We Inch Closer to The Weekend With Our ‘Paint It Black’ Playlist, John Prine In The Spotlight, and Our AOW, Thursday, July 14, 2022

Good Morning, Musicologists! Here we are again on the weekend doorstep and we’ve got some really great stuff for you today interspersed among all that wide Open Stream!

Here’s your musical landscape for Thursday:

11:00 a.m. Paint It Black: Various Artists

Yes, today it’s songs about black, the color. In the title, lyrics or both. You’ll hear The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Wallflowers, The Doobie Brothers, The Move, Steely Dan, Johnny Cash, Amy Winehouse, The Hollies, Stephen Stills, Warren Zevon, The Band, Nina Simone, Tom Rush, k.d. lang, The Grateful Dead, Fairport Convention, Dr. John, The Kinks, Guy Clark, J. D. Souther, Curtis Mayfield, Linda Ronstadt, The Flying Burrito Brothers, and more!

3:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Baez Sings Dylan by Joan Baez

This is our next-to-last airing of this week’s AOW. The final airing will be sometime on Saturday. On Sunday, we’ll have a brand new selection to play for you.

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of John Prine

We bring John Prine back into the spotlight. He’s been gone for far too long. We’ve got a new Prine playlist coming, along with some new ‘live’ music from him. In the meantime, we’ve got a great spotlight feature while we wait. One of the greatest singer-songwriters of his generation here. Included in this playlist is his live version of Angel From Montgomery with Bonnie Raitt.

Come on, folks. We’ve got a International meeting of the minds currently tuned in with listeners from the UK, Chile, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Italy, Australia, Russian Federation, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Switzerland, and points beyond. Join them.

It’s Sunday in The Mermaid Lounge and We’ve Got “Baez Sings Dylan” as The AOW, and Our ‘Ladies Day Out’ EP, July 10, 2022

Good Morning, Musicologists! We’re here in The Mermaid Lounge on this fine, sunny Sunday and we’ve got a great AOW selection as well as our ‘Ladies Day Out’ EP to get you through the day.

We give you ‘Baez Sings Dylan’ as our Album of The Week starting this evening

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

11:00 a.m. Ladies Day Out: Various Artists

The women of music take front and center today as we here in The Lounge take to the streets for Roe v. Wade. You’ll hear Linda Ronstadt, Carly Simon, Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Chrissie Hynde, Petula Clark, Laura Nyro, Cilla Black, Irma Thomas, Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Etta James, Janis Joplin, Carole King, Maria Muldaur, Lucinda Williams, Roseanne Cash, Eva Cassidy, Wendy Waldman, Shawn Colvin, The Ronettes, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Norah Jones, Phoebe Snow, Nicolette Larson, Valerie Carter, Sheryl Crow and more!

7:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Baez Sings Dylan NEW!

There is no question that we have two luminaries of the folk movement on this album as Joan Baez pays tribute to Bob Dylan. They first met in 1961 and collaborated on music for several years before becoming intimately involved. Even after the relationship ended they continued to make music together and have remained friends over the years. Dylan continues to tour, while Joan Baez has formally retired from the road. We will soon have Spotlight features for both.

It’s a day of rest, and there’s no better way to kick back than with some really great music. That’s what you get here. No commercial interruptions. No overly talkative DJs. Nope. Not here. And guess what else is no good here: Your money. Because we are 100% no-strings-attached free 24/7. We don’t stop when the programming stops. We have continuous wide Open Stream with more than 27,000 songs in our collection. We’re all about the music.

We Start Off the Day Fittingly With Our ‘Ode to Morning’ EP Then Pay Tribute to Ringo Later on Friday, July 8, 2022

Happy 82nd Birthday, Ringo! Still filling stadiums around the world with his All Starr band!

Here’s your Friday lineup:

11:00 a.m. Ode To Morning: Various Artists

We opened the month with our playlist about the night time, so it’s only fitting that we begin the day with our flip-side EP. You will hear Joni Mitchell, The Move, Fleetwood Mac, Foreigner, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Nina Simone, Cat Stevens, Hoyt Axton, The Beatles, Neil Young, The Rascals, Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez, James Taylor, Gram Parsons, Simon & Garfunkel, Taj Mahal, Dan Fogelberg, Harry Chapin, Three Dog Night, Ry Cooder, Tim Buckley, Muddy Waters, Linda Ronstadt, Jonathan Edwards, Townes Van Zandt, Pure Prairie League, Bob Dylan, Chris Hillman, Badfinger and more!

7:00 p.m. The Best of Ringo Starr UPDATED AND EXPANDED!

You know, there’s urban legend, and then there’s sheer musical ignorance. The notion that Ringo isn’t a “good” drummer is patently absurd. In fact, his peers will tell you otherwise. Perhaps you should watch this video featuring Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Jim Keltner, Stewart Copeland, Tre Cool, Chad Smith and others. Remember, The Beatles wanted Ringo and stole him from Rory Storm & The Hurricanes, dumping Pete Best in the process. He’s a drummer’s drummer, and most of the criticism is because he isn’t John Bonham with his 40-minute drum solos. But that shit? That shit breaks up the continuity of a song, in my humble opinion. And Ringo was and still is all about giving the song what it needs. His attitude about drum solos is all that it proves is that you took lessons. But best of all is that Ringo is just a good guy who has fun on stage with his All Starr band, and at 82, he’s still filling stadiums to spread his feel-good sounds. Today, we celebrate Ringo’s 82nd birthday (yesterday) with some of our favorites where he was only the drummer, every song he sang solo on as a member of The Beatles, and his own solo stuff.

Get on board the weekend train because we are almost there, people. It’s all downhill from here, as they say. I will, of course, have one day left after today since I toil in the very real world of retail hell in a nation where buying is equated with freedom. So are guns. But we won’t go there. Instead, we’ll focus on the music, so join us. We promise no chatty DJs, and no news here. Just music 24/7. And did I mention we’re totally FREE (in all caps and with NO strings)?

It’s Midweek Once Again With Our ‘Travelin’ Fever’ EP and a Long-Awaited Wilbury Wednesday Coming at You on July 6, 2022

Good Morning, Road Warriors! If you’re the traveling kind, then this day is perfect for you. We’ve not only got our ‘Travelin’ Fever’ EP, but it’s a long-needed Wilbury Wednesday!

The Traveling Wilburys in the post-Roy Orbison timeframe

Here’s your midweek lineup:

10:00 a.m. Travelin’ Fever: Various Artists

Road music. That’s what we’ve got here from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Canned Heat, the Steve Miller Band, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Dan Fogelberg, Bruce Springsteen, Linda Ronstadt, Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney & Wings, The Doors, The Eagles, Little Feat, The Band, Willie Nelson, Edwin Starr, Janis Joplin, Guy Clark, The Traveling Wilburys, Asleep at The Wheel, The Byrds, Joan Baez, Mudcrutch, Loggins & Messina, Buffalo Springfield and more!

7:00 p.m. WILBURY WEDNESDAY! The Traveling Wilburys: The Bootleg Collection

It has been far too long between Wilbury Wednesdays and we aim to rectify that little problem today. We’ve got it all here: rough cuts, alternate versions, special sessions, and the final product all rolled into one great playlist. One musical journey that should not be missed!

This is undoubtedly a most excellent day to choose this little station, particularly if you like to sit and daydream about getting out of this right-wing gulag. But that’s another story for another day. We’d love to have you join your friends from around the globe today. The first time will not be the last time.

Today We Feature Steely Dan’s “The Royal Scam” as Our AOW, and ‘The Female Species’ EP a Bit Later, Sunday, July 3, 2022

Good Morning, Music Lovers everywhere! It is another day here in The Mermaid Lounge and we’ve got Steely Dan as our featured album artist and ‘The Female Species’ EP bringing up the rear.

Today we feature “The Royal Scam” and ‘The Female Species’ EP later this afternoon

Here’s your Sunday lineup:

11:00 a.m. Album of The Week: The Royal Scam by Steely Dan NEW!

The Dan is a Mermaid Lounge favorite. They have, in our opinion, successfully danced the line between their intricate jazz arrangements and their flat-out energetic rock style. This is their fifth studio album, released in 1976 by ABC Records, and features the songs Kid Charlemagne, The Fez, Don’t Take Me Alive and Haitian Divorce.

5:00 p.m. The Female Species: Various Artists

Yes, not to be confused with our ‘Ladies Day Out’ EP, this one features songs about women, ladies, girls, chicks, which abound across the musical spectrum. You’ll hear Talking Heads, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Boogaloo Swamis, John Mayall, Hot Tuna, The Eagles, Elvis Presley, Fleetwood Mac, Electric Light Orchestra, Percy Sledge, The Beatles, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, America, Roy Orbison, Billy Joel, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, The Temptations, The Beach Boys, Linda Ronstadt and more!

Before, after, in between and throughout the 24-hour cycle, we have our wide Open Stream courtesy of The Music Mermaid. Get on it. It’s a holiday weekend. We ain’t raising the flag until this country is safely out of the grasps of full-on fascism, but we are raising the ‘great music’ banner!

We Are at Midweek With Our ‘In Your Dreams’ EP and Our New ‘Long Live the Queens’ Playlist, Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Good Morning, Music Lovers! We are already at midweek and we’ve got great stuff for you today, including our brand new ‘Long Live The Queens’ playlist. Read on for details!

The Queens make their debut at 7:00 p.m. this evening

Here is your midweek lineup:

10:00 a.m. In Your Dreams: Various Artists

Dreams are funny things. Some people have them. Some don’t. But plenty have sung songs about them or we wouldn’t have nearly five hours of uninterrupted music from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Aerosmith, Crowded House, the Moody Blues, Van Morrison, The Eurythmics, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Nanci Griffith, The Electric Prunes, Fleetwood Mac, Roy Orbison, The Mamas & The Papas, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Jimmy Buffett, The Allman Brothers Band, Supertramp, Randy Newman, Aretha Franklin, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Bob Dylan, Widespread Panic, The Youngbloods, Jimmy Ruffin, Jackson Browne, Mudcrutch, Patsy Cline, Joe Walsh, Dusty Springfield, k.d. lang, and more!

7:00 p.m. Long Live The Queens: Various Artists NEW!

We feature four queens here for you: Linda Ronstadt, the undisputed Queen of Rock; Aretha Franklin, the undisputed Queen of Soul; Irma Thomas, The Soul Queen of New Orleans; and Koko Taylor, Queen of The Blues. Tune in for something really special here.

We’re here every day uninterrupted 24/7 at absofuckinglutely no charge to you. Your money is no good here in The Mermaid Lounge. This is all about the music. Get on board, people. You won’t be disturbed by advertising or overly-chatty DJ’s either.

It’s Our Official ‘Summertime’ Kick-off With a Brand New Playlist, Badfinger at the BBC, and Joni In The Spotlight, Monday, June 27, 2022

Good Morning, Music Lovers! We hope we can brighten your work-week start today with some great music. It’s summertime, and we’ve got some brand new music for you.

We officially kick off summer with a brand new playlist today!

Here’s your Monday programming:

11:00 a.m. Summertime: Various Artists NEW!

This is the beginning of a week where we feature some new music. We start here with our new ‘Summertime’ playlist. We’ve got songs with the word summer, summertime, and variations thereof in the title but, if you listen closely, you’ll hear some surf music in there as well. You’ll hear from Paul McCartney, Electric Light Orchestra, Eddie Cochran, Joni Mitchell, Sly & The Family Stone, Poco, The Blue Stingrays, The Doors, The Beach Boys, Jimmy Cliff, Joan Baez, Foo Fighters, Donovan, Paul Simon, Van Morrison, Nina Simone, John Prine, Johnny Rivers, Gary Hoey, The Desert Rose Band, Dick Dale & His Del-Tones, The Stone Poneys, Chrissie Hynde, Bob Dylan, The Surfaris, Nanci Griffith, and more!

4:00 p.m. Badfinger: Live at The BBC Studios, 1972-1973

Today’s live music offering is Badfinger, a true power pop band that made some great music in its time. Today we’ve got them live at BBC Studios in London recorded in 1972 and 1973. Undoubtedly the best signing ever by Apple Records.

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Joni Mitchell

It’s been a spell since we featured Joni Mitchell In the Spotlight, so we’re remedying that little miscue today. She’s kind of the sound of summer in a way. We’ve always loved Joni’s music here in The Mermaid Lounge. She is one of the most brilliant singer-songwriters on the planet.

Come on. It’s Monday. And we all know Monday’s suck. I’ve been sick with COVID for a second time here and I return to retail hell myself tomorrow, so why not join me today in kicking back and enjoying some great tunes.

The Weekend is Knocking and We’ve Got ‘The #BecomeUngovernable House Playlist’ EP, and Lukas Nelson and Promise of The Real Later, on Friday, June 24, 2022

Good Morning, Musicologists! We are cookin’ today with our very own House playlist, which is also an EP, so that means five hours of great uninterrupted music. As we say, there is music that has inspired this station, and we have lots of it today. Later on, we have Lukas Nelson & POTR to take you into the night.

Starts today at 11:00 a.m.

Here’s Friday’s lineup:

11:00 a.m. The #BecomeUngovernable House Playlist: Various Artists

Yes, music lovers, it’s our very own House EP full of great music from Barry McGuire, The Temptations, Edwin Starr, Peter Tosh, The Beatles, Genesis, T. Rex, The Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Country Joe & The Fish, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, CSNY, Pink Floyd, The Animals, Ten Year’s After, The Plastic Ono Band, Billy Joel, George Harrison, The Rolling Stones, Sam Cooke, Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix, Three Dog Night, Jimmy Cliff, Richie Havens, Marvin Gaye, Phil Ochs, The Association, Tom Rush, Pete Seeger, The Band, Nina Simone, and more!

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Lukas Nelson & Promise of The Real UPDATED!

Here’s a great little country rock band that’s fronted by Willie’s boy, Lukas. Any band that does road duty with Neil Young is okay with us. But POTR is a band in its own right as well, so give them a listen.

Here we are again on the cusp of another weekend, and we’re starting it off with a great extended playlist here. Before, in between, and after our programming, we give you that great, wide Open Stream. We’ve added new music from Bobbie Gentry, Tedeschi-Trucks Band, Gov’t Mule, Koko Taylor, Tracy Nelson, Chuck Berry, and more! We’ve also got brand new playlists in the works to get us through the dog days of summer here. Just. Do. It.

I Know. The Start of Summer Was a Few Days Ago. We’re Kicking It Off Today With The Beach Boys, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and “McCartney,” Thursday, June 23, 2022

Good Morning, Musicologists! Yes, I know we’re a bit late on the uptake here. The first day of summer was a few days ago. But hey, we don’t stand on ceremony here. We thought The Beach Boys would be a nice touch.

Here’s your lineup for today:

11:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Beach Boys

We haven’t heard this one in a while. It’s a very modest kick-off to summer here in The Mermaid Lounge, but we’ve got something else in the works that should be ready in the next day or two. In the meantime, these guys know how to make it feel like summer for some reason. Maybe it’s all in the name. And Brian Wilson is a musical genius. Even Paul McCartney and Linda Ronstadt think so.

3:00 p.m. Album of The Week: McCartney by Paul McCartney

This is our next-to-last airing of this iconic solo debut by McCartney. Over the years, it has become one of the most revered solo debuts by any musical artist. The final airing will be some time on Saturday. Sunday will bring a new selection.

7:00 p.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live at The Vic Theatre, Chicago, IL, April 19, 2003

Great concert here in what can be considered a small venue. The Heartbreakers played a lot of large halls in their day, but they always preferred small, intimate settings. IMO, it didn’t matter where they played. They were one of the best live bands in the history of rock n’ roll.

Great day to be here with us. I know I say that every single day, in one way or another, but it’s true. This is where the music never stops. We run 24/7 totally free of charge with absolutely no strings attached. Your money is no good here. Know what I mean?

Today We’ve Got Bob Dylan Live at Royal Albert Hall, Songs Banned From the Airwaves, and Our New Seasons Playlist, Monday, June 20, 2022

Good Morning, Music Aficionados! How goes the battle on this fine Monday? We’ve got some great stuff here for you today, including a brand new playlist to close out our programming later.

We start the day off with Dylan live at Royal Albert Hall, vintage 1966

Here’s your Monday lineup:

11:00 a.m. Bob Dylan Live at Royal Albert Hall, London, UK, May 17, 1966

It’s a mystery. Is it May 17 or May 26. Is it the real Royal Albert Hall concert, or the Manchester concert mislabeled as Royal Albert Hall? As far as we can tell, this is the real Royal Albert Hall concert. Either way, it’s vintage early Dylan and it is a milestone in the development of popular music as he moved folk into the electric era. We here in The Mermaid Lounge love a good musical mystery. One thing we’re absolutely sure of is that this is part of what is known as The Bootleg Collection.

3:00 p.m. Banned From the Airwaves: Various Artists

This is a fun one. There are songs that have been banned from all over the spectrum, although you can pretty much catch them on all radio stations in this day and age. Petty’s You Don’t Know How It Feels was initially banned for its reference to weed; both Lola by the Kinks and Arnold Layne by Pink Floyd were banned because of their references to transgender and/or LGBTQ characters; My Generation by The Who was initially banned because it insulted people who stuttered; and McCartney’s Hi Hi Hi, The Everly Brothers’ Wake Up Little Susie, The Doors’ Love Me Two Times and The Stones’ Let’s Spend the Night Together were all initially banned because of references to sex. Listen to the rest and see if you can figure it out.

7:00 p.m. Seasons: Various Artists NEW!

Tonight we close out the programming portion with a brand new playlist about the seasons. Either the word ‘seasons’ appears in the song somewhere or the song references a specific season in some fashion. You’ll hear Bobbie Gentry, Janis Ian, Donovan, Simon & Garfunkel, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Byrds, Johnny Rivers, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Hoyt Axton, Don Henley, Wendy Waldman, The Stone Poneys, Jefferson Airplane, The Kinks, Nina Simone, Linda Ronstadt, Michael Murphy, James Taylor, The Beatles, Eva Cassidy, Eddie Cochran, The Band, Sly & The Family Stone and more!

We’ve got a full house this morning with Germany, Chile, The Netherlands, Russian Federation, our friends from the Faroe Islands, Italy, Greece, Canada, Norway, Switzerland, Portugal, Poland, Australia, the UK, along with Texas, Montana, Massachusetts, and New York. When are you logging on?