It’s Sunday and The Ladies Own the Morning, Followed by The I-Threes and Some ‘Live’ ELO, April 28, 2024

Good morning, musicologists and welcome to another Sunday in The Mermaid Lounge where the music is free and the living is easy. The ladies rule the morning and early afternoon.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Ladies Day Out: Various Artists

The ladies are back to rule The Lounge this morning with 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 Crow, Susan Tedeschi, Dusty Springfield, Valerie Carter, Dolly Parton and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The I-Threes

Without a doubt the most influential all-woman Reggae band is In The Spotlight this afternoon. The I-Threes are Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths, and Judy Mowatt.

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

Jeff Lynne’s ELO (not what they were called back in the day; but it is now) is here to close out the programming for today with a great live show at The Paris Theatre. They are on the road now for their farewell tour, and blow through Boston in September.

Join us on this fine, sunny Sunday (at least it is here for the moment) as we play the best music on the planet 24/7, free of charge and free from commercial advertising.

Welcome to Monday With Ray Charles and Our ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul’ EP, April 22, 2024

Welcome to Monday, Monday. In between Ray Charles and our ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul’ EP, we’ve got a bunch of great wide Open Stream to kick off the week.

Here’s Monday’s lineup:

This one has been a long time coming and it’s finally here. We kick off the program with a long-awaited Ray Charles spotlight. We have been remiss and we repent.

3:00 p.m. A Little Bit O’ Soul: Various Artists

We move from Ray Charles into our big, bad soul and R&B EP, where you’ll hear more Ray Charles in addition to Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Ronettes, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, Jimmy Ruffin, The Drifters, Chuck Berry, Stevie Wonder, Carla Thomas, James Brown, The Shirelles, Etta James, Curtis Mayfield, Sam & Dave, The Staple Singers, Nina Simone, LaVern Baker, The Supremes, Sam Cooke, Edwin Starr, Fontella Bass, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Irma Thomas, The Box Tops, Jr. Walker & the All Stars, Eddie Floyd, Ann Peebles, Al Green and more!

Thursday Brings Our ‘In Your Dreams’ EP, a Jerry Jeff Walker Spotlight and Neil Young & Crazy Horse ‘Live’ on April 4, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! We’re on the downslide to the weekend and we’ve got a great lineup, including some new ‘live’ music from Neil Young & Crazy Horse.

Here’s today’s programming:

9:00 a.m. In Your Dreams: Various Artists

There are hundreds of songs about dreaming, but some do not make the cut. In this EP you’ll hear The Everly Brothers, The Moody Blues, Van Morrison, The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Monkees, The Mamas & The Papas, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Linda Ronstadt, Randy Newman, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Buffett, Widespread Panic, Jackson Browne, Mudcrutch, Aretha Franklin, Patsy Cline, Harry Chapin, Roy Orbison, Townes Van Zandt, Electric Prunes, Dusty Springfield, Melissa Etheridge, John Prine, Tom Rush, Electric Light Orchestra and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Jerry Jeff Walker

Perhaps best known for writing Mr. Bojangles, Jerry Jeff Walker was so much more than that. Along with Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and others, he was one of the pioneers of the outlaw country sound. I remember seeing him years ago at the old Harvard Square Theater in Cambridge as the opening act for Little Feat. I was hooked and have been ever since.

This live performance was a warm-up for his Ragged Glory Tour. This two-hour performance includes three sets and an encore, by one of the greatest singer-songwriters of his generation who keeps on keeping on.

We Begin Anew With Emmylou Harris, The Best of Reggae & SKA and Music From ‘The Queens’, Monday, April 1, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! It may be April Fool’s Day, but we’re not fooling around here in The Mermaid Lounge. After a day off from programming we’re back with some great programming selections!

Here’s your April Fools Day lineup:

10:00 a.m. Emmylou Harris With The Daniel Lanois Band Live at Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, UK, November 23, 1995

On her eighteenth studio album, Wrecking Ball, Emmylou Harris moved away from her traditional acoustic sound to work with Daniel Lanois. I don’t need to write a trove of stuff here when you can read this great review from Pitchfork. We start the day with her live performance with The Daniel Lanois band in 1995. Hear it for yourself.

2:00 p.m. The Best of Reggae & Ska: Various Artists

We will be expanding this soon, but for now it’s a pretty damned good playlist. You’ll hear Bob Marley & The Wailers, Prince Buster, Desmond Dekker & The Aces, Laurel Aitken, Derrick Morgan, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, Judy Mowatt, Bunny Wailer, Rita Marley, The Rhythm Aces, Marcia Griffiths, the Jiving Juniors and more!

7:00 p.m. Long Live The Queens: Various Artists

Haven’t spun this one for a while, but we give you Koko Taylor (The Queen of The Blues), Aretha Franklin (The Queen of Soul), Irma Thomas (The Soul Queen of New Orleans), and Linda Ronstadt (The Queen of Rock) all in one very enjoyable playlist. Don’t miss it.

Time flies when you’re having fun, and we are having fun here in The Mermaid Lounge. It’s already April and we’re easing into a new approach here and we’ll be adding new artists that have been on the waiting list for a while. Keep us tuned in.

We’re at Midweek With ‘Ladies Day Out,’ Badfinger, and Derek & The Dominos, Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! Today we start out with the women of music in charge, then move on to ‘live’ Badfinger at The BBC and Derek & The Dominos at The Fillmore.

Here’s your midweek lineup:

9:00 a.m. Ladies Day Out: Various Artists

It’s a little bit country, jazz, rock n’ roll, folk, soul and everything in between with Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon, Emmylou Harris, Petula Clark, Laura Nyro, Cilla Black, Irma Thomas, Aretha Franklin, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Etta James, Janis Joplin, Carole King, Maria Muldaur, Lucinda Williams, Rosanne Cash, Eva Cassidy, Wendy Waldman, Shawn Colvin, The Ronettes, The Supremes, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Norah Jones, Phoebe Snow, Nicolette Larson, Sheryl Crow, Susan Tedeschi, Valerie Carter, Dolly Parton and more!

4:00 p.m. Badfinger Live at The Paris Theatre, London, UK, June 8, 1972 and August 8, 1973

Badfinger recorded two seven-song sets for broadcast on The BBC within months of each other. The set lists avoided their big hits, with the exception of Come And Get It, written by Sir Paul McCartney.

8:00 p.m. Derek & The Dominos Live at The Fillmore East, New York, November 23, 1970

We close out the programming with a live performance in New York by Derek & The Dominos.

After today, everything is on the downslide to the weekend once again. Keep your chins up. We’re right here playing the best music on the planet for you 24/7 free of charge and with no commercial interruption.

It’s Our ‘Original Sixties Rotation’ EP, The Association, and Tom Petty as Our Featured Singer-Songwriter, Monday, February 26, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We are starting off the week with a rare EP on a Monday, but it’s a short month and we have to get this one in. We are also winding down on our Singer-Songwriter Series, saving the best for last. This week we introduce Tom Petty as our featured artist. Next week? It’s Lennon & McCartney.

Here’s your musical Monday:

9:00 a.m. The Original Sixties Rotation: Various Artists

One of two major sixties playlists airs today. You’ll hear The Beatles, The Monkees, Sonny & Cher, Joe Cocker, Simon & Garfunkel, Little Eva, The Everly Brothers, The Searchers, Dusty Springfield, The Drifters, The Dave Clark Five, Johnny Rivers, Bob Dylan, The Animals, Petula Clark, The Rolling Stones, Procol Harum, The Turtles, Del Shannon, The Temptations, James Brown, Fontella Bass, The Box Tops, Blues Image, Booker T & The MG’s, The Four Tops, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Them, The Left Banke, Fats Domino and more!

4:00 p.m. The Association Live at The Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, Utah, April 3, 1970

I love airing the old bands. It’s often tough to find ‘live’ performances but, if you persevere, you can find some. This is a great performance from The Salt Palace.

We’re winding down on this great series which has taken us through nearly a year. We’ve saved the best for the end. This week we feature Dr. Tom Petty, certainly the most prolific and consequential songwriter of his generation via The Heartbreakers, Mudcrutch, The Traveling Wilburys and his solo career. Every single song on this playlist is a Petty composition, and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

It’s ‘Ladies Day Out’, The Rolling Stones, and ‘Great Beginnings’ Closing It Out, Saturday, February 24, 2024

Good morning, music lovers and welcome to the weekend! We start off with the women of music in charge, move on to the final airing of our AOW, and give you a brand new multi-artist playlist this evening.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Ladies Day Out: Various Artists

The ladies are back in the Lounge today and they own the first five hours of our programming. Spend some time with Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon, Emmylou Harris, Petula Clark, Laura Nyro, Irma Thomas, Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Etta James, Janis Joplin, Carole King, Maria Muldaur, Lucinda Williams, Rosanne Cash, Eva Cassidy, Wendy Waldman, The Supremes, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Susan Tedeschi, Valerie Carter, Dusty Springfield, Dolly Parton and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: It’s Only Rock N’ Roll by The Rolling Stones FINAL AIRING!

The Stones are back with the final airing of our Album of The Week. Tomorrow, we’ll have a new 50th anniversary album for you.

A friend suggested this one, and I thought it was a great idea. Songs with great ‘openings’, some of them definitely guitar riffs, but some not. You’ll hear The Beatles, Electric Light Orchestra, Johnny Rivers, Elton John, Yes, Linda Ronstadt, Chicago, Roy Orbison, Aerosmith, Jimi Hendrix Experience, CSNY, The Temptations, The Hollies, The Edgar Winter Group, Cream, Neil Young and more!

We’ve Got Willie Nelson as Our Featured Singer-Songwriter and Our ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul’ EP, Monday, February 19, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We’ve got a great Monday on tap today with Willie Nelson as this week’s featured singer-songwriter and our big, bad soul EP this afternoon into evening.

Here’s your musical lineup:

You had to know we’d get around to the original Outlaw here in The Mermaid Lounge and today is that day.

3:00 p.m. A Little Bit O’ Soul: Various Artists

We’ve got our big, bad soul EP up at midday with Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Ronettes, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Jimmy Ruffin, The Drifters, Chuck Berry, Stevie Wonder, Carla Thomas, James Brown, The Shirelles, Etta James, Curtis Mayfield, Sam & Dave, The Staple Singers, Nina Simone, LaVern Baker, The Supremes, Sam Cooke, Edwin Starr, Fontella Bass, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Irma Thomas, The Box Tops, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Eddie Floyd, Percy Sledge, The Ad Libs, Joe Tex, Wanda Jackson, Ann Peebles, Al Green and more!

It’s Tuesday Bluesday With The Ladies, Bob Dylan’s AOW and a Howlin’ Wolf in Chicago, February 6, 2024

Good morning, bluesologists! We are back with ‘Ladies Sing The Blues’ to kick off our first Tuesday Bluesday of the month. I also stumbled upon some Howlin’ Wolf in my files!

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m.  Ladies Sing The Blues: Various Artists

And what a collection it is with Billie Holliday, Big Mama Thornton, Ruth Brown, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Koko Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Christine McVie, Marcia Ball, Ellen McIlwaine, Susan Tedeschi, Irma Thomas, Tracy Nelson, Etta James, Linda Ronstadt, Sippie Wallace, Bessie Smith, Shawn Murphy, Angela Strehli, Aretha Franklin, The Blues Broads and more!

4:00 p.m.  Album of The Week: Planet Waves by Bob Dylan

Bob’s back for his second spin with our Album of The Week.

I had no idea that I even had these files. I stumbled upon them Saturday night. This one is late in Howlin’ Wolf’s career, but he still could bring it.

We’re at Midweek With ‘The Female Species,’ Dan Fogelberg and Some ‘Live’ David Crosby, Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Good morning, music lovers. We are at the midweek stage and we’ve got our ‘Female Species’ multi-artist EP to kick things off!

Here’s your midweek musical lineup:

9:00 a.m.  The Female Species: Various Artists

It’s not songs by women this morning, but songs about women. You’ll hear Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Jackson Browne, Talking Heads, The Boogaloo Swamis, John Mayall, Hot Tuna, The Eagles, Elvis Presley, Electric Light Orchestra, Fleetwood Mac, Percy Sledge, The Beatles, America, Roy Orbison, Billy Joel, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, The Beach Boys, The Temptations, Linda Ronstadt and more!

4:00 p.m.  Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Dan Fogelberg

Dan Fogelberg returns to The Mermaid Lounge as our featured singer-songwriter for this week.

We close out the programming portion of our music today with some new ‘live’ music from the late, great David Crosby.