Category: Power Pop

We’re Feeling Soulful With Our Big EP, a Drifters ‘Spotlight’, and Live Nina Simone on Saturday, February 22, 2025

Good morning, soul and R & B lovers! We’re amped up today as we bring you ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul’ for starters, then it’s the Drifters ‘In the Spotlight’ and some live Nina Simone!

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

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

We officially begin the weekend with our biggest soul music EP, featuring Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Ronettes, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, The Drifters, 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, Ann Peebles, Al Green and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Drifters

The Drifters have an interesting background, reflecting the social injustice of the times. It’s too long for me to write about on this blog, but you can read all about it here. Regardless, they made some great music and we’ve got them ‘In the Spotlight’ today.

8:00 p.m. Nina Simone Live at Juan-les-Pins, Antibes, France, July 24 & 25, 1965 NEW!

Today we celebrate the birthday (February 21) of the late, great Nina Simone, singer, songwriter, music arranger and, yes, civil rights and social justice activist. Here she’s live at the the annual Jazz a Juan International Jazz Festival. We need her fighting spirit now.

Come on in to The Mermaid Lounge for a little bit of soul and R & B today. In between that programming, we’ve got our big, wide Open Stream running 24/7 at no charge. We’re anti-capitalist. We care about only one thing: Playing great music for you folks with absolutely no commercial interruption. The button is below.

The Button.

On Thursday, It’s Nothing But Our Big, Wide Open Stream, February 20, 2025

Here we are headed for the weekend once again. We’re on our big, wide Open Stream for the next 24 hours!

Dive in. The Music Mermaid is in charge today, all day, all night. She will not disappoint. The button is below.

Open Stream All Day!

We Start Monday With ‘Here Comes The Night’, Then It’s Live Linda Ronstadt and Steely Dan, February 17, 2025

Good morning, musicologists.We’ve got a great lineup as we start the day with songs about the night. Then it’s some live Linda Ronstadt and a Steely Dan ‘Spotlight,’ two of the absolute best of the seventies.

Here’s your Monday musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Here Comes The Night: Various Artists

Yes, once again, we’re starting the morning with songs about the night from Warren Zevon, the J. Geils Band, Them, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Beatles, Van Morrison, Patti Smith, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bruce Springsteen, The Kinks, Electric Prunes, Phoebe Snow, Joe Walsh, The Eagles, The Doors, Poco, Emmylou Harris, Neil Diamond, John Cougar Mellencamp, The Animals, The Rolling Stones, Don McLean, Steve Winwood, The Traveling Wilburys, Sam Cooke, Jimmy Cliff, Bonnie Raitt and more!

4:00 p.m. Linda Ronstadt Live at The Record Plant, Sausalito, CA, November 18, 1973

This afternoon it’s the undisputed Queen of Rock live at the Record Plant after her Don’t Cry Now album release and just about a year before her incredible Heart Like A Wheel release that would put her on the map.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Steely Dan

We close out the programming tonight with a ‘Spotlight’ featuring Steely Dan, surely one of the best bands of the seventies and beyond.

Before, in between, and after we’ve got our big, wide Open Stream of more than 27,000 music files. Tune us in. We’re free all day and all night long. The button is below.

The Button.

Friday Brings Both True Love and Nothing But Heartbreak, With The Allman Brothers in Between, February 14, 2025

Good morning, modern lovers! It’s Valentines Day today and we have a playlist about TLA and one about nothing but heartbreak. In between, we’ve got some live Allman Brothers.

Here’s your Valentines Day lineup:

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

One of our earliest playlists is the beautiful side of love with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Carly Simon, Stevie Wonder, Buffalo Springfield, Boz Scaggs, Valerie Carter, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Tom Rush, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, The Hollies, Guy Clark, Neil Young, Aretha Franklin and more!

4:00 p.m. The Allman Brothers Band Live at Warner Theatre, Erie, PA, July 19, 2005 NEW!

In between all this love stuff, we’ve got a new concert from The Brothers, this one coming at us from Erie, PA.

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

Yeah. Then there’s the flip side of all that love stuff…the ugly part where your heart gets trampled and left for dead. Some of the folks singing here were singing earlier about the wonders of love; some not. You’ll hear the J. Geils Band, Carole King, Elvis Presley, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Warren Zevon, The Pretenders, Lucinda Williams, Linda Ronstadt, Cat Stevens, John Prine, Gladys Knight & The Pips and more!

You win some. You lose some. I’ve lost ’em all. That’s the way of love, ain’t it? But here? You’re never a loser. We’re on 24/7. We don’t charge you any money or track you. We don’t sell you stuff and we certainly don’t allow anyone else to sell you anything. And we play great music. It’s win-win. The Button is below.

The Love Button.

Saturday Brings Our House EP, Live Hot Tuna, and The Byrds, February 1, 2025

Good morning, weekenders! Welcome to a new month here in The Mermaid Lounge with our House EP chock full of great music, some live Hot Tuna and The Byrds ‘in the Spotlight’.

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

9:00 a.m. The #BecomeUngovernable House EP: Various Artists

We start out with our big House EP including Barry McGuire, The Temptations, Edwin Starr, Peter Tosh, The Beatles, T. Rex, The Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bob Dylan, Country Joe & The Fish, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Joan Baez, Bob Marley & The Wailers, CSNY, Pink Floyd, The Animals, Ten Years After, Sam Cooke, The Rolling Stones, Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix, Three Dog Night, Jimmy Cliff, Richie Havens, Marvin Gaye, The Association, Phil Ochs, Tom Rush, The Band and more!

4:00 p.m. Hot Tuna Live at The Ridgefield Theater, Ridgefield, CT, January 7, 2014

This is one fine band born of the decline of The Jefferson Airplane and helmed by Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen for all these years.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Byrds

Formed in L.A. in 1964, the band has gone through a long history of personnel changes, save for Roger McGuinn, who has been there from the start. His presence made them a consistently great band.

Some of you have started your weekend foray today. I’ve got one more day in retail hell. But The Music Mermaid is fully in charge and, as you know, she has impeccable taste in music. The button is below.

The Button.

We Start Off With Songs About the Night, Then It’s Spanky & Our Gang and Live Steely Dan, Thursday, January 23, 2025

Good morning, music lovers! We’re starting off the morning with songs about the night, then we move on with an underrated sixties band and some live Steely Dan.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Here Comes The Night: Various Artists

We start the day with songs about the night with Warren Zevon, the J. Geils Band, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Them, The Beatles, Van Morrison, Patti Smith, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bruce Springsteen, The Kinks, Electric Prunes, Phoebe Snow, Joe Walsh, The Doors, The Eagles, Poco, Emmylou Harris, Neil Diamond, The Animals, The Rolling Stones, Steve Winwood, The Traveling Wilburys, Sam Cooke, Jimmy Cliff, Bonnie Raitt and more!

4:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Spanky & Our Gang

One of those sixties pop bands that flew under the radar, powered by the voice of Elaine ‘Spanky’ McFarlane. I’ve always thought that Give A Damn was one of the best songs ever recorded.

8:00 p.m. Steely Dan Live at The Rainbow Theatre, London, UK, November 20, 1974

Without a doubt, one of the absolute best bands of the seventies here in another excellent performance, this one from London.

Once again, there’s no better way to spend the day than with good music uninterrupted by commercial bullshit. We’re all about the music, not capitalism. The button is below.

The Button.

On Saturday We’ve Got Songs About Colors, Live Linda Ronstadt, and an I-Three ‘Spotlight’ Feature, January 18, 2025

Welcome, Weekenders! We’ve made it to Saturday and we have songs about colors. After that, the focus turns to some very talented women.

Here’s your musical lineup:

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

Whoever thought there’d be five hours worth of songs about colors. In fact, this EP could have gone on longer. You’ll hear from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, James Taylor, 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, Linda Ronstadt, John Hiatt, Lucinda Williams, J.D. Souther and more!

4:00 p.m. Linda Ronstadt Live at The Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, August 24, 1980

The undisputed Queen of Rock drops by The Mermaid Lounge this afternoon for a live performance. I’ve seen Ronstadt 40 times in my lifetime, and she never disappointed once.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The I-Threes

I’m sure some people will be scratching their heads and asking who these ladies are. These are the women who helped to uplift Bob Marley’s music by providing amazing background vocals, but they are so much more accomplished than that. They are literal legends in the Reggae music world. You can learn about them here if you’re interested and, better still, drop by The Lounge tonight and see for yourself.

We begin the weekend once again, and the living is easy here in The Mermaid Lounge. I’ll be finishing up my final day in hardware hell, but The Music Mermaid is here to take care of running things. The button is below.

The Button!

It’s Midweek and We’re ‘Under The Influence’ With The Beatles and The Supergroups, Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Good morning, musicologists, and welcome to the middle of the week. Tomorrow we’ll be heading for the weekend once again! We have a great Wednesday lineup.

Here’s your midweek lineup:

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

Being under the influence is the subject of many a song as evidenced by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Byrds, Arlo Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Little Feat, Linda Ronstadt, 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. Trippin’ With The Beatles

This afternoon we explore The Beatles psychedelic catalogue, an extraordinary journey. Did you know that Paperback Writer is considered one of the earliest examples of a psychedelic song?

8:00 p.m. Sounds of The Supergroups, Volume One: Various Artists

Tonight we close it out with the Supergroups, like Cream, Blind Faith, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Highwaymen, The Super, Super Blues Band (Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf & Bo Diddley), Manassas, and two of the best damned supergroups of all time, Trio (Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton & Emmylou Harris) and our faves, The Traveling Wilburys. You know, nobody ever speaks of Trio as a supergroup, at least not the music media which still entrenched in misogyny, but that is exactly what Trio was.

Like I said earlier, we’re headed for the weekend after today, and we aim to get you there in style. We’re on 24/7 with no commercial interruption. Ever. The button is below.

The Button.

We’re at Friday With Our ‘Looks Like Rain’ Playlist, Live ELO, and The Beatles ‘Songs With Character’, January 3, 2025

Good morning, musicologists! We’ve got a great set of programs for you today as we head to the weekend once again! Before, in between and after we’ve got our big, wide Open Stream running 24/7.

Here’s your Friday lineup:

10:00 a.m. Looks Like Rain: Various Artists

It’s not quite an EP, but there are a hell of a lot of songs about rain out there from artists like The Beatles, Poco, Gordon Lightfoot, The Everly Brothers, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Carole King, Irma Thomas, Ann Peebles, The Eurythmics, Fats Domino, Led Zeppelin, Ray Charles, Warren Zevon, The Searchers, Taj Mahal, The Band, Traffic, Linda Ronstadt, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and more!

4:00 p.m. Electric Light Orchestra Live at Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, February 3, 1976

Jeff Lynne’s great ELO is live early on from Winterland.

8:00 p.m. The Beatles: Songs With Character

Undoubtedly one of our favorite playlists with songs about the man in the mack, Lucy who flies around the skies with diamonds, a lonely woman named Eleanor Rigby, a dog named Martha, and a guy named Bungalow Bill. And that’s just for starters.

We’re here 24/7 with no interruptions. No lie. No bait and switch. No credit card required. And no big-mouthed DJ’s. See for yourself. The button is below.

Hey, Bungalow Bill!

Thursday It’s Our House EP, an Alison Krauss ‘Spotlight’ Feature, and Live Jimi Hendrix, On January 2, 2025

Good morning, musicologists and welcome to day two of uncertainty in the world, but not here in The Mermaid Lounge where we have our usual eclectic collection on tap!

Here’s Thursday’s musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. The #BecomeUngovernable House Playlist: Various Artists

We start out with our House EP with music from Barry McGuire, The Temptations, Edwin Starr, Peter Tosh, The Beatles, T. Rex, The Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bob Dylan, Country Joe & The Fish, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Joan Baez, CSNY, Pink Floyd, The Animals, Ten Years After, Sam Cooke, The Rolling Stones, Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix, Three Dog Night, Jimmy Cliff, Richie Havens, Marvin Gaye, The Association, Phil Ochs, Tom Rush, The Band and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Alison Krauss

An American treasure with a beautiful voice. She’s also a mean fiddle player. We give you her music from her time with Union Station, her unlikely pairing with Robert Plant, and as a solo artist.

8:00 p.m. Jimi Hendrix Live at The Berkeley Community Center, Berkeley, CA, May 30, 1970

We close with a live Hendrix performance in Berkeley, just four months before his death.

We’re here 24/7 and we play music 365 days a year at no cost to you, our listeners. There’s no commercial advertising and no chatty DJ’s to break the mood. The button is below. See for yourselves.

Just Push Play.