Celebrate the Fourth With Songs About Being Free and Our New ‘Summer of Love Countdown’, Thursday, July 4, 2024

Good morning, freedom lovers! Should we truly be celebrating? Maybe not at this time, but we all know what we have to do and that’s all I’ll say in this venue. But every day is a good music day here in The Mermaid Lounge!

Here’s your Fourth of July musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. Free As A Bird: Various Artists

We start out the day with songs about being free, both politically and otherwise, with the Edgar Winter Group, Cream, Steve Winwood, The Beatles, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Jesse Winchester, The Byrds, Dusty Springfield, Bob Dylan, Delaney & Bonnie, Emmylou Harris, Joni Mitchell, Allen Toussaint, Chicago and more!

Before we begin, let’s dispel some musical misinformation. I often see the Summer of Love used in conjunction with 1969. That is incorrect. I think people make that association because of Woodstock. But the Summer of Love was actually in 1967. This is not a difference of opinion. This is a matter of historical fact. Full stop. Done. Now, we do have Summer of Love playlists already, but those are a bit different. This is a playlist of the biggest songs on the radio during the summer and into fall of 1967. The actual real Summer of Love. We’ll be focusing on the songs and artists from that musical time period over the next week or two.

We’re At Midweek With Our ‘House’ EP, the Band Called Love In The Spotlight, and Surf Music! Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Good morning, surfer dudes and dudettes…and everyone in between. We are kicking off summer this week here in The Mermaid Lounge and we’re beginning a Summer of Love celebration tomorrow, so stay tuned!

Here’s your midweek musical lineup:

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

This was one of our very first (and small) playlists that grew into our little musical manifesto. You’ll hear Barry McGuire, The Temptations, Edwin Starr, Peter Tosh, T. Rex, The Beatles, 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, Plastic Ono Band, Sam Cooke, The Rolling Stones, Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix, Three Dog Night, Jimmy Cliff, The Association, Richie Havens, Marvin Gaye, Phil Ochs, Janis Joplin, Tom Rush, Pete Seeger, Nina Simone and more!

Nope. Not music about love. But music from the band named Love, one of the best of the sixties bands that you may not even know. It was Tom Petty who got me started on Love. It was not an intuitive discovery. If you have heard of them, then congratulations! If you haven’t, give a listen.

8:00 p.m. Going To Surf City: Various Artists

Surfer music is a musical genre all its own, and we haven’t spun this one in forever, so it’s time to break it out. You’ll hear The Beach Boys, Dick Dale & His Deltones, The Trashmen, The Challengers, Jan & Dean, The Surfaris, The Chantays, The Blue Stingrays and more! And here we have another connection to Tom Petty. The Blue Stingrays are essentially The Heartbreakers without Tom Petty, playing some of the coolest surfer music on record, and led by one of the best guitarists on the planet, Mike Campbell.

We Step Into July With Our ’27 and Gone’ Playlist, a David Crosby Spotlight Feature and Live Little Feat, Monday, July 1, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We turn the page on a new chapter today with a pretty great playlist, including one from members of the fabled ’27 Club.’

Here’s your Monday musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. 27 and Gone: Various Artists

The lore and legend behind the ’27 Club’ is often the stuff of conspiracy theories. It reminds me of the ‘Paul is dead’ hysteria that spread across the nation back in the day. What we essentially have here is a bunch of really great musicians who left us far too soon; no big conspiracy needed: Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Pete Ham (Badfinger), Blind Al Wilson (Canned Heat), Amy Winehouse, Brian Jones (The Rolling Stones), Ron “Pigpen” McKernan (The Grateful Dead), bluesman Robert Johnson, and Spanky McFarlane (Spanky & Our Gang). Today we pay them remembrance.

3:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of David Crosby

A founding member of both The Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash (and sometimes Young), and a formidable solo artist was he. Yes, he was a bit prickly, but some people are.

7:00 p.m. Little Feat Live at Ultrasonic Studios, Hempstead, NY, April 10, 1973

We close out the programming today with Little Feat live in-studio from 1973.

We’re here 24/7; not just when there’s programming. Before, in between and after our programming, you’ll hear more than 27,000 songs circulated all day, all night by our resident Music Mermaid. And there’s no endless DJ chatter or commercial advertising. Did I mention we’re 100% free?

It’s Saturday in The Lounge With ‘Folk Music From A-To-Z’, Jesse Winchester and Jefferson Airplane, June 29, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! We’re making our way into the dog days of summer. But we’re cool in The Lounge with a folk music start and a psychedelic finish.

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Folk Music From A-To-Z: Various Artists

Songs about hope and bravery is what the early folk music movement was all about. In this EP, you’ll hear John Prine, Dave Van Ronk, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul & Mary, Odetta, Cat Stevens, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Beatles, Arlo Guthrie, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Rush, Joan Baez, The Band, Eric Andersen, Judy Collins, Nanci Griffith, Jesse Winchester, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Lead Belly, Tim Hardin, The Kingston Trio, Simon & Garfunkel, Richie Havens, Phil Ochs, James Taylor, Townes Van Zandt, The Carter Family, Neil Young and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Jesse Winchester

We continue the folk music vibe before we swing into something a bit more…psychedelic. I was fortunate enough to have seen Jesse Winchester perform twice, the first time as the opening act for Emmylou Harris; the second as the headliner. Bob Dylan, the master songwriter himself, once said of Jesse Winchester, “You can’t talk about the best songwriters and not include him.” Indeed.

We had the Airplane soaring high over Golden Gate Park as we were moving out of the sixties and into the next decade. However, I beg to differ with people out there talking about 1969 as the ‘Summer of Love.’ Not true. The ‘Summer of Love’ happened in 1967. We have definitive proof, so stop spreading musical misinformation. But I digress, and I apologize.

On Finally Friday, We’ve Got Beatles Bookends and Volume Two of ‘The Sixties Rotation’ EP, June 28, 2024

Good morning, Beatlemaniacs! Today we open and close with something from The Fab Four, and we have the sixties smack dab in the middle.

Here’s your Finally Friday lineup:

10:00 a.m. The Beatles: The Complete Rooftop Concert, January 30, 1969

An unplanned, impromptu concert on the the roof of Apple’s Saville Row building made everyone’s lunch hour better back in 1969. It was The Beatles’ very last live performance together as a band. I have to tell you that assembling a complete replication of this event is difficult, at best. Missing from this performance is their impromptu take on God Save the Queen, which was in the film, but is difficult to find out there. However, we will continue on and attempt to assemble the most complete representation we can find. In the meantime, there’s this, which is more complete than the one we’ve aired in the past.

2:00 p.m. The Sixties Rotation, Volume Two: Various Artists

Today, we’ve got the second volume of our favorite sixties songs with The Mamas & The Papas, Simon & Garfunkel, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Jefferson Airplane, The Beatles, 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, Wilson Pickett, The Band, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, The Ronettes, The Kinks, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jimmy Cliff, The Byrds, Chuck Berry, James Brown, Blind Faith, Marvin Gaye, The Doors, The Box Tops, B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix and more!

9:00 p.m. The Beatles: The Singles Collection

We close out the evening with another Beatles gem: Every single released worldwide, including all the B-sides.

Before, in between and after we’ve got our big, wide Open Stream of 27,000 files and growing daily! We’re on 24/7, we’re totally free and we run no commercial advertising. What’s not to love?

We Take a Trip On ‘The Psychedelic Express,’ Then It’s Live Jimi Hendrix and Carly Simon, Thursday, June 27, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We are officially over the hump and are on the downslide to the weekend. Today we start out on ‘The Psychedelic Express,’ then it’s on to some live music.

Here’s your mind bending lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Psychedelic Express: Various Artists

Truly a favorite genre in The Mermaid Lounge and, once again, pioneered by The Fab Four. In addition to The Beatles, you’ll hear Vanilla Fudge, The Chambers Brothers, the Electric Prunes, The Animals, Jefferson Airplane, Blues Image, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Doors, Pink Floyd, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Donovan, Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Byrds, Jimi Hendrix, Traffic, Cream, Dr. John, Procol Harum, The Who, Canned Heat, Yes, Electric Light Orchestra, Tommy James & The Shondell, Mudcrutch, Blind Faith, The Grateful Dead, Velvet Underground, Big Brother & The Holding Company and more!

4:00 p.m. Jimi Hendrix Live at The Berkeley Community Theater, Berkeley, CA, May 30, 1970

We’ve got Hendrix in a great live performance this afternoon that took place just months before his untimely death.

It was Jackie Onassis’ idea for Carly Simon to perform at Grand Central Station as a precursor to her first tour in 14 years. We’ve got it for you here this evening.

On Sunday It’s Jefferson Airplane, Our ‘Ode to Morning’ EP, and The Band Live in Japan, On June 23, 2024

Good morning, weekenders! We’ve got some great music today that includes a Jefferson Airplane Spotlight feature and The Band live from Kosei Nenkin Hall in Tokyo.

Here’s your Sunday lineup:

10:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Jefferson Airplane

Or, as we used to affectionately call them, The Airplane. The band was a true pioneer of the American psychedelic music genre, and we thank them for all their hard work.

1:00 p.m. Ode To Morning: Various Artists

This afternoon we have songs extolling the virtues of the morning from 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, Pure Prairie League and more.

8:00 p.m. The Band Live at Kosei Nenkin Hall, Tokyo, Japan, September 2, 1983

We close out a great day with a The Band live from Tokyo. They went from being Bob Dylan’s back up band to becoming one of the most influential bands in the evolution American popular music.

It’s an official ‘day of rest,’ so kick your heels of and join us. The Magic Button is below. It’s as simple as that.

Happy Birthday to Macca, John Prine Live in New York, and the ‘Color My World’ EP are On Tap for Monday, June 17, 2024

Good morning, McCartney lovers! We will be celebrating Sir Paul’s birthday all this week starting today, then it’s John Prine live at The Other End and our ‘Color My World’ EP gets an evening airing later.

Here’s your Monday musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Paul McCartney

It’s Happy 82nd birthday to Paul McCartney (tomorrow) and we are celebrating throughout the week in a variety of ways, beginning with our Spotlight featuring songs from his days with The Beatles, with Wings and as a solo artist.

The late and great John Prine is certainly most remembered for his magnificent Angel For Montgomery, a composition that became Bonnie Raitt’s signature song. However, John Prine had a way with the twist of a phrase that few others did, often writing about the human condition with a bit of dry sarcasm. Tonight we have him live from what was once and then again, The Bitter End in New York. During this particular time, it was renamed The Other End.

7:00 p.m. Color My World: Various Artists

We close this day out with our five-hour collection of songs about colors in the title, lyrics or both. You’ll hear The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, James Taylor, Donovan, Booker T. and The MGs, Electric Light Orchestra, Procol Harum, Joni Mitchell The Who, Amy Winehouse, Sam & Dave, Badfinger, Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, 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!

Saturday We’re ‘Under The Influence’ With Live Performances From Jeff Beck and Joni Mitchell, June 8, 2024

Welcome to the first official day of the weekend and we’re starting out ‘Under The Influence’ for several hours, then it’s Jeff Beck Live in Boston and Joni Mitchell live in Milan, Italy.

Here’s your official Saturday lineup:

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

Yeah. We’ve all been here. Don’t deny it. Sometimes it’s legal stuff. Sometimes not. Just ask The Byrds, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Arlo Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Linda Ronstadt, Little Feat, 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. The Jeff Beck Group Live at The Boston Tea Party, Boston, MA, May 6, 1969

It’s into the Wayback Machine for this one as we catch Jeff Beck (and Rod Stewart) with their bandmates at one great venue, the now-defunct Boston Tea Party.

8:00 p.m. Joni Mitchell Live at The Teatro Tenda, Milan, Italy, May 9, 1983

Joni Mitchell live from Milan on her Refuge World Tour, which coincided with the release of her great album, The Hissing of Summer Lawns.

We’re here 24/7. We’re totally free. And we don’t run any advertising. Seriously. All you actually have to do is hit that green button below.

Monday Brings Our ‘Summertime’ Playlist, Sly & The Family Stone and Some ‘Live’ Heartbreakers, June 3, 2024

Good morning, musicologists. It’s another work week, but we’ve got you covered with some great programming today, including a new Sly & The Family Stone Spotlight feature!

Sly & the Family Stone

Here’s your Monday musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. Summertime: Various Artists

We are right on the doorstep of summer here, folks, so it’s only fitting that we hear songs about summer with Paul McCartney, Electric Light Orchestra, Jimmy Cliff, Joan Baez, The Wallflowers, Van Morrison, k. d. lang, John Prine, Johnny Rivers, The Stone Poneys, Wendy Waldman, Don Henley, The Cranberries, The Doors, Joni Mitchell and more!

Established in San Francisco in 1966, Sly & The Family Stone played a great part in the development of funk, soul, R&B, rock and the psychedelic sound. Today we finally have them In The Spotlight.

8:00 p.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Live and Loving It!

We’re breaking this one out of moth balls. It’s our take on the best live performances over the years by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Admittedly, it’s due for updating and we will get to that, but it’s still pretty frackin’ good as it is.