Friday Brings Vintage Joni Mitchell, a Musical Trip to New Orleans, and a Surprise Byrds Reunion, April 12, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! We have made it to the end of the week once again and we’ve got a great lineup for y’all today starting with the one and only Joni.

Here’s your musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. Joni Mitchell Live at Club 47, Cambridge, MA, January 10, 1968

Time to jump into the Wayback Machine again for this one at the famous Club 47 in my hometown. It would morph into Passim’s Coffee House, where I would spend a good deal of time hearing great music in Harvard Square. Many have passed through here on their way to their heralded musical careers, like Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt and Guy Clark. Then, there’s Joni Mitchell. And we’ve got that one today.

12:30 p.m. Down In New Orleans: Various Artists

Haven’t broken this one out in a while and it’s about damned time. We have authentic NOLA music mixed in with rock n’ roll artists who were born and raised there. You’ll hear BeauSoleil, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John. Buckwheat Zydeco, Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Irma Thomas, Allen Fontenot, The Neville Brothers, Lucinda Williams, Boozoo Chavis, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Louis Armstrong, Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zydeco Band, The Daywalkers, Jerry Lee Lewis and more!

8:00 p.m. The Byrds Live at The Boarding House, San Francisco, CA, February 9, 1978

Here’s the story on this great performance. Three of the Byrds’ founding members, Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark and Chris Hillman were touring the west coast, each playing a short solo set and then convening on stage for some vintage Byrds tunes. On this particular night, David Crosby joined them on stage for several tunes (I think it was 9 songs), making it the closest thing to a Byrds reunion as you can get. The only missing piece was drummer Michael Clarke. It’s here tonight.

We’ve got some great stuff on tap for today. Don’t know about the weather where you are but we’re at monsoon level today I hear. Lots of wind and rain. Great day to hunker down with some great tunes.

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.

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.

On Friday We’re Headed for New Orleans, Say Farewell to Buddy Holly, and Get Some ‘Live’ Flying Burrito Brothers, On August 4, 2023

Good morning, musicologists! Today we’re headed for some great New Orleans music as we dust off this great EP. And there’s more, so read on for details!

Here’s your end-of-the-work-week lineup:

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

The musical spectrum in New Orleans is just huge, and today we cover it all. Not just those who sing New Orleans style music, but those who were born and raised there, like Lucinda Williams and Fats Domino. In addition, you’ll hear Allen Toussaint, BeauSoleil, Clifton Chenier, Dr. John, Buckwheat Zydeco, Irma Thomas, Professor Longhair, Aaron Neville, Allen Fontenot, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Kermit Ruffins, Louis Armstrong, The Daywalkers, 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 Buddy Holly FINAL AIRING!

Today we bow to Buddy Holly as he gives his final spin as our featured singer-songwriter. On Saturday, we’ll have a new artist for you.

8:00 p.m. The Flying Burrito Brothers Live at The Palomino, West Hollywood, CA, June 8, 1969

Lean into some fine country-rock from a pioneering band that played a significant role in the birth of this musical genre.

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Good Morning, Weekenders! We’ve Got the Final Airing of Our AOW, the ‘Are You Ready for The Country’ EP and a Brand New Singer-Songwriter Feature on Saturday, March 18, 2023

Yes, we’ve made it to Saturday, and that can only be a good thing. We’ve got some great stuff lined up, including the late, great Christine McVie as this week’s singer-songwriter.

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Hot Chili Mama by BeauSoleil FINAL AIRING!

We’re bidding a very fond farewell to BeauSoleil’s great album of Cajun and Zydeco music today, but there’s more where that came from. We promise. Tomorrow we’ll have a brand new album for you.

11:00 a.m. Are You Ready For The Country: Various Artists

We’re back with our great EP of real country (not bad pop bands with fiddles) and country-rock pioneers today, including Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, The Eagles, Guy Clark, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Neil Young, The Byrds, Gram Parsons, Pure Prairie League, Asleep At The Wheel, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Bob Dylan, 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, Chris Hillman & The Desert Rose Band and more!

7:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Christine McVie NEW!

Many people consider Stevie Nicks the driving force behind Fleetwood Mac, but we consider that force to be Christine McVie the writer and singer, of many of their biggest hits (Say You Love Me, Little Lies, Over My Head, You Make Loving Fun). Rolling Stone magazine calls her ‘the beating heart of Fleetwood Mac.’ She was was part of Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac (before Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham; when they were a blues band) and a woman who was a fixture in the mid-60’s British blues scene. She is this week’s featured singer-songwriter.

This is an excellent day to join us (not literally, because there are absolutely no ‘joinng’ requirements). See for yourself. Just pull up a tab and click the button below.

We’re Over the Hump and Heading for the Weekend With Our AOW, Some Wide Open Stream and the Final Summer Of Love Playlist on Thursday, March 16, 2023

Good morning, music lovers! We are over the midweek hump and heading for nirvana as we give you plenty of wide Open Stream sandwiched between some excellent programming.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Hot Chili Mama by BeauSoleil

We’re on the downslide with this great Cajun and Zydeco album by BeauSoleil, often called the greatest Cajun band in the world. Our final airing will be sometime on Saturday, so don’t miss your opportunity!

10:00 a.m. Open Stream with The Music Mermaid

Right after the airing of our AOW, we begin several hours of wide Open Stream courtesy of our Music Mermaid. Who knows what she’ll get you into, but she’s got 30,000 music files to choose from, so there will be no repeats.

7:00 p.m. Summer of Love, Volume Three: Various Artists

Tonight we give you the final installment of our Summer of Love Series. For the record, the SOL was not 1969. I believe that myth exists because of Woodstock. The actual Summer of Love was in 1967, but no matter because you will hear The Mamas & The Papas, The Rascals, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Jackie Wilson, Donovan, The Turtles, Vanilla Fudge, The Association, The Doors, The Youngbloods, Lulu, Buffalo Springfield and more!

Speaking of love. What’s not to love here? We are on 24/7 and we’re totally free. We’re also free of commercial advertising. Get on board.

It’s Tuesday Bluesday With Our Louisiana Blues EP and Johnny Winter Playing Around Our AOW on This Rainy Day, March 14, 2023

Good morning, Bluesologists! We’ve got our multi-artist ‘Best of Louisiana Blues’ EP kicking off Tuesday Bluesday and Johnny Winter closing it. In between, it’s our Album of The Week by BeauSoleil!

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

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

This is our newest multi-artist blues EP introduced for the first time in January. You’ll hear Ray Charles, Lillian Glinn, Slim Harpo. Fats Domino, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Rodney Harris, Roosevelt Sykes, Shirley & Lee, Roy Brown, Papa Lightfoot, Guitar Slim, Annie Laurie, Fats Matthews, Big Joe Turner, Big Boy Myles, Little Walter, Mary Butler, Erline Harris, Marcia Ball, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Professor Longhair, The Neville Brothers, Irma Thomas, Dave Bartholemew and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Hot Chili Mama by BeauSoleil

Today is the second airing of this great album by a band that is often called the greatest Cajun Zydeco band in the world. It may not be the blues, but we’re still in the right geographical vicinity!

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Johnny Winter

No question about it, Johnny Winter was the most high-energy blues guitarist on the planet, and as we all know, he was true to the blues. But he was more than just that. He was the guy who produced grammy-winning albums for blues great Muddy Waters. Tonight we put Johnny Winter In the Spotlight.

Tuesday Bluesday is always a full house here, so why not join in? We’re totally free and we play some of the best blues on the planet from all over the place. See for yourself. It won’t cost you anything but time.

We Keep It Simple on Sundays With BeauSoleil’s Album of The Week and Our ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul’ EP, March 12, 2023

Good morning, weekenders! As usual, we keep it simple on Sundays here in The Mermaid Lounge. We’ve got a great new Album of The Week and our ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul’ EP. Before, in between and after, there’s plenty of wide Open Stream

Here’s your Sunday lineup:

11:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Hot Chili Mama by BeauSoleil NEW!

We here in The Mermaid Lounge are big fans of Cajun/Zydeco music, and this is one great album by the band universally called the greatest Cajun band in the world. Be sure to tune it in this morning!

4:00 p.m. A Little Bit O’ Soul: Various Artists

We’re back again with our ode to the music that made America dance and sing. This is our all-encompassing soul and rhythm & blues EP giving you five hours of uninterrupted music from 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, The Ad Libs, Arthur Conley, Joe Tex, Wanda Jackson, Percy Sledge, Ann Peebles, Al Green and more!

It’s officially a day of rest and it’s Daylight Savings Sunday as well. Kick back, take your shoes off and live. We’re on 24/7 and we’re totally free. We don’t accept advertising and we don’t spend a hell of a lot of time talking. We just play music.

The Work Week Begins With The Mamas & The Papas, BeauSoleil Live in Louisiana, and Emmylou Harris Live in London, Monday, February 27, 2023

Good morning, musicologists! We’re on our last Monday of the month of February and we’ve got some great music lined up, including brand new ‘live’ Emmylou Harris!

Here’s your Monday, Monday lineup:

11:00 a.m. In the Spotlight: the Music of The Mamas & The Papas

Whenever I talk about the Laurel Canyon set, this is one of the first bands that comes to mind. When I was a mere kid, I wore out every vinyl album of theirs that I owned. Today we put them In the Spotlight where they belong.

3:00 p.m. BeauSoleil Live in Louisiana!

I know many will be saying “who the hell is BeauSoleil?” Well, allow me to enlighten you. Led by fiddler Michael Doucet, BeauSoleil has been making great Cajun music for more than 30 years and has been called the world’s greatest Cajun band. The sounds of Louisiana are among my favorites. This selection of live songs was culled from their 2006 post-Katrina tour that included several benefit performances.

7:00 p.m. Emmylou Harris with The Daniel Lanois Band Live at Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, UK, November 23, 1995 NEW!

This tour was in support of Emmylou’s amazing Wrecking Ball album, a collaboration with Daniel Lanois. At the age of 48, Emmylou felt the need to redefine herself to some degree, moving away from her traditional acoustic sound and taking a harder edge. The album won the 1996 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Recording.

We start off Monday with a bang, folks. I know many of you are back at work, but if you work in an office, that’s perfect. Shut your door, pull up a tab and click the button below. I promise there is no subscription required, no forms to fill out and no credit card necessary.

Heading Toward The Weekend With Our ‘Down in New Orleans’ EP, ‘Live’ Dr. John Later, and Our AOW in Between, Thursday, July 28, 2022

Good Morning, Music Lovers. We’ve got a veritable New Orleans extravaganza going on today with our New Orleans EP and some ‘live’ music from the Nitetripper later on.

Here’s your musical line-up:

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

We haven’t heard this one for a bit. Not only do we have authentic New Orleans music featured here, but music featured by those born and raised in Louisiana. You’ll hear music from Beau Soleil, Clifton Chenier, Lucinda Williams, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, The Neville Brothers, Tony Joe White, Professor Longhair, Fats Domino, Irma Thomas, Allen Fontenot, Aaron Neville, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Chance Bushman, The Daywalkers, The Boogaloo Swamis, Kermit Ruffins, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Magnolia Sisters, The Meters, Queen Ida & The BonTemps, Boozoo Chavis and more!

3:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Steady On by Shawn Colvin

This will be our next-to-last airing of this fine album before we move on. Don’t miss it. Your last chance to hear it will be sometime Saturday. On Sunday, we’ll have something brand new for you!

7:00 p.m. Dr. John Live at Ultrasonic Studios, Hempstead, New York, November 6, 1973

Some great ‘live’ music here from the Nitetripper, otherwise known as Dr. John, otherwise known as Malcom John Rebbenack, Jr. No matter what you call him, Dr. John is a Mermaid Lounge favorite here as he delivers his New Orleans brand of R & B, funk, blues and jazz.

Great day to tune us in as we focus on one of our favorite musical venues today. Some of the folks you hear today, like Chance Bushman and The Daywalkers, I learned about on a trip to New Orleans where there’s practically street music on every corner. Don’t miss it!

On Monday, We Take a Trip to New Orleans, and We’ve Got Valerie Carter’s ‘The Lost Tapes 1 & 2’ Back-to-Back Later, May 16, 2022

Good Morning, Musicologists! We’re back in retail hell for the day, but we’ve got great music on tap, including music from New Orleans and a special airing of Valerie Carter’s The Lost Tapes later.

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band is just one of the NOLA bands you’ll hear today!

Here’s your Moan-Day lineup:

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

Not only will you hear authentic Cajun/Zydeco as part of this great EP today, but you’ll be treated to musical artists who were born in Louisiana. This includes BeauSoleil, Clifton Chenier, Lucinda Williams, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, The Neville Brothers, Tony Joe White, Professor Longhair, Fats Domino, Irma Thomas, Allen Fontenot, Aaron Neville, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Chance Bushman, The Daywalkers, The Boogaloo Swamis, Kermit Ruffins, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Magnolia Sisters, The Meters, Queen Ida & The BonTemps, Boozoo Chavis, and more!

7:00 p.m. Valerie Carter: The Lost Tapes, Volumes One & Two

This is a special back-to-back airing of some great “found” music from the late, great Valerie Carter. Not only was she a solo artist in her own right, but she was a highly sought-after addition to projects from artists like Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne and others. I will never forget her appearance as the opening act for Ronstadt’s concert at the Orpheum in Boston, and the two of them singing on stage together. One of my fondest musical memories.

Tune us in, people. You don’t hear this shit anywhere else, and you certainly don’t hear it for free 24/7. Before, after and in between our modest programming hours, we bring you great Open Stream around the clock.