this afternoon with John Prine, Dave Van Ronk, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul & Mary, Odetta, Yusuf/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, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Lead Belly, Tim Hardin, The Kingston Trio, Simon & Garfunkel, Richie Havens, Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Phil Ochs, Townes Van Zandt, The Carter Family, Neil Young and more!

8:00 p.m. Linda Ronstadt Live at The Record Plant, Sausalito, CA, November 18, 1973

We’ve got some early Linda Ronstadt for you here this evening with a lot of Don’t Cry Now and just a hint of Heart Like A Wheel and the greatness to come.

You have absolutely nothing to lose by tuning us in. We don’t ask for a credit card or personal information. That’s because we’re totally free 24/7 playing the best music on radio, Internet or otherwise. See for yourself.

Just Push Play.

It’s a Wide Open Stream Day With a Twist, and the Heartbreakers Live at Winterland on Friday, April 26, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We’ve got an open stream day today until we hit the 8:00 p.m. hour this evening, when Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers pay a visit.

Here’s today’s music scene:

9:00 a.m. Wide Open Stream with The Music Mermaid

We are wide open right now as I type, but we’ll be riding the open stream current until about 8:00 p.m. tonight. But there’s a twist; we have a Trifecta at the top of each hour featuring Stevie Ray Vaughan, Little Feat, Linda Ronstadt, Norah Jones, Paul Revere & The Raiders, Talking Heads, The Supremes, Valerie Carter, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles!

8:00 p.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live at Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA, December 30, 1978

Vintage early Heartbreakers here just before Damn The Torpedoes would propel them into outer space.

We’re here 24/7 and we’re totally free. Today we are also totally free of programmed music as well. Nothing like a good Open Stream day. Just hit the button below.

Wide Open Stream!

We’re at Midweek With More Sixties Rotation, Jefferson Airplane, and Jimi Hendrix, Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Good morning, sixties music lovers, we’re back at midweek with volume two of our ‘Sixties Rotation’ EP, and live performances from both Jefferson Airplane and Hendrix.

Here’s your midweek musical lineup:

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

We’re back with the second half of our Sixties Rotation, this time focusing on the mid-to-late part of the decade with The Mamas & The Papas, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead, Buffalo Springfield, Sly & The Family Stone, The Temptations, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Roy Orbison, The Yardbirds, The Animals, Linda Ronstadt, Wilson Pickett, The Band, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, The Ronettes, The Kinks, Jimmy Cliff, Velvet Underground, The Byrds, Chuck Berry, James Brown, Blind Faith, The Spencer Davis Group, The Four Tops, CSNY, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Joni Mitchell, B.B. King, The Doors, Marvin Gaye and more!

4:00 p.m. The Jefferson Airplane Live at Falconer Salen, Copenhagen, Denmark, January 8, 1968

We’re in the Wayback Machine as we head for Copenhagen to hear the Airplane this afternoon.

8:00 p.m. Jimi Hendrix Live at The Cafe Au Go Go, New York, NY, March 17, 1968

Then, we’re back in the Wayback Machine for a bit of a jam at the iconic Cafe Au Go Go with Jimi Hendrix joined by Paul Butterfield, Elvin Bishop and Harvey Brooks.

It’s an all-Sixties programming kind of day here in The Mermaid Lounge. We’re on 24/7, so we’ll have all that great wide Open Stream before, in between and after.

It’s a Sixties Thing!

‘Ode To Morning,’ an Allman Brothers Spotlight, and a Band Too Big To Fail Are All On Tap, Sunday, April 21, 2024

Good morning musicologists and welcome to The Mermaid Lounge where music is Queen. We have a great lineup on tap, so read on for details.

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

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

Fittingly, we begin the morning with songs about the morning. You’ll hear Yusuf/Cat Stevens, Hoyt Axton, The Beatles, Neil Young, The Rascals, Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez, James Taylor, Gram Parsons, Simon & Garfunkel, Taj Mahal, Dan Fogelberg, Linda Ronstadt, Harry Chapin, Three Dog Night, Ry Cooder, Tim Buckley, Muddy Waters, Jonathan Edwards, Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Allman Brothers Band

This afternoon we put the spotlight on the band that introduced and anchored the Southern Rock sound, started in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969 by brothers Duane and Greg Allman. Another founding member was Dicky Betts, one of the finest guitarists on the planet, who left this planet just a few days ago. This one’s for him.

8:00 p.m. Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Shawn Colvin, Bruce Hornsby, David Lindley & Wally Ingram Live at Red Rocks Amphitheater, Morrison, CO, September 12, 1999

This is the band that was too big to fail. I was lucky enough to see this tour at what was then called The Tweeter Center in Mansfield, MA, under the stars. It was fantastic.

We’re in a hurry here. We begin at nine, so no time to banter. Yes, I overslept. Enjoy the musical journey!

Ode To Morning!