Category: The Fifties

On Thursday It’s the Pioneers of Rock & Roll, a Townes Van Zandt ‘Spotlight,’ and The Everly Brothers, October 16, 2025

Good morning, musicologists and lovers of rock & roll! We start off with ‘The Founders’ EP, those who pioneered the evolution of rock & roll, then it’s on to Townes Van Zandt and The Everly Brothers, a duo that exerted considerable influence over The Beatles and others.

Here’s your Thursday lineup:

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

We kick it off with those who pioneered the art of rock & roll, including Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Fats Domino, 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, Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters and more!

4:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Townes Van Zandt

We spend some of the afternoon with a singer-songwriter who is the only one to be mentioned in the same breath as a guy named Bob Dylan, including by Dylan himself. His compositions are considered masterpieces of American songwriting.

8:00 p.m. The Everly Brothers Live at Royal Albert Hall, London, UK, September 22, 1983 NEW!

Billed as ‘The Reunion Concert,’ this would be the first time the dynamic duo played together in over a decade. It would be a reunion that would endure until their deaths. The Everly Brothers exerted considerable influence over The Beatles and many others who came after them, including a guy named Tom Petty.

We’re here 24/7 and, before, in between and after our programming, we deliver the best music on the planet as The Music Mermaid is responsible for rotating more than 27,000 individual files. Just hit that button below to see for yourselves.

The Founders!

Thursday Brings ‘The Founders’ EP, a Bee Gees ‘Spotlight’, and Live Emmylou Harris & The Nash Ramblers, On August 14, 2025

Good morning, music lovers! We’re headed for the weekend once again, and we will help get you there with the best music on the planet!

Here’s your Thursday lineup:

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

We start off the day with the folks who helped to build what we call rock and roll. These are the pioneers, the founders, the innovators and the playlist includes 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, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters, and more!

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

Yes, the Bee Gees who started out as one of the most innovative rock bands on the planet before drifting into sell-out disco stardom. We skip the entire disco thing here. After Saturday Night Fever, it was all downhill. They are the Jekyll & Hyde band of rock music. However, before Saturday Night Fever, they were fantastic.

8:00 p.m. Emmylou Harris & The Nash Ramblers Live at The Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN, April 30-May 2, 1991

When I was young, my friend and I took to the road and headed off to see The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Our parents were in a panic because we were do young and hitting the road with no actual experience and probably not enough money. We saw the show at The Ryman. In 1991, Emmylou Harris and her newly-formed acoustic band showed up and was literally the impetus for the Ryman, then run-down and no longer the home of the Opry, for the Ryman’s restoration and rebirth. It reopened to a new generation of musicians in 1994.

We’re here 24/7 with no commercial interruption and no disc jockeys who talk through the beginning and endings of songs. No lie. Best of all, we’re totally free. The button is below.

The Button!

On Monday It’s ‘The Founders’, a Gordon Lightfoot ‘Spotlight’ and Traffic Live at The Fillmore East, March 17, 2025

Good morning, working class! We’re here on another Monday to brighten your day with some great music, starting off with the folks who helped deliver rock n’ roll!

Here’s your musical lineup:

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

We start off by paying tribute to the founding artists of rock n’ roll, including 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!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Gordon Lightfoot

Our friend from the north drops by this afternoon. He is one of the 20th century’s most respected songwriters and is a national hero in Canada. His songs have been covered by many artists over the years, but it’s always great to hear him sing them.

8:00 p.m. Traffic Live at The Fillmore East, New York, NY, November 18, 1970

We close out the day’s programming with a great performance by Steve Winwood and Traffic live at The Fillmore East.

And so we begin another week. The weekend always seems to blow by so quickly and the week drags on and on, particularly in these trying times. But we’re here to try to make it just a bit more tolerable. The button is below.

The Button.

Thursday Brings The Pioneers of Rock n’Roll, an Elton John ‘Spotlight’ and Live Townes Van Zandt, February 13, 2025

Here we go, folks, headed for the weekend. We celebrate ‘The Founders’, give EJ a ‘Spotlight’ feature and live Townes Van Zandt!

Here’s your Thursday lineup:

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

The artists that forged the birth of Rock n’ Roll are with us today, including 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!

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

I sat up and took notice as soon as I heard Your Song, to this day one of the most incredible songs ever recorded. His career has stood the test of time.

8:00 p.m. Townes Van Zandt Live at The Old Quarter, Houston, TX, July 20, 1973

Many say that Townes Van Zandt is the only songwriter who can be mentioned in the same breath as Bob Dylan. I don’t get into those discussions. There have been many great songwriters. Townes Van Zandt is truly one of the greats.

Here we are once again as fascism knocks on our door louder every day. Tune us in, folks, for a break but, please, continue to fight and organize. Do not sit this one out. We’re on 24/7 and we’re totally free. We do not carry advertising. We do not support the oligarchy.

The Founders.

It’s Friday and We’ve Got Chuck Berry, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, and ‘The Founders’ EP on January 17, 2025

Good morning, musicologists and welcome to Friday! We’ve got a lot of ‘founders’ in the mix today. Even The Heartbreakers contribution contains songs from the founders or rock and roll!

Here’s your Friday lineup:

10:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry was a true pioneer of rock n’ roll as we know it. John Lennon cited Berry as a hero and one of his main musical influences, stating “If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it Chuck Berry.”

2:00 p.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: The Fillmore ’97 Covers

During The Heartbreakers legendary 20-night Fillmore residency, they surely covered many of ‘The Founders’ songs. The qualities that make TPATH a great rock and roll band also made them the greatest cover band. You’ll hear them cover songs by Little Richard, J.J. Cale, The Kinks, Booker T & The MGs, Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead, Them, Bo Diddley, Bill Withers, The Byrds, John Lee Hooker, Ricky Nelson and more!

5:00 p.m. The Founders: Various Artists

We have the founders themselves taking us into the night. You’ll hear 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!

We’re here. We’re free. We’re on 24/7. We do not run commercial advertising. We don’t ask you for a credit card or personal information. We’re all about the music. See for yourselves. The button is below.

The Button.

On Thursday We Celebrate ‘The Founders’, Then The Band ‘In the Spotlight,’ and Live Dr. John, December 19, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We are once again headed for the weekend! We’re starting the day with a tribute to the founders who pioneered rock and roll, then it’s The Band and live Dr. John.

Here’s your Thursday music:

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

We start off with music from 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!

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

They started out as Bob Dylan’s back-up band and he referred to him as “The Band.” The name stuck, and they proceeded to become one of the greates and most influential music acts in popular music. A definite Mermaid Lounge favorite.

8:00 p.m. Dr. John Live at Ultrasonic Studios, Hempstead, NY, November 6, 1973

From Wikipedia, which says it best: Active as a session musician from the late 1950s until his death, he gained a following in the late 1960s after the release of his album Gris-Gris (1968) and his appearance at the Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music (1970). He typically performed a lively, theatrical stage show inspired by medicine shows, Mardi Gras costumes, and voodoo ceremonies. Rebennack recorded thirty studio albums and nine live albums, as well as contributing to thousands of other musicians’ recordings. In 1973, he achieved a top-10 hit single with “Right Place, Wrong Time“. We simply love Dr. John here in The Mermaid Lounge.

We get closer to the weekend today and I get closer to my vacation, when we’ll be introducing some new music and playlists to our ever-growing offering. In the meantime, the button is below.

The Button.

It’s ‘The Founders’ of Rock n’ Roll to Start the Week, including Buddy Holly, and Elvis Presley on Monday, November 25, 2024

Good morning, working folks! We’re starting the week by focusing on the founders of rock n’ roll; the musicians and bands that inspired the groundbreaking sounds of the sixties and seventies.

Here’s your Monday, Monday lineup:

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

We start the day off with our big EP featuring the pioneers of rock n’ roll, including 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, Ray Charles, Bill Haley & His Comets, The Drifters, Roy Orbison, Robert Johnson, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Eddie Cochran, Muddy Waters and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Buddy Holly

Born to a musical family in Lubbock, Texas, Buddy Holly was a singer, songwriter and musician who became a central and groundbreaking pioneer in the mid-50s birth of rock and roll.

8:00 p.m. Elvis Presley: The Complete Sun Studio Recordings

Here in The Mermaid Lounge, we consider this the absolute best of Elvis’ long history of recordings. More than anything, Elvis made rock and roll accessible to everyone.

We’re here 24/7. We’re totally free. We run absolutely no commercial advertising at any time. We don’t employ DJs who love to hear themselves talk. The button is below.

The Founders!

We’ve Got ‘The Founders’ EP, a Bobbie Gentry ‘Spotlight’ and Live Neil Young On Thursday, October 17, 2024

Good morning, music lovers everywhere! Today we open with ‘The Founders,’ paying tribute to the artists who inspired the bands and singers who inspired us to start this radio station. Got all that?

Here’s your musical history lesson:

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

We pay tribute to the pioneers of rock and roll today, celebrating the music of 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, Muddy Waters, Johnny Cash and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Bobbie Gentry

This afternoon we give you a Spotlight feature from Bobbie Gentry, one of the most innovative artists of the sixties who was also a recluse at heart. She much preferred to write for others to sing, but then she released Ode To Billie Joe and exploded on the music scene. When she’d had enough, she simply faded away, leaving us a legacy of fantastic music.

8:00 p.m. Neil Young Live at Massey Hall, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, January 19, 1971

A Mermaid Lounge favorite gives us a concert from his homeland to close out the programming for Thursday.

One more time: We’re here 24/7. We’re free. No strings. No surprises. And we do not run commercial advertising. The button is below.

THE Button.

On Thursday It’s the ‘Color My World’ EP, a Little Richard Spotlight and Live Eva Cassidy Live at Pearl’s, September 19, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We’re headed toward the weekend officially today, and we’ve got some great music as we hit the downslide, starting with the ‘Color My World’ multi-artist EP! It’s Open Stream With a Theme!

Here’s your musical lineup:

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

We start out with songs about colors in the title, lyrics or both from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, James Taylor, Donovan, Booker T. & The MGs, Electric Light Orchestra, Procol Harum, Joni Mitchell, The Who, Amy Winehouse, Sam & Dave, Badfinger, Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Elvis Costello, Neil Young, Jefferson Airplane, The Hollies, Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Cream, Marvin Gaye, Lucinda Williams, John Hiatt, J.D. Souther, Linda Ronstadt and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Little Richard

This afternoon we feature one of the founding fathers of rock and roll, the great Little Richard.

8:00 p.m. Eva Cassidy Live at Pearl’s Restaurant, Annapolis, MD, September 14, 1994

We close out the programming with the late, great Eva Cassidy who left us far too soon. Still, she left behind an amazing volume of work to remember her by.

It’s Thursday. We’re almost there. Tune us in. We’re on 24/7 and we doubt very seriously that you’ll ever hear a repeat in a day. We’re also totally free with absolutely no commercial interruption. The button is below.

Color My World!

Friday Delivers The Drifters, Songs About Food and Our ‘Ode To Morning’ EP at Night. No kidding. August 23, 2024

Good morning, music lovers (and foodies also). We’ve got a great lineup on the cusp of the weekend, including a brand new Spotlight featuring The Drifters!

Here’s your musical lineup:

10:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Drifters NEW!

Here’s another one off my musical ‘to do’ list. We (luckily) pipe a sixties station in our store and I hear an awful lot of songs by this band every day. I finally got to the point where this simply had to get done. Originally assembled as the back-up band for Clyde McPhatter, The Drifters turned their fortunes into a career that spanned half a century and generated plenty of number ones. Today, they are In the Spotlight.

2:00 p.m. For Foodies Only: Various Artists

Another great multi-artist list (a shorter one) with songs about food from The Rolling Stones, Little Feat, Sam & Dave, Van Morrison, Led Zeppelin, Judy Collins, The Beatles, Steely Dan, Harry Nilsson, Cream, The Guess Who, Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams, Bob Dylan, The Kinks, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Eagles, The Flying Burrito Brothers and more!

7:00 p.m. Ode To Morning: Various Artists

We head into the nighttime hours with songs about the morning. Yes. But earlier in the week we opened the morning programming with songs about the night. It’s only fitting. You’ll hear 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 and more.

Wow. Plenty of name dropping today, but there’s also plenty of good listening. We’re on 24/7 and we’re totally free of charge and free of commercial advertising. We’re all about the music, people. See for yourself.

The Drifters!