Category: soft rock

Friday Brings The Heartbreakers, Jimmy Cliff and Volume Three of Our ‘Love Street’ Series, October 4, 2024

Good morning, Tom Petty fans! Today begins our Petty weekend as we celebrate his life and musical legacy in all of its forms. It’s also the final installment of our ‘I See You Live on Love Street’ series…for now.

Fans gather to mourn the death of Tom Petty at his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, California, after it had been announced that the musician had died at the age of 66. © Sheri Determan Where: Los Angeles, California, United States When: 02 Oct 2017 Credit: Sheri Determan/WENN.com

We’re nearly there (the weekend). And here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Live and Loving It!

We open up with a few hours of what we consider The Heartbreakers’ best live performances. However, we do concede that this particular playlist could use a serious updating. We will tend to that soon. In the meantime, it’s still pretty great.

3:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Jimmy Cliff

To understand the importance of Jimmy Cliff all you need to do is read the opening paragraph of his Wikipedia entry: “James Chambers, OM (born 30 July 1944), known professionally as Jimmy Cliff, is a Jamaican ska, rocksteady, reggae and soul musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer, and actor. He is the only living reggae musician to hold the Order of Merit, the highest honour that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievements in the arts and sciences.” Feel free to read on and learn more!

8:00 p.m. I See You Live on Love Street: Various Artists NEW!

We close out the night with our final installment of this Laurel Canyon playlist with Little Feat, Linda Ronstadt, Harry Nilsson, Gram Parsons, Leon Russell, Crabby Appleton, Rita Coolidge, Dan Fogelberg, the Souther, Hillman, Furay Band and more!

We’re on the case 24/7 at no cost to the listening public. And there are no commercial interruptions so other folks can sell you stuff you don’t really need. The button is below.

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On Monday It’s Live Warren Zevon, the ‘Ladies Day Out’ EP and a Jackson Browne Spotlight, September 30, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! We close out another month in fine style, putting the ladies of music in charge for a large part of the day. Around that, we’ve got Warren Zevon and Jackson Browne.

Here’s your Monday, Monday lineup:

10:00 a.m. Warren Zevon Live at The Empire Concert Club, Cleveland, OH, January 5, 1992 NEW!

We’ve got some new live Warren Zevon to spring on you today in a show from the home of the RRHOF! It’s a good one.

1:00 p.m. Ladies Day Out: Various Artists

The ladies are large and in charge for the afternoon hours with Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon, Emmylou Harris, Petula Clark, Laura Nyro, Cilla Black, Irma Thomas, Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Etta James, Janis Joplin, Carole King, Maria Muldaur, Lucinda Williams, Rosanne Cash, Eva Cassidy, Wendy Waldman, The Ronettes, Shawn Colvin, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Valerie Carter, Norah Jones, Phoebe Snow, Susan Tedeschi, Sheryl Crow, Dusty Springfield, Dolly Parton and more!

8:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Jackson Browne

We close out the programming with a Jackson Browne Spotlight that hits the spot. The man is a legend.

We’re here 24/7 at no charge to the listening public. No surprises. No strings. Nothing. Just music all day and all night. The button is below, so what are you waiting for?

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Today We’ve Got Live Jefferson Airplane, the ‘Music From Laurel Canyon’ EP, and J.D. Souther, Friday, September 20, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We’re on the cusp of the weekend here and we’ve got some great music lined up, including our tribute to the brilliant John David Souther.

Here’s your Friday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Jefferson Airplane Live at The Fillmore East, New York, NY, November 28 & 29, 1969 NEW!

We’ve got one of the most iconic sixties bands to open things up, this time from The Fillmore East.

1:00 p.m. Music From Laurel Canyon: Various Artists

Laurel Canyon was a great two decade music cross-fertilization project and it produced music that was the first to challenge the British Invasion music dominating the American charts. In fact, they heard it in Britain and it immediately took hold. You’ll hear The Byrds, The Mamas & The Papas, Buffalo Springfield, The Beach Boys, The Doors, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, The Eagles, J.D. Souther, Harry Nilsson, Canned Heat, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, James Taylor, Joan Baez, Judy Collins and more!

8:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of John David (J.D.) Souther

Speaking of the Laurel Canyon generation and those who pioneered country-rock, we sadly lost J.D. Souther on September 17, just about a week before he was scheduled to hit the road with Karla Bonoff. Souther was a songwriting legend, whose songs were tickets to fame for The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt and Bonnie Raitt, among others. Today, we put him In the Spotlight where he belongs.

We’re here 24/7 with no commercial interruption, and we’ve got some of the most eclectic programming on the planet. The button is below.

A Tribute to J.D. Souther

On Thursday It’s the ‘Color My World’ EP, a Little Richard Spotlight and Live Eva Cassidy Live at Pearl’s, September 19, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We’re headed toward the weekend officially today, and we’ve got some great music as we hit the downslide, starting with the ‘Color My World’ multi-artist EP! It’s Open Stream With a Theme!

Here’s your musical lineup:

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

We start out with songs about colors in the title, lyrics or both from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, James Taylor, Donovan, Booker T. & The MGs, Electric Light Orchestra, Procol Harum, 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, J.D. Souther, Linda Ronstadt and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Little Richard

This afternoon we feature one of the founding fathers of rock and roll, the great Little Richard.

8:00 p.m. Eva Cassidy Live at Pearl’s Restaurant, Annapolis, MD, September 14, 1994

We close out the programming with the late, great Eva Cassidy who left us far too soon. Still, she left behind an amazing volume of work to remember her by.

It’s Thursday. We’re almost there. Tune us in. We’re on 24/7 and we doubt very seriously that you’ll ever hear a repeat in a day. We’re also totally free with absolutely no commercial interruption. The button is below.

Color My World!

Welcome to Finally Friday! We’ve Got ‘Great Beginnings’ and Then Two Great Live Shows From Linda Ronstadt and Van Morrison on August 30, 2025

Good morning, music lovers! Once again we are on the cusp of the weekend here in The Mermaid Lounge, and it’s a long weekend to boot! We start off with a great multi-artist playlist. It gets better from there.

Here’s your long-weekend lineup!

9:00 a.m. Great Beginnings: Various Artists.

It’s not an EP, but it’s oh, so close. We start off with songs that have great opening riffs from The Beatles, Elton John, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Electric Light Orchestra, Edgar Winter, The Doobie Brothers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Guess Who, Cream, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Emmylou Harris, Van Morrison, Linda Ronstadt, George Harrison and more!

3:00 p.m. Linda Ronstadt Live at Rai Halle, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, November 21, 1976

We give you the undisputed Queen of Rock live from Rai Halle in Amsterdam early in her illustrious career.

7:00 p.m. Van Morrison Live at The Grand Opera House, Belfast, Ireland, March 11-12, 1983

We close it out with Van “The Man” Morrison live from Belfast.

It’s a great day today here in The Lounge, partly because I have a day off from retail hell, a rare event for a Friday. And I get to listen to all this great music as I hang out here getting ready for the musical week. You should tune in too. It won’t cost you a penny, and there’s no commercial advertising…just music 24/7. No lie.

A Long Weekend of Great Music!

It’s Joni Mitchell Live at Newport, Volume Two of ‘The Sixties Rotation’ and Johnny Rivers at The Whiskey, on Sunday Funday, July 28, 2024

Good morning, musicologists. You know, the weekend really does pass too quickly, but it isn’t over quite yet. We’ve got a full day of great music for you today.

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Joni Mitchell Live at The Newport Folk Festival, Newport, RI, July 24, 2022 NEW!

Joni Mitchell returned to the Newport Folk Festival after a 53-year absence absolutely electrifying the event. It was a complete and totally unexpected surprise since she had retired from all public performances after her 2015 aneurism. It was her first full concert since 2000. We’ve got it for you this morning.

12:00 p.m. The Sixties Rotation: Volume Two

We spend the afternoon in the Wayback Machine with our sixties friends. You’ll her The Mamas & The Papas, Simon & Garfunkel, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead, Buffalo Springfield, Sly & The Family Stone, The Temptations, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Roy Orbison, The Beatles, The Yardbirds, The Animals, Judy Collins, The Ronettes, The Kinks, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jimmy Cliff, The Byrds, Chuck Berry, James Brown, Blind Faith, Spencer Davis Group, CSNY, B. B. King, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Marvin Gaye, The Doors and more!

8:00 a.m. Johnny Rivers Live at The Whiskey A Go Go, West Hollywood, CA, January 15, 1964

Johnny Rivers, one of the most unappreciated artists of the sixties, presided over the grand opening of the iconic Whiskey back in 1964. We’ve also got that one for you today.

Here’s the thing about all of this. We play stuff you’re not going to hear anywhere else. It’s as simple as that. We listen to a great sixties station at work, but it’s the same playlist day in and day out. That’s not how it works here. See for yourself.

See the Difference for Yourself.

On Thursday It’s Our ‘Ode To Morning’ EP, America In The Spotlight and a Tribute to Bluesman John Mayall, July 25, 2024

Good morning, musicologists. Today we celebrate the life and music of the Godfather of British Blues, John Mayall. But first, it’s our ‘Ode to Morning’ EP and America.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Ode To Morning: Various Artists

Yesterday we started out with songs about the night; today we do the opposite with 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, Badfinger, Chris Hillman and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of America UPDATED!

Many people in my life think it’s “weird” that I like America, but they were one of the finest folk-rock bands of the seventies and definite hit makers. Underrated is a word I’d use for them. They made some madly innovative music during their tour. Today they’re In the Spotlight.

8:00 p.m. John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers Live in 1967, Somewhere in London

This is one of those collections of never-before-heard live songs by the master and his mates. The songs were recorded by a Dutch fan in a series of five London clubs during 1967. This was a very interesting iteration of The Bluesbreakers, a band that gave many blues stars their start. It included Peter Green, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, later to become two different version of Fleetwood Mac.Today we pay tribute to the Godfather of British Blues.

Here we are heading toward the weekend once again. Hope springs eternal. Get yourself in on some great music. All you need is the button below.

RIP, John Mayall

We Spend Friday With Linda Ronstadt & Her Friends, ‘One Hit Wonders’ and Sam Cooke Live in Miami, July 19, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! We have made it to Friday once again and we’re packed with some great programming today from Ronstadt and her many singing friends, some ‘One Hit Wonders’ from the sixties and Sam Cooke live in Miami, vintage 1963.

Here’s your Friday lineup:

10:00 a.m. Linda Ronstadt & Friends: Duets and More

In site of her amazing solo career, Linda Ronstadt always preferred to sing as part of a bigger whole, perhaps because she grew up singing with her family. She has indeed been in very good company from a musical perspective. You will hear her with Hoyt Axton, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, J.D. Souther, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Paul Simon, Wendy Waldman, Valerie Carter, Maria Muldaur, Neil Young and more!

3:00 p.m. One-Hit Wonders: Sixties Style

Every generation has them, and the sixties are no exception. You’ll hear Mama Cass, Merilee Rush, Gary Lewis & The Playboys, The Exciters, The Edwin Hawkins Singers, The Nashville Teens, The Standells, The Youngbloods, Scott McKenzie, The Contours, The Easybeats, Bobby Hebb, Robert Knight and more!

8:00 p.m. Sam Cooke Live at The Harlem Square Club, Miami, FL, January 12, 1963

The late and undeniably great main event known as Sam Cooke delivers a live performance to close out today’s programming. There’s a reason why Sam Cooke is universally known as the ‘King of Soul’ for his contributions to the genre.

It’s a great day to tune us in because it’s FRIDAY! We’re on 24/7 and we’re totally free. And before, in between and after this great programming we deliver our big, wide Open Stream!

Hit the Button!

We Head to the Weekend With ‘What’s In A Name’, the J. Geils Band & Linda Ronstadt at The Greek in L.A., Thursday, July 18, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We are on the downslide to the weekend now and we’ve got some great music for you today, including band new ‘live’ Linda Ronstadt.

Here’s your musical lineup:

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

Songs with names in the title, lyrics or both. Some characters are fictional; some not. You’ll hear Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Them, Janis Joplin, Simon & Garfunkel, The Beach Boys, Tom Petty &The Hearbreakers, Jimi Hendrix, Donovan, Shawn Colvin, Steve Winwood, Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon, Warren Zevon, The Kinks, Linda Ronstadt, the Association, Chi Coltrane, Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Tony Joe White, Rod Stewart, Badfinger, Steely Dan and more.

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The J. Geils Band

Peter Wolf and the boys are back in town. These are Boston’s original bad boys.

7:00 p.m. Linda Ronstadt Live at The Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, August 24, 1980 NEW!

Another great performance by the reigning Queen of Rock as she was winding down her rock n’ roll career and moving into new musical territory.

We’re on 24/7 at no charge and with no commercials. All you have to do is hit the button below!

Just Push Play.

It’s Happy Birthday to Linda Ronstadt, a Mudcrutch Monday and the ‘Summer of Love’ Playlist on July 15, 2024

Good morning, Ronstadt fans! Our musical muse is celebrating her 78th birthday today and so are we here in The Mermaid Lounge. In fact, it will be going on all week in various forms and at various times.

Here’s your Monday lineup:

10:00 a.m. Mudcrutch Monday Madness: The Complete Works

Yeah. It’s time for another Mudcrutch Monday. It has been a while. Today we give you the entire ball of wax. Ear candy from the band that would morph into Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, then make a big comeback in the 2000’s thanks to Tom.

3:00 p.m. Linda Ronstadt Live at Stadehalle, Offenbach, Germany, November 16, 1976

We begin our Linda Ronstadt musical celebration with an early show recorded for the German television show, Rockpalast.

7:00 p.m. The Summer of Love, Volume 1: Various Artists

In the meantime, we continue on with our Summer of Love music as well this week. In volume one you’ll hear from Petula Clark, The Rolling Stones, Jefferson Airplane, The Beatles, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Paul Revere & The Raiders, Donovan, The Grass Roots and more!

It’s Monday, but it doesn’t have to suck. The music is great here in The Mermaid Lounge, and it’s also on 24/7 and is completely free of charge. And without commercial advertising. Just hit the button below.

Happy Birthday, Linda!