Category: World Music

Today We Take a Special Trip to Old Mexico With Linda Ronstadt and Then Jump On The Psychedelic Express, Sunday, February 19, 2023

Good morning, music lovers. This is a special day here in The Mermaid Lounge as we feature the first non-rock n’ roll album by Linda Ronstadt with Canciones di Mi Padre, the largest selling non-English-speaking album in music history.

Here’s today’s musical lineup:

11:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Canciones di Mi Padre by Linda Ronstadt NEW!

From the start, Linda Ronstadt was fully in control of her career, an unusual situation in the male-dominated rock world. By the the time she got around to making Canciones di Mi Padre, she had made her record label millions of dollars and was unafraid to take a stand about recording the songs that filled her childhood. People warned her that her career would tank if she made this album, but she paid no mind. From it’s release in late 1987, it was a worldwide smash. It sold 2.5 million copies in the U.S alone, making it the biggest selling non-English language album in American recording history. By 2012, it had sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. Ronstadt also won the Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album at the 31st Grammy Awards. Las Canciones de mi Padre also is the only recording production that used the 3 best Mariachi bands in the world: Mariachi Vargas, Mariachi Los Camperos and Mariachi Los Galleros de Pedro Rey. In 2021, the album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame; in 2022 it was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry.

3:00 p.m. The Psychedelic Express: Various Artists

From mariachi to mind-bending. At mid-afternoon, we jump on The Psychedelic Express for a journey to the center of the mind with Vanilla Fudge, The Chambers Brothers, The Beatles, the Electric Prunes, The Animals, the Jefferson Airplane, Blues Image, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Doors, Pink Floyd, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Donovan, Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Byrds, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Traffic, Cream, Dr. John, Procol Harum, Fleetwood Mac, The Who, Canned Heat, Yes, Electric Light Orchestra, Tommy James & The Shondells, Mudcrutch, Blind Faith, the Grateful Dead, Velvet Underground, Big Brother & The Holding Company and more!

It’s Sunday. If there’s a big guy up there, even he took the day off. It’s a day of rest. Tune in, turn on and drop out with us. It’s a no-strain affair here in The Mermaid Lounge. No cost to you. Ever. We’re on 24/7. When we aren’t running programming, we’ve got our big, wide Open Stream going courtesy of The Music Mermaid.

A Day of Rest!

As We Return to the Work Week, We’ve Got That ‘Travelin’ Fever’ and Live Bob Marley & The Wailers Up Later, on Monday, February 6, 2023

Good morning and we hope we can ease you back into the work week with some great music. If you’ve got an office, shut the door and pull up a tab. We provide great background musical motivation. If you work at home, even better!

Here’s your Monday, Monday lineup:

10:00 a.m. Travelin’ Fever: Various Artists

We begin the day by celebrating the travelin’ life on foot, in vehicles, on trains, on planes and boats. It’s a popular subject in popular music, and you’ll hear from Canned Heat, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, the 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, Asleep at The Wheel, The Travelin’ Wilburys, Joan Baez, Mudcrutch, Loggins & Messina, Buffalo Springfield and more!

7:00 p.m. Bob Marley & The Wailers Live at The Roxy, West Hollywood, CA, March 12, 1976

Tonight we’ve got Bob Marley and the band live on the Rastaman Vibration Tour at the Roxy.

Before, in between and after we’ve got our great, big wide Open Stream. We’re not just on the air when we have programming on tap. We’re on 24/7 uninterrupted by commercial advertising and DJ’s who don’t know when to STFU. And we’re totally free. No strings. No lies. No credit card or personal info required. What’s not to love here?

Just Push Play!

It’s Tuesday Bluesday and We’ve Got Open Stream This Morning With Blues Trifectas at the Top of Each Hour, Our AOW and Taj Mahal In The Spotlight, January 31, 2023

Good morning, bluesologists! We close the month with an Open Stream Tuesday Bluesday with blues artists featured at the top of each hour starting at 9:00 a.m. Later, we’ve got our Album of The Week and Taj Mahal bringing up the rear this evening.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Open Stream with Blues Trifectas!

From 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. we give you blues at the top of each hour with the following artists (in order of their appearance): Koko Taylor, B. B. King, Canned Heat, John Lee Hooker, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Janis Joplin!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Mr. Tambourine Man by The Byrds

This is the second airing of our Album of The Week by The Byrds. It’s their studio debut album released in 1965 and it catapulted them into the spotlight of popular music, challenging the British Invasion band’s chart dominance.

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal is one of those great blues artists who expanded the genre. He is never afraid to include elements of world music into his blues work. He’s also a brilliant musician, playing guitar, banjo, piano, harmonica and many other instruments. You can learn about the man and his genius by visiting his website. Taj Mahal is now approaching 80 years old and lives in Berkeley, where he reflects on nearly six decades in music.

Tuesday Bluesday is always a great day to tune us in. We’re on 24/7 and we’re totally free of charge. There are no forms to fill out and no subscription requirements. We don’t ask for a credit card or your personal information. We’ve had some wise ass comment that I’m trying to build my hit rate by putting the button down below. That’s only so you can click and go right to the channel. Give me a break.

It’s Tuesday Bluesday!

It’s Wide Open Thursday, Which Brings Our Very First Open Stream Day in a While! The Music Mermaid is in Charge, October 27, 2022

Good Morning, Musicologists! We’ve got our very first wide Open Stream day in a long time today! The Music Mermaid is in charge with nothing on her slate. Who know what she’ll pick up.

We also give you Trifectas (three-in-a-row from a single artist) at the top of every hour from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.!

We’re on 24/7 and today we are free of programming as well as free of charge! Tune us in!

Open Stream Day!

We’ve Got Some Very Cool Music for Tuesday Bluesday Sandwiched Around Our Album of The Week, September 20, 2022

Good Morning, Bluesologists! We have some great Tuesday Bluesday material for you today; the only diversion will be a short trip to the Land of Psychedelia with Donovan this afternoon.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

11:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Taj Mahal

We here in the lounge consider Taj Mahal a national treasure. I’ll never forget my 2014 trip to New Orleans and the photo I took of a great Taj Mahal mural in the box office at the House of Blues. But I digress. Taj Mahal is not only a great bluesman, but he’s a multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, piano, banjo, harmonica and a bunch of other instruments. He has been instrumental in expanding the scope of the blues by incorporating elements of world music in his creative efforts.

3:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Sunshine Superman by Donovan

The only break in our blues programming comes mid-afternoon when we take a short trip to the land of psychedelic music with Donovan’s Sunshine Superman, our Album of The Week.

7:00 p.m. Rick Danko & Paul Butterfield Live at The Blue Note, Boulder, CO, December 13, 1979

After The Band was no more, Rick Danko teamed up with Paul Butterfield and toured as the blues-rock Danko/Butterfield Band. They went on the road together, and this performance is from The Blue Note in Boulder.

It’s always a busy day on Tuesday Bluesday, and this day is no exception! We’ve got people on from around the globe this morning as we gear up for some great blues programming. Join us. We say that metaphorically because there’s nothing to fill out (no personal information required) and no credit card asked for. If you don’t like us, you simply don’t come back. If you do like us, you continue to come back. Simple. Uncomplicated. No hidden fees. No surprises. That’s us.

Tuesday Bluesday is here!

It’s Sunday and We Have Our ‘Original Sixties Rotation’ EP, a Great Collaboration for Our AOW, and Peter Tosh In the Spotlight, August 21, 2022

Good Morning, Musicologists! We’ve got an eclectic programming day planned for you today, starting with our great Album of The Week, then moving into our very first Sixties Rotation. We close out later with our Reggae selection.

Here’s today’s lineup:

10:00 a.m. Album of The Week: The Union by Elton John and Leon Russell NEW!

Any album with these two guys in collaboration can only be called a tour de force. Released in 2010, the album was produced by the great T. Bone Burnett (who also contributes on electric guitar). Others who helped out include Booker T. Jones (Hammond B-3), Neil Young (vocals), Robert Randolph (pedal steel guitar), and Brian Wilson (vocal harmonies). It debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, and was listed at No. 3 on Rolling Stone’s 30 Best Albums of 2010.

1:00 p.m. The Original Sixties Rotation: Various Artists

We’ve got just over five hours of uninterrupted sixties music coming your way in the early afternoon. This particular rotation focuses on the early-to-mid years of the decade, although I can’t guarantee we don’t slip some stuff in from later in the decade. I may have been stoned when I made it. You will hear Del Shannon, Little Eva, The Drifters, The Beatles, Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Hollies, The Walker Brothers, Mary Wells, Dusty Springfield, The Searchers, The Monkees, Sonny & Cher, Petula Clark, Glen Campbell, Johnny Rivers, The Dave Clark Five, The Supremes, Harry Nilsson, The Band, The Yardbirds, The Kinks, Simon & Garfunkel, Blind Faith, Janis Joplin, Tony Joe White, Barry McGuire, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Fats Domino and more.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Peter Tosh NEW!

Peter Tosh has a long, storied musical history. Abandoned by his parents and shuffled among his relatives, he eventually became a self-taught singer, songwriter and musician who was a critical part of The Wailers. He eventually met Robert Nesta Marley (THE Bob Marley) and Neville O’Reilly Livingston (Bunny Wailer). They started singing together in 1962 and the rest is history. He wrote several of the Wailers hit songs including Get Up, Stand Up, 400 Years, and No Sympathy. After the Wailers, Peter Tosh went on to a successful solo career starting with his album, Legalize It. Today, we put Reggae legend Peter Tosh In the Spotlight.

Here we are again. Another Sunday in The Mermaid Lounge, and a perfect day to acquaint yourselves with our special brand of radio. Yep. It’s true. You can’t create “custom” playlists here. That’s not what we’re about. We’re about real radio. I remember the days of summer laying around in my yard with my friends tuned into our transistor radios listening to WMEX. We waited in anticipation for every song.

Sunday Funday!

It’s Saturday in The Mermaid Lounge With Our ‘Psychedelic Express’ EP, Desmond Dekker In The Spotlight, LIVE DEAD! and The Final Airing of Neil Young’s AOW, August 20, 2022

Good Morning, Music Lovers! We have a very full Saturday here for you but, nevertheless, our wide Open Stream dominates on the time scale. We never give you too much programming…just enough.

It’s time for our monthly trip into the land of psychedelia!

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Songs for Judy by Neil Young FINAL AIRING!

We bid Neil Young an early fond farewell today as we kick this one off early for our overseas listeners. Tomorrow, we’ll have a brand new album for you all when you finally wake up!

12:00 p.m. The Psychedelic Express: Various Artists

We’re back with our trip to psychedelic music land where you’ll hear Vanilla Fudge, The Chambers Brothers, The Beatles, Electric Prunes, The Animals, Jefferson Airplane, Blues Image, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Doors, Pink Floyd, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Donovan, Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Byrds, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Traffic, Cream, Dr. John, Procol Harum, Fleetwood Mac, The Who, Canned Heat, Tommy James & The Shondells, Yes, Electric Light Orchestra, Mudrutch, Blind Faith, Grateful Dead, The Velvet Underground, Big Brother & The Holding Company and more!

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Desmond Dekker and The Aces NEW!

Another trip down Reggae Road here with Desmond Dekker, a Jamaican Reggae, Ska and Rocksteady singer-songwriter and musician. Together with his backing band, The Aces, he had one of the first international reggae hits with his song Israelites. I remember hearing that song on the radio over and over and I loved it. But I didn’t really have a total appreciation for Reggae then as I do now.

10:00 p.m. LIVE DEAD! The Grateful Dead Live at Boston Garden, Boston, MA, May 12, 1980 NEW!

Another great concert from a great jam band. This one comes from my hometown back in 1980. We’ve had a few from Boston, but not from 1980 yet. Tonight, we’ve got that one too.

Well, once again, allow me to tell you that it would be a great day to spend with us here in The Mermaid Lounge if you can spare some time. It won’t take long for you to get hooked. Trust me. We’re not about charging money so you can build Internet playlists. If you want to do that, you can go pay Spotify. We’re all about being radio. And we don’t clog our airwaves with mouthy DJs and commercial advertising.

Join us in The Mermaid Lounge!

It’s Finally Friday and We’ve Got Our ‘Folk Music From A-To-Z’ EP and a Visit From the I-Threes Coming Up, August 19, 2022

Good Morning, Reggaeologists! Yes. It’s still Reggae Week, right through to Sunday. Or Maybe Monday. We’ll see. But today, we’ve got the I-Threes coming’ at ya, and I’m pretty sure there’ll be plenty of folks out there who don’t really know who they are. We’re going to help you with that.

The I-Threes are Rita Marley, Judy Mowatt and Marcia Griffiths.

Here’s today’s lineup:

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

Folk music was the original musical genre of the protest generation with Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Odetta, Phil Ochs, Lead Belly as the forefathers. Today, they’ll be joined by others, including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Peter, Paul & Mary, John Prine, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Arlo Guthrie, Tim Hardin, The Kingston Trio, Simon & Garfunkel, Richie Havens, The Carter Family, Eric Andersen, Tom Rush, Jackson Browne, Jesse Winchester, Joni Mitchell, The Stone Poneys, Harry Chapin, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, and more!

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The I-Threes NEW!

So, who are the I-Threes? The I-Threes are Rita Marley (yes, wife of Bob), Judy Mowatt and Marcia Griffiths and it is the most influential female group in Reggae music. From 1974 right up until Bob Marley’s untimely death ten years later, they provided his rich vocal backgrounds. They also made music of their own. And today we are very excited about putting them In the Spotlight as we continue to focus on the women of music here in The Mermaid Lounge.

Come on, people. This is your chance to tune us in. We’re hear 24/7 around the clock every day trying to bring you the best of music. And that means we don’t play the same songs over and over and over. We play just enough of our house bands, but not too much. We are also advertising-free and do not require your personal information, a subscription or your credit card. Your money is absolutely no good here.

The I-Threes are here!

It’s Monday, Monday as We Open Up Reggae Week Here in The Mermaid Lounge! Read On for Details, August 15, 2022

Good Morning, Reggae-ologists! It’s Reggae Week (we are also Ska and Rocksteady inclusive here in The Mermaid Lounge) and that means a little bit of Reggae sunshine in your day nearly every day (the exception will be Tuesday Bluesday), as we bolster our rotation.

L to R: Bob Marley & The Wailers, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Toots & The Maytals.

Here’s your Monday, Monday lineup:

11:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Jimmy Cliff NEW!

Often called the Grandfather of Reggae, Jimmy Cliff is a Reggae, Ska, and Rocksteady multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter who began his musical journey when he was still in primary school. He also starred in the movie The Harder They Come, which helped to propel Reggae to popularity around the world. He is the only living Reggae musician to receive the Order of Merit, the highest honor you can receive from the Jamaican government for achievement in the arts & sciences. He was inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. We kick off Reggae Week by putting him In the Spotlight.

3:00 p.m. The Allman Brothers Band Live at A & R Studios, New York, NY, August 26, 1971

This afternoon, we take some time with The Brothers live and on stage in NYC. They are always a treat. I’ve seen them ‘live’ several times myself in my lifetime, and have never been disappointed.

7:00 p.m. For Foodies Only: Various Artists

Here’s a fun multi-artist playlist with the mention of food of all kinds in the title, lyrics or both. You will hear The Rolling Stones, Little Feat, The Beatles, Van Morrison, Judy Collins, Steely Dan, Harry Nilsson, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Strangeloves, Led Zeppelin, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Supertramp, Emmylou Harris, Bob Dylan, Guy Clark, Tom Petty, Jimmy Buffett, The Kinks, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Fats Domino, The Four Tops, Booker T. & The MGs and more!

Start your day the Reggae way! We hope to broaden your musical horizons this week. We are totally free with absolutely no strings and no surprises. There are no financial commitments. There is no personal information requested. And nothing to fill out. And we run 24/7, not just when we have programming. That’s because we have a big, wide Open Stream of more than 27,000 songs to share with you.

Reggae Week is Here!

It’s Monday and We’re on Wide Open Stream With Trifectas All Day Long, March 21, 2022

Good Morning, Musicologists! We are having some software upgrades completed today and we’re on Wide Open Stream. The Music Mermaid is in charge and she has decided that we’re tossing in Trifectas today! It’s DJ’s choice!

The Music Mermaid is at the controls and life is good!

Here’s today’s line-up:

Music all day long. No commercial interruption, and Trifectas on the hour starting at 9:00 a.m. and ending at 6:00 p.m. We run 24/7 without commercial interruption. Tune. Us. In.

Wide Open Stream!