It’s Saturday and We’re in Laurel Canyon, Elvis is In The Spotlight, and Emmylou Harris is Live Later, May 18, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We have hit the weekend and we’ve got a great Saturday lineup for you today.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Music From Laurel Canyon: Various Artists

We’re back in Laurel Canyon today where two generations of music helped create the country-rock sound, among other things. You’ll hear The Byrds, The Mamas & The Papas, Buffalo Springfield, The Beach Boys, The Doors, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, The Monkees, CSNY, Stephen Stills & Manassas, John Mayall, The Eagles, J.D. Souther, Harry Nilsson, Canned Heat, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, James Taylor, Joan Baez, Judy Collins and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Elvis Presley

The King is in The Mermaid Lounge this afternoon.

8:00 p.m. Emmylou Harris & Spyboy Live at Kongresshaus, Zurich, Switzerland, January 20, 1997

A great performance by a woman who is not shy about shifting gears and making change. This was the band she put together to take her career-redefining album Wrecking Ball on the road. If you haven’t heard the album, you must.

I’m on the road early this morning on a mission of mercy, but The Music Mermaid has this under control. Talk to you all tomorrow!

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.

The “Court & Spark” Finale, A Trip to Laurel Canyon, and ‘Live’ Heartbreakers on Saturday, March 16, 2024

Good morning, weekenders! We have made it to Saturday once again, and we’ve got some great stuff on tap, including The Heartbreakers 30th Anniversary Tour from Gainsville.

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Court & Spark by Joni Mitchell FINAL AIRING!

Today we give you the final airing of this unbelievably amazing album, one of the best albums of all time, as we continue on the 50th anniversary roundup.

12:00 p.m. Music From Laurel Canyon: Various Artists

We’ve got an update on tap for this great playlist that covers two generations of musicians who lived and made music together in Laurel Canyon. It was the cross-fertilization of styles that helped usher in country-rock. You’ll hear The Byrds, The Mamas & The Papas, The Doors, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, The Monkees, CSNY, Manassas, John Mayall, The Eagles, J.D. Souther, Harry Nilsson, Canned Heat, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, James Taylor, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band and more!

8:00 p.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live From the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, FL, September 21, 2006

The photo on this post is from an earlier timeframe, but the energy The Heartbreakers brought to their live performances never changed over their amazing 40-year run. This would be the band’s 30th Anniversary Tour from their hometown, and it was a beauty.

Wake up and tune us in. We’re on 24/7; not just when we have programming. We’re continually circulating 27,000 songs daily. You never know what’s coming next, and that’s what we really like about radio. Those were the days. We didn’t have custom playlists, Spotify, or whatever else pay-for-play hell is out there. We had our transistor radios and endless summer days waiting for the next song to cue up.

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!

Thursday Brings ‘Music From Laurel Canyon’, ELO’s AOW, and The Beatles’ Love Songs, February 15, 2024

Good morning, citizens! Today we’ve got the pioneers from Laurel Canyon, Eldorado by Electric Light Orchestra, and the love songs of The Beatles.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m.  Music From Laurel Canyon: Various Artists

Laurel Canyon was the proving ground for bands for two decades of music. They lived and worked in harmony cross-fertilizing each other and establishing the country-rock genre. You’ll hear The Byrds, The Mamas & The Papas, Buffalo Springfield, The Beach Boys, The Doors, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, The Monkees, CSNY, Manassas, John Mayall, The Eagles, J.D. Souther, Harry Nilsson, Canned Heat, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, James Taylor, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band and more! This one is due for an update soon!

4:00 p.m.  Album of The Week: Eldorado by Electric Light Orchestra

We are winding down on this album’s 50th birthday celebration. The final airing will be sometime Saturday.

8:00 p.m.  The Beatles: The Love Songs

We could not completely walk away from Valentines Day without this playlist. The Beatles were masters of the love song, and we’ve got them for you this evening.

Well, gang, we’re over the hump and on the downslide to another weekend. We’ll help you get there in musical style with some old music and some new additions! Tune us in. Just use the button below.

It’s Valentines Day and Love Is In the Air, Along With Elvis Costello as Our Singer-Songwriter, Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! Yes, it’s Valentines Day once again. Time for love (and, of course, loss), and we’re giving you both sides of the coin today!

Here’s your musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. True Love Always: Various Artists

Yes, we start out with the romantic side of the coin first with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Mamas & The Papas, The Band, Delaney & Bonnie, Swing Out Sister, Boz Scaggs, Guy Clark, Tom Rush, The Hollies, Neil Young, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt and more!

4:00 p.m.  Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Elvis Costello

Another Elvis drops by The Lounge today on his second spin as our featured singer-songwriter for the week.

8:00 p.m.  Nothing But Heartbreak: Various Artists

Then, there’s the other side of the “love” coin. You’ll hear Carole King, Elvis Presley, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Warren Zevon, Rod Stewart, Cat Stevens, The Pretenders, Them, Jackson Browne, John Prine and more!

We’re on point and in tune today, and love is in the air. We’re on 24/7 with no commercial interruption and at no cost to the general public. No lie. No bait and switch. We’re all about the music. See for yourself. Use the button below.

The Ladies Open and Close the Programming Today; Kristofferson is the Mid. Saturday, January 20, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We essentially turn the lounge over to the ladies today, as ‘Ladies Day Out’ opens the day and the Queen of Soul closes it out later.

Here’s Saturday’s lineup:

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

We know that no other station plays women’s music like we do. That’s why we do it. You’ll hear five hours uninterrupted with Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton, 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, Nicollette Larson, Valerie Carter, Sheryl Crow, Susan Tedeschi, Dusty Springfield and more!

4:00 p.m.  Album of The Week: Jesus Was A Capricorn by Kris Kristofferson FINAL AIRING!

We say goodbye to this album today, but we’ll have another tomorrow. Programming Note: Tomorrow we begin a spell of great albums that will turn fifty years old in 2024. Only a few on this list have been aired as an AOW before, but it was quite a long time ago (we’ve been running this feature for five years now), so they will repeat. But I promise they’ll be like new.

8:00 p.m.  In The Spotlight: The Music of Aretha Franklin

The undisputed Queen of Soul was first noticed singing gospel in her father’s church. Over six decades, she would dominate the world of soul and R&B, with Rolling Stone twice calling her the greatest singer ever. She was the very first female inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Tonight we put Aretha In The Spotlight.

Well, weekenders, we’ve made it to Saturday. I have this one final day to go. My weekend is Sunday/Monday. However, fear not. The Music Mermaid is large and in charge here when I’m not around. You’re in safe fins.

It’s Simply Sunday With Kris Kristofferson’s New AOW and the ‘Music From Laurel Canyon’ EP, January 14, 2024

Good morning and welcome to yet another simple Sunday here in The Mermaid Lounge as we give you a great new Album of The Week and spin the music from the fabled Laurel Canyon, the birthplace of country-rock.

Here’s your musical lineup:

This was Kristofferson’s fourth studio album released in 1972. Every response to the album was mixed, but his out-of-character religious song Why Me became a number one hit. How the song came about is explained here. Nevertheless, I loved the album and, in spite of the fact that the title song was released then faded, I think it’s one of his best.

3:00 p.m.  Music From Laurel Canyon: Various Artists

We’re back visiting the inhabitants of Laurel Canyon, the birthplace of country-rock, a fertile creative landscape for two generations of musicians (sixties, seventies). You’ll hear The Byrds, The Mamas & The Papas, Buffalo Springfield, The Beach Boys, The Doors, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, The Monkees, CSNY, Manassas, John Mayall, The Eagles, J.D. Souther, Harry Nilsson, Canned Heat, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, James Taylor, Joan Baez, Judy Collins and more. Best of all, this one’s due for an update soon!

Thursday Brings Our EP About Friendship, Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt & Friends, December, 28, 2023

Good morning, music lovers! Today we have songs about friends, Emmylou Harris and her AOW, and Linda Ronstadt drops by with some of her friends.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m.  Friends of Mine: Various Artists

We open with songs about friendship from The Guess Who, Willie Nelson, War, The Beach Boys, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Todd Rundgren, Linda Ronstadt, Queen, REM, Simon & Garfunkel, John Prine, Carole King, Grateful Dead, Lou Reed, Robert Johnson, Hank Williams, The Kinks, Joan Baez, The Beatles, Carly Simon, Tracy Nelson, The Byrds, Desmond Dekker, Jackson Browne, Steppenwolf, Elton John, Maria Muldaur, Argent, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Otis Redding and more.

4:00 p.m.  Album of The Week: Evangeline by Emmylou Harris

We’re winding down on this one; Saturday will be our final airing. This would be a good time to tune this one in before it goes away.

8:00 p.m.  Linda Ronstadt & Friends: Duets and More

Linda Ronstadt drops by to close things out and brings along a few friends, like Emmylou Harris, Hoyt Axton, Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Don Henley, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, James Taylor and others! Not to be missed!

Don’t know what’s going on with the weather where you are, but here we are in December and it’s raining in the mid forties. We won’t need a “January thaw” this year. But hey, we’re good rain, snow or shine. See for yourself.

At Midweek It’s the ‘Music From Laurel Canyon’ EP, Jesse Winchester and Tim Hardin, Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Good morning, music lovers! Today we give you five uninterrupted hours of music from Laurel Canyon, Jesse Winchester is our singer-songwriter, and we spotlight folk legend Tim Hardin later.

Here’s your midweek music:

9:00 a.m.  Music From Laurel Canyon: Various Artists

Back in the day, the British musicians were taken by our Laurel Canyon artists, and vice versa. It’s called cross-fertilization. And Laurel Canyon was the home for two generations of American musicians like The Mamas & The Papas, The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, The Beach Boys, The Doors, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, The Monkees, CSNY, Manassas, John Mayall, J.D. Souther, Linda Ronstadt, Harry Nilsson, The Eagles, Canned Heat, Carole King, James Taylor, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Jimi Hendrix and more!

4:00 p.m.  Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Jesse Winchester

Jesse Winchester returns for his second turn as our featured singer-songwriter.

Tim Hardin’s heroin addiction kept him from superstar status, but his songs found their way into the hands of many musicians during the sixties and seventies. Sadly, Hardin died in 1980 of a heron overdose at the young age of 39. Tonight, we put Tim Hardin in the spotlight where he belongs.