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?

We Head for The Weekend with Joan Baez, Carly Simon, and the Drumming of Ringo Starr, Friday, April 7, 2023

Good morning, music lovers! We are one day away from the weekend and we’ve got Joan Baez In the Spotlight, Carly Simon’s final turn as our featured singer-songwriter and the best of Ringo’s drumming while a Beatle.

Here’s your musical landscape:

10:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Joan Baez

Joan Baez is a legend in these here parts. Through sixty years of performing, she has consistently remained a voice for social justice. During that time, she has released more than thirty albums. Fluent in both English and Spanish, she has released songs in at least six other languages. Although she’s regarded mostly as a folk singer, her musical style over the years has expanded to include pop, folk rock, country and gospel. Although a songwriter herself, she prefers to interpret the music of others, including Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, Jackson Browne, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, among others. Today she’s in the spotlight where she belongs.

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

Carly Simon takes her final spin this afternoon as this week’s featured singer-songwriter. Tomorrow we will have another artist to unveil. Don’t miss it.

8:00 p.m. The Best of Ringo Starr, Drummer NEW!

We spent some time on this one because we think it’s important in a musical sense. Long before the Beatles employed Ringo, he was already respected in musical circles as a drummer for Rory Storm & The Hurricanes. The Beatles, in fact, lured him away and did so for a reason. Drummers around the globe respect Ringo. He has his own style, his own swing and his own sound, and he’s not concerned with drawing attention to himself with long, protracted drumming solos. Rather, Ringo gives the song what it needs. He’s part of its fabric, and that’s what talented drummers do. We combed through articles to put this playlist together, amassing the list from other drummers and musical artists. It includes Beatle songs from the start to The End, the only drum solo Ringo ever played as a Beatle.

Here we are on the brink of another weekend and, for those who celebrate, Happy Easter, Happy Passover or Happy Ramadan, as they all converge. We’re here with some great music 24/7 at no cost to the listening world. There is also no commercial advertising. We’re in it for the music.

We Head for the Weekened with The Band’s Final Concert, Our AOW, The Rascals, and a Replay of Petty Live at The Vic, on Thursday, April 6, 2023

Good morning, musicologists! We are heading for the weekend and we’ve got a busy Thursday for you, including a by request replay of a Petty favorite and The Band’s final show ever, also known as ‘The Last Waltz.’

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Band Live at Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA, November 26, 1976

A fine Thansgiving it was as The Band played their last show ever with some of their friends, including Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Emmylou Harris, Dr. John, Paul Butterfield, Muddy Waters, Neil Young, The Staples, Neil Diamond, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Bobby Charles, and more!

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

We’ve got one more airing of this great gospel-inspired album after today, and that will be sometime on Saturday! Get it while you can!

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Rascals

One of the finest bands ever was formed in 1965 in Garfield, New Jersey. Between 1966 and 1968 they owned the top twenty of The Billboard Hot 100 with nine hits. Tonight they are In the Spotlight.

11:00 p.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live at The Vic Theatre, Chicago, IL, April 19, 2003 By Request

We just aired this one in late March, but we had a few requests from people both here and abroad requesting a repeat performance because they missed it. We’re giving it to you tonight. One of Petty’s best.

We’re on the run this morning for another opening shift, but we’re leaving you in the capable hands of The Music Mermaid. She has impeccable taste in music and will make you happy until I return.

At Midweek We’ve Got the ‘Music From Laurel Canyon’ EP, Carly Simon, and Little Richard In the Spotlight, Wednesday, April 5, 2023

Good morning, music lovers! We’re at midweek and we are cooking with gas today as we bring you some sounds from Laurel Canyon, Carly Simon as our featured singer-songwriter and a spotlight featuring Little Richard, a founding father of rock and roll.

Here’s today’s midweek musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Music From Laurel Canyon: Various Artists

Laurel Canyon was the home to two generations of great musicians. Together, they made the musical sounds heard around the world, including the fusion of country and folk with rock. You will hear The Byrds, The Mamas & The Papas, Buffalo Springfield, The Beach Boys, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Doors, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, The Monkees, CSNY, Manassas, John Mayall, The Eagles, J.D. Souther, Harry Nilsson, Canned Heat, Carole King, James Taylor, The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band, Linda Ronstadt and more!

4:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Carly Simon

Carly Simon is back for a second spin as this week’s featured singer-songwriter.

8:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Little Richard

Little Richard was one of the founding fathers of rock and roll and influenced generations of subsequent musicians, including our house bands…The Beatles and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Tonight we put him In the Spotlight where he belongs.

We’re at midweek, musicologists. After today, we’re on the downslide to the weekend once again. It’s always more pleasant when you’ve got good music to get you there. That’s what we’re all about. We’re totally free and devoid of commercial advertising. What’s not to love?

It’s Tuesday Bluesday With Our ‘Best of Chicago Blues’ EP, Our AOW, and Buddy Guy, April 4, 2023

It’s Tuesday Bluesday once again and we’ve got our Chicago blues EP on tap to start the day. Later we’ll have our AOW and Buddy Guy.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

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

We head to the Windy City for some blues with 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: The Prodigal Son by Ry Cooder

Cooder’s great 2018 gospel-influenced album get its second spin today.

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Buddy Guy

Buddy Guy’s career started back in 1953. Since then, this great blues guitarist and singer has infuenced several generations of blues players. At 86, Guy is still performing live and is in the midst of his 2023 tour. Tonight he’s In the Spotlight.

It’s always a full house here on Tuesday Bluesday, but there’s always room for more, my friends. We’ve got some great stuff here today, all free of charge and commercial free. No lie.

Monday Rolls Around & It’s Time for Mudcrutch and Some Tunes About the Color Blue, April 3, 2023

Good morning and welcome back to the work week. If you’ve got those work-a-day blues, we can help you out today. Nothing like a little Mudcrutch music to solve that problem.

Mudcrutch at Humprey’s By The Bay (photo courtesy of Alex Matthews)

Here’s your Monday, Monday lineup:

11:00 a.m. All About Blue: Various Artists

The color blue just happens to be my favorite color, so I’m indulging myself on Monday. In the first set, you’ll hear from Linda Ronstadt, Foreigner, The Allman Brothers Band, Taj Mahal, Electric Light Orchestra, The Beach Boys, Paul McCartney & Wings, The Beatles, The Band, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Badfinger, Joni Mitchell, Jonathan Edwards, Mudcrutch, Fats Domino and more!

3:00 p.m. All About Blue Too: Various Artists

In our second set this afternoon, you’ll hear Phoebe Snow, The Rolling Stones, Robert Johnson, Jackson Browne, Paul Simon, Shawn Colvin, Marvin Gaye, Boz Scaggs, Van Morrison, The Doors, Buddy Guy, The Association, The Beatles, The Kinks, Canned Heat, The Smithereens, Janis Joplin, George Harrison and more!

7:00 p.m. Mudcrutch Live at The Fonda Theatre, W. Hollywood, CA June 26, 2016

The band that left Gainesville, Florida, and that would morph into Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers came back with a bang in 2008 with the original cast. This is from their 2016 tour across America (which I still kick myself for missing when it passed through the House of Blues in Boston).

What could be better to help you through a Monday than great music? Not much, I’d venture. We’re on 24/7 (not just when we have programming) and we’re totally free of charge and we’re also totally free of commercial advertising. Give us a spin.

Sunday in The Lounge Brings Ry Cooder and Our AOW and the ‘Color My World’ EP, April 2, 2023

Good morning, music lovers! As you know, we keep it simple here on Sundays. It’s our album of the week selection and an extended playlist as a rule. Read on to find out what’s on tap today!

Here’s Sunday’s lineup:

12:00 p.m. Album of The Week: The Prodigal Son by Ry Cooder NEW!

Released in 2018, this was Ry Cooder’s first studio album in six years and his sixteenth release overall. Although he has never lost his activist voice, this album returns him to the gospel-infused spirit of his early years. Without a doubt, this singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is a Mermaid Lounge favorite. It should also be noted that Linda Ronstadt considers Ry Cooder to be the finest guitarist she has ever heard or worked with. We here in the lounge respect Linda’s impeccable musical taste.

4:00 p.m. Color My World: Various Artists

Today’s multi-artist EP is about colors with music from Linda Ronstadt, Valerie Carter, The Kinks, The Beatles, The Traveling Wilburys, Jonathan Edwards, George Harrison, Neil Young, The Rolling Stones, John Hiatt, Joni Mitchell, Badfinger, Donovan, Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan, Ry Cooder, Elton John, Procol Harum, Electric Light Orchestra, Amy Winehouse, The Who, Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, Sam & Dave, Jefferson Airplane, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Elvis Costello, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, The Hollies, Jimi Hendrix, Marvin Gaye, Booker T & The MG’s, Lucinda Williams, John Cougar Mellencamp, Creedence Clearwater Revival and more!

It’s a day of rest. Consider this: If there is a big guy in the sky, they tell us he took the day off too. So my not you? Put your feet up, pull up a tab and tune us in. It won’t cost you a penny to give us a try, and you will not regret it!

Saturday is an Extended Visit to Motor City, our AOW, and Carly Simon as Our New Featured Singer-Songwriter, April 1, 2023

Good morning, music lovers. We’re kicking off a new month in style with our ‘M is For Motown’ EP, the final airing of our AOW, and Carly Simon as our new featured singer-songwriter for this upcoming week.

Here’s your April Fool’s Day lineup:

9:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Steady As She Goes by Hot Tuna FINAL AIRING!

It’s the final spin for this great blues-rock album by Hot Tuna. Tomorrow we’ll have a brand new choice for you.

12:00 p.m. M is For Motown: Various Artists

At high noon we kick off five hours of uninterrupted Motown sounds with Barrett Strong, Eddie Kendricks, Eddie Holland, Edwin Starr, 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 Temptations, Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Four Tops, The Isley Brothers, The Contours, Rare Earth, Mary Wells, Tammi Terrell and more!

8:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Carly Simon NEW!

Carly Simon began singing with her sisters in 1963, but when the band broke up she began a successful solo career. In 1971, she released her self-titled album which won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist and spawned her first Top 10 single, That’s The Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be. During the seventies, she had a string of 13 Top 40 U.S. hits and four Gold-certified singles. Tonight she becomes our featured singer-songwriter.

It’s Saturday and, while some of us have one more day in retail hell, you may well be able to kick back and relax. Why not do it with us? We’re on 24/7, we’re totally free and we do not interrupt the flow with commercial advertising. We’re all about the music.

Friday Brings Three Great Playlists and a Lot of Wide Open Stream, March 31, 2023

Good morning, weekenders! We are one day away and we’ve got some great music on the docket today, including our ’27 & Gone’ playlist, JT’s final turn as our singer-songwriter, and a closing set from The Beatles later.

Here’s Friday’s lineup:

11:00 a.m. 27 & Gone: Various Artists

The 27 Club has some incredible members, to start Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, and Jim Morrison. However, those aren’t the only musicians to leave the planet at the ripe old age of 27. There’s Ron “Pigpen” McKernan of The Grateful Dead, blues legend Robert Johnson, Brian Jones a founding member of The Rolling Stones, and more. Today we play musical homage to those who left us far too soon.

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

JT takes his final turn as this week’s singer-songwriter. Tomorrow, we’ll have a brand new selection for you.

7:00 p.m. The Beatles: The Transformation Years

Music critics say The Beatles took a giant leap with Revolver, and we agree. But we also think all the signs of their explosion of creativity started just a tad earlier with Rubber Soul, one of the finest albums ever recorded by anyone. This playlist covers those albums plus Hey Jude, Magical Mystery Tour and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band.

One more day to go before the weekend begins. What a great way to transition into nirvana. Great music at no cost, with no commercial advertising, and no overly-chatty disc jockeys. Just click the button below!

Heading for the Weekend With ‘The British Are Coming’ EP, Hot Tuna and Our AOW, and ‘Live’ Heartbreakers Later, Thursday, March 30, 2023

Good morning, musicologists! We kick off the day with our ‘British Are Coming’ EP with music from the British Invasion years and beyond! We move on from there!

Here’s today’s musical landscape:

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

We kick off the day with music from ‘across the pond’ as they say, from The Beatles The Who, Dave Mason, Electric Light Orchestra, Petula Clark, The Zombies, The Hollies, Dusty Springfield, Small Faces, Led Zeppelin, The Kinks, Queen, The Animals, The Rolling Stones, the Dave Clark Five, The Bee Gees, The Moody Blues, Rod Stewart, George Harrison, Them, Herman’s Hermits, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Badfinger, The Yardbirds, Traffic, Elton John, Lulu, Pink Floyd, Yes, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, The Spencer Davis Group, Cream, Donovan and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Steady As She Goes by Hot Tuna

Love this band, but we’re winding down on this selection, so get it while it’s hot! The final airing of this great blues-rock release will be sometime on Saturday.

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

This was a great performance from what is considered one of the best road bands on the planet (actually, one of the very best bands on the planet). There’s nothing like seeing TPATH live (which I had the good fortune to do four times). TPATH is one of our official House Bands (along with The Beatles). Tonight we’ve got them live from the Vic Theatre in Chicago.

Tune in, folks. Join your worldwide friends. We have France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Israel, Australia, Russian Federation, Portugal and Spain on all night and into the morning. Where are you?