We Begin June With Some Psychedelic Music, Live Otis Redding, and a Karla Bonoff ‘Spotlight,’ Sunday, June 1, 2025

Good morning, music lovers. We open the month with one of our favorite genres here, psychedelic music. Then we move onto The Big O and singer-songwriter Karla Bonoff!

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Psychedelic Express: Various Artists

There are the artists who invented psychedelic rock and there are the artists who keep the genre alive. We’ve got it all, including The Beatles, Vanilla Fudge, The Chambers Brothers, the Electric Prunes, The Animals, Jefferson Airplane, Blues Image, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Doors, Pink Floyd, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Donovan, The Byrds, Strawberry Alarm Clock, 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, Grateful Dead, Velvet Underground, Big Brother & The Holding Company and more!

4:00 p.m. Otis Redding Live at The Whiskey A Go Go, W. Hollywood, CA, April 9 & 10, 1966

The Big O left us all far too soon. He never got to see the heights his music would have taken him to. His hits and his legend were posthumous events. It amazes me to this day that people refer to Aretha Franklin’s classic anthem, Respect, without knowing that it was written by Otis Redding. Today we have a rare live performance by Otis Redding from the legendary Whiskey.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Karla Bonoff

We close the programming with an artist who has written many great songs made famous by artists like Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Alison Krauss and Wynonna Judd. Tonight we get to hear her sing them.

It’s a brand new month, and we’re off to a great start here. We’ve got some new summer music coming up as we prepare for a long, hot summer here. I have great foreboding under the present regime, but we will carry on here. Stay with us. The button is below.

We’re at Midweek With the ‘Color My World’ EP, a Jesse Winchester ‘Spotlight,’ and ELO Live at Wembley, Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Good morning, music lovers, and welcome to midweek! We’ve got it going today, beginning with songs about colors, Jesse Winchester, and Jeff Lynne’s ELO!

Here’s your midweek music lineup:

9:00 a.m. Color My World: Various Artists

We open it up with songs about all the colors on the spectrum from James Taylor, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Booker T & The MGs, Electric Light Orchestra, Procol Harum, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell, John Hiatt, J. D. Souther, The Who, Sam & Dave, Bob Dylan, Amy Winehouse, Badfinger, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Elvis Costello, Neil Young, Jefferson Airplane, The Hollies, Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Cream, Marvin Gaye, Lucinda Williams and more!

4:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Jesse Winchester

Bob Dylan once said that you cannot talk about the best songwriters in music without including Jesse Winchester on that list. He’s right. The first time I ever saw him live was when he opened for Emmylou Harris at Boston’s Music Hall. It was a great performance all the way around. I often dreamed of seeing him in a small venue, like Passim’s Coffee House in Cambridge, but never had the opportunity. We do have a live performance or two by him at other small venues. We’ll be sure to get those on soon.

8:00 a.m. Jeff Lynne’s ELO Live at Wembley Stadium, London, UK, June 24, 2017

We close out the programming with Jeff Lynne’s ELO, who took their final world tour last year and passed through Boston, live at Wembley Stadium.

We’ll be headed for the weekend once again after today, and that is always a good thing to look forward to in a time where there seems to be so little to look forward to. The great music we play is another good thing to look forward to. The button is below!

Today, ‘The British Are Coming’, Then It’s Peter Tosh Live in Amsterdam, and a Hollies ‘Spotlight’, Thursday, May 15, 2025

Good morning, musicologists. We start out Thursday with songs from across the pond with the British Invasion then beyond. After that, it’s live Peter Tosh and a Hollies ‘Spotlight’ feature.

Here’s your Thursday musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. The British Are Coming: Various Artists

We start out the day with songs from our British artists, including The Beatles (of course), The Who, Dave Mason, Electric Light Orchestra, Petula Clark, The Zombies, The Hollies, Dusty Springfield, Small Faces, Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Kinks, The Dave Clark Five, The Bee Gees (pre-disco only), The Moody Blues, Rod Stewart, Them, Herman’s Hermits, The Rolling Stones, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Badfinger, The Yardbirds, Traffic, Elton John, Lulu, Pink Floyd, Yes, The Animals, Manfred Mann, Spencer Davis Group, Cream, Donovan, The Searchers and more!

4:00 p.m. Peter Tosh Live at The Apartheid Festival, Amsterdam, Netherlands, July 13, 1981

This afternoon we have one of the founding members of The Wailers in the midst of his solo career performing life in Amsterdam.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Hollies

The Hollies never really got the credit they deserved, in my opinion. They were a very integral part of The British Invasion and we love these guys here in The Mermaid Lounge. This evening, they’re ‘In the Spotlight.’

You know the closing content by now. We’re free. Check. We don’t run advertising. Check. I’m the only DJ and I’m practically mute. Check. And that’s because we’re all about the music. Check. So here’s the button:

It’s Sunday Funday With ‘Color My World’, a Richard & Mimi Farina ‘Spotlight’ Feature, and Live Joan Baez, on April 27, 2025

Welcome to Sunday Funday here in The Mermaid Lounge and we are bringing in some new folk music for the resistance along with the ‘Color My World’ EP and live Joan Baez.

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Color My World: Various Artists

We open with five hours of songs about all colors of the spectrum with music from James Taylor, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Donovan, Booker T & The MGs, Procol Harum, Electric Light Orchestra, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell, John Hiatt, J.D. Souther, The Who, Sam & Dave, Bob Dylan, Amy Winehouse, Badfinger, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Elvis Costello, Neil Young, Jefferson Airplane, The Hollies, Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Cream, Marvin Gaye, Lucinda Williams and more!

Not a lot of music, but some of the most inspiring music ever made. Richard Farina tragically died at the age of 29, never realizing his full genius potential. They were a fixture in the Boston-Cambridge (Massachusetts) folk scene, gracing the stage at Club 47, the Unicorn Coffee House, and other iconic venues. They appeared at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, and collaborated with some of the best, including Joan Baez. Today, we put them in the spotlight where they belong as part of our growing ‘protest music’ focus.

8:00 p.m. Joan Baez: Live in 1962

We close out the day with the great Joan Baez, no stranger to songs about social justice, recorded live at several venues during 1962 at the very beginning of a long and brilliant musical career.

We are committed to music, and we are committed to free music with no commercial avertising. We are also committed to meeting the moment and raising our voices through song. We vowed never to involve politics, but where we are is not a question of politics. It’s right vs. wrong. Truth vs. lies. We must all stand and deliver in some way. This is our way. The button is below.

We’re in All British Mode With Our Big EP, The Beatles’ Singles, and Live Rod Stewart & Faces On Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Good morning, musicologists! It’s an all-British Wednesday as we start out with our ‘British Are Coming’ EP, then it’s The Beatles singles and live Rod Stewart & Faces!

Here’s your midweek musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. The British Are Coming: Various Artists

We start out the day with music from the British Invasion and beyond from The Beatles, The Who, Dave Mason, The Zombies, The Hollies, Dusty Springfield, Small Faces, Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Kinks, The Dave Clark Five, The Bee Gees, The Moody Blues, Rod Stewart, Them, Herman’s Hermits, The Rolling Stones, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Badfinger, The Yardbirds, Traffic, Elton John, Lulu, Pink Floyd, Yes, The Animals, Spencer Davis Group, Cream, Donovan, The Searchers and more!

4:00 p.m. The Beatles: The Singles Collection

This afternoon we give you every Beatles single released around the globe. Are you aware that on April 4, 1964, The Beatles held the top five slots on the Billboard Top 100, a feat that no other artist has achieved to this day? The Top 5 songs were:

  • “Can’t Buy Me Love” at #1
  • “Twist and Shout” at #2
  • “She Loves You” at #3
  • “I Want to Hold Your Hand” at #4
  • “Please Please Me” at #5

8:00 p.m. Rod Stewart & Faces Live at Kilburn Theatre, London, UK, December 23, 1974

This was the final live show for Rod Stewart and his mates, and tonight we bring it to you to close out our all-British day.

It’s another day in paradise, but take heart! Tomorrow we’re on the downslide to the weekend once again. The Orange Scourge will be playing in fake golf tournaments in Flori-DUH and the world will be kind of quiet for a couple of days. We’re on 24/7 and we’re totally free. There’s no commercial interruption either. The button is below.

Monday Brings ‘Under The Sun & Moon,’ a Jimmy Webb ‘Spotlight’ and Ringo’s Best Drum Performances, March 31, 2025

Good morning, music lovers. We’re back to the work week, and we’ve got great music on tap starting with our ‘Under The Sun & Moon’ playlist, then it’s a different kind of ‘Spotlight’ feature and some of Ringo’s most masterful drumming.

Here’s your Monday, Monday musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. Under The Sun & Moon: Various Artists

Not an EP, but that doesn’t mean it can’t get there. So far, we’ve got music from The Beatles, Cat Stevens, Linda Ronstadt, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Little Feat, Donovan, Neil Young, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, America, The Animals, Gordon Lightfoot, Maria Muldaur, The Wallflowers, Valerie Carter, The Kinks, Shawn Colvin, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Laura Nyro, Cream and more!

When you talk about musical geniuses, there is no leaving this guy out of the conversation. He is one of the most prolific songwriters of his generation and a fountain of music for so many singers. However, the two most notable beneficiaries of his songwriting genius are Linda Ronstadt and Glen Campbell and, in turn, they have done his songs justice. This is a different kind of playlist, and we’re sure you’re going to enjoy it.

8:00 p.m. The Beatles: Ringo Starr’s Drumming Genius

What can you say about Ringo Starr? Plenty. The man has recorded over 40 albums since The Beatles broke up, including his latest, Look Up, a country album in collaboration with the great T-Bone Burnett. (We’ll be featuring that release soon, by the way.) But Ringo’s favorite thing to do remains the same as always: Playing the drums. And he’s not just any drummer. Just ask his peers. (This is an excellent video.) Tonight we have what we think are his best drum efforts with The Fab Four.

We’re on 24/7 without any commercial interruption playing, without a doubt, the most eclectic music collection anywhere on the web or the airwaves. We do not simply give women a venue in passing; we feature more women’s music than any other station. See for yourselves. The button is below.

On Thursday It’s the ‘Color My World’ EP, a Bob Marley & The Wailers ‘Spotlight’, and Norah Jones at the HOB, March 27, 2025

Good morning, musicologists. We’re over the hump and on the downslide to the weekend with a great lineup of programming dispersed in our big, wide Open Stream!

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Color My World: Various Artists

We start off with Open Stream with a theme: All the colors of the rainbow. You’ll hear The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, James Taylor, Donovan, Booker T. & The MGs, Procol Harum, Electric Light Orchestra, Joni Mitchell, The Who, Amy Winehouse, Sam & Dave, Badfinger, Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Elvis Costello, Neil Young, Jefferson Airplane, The Hollies, Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Cream, Marvin Gaye, Lucinda Williams, John Hiatt, Linda Ronstadt, J.D. Souther and more!

4:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Bob Marley & The Wailers

The Legend himself and his bandmates stop by The Mermaid Lounge this afternoon to show us why they were a groundbreaking reggae, ska and rocksteady band.

8:00 p.m. Norah Jones Live at The House of Blues, Chicago, IL, August 24, 2002

We close the programming with a great live performance from the one and only Norah Jones, who also happens to be the daughter of the great Ravi Shankar.

Another day in paradise awaits. We’re almost to the weekend, when things settle down a bit…but just a bit. We’re never out of the shadow of The Orange Menace here. But music can help restore a bit of sanity in these trying times. The button is below.

It’s a Brit Day on Thursday With Our Big EP, and Both Live Paul McCartney and The Kinks, On Thursday, February 6, 2025

Good morning, lovers of the British Invasion! It’s your day as we make it full-on British with our ‘British Are Coming’ EP, followed by live performances by McCartney and The Kinks!

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. The British Are Coming: Various Artists

Today we give you music from The British Invasion and beyond from The Beatles (of course), The Who, Dave Mason, Electric Light Orchestra, Petula Clark, The Zombies, The Hollies, Dusty Springfield, Small Faces, Led Zeppelin, The Kinks, The Dave Clark Five, The Bee Gees, Them, Herman’s Hermits, The Rolling Stones, Badfinger, Yes, The Animals, Cream, The Searchers, The Yardbirds and more.

4:00 p.m. Paul McCartney Live at Citi Field, New York, NY, July 17-21, 2009.

Today we give you some live McCartney at the birth of Citi Field, which is the replacement venue for Shea Stadium where The Beatles played on August 15, 1965.

8:00 p.m. The Kinks Live at The Hippodrome, London, UK, July 15, 1974

We close it all out with The Kinks live from The Hippodrome in London.

We’re expecting an ice storm here today in the Boston area. What could be better than hunkering down with some great music? Nothing. We’re on 24/7 and we’re totally free. We’re also free of commercial advertising. The button is below.

On Saturday We’ve Got Songs About Colors, Live Linda Ronstadt, and an I-Three ‘Spotlight’ Feature, January 18, 2025

Welcome, Weekenders! We’ve made it to Saturday and we have songs about colors. After that, the focus turns to some very talented women.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Color My World: Various Artists

Whoever thought there’d be five hours worth of songs about colors. In fact, this EP could have gone on longer. You’ll hear from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, James Taylor, Donovan, Booker T & The MGs, Electric Light Orchestra, Procol Harum, Joni Mitchell, The Who, Amy Winehouse, Sam & Dave, Badfinger, Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Elvis Costello, Neil Young, Jefferson Airplane, The Hollies, Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Cream, Marvin Gaye, Linda Ronstadt, John Hiatt, Lucinda Williams, J.D. Souther and more!

4:00 p.m. Linda Ronstadt Live at The Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, August 24, 1980

The undisputed Queen of Rock drops by The Mermaid Lounge this afternoon for a live performance. I’ve seen Ronstadt 40 times in my lifetime, and she never disappointed once.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The I-Threes

I’m sure some people will be scratching their heads and asking who these ladies are. These are the women who helped to uplift Bob Marley’s music by providing amazing background vocals, but they are so much more accomplished than that. They are literal legends in the Reggae music world. You can learn about them here if you’re interested and, better still, drop by The Lounge tonight and see for yourself.

We begin the weekend once again, and the living is easy here in The Mermaid Lounge. I’ll be finishing up my final day in hardware hell, but The Music Mermaid is here to take care of running things. The button is below.

It’s ‘Mudcrutch Monday Madness’, Volume Two of ‘The Sixties Rotation’ EP and George Harrison, December 30, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! We inch toward the new year with trepidation given that The Orange Blob is back, but the music from The Mermaid Lounge will remain a constant.

Here’s your Monday, Monday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Mudcrutch Monday Madness: The Works

We start off with Mudcrutch’s complete works. We haven’t had one of these for a while and it is long overdue. For those who may not know who Mudcrutch is (although I’d find that hard to believe at this stage), it was the band Tom Petty left Gainesville with and headed out to L.A. The band would not be successful until after it had morphed into Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers when Petty reunited it. They’re a damned fine band.

1:00 p.m. The Sixties Rotation, Volume Two: Various Artists

We have volume two today, which covers the mid-to-late sixties with The Mamas & The Papas, Simon & Garfunkel, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, Elvis Presley, Buffalo Springfield, Sly & The Family Stone, The Temptations, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Who, Roy Orbison, The Yardbirds, The Animals, Linda Ronstadt, Wilson Pickett, The Band, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, The Kinks, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jimmy Cliff, Chuck Berry, The Byrds, Ray Charles, The Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, The Four Tops, CSNY, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Joni Mitchell, B. B. King, Marvin Gaye and more!

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of George Harrison

We close out the day with George Harrison and his music with The Beatles, The Traveling Wilburys and as a solo artist. He was known as ‘the quiet Beatle’, but Wilbury’s band mate and fiercely loyal friend, Tom Petty, differed with that assessment. You can read his take here.

We’re here every day with all music all day long. In between our programs, we offer a great rotating lineup of more than 27,000 songs. Nobody has that kind of playlist. See for yourselves. The button is below.