Category: soft rock

The British Invasion is Back, So is Maria Muldaur. And Happy Birthday, Little Richard, Thursday, December 7, 2023

Good morning, musicologists! As I prepare to depart for my final opening morning of the week, I give you our musical lineup for the day. The Music Mermaid is in charge.

Here’s your musical lineup:

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

I made reference to The British Invasion in the opening, but this playlist goes beyond that. You’ll hear The Beatles, The Who, Dave Mason, Electric Light Orchestra, Petula Clark, The Zombies, The Hollies, Dusty Springfield, Small Faces, Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Kinks, Dave Clark Five, Bee Gees, 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, Cream, The Rolling Stones, Donovan, The Searchers and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Richland Woman Blues by Maria Muldaur

Maria Muldaur is another of those female singers of the sixties and seventies who refused to be pigeon-holed into one style of music. She drops by today with a great blues album with help from Bonnie Raitt, John Sebastian and others.

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Little Richard HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Today we celebrate the birthday of one of the founders of rock and roll, Little Richard, who influenced so many of the British artists you’ll hear in today’s EP (including The Beatles and The Rolling Stones).

Well, kids, it’s another day of great music here in The Mermaid Lounge and we think you should take full advantage of it. We’re on 24/7 and we’re totally free of charge. Get on it!

Just Push Play!

Saturday Brings Sam Cooke, Our ‘Water, Water Everywhere’ EP and Randy Newman Later On, December 2, 2023

We’ve successfully gotten to Saturday and we’ve got the final airing of our AOW, songs about water (which comprises 71% of planet earth), and Randy Newman is our new featured singer-songwriter.

Here’s today’s musical extravaganza:

9:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Ain’t That Good News by Sam Cooke FINAL AIRING!

It’s the final airing of Sam Cooke’s featured album. Tomorrow we’ll have a brand new selection here.

11:00 a.m. Water, Water Everywhere: Various Artists

Once again, we’ve got songs about water…one of the most important components of human existence in all its forms. You’ll hear Paul McCartney, Deep Purple, 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, Linda Ronstadt, Spirit, The Grass Roots, The Beach Boys, Lindisfarne, Van Morrison, Bonnie Raitt, Carole King, Steely Dan, Tom Rush, Donovan, America, Johnny Rivers and more!

8:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Randy Newman NEW!

Truly one of the most prolific writers of his generation, he is like Laura Nyro in the sense that he has provided material for many, many singers. Linda Ronstadt recorded Feels Like Home and Sail Away, Three Dog Night recorded Mama Told me Not To Come, Irma Thomas recorded Baby Don’t Look Down, and there were many others. He has also scored nine Disney-Pixar movies. On top of all that, Randy Newman has had his own successful solo career writing songs about the human condition and with some wry sarcasm at times. He’s a favorite here.

The weekend is here and this is your landing spot for excellent music 24/7 at no charge to the human race. Just push the button below and see for yourself.

Just Push Play. Ok?

Today We Give Thanks For Arlo & Alice, Dolly, Linda and Tom, Thursday, November 23, 2023

Good morning, music lovers! It’s Turkey Day and we are NOT celebrating the colonization of the free world. No sir. We are celebrating our musical artists of the day (as well as our families and friends, of course).

Here’s your Turkey Day lineup:

9:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Rockstar by Dolly Parton

Some of us thought we’d never see the day when Dolly Parton would make a rock album, but it has arrived and it is a treat. We’re winding down on this one, so get in on it. The final airing will be sometime on Saturday.

12:00 p.m. Arlo Guthrie: Alice’s Restaurant

Our Thanksgiving tradition continues at high noon with Arlo Guthrie’s ode to Alice. There will be no intro. No fanfare. It shall simply begin on cue and last for just under 20 minutes.

3:00 p.m. Linda Ronstadt Live at The Troubadour, W. Hollywood, CA, March 17, 1976

Linda live at the iconic Troubadour on St. Patty’s day in 1976. This was two years after Heart Like A Wheel, still one of the absolute best albums ever made by anyone, and the release of another gem, Hasten Down The Wind (which would be released in August of 1976).

8:00 p.m. Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Live at The Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA, October 16, 2002

The Heartbreakers on The Last DJ tour at The Olympic. I actually really love this album because it’s simply an album of great songs. The song The Last DJ laments the fall of radio into the abyss of utter capitalism: ‘As we celebrate mediocrity all the boys upstairs want to see/How much you’ll pay for what you used to get for free.’

The Music Mermaid is all keyed up and ready in The Lounge for an early start. Making a bird today? Hey, turn us on in the background. We’ll keep you entertained before the mob arrives.

Happy Turkey Day!

It’s Friday and We’ve Got Dr. John, Our ‘Ladies Day Out’ EP and James Taylor and Joni Mitchell ‘Live’ Together, November 17, 2023

Good morning, working people! We are one day away from hitting paydirt. The weekend is on the horizon. Today, we give the ladies the floor for the better part of the afternoon.

Here’s Friday’s lineup:

9:00 a.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Dr. John FINAL AIRING!

Dr. John drops in this morning for his final spin as our featured singer-songwriter. Tomorrow, we’ll introduce a new artist here as we move toward the end of the year. We still have two very big kahunas we are holding until the end.

12:00 p.m. Ladies Day Out: Various Artists

At noon, the women of music take over The Mermaid Lounge for five hours of sheer bliss. You’ll hear all genres from 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, Shawn Colvin, The Ronettes, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Norah Jones, Phoebe Snow, Nicolette Larson, Sheryl Crowe, Susan Tedeschi, Valerie Carter, Dusty Springfield, Dolly Parton and more!

8:00 p.m. James Taylor & Joni Mitchell Live at Royal Albert Hall, London, UK, October 28, 1970

Back when they were a “thing,” they went on tour together and, boy, they were great. Tonight we have them live from Royal Albert Hall in London.

It’s Friday and we’re closer to the weekend now. We can smell it in the air. By the way, when people ask you what the Labor Movement did for you, tell them you can thank them for the weekend. Sorry. Had to get that one in there. By the way, we’re anti-capitalists here. We’re on 24/7 free of charge. It’s a labor of love.

Ladies Day Out!

We Head Toward The Weekend With Our ‘Color My World’ EP, The Bee Gees’ AOW, and ‘Live’ Rolling Stones, Thursday, November 9, 2023

Good morning, musicologists! We’ve got a great day lined up for you today with the multi-artist ‘Color My World’ EP, our AOW by The Bee Gees, and some ‘live’ Stones later.

Here’s today’s musical lineup:

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

Songs about colors, fancy and otherwise, by 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, Linda Ronstadt, J.D. Souther and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Bee Gees 1st by The Bee Gees

We’re winding down on this selection. The final airing will be sometime Saturday and, by Sunday, we’ll have a new selection.

7:00 p.m. The Rolling Stones Live at Palais Royale, Toronto, Canada, August 16, 2002

Get yourself some ‘live’ Stones tonight as we feature their 2002 performance in Canada at the Palais Royale.

Come on. You know you want to tune us in. We’re on 24/7 totally free of charge. No lies. No strings. We do not accept any commercial advertising either; an added bonus.

Color My World

Back to the Working World With Bobbie Gentry, Karla Bonoff and Our Petty Month Finale, Monday, October 30, 2023

Good morning, working folks! It’s back to the real world, and we’re here to see that your transition is a more pleasant one with some great programming.

Here’s your musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. Bobbie Gentry Live at BBC Studios, London, UK 1968-1969

The reclusive Bobbie Gentry brought along two friends in James Taylor and Donovan when she graced the studios at the BBC. Gentry was a brilliant songwriter who only ever wanted to write for others, so she was a reluctant star. She eventually just walked away, but left some great music behind.

3:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Karla Bonoff

Here we have another brilliant female songwriter who has helped to put other singers on the map, like Linda Ronstadt. In turn, Linda Ronstadt has shone a light on Karla Bonoff. And that’s how this works. As it turns out, and as Ronstadt will tell you, Karla Bonoff can sing. She’s in our Spotlight today.

7:00 p.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live at The Piazza Napoleone, Lucca, Italy, June 9, 2012

We close out Tom Petty’s birthday month with a great live performace from Lucca, Italy.

Hey, it’s Monday. It happens once a week and there’s not a damned thing we can do about it. But there is something we can do to make it less bleak, and that is to play great music. We’re here 24/7 with no commercial interruption and at no charge to you!

Just Push Play.

Friday’s Here! We’ve Got Volume Two of ‘Repeat After Me,’ Cat Stevens and New ‘Live’ Allman Brothers Band, October 13, 2023

Happy Friday the 13th one and all. Don’t even think about it. That’s when all the bad shit starts. It’s just another day. All this great music will take your mind off all that nonsense.

Here’s your musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. Repeat After Me, Volume Two: Various Artists

We aired the first volume yesterday. This one is just as much fun. We promise. And we’ve got a brand new volume on the way and arriving next week! In this volume, you’ll hear The Traveling Wilburys sing Del Shannon, Aretha Franklin cover The Band, Linda Ronstadt sings Carole King, Creedence Clearwater Revival covers Gladys Knight & The Pips, the Mamas & Papas cover The Shirelles and plenty more.

3:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Yusuf/Cat Stevens FINAL AIRING!

Today is The Cat’s final turn as our featured singer-songwriter. On Saturday we’ll have a brand new artist.

8:00 p.m. The Allman Brothers Band Live at Macon City Auditorium, Macon, Georgia, February 11, 1972 NEW!

We’ve got a brand new concert from the brothers live in Macon, Georgia tonight. They were road warriors and there’s an awful lot of stuff out there, bootleg and otherwise, and we’ve got more coming!

We are one final day away from the weekend, homies. Let’s get there in style with some great music. Uninterrupted by commercial advertising and completely free of charge. See for yourself. The button’s below.

New ‘Live’ Allman Brothers!

Monday Brings Valerie Carter, Bob Dylan, and Our ‘Between Heaven & Hell’ Playlist, October 9, 2023

It’s the beginning of another work week, and we’re here to make this day at least a bit more pleasant for you all. We start off today with the late, great Valerie Carter.

Here’s your musical lineup:

11:00 a.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Valerie Carter

We open up with the little girl with the big voice, who was so loved and respected by her musical peers. Aside from her own brilliant collection of albums, she sang with Linda Ronstadt, Don Henley, Little Feat, Jackson Browne, the Outlaws and James Taylor. She wrote the song Cook With Honey (a hit for Judy Collins) and co-wrote songs with Jackson Browne and several other artists. Carter left the planet way too soon, and today we put her In the Spotlight.

3:00 p.m. Bob Dylan: Rare Performances From the Copyright Collection (1962-1966)

Some early live performances from the amazing Mr. Dylan, including recordings from the artist’s coffeehouse era (Gerde’s Folk City, 1962), his mythic 1963 breakout concerts at New York’s Town Hall and Carnegie Hall, a duet with Joan Baez from the historic March on Washington (August 28, 1963), definitive performances from his European and world tours of 1965 and 1966, and moments from the 1964 and 1965 Newport Folk Festivals and more. Not to be missed.

7:00 p.m. Between Heaven & Hell: Various Artists

Not an EP, but a good one. You’ll hear the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Tom Petty, The Eagles, Steve Winwood, Lucinda Williams, John Lee Hooker, Fats Domino, the Grateful Dead, Foo Fighters, Bruce Hornsby & The Range, Van Morrison, Roberta Flack, The Byrds, The Grass Roots and more!

Monday, Monday all over again but, hey, it isn’t all bad when you’ve got this great music floating around you all day. We’re not just on when we have programs to run. We are here all the time for your listening pleasure at absolutely NO charge and with no commercial advertising. See for yourself. Your ticket to musical nirvana is right below this line.

Free Music Every Day!

Today It’s Laura Nyro With Our AOW and Some Folks Who Want to Sing to You About Travelin’ Fever, Sunday, October 1, 2023

Good morning, weekenders! We’re here on another keep-it-simple Sunday with Laura Nyro’s New York Tendaberry and our ‘Travelin’ Fever’ EP!

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

11:00 a.m. Album of The Week: New York Tendaberry by Laura Nyro NEW!

In her third studio album, Nyro sings about the romantic experience and past lovers in a darker tone than on Eli & The Thirteenth Confession (which has already been on our AOW roster), but New York Tendaberry would prove to be the most commercially successful album of her career. As we have said in previous write-ups about Laura Nyro, she spent most of her career making others successful with her great compositions, but there is nothing like hearing Laura singer her own stuff.

3:00 p.m. Travelin’ Fever: Various Artists

Life on the road has to be one of the most popular subjects in rock n’ roll (perhaps second only to the broken heart). You’ll hear from Canned Heat, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Steve Miller Band, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Dan Fogelberg, Bruce Springsteen, Linda Ronstadt, Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney & Wings, The Doors, The Eagles, Little Feat, The Band, Willie Nelson, Edwin Starr, Janis Joplin, Guy Clark, The Byrds, Joan Baez, Asleep at The Wheel, The Traveling Wilburys, Mudcrutch, Loggins & Messina, Buffalo Springfield, Tom Rush, Willie Nelson, The Guess Who, Ray Charles, Marshall Tucker Band, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Del Shannon, and more!

It is an official ‘day of rest’ here in the U.S. of A. or so they tell us, even though I know some are toiling away in retail hell. I say we bring back the Blue Laws. This was all done for greed. But I digress. Tune us in. We’re anti-capitalist. We don’t charge you to listen, and we don’t play commercial advertising of any kind. See for yourself. The button’s below.

Sunday Funday!

On Friday We Say Farewell to John Sebastian, Spin the ‘Water, Water Everywhere’ EP and Hear Laura Nyro Live at Carnegie Hall, September 29, 2023

Good morning, music lovers! We are on the weekend’s doorstep today, kids, and we aim to please here in The Mermaid Lounge. We’ve got some brand new ‘live’ Laura Nyro.

Here’s your fantastic Friday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of John Sebastian FINAL AIRING!

John Sebastian, founder of the Lovin’ Spoonful, takes his final spin as our featured singer-songwriter for this past week. Tomorrow we’ll have a brand new artist.

1:00 p.m. Water, Water Everywhere: Various Artists

Songs about water of all kinds in the title, lyrics or both. You’ll hear Paul McCartney, Deep Purple, Joe Cocker, The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, 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, The Grass Roots, The Beach Boys, Lindisfarne, Van Morrison, Bonnie Raitt, Carole King, Steely Dan, Tom Rush, Donovan, America, Johnny Rivers and more!

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

This is new to our station and it’s fantastic. It was broadcast in Boston, Hartford, New York City, D.C. and Philadelphia. Tonight, we give you one of the most amazing songwriters on the planet singing her own music and it’s a thing of beauty.

Get on board, people. We’ve got some of the greatest music anywhere and The Music Mermaid really has it down. We play music 24/7 without interruption and at no cost to you. There is also no commercial advertising and no DJ’s who talk through the first thirty seconds of every song. See for yourself.

Welcome to Friday!