Category: The Blues

Friday Brings ‘The British Are Coming’ EP and Puts Neil Young In the Spotlight As We Prepare For The Snow, January 28, 2022

Welcome to Friday as we all prepare to be bombed by a potentially historic nor’easter here in the Beantown area. As we all know in these parts, we can get anywhere from 10 inches to 2 feet. Stay tuned. But one thing is certain, the music is always outstanding here in The Mermaid Lounge, rain, snow or shine.

Yeah. They’ll be here promptly at 11:00 a.m. EST for an extended visit.

Here’s Friday’s musical landscape:

11:00 a.m. The British Are Coming: Various Artists

We all know how the story goes. The American musicians were influenced by the Brits, and vice versa. That’s how we got here. With this extended playlist, you’ll hear The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Them, The Hollies, The Who, The Animals, Yes, Queen, The Kinks, The Dave Clark Five, Rod Stewart, The Bee Gees (before they caught night fever; not after), The Yardbirds, The Pretenders, Lulu, Herman’s Hermits, Blind Faith, The Spencer Davis Group, Cream, Traffic, Donovan, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, and more! That’s five hours of uninterrupted music from across the pond!

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Neil Young

While we remove Eric Clapton from the limelight, we put Neil Young in the limelight. This isn’t a question of politics which, as you know, we keep out of this radio station’s airing. The public health is not a political issue, and medical misinformation is not in the public interest. We will neither participate in it nor will we give voice to those who do. Like Eric Clapton. Aside from Neil Young’s stand on the issue, consider that the man is the Energizer Bunny of rock n’ roll, recently releasing his 41st album and his 14th with Crazy Horse. His career has spanned more than a half century, and he is deserving of the spotlight.

All of our friends are here this morning, including our new listeners from Pakistan, Lithuania, and Turkey. Why don’t you join them? It’s easy, as they’ve found out. No information required. No subscription required. No credit card required. All you need is a computer, a new tab, and your mouse. Eek.

Music Nirvana Awaits!

It’s Tuesday Bluesday With ‘The Best of Chicago Blues’ and Live Buddy Guy With Stevie Ray Vaughan Later, January 25, 2022

Good Morning, Bluesologists everywhere! We’ve got some great blues lined up for you today, along with the second airing of our Album of The Week.

We’ve got nearly three hours of great Chicago Blues opening the programming today!

Here’s today’s musical landscape:

11:00 a.m. The Best of Chicago Blues: Various Artists

This one is destined to become an EP, no doubt, as we build our Chicago blues library. Right now, it’s nearly three hours of great blues with Otis Rush, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Bo Diddley, Willie Dixon, Koko Taylor, Howlin’ Wolf, Magic Slim, Son Seals, Lonnie Brooks, Buddy Guy, Sonny Boy Williamson, and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Blood On The Tracks by Bob Dylan

The second airing of Bob Dylan’s brilliant Blood On The Tracks, his fifteenth studio album, was released January 20, 1975, on Columbia. The album is home to what is undoubtedly one of my all-time favorite Dylan songs, Tangled Up In Blue.

7:00 p.m. Buddy Guy & Stevie Ray Vaughan Live at The Lone Star Cafe, New York City, April 14, 1986 NEW!

Here we have a brand new entry to our blues collection, with two blues guitar masters. This is undoubtedly unbridled electric blues here. These two would play together several times. Another notable show as in 1989 at Buddy Guy’s Blues Legends club. We’re working on that one also.

If you’re a lover of the blues, Tuesday is your day here in The Mermaid Lounge, where two of the programs are always dedicated to the blues. Before, in between, and after, we give you wide Open Stream with The Music Mermaid in charge. Just do it. It’s free.

Tuesday Bluesday!

Sunday Gives Us ‘Blood On The Tracks’ As Our New Album of The Week, and The Sixties Rotation, Volume Two EP, January 23, 2022

Good Morning, Weekenders! Maybe you’re sleeping in; maybe not. But we never actually sleep here in The Mermaid Lounge. We blast out music on a global basis 24/7!

Mid-afternoon brings a little under five hours of the best of the mid-to-late sixties!

Here’s your musical landscape for today:

11:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Blood On The Tracks by Bob Dylan NEW!

Dylan is another one of those guys who gives me fits. It’s difficult, if not impossible, for me to pick a favorite album. Is it Desire? Is it Blood On The Tracks? Is it Nashville Skyline? I don’t know. It varies with my musical mood, I guess. I have the same problem with The Heartbreakers and The Beatles.

This is Bob Dylan’s 15th studio album, released on January 20. 1975, so we honor this album very close to it’s 47th anniversary, written at a time when there was a lot of stress in Dylan’s personal life. Jakob Dylan once described this album as “my parents talking,” but his father insists it’s not autobiographical. Either way, this album logged in at no. 16 on Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Albums of All Time. By 2004, it has risen to no. 9. It reached no. 1 on The Billboard 200 Chart, and no. 4 on the UK Albums Chart. Give it a listen. It is undoubtedly one of Dylan’s very best.

3:00 p.m. The Sixties Rotation, Volume Two: Various Artists

The Sixties Rotations (volumes 1 & 2) were the very first playlists we ever put together for this station. They have both expanded to EP’s at this stage of the game, and today we give you the one that focuses on the mid-to-late sixties. You’ll hear The Beatles, Jefferson Airplane, Simon & Garfunkel, the Grateful Dead, Buffalo Springfield, Janis Joplin, The Four Tops, Roy Orbison, The Yardbirds, James Brown, Chuck Berry, The Four Tops, Vanilla Fudge, Sly & The Family Stone, The Zombies, The Doors, The Chambers Brothers, The Animals, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Donovan, Procol Harum, The Electric Prunes, Them, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, The Mamas & The Papas, and many more!

It is indeed a day of rest. And what could be better than joining your fellow global listeners on such a day? You don’t have to wait for programming. We run on wide Open Stream 24/7, so our button is never in the ‘off’ position. All you really have to do is click the button below. Go ahead. See for yourself.

The Sixties!

We’ve Made It To Friday and We’ve Got Our ‘Folk Music From A-to-Z’ EP Today and a Brand New Spotlight With Al Green Later, January 21, 2022

It almost happened. I was right on the doorstep of making a fool of myself by writing 2021 in the headline. Whew. Anyway, we’ve got our great folk music EP today along with the Reverend Al Green.

Here’s Friday’s musical line-up:

11:00 a.m. Folk Music From A-to-Z: Various Artists

We’re on the cusp of updating this one, but I promise this version is still pretty great. You’ll hear Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul & Mary, Odetta, Bruce Springsteen, Cat Stevens, Phil Ochs, Dave Van Ronk, Simon & Garfunkel, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Beatles, Arlo Guthrie, Bonnie Raitt, Joan Baez, The Band, Eric Andersen, Tom Rush, Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, John Prine, Judy Collins, Nanci Griffith, The Stone Poneys, The Wallflowers, Jesse Winchester, and more.

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Al Green NEW!

Al Green is one of the most prolific and influential soul singers on the planet, and is often referred to as the “last of the great soul singers.” He has sold more than 20 million records, won 11 Grammy Awards, was inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, and those are only a few of his accomplishments. We here in The Mermaid Lounge think it’s about high time that he be put in the spotlight.

Come on, people. Tune us in. We just added listeners from the Republic of Korea and Lithuania to the mix this week. Where are you? We’re 24/7 uninterrupted, we don’t cost you a penny, and we don’t ask for your personal information. It’s none of our business and we’re not selling you anything. It’s about the music.

Just Push Play.

Welcome to Total Blues Tuesday With Our EP and Our Album Of The Week, January 18, 2022

Good Morning, Bluesologists! It’s a total Tuesday Bluesday on the programming side today with five uninterrupted hours of blues to start and our Album of The Week closing out the programming.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday line-up:

11:00 a.m. Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blues: Various Artists

We’re back with five hours of uninterrupted blues music for your listening pleasure. You’ll hear B.B. King, Delbert McClinton, Little Walter, Slim Harpo, Ry Cooder, Canned Heat, John Lee Hooker, The Animals, Janis Joplin, The Yardbirds, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Allman Brothers Band, Elmore James, John Mayall, James Cotton, J. J. Cale, Koko Taylor, Long John Baldry, Eric Clapton, Johnny Winter, Muddy Waters, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Susan Tedeschi, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac Marcia Ball, Bonnie Raitt, and more!

7:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Raising Sand by Alison Krauss & Robert Plant

The second airing of this great blues-rock collaboration by two artists who, in some folks’ eyes, are an unlikely pairing. And I have to say I was surprised when this first came out. But it works. The chemistry is there, and this is one fine album.

If you’re a blues lover, this is your day. Before, in between, and after we have all that great wide Open Stream courtesy of The Music Mermaid. She is our guiding light here in the Lounge, and we treat her with reverence. Just push the button below for da blues.

Tuesday Bluesday!

We’re At Mid-Month, and The Women of Music are Back For An Extended Visit! We’ve Also Got Our New Album of The Week, Sunday, January 16, 2022

Good Morning, Music Lovers! The Women of Music are back in the featured role today with our ‘Ladies Day Out’ EP, and our critically-acclaimed Album of The Week.

It’s Ladies Day Out!

Here’s your Sunday Funday line-up:

11:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Raising Sand by Alison Krauss & Robert Plant NEW!

This great album was a collaborative effort between what many consider to be two unlikely vocalists in Alison Krauss (Union Station) and Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin). Produced by the legendary T Bone Burnett, he hand-picked all the songs. Released in October 2007, Raising Sand won Album of The Year at the 2008 Americana Music Awards, and at the 2009 Grammy Awards. I have to tell you that I personally have a love-hate relationship with Led Zeppelin most of the time (I like some of their stuff; but not all) and have been ambivalent about Robert Plant overall. But this album? It’s a major winner.

3:00 p.m. Ladies Day Out: Various Artists

The chicks are back in charge of The Mermaid Lounge today, and they make our siren’s job easy. You’ll hear Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Susan Tedeschi, Phoebe Snow, Nicolette Larson, Sheryl Crowe, Carly Simon, Chrissie Hynde, 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, Wendy Waldman, Eva Cassidy, Shawn Colvin, The Ronettes, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Nora Jones, Valerie Carter and more!

It’s Sunday. Even the Big Guy (you know who that is) took today off. So, give us a break and tune us in. It’s effortless. Just pull up a tab and click the link below. No commercials. No endless chatter. No credit card required and no personal information sought. Honest.

Just Push Play

At Midweek, We Put the Music of New Orleans Front and Center with Our ‘Down In New Orleans’ EP and Dr. John In the Spotlight, January 12, 2022

Good Morning, Music Lovers! We’ve taken our NOLA fetish out of the closet and have put it in the mainstream. It’s no longer just for airing during Mardi Gras week. (And we start a bit early today.)

Not only does New Orleans have great food, but it also has great music!

Here’s your midweek line-up:

10:00 a.m. Down in New Orleans: Various Artists NEW!

We usually dust this playlist off once a year, but that is a thing of the past. Today, we move it into the mainstream after a bit of an updating. It not only features authentic New Orleans music, but highlights the musicians who were born in Louisiana, like Lucinda Williams, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Dr. John, and Allen Toussaint. In addition to those artists, you’ll hear BeauSoleil, Clifton Chenier, The Neville Brothers, Tony Joe White, Professor Longhair, Irma Thomas (The Soul Queen of New Orleans), Allen Fontenot, Aaron Neville, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Chance Bushman, The Daywalkers, The Boogaloo Swamis, Kermit Ruffins, The Magnolia Sisters, The Meters, Queen Ida & The Bon Temps, Boozoo Chavis, and many more. Chance Bushman and The Daywalkers are local NOLA artists whose music I had the pleasure of hearing during a 2014 trip. The Boogaloo Swamis, oddly enough, were a band we fell in love with here in Boston at a local place called Johnny D’s in Somerville, Massachusetts. We hope you enjoy this extended playlist.

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Dr. John

We thought we’d make all of the programming a celebration of New Orleans today, and we could think of nobody more deserving of the Spotlight than Dr. John, also known as The Nitetripper. Dr. John was a New Orleans legend whose career spanned decades. He was musically active from the 1950’s up until his death in 2019. His musical style combined New Orleans blues, jazz, funk and R & B.

Before, in between and after our programming, you’ll be treated to our wide Open Stream courtesy of The Music Mermaid. We stream 24/7 at no charge to you whatsoever. We run no commercial advertising, and we do not ask for either a credit card or your personal information. We’re all about the music.

NOLA Rules!

It’s Tuesday Bluesday With Albert King & Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Allman Brothers Band, and Our Album of The Week, January 11, 2022

Welcome to another Tuesday Bluesday here in The Mermaid Lounge! We’ve got some great blues guitar for you today for sure, with our Album of The Week sandwiched in between!

It’s Tuesday Bluesday in The Lounge!

Here’s your line-up:

11:00 a.m. Albert King & Stevie Ray Vaughan: In Session

Two great bluesmen in session recorded live for television on December 6, 1983 at CHCH-TV studious in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

3:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Barn by Neil Young & Crazy Horse

The second airing of Neil Young’s 41st studio album and 14th with Crazy Horse. They’re still kicking ass after all these years. Give it a listen; it’s a good one, something we’ve come to expect from them.

7:00 p.m. The Allman Brothers Band Live at Woodstock ’94, Saugerties, New York, August 14, 1994

Undoubtedly one of my very favorite bands of all time here, and the grand daddies of Southern rock. This is their performance at Woodstock ’94 (not to be confused with the real Woodstock).

Here we are again with listeners from around the world, including today China, Russian Federation, Portugal, Spain, Germany, the UK, Greece, Iceland, The Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, and points beyond. Join them, will ya?

Tuesday Bluesday!

The First Tuesday Bluesday of the Year is Upon Us and We’ve Got Johnny Winter and a Blues Trifecta Afternoon, January 4, 2022

Good Morning, Bluesologists! I know that day will come when I’ll write 2021 by mistake. But that’s not today. We’ve got a great Tuesday Bluesday line-up going on today and we hope you’ll join us.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday line-up:

11:00 a.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Johnny Winter NEW!

John Dawson Winter III is one of our favorite bluesmen here in The Mermaid Lounge. He’s got his own high-energy blues-rock style. Although not a pure bluesman, Johnny Winter was sought out by other bluesmen and jammed with many, including Muddy Waters, Roy Head and the Traits, Mike Bloomfield, Willie Dixon, and Big Walter Horton. Winter was groundbreaking in many ways and was recognized as one of the best guitarists in the business. You can learn more about him right here. Today, we kick off Tuesday Bluesday by putting him In the Spotlight.

Afternoon Trifectas

We open up the afternoon to Open Stream, but open up each hour from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with Blues Trifectas!

2:00 p.m. B.B. King

3:00 p.m. Janis Joplin

4:00 p.m. Stevie Ray Vaughan

5:00 p.m. The Allman Brothers Band

7:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Teaser and the Firecat by Cat Stevens

Tonight we have our second airing of our Album of The Week, and that’s how we close our programming for the day and open up the stream again.

We’re here again in The Mermaid Lounge streaming you the best music money cannot buy every day. That’s because we’re totally free 24/7. We make no profit. We do not accept advertising. We do not require your credit card. And we don’t want your personal information. Know what I mean?

Tuesday Bluesday!

Welcome to Tuesday Bluesday With The Blues Project, The Rolling Stones ‘Live’ at The Checkerboard Lounge With Muddy Waters, and Our Album of The Week, December 28, 2021

Happy Tuesday, Bluesologists! We’ve got a couple of ‘live’ blues entries today sandwiched around our Album of The Week. Check it out below!

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday line-up:

11:00 a.m. The Blues Project: Reunion in Central Park, NY, June 24, 1973 NEW!

The original members of The Blues Project reunited as part of the Schaefer Music Festival in Central Park in 1973 and we’ve got their live performance here for you today. The Schaefer Music Festival was a “thing” back in the day. I believe they had their name on the Bicentennial Concert (Elton John, Fleetwood Mac, among others) here back in 1976 also. That one was held at…wait for it…Schaefer Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Just a bit of non-essential music history.

3:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Magical Mystery Tour by The Beatles

An EP in the UK, but a full-blown album here in the U.S. as Capitol Records added their five hit releases from 1967 to create an album of timeless music. If you want to know what five tunes were added, take a look at Sunday’s blog entry, or click on the album image in the right-hand sidebar for all the details on the album!

7:00 p.m. Muddy Waters & The Rolling Stones, Live from The Checkerboard Lounge, Chicago, IL, November 22, 1981

The Stones and Muddy Waters join forces to bring you some great blues classics, like Baby Please Don’t Go, Got My Mojo Workin’, Hoochie Coochie Man and more live from The Checkerboard Lounge. You can get all the details right here about who played in the band, and who sat in, and other songs in their set.

We’re up and running this morning and have some new locations to report, like Indonesia, Iceland, and Finland to go along with Germany, Norway, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Russian Federation, the UK, Ireland, and Texas. Yes. Texas. Join the party.

It’s Tuesday Bluesday!