Category: Soul Music

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!

At Midweek We’ve Got Our Folk Music EP, Becker & Fagan, and a Nanci Griffith Spotlight, Wednesday, November 22, 2023

One day before we here celebrate that the Pilgrims were a nasty lot of interlopers. (It’s time we own that shit.) But besides that, we’ve got ‘Folk Music From A-To-Z’ to start off our programming!

Here’s your midweek lineup:

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

We’ve got the musical genre that helped usher in the sixties protest movement with John Prine, Dave Van Ronk, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul & Mary, Odetta, Cat Stevens, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Beatles, 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, Jackson Browne, Guy Clark, James Taylor, Phil Ochs, Harry Chapin, Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, The Carter Family, Neil Young and more.

4:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Walter Becker & Donald Fagan

One of the greatest songwriting duos of all time is back for a second spin here in The Lounge, as we divert to a couple of hours of jazz-rock.

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

We close out the programming today with a Spotlight on a great folk singer-songwriter in Nanci Griffith.

Before I get into my usual crap at the end, let me remind all the readers that tomorrow (time TBD) will be our traditional airing of Alice’s Restaurant by Arlo Guthrie. And don’t forget that we’re on 24/7, continually streaming whether there’s programming or not.

Folk Music Day!

It’s Tuesday Bluesday With the Louisiana Blues EP and ‘Live’ Tedeschi Trucks Later. In Between, It’s Dolly! November 21, 2023

Good morning, blues lovers! We’ve got our multi-artist Louisiana blues EP and the Tedeschi Trucks Band up later. In between, Dolly’s Rockstar airs.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Best of Louisiana Blues: Various Artists

We kick off the blues programming with blues on the bayou! You’ll hear from Ray Charles, Lillian Glinn, Slim Harpo, Ray Brown, Fats Domino, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Rodney Harris, Roosevelt Sykes, Shirley & Lee, Papa Lightfoot, Guitar Slim, Annie Laurie, Fats Matthews, Big Joe Turner, Big Boy Myles, Little Walter, Mary Butler, Erline Harris, Dave Bartholomew, Marcia Ball, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Professor Longhair, Irma Thomas, The Neville Brothers and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Rockstar by Dolly Parton

Dolly drops by for a second airing of her rock release, Rockstar, our Album of The Week.

8:00 p.m. The Tedeschi Trucks Band Live at The Orpheum, Madison, WI, March 18, 2015

Let’s fast-forward to one of the greatest blues-rock bands on the planet today. Led by Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, this is one of the most amazing blues bands on the planet.

Join us. It’s Tuesday Bluesday, always a big draw in The Mermaid Lounge. We’re on a short work week, and we have great music to be thankful for. Screw the pilgrims; they were a nasty lot.

Tuesday Bluesday!

It’s Monday, Monday With ‘live’ CSNY and ELO, and Lucinda Williams In the Spotlight Mid-Afternoon, November 20, 2023

Good morning, workers. It’s a short week for starters, with Thanksgiving coming up. Today we start off that short week with two ‘live’ performances at the open and close of our programming.

Here’s Monday’s musical lineup:

11:00 a.m. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Live at Wembley Stadium, London, UK, September 14, 1974

We start things off with a live performance from one of the best supergroups on the planet, live from Wembley Stadium.

3:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Lucinda Williams

Lucinda Williams is one of the most accomplished singer-songwriters of her generation and today we’ve got her In the Spotlight at mid-afternoon.

7:00 p.m. Jeff Lynne’s ELO Live at Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA, February 3, 1976

We alternate here between calling them what they were (just Electric Light Orchestra) and what they are now called but, either way, they’re fantastic and Jeff Lynne is a music god.

What better way to ease your way back into the work week than with some great music, uninterrupted by commercial advertising? The short answer, of course, is that there is no better way. All you’ve got to do is hit that button.

Monday, Monday

It’s a Simple Sunday With Dolly and Our AOW and the ‘Are You Ready for The Country’ EP Later, November 19, 2023

Good morning, musicologists! We’ve got a real treat for you today with our Album of The Week as Dolly Parton’s Rockstar makes its debut on our station. Read on for details!

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

11:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Rockstar by Dolly Parton NEW!

When Dolly Parton learned she was being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, she turned it down because she felt she was not a rock star. She’d never made an album of rock music. The people at the Hall disagreed with her and wanted to induct her anyway. She returned the favor by releasing Rockstar, a 30-song album of classic rock and rock n’ roll songs given the Dolly treatment. And it’s a treat. Dolly had a lot of supporters on this one, including Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr on her version of The Beatles’ Let It Be, Ann Wilson on her version of Magic Man, and Emmylou Harris and Sheryl Crow on You’re No Good.

3:00 p.m. Are You Ready for The Country: Various Artists

While Dolly goes rock, you’ll also find her in our big, bad country EP. Along with Dolly, you’ll hear Guy Clark, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Neil Young, The Byrds, Gram Parsons, Pure Prairie League, Asleep at The Wheel, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Bob Dylan, The Eagles, Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle, the Marshall Tucker Band, Jerry Jeff Walker, Mudcrutch, The Band, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Glen Campbell, Rosanne Cash, Dan Fogelberg, New Riders of The Purple Sage, John Prine, The Desert Rose Band, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and more!

It’s Sunday. Kick back. Relax. Take it slow and easy with some really great music, including Dolly Parton’s rock debut. You won’t regret it. We’re on 24/7 at no charge to you and with no commercial interruption. No lie.

Rockstar!

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!

Thursday Brings Our ‘Ode to Morning’ EP, Elvis With Our AOW and ‘Live’ Bob Marley & The Wailers, November 16, 2023

Good morning, music lovers. We’re here in the lounge preparing to pay musical homage to the morning and the sunrise, followed by Elvis Presley’s debut album and Bob Marley and his crew ‘live’ at The Beacon.

Here’s your musical landscape:

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

We start off what is going to be a fine, sunny day here in the Boston area with a musical tribute to the morning hours 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, Pure Prairie League, Badfinger, Chris Hillman and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Elvis Presley by Elvis Presley

We’re winding down here with this great Elvis debut album that spent ten weeks in the number one slot. There was no turning back on rock n’ roll. Our final airing will be sometime on Saturday.

7:00 p.m. Bob Marley & The Wailers Live at The Beacon Theatre, New York, NY, May 1, 1976

Bob Marley’s importance to the growth and acceptance of Reggae music is undeniable. Tonight we have The Wailers live from The Beacon Theatre in New York.

We’re here 24/7 come rain or shine. We’ve been running without interruption and without charging anyone for the music for six years now. And we’re getting better as we move along. See for yourself. The button’s below.

This is the Button.

It’s Tuesday Bluesday With Our Chicago Blues EP, Elvis Presley, and Jimmy Reed In The Spotlight, November 14, 2023

It’s a bluesy kind of day here. I’m back on the floor in retail hell, unfortunately. And The Music Mermaid is holding down the fort here.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Best of Chicago Blues:Various Artists

It’s the blues from the Windy City with Otis Rush, Willie Dixon, Albert King, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Bo Diddley, Koko Taylor, Lowell Fulson, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy, Magic Slim, Sonny Boy Williamson, Son Seals, James Cotton, Paul Butterfield, Elmore James, Jimmy Reed, Otis Spann and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Elvis Presley by Elvis Presley

Elvis is back with his debut album. (By the way, we did give you the expanded edition of this album.) This is undoubtedly our favorite time for Elvis music, when he was immersed in the Nashville and Sun sessions.

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Jimmy Reed

This is a full Chicago blues day, as the great Mr. Reed was also in our Chicago blues EP today. Jimmy Reed was born in Mississippi in 1925 to a sharecropper family. He was a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who was active from the 1940’s up until 1976, when he passed at the age of 50. His guitar style attraced both blues audiences and non-blues audiences.

Tuesday Bluesday is always a great day to tune us in, folks. It’s blues programming all day with our big, wide Open Stream in between. Give it a try. You need no money or credit cards. And we do not interrupt the music with commercial advertising.

Tuesday Bluesday!

On Monday, It’s Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and a New Beatles Playlist, November 13, 2023

Good morning, worldwide workers! We’re back to Monday and we’ve got just what the doctor ordered for your day, including a brand new Beatles playlist in the evening slot.

Here’s your Monday musical lineup:

11:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Neil Young

Neil Young turned 78 yesterday, and today we are celebrating his infinitely brilliant career by putting him In the Spotlight, where he belongs.

4:00 p.m. Bob Dylan Live at Budokan, Tokyo, Japan, February 28 & March 1, 1978

This afternoon we’ve got a Dylan concert from Budokan, recorded on February 28 and March 1 of 1978. We haven’t heard this one in a while, so it’s time to break it out.

7:00 p.m. The Beatles: The Love Songs NEW!

Yes, it’s a new playlist for the station, and it also includes the Beatles’ brand new and final single together, Now And Then, which has shattered a number of records since its release on November 3. It is the fastest-selling single of the century as it skyrocketed to the number one slot in England, over a half century after the legendary band broke up. It’s a thing of beauty, and so is this playlist.

We’ve got it all here for you today: Three totally legendary performers to kick off your week. What more could you ask for? (Except another day off, which we cannot grant.) Get in on it. It all starts at 11:00 a.m. and, as always, before, after and in between our programming it’s Open Stream time.

The Beatles Are Back!

We’ll Start Our Friday ‘Down In New Orleans’ and Then It’s Tom Waits and ‘Live’ ELO From London, November 10, 2023

Good morning, music lovers! We start the day off with one of our absolute favorite EP’s, followed by Tom Waits and a new-to-the-station live concert from Electric Light Orchestra.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Down In New Orleans: Various Artists

We not only give you authentic New Orleans music, but we feature the music of artists who were born and raised there, including Allen Toussaint, BeauSoleil, Clifton Chenier, Dr. John, Buckwheat Zydeco, Fats Domino, Irma Thomas, Professor Longhair, Aaron Neville, Allen Fontenot, Lucinda Williams, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Kermit Ruffins, Louis Armstrong, The Day Walkers, The Neville Brothers, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chance Bushman, The Boogaloo Swamis, Queen Ida & The Bontemps Zydeco Band, Marcia Ball, The Magnolia Sisters and more!

4:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Tom Waits FINAL AIRING!

Tom Waits drops by The Mermaid Lounge to take his final spin as our featured singer-songwriter. Tomorrow we introduce a brand new artist.

8:00 p.m. Electric Light Orchestra Live at The Paris Theatre, London, UK, April 19, 1973 NEW!

Jeff Lynne, a Mermaid Lounge favorite, brings ELO in for a great live performance from The Paris Theatre in London. This one’s new to our station. Enjoy.

It’s Friday. The weekend is on our doorstep, patiently waiting for us to open. We’re nearly there, and we’ve got some great music to take you over the finish line.

Down In New Orleans!