Category: Power Pop

The Big Summer Weekend is Here With Buffalo Springfield, The Beatles Top 100, and Guy Clark Later, Saturday, May 27, 2023

Happy Memorial Day Weekend, musicologists! We have excellent music lined up for you today as we get into the first official weekend of the summer season!

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Buffalo Springfield by Buffalo Springfield FINAL AIRING!

Today we bid a fond farewell to Buffalo Springfield’s debut album as our Album of the Week. Tomorrow, we’ll have a brand new selection for you.

11:00 a.m. The Beatles: Top 100 Countdown

We aired this last year at this time and we repeat the process today as we pay homage to one of our House Bands, the band that changed everything from haircuts, to clothing styles and, most importantly, to music itself in just seven years together. There was never a band like them before, and we are still waiting for their equal. From our perspective, that day will never come.

8:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Guy Clark NEW!

A Mermaid Lounge favorite for sure. On a freezing winter night in Harvard Square with my friends, we were looking for a break from the cold. We walked in to Passim’s Coffee House to warm up, sat down, and were treated to a very unexpected event. A singer-songwriter named Guy Clark was playing there live that night. We stuck around. It was an amazing revelation. We were certainly happy we did. The next day, I went out and bought everything I could find. Tonight, we introduce him as our featured singer-songwriter.

It’s a looong weekend, so kick your shoes off. We’ve got great music in store for you right through Monday. If you haven’t yet tuned us in, this would definitely be a good weekend to do it. We’re totally free 24/7, and we’re also totally free of commercial advertising. It’s just wall-to-wall music.

The Beatles Top 100!

Today Gives You Buddy Holly In the Spotlight, Features Bob Dylan’s Final Turn as Our Singer-Songwriter, and The Beatles Give Us a Change in Time, Friday, May 26 2023

Happy Friday, musicologists! You know, our House Bands had their influencers, just as our House Bands have influenced others. Today we put one of the Beatles’ biggest influencers In the Spotlight as we work on some new summer playlists featuring the founding fathers and mothers of rock and roll.

Here’s today’s musical lineup:

11:00 a.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Buddy Holly

Buddy Holly was an American singer and songwriter who played a central and pioneering role in the development of rock and roll. Born in Lubbock, Texas, Holly learned to sing and play guitar along side his siblings. The Beatles cite Holly and his Crickets as a major influence in their early style. They studied his music and his delivery, and chose the name The Beatles in tribute to his band, The Crickets. Although Lennon wore his patented round wire-rimmed glasses later in his life, his first set of eyeglasses were Buddy Holly style. Today we put him In the Spotlight.

4:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Bob Dylan FINAL AIRING!

Mr. Dylan takes his final spin as this week’s featured singer-songwriter. Bob Dylan is also an artist who has claimed Buddy Holly as a major influence. He saw Holly for the first time when he was just 17-years-old in Duluth, and cited his infuence as he received his 1998 Grammy for his album Time Out Of Mind.

8:00 p.m. The Beatles: A Change In Time NEW!

Speaking of The Fab Four, they too have influenced many, and they changed just about everything musically- and culturally-related in their seven years together. Unhappy with touring (they felt like nobody was actually listening to what they were singing), they decided to give up the road and focus on their art. Once they took this step, their creativity took a leap to a whole other level. Tonight we intro a new playlist of Beatle songs that feature mixes of different time signatures. We think you’ll like it.

We’re at the end of the work week, except for those who continue to toil through the weekend in retail hell. Personally, I think the blue laws should make a comeback. Sunday should be a day off for everyone. The greedy capitalists don’t quite see it that way. But here in The Mermaid Lounge, we’re on 24/7 at absolutely no charge to the public. And we accept no commercial advertising either. It’s all about the music.

Buddy Holly Spotlight!

It’s Friday in The Mermaid Lounge With the ‘Everybody But Bob’ Playlist, Aretha’s Final Turn as Our Singer-Songwriter, and The Beatles Live at The BBC, Vintage 1963, May 19, 2023

Good morning, musicologists! We’ve once again made it to Friday and we’ve got some great music on tap for today as you can see.

Here’s your Friday lineup:

11:00 a.m. Everybody But Bob: Various Artists

There’s no denying Mr. Dylan’s songwriting chops. The man has won a Pulitzer Prize for that talent, and he is one of the most recorded artists of all time. That’s the point of today’s playlist: To showcase Dylan’s talents through the interpretations of others, including Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Maria Muldaur, The Byrds, Them, Hot Tuna, Linda Ronstadt, Leon Russell, The Turtles, Emmylou Harris,The Neville Brothers, Joan Baez and more!

3:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Aretha Franklin FINAL AIRING!

Today is the final airing of Aretha Franklin as this week’s singer-songwriter. Tomorrow we’ll introduce our next artist.

8:00 p.m. The Beatles Live at The BBC, London, UK, June 1963

The freewheeling fab four in their infancy is truly a treat for all Beatlemaniacs, of which I am but one. They are our House Band for a reason.

We’re one step away from the weekend. We’ll help you get there in style today. If you’re lucky enough to have an office, shut your door, pull up a tab and push the button below. You’ll see we’re all we say we are. Totally free, totally commercial free, and with no chatty DJ’s to interrupt the flow.

Friday in The Lounge!

It’s Saturday and The Women of Music are in Charge; We’ve Also Got Mudcrutch and Aretha Franklin, May 13, 2023

Good morning, musicologists! Today it’s ‘Ladies Day Out’ as our featured EP, Aretha Franklin as our new featured singer-songwriter and Mucrutch’s final turn with our AOW.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Album of the Week: Mudcrutch by Mudcrutch FINAL AIRING!

Today we bid a fond farewell to Mudcrutch’s self-titled 2008 debut album. Tomorrow we’ll have a brand new selection for you.

12:00 p.m. Ladies Day Out: Various Artists

At high noon, the women of music take over. They come in all shapes and sizes and all musical genres, including Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon, Emmylou Harris, 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 Crown, Susan Tedeschi, Valerie Carter, Dusty Springfield, Dolly Parton and more. Five hours of uninterrupted music!

8:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Aretha Franklin NEW!

The undisputed Queen of Soul’s career spanned six decades with global sales of over 75 million records, making her one of the world’s best selling musical artists. She charted 112 singles on the U.S. Billboard charts, including 73 Hot 100 entries, 17 Top 10 pop singles, 100 R & B entries with 20 number one R & B singles. ‘Nuff said.

We’ve made it to the weekend. I’ve got one more day in retail hell, but The Music Mermaid can take it from here. She has impeccable taste in music and will keep the place humming before, in between and long after our programming is completed.

Ladies Day Out!

We Debut Our New ‘What’s In A Name’ EP, Give You Lukas Nelson & POTR, and Some ‘Live’ Joni Mitchell Later on Monday, May 1, 2023

Welcome to a brand new month! Today we debut a new EP we didn’t even realize we had, give you Willie’s boy at mid-afternoon, and close out with Joni Mitchell later.

Here’s your Monday, Monday music:

9:00 a.m. What’s In a Name: Various Artists NEW!

We’ve played this song before, but we didn’t realize how many hours of music this amounted to, so it becomes an official EP this morning! You’ll hear Them, The Velvet Underground, Neil Diamond, The Band, Linda Ronstadt, The Kinks, Steely Dan, Buddy Holly, Janis Joplin, Donovan, Carly Simon, Shawn Colvin, Warren Zevon, Emmylou Harris, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Beatles, Jonathan Edwards, John Lennon, Chuck Berry and more!

3:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: Lukas Nelson & Promise of The Real

It’s been a spell since we’ve heard from these guys and this playlist is probably in need of an updating, which we shall undertake soon. But in the meantime, we’ve got them In the Spotlight at mid-afternoon today.

8:00 p.m. Joni Mitchell Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, February 3, 1973

We close out the programming on Monday with some great live Joni Mitchell from Carnegie Hall at the beginning of her illustrious career. She is a musical treasure who refuses to be defined by any one genre. Enjoy.

Hey, it’s Monday and by all measures, all Mondays are tough. Why not improve your situation with some great music? We’ve got it here for you courtesy of The Music Mermaid, your constant companion.

Monday, Monday

It’s Friday and We’ve Got ‘More Cowbell, Please’ Along With Karla Bonoff and Some ‘Live’ Peter Tosh Later, April 21, 2023

Good morning, gang! It is finally Friday and we’ve got some great stuff for you today starting with our ‘More Cowbell, Please’ playlist, Karla Bonoff’s final turn as our singer-songwriter in the middle, and Peter Tosh Live in Amsterdam to close out the programming.

Here’s today’s musical landscape:

11:00 a.m. More Cowbell, Please: Various Artists

It’s amazing how many songs employ the cowbell. In fact, some you’ve never imagined until you actually listen. You’ll hear music from The Beatles, The Alan Parsons Project, Aretha Franklin, Argent, Blind Faith, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Bob Dylan, Carly Simon, Linda Ronstadt, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Paul McCartney, The Eagles, Edgar Winter, Electric Light Orchestra, Jethro Tull, The J. Geils Band, Journey, Supertramp, Talking Heads, The Turtles, Warren Zevon, Stephen Stills and more!

4:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Karla Bonoff FINAL AIRING!

Brilliant songwriter and great singer Karla Bonoff takes her final turn as our featured singer-songwriter for this week.

8:00 p.m. Peter Tosh Live at The Apartheid Festival, Jaap Eden Hall, Amsterdam, Netherlands, June 13, 1981 NEW!

The late, great Peter Tosh brings his considerable talent to The Apartheid Festival held in Amsterdam back in 1981. This is the first live Tosh performance in The Mermaid Lounge, but it will not be the last!

We’ve made it all the way to the end of the week. Why not get through the final day with some great music? We’re on 24/7 free of charge with no commercial interruption. Just do it.

We’ve Made It To Friday!

It’s ‘Ladies Day Out’ in The Mermaid Lounge, the Final Airing of “No Dice,” and the Introduction of Karla Bonoff as Our Featured Singer-Songwriter on Saturday, April 15, 2023

Good morning, weekenders! We have reached the first full day of the weekend! We have a great day with our five-hour, all-women music extravaganza to kick things off!

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

10:00 a.m. Ladies Day Out: Various Artists

Yes, the women of music own The Mermaid Lounge for a chunk of the day today. You will hear 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, Dolly Parton, Dusty Springfield, The Ronettes, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Norah Jones, Phoebe Snow, Nicolette Larson, Sheryl Crow, Valerie Carter, Susan Tedeschi and more!

5:00 p.m. Album of The Week: No Dice by Badfinger FINAL AIRING!

We bid a fond farewell to this great power pop album by Badfinger, the album that put them on the map, particularly in the U.S., and gave us the hit No Matter What. Tomorrow there’ll be a brand new album here for you.

8:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Karla Bonoff NEW!

Although Karla Bonoff has released several really wonderful albums, she is best known as one of the most brilliant songwriters of her generation. Linda Ronstadt feasted off Karla’s work, including Someone To Lay Down Beside Me, Lose Again, Trouble Again and others. Others who have sung Karla’s songs include Wynnona Judd, Lynn Anderson, and Bonnie Raitt (an amazing rendition of Home for one). Tonight, we get to hear Karla sing her compositions herself.

It is Saturday, folks, and we’ve made it to the weekend. Why not give yourself a real treat and tune us in. We’re on 24/7. We’re totally free of charge. We do not run any commercial advertising. And we offer great programming you won’t hear anywhere else. What’s not to love here?

Ladies Day Out!

It’s Tuesday Bluesday With Our ‘Best of Louisiana Blues’ EP, Our AOW and ‘Live’ Robert Cray Band Later, April 11, 2023

Good morning, bluesologists! We have another Tuesday Bluesday on tap here in The Lounge and we kick it off with five hours of uninterrupted blues from Louisiana!

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

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

There’s nothing like music from Louisiana. It has its own style, and that includes da blues. You’ll hear Ray Charles, Lillian Glinn, Slim Harpo, Fats Domino, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Rodney Harris, Roosevelt Sykes, Shirley & Lee, Roy Brown, Papa Lightfoot, Guitar Slim, Annie Laurie, Fats Matthews, Big Joe Turner, Big Boy Myles, Little Walter, Mary Butler, Erline Harris, Marcia Ball, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Professor Longhair, The Neville Brothers, Irma Thomas, Dave Bartholomew and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: No Dice by Badfinger

We take just a slight break in the blues programming to give you the second airing of our Album of The Week, the album that put Badfinger on the map.

The Robert Cray Band Live at The Warfield Theatre, San Francisco, CA, December 2, 1995 NEW!

A live performance by Barack Obama’s favorite bluesman and his band billed as the 10th Annual Concert for Kids and broadcast on KFOG-FM closes out our blues programming for today.

It’s always a busy day on Tuesday Bluesday as we already have folks from Ireland, Greece, Italy, the UK, France, Australia, Spain, Portugal, Norway, The Netherlands and point beyond tuned in. Why not join them?

Tuesday Bluesday!

We Keep It Simple Today With Badfinger’s “No Dice” as Our AOW and ‘The Female Species’ EP, Sunday, April 9, 2023

Good morning, and if you’re celebrating, Happy Easter, Happy Passover and Happy Ramadan one and all! We’re keeping it simple as usual on this fine, sunny Sunday.

Here’s your holiday lineup:

10:00 a.m. Album of The Week: No Dice by Badfinger NEW!

I fell in love with Badfinger early on, and I supposed that’s because I could hear the influence of The Beatles. However, Badfinger was its own juggernaut, helping to create what is known as the power pop genre. It was the one band Apple Records signed that became a big time entity, in spite of the fact that their future held nothing but tragedy. Our album of the week, however, No Dice, was their third studio album released by Apple on November 9, 1970, and helped to expand the group’s popularity, particularly abroad. It was the first to feature lead guitarist Joey Molland. It also gave us the hit No Matter What, and the first recording of the song Without You, which would later become a huge hit for Harry Nilsson.

1:00 p.m. The Female Species: Various Artists

Nope. It’s not music by women, but it is music about women, girls, ladies, and chicks by artists like Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Talking Heads, Jackson Browne, The Boogaloo Swamis, John Mayall, Hot Tuna, The Eatles, Elvis Presley, Electric Light Orchestra, Fleetwood Mac, Percy Sledge, The Beatles, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, America, Roy Orbison, Billy Joel, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, The Beach Boys, The Temptations, Linda Ronstadt, Bob Marley & The Wailers, The Rolling Stones, Peter & Gordon, The Rascals and more!

Before, in between and after it’s our great wide Open Stream courtesy of The Music Mermaid. She’s always on duty and has impeccable taste in music, as you well know by now. In between your celebrations, tune us in. We’re on 24/7, no matter what day it is.

Happy Holidays!

Saturday Brings Our ‘Here Comes The Night’ EP, the Final Airing of Our AOW, and Steve Winwood as Our Singer-Songwriter, April 8, 2023

Good morning, weekenders! We have finally reached mecca! Today we’ve got a great EP of songs about the night, the final airing of our Ry Cooder AOW and the legendary Steve Winwood as the new featured singer-songwriter.

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

10:00 a.m. Here Comes The Night: Various Artists

The night time is the right time, according to many artists. You’ll hear Warren Zevon, the J. Geils Band, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Them, The Beatles, Van Morrison, Patti Smith, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bruce Springsteen,The Kinks, The Electric Prunes, Phoebe Snow, Joe Walsh, The Eagles, The Ronettes, John Cougar Mellencamp, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell, Emmylou Harris, The Doors, Poco, Neil Diamond, The Animals, The Band, The Rolling Stones, Don McLean, Steve Winwood, Cat Stevens and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: The Prodigal Son by Ry Cooder FINAL AIRING!

We bid a fond farewell to Ry Cooder’s great album today. Tomorrow we’ll have a brand new selection for you.

8:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Steve Winwood NEW!

Today we introduce a most deserving candidate for our featured singer-songwriter in Steve Winwood. He was a member of three legendary sixties bands in The Spencer Davis Group, Traffic and Blind Faith. He wrote Gimme’ Some Lovin’ at the age of fifteen. He also had a massively successful solo career. Tune him in tonight to see why he’s a Mermaid Lounge favorite.

Let’s cut to the chase: We’re on 24/7. We’re free. We don’t accept any commercial advertising. And we don’t employ chatty DJ’s who talk through the beginnings of songs. Does that work for you?

Winwood is In The Lounge!