Good morning from The Mermaid Lounge, and welcome to Finally Friday! We’ve got a great lineup that includes The Heartbreakers 1993 live performance at home in Gainesville, a playlist about heaven and hell, and a Four Tops ‘Spotlight’ feature!
Here’s your finally Friday lineup:
10:00 a.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live at The Stephen C. O’ Connell Center, Gainesville, FL, November 4, 1993
We open it up with a great concert from The Heartbreakers at home in Gainesville, vintage 1993. The band at home was always a massive event, and this one is no exception. It’s got an impressive collection of music.
4:00 p.m. Between Heaven and Hell: Various Artists
It’s not an EP, but it’s a great playlist with songs about heaven and hell from The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Steve Winwood, Pink Floyd, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Byrds, Emmylou Harris, The Rolling Stones, Roberta Flack, John Lee Hooker, Willie Nelson & Waylon Jennings, Fats Domino, Mudcrutch, Bruce Hornsby, Elvis Presley, and more!
8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Four Tops
We close it out with one of the bands that played an instrumental part of putting Motown on the musical map.
It’s cloudy and dismal here, much like the mood in the nation. However, we’re here to at least brighten your day with the greatest music on the planet. Give us a shot. The button is below.
Good morning, musicologists. I make my 71st trip around the sun today and I chose stuff I wanted to hear. I confess. However, I’m sure you’ll like it too!
Here’s your Friday lineup:
10:00 a.m. Repeat After Me: Volume One
They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. So, Linda Ronstadt covers Martha & The Vandellas; The Heartbreakers cover J.J. Cale; Joan Baez covers The Band; Three Dog Night covers Laura Nyro; Emmylou Harris covers The Beatles; and The Beatles cover Barrett Strong. You get the picture. This is one of my favorite playlists. So is Volume Two which will air tomorrow and, hopefully, an new Volume Three which I hope to have ready for Sunday or Monday. Enjoy.
3:00 p.m. Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Shawn Colvin, Bruce Hornsby, and David Lindley Live at Red Rocks Amphitheater, Morrison, CO, September 12, 1999
I had the absolute pleasure of attending this show when it came through Great Woods back in the day. It was a beautiful night in the open air with an all-star cast that did not disappoint. See for yourselves.
8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Randy Newman
A class act singer-songwriter with a wry sense of humor. Randy Newman is an American institution who has put many a singer on the map. Tonight we hear him sing his own songs.
Once again, we’re here 24/7 at no cost to you. None. No lie. We also refuse to run commercial advertising or to employ overly chatty DJs. We’re all about the music. Check it all out. The button is below.
Good morning, musicologists! We end the work week with a bang to day with two legends opening and closing, and our ‘Between Heaven and Hell’ playlist.
Here’s your end-of-the-work-week lineup:
10:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Steve Winwood
A Mermaid Lounge legend in our eyes. We don’t think the guy has made a bad song ever in his life. Today he’s front and center as a member of The Spencer-Davis Group, Blind Faith, Traffic and as a solo artist. That resume alone puts him in the Legend category.
4:00 p.m. Between Heaven & Hell: Various Artists
Not an EP, but a good one nevertheless with The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, The Eagles, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, The Rolling Stones, The Grass Roots, Emmylou Harris, Roberta Flack, Elvis Presley, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Fats Domino, Bruce Hornsby and more!
8:00 p.m. Stephen Stills Live at The Capitol Theater, Passaic, NJ, March 23, 1979
We close out the programming with another musical legend in Stephen Stills. Tonight we’ve got him live from the Capitol Theater.
Before, in between and after we’ve got our big, wide Open Stream running uninterrupted 24/7. There’s no cost to you and there is absolutely no commercial advertising. We’re all about the music. Hit the button below and see for yourself.
Good morning musicologists and welcome to The Mermaid Lounge where music is Queen. We have a great lineup on tap, so read on for details.
Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:
9:00 a.m. Ode To Morning: Various Artists
Fittingly, we begin the morning with songs about the morning. You’ll hear Yusuf/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, Townes Van Zandt and more!
4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Allman Brothers Band
This afternoon we put the spotlight on the band that introduced and anchored the Southern Rock sound, started in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969 by brothers Duane and Greg Allman. Another founding member was Dicky Betts, one of the finest guitarists on the planet, who left this planet just a few days ago. This one’s for him.
8:00 p.m. Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Shawn Colvin, Bruce Hornsby, David Lindley & Wally Ingram Live at Red Rocks Amphitheater, Morrison, CO, September 12, 1999
This is the band that was too big to fail. I was lucky enough to see this tour at what was then called The Tweeter Center in Mansfield, MA, under the stars. It was fantastic.
We’re in a hurry here. We begin at nine, so no time to banter. Yes, I overslept. Enjoy the musical journey!
Good morning, musicologists! We’ve got Stevie Wonder’s final turn as this week’s singer-songwriter sandwiched between two great live performances to close out the work week. Read on!
Here’s the end-of-the-week lineup:
11:00 a.m. Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Shawn Colvin, Bruce Hornsby, David Lindley and Wally Ingram Live at Red Rocks, Morrison, CO, September 12, 1999
I must say I had the pleasure of seeing this tour at what was then called The Tweeter Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts, back in 1999. I even bought myself a tee that I wore so much that I wore it out. This was an amazing performance by an incredibly gifted group of musicians that I will never forget. We bring it to you today for your listening pleasure!
3:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Stevie Wonder FINAL AIRING!
This is the final airing of Stevie Wonder as this week’s featured singer-songwriter, so get on it while you can. The man had his first No. 1 hit at the age of thirteen, after signing his first contract with Tamla at the age of eleven. Tomorrow, we’ll be selecting a brand new artist, but today we’ve got “Little” Stevie Wonder.
7:00 p.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live at The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA, Volume Three, 1997
We close out the programming today with the final volume of The Heartbreakers’s unprecedented 20-show residency at The Fillmore in San Francisco. Many in attendance purchased tickets for multiple nights and were treated to a different show each time as the band scrapped their canned show and took their lead from audience suggestions. This is one event I wish I had the opportunity to see, but the release by curated by the Petty family and his bandmates is pretty incredible.
I don’t know what’s going on with the weather where you are, but here in Boston we’ve got high winds with wind chill factors down to -36 degrees forecasted for today through tomorrow. If I didn’t have to go out to work, I’d be here in The Mermaid Lounge listening to all this great music. And hey, we’re not just broadcasting when we have programming. We’re on 24/7 all year long rotating 27,000+ great tunes.
Good Morning, Musicologists and Audiophiles! It’s another Saturday. Thankfully. And we’ve got a great playlist here with a lot of shit to say about the state of the nation sprinkled in…from the last time we were this pissed off. Call it a musical history lesson.
Here’s your Saturday line-up:
11:00 a.m. The #BecomeUngovernable House Playlist: Various Artists
Today we start the fun with our House EP, just over five hours of music with Barry McGuire, The Temptations, Edwin Starr, Peter Tosh, The Beatles, Genesis, T. Rex, The Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Country Joe & The Fish, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, CSNY, Pink Floyd, The Animals, Ten Years After, The Plastic Ono Band, Billy Joel, George Harrison, The Rolling Stones, Sam Cooke, Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix, Three Dog Night, Jimmy Cliff, Richie Havens, Marvin Gaye, The Association, Phil Ochs, Tom Rush, Pete Seeger, The Band, Nina Simone, and more!
7:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Common Sense by John Prine
We bid a fond farewell to this great Priney album today. There’s a reason why this guy is one of the most respected songwriters on the planet. Tomorrow when you roll out of bed, we’ll have a brand new selection for you! And we’re sure you’ll love it.
10:00 p.m. LIVE DEAD! The Grateful Dead Live at Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA, May 11, 1991 NEW!
The Dead at Shoreline again. We’ve aired a couple of others from this venue. This particular show was a benefit for the NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund, and was at a time when a guy named Bruce Hornsby was on keys for the band. Enjoy.
Tune us in, people. I don’t know what else we can say to convince you. We have listeners from around the world and our U.S. listeners are definitely picking up. We have no money for advertising because we do not have any income from advertising. You’ll never hear that on this station. Get with the program, people.
Good Morning, Musicologists! It’s a fine mix we have here to day for you. The sun is out on this crisp, cool spring day and we have quite a line-up planned.
Coming up this evening, it’s the Dream Team, 1999
Here’s today’s line-up:
12:00 p.m. Deb’s Stream: Tom Petty’s 50 Greatest Hits
Yes, it’s all subjective folks. Next week, I could change this up. But for now, these are my Petty favorites, and not just with his mates in The Heartbreakers, but also solo, with the Traveling Wilburys, and with Mudcrutch. Changing it up kept Tom Petty’s creative juices fresh and flowing, and it shows.
7:00 p.m. The Dream Team 1999: Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Shawn Colvin, Bruce Hornsby, David Lindley, and Wally Ingram, Live at Red Rocks, Morrison, Colorado, September 12, 1999 NEW!
I actually saw this performance myself when it passed through the Tweeter Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts. (Or was it the Comcast Center by then? Well, no matter.) It’s a dream team by anyone’s standards, and it was a fantastic concert. We have a version of this for you here this evening, and we hope you enjoy it.
Tune us in, folks. We’re free and totally outside the system. We do not make a profit. We do not accept advertising. We do not ask for a “subscription” or a credit card.
And for those of you who use Spotify, be advised that it’s now owned by Kanye West. That would be enough for me to forsake my subscription.
Yes, it’s another Sunday here in the College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge where we never really sleep. We just rest our eyes for a spell. We welcome you back!
Paul and George at The Cavern Club.
Here’s today’s lesson!
December 13, 1961: The Beatles signed Brian Epstein to manage them.
On the same day, Mike Smith of Decca Records arrived at the Cavern Club to see The Beatles perform. He determined after that the band had “no future in music.” Boy, did he fuck that one up, right?
December 13, 1962: Elvis Presley’s Return to Sender became his 13th #1 song in the US.
December 13, 1966: Jimi Hendrix recorded Foxy Lady. (It was misspelled on the US version of the album as Foxey Lady.) He also made his television debut on Ready Steady Go! on ITV in the UK.
December 13, 1967: The Grateful Dead perform the song Dark Star for the first time ever in concert at The Shrine Exhbition Hall in Los Angeles. It becomes a Deadhead favorite and is the conduit for some of their most fabled jams. The studio version, oddly enough, ran only 2:44.
December 13, 1969:Someday We’ll Be Together by the Supremes took over the #1 spot on the R & B chart.
Also on this day, Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head by B.J. Thomas shot up to #1 on the Adult chart, and moved into the Top 10 overall.
And speaking of the guys with no future in music, The Beatles’ Abbey Road made it seven weeks at #1 on the Album chart.
December 13, 1970: Dave Edmunds went to #1 on the UK chart with I Hear You Knocking.
December 13, 1986: Bruce Hornsby & The Range top the charts with The Way It Is, an excellent debut song from this band about the U.S. Civil Rights movement. Did you know that Bruce Hornsby was the keyboardist for The Grateful Dead for several years running?
Born On This Day
December 13, 1933: Lou Adler was born in Chicago. Adler has an amazing musical history. He was the founder of Dunhill Records, where he produced The Mamas & The Papas, Johnny Rivers, The Grass Roots, Carole King and Barry McGuire (Eve of Destruction). He was also the architect of 1967’s Monterey Pop Festival, and managed Jan & Dean. Whew.
December 13, 1948: Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, veteran of two great bands — Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers — was born in Washington, D.C.
School’s out for today, children! Have a wonderful day, and stick around for our line-up!
And so begins another week. Here at the Mermaid Lounge, we’re trying to accomplish the impossible: Programming a week in advance. It’s a valiant effort, but the jury is OUT. Nevertheless, we have a lot of info here for you.
The very first juke box at the Palais Royal Hotel in San Francisco
November 23, 1899: The first jukebox was placed at The Palais Royale Hotel in San Francisco (see photo).
November 23, 1962: The Beatles auditioned at St. James’ Church Hall in London for The BBC, which was looking for people with potential to be on TV. The Beatles failed. I wonder if the guy who made that decision kept his job.
November 23, 1963: Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs have the top R & B song with Sugar Shack.
November 23, 1964: /The Beatles release the single, I Feel Fine. The B-side is She’s A Woman.
The Rolling Stones are late for the radio shows Top Gear and Saturday Club, and were banned by The BBC.
November 23, 1965: The Beatles film promos for I Feel Fine, Ticket To Ride, Help!, Day Tripper and We Can Work It Out at Twickenham Studios in London. The BBC paid 1,750 pounds for the broadcast rights, and then deals were made with other broadcasters around the world.
November 23, 1967: The Who played the New Barn at The Lions Delaware County Fairgrounds in Muncie, Indiana.
November 23, 1968:Little known fact, here: After Dusty Springfield had recommended Jimmy Page to Ahmet Ertegun, head of Atlantic Records, Led Zeppelin manager Peter Grant finalized their recording contract.
Steve Miller debuted on the charts after his first single, Living in The USA.
The Beatles tied the existing rock era record (held by Bobby Darin’s Mack The Knife) with a ninth week at #1 for Hey Jude.
Judy Collins’ version of Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now enters the Top 40, where it will peak at #8. It will also win The Best Folk Performance of the year.
November 23, 1970: George Harrison released his first solo single, My Sweet Lord, in the US.
November 23, 1972: Bob Dylan arrives in Durango, Colorado, to film the movie Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid (Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door).
November 23, 1975: Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody goes to #1 on the UK charts, where it will remain for nine weeks.
November 23, 1976: Wings kicked off a 19-date UK tour at The Royal Court in Liverpool.
November 23, 1983: Tom Evans of Badfinger committed suicide after the band decided to break up.
Born On This Day
November 23, 1939: Betty Everett, of The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss) fame, was born in Greenwood, Mississippi.
November 23, 1940: Freddie Marsden, drummer for Gerry & The Pacemakers, was born in Liverpool.
November 23, 1954: Bruce Hornsby, one of the greatest keyboardists ever, leader of Bruce Hornsby & The Range and keyboardist for The Grateful Dead, was born in Williamsburg, Virginia.
#BecomeUngovernable Radio 