‘The British Are Coming’, The Pretenders and Dr. John are All On Tap As We Head For the Weekend, Thursday, October 10, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! We’re over the hump and on the downslide to the weekend. We’ve got our big British music EP, live Pretenders and a Dr. John Spotlight feature.

Here’s your musical lineup:

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

We start with music from the British Invasion and beyond with The Beatles, 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, the Moody Blues, Rod Stewart, The Rolling Stones, Herman’s Hermits, Them, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Badfinger, The Yardbirds, Traffic, Elton John, Lulu, Pink Floyd, Yes, The Animals, Manfred Mann, Spencer Davis Group, Queen, Donovan and more!

4:00 p.m. The Pretenders Live at Laeiszhalle, Hamburg, Germany, June 23, 2009

Chrissie Hynde battled plenty of sexism before launching the Pretenders in 1978. At the time, the band didn’t have a name but recorded five tracks which eventually got them their start. She eventually named the band after the Platters song, The Great Pretender, which was a favorite song of her ex-boyfriend. The rest, as they say, is musical history. I am not what you’d call a ‘fan’ of the punk music genre, but The Pretenders under the leadership of Chrissie Hynde is one of the best bands on the planet, regardless of genre.

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

We close out the evening with Dr. John, another music master who managed to combine New Orleans-fueled blues, jazz, R & B, soul and funk into a style all his own.

I’m giving you a break from the drivel of the drill. You know what you need to know about us. Now it’s time to push the button below.

Spend Sunday With Donovan, The Zombies Live in Concert and Songs About The Night Later, on September 22, 2024

Good morning, music lovers and weekenders! We are here with a Donovan Spotlight feature, a reunited Zombies concert from 2008 and our ‘Here Comes The Night’ EP!

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

10:00 a.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Donovan

We open up the festivities with Scottish musician, songwriter and record producer, Donovan, who emerged from the British folk scene in 1965. He was a fixture on the charts and the radio with a string of hits in the late sixties that have stood the test of time.

The Zombies are one of those sixties bands that kind of fell through the cracks for some inexplicable reason. As one music critic noted, perhaps it was because there was so much good music at the time.Their legend has surely grown over the decades and it is clear that they were one of the finest, yet most underappreciated, bands of the sixties. By the time of this reunion tour, some of the members were gone. However, vocalist Colin Blunstone and keyboard wizard Rod Argent were there.

5:00 p.m. Here Comes The Night: Various Artists

We close out the programming and move into the after dark hours with songs about the night from Warren Zevon, the J. Geils Band, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Them, The Beatles, Van Morrison, Patti Smith, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bruce Springsteen, The Kinks, Electric Prunes, Phoebe Snow, Joe Walsh, The Eagles, The Doors, John Cougar Mellencamp, Poco, Emmylou Harris, Neil Diamond, The Animals, The Rolling Stones, Don McLean, Steve Winwood, The Traveling Wilburys, Sam Cooke, Jimmy Buffet, Bonnie Raitt and more!

Midweek Brings ‘The British Are Coming’ EP, Live Traffic & The Beatles B-Sides on Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Good morning, lovers of the British Invasion! We’ve got all Brit programming today, starting with our big ‘British Are Coming’ EP!

Here’s your midweek lineup:

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

It’s time for music from across the pond with The Beatles, 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, 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’s Earth Band, Spencer Davis Group, Donovan, The Searchers and more!

4:00 p.m. The Beatles: B is For B-Sides

This afternoon we give you the B-sides of worldwide Beatles singles, many of which are as good as their A-sides!

8:00 p.m. Traffic Live at The Capitol Theater, Port Chester, NY, June 26, 1970

We close it out with the legendary Steve Winwood and Traffic live at The Capitol Theater at the beginning of the new decade.

We’re on 24/7 at no cost to the listening public, and without commercial interruption. You can see for yourself by hitting the button below! No Lie!

It’s Sunday Funday With Live Bonnie Raitt, an Etta James Spotlight, and the ‘Color My World’ EP Tonight, August 18, 2024

Good morning, weekenders! We hope you’re enjoying your time off as much as we are, although my weekend is actually a Sunday-Monday combo. Today we start off with Bonnie Raitt and Etta James before we get into Open Stream with a theme this evening.

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

10:00 a.m. Bonnie Raitt Live at The Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA, February 15, 1972

We kick off the festivities with an iconic performer in an iconic venue. There have been so many who have passed through the doors of The Troubadour on their way to fame. Bonnie Raitt is no exception.

2:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Etta James

In my mind, Etta James is a contemporary of Aretha Franklin in so many ways. Over a six-decade career she has put her stamp on gospel, soul, jazz, R&B and rock and roll. Today she’s In The Spotlight.

5:00 p.m. Color My World: Various Artists

Tonight we give you Open Stream with a Theme as this playlist takes you late into the night. You’ll hear The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, James Taylor, Donovan, Booker T & The MG’s, Electric Light Orchestra, Procol Harum, Joni Mitchell, The Who, Amy Winehouse, Sam & Dave, Badfinger, Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, Elvis Costello, Neil Young, Jefferson Airplane, The Hollies, Elvis Presley, Lucinda Williams, Janis Joplin, John Hiatt, J.D. Souther, Linda Ronstadt and more!

Come and get it. It’s free. Every single day of the year. All of them. And we’re open all night; round the clock. Did I mention there’s no commercial advertising?

The Weekend Begins With ‘What’s In a Name’, Then It’s Maria Muldaur and Townes Van Zandt on Saturday, August 17, 2024

Good morning, musicologists and name droppers! We’ve got a great day of music in store starting with our ‘What’s In a Name’ multi-artist EP!

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

9:00 a.m. What’s In A Name: Various Artists

Have we got name droppers for you today! Some of the folks they sing about are real. Some are not. Do you know the difference? You’ll hear Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Them, Janis Joplin, Simon & Garfunkel, The Beach Boys, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Jimi Hendrix, Donovan, Steve Winwood, Bonnie Raitt, Shawn Colvin, Carly Simon, Warren Zevon, Laura Nyro, Bobbie Gentry, The Kinks, Three Dog Night, The Association, Joni Mitchell, Badfinger, Linda Ronstadt, Steely Dan, Chi Coltrane, Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart, James Taylor, Tony Joe White and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Maria Muldaur

Maria Muldaur’s career began during the great sixties folk music revival, but she didn’t stop there as her musical style encompasses folk, blues, early jazz, gospel, country and R&B. Give a listen.

We close with a brand new live show from one of the greatest singer-songwriters of all time without question.

It’s Songs About Colors, Volume Two of ‘The Summer of Love’ and Chuck Berry In The Spotlight, Saturday, July 20, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We are celebrating summer once again with volume two of our ‘Summer of Love’ playlist but not until we have songs about colors. Later, it’s Chuck Berry.

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

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

Songs about colors in the title, lyrics or both. In case you thought Paint It Black was only one of a handful of songs, think again. You’ll hear The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, James Taylor, Donovan, Booker T & The MG’s, 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, Lucinda Williams, John Hiatt, J.D. Souther, Linda Ronstadt and more!

4:00 p.m. Summer of Love, Volume Two: Various Artists

Today we continue the songs of 1967 with volume two of our ‘Summer of Love’ playlist. You’ll hear Jefferson Airplane, The Rolling Stones, The Animals, Aretha Franklin, Buffalo Springfield, The Beatles, The Grass Roots, The Byrds, Jimi Hendrix, The Turtles, The Doors, Simon & Garfunkel, Cream, Bobbie Gentry and more!

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Chuck Berry

Tonight we close with one of the main architects of rock n’ roll, Mr. Chuck Berry, firmly In The Spotlight.

We’re here 24/7, programming or not. We have our big, wide Open Stream of never-ending songs. Our repeats are so far apart that they are like new when you hear them all over again. Either button will do.

We’ve Made It To Friday and We’ve Got John Fogerty, ‘The British Are Coming’ EP, and The Original All-Girl Revue, July 12, 2024

Here we are again reporting from the cusp of the weekend here in The Mermaid Lounge with a John Fogerty Spotlight feature for starters. It keeps getting better from there.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of John Fogerty

We’ve got John Fogerty’s music from his days as singer, guitarist and primary songwriter with Creedence Clearwater Revival to his solo career. Stop by The Lounge.

1:00 p.m. The British Are Coming: Various Artists

We’ve got them all here: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Dave Mason, Electric Light Orchestra, Petula Clark, The Zombies, The Hollies, Small Faces. Dusty Springfield, Small Faces, Led Zeppelin, Cream, Queen, The Kinks, The Dave Clark Five, the Bee Gees, The Moody Blues, Rod Stewart, Them, Herman’s Hermits, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Badfinger, The Yardbirds, Traffic, Elton John, Lulu, Pink Floyd, Yes, The Animals, the Spencer-Davis Group, Donovan, The Searchers and more!

8:00 p.m. The Original All-Girl Revue: Various Artists

This was the very first all-woman music list we put together; several others followed. And then we made our big, bad ‘Ladies Day Out’ EP. The original all-girl revue playlist includes Ann Peebles, Bobbie Gentry, Chi Coltrane, Carole King, Linda Ronstadt, Laura Nyro, Roberta Flack, Melanie, Mary Wells, Fontella Bass, Lulu, Joni Mitchell, Emmylou Harris, Irma Thomas, Janis Joplin, Judy Collins, Patti Smith and more!

It’s all here for you, music lovers, on a 24/7 basis with no commercial interruption and at no charge to you, our listeners. See for yourself. The button’s below.

We Take a Trip On ‘The Psychedelic Express,’ Then It’s Live Jimi Hendrix and Carly Simon, Thursday, June 27, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We are officially over the hump and are on the downslide to the weekend. Today we start out on ‘The Psychedelic Express,’ then it’s on to some live music.

Here’s your mind bending lineup:

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

Truly a favorite genre in The Mermaid Lounge and, once again, pioneered by The Fab Four. In addition to The Beatles, you’ll hear 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, Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Byrds, Jimi Hendrix, Traffic, Cream, Dr. John, Procol Harum, The Who, Canned Heat, Yes, Electric Light Orchestra, Tommy James & The Shondell, Mudcrutch, Blind Faith, The Grateful Dead, Velvet Underground, Big Brother & The Holding Company and more!

4:00 p.m. Jimi Hendrix Live at The Berkeley Community Theater, Berkeley, CA, May 30, 1970

We’ve got Hendrix in a great live performance this afternoon that took place just months before his untimely death.

It was Jackie Onassis’ idea for Carly Simon to perform at Grand Central Station as a precursor to her first tour in 14 years. We’ve got it for you here this evening.

We Start With ‘The Psychedelic Express,’ Then Move to Tom Petty’s Top 100 Songs On Sunday, May 26, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! We move into our Memorial Day weekend programming today with Tom Petty’s Top 100. Tomorrow, we close out the weekend with The Beatles Top 100. But before all this, we kick off with ‘The Psychedelic Express.’

Here’s your holiday Sunday playlist:

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

One of our favorite EPs because psychedelic music is one of our favorite genres to explore. You’ll hear Vanilla Fudge, The Chambers Brothers, The Beatles, Electric Prunes, The Animals, Jefferson Airplane, Blues Image, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Doors, Pink Floyd, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Donovan, Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Byrds, 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, The Grateful Dead, Velvet Underground, Big Brother & The Holding Company and more!

4:00 p.m. Tom Petty’s Top 100 Songs

It’s time to pull out our House Bands for the holiday, and we start with Tom Petty’s Top 100 Songs as we listen to his music with The Heartbreakers, Mudcrutch, The Traveling Wilburys and as a solo artist. And these are in no particular order. We don’t have the infrastructure to handle votes from listeners, so we took a very scientific method and pulled song names out of a bucket. (No laughing.) From our perspective, all of his songs are great, so it doesn’t really matter what song is arbitrarily number one and which is number one hundred. Just enjoy the experience!

Kick back and relax with us this weekend. It was a beautiful day yesterday here in the Boston area, but it’s pouring rain today and it’s the perfect day to wrap your head around some great music.

It’s Saturday and We’ve Got ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul’, a Dylan Spotlight for His 83rd, and ‘Live’ Bobbie Gentry, May 25, 2024

Good morning and welcome to Memorial Day Weekend! We’re not going anywhere; we’re sitting tight here in The Mermaid Lounge playing music all weekend and we’ve got some great stuff lined up!

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

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

Yes, we kick it all off with our big, bad soul and R&B extended playlist where you’ll hear 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, Joe Tex, Ann Peebles, Al Green and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Bob Dylan

The poet laureate of music turned 83 years young yesterday and we are putting him In The Spotlight where he belongs as one of the best songwriters in the history of any kind of music, among other things.

8:00 p.m. Bobbie Gentry Live at The BBC, 1968-1969

Speaking of great songwriters, we’ve got Bobbie Gentry recorded live at the BBC over year’s period. She brings along special guests Donovan and James Taylor as well.

Get in on it. We’re rolling here all day and night with absolutely no interruption and no commercial advertising. We don’t need your credit card. We’re all about the music.