Category: Rock n’ Roll

It’s ‘The Best of Louisiana Blues’ EP, Our AOW, and ‘Live’ Paul Butterfield Blues Band on Tuesday Bluesday, January 16, 2024

Welcome to Tuesday Bluesday here in The Lounge where we begin our musical journey down in Louisiana and close it out at The Fillmore.

Here’s your musical lineup:

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

There are two main reasons to go to Louisiana. One is the food. The other is music. Today you’ll hear Ray Charles, Lillian Glinn, Slim Harpo, Ray Brown, Fats Domino, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Rodney Harris, Roosevelt Sykes, Shirley & Lee, Papa Lightfoot, Guitar Slim, Annie Laurie, Fats Matthews, Big Joe Turner, Big Boy Myles, Little Walter, Mary Butler, Erline Harris, Dave Bartholomew, Marcia Ball, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Professor Longhair, The Neville Brothers, Irma Thomas and more.

4:00 p.m.  Album of The Week: Jesus Was A Capricorn by Kris Kristofferson

Kris Kristofferson is back for his second spin with the Album of The Week.

7:00 p.m.  Paul Butterfield Blues Band Live at The Fillmore, San Francisco, October 14, 1966

We’ve got one of the greatest live from the fabled Fillmore West to close out our Tuesday Bluesday programming today.

Tuesday Bluesday is always a big day in The Lounge, and it will not cost you one cent to be part of it. In fact, we’re totally free 24/7 and we never run commercial advertising. What’s not to love?

Tuesday Bluesday!

Monday is Back With ‘Under the Sun & Moon’, Chuck Berry, and Al Green as our Singer-Songwriter, January 15, 2024

Happy Monday, Workers! I hope you are remembering the accomplishments of a guy named Martin Luther King on this day. People on the right want to discredit King, but we know the truth and have to thwart that crap.

Here’s your Monday lineup:

11:00 a.m. Under the Sun & Moon: Various Artists

Today we start by breaking out a playlist we haven’t heard for a while, with Cat Stevens, Linda Ronstadt, Laura Nyro, America, The Animals, The Kinks, Gordon Lightfoot, Maria Muldaur, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Tom Rush, Valerie Carter, The Doors, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Little Feat, Bill Withers and more!

4:00 p.m.  In The Spotlight: The Music of Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry was a pioneer in the world of rock and roll, a man who influenced so many, including The Beatles, Linda Ronstadt and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Today we put his music In the Spotlight.

7:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Al Green NEW!

Tonight we introduce Al Green as our featured singer-songwriter. We’ve moved this intro to Mondays (as opposed to Saturdays) going forward.

Monday is a good day to tune us in because it’s the first day of the ugly work week, and we can help ease you back in. We’re on 24/7 at no charge and with no commercial interruption. We’re the starting point.

Monday, Monday!

It’s Simply Sunday With Kris Kristofferson’s New AOW and the ‘Music From Laurel Canyon’ EP, January 14, 2024

Good morning and welcome to yet another simple Sunday here in The Mermaid Lounge as we give you a great new Album of The Week and spin the music from the fabled Laurel Canyon, the birthplace of country-rock.

Here’s your musical lineup:

11:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Jesus Was A Capricorn by Kris Kristofferson NEW!

This was Kristofferson’s fourth studio album released in 1972. Every response to the album was mixed, but his out-of-character religious song Why Me became a number one hit. How the song came about is explained here. Nevertheless, I loved the album and, in spite of the fact that the title song was released then faded, I think it’s one of his best.

3:00 p.m.  Music From Laurel Canyon: Various Artists

We’re back visiting the inhabitants of Laurel Canyon, the birthplace of country-rock, a fertile creative landscape for two generations of musicians (sixties, seventies). You’ll hear The Byrds, The Mamas & The Papas, Buffalo Springfield, The Beach Boys, The Doors, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, The Monkees, CSNY, Manassas, John Mayall, The Eagles, J.D. Souther, Harry Nilsson, Canned Heat, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, James Taylor, Joan Baez, Judy Collins and more. Best of all, this one’s due for an update soon!

Here we are again together on a Simple Sunday of music and relaxation. All you need is a computer and a mouse. The rest is easy.

It’s Simply Sunday

On Saturday We Offer Songs About Color, Loggins & Messina’s AOW, and Some ‘Live’ Poco Later, January 13, 2024

Good morning, weekenders! Saturday has arrived and we have some serious rain here in the Boston area…in January. That, my friends, is not the norm. But neither is our little radio station.

Here’s your musical merriment for today:

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

Color is always a popular topic in music. Just ask The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Donovan, Booker T & The MG’s, 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!

4:00 p.m.  Album of The Week: Sittin’ In by Loggins & Messina FINAL AIRING!

Today will be this fine album’s swan song, but it does reside in our standard rotation, so you will keep hearing the music. Tomorrow we’ll have a brand new album.

8:00 p.m.  Poco Live at Fairleigh-Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ, November 2, 1973

Here’s a fine country-rock band that gets neither the credit nor the attention it deserves, but we aim to change that in 2024. We start tonight.

We are here spinning the tunes (although nothing is really spinning here in The Lounge) all day and all night long at no charge to the general public and with no commercial interruption. What are y’all waiting for?

Color My World

The Week’s End Brings ‘The Founders’, Kris Kristofferson’s Swan Song, and Live Joni Mitchell & JT, Friday, January 12, 2024

Good morning, budding weekenders! We’ve made it to another Friday, and we’ve got some great music lined up to get you to the first day of the weekend!

Here’s your Friday lineup:

9:00 a.m.  The Founders: Various Artists

We start where it all started with Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner, Hank Williams, Bill Haley & His Comets, Ray Charles, The Drifters, Roy Orbison, Robert Johnson, Carl Perkins, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters and more!

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

We bid a fond farewell to Kris Kristofferson this afternoon as our featured singer-songwriter but, rest assured, he is in our standard rotation and we have some live music coming up in 2024.

8:00 p.m.  Joni Mitchell & James Taylor Live at The Paris Theatre, London, UK, October 29, 1970 NEW!

We are really pleased to add this brilliant performance to our scheduled rotation in 2024. We know you’ll like it as well.

Before, in between and after our scheduled programming, we give you that big, wide Open Stream at the whim of The Music Mermaid. Did I mention that we are totally free of charge and accept no commercial advertising?

The Founders!

‘M is For Motown’, Loggins & Messina and The McGarrigle Sisters Are All On Tap For Thursday, January 11, 2024

Morning, folks! We are on track for a great day here in The Mermaid Lounge with a trip to Motor City planned, our AOW, and some rare gems from Kate & Anna McGarrigle.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m.  M is For Motown: Various Artists

We’ve got five hours of the music that made America dance with Barrett Strong, Eddie Kendricks, Edwin Starr, Eddie Holland, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Jackson Five, Kim Weston, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Marvin Gaye, Martha & The Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Four Tops, The Isley Brothers, The Temptations, The Contours, Rare Earth, Mary Wells, Tammi Terrell, Diana Ross & The Supremes and more!

4:00 p.m.  Album of The Week: Sittin’ In by Kenny Loggins & Jim Messina

Back again for another airing of what was first intended to be a solo album by Loggins, but became Loggins & Messina’s first album together.

7:00 p.m.  Tell My Sister: The Unreleased Recordings of Kate & Anna McGarrigle

We haven’t aired this one for a while, so this is a good time to break it out. This is a rare gem for fans of the McGarrigle sisters, two of the greatest singer-songwriters ever who became fertile ground for the likes of Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Judy Collins and others. Their covers led to Kate & Anna McGarrigle getting their first recording contract.

Get on in here. The Mermaid Lounge is open to all and we’re open all night. What better day to head toward the weekend?

Just Push Play!

We’re at Midweek With ‘The British Are Coming’, Kris Kristofferson, and Elvis’ Sun Sessions, Wednesday, January 10, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We’ve got quite an eclectic lineup today as we belatedly celebrate Elvis Presley’s birthday!

Here’s your midweek lineup:

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

Yes, while Britain was falling in love with American rock and roll, we were digging The British Invasion over here, and we play it for you today with The Beatles, The Who, Dave Mason, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, Cilla Black, Petula Clark, Lulu, The Searchers, The Hollies, Electric Light Orchestra, the Dave Clark Five, Small Faces, Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Moody Blues, Rod Stewart, Them, Herman’s Hermits, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Badfinger, The Yardbirds, Cream, Yes, Traffic, Elton John, The Animals, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, The Spencer Davis Group, Donovan and more!

4:00 p.m.  Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Kris Kristofferson

Mr. Kristofferson is back this afternoon as our featured singer-songwriter.

8:00 p.m.  Elvis Presley: The Complete Sun Sessions

We celebrate Elvis’ birthday just a couple of days late, but with what we believe is the absolute best of Elvis…his early stuff recorded in 1954-1955 at Sun Studios in Memphis. My favorite Elvis song? Mystery Train.

Come on, people. We are here 24/7 at no charge to you. We don’t track you. We don’t require a credit card. All you need is a computer tab and the button right below this post.

Happy Birthday, Elvis!

Tuesday Bluesday Opens With Music From The Windy City and Closes With Big Mama Thornton, January 9, 2024

Good morning, Bluesologists! Today we open Tuesday Bluesday with our ‘Best of Chicago Blues’ EP and we close with Big Mama Thornton and the Muddy Waters Blues Band in session at Coast Recorders.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

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

We open the day with music from the Windy City including music from Otis Rush, Willie Dixon, Albert King, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Bo Diddley, Koko Taylor, Lowell Fulson, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy, Magic Slim, Sonny Boy Williamson, Son Seals, James Cotton, Paul Butterfield, Elmore James, Jimmy Reed, Otis Spann and more!

4:00 p.m.  Album of The Week: Sittin’ In by Loggins & Messina

What was originally a solo album by Kenny Loggins actually became the first album my Loggins & Messina. And it’s a good one at that.

7:00 p.m.  Big Mama Thornton In Session With The Muddy Waters Blues Band, Coast Recorders, San Francisco, CA, April 25, 1966

There’s nobody quite like Big Mama. In fact, The House of Blues in New Orleans boasts ‘Big Mama’s Lounge.’ Today we’ve got the original Hound Dog singer in session with the Muddy Waters Blues band.

It’s always jumpin’ here on Tuesday Bluesday. Today is no exception. There’s plenty of room here for everyone, so get on board the blues train!

It’s Tuesday Bluesday!

On Monday We Deliver Lukas Nelson and POTR, Banned Songs, and ‘Live’ Pretenders in Germany, January 8, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We’ve got a great lineup that includes Willie’s boy Lukas and his band, some songs that were banned from the airwaves back in the day, and The Pretenders live from Hamburg.

Here’s today’s lineup:

10:00 a.m. In the Spotlight: Lukas Nelson & Promise of The Real

Willie’s boy is back with his band. Any band that tours with Neil Young is the real deal. If you haven’t heard them before, this is a good time.

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

Yes, songs like God Only Knows by The Beach Boys were banned from the airwaves because it was the first time God was mentioned in a rock song. So was The Heartbreakers’ You Don’t Know How It Feels, and Lennon’s Imagine. The craziest one of all was My Generation by The Who because it allegedly made fun of people who stutter. They are all here today.

7:00 p.m.  The Pretenders Live at Laeiszhalle, Hamburg, Germany, June 23, 2009

The great Chrissie Hynde and my favorite alternative band are live from Germany to close out the programming tonight.

Come on. It’s Monday. The beginning of another work week. And we all need a bit of a boost on Monday. If you have an office and a computer, just close your door, pretend you’re immersed in the bottom line, and hit the button below.

Just Push Play.

Another Simply Sunday Brings Our AOW by Loggins & Messina and the ‘What’s In a Name’ Multi-Artist EP, January 7, 2024

Yes, I will admit that there are times when I’m still writing ‘2023’ on stuff but, in spite of my encroaching old age, I’m doing better than I was last year at this time! (And that’s a good sign.)

Here’s your Sunday funday lineup:

11:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Sittin’ In by Kenny Loggins & Jim Messina NEW!

I have a lot of fond musical memories of these guys; put simply, they just made some great music. This was originally intended as a Loggins solo album, but Jim Messina was brought in as the producer and started writing some songs, playing instruments and singing background. The original (correct) title is Kenny Loggins with Jim Messina Sittin’ In, by the way. However, after that? They became Loggins & Messina and put out a string of great albums. We’ve got one today.

3:00 p.m.  What’s In a Name: Various Artists

An EP with names in songs. You know, like Ode to Billie Joe. Or Alison. Or Gloria. There are many, and we’ve got a bunch from The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Them, Janis Joplin, Simon & Garfunkel, The Beach Boys, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Donovan, Steve Winwood, Bonnie Raitt, Shawn Colvin, Carly Simon, Warren Zevon, Laura Nyro, Bobbie Gentry, The Kinks, Three Dog Night and many more!

The snow continues to fall outside The Mermaid Lounge, but we can’t get no respect here. Winters are not what they used to be, even in the Boston area. But it’s cozy and filled with good music here. Best of all, I don’t have to move an inch until Tuesday. Join us.

Simply Sunday!