Category: Rocksteady

We’ve Got ‘Travelin’ Fever,’ New Live Bob Marley & The Wailers, and Nanci Griffith ‘In the Spotlight’ on Saturday, August 9, 2025

Good morning, musicologists, and welcome to my last day of work today. Once again, The Music Mermaid will be in full control of our programming and she’s on it.

Here’s your Saturday musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Travelin’ Fever: Various Artists

We’re starting the programming with songs about hitting the road from Canned Heat, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Steve Miller Band, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Dan Fogelberg, Linda Ronstadt, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, The Eagles, Paul McCartney & Wings, Little Feat, The Band, Willie Nelson, Edwin Starr, Janis Joplin, Guy Clark, The Byrds, Asleep at The Wheel, Mudcrutch, The Traveling Wilburys, Tom Rush, Buffalo Springfield, The Guess Who, and more!

4:00 p.m. Bob Marley & The Wailers Live at The Rainbow Theatre, London, UK, June 2, 1977 NEW!

We’ve acquired some new live Wailers music. This will be the first of a few new shows we’ll be airing as we move into the fall/winter months. Enjoy.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Nanci Griffith

Nanci Griffith is a great singer-songwriter who just passed from this earth in 2021. Throughout her long and productive career she managed to keep one foot in country music, and the other in folk.

We’re back for another day, and we’ve got another great array of programs. Before, in between, and after, we give you our big, wide Open Stream of 27,000 songs. We’re about to add some more this weekend! See for yourselves. The button is below.

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On Friday, We Open With Reggae, Then It’s Hot Tuna Live at The Fillmore, and The Kinks ‘In The Spotlight’, July 18, 2025

Good morning, musicologists! We are opening the morning today with our ‘Best of Reggae & Ska’ playlist, then we move on to some blues-rock from Hot Tuna, and the battling Davies brothers and The Kinks.

Here’s your Friday lineup:

10:00 a.m. The Best of Reggae & Ska: Various Artists

We’re heading for an EP with this one, but we’re not there yet. You’ll hear Bob Marley & The Wailers, Peter Tosh, Prince Buster, Jimmy Cliff, Laurel Aitken, Desmond Dekker & The Aces (and some without the Aces), Judy Mowatt, Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths, The Rhythm Aces, Derrick Morgan, and more!

4:00 p.m. Hot Tuna Live at The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA, March 4, 1988

Rising up out of the ashes of Jefferson Airplane came the great blues-rock band Hot Tuna, led by Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady. Today we have them live from The Fillmore.

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

One of the best bands of The British Invasion that has stood the test of time, despite the battling Davies brothers. This is a great playlist, and a great way to close the programming.

This is a pretty eclectic chunk of programming today, but that is what we are all about. If you’re listening during the day, you know our stream is all in the eclectic zone. See for yourselves. The button is below!

Best of Reggae & Ska!

We Bring Back ‘What’s In a Name,’ Then It’s Dylan & The Heartbreakers Live, and a Jimmy Cliff ‘Spotlight,’ Thursday, May 29, 2025

We’re headed for the weekend with a great lineup, including the return of our ‘What’s In a Name’ EP after a hiatus. What follows is even better!

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. What’s In a Name: Various Artists

We’re back with songs about people, some real, some imagined. You’ll hear Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, 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, Linda Ronstadt, Laura Nyro, Bobbie Gentry, The Kinks, Three Dog Night, The Association, Joni Mitchell, Badfinger, Steely Dan, Chi Coltrane, Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart, James Taylor, Tony Joe White, and more!

4:00 p.m. Bob Dylan with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, NY, July 4, 1986

Two unbelievably great acts together on one stage on Dylan’s True Confessions tour. It was a thing of beauty.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Jimmy Cliff

Jimmy Cliff is the stuff of legends. He’s a reggae, ska, rocksteady and soul singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, and the only living reggae musician to ever hold The Order of Merit. Bob Dylan called his song Vietnam the best protest song he’d ever heard. If you don’t know Jimmy Cliff, you can learn more about him here. And you can tune him in tonight!

We’re here. We’re free. We don’t run advertising. And we’re on 24/7. What could be better. And no, you can’t build personal playlists, but I say that’s not radio. This is radio, except we don’t play the same hundred songs over, and over, and over. See for yourselves.

True Confessions Tour.

Today We’ve Got Our ‘Folk Music From A-To-Z’ EP, a New Marcia Griffiths ‘Spotlight’ Feature, and Laura Nyro Live at Carnegie Hall, On Friday, May 23, 2025

Good morning, musicologists and welcome to Friday. We’re on the cusp of the weekend, and we’ve got some great music here today, including a new ‘Spotlight’ from a reggae legend!

Here’s your week’s end musical lineup:

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

This is one of our favorite EP’s with music from the folk legends as well as the artists who keep the genre alive, including John Prine, Dave Van Ronk, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul & Mary, Odetta, Yusuf/Cat Stevens, Bruce Springsteen, The Beatles, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Arlo Guthrie, Bonnie Raitt, Joan Baez, The Band, Eric Andersen, Tom Rush, Judy Collins, Nanci Griffith, Jesse Winchester, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Lead Belly, Tim Hardin, The Kingston Trio, Simon & Garfunkel, Richie Havens, Bob Dylan, Harry Chapin, Townes Van Zandt, The Carter Family and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Marcia Griffiths NEW!

Today we introduce a brand new ‘Spotlight’ featuring a six-decade legend in Reggae music. Marcia Griffiths has been on the scene not only as a solo artist for decades, but also as a fierce collaborator with other reggae artists. She was a member of the I-Threes (who also have a ‘Spotlight’ here) along with Rita Marley and Judy Mowatt. Together, they were Bob Marley’s back-up singers and one of the most influential Reggae acts in the genre. Today she’s in our ‘Spotlight.’

8:00 p.m. Laura Nyro Live at Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, March 31, 1976

Speaking of music legends, here’s another. Her compositions put many, many artists on the map and on the charts, but there is nothing like hearing her sing them herself. Tonight you can!

Once again, allow me to remind you all. We’re on 24/7 and we’re completely free. No strings. No surprises. No credit card required, nor is there a required subscription. We’re anti-capitalist, anti-fascist, and all about the music. The button is below!

Marcia Griffiths!

On Thursday It’s the ‘Color My World’ EP, a Bob Marley & The Wailers ‘Spotlight’, and Norah Jones at the HOB, March 27, 2025

Good morning, musicologists. We’re over the hump and on the downslide to the weekend with a great lineup of programming dispersed in our big, wide Open Stream!

Here’s your musical lineup:

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

We start off with Open Stream with a theme: All the colors of the rainbow. You’ll hear The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, James Taylor, Donovan, Booker T. & The MGs, Procol Harum, Electric Light Orchestra, 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, Lucinda Williams, John Hiatt, Linda Ronstadt, J.D. Souther and more!

4:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Bob Marley & The Wailers

The Legend himself and his bandmates stop by The Mermaid Lounge this afternoon to show us why they were a groundbreaking reggae, ska and rocksteady band.

8:00 p.m. Norah Jones Live at The House of Blues, Chicago, IL, August 24, 2002

We close the programming with a great live performance from the one and only Norah Jones, who also happens to be the daughter of the great Ravi Shankar.

Another day in paradise awaits. We’re almost to the weekend, when things settle down a bit…but just a bit. We’re never out of the shadow of The Orange Menace here. But music can help restore a bit of sanity in these trying times. The button is below.

The Button!

On Wednesday It’s More Sixties, and Both George Harrison and Bob Marley & The Wailers Live, February 26, 2025

Good morning, musicologists and welcome to midweek in The Mermaid Lounge! Today we give you volume two of our Sixties Rotation, followed by a couple of great live performances as we wish a happy belated birthday to the late, great George Harrison.

Here’s your midweek lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Sixties Rotation, Volume Two: Various Artists

In this edition of our sixties fixation you’ll hear The Mamas & The Papas, Simon & Garfunkel, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead, The Beatles, Elvis Presley, 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, Chuck Berry, The Byrds, Blind Faith, The Spencer Davis Group, The Four Tops, CSNY, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Marvin Gaye, B.B. King and more!

4:00 p.m. George Harison Live at The Capitol Center, Landover, MD, December 13, 1974

We may be a day late, but we’re never a dollar short. This afternoon we give you some live George Harrison on his Dark Horse Tour. Happy Birthday, George!

8:00 p.m. Bob Marley & The Wailers Live at The Record Plant, Sausalito, CA, October 13, 1973

We close it all out with The Legend live from The Record Plant.

Just do it. Tune us in. All you need is a free tab and your mouse. No credit card. No personal information. Nada. We’re all about free music. Seriously. No strings. The button is below. See for yourselves.

The Button.

Wednesday It’s Songs About Water, Emmylou & Linda Live in Boston, and Toots & The Maytals, February 12, 2025

We’re at midweek and we’ve got our ‘Water, Water Everywhere’ EP, Emmylou & Linda on their “Western Wall” tour, and Toots & The Maytals ‘In The Spotlight.’

Here’s your midweek lineup:

9:00 a.m. Water, Water Everywhere: Various Artists

The element that makes up 71% of our earth is the subject of our first musical offering today with Paul McCartney, Joe Cocker, Simon & Garfunkel, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Otis Redding, The Doobie Brothers, Valerie Carter, Bob Dylan, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Al Green, Loggins & Messina, Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, Linda Ronstadt, Spirit, Bonnie Raitt, The Grass Roots, Carole King, Tom Rush, Donovan, Johnny Rivers, America, Van Morrison, The Beach Boys and more!

4:00 p.m. Linda Ronstadt & Emmyou Harris Live at The Orpheum Theater, Boston, MA, October 1, 1999

Truly one of the most amazing shows I’ve seen, and I’ve seen plenty in my younger days. They passed through Boston in support of their fantastic Western Wall album.

8:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: Toots & The Maytals

We close out the day with a great ‘Spotlight’ featuring one of the bands that was instrumental in turning the world on to the Reggae sound.

Again, we’re on 24/7; not just when we have programming scheduled. Our standard playlists has over 27,000 songs. No two days are ever repeated. And there’s absolutely no commercial interruption. We’re not in it for the money. We’re in it for the music. The button is below.

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On Friday It’s ‘The Best of Reggae & Ska’, a Neil Young ‘Spotlight’ and Live Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, December 6, 2024

Good morning, musicologists and welcome to the Mermaid Lounge. We have made it to Friday and we’ve got a great lineup that includes some vintage TPATH!

Here’s your Friday musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Best of Reggae & Ska: Various Artists

Time to break this one out again! We’ve got Bob Marley & The Wailers, Prince Buster, Desmond Dekker & The Aces, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Judy Mowatt, Laurel Aitken, Marcia Griffiths, Rita Marley, The Jiving Juniors, Derrick Morgan, The I-Threes and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Neil Young

The grandfather of cool is back in the spotlight today featuring music from his long rock music history and his incredible catalogue. Tune in at 4:00 p.m.

8:00 p.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live at The Paradise Club, Boston, MA, July 16, 1978

I remember this one well even though it was years ago just like I remember The Paradise with great fondness. This one was before Damn The Torpedoes and their explosion onto the music scene. History in the making.

As always, before, in between and after we give you our ever-growing wide Open Stream. We’re here 24/7. We’re free. And there’s no advertising to gum up the works. The button, as always, is below.

The Best of Reggae & Ska!

We Keep It Simple On Monday With ‘The Best of Reggae & Ska’ and ‘The Original Sixties Rotation’ EP, July 22, 2024

Good morning, musicologists everywhere! We are back to Monday, Monday again and we’ve got some great stuff waiting in the wings!

Here’s your musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. The Best of Reggae & Ska: Various Artists

Time to bust this one out again! We’ll hear Bob Marley & The Wailers, Prince Buster, Desmond Dekker & The Aces, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Judy Mowatt, Laurel Aitken, Marcia Griffiths, Rita Marley, The Jiving Juniors, Derrick Morgan, The I-Threes and many more!

3:00 p.m. The Original Sixties Rotation: Various Artists

One of our original playlists that morphed into a monster and split in two. In this volume you’ll hear The Beatles, The Monkees, Sonny & Cher, Joe Cocker, Simon & Garfunkel, Little Eva, The Everly Brothers, the Searchers, Dusty Springfield, The Drifters, The Dave Clark Five, Johnny Rivers, Bob Dylan, The Animals, Petula Clark, The Rolling Stones, Procol Harum, The Turtles, Del Shannon, The Temptations, James Brown, Fontella Bass, The Box Tops, Blues Image, Booker T & The MG’s, The Four Tops, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Them, The Left Banke, Fats Domino and many more!

Before, in between and all through the night it’s our big, wide Open Stream. And today is no exception. We’re totally free and we’re also totally free of commercial advertising. Use the button below.

Monday, Monday.

Celebrate Friday With Live Bob Marley and Linda Ronstadt, and a Valerie Carter Spotlight Feature, June 7, 2024

Welcome to Friday here in The Mermaid Lounge. Today we’ve got two great live performances, one by Bob Marley and the other by Linda Ronstadt, plus a Spotlight feature with the late, great Valerie Carter.

Here’s your Friday lineup:

10:00 a.m. Bob Marley & The Wailers Live at The Stanley Theater, Pittsburgh, PA, September 23, 1980

In spite of his ill health, The Legend was game. This would be Bob Marley’s final live performance before his death from melanoma.

4:00 p.m. Linda Ronstadt Live at Nippon Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan, March 3, 1979

By 1979, Linda’s career was in full bloom, and she was touring largely in support of her Living In The U.S.A. album. I flew out to the L.A. Forum to see her December 24, 1978 show. Her Japan shows on this tour were March 1, 2 and 3 of 1979.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Valerie Carter UPDATED!

Closing out today’s programming we have the late, very great singer-songwriter Valerie Carter, who was also a friend of Linda. I saw them together at The Orpheum in Boston when Valerie opened for her and then joined her on stage for several songs. Valerie Carter left us too soon, but her music is forever.

We’re here. We’re totally free with no commercial advertising. And we’re not fooling around. We’re all about the music. Hit the button below.

Welcome To Friday!