Category: soft rock

We Start Out With ‘Live’ Kinks, Then It’s Willie Nelson and America, on (Finally) Friday, February 23, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We are doing something a bit different and kicking off the programming with some ‘live’ music. Then we move on to Willie Nelson and close out the programming with America.

Here’s today’s musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Kinks Live at The Palladium, New York, NY, December 31, 1980

We kick off the day with The Kinks’ New Year’s Eve performance from 1980.

2:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Willie Nelson FINAL AIRING!

Today is Willie’s final day as this week’s featured singer-songwriter. But don’t worry, his music is part of our daily standard rotation.

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

I always refer to America as a ‘great little band’ for some reason. I think that’s because I believe their music somehow got lost in the shuffle of the seventies. Their string of hits wasn’t lost, but their absolute best music remained in the background, and their creativity really took off when a guy named Sir George Martin (the fifth Beatle) began working with them. We believe they belong In the Spotlight.

Yes, we’ve made it to the end of another work week as I contemplate more changes to the programming (mostly related to airing programs in the late-night hours for our worldwide audiences). In the meantime, we remain free 24/7 with no commercial interruption. Give us a shot. The button’s below.

Just Push Play.

It’s Valentines Day and Love Is In the Air, Along With Elvis Costello as Our Singer-Songwriter, Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! Yes, it’s Valentines Day once again. Time for love (and, of course, loss), and we’re giving you both sides of the coin today!

Here’s your musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. True Love Always: Various Artists

Yes, we start out with the romantic side of the coin first with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Mamas & The Papas, The Band, Delaney & Bonnie, Swing Out Sister, Boz Scaggs, Guy Clark, Tom Rush, The Hollies, Neil Young, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt and more!

4:00 p.m.  Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Elvis Costello

Another Elvis drops by The Lounge today on his second spin as our featured singer-songwriter for the week.

8:00 p.m.  Nothing But Heartbreak: Various Artists

Then, there’s the other side of the “love” coin. You’ll hear Carole King, Elvis Presley, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Warren Zevon, Rod Stewart, Cat Stevens, The Pretenders, Them, Jackson Browne, John Prine and more!

We’re on point and in tune today, and love is in the air. We’re on 24/7 with no commercial interruption and at no cost to the general public. No lie. No bait and switch. We’re all about the music. See for yourself. Use the button below.

Happy Valentines Day!

Midweek Brings Music From Britain, Harry Nilsson and a James Taylor Spotlight, On Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We’re at midweek and everything is skidding toward the weekend after today! We’ve got a great lineup starting at 9:00 a.m.

Here’s the midweek lineup:

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

Music from the British Invasion and beyond with The Beatles, The Who, Dave Mason, Electric Light Orchestra, Petula Clark, The Zombies, The Hollies, Dusty Springfield, Small Faces, Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Kinks, 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, The Animals, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, Spencer Davis Group, The Rolling Stones, Cream, Donovan, The Searchers and more!

4:00 p.m.  Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Harry Nilsson

Harry’s back for another spin as our featured singer-songwriter.

8:00 p.m.  In the Spotlight: The Music of James Taylor

James Taylor is the son of a “Down East Yankee” (as his mother describes herself) and a Down South doctor. Born in New England but raised in North Carolina, we here consider him a native New Englander as he returned to the region. More importantly, James Taylor is one of the most outstanding singer-songwriters of his generation who has sold more than 100 million records worldwide. Tonight he is in our Spotlight.

Let’s go, folks, Tune us in. Everything gets better from this day forward as we move closer to the weekend! Just click the button below.

Midweek Madness!

Welcome Weekenders! We’ve Got Jackson Browne, Our House EP and ‘Live’ Dan Fogelberg, Saturday, January 27, 2024

Good morning and welcome to the weekend here! Today we say farewell to our Album of The Week, hear the music that inspired the station and ‘live’ Dan Fogelberg later.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m.  Album of The Week: Late For The Sky by Jackson Browne FINAL AIRING!

Today we say farewell to the first album in our ’50th Birthday’ series. Tomorrow we will celebrate another album’s 50th!

11:30 a.m. The #BecomeUngovernable House EP: Various Artists

The music that has long been emblazoned in my psyche and was the impetus to start this whole thing. You’ll hear Barry McGuire, The Temptations, Edwin Starr, Peter Tosh, The Beatles, T. Rex, The Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bob Dylan, Country Joe & The Fish, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Joan Baez, CSNY, Pink Floyd, The Animals, Ten Years After, The Plastic Ono Band, Sam Cooke, The Rolling Stones, Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix, Three Dog Night, Jimmy Cliff, Richie Havens, Marvin Gaye, The Association, Phil Ochs, Tom Rush, Pete Seeger, The Band, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin and more!

8:00 p.m.  Dan Fogelberg Live at The Universal Amphitheater, Los Angeles, CA, August 15, 1985

The very first Spotlight list we built was for this guy, a most underappreciated singer-songwriter; one of the best of his generation. He belongs in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but that honor seems to have eluded him, in spite of the fact that they’ve managed to induct The BeeGees, Funkadelic, AC/DC, The Clash, Aerosmith, Tupac, Jay-Z and the other “stars” of music. Fogelberg has been ‘eligible’ since 1998; it’s 2024, folks. Figure it the fuck out.

Sorry. Had to get that out. It pissed me off how long it took for them to induct Linda Ronstadt. They waited until she lost her magnificent voice. Give me a break. Anyway, I digress. We are here. It’s our third day of rain. Gloomy. But not here in The Lounge where The Music Mermaid resides. She’ll be in charge today as I work my last shift of the week.

Our ‘House’ EP!

Sunday Brings “Late For The Sky” As Our AOW Plus A Trip On ‘The Psychedelic Express’, January 21, 2024

Good morning, music lovers. Today we begin a run of albums that turn 50 years old in 2024, and we start with a great Jackson Browne release. Then, it’s a trip back in time on ‘The Psychedelic Express’.

Here’s your musical lineup:

11:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Late For The Sky by Jackson Browne NEW!

Our first entry into the 50 Club is a great Jackson Browne LP released on September 13, 1974. It was Browne’s third studo release, and peaked at no. 14 on Billboard’s Pop Charts. In 2020, the album was deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry.

The album would also continue to build Jackson Browne’s legend as a premier songwriter. The title track would be used in the Martin Scorcese film Taxi Driver. Both Fountain of Sorrow and Before the Deluge would be covered by Joan Baez. For A Dancer would be covered by Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris on their Western Wall album.

3:00 p.m.  The Psychedelic Express: Various Artists

It’s time for a trip on The Psychedelic Express once again. You don’t need no tickets to hear The Beatles, The Chambers Brothers, Vanilla Fudge, Electric Prunes, The Animals, Jefferson Airplane, Blues Image, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Doors, Pink Floyd, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Donovan, Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Byrds, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Traffic, Cream, Dr. John, Procol Harum, Fleetwood Mac, The Who, Canned Heat, Electric Light Orchestra, Tommy James & The Shondells, Mudcrutch, Blind Faith, Grateful Dead, Velvet Underground, Big Brother & The Holding Company and more!

Before, in between and after we give you that big, wide Open Stream 24/7 at no charge to the public and without commercial interruption. We’re all about the music.

Simply Sunday!

We’re at Midweek With ‘Here Comes The Night’, Al Green, and Linda Ronstadt Live in Los Angeles, Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We are already at hump day. We’re over this, and we are on the downslide to the weekend once again! We have a great lineup for you today!

Here Comes The Night!

Here’s your midweek musical lineup:

9:00 a.m.  Here Comes The Night: Various Artists

Songs about the night time, which is the right time, in the title, lyrics or both. You’ll hear Warren Zevon, J. Geils Band, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Them, The Beatles, Van Morrison, Patti Smith, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bruce Springsteen, The Kinks, Electric Prunes, Phoebe Snow, Joe Walsh, The Eagles, The Ronettes, John Cougar Mellencamp, The Doors, Emmylou Harris, Poco, Neil Diamond, The Animals, The Band, The Rolling Stones, Don McLean, Steve Winwood, Cat Stevens, The Traveling Wilburys, Sam Cooke, Jimmy Cliff, Bonnie Raitt and more!

4:00 p.m.  Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Al Green

The Reverend Al is back for his second spin as this week’s featured singer-songwriter.

8:00 p.m.  Linda Ronstadt Live at The Universal Amphitheater, Los Angeles, CA, October 3, 1977

The legendary singer, The Queen of Rock, played 12 consecutive sold-out nights at the famed location in 1977 in support of her Simple Dreams album. We’ve got one of them for you tonight.

Every day is a great day to join a global crowd on #BecomeUngovernable Radio. We are on 24/7 at no charge and with no commercial interruption. We’re all about the music.

We’re at Midweek!

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

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!

At Midweek It’s the ‘Music From Laurel Canyon’ EP, Jesse Winchester and Tim Hardin, Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Good morning, music lovers! Today we give you five uninterrupted hours of music from Laurel Canyon, Jesse Winchester is our singer-songwriter, and we spotlight folk legend Tim Hardin later.

Here’s your midweek music:

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

Back in the day, the British musicians were taken by our Laurel Canyon artists, and vice versa. It’s called cross-fertilization. And Laurel Canyon was the home for two generations of American musicians like The Mamas & The Papas, The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, The Beach Boys, The Doors, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, The Monkees, CSNY, Manassas, John Mayall, J.D. Souther, Linda Ronstadt, Harry Nilsson, The Eagles, Canned Heat, Carole King, James Taylor, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Jimi Hendrix and more!

4:00 p.m.  Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Jesse Winchester

Jesse Winchester returns for his second turn as our featured singer-songwriter.

8:00 p.m.  In The Spotlight: The Music of Tim Hardin NEW!

Tim Hardin’s heroin addiction kept him from superstar status, but his songs found their way into the hands of many musicians during the sixties and seventies. Sadly, Hardin died in 1980 of a heron overdose at the young age of 39. Tonight, we put Tim Hardin in the spotlight where he belongs.

It’s midweek; also known as Hump Day. This is the perfect midweek break. Tune us in. All you need is a computer and a free tab. No credit card required.

Music From Laurel Canyon!

Saturday Brings Maria Muldaur’s AOW, Our ‘M is For Motown’ EP and Jesse Winchester as Our Singer-Songwriter, December 9, 2023

Good morning, weekenders! We have arrived at the weekend. Today we bid farewell to Maria Muldaur’s AOW, give you five hours of Motown and Jesse Winchester as our featured singer-songwriter.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Richland Woman Blues by Maria Muldaur FINAL AIRING!

Today we bid farewell to this great blues album by Maria Muldaur and her friends (Bonnie Raitt, John Sebastian, Tracy Nelson and so many more).

11:00 a.m. M Is For Motown: Various Artists

We’ve got all the artists that put Motown on the map, including 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 Four Tops, The Isley Brothers, The Temptations, The Contours, Rare Earth, Mary Wells, Tammi Terrell, Diana Ross & The Supremes and more!

8:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Jesse Winchester NEW!

The first time I saw Jesse Winchester he opened for Emmylou Harris at the Music Hall in Boston. The next time I saw him, he was the headliner at the same venue. I loved him both times. Jesse Winchester was a quiet star in the music business, an exceptional songwriter respected by his peers who found their own voice through Winchester’s songs, like Patti Page, Elvis Costello, Jimmy Buffett, Joan Baez, Jerry Garcia and so many more.

It’s the weekend, peeps! I’ve got one more day, then I’ve got Sunday and Monday for my weekend. The Music Mermaid will keep the ship on course while I’m away.

M Is For Motown!