Category: Soul Music

Monday, Monday Brings The Original All-Girl Revue, The Band ‘In The Spotlight,’ & Live Jackson Browne, July 14, 2025

Good morning, musicologists! We’re back to the work week, but it can be so much better if you have the opportunity to tune us in. We’ve got a great lineup on tap today.

Here’s your Monday, Monday programming:

10:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Band

They went from Bob Dylan’s back-up band to one of the most respected and influential bands in modern music history. Indeed, that’s how they got their name: Bob Dylan used to refer to “the band.”

4:00 p.m. Jackson Browne Live at The Main Point, Bryn Mawr, PA, August 15, 1973

Later this afternoon, we’ve got one of the best singer-songwriters on the planet whose music has been covered by so many people singing his own stuff.

8:00 p.m. The Original All-Girl Revue: Various Artists

We’ve got a bunch of these and this is how we eventually built our big ‘Ladies Day Out’ EP. Every day is ‘ladies’ day here in The Mermaid Lounge. We haven’t aired our very first one in a very long time, so today we give you Linda Ronstadt, Mary Wells, Melanie, Etta James, Dusty Springfield, Petula Clark, Roberta Flack, Sheryl Crow, Shawn Colvin, Patti Smith, Chi Coltrane, Judy Collins, Carole King, Carly Simon, and more!

It’s Monday. Let’s face it, nobody wants to go back to work, so why not improve the situation with some good music. Hey, we are on 24/7 over 365 days a year. No break. No commercial interruptions. The button is below.

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Sunday It’s Live John Hiatt in Between ‘The Founders’ EP, and a Little Richard ‘Spotlight’ Feature, On July 13, 2025

Good morning, musicologists, and welcome to The Mermaid Lounge. Today we jump into action with the artists who pioneered rock and roll, as well as rock and roll icon Little Richard. In between, it’s a bit of live John Hiatt.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Founders: Various Artists

Rock and roll was born of the blues and country music, pioneered by artists like Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner, Hank Williams, Bill Haley & His Comets, Ray Charles, The Drifters, Roy Orbison, Robert Johnson, Carl Perkins, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters, and more! You’ll hear them all today.

4:00 p.m. John Hiatt Live at The Bottom Line, New York, NY, October 7, 1988

This afternoon we feature an underappreciated artist, a man called a songwriter’s songwriter. He is a Nashville hall of famer and his music has been recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Three Dog Night, Bruce Springsteen and many more. Give him a listen this afternoon.

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

There’s not enough we can say about Richard Wayne Penniman, better known as Little Richard. He was like a stick of dynamite who laid the foundation for rock and roll. This incredible singer, songwriter and pianist influenced the music and culture of America for seven decades. We put him squarely ‘In the Spotlight’ this evening.

It’s Sunday and it’s a day of rest. Sit back and enjoy the best music on the planet. We’ve got it. What we don’t have is commercial advertising or DJ’s who chat endlessly. See for yourselves. The button is below.

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On Saturday, ‘The British Are Coming’, Along With a Rascals ‘Spotlight,’ and Badfinger Live at The BBC, July 12, 2025

Good morning, weekenders! We’ve got The Rascals sandwiched between music from The British Invasion and beyond today!

Here’s your Saturday musical lineup:

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

We kick it off with our friends from across the pond today including The Beatles (of course), The Who, Dave Mason, The Rolling Stones, Electric Light Orchestra, Petula Clark, The Zombies, The Hollies, Dusty Springfield, Small Faces, Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Kinks, The Bee Gees, The Dave Clark Five, The Moody Blues, Rod Stewart, Them, Herman’s Hermits, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Badfinger, The Yardbirds, Traffic, Elton John, Lulu, Pink Floyd, Yes, The Animals, Manfred Mann, The Spencer Davis Group, Cream, Donovan, The Searchers, and more!

4:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of The Rascals

Or maybe, The Young Rascals. That’s was their starting name. Either way, they were a hit machine and one of the best damned bands to come out of the sixties.

8:00 p.m. Badfinger Live at The BBC Studios, London, UK, June 8, 1972 and August 10, 1973

We close it out with more music from across the pond as we give you Badfinger recorded live at The BBC Studios.

Although this isn’t the beginning my weekend (tomorrow is), The Music Mermaid is fully in charge here in my absence. Give us a listen. We’re free, and we’re also free of commercial advertising. No subscription required. No strings. The button is below!

The British Are Coming!

It’s Friday and We’ve Got The Heartbreakers Live, Our ‘Between Heaven & Hell’ Playlist, and a Four Tops ‘Spotlight,’ July 11, 2025

Good morning from The Mermaid Lounge, and welcome to Finally Friday! We’ve got a great lineup that includes The Heartbreakers 1993 live performance at home in Gainesville, a playlist about heaven and hell, and a Four Tops ‘Spotlight’ feature!

Here’s your finally Friday lineup:

10:00 a.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live at The Stephen C. O’ Connell Center, Gainesville, FL, November 4, 1993

We open it up with a great concert from The Heartbreakers at home in Gainesville, vintage 1993. The band at home was always a massive event, and this one is no exception. It’s got an impressive collection of music.

4:00 p.m. Between Heaven and Hell: Various Artists

It’s not an EP, but it’s a great playlist with songs about heaven and hell from The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Steve Winwood, Pink Floyd, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Byrds, Emmylou Harris, The Rolling Stones, Roberta Flack, John Lee Hooker, Willie Nelson & Waylon Jennings, Fats Domino, Mudcrutch, Bruce Hornsby, Elvis Presley, and more!

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Four Tops

We close it out with one of the bands that played an instrumental part of putting Motown on the musical map.

It’s cloudy and dismal here, much like the mood in the nation. However, we’re here to at least brighten your day with the greatest music on the planet. Give us a shot. The button is below.

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On Thursday It’s Songs About Water Everywhere, a Rolling Stones ‘Spotlight,’ and Some Live Steely Dan, July 10, 2025

Good morning, musicologists! We’re over the hump and on our way to the weekend with the ‘Water, Water Everywhere’ EP, The Rolling Stones ‘In The Spotlight,’ and live Steely Dan!

Here’s Thursday’s lineup:

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

We start with songs about water in the title, lyrics, or both from Paul McCartney, Deep Purple, Joe Cocker, Simon & Garfunkel, The Doobie Brothers, Valerie Carter, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Otis Redding, 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, America, Johnny Rivers, and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Rolling Stones

We haven’t cued this one up in a while. It’s about time. The Stones will drop by this afternoon for a spell.

8:00 p.m. Steely Dan Live at The Nissan Pavillion, Bristown, VA, July 21, 1996

We close with undoubtedly one of the best bands of the seventies and eighties here. Along with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, they were a bring light in a somewhat dismal musical timeframe.

We’re here again today bringing you the best damned music on the planet. We’re totally free with no commercial interruption. Just hit the button below.

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At Midweek It’s ‘Travelin’ Fever,’ a John Prine ‘Spotlight’ Feature, Linda Ronstadt Live in New York, On July 9, 2025

It’s midweek and we start out with songs about being on the road, then it’s a John Prine ‘Spotlight’ feature, and Linda Ronstadt live at The Calderone Concert Hall in Hempstead.

Here’s your midweek musical lineup:

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

We kick it off with songs about traveling from Canned Heat, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Steve Miller Band, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Dan Fogelberg, Linda Ronstadt, Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, The Eagles, Janis Joplin, Paul McCartney & Wings, Willie Nelson, Little Feat, Edwin Starr, 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. In The Spotlight: The Music of John Prine

Singer-songwriter extraordinaire steps into the spotlight at 4:00 p.m. John Prine was a man with vision who could deliver a message, sometimes with tongue-in-cheek. One of the most incredible songwriters on the planet.

8:00 p.m. Linda Ronstadt Live at The Calderone Concert Hall, Hempstead, NY, January 29, 1975

We close it out with the GOAT here. Early Linda Ronstadt in a performance from The Calderone Concert Hall just a couple of months after releasing Heart Like A Wheel, her breakthrough album.

We’re here. We’re free. We don’t run any commercial advertising. By the way, there are no strings. See for yourselves. Give us a listen. The button is below.

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On Monday, It’s ‘The Trio Sessions,’ John Fogerty ‘In the Spotlight,’ and Jimi Hendrix Experience Live in L.A., On July 7, 2025

Good morning, music lovers! We’re back to Monday and we’ve got a great lineup to start your week, beginning with a supergroup that nobody who writes about music ever calls a ‘supergroup.’ That’s probably because they’re women. We will call them that because that’s exactly what Trio is, a supergroup.

Here’s your musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. The Trio Sessions: Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt

A true, bona fide supergroup of brilliant women, who were also friends, made some incredible music together (much like the Traveling Wilburys). Today we give you the songs, some alternative versions, remixes, remasters, and more! A great way to start a Monday for sure.

4:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of John Fogerty

This afternoon we give you the legendary John Fogerty, leader, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Creedence Clearwater Revival, and also from his very successful solo career. Don’t be confused. He did release an album called The Blue Ride Rangers, but this was to distance himself from his CCR legend. Fogerty played all the instruments. It was his first solo release, and his name was not mentioned on the cover.

8:00 p.m. The Jimi Hendrix Experience Live at the Los Angeles Forum, Los Angeles, CA, April 26, 1969

It’s into the Wayback Machine for this one. The Experience was recorded live on this day during the band’s final North American tour.

Another day off from work is always welcome, even if it’s hot as the blazes outside. It certainly cool here in The Mermaid Lounge. We’re on 24/7 at no charge to the listening public. All you need to do is hit the button below. No subscription required.

TRIO is back!

Sunday It’s Live Van Morrison to Start, Our ‘M is For Motown’ EP, Then Closing With Dusty Springfield, On July 6, 2025

Good morning, musicologists! Welcome to Sunday Funday in The Mermaid Lounge where we begin with some live Van Morrison, carry on with an afternoon of Motown sounds, and close out the programming with a Dusty Springfield ‘Spotlight’ feature!

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Van Morrison Live at The Capitol Center, Passaic, NJ, October 6, 1979

We kick it off today with the great Van Morrison live at The Capitol Center. He started out with the British blues band, Them, back in the sixties and he’s still going.

1:00 p.m. M is For Motown: Various Artists

We move on to the Mowtown greats to get us through the afternoon, including Barrett Strong, 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. In The Spotlight: The Music of Dusty Springfield

We close it out with the Queen of Blue-Eyed Soul, Dusty Springfield, one of the true pioneers in women’s music.

We’re headed for another two-day heat blast here in the Boston area, but it will be cool here in The Mermaid Lounge, We’re on 24/7. We’re totally free. And we run absolutely no commercial advertising. It’s all about the music here. The button is below.

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It’s All About Country With Our EP, Then the Marshall Tucker Band, and Live Townes Van Zandt on Saturday, July 5, 2025

When we say ‘country’ here in The Mermaid Lounge we mean real country (Cash, Nelson, Walker, Williams, Parton, Cline et al.) and the legends of country-rock. So, that’s where we are today.

Here’s your Saturday musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Are You Ready for The Country: Various Artists

You’ll hear The Eagles, Asleep At the Wheel, Hank Williams, The Byrds, Patsy Cline, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, Guy Clark, Steve Earle, Dolly Parton, Poco, Linda Ronstadt, Alison Krauss & Union Station, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Jerry Jeff Walker, New Riders of The Purple Sage, Carlene Carter, Rosanne Cash, The Desert Rose Band, Kris Kristofferson, Gram Parsons, Tom Rush, John Prine, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Townes Van Zandt, The Highwaymen and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Marshall Tucker Band

I liked these guys from the very first time I ever heard them, and I saw them live a few times over the years. We’ll hear from them this afternoon.

8:00 p.m. Townes Van Zandt Live at The Jester Lounge, Houston, TX, Sometime in 1966

Another of those events where we can’t find a definite date, but it is believe that this is one of the first times Townes Van Zandt was recorded live at a commercial establishment. The man was a mess of a human being (not in a bad way, but in an unfortunate way), but that didn’t stop him from being a songwriting genius who inspired those who came after him (just ask Guy Clark, Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett, and Nanci Griffith).

And that’s where we are today on July 5. We hope you’ll give us a listen. There’s no need to sign up for anything or provide any information. Just use the button below.

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On Independence Day, ‘We Dissent’ Mightily For Several Hours, Then It’s The Grateful Dead Live in Boston, July 4, 2025

Good morning, music lovers! We have little to celebrate today, so we are playing the best protests songs for more than four hours. The list has been culled from hours of research and organization, and it is our newest EP. We follow that with Live Dead!

Here’s your Independence Day lineup:

10:00 a.m. We Dissent: Various Artists

We kick it off with our newest EP as we dissent where we are in history for more than four hours, and the playlist will be growing soon. You will hear the music of The Who, The Beatles, Tracy Chapman, Woody Guthrie, Phil Ochs, Billie Holiday, Patti Smith, Bruce Springsteen, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Peter, Paul & Mary, Pete Seeger, Nina Simone, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, The Doors, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Buffalo Springfield, The Temptations, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Stevie Wonder, Peter Gabriel, Jimmy Cliff, Bob Marley & The Wailers, and more!

6:00 p.m. LIVE DEAD: The Grateful Dead Live at The Music Hall, Boston, MA, June 9, 1976

We’ll close out the programming this evening with a great episode of LIVE DEAD as we give you the band live from Boston’s Music Hall.

Before, in between, and after we give you our big, wide Open Stream. We’re anti-capitalist, and we’re serious about keeping it that way. We run no commercial advertising, we don’t require a ‘subscription’ and we don’t ask for your personal information. See for yourselves. The button is below.

We Dissent!