Tag: Curtis Mayfield

Saturday Brings ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul,’ a Hank Williams ‘Spotlight,’ and Live Flying Burrito Brothers, On September 27, 2025

Good morning, music lovers! Still suffering through COVID, so this post won’t be log. We kick off the day with some soul, then move into country and country-rock!

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

9:00 a.m. A Little Bit O’ Soul: Various Artists

We kick things off with soul and R & B across the spectrum (not just Motown) with Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Ronettes, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Jimmy Ruffin, The Drifters, Chuck Berry, Stevie Wonder, Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, Curtis Mayfield, The Staple Singers, Nina Simone, LaVern Baker, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Irma Thomas, Sam Cooke, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Fontella Bass, Ann Peebles, Edwin Starr, Wilson Pickett, and more!

4:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Hank Williams

We spend some time this afternoon with a country legend who was also one of the forefathers of rock and roll.

8:00 p.m. The Flying Burrito Brothers Live at The Avalon Ballroom, San Francisco, CA, April 6, 1969

We close it out with Gram Parsons and the Burritos as an opening act for The Grateful Dead live at The Avalon Ballroom.

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On Friday, It’s a New Wings ‘Spotlight’ Feature, the ‘Paint It Black’ Playlist, and George Harrison & Eric Clapton Live in Nagoya, Japan, August 8, 2025

Good morning, musicologists and welcome to a great Friday of music programming starting off with something that should have been done long ago, a Wings ‘Spotlight’ feature!

Here’s your finally Friday lineup:

10:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Paul McCartney & Wings

Also just simply known as, Wings. Formed in London in 1971 by Sir Paul, who acknowledges that they were not The Beatles (nobody could ever be, frankly). However, they were a hell of a great rock band. Although members did come and go, Paul, Linda, and Denny Laine, formerly of the Moody Blues, were the constants until their breakup in 1981. They charted six number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100.

4:00 p.m. Paint It Black: Various Artists

Songs about the color black. Call it Open Stream with a Theme from The Rolling Stones, The Wallflowers, James Brown, Three Dog Night, The Beatles, Warren Zevon, The Band, Nina Simone, Curtis Mayfield, Lucinda Williams, John Lee Hooker, J.D. Souther, Jethro Tull, Guy Clark, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Tom Rush and more!

8:00 p.m. George Harrison & Eric Clapton Live at The Nagoya International Exhibit Hall, Nagoya, Japan, December 5, 1991

We close the Friday programming with a great concert featuring George Harrison and Eric Clapton live in Japan.

Once again, we’re here playing the best music on the planet for you all totally free of charge and free of commercial advertising. No lies. No strings. And then button is below.

It’s Finally Friday!

Thursday Brings Our Epic Soul/R&B EP, a Harry Nilsson ‘Spotight’ Feature, and The Byrds Live Reunion, On July 24, 2025

Good morning, musicologists, and welcome back as we prepare for high heat indices here for the next couple of days. But we’re cool here in The Mermaid Lounge, and so are the musical vibes.

Here’s your Thursday musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. A Little Bit O’ Soul: Various Artists

We start off with five hours of uninterrupted soul and R & B from Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, TheFour 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, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Sam Cooke, Edwin Starr, Fontella Bass, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Irma Thomas, The Box Tops, Ann Peebles, Al Green, and more!

4:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Harry Nilsson

Ah, yes. Nilsson (as he was usually called) was one of the most interesting singer-songwriters on the planet; a true entertainer who experimented with wild vocal overdubs, and infusions of Caribbean sounds. He was another of the artists of his generation who also returned to the Great American Songbook. He was wildly popular in the seventies, and he died far too young at the age of 52, but his legend lives on.

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

This was dubbed The Reunion Concert as it reunited Roger McGuinn, Chris Hillman and Gene Clark. Of course, David Crosby made a surprise appearance, and reunited one of the greatest bands on the planet.

Once again, we’re here in The Lounge delivering the best music on the planet at no charge and with absolutely no commercial interruption. Tune us in. You can see for yourselves. The button is below.

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On Friday It’s ‘Free As a Bird,’ a Nicolette Larson ‘Spotlight,’ and Volume One of The Beatles Live at The BBC, May 30, 2025

Good morning, music lovers and welcome to the cusp of the weekend once again! Today we open with songs about being free, followed by Niclette Larson ‘In the Spotlight’ and our boys live at The BBC!

Here’s your Friday musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. Free As a Bird: Various Artists

We start off with songs about freedom from Edgar Winger, The Beatles, CSNY, The Byrds, Richie Havens, Van Morrison, Three Dog Night, Tracy Chapman, Emmylou Harris, Allen Toussaint, Pete Seeger, Joni Mitchell, Loggins & Messina, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Curtis Mayfield, The Kinks, and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Nicolette Larson

Nicolette Larson burst onto the music scene with her recording of Neil Young’s Lotta Love, and became one of the great girl singers of her generation. By 1985, she had turned to country music, charting one Top 40 country hit before her tragic death at the age of 45. Today we put her ‘In the Spotlight’ where she belongs.

8:00 p.m. The Beatles Live at The BBC Studios, Recorded June-September 1963

The Fab Four did a lot of live ‘in studio’ performances during their early years to help get their songs out to the world. This series was called Pop Go The Beatles, and it’s a great collection of music. Enjoy.

No EP today so that means plenty of our big, wide Open Stream. We’re on 24/7. We’re totally free, and we run absolutely no commercial advertising. We’re all about the music. Come on in. Give it a shot. You’ll see what we mean when we say we play the best music on the planet. The button is below.

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On Monday It’s Mudcrutch Madness, New Live Phil Ochs, and Our ‘Peace, Love & Understanding’ Playlist, April 14, 2025

Good morning, music lovers! Yes, it’s Monday all over again, but we’ve got some great music today that includes some brand new live Phil Ochs!

Here’s your Monday musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. Mudcrutch Monday Madness!

We’re in desperate need of a Mudcrutch Monday, so this is the day. We give you their complete catalogue including the best damned live version of my favorite Mudcrutch song, Hungry No More, recorded live right here at Boston’s House of Blues on their 2016 tour!

4:00 p.m. Phil Ochs Live at The Sall Claude Champagne, Montreal, Canada, October 22, 1966 NEW!

We take a trip in the Wayback Machine for this one as we begin to amp up our collection of protest music. It seems that this is the proper time in our history as a nation for that kind of programming, and so it shall be. No better way to start than with the late, great Phil Ochs. Pay attention, It’s coming.

8:00 p.m. Peace, Love & Understanding: Various Artists

In a world where there’s little of this, there’s plenty here in The Mermaid Lounge. We’ve got music from The Plastic Ono Band, Buffalo Springfield, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Grateful Dead, Patti Smith, War, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Curtis Mayfield, Ringo Starr, Dan Fogelberg, Norah Jones, The Derek Trucks Band, Cat Stevens, Elvis Costello, Peter, Paul & Mary and many more!

It’s a great day here. After what seems to be days of rain, the sun is back! Remember, in between our programming we give you our big, wide Open Stream. We’re never off the air, folks. The button is below.

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We’re Feeling Soulful With Our Big EP, a Drifters ‘Spotlight’, and Live Nina Simone on Saturday, February 22, 2025

Good morning, soul and R & B lovers! We’re amped up today as we bring you ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul’ for starters, then it’s the Drifters ‘In the Spotlight’ and some live Nina Simone!

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

9:00 a.m. A Little Bit O’ Soul: Various Artists

We officially begin the weekend with our biggest soul music EP, featuring Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Ronettes, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, The Drifters, 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, Ann Peebles, Al Green and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Drifters

The Drifters have an interesting background, reflecting the social injustice of the times. It’s too long for me to write about on this blog, but you can read all about it here. Regardless, they made some great music and we’ve got them ‘In the Spotlight’ today.

8:00 p.m. Nina Simone Live at Juan-les-Pins, Antibes, France, July 24 & 25, 1965 NEW!

Today we celebrate the birthday (February 21) of the late, great Nina Simone, singer, songwriter, music arranger and, yes, civil rights and social justice activist. Here she’s live at the the annual Jazz a Juan International Jazz Festival. We need her fighting spirit now.

Come on in to The Mermaid Lounge for a little bit of soul and R & B today. In between that programming, we’ve got our big, wide Open Stream running 24/7 at no charge. We’re anti-capitalist. We care about only one thing: Playing great music for you folks with absolutely no commercial interruption. The button is below.

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On Sunday, It’s ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul’, Live Emmylou Harris, and The Pretenders ‘In The Spotlight’, January 26, 2025

Good morning, music lovers! We’re all over the musical map today with our ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul’ EP, some live Emmylou Harris and The Pretenders ‘In the Spotlight’ later!

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

9:00 a.m. A Little Bit O’ Soul: Various Artists

We start the day off with our big kahuna of soul and R & B encompassing Motown, Stax and Atlantic, among others. You’ll hear Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Ronettes, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Jimmy Ruffin, The Drifters, 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, Fontella Bass, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Irma Thomas, The Box Tops, Ann Peebles, Al Green and more!

4:00 p.m. Emmylou Harris Live at My Father’s Place, Roslyn, New York, September 14, 1976

This afternoon we’ve got some early Emmylou Harris from My Father’s Place, a popular venue for young, aspiring artists on Long Island.

8:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of The Pretenders

Chrissie Hynde’s band brings up the rear with some hard-edged rock as we close out the day’s programming.

But we’re here all day and all night. Before, in between, and after our scheduled programs we give you our big, wide Open Stream without interruption. The button is below.

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Monday’s Back With Our ‘Friends of Mine’ EP, a Curtis Mayfield ‘Spotlight’ and Live Warren Zevon, January 13, 2025

Good morning, music lovers! We’re back to another Monday, but the music is just fine here in The Mermaid Lounge. Great way to start the week with an EP that’s been on a short hiatus!

Here’s your Monday, Monday lineup:

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

We start it up with Open Stream With a Theme about friends, both good and bad, with The Guess Who, Willie Nelson, War, The Beach Boys, Linda Ronstadt, Todd Rundgren, Amy Winehouse, The Doors, Simon & Garfunkel, John Brine, Joan Baez, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Beatles, The Byrds, Carole King, Steppenwolf, Paul McCartney, Jackson Browne, Lou Reed, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Loggins & Messina, Free, Leon Russell, Talking Heads, Robert Johnson, Argent and more!

4:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Curtis Mayfield

An extraordinary singer, songwriter, guitarist and record producer known as the “Gentle Genius.” Mayfield is recognized as one of the most influential and socially-conscious African American musicians in popular music, first known to the public as the leader of The Impressions during the civil rights movement.

8:00 p.m. Warren Zevon Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK, January 25, 1988

We close out the Monday programming with a live performance by the late, great Warren Zevon at Hammersmith Odeon in London.

One more time: We’re totally free of charge (no strings) and completely free of commercial advertising. We’re not here to make money. We’re here to play the greatest music on the planet. The button is below.

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Today It’s an Al Green ‘Spotlight’, Live Rolling Stones and Our ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul’ EP on Saturday, December 28, 2024

Good morning, soulful revelers! We’ve got a great lineup today that includes our ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul’ EP that combines the best of Motown, Stax, Atlantic and others to deliver the best of soul and R & B during the sixties and seventies.

Here’s your Saturday musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Al Green

One of the absolute best here, the Reverend Al. Here’s a little treat to whet your whistle, as they say. Al Green joins with Chicago on a TV special from back in 1978 for Tired of Being Alone. A gem.

1:00 p.m. The Rolling Stones Live at The Hoffheinz Pavillion, Ft. Worth, TX, June 24-25, 1972 NEW!

This performance is new to our station. We’ve never aired it before. I saw the Stones live in Boston around this time back in the day. One of the best I’ve seen.

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

We’ve got our big, bad soul and R & B EP to take us into the evening tonight with Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Jackson Five, Marvin Gaye, Martha & The Vandellas, Sam & Dave, The Four Tops. The Ronettes, The Temptations, Carla Thomas, James Brown, The Shirelles, Etta James, Curtis Mayfield, Sam Cooke, Edwin Starr, Fontella Bass, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Ray Charles, Irma Thomas, The Box Tops, Ann Peebles, Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Otis Redding, The Drifters and more!

Once again, we’re here 24/7 at no charge. Ever. We don’t run any commercial advertising. No bait and switch operation here. See for yourselves. The button is below.

A Little Bit O’ Soul

Today We ‘Paint It Black’, Then It’s Harrison & Clapton Live in Japan and Brandi Carlile Later on Friday, November 29, 2024

Yeah, it’s Black Friday. We’re not selling anything. We’re giving you free music, so we start it all out with our ‘Paint It Black’ playlist…not quite an EP, but close!

Here’s your Black Friday anti-capitalist lineup:

10:00 a.m. Paint It Black: Various Artists

We’ve got an EP about colors and we’ve got a slightly smaller playlist for the color black. You’ll hear The Rolling Stones, The Wallflowers, James Brown, Three Dog Night, The Beatles, Warren Zevon, The Band, Nina Simone, Curtis Mayfield, Lucinda Williams, John Lee Hooker, J.D. Souther, Jethro Tull, Guy Clark Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Tom Rush and more!

4:00 p.m. George Harrison & Eric Clapton Live at The Nagoya International Exhibition Hall, Nagoya, Japan, December 5, 1991

This afternoon we have two good friends, who also happen to be two stellar musicians, playing together on the same stage.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Brandi Carlile

Ten-time Grammy award winner Brandi Carlile closes the day’s programming with folk rock, alternative country, Americana and classic rock.

We’re here 24/7 playing the best music on the planet at no cost to the listening public. No strings. No bullshit. No commercial advertising. We’re all about the music. We have nothing to sell you on Black Friday. See for yourself. The button is below.

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