On Monday It’s Live Joni Mitchell, Our ‘Summertime’ Playlist, and a Peter Tosh ‘Spotlight’ Feature, August 11, 2025

Good morning, musicologists, and welcome back to the work week. We aim to make it better with a great lineup today, including a playlist about the summer!

Here’s your Monday, Monday lineup:

10:00 a.m. Joni Mitchell Live at The Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, B.C., October 16, 1970

This concert was not only a fundraiser for protesting nuclear weapons testing on Amchitka Island, but it launched the Greenpeace movement. Also performing were Phil Ochs and James Taylor (not included in this playlist).

2:00 p.m. Summertime: Various Artists

We not only have EP’s in our musical bag of tricks, but many shorter multi-artist playlists. This is one of them featuring Electric Light Orchestra, Eddie Cochran, Shawn Colvin, Nina Simone, Van Morrison, Johnny Rivers, k.d. lang, The Stone Poneys, Tracy Nelson, The Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, Nanci Griffith, Paul Simon, The Surfaris, Willie Nelson, Townes Van Zandt, the Foo Fighters, Donovan, and more!

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

We close out the programming this evening with music from one of the founders of The Wailers as we put Peter Tosh ‘In the Spotlight.’

Before, in between, and after our programs we give you our big, wide Open Stream without any commercial interruption. As we expand our playlist offering moving into the fall months, we’ll be expanding the playing time they get overnight for our worldwide listeners. Check us out. The button is below.

On Friday It’s an Isley Brothers ‘Spotlight’, Then ‘The Founders’ EP, and Closing With Dusty Springfield, May 16, 2025

Good morning, music lovers and welcome to the end of the work week. We’ve got a great lineup today starting with a brand new ‘Spotlight’ featuring The Isley Brothers!

Here’s your Friday musical lineup:

The Isley Brothers’ career spanned seven decades and they are known as one of the most influential and diverse artists in R & B. They rose to prominence in 1959 with their song Shout, which has been covered by many artists. From there it was Twist & Shout, This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak For You) before they released the Grammy Award-winner It’s Your Thing on their own record label. Today they’re in our ‘Spotlight.’ Enjoy.

1:00 p.m. The Founders: Various Artists

We spend the afternoon with the pioneers of rock n’ roll, including Big Mama Thornton, Elvis Presley, Bo Diddley, Hank Williams, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Big Joe Turner, Hank Williams, Bill Haley & His Comets, Ray Charles, The Drifters, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Robert Johnson, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Cash and more!

8:00 p.m. Dusty Springfield: The Lost British Recordings

We haven’t aired this one in a while. It’s a collection of songs recorded by Dusty in London, but never released in the U.S. until 1999, the year of her death. We think you’ll love it.

We’re almost at the weekend. One more day to get through, and we’ll be here with all this great music. Don’t forget, before, in between and after our programs, we’ve got our big, wide Open Stream! The button is below.

Thursday Brings The Pioneers of Rock n’Roll, an Elton John ‘Spotlight’ and Live Townes Van Zandt, February 13, 2025

Here we go, folks, headed for the weekend. We celebrate ‘The Founders’, give EJ a ‘Spotlight’ feature and live Townes Van Zandt!

Here’s your Thursday lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Founders: Various Artists

The artists that forged the birth of Rock n’ Roll are with us today, including Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner, Hank Williams, Bill Haley & His Comets, Ray Charles, The Drifters, Roy Orbison, Robert Johnson, Carl Perkins, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Elton John

I sat up and took notice as soon as I heard Your Song, to this day one of the most incredible songs ever recorded. His career has stood the test of time.

8:00 p.m. Townes Van Zandt Live at The Old Quarter, Houston, TX, July 20, 1973

Many say that Townes Van Zandt is the only songwriter who can be mentioned in the same breath as Bob Dylan. I don’t get into those discussions. There have been many great songwriters. Townes Van Zandt is truly one of the greats.

Here we are once again as fascism knocks on our door louder every day. Tune us in, folks, for a break but, please, continue to fight and organize. Do not sit this one out. We’re on 24/7 and we’re totally free. We do not carry advertising. We do not support the oligarchy.

On Monday We Return To Summer, Then It’s Yusuf/Cat Stevens Live in Virginia and Jesse Winchester, December 9, 2024

As winter settles in here (at least in New England) we take a trip back to summer with our multi-artist playlist, then we have some live Yusuf/Cat Stevens and a Jesse Winchester ‘Spotlight’ feature.

Here’s your Monday, Monday lineup:

10:00 a.m. Summertime: Various Artists

As the temperatures drop, we return to a warmer season with Paul McCartney, Electric Light Orchestra, Eddie Cochran, Donovan, The Wallflowers, Van Morrison, Shawn Colvin, John Prine, k.d. lang, The Stone Poneys, Bob Dylan, Nanci Griffith, The Beach Boys, Dusty Springfield and more!

4:00 p.m. Yusuf/Cat Stevens Live at William & Mary Hall, Williamsburg, VA, February 22, 1976

We’ve got The Cat live from William & Mary College in Virginia this afternoon, recorded while on his Majikat (Earth Tour 1976).

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Jesse Winchester

I’ve seen Jesse Winchester live several times, the first being when he opened for Emmylou Harris at Boston’s famous Music Hall, which is now known as the MGM Music Hall at Fenway. Capitalism takes the charm out of everything.

There’s plenty of wide Open Stream on Mondays in between our regular programming. We’re here 24/7 and we’re totally free all the time. No bait and switch. See for yourselves. The Button is below.

It’s ‘The Founders’ of Rock n’ Roll to Start the Week, including Buddy Holly, and Elvis Presley on Monday, November 25, 2024

Good morning, working folks! We’re starting the week by focusing on the founders of rock n’ roll; the musicians and bands that inspired the groundbreaking sounds of the sixties and seventies.

Here’s your Monday, Monday lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Founders: Various Artists

We start the day off with our big EP featuring the pioneers of rock n’ roll, including Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner, Hank Williams, Ray Charles, Bill Haley & His Comets, The Drifters, Roy Orbison, Robert Johnson, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Eddie Cochran, Muddy Waters and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Buddy Holly

Born to a musical family in Lubbock, Texas, Buddy Holly was a singer, songwriter and musician who became a central and groundbreaking pioneer in the mid-50s birth of rock and roll.

8:00 p.m. Elvis Presley: The Complete Sun Studio Recordings

Here in The Mermaid Lounge, we consider this the absolute best of Elvis’ long history of recordings. More than anything, Elvis made rock and roll accessible to everyone.

We’re here 24/7. We’re totally free. We run absolutely no commercial advertising at any time. We don’t employ DJs who love to hear themselves talk. The button is below.

The Byrds at The Fillmore, Volume Two of ‘Repeat After Me’ and Toots & The Maytals Are All On Tap, Friday, May 3, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! We continue on with Fillmore Week, give you volume two of ‘Repeat After Me’ and a Toots & The Maytals Spotlight feature.

Here’s your Friday lineup:

10:00 a.m. Repeat After Me, Volume Two: Various Artists

We’ve got volume two on tap with Joe Cocker covering The Box Tops, Kate Taylor covering The Four Tops, The Traveling Wilburys covering Del Shannon, Johnny Winter covering Bob Dylan, The Who covering Eddie Cochran, and more. You get the drill.

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Toots & The Maytals

I sometimes feel that Toots Hibbert gets short shrift in the world or Reggae, but the Maytals were around from the early sixties and were instrumental in helping to push Reggae into the consciousness of the mainstream music lover.

8:00 p.m. FILLMORE WEEK! The Byrds Live at The Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA, February 7-8, 1969

One of the most iconic bands in all of music (imo) is on tap for this evening in a Fillmore performance as we continue on Fillmore Week.

In fact, we’re making Fillmore Week eight days a week so that we can get our final entry in on Monday. But that’s for us to know and for you to find out. That means you’ll just have to listen and stay engaged. The button’s below.

Monday Brings Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash in Nashville ’69, the ‘By the Numbers’ Playlist, and ‘Live’ Little Feat, May 15, 2023

Monday rolls around again every week, unfortunately, but we’ve got some great music to get you through starting with Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash’s Nashville sessions, vintage 1969, our ‘By the Numbers’ multi-artist playlist and Little Feat bringing up the rear.

Here’s your Monday, Monday lineup:

11:00 a.m. Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash: The Nashville Sessions, February 1969

Recorded at Columbia Studios in Nashville on February 17 and 18, 1969. Their duet Girl From the North Country would appear on Dylan’s Nashville Skyline album in April of that year.

3:00 p.m. By the Numbers: Various Artists

A playlist with numbers as the topic in the title, lyrics or both from Three Dog Night, Chicago, Mudcrutch, J. J. Cale, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, Eddie Cochran, Asleep at The Wheel, The Beatles, The Grass Roots, The Byrds, Stevie Nicks, Rosanne Cash, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Wilson Pickett, Paul Simon, Johnny Rivers, The Doors, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and more!

7:00 p.m. Little Feat Live at Ebbets Field, Denver, CO, July 20, 1973

Little Feat closes the programming day out live from Ebbets Field in Colorado, vintage 1973.

Let’s face it, Monday sucks. But we can help make it better if you simply tune us in. You don’t need a credit card. You won’t hear any commercial advertising. And we’re on 24/7 in case you have insomnia or live in another time zone. Just do it.

It’s Our Official ‘Summertime’ Kick-off With a Brand New Playlist, Badfinger at the BBC, and Joni In The Spotlight, Monday, June 27, 2022

Good Morning, Music Lovers! We hope we can brighten your work-week start today with some great music. It’s summertime, and we’ve got some brand new music for you.

We officially kick off summer with a brand new playlist today!

Here’s your Monday programming:

11:00 a.m. Summertime: Various Artists NEW!

This is the beginning of a week where we feature some new music. We start here with our new ‘Summertime’ playlist. We’ve got songs with the word summer, summertime, and variations thereof in the title but, if you listen closely, you’ll hear some surf music in there as well. You’ll hear from Paul McCartney, Electric Light Orchestra, Eddie Cochran, Joni Mitchell, Sly & The Family Stone, Poco, The Blue Stingrays, The Doors, The Beach Boys, Jimmy Cliff, Joan Baez, Foo Fighters, Donovan, Paul Simon, Van Morrison, Nina Simone, John Prine, Johnny Rivers, Gary Hoey, The Desert Rose Band, Dick Dale & His Del-Tones, The Stone Poneys, Chrissie Hynde, Bob Dylan, The Surfaris, Nanci Griffith, and more!

4:00 p.m. Badfinger: Live at The BBC Studios, 1972-1973

Today’s live music offering is Badfinger, a true power pop band that made some great music in its time. Today we’ve got them live at BBC Studios in London recorded in 1972 and 1973. Undoubtedly the best signing ever by Apple Records.

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Joni Mitchell

It’s been a spell since we featured Joni Mitchell In the Spotlight, so we’re remedying that little miscue today. She’s kind of the sound of summer in a way. We’ve always loved Joni’s music here in The Mermaid Lounge. She is one of the most brilliant singer-songwriters on the planet.

Come on. It’s Monday. And we all know Monday’s suck. I’ve been sick with COVID for a second time here and I return to retail hell myself tomorrow, so why not join me today in kicking back and enjoying some great tunes.

Good Morning From The College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge: 1/8/2021

Good Morning, Music Lovers! Here we are again bringing you news from the annals of rock n’ roll. Today, a very important person in the music world was born.

Elvis Presley in Tupelo, Mississippi Sept 26, 1956 © 1978 Roger Marshutz—MPTV

Here’s today’s lesson:

January 8, 1957: Bill Haley & The Comets, LaVern Baker, and Big Joe Turner start an Australian tour in Newastle Stadium, Newcastle. This is the world’s first rock n’ roll concert.

January 8, 1960: Eddie Cochran records Three Steps To Heaven in Hollywood. It will be his final recording session.

January 8, 1966: The Beatles had only been charting for a couple of years, yet they had their 11th number one hit with We Can Work It Out.

Also on this day, the album Rubber Soul soared from #60 to #1 to take over the Album chart. It was The Beatles’ seventh #1 US album.

The Who and The Kinks were the final guests on the last episode of the TV show Shindig.

A great new folk group called The Mamas & The Papas were gaining a lot of attention. On this day, they charted their first hit single, California Dreamin’.

January 8, 1968: (Sittin’ On) The Dock of The Bay, by Otis Redding, was released by Stax Records. It would be his only hit. He passed away the year before in a plane crash before he ever had the opportunity to see its release.

January 8, 1975: Three Led Zeppelin shows scheduled for Madison Square Garden sell out in a matter of four hours.

Born On This Day

January 8, 1931: Bill Graham, concert promoter whose name is synonymous with The Fillmore, was born Wolfgang Grajunca in Berlin, Germany.

January 8, 1935: Elvis Aaron Presley, also known as The King, was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. He had his first hit in 1956 with the great song Heartbreak Hotel.

January 8, 1940: Jerome “Little Anthony” Gourdine of Little Anthony & The Imperials was born in Brooklyn, New York.

January 8, 1946: Robby Krieger, songwriter and elite guitarist with The Doors, was born in Los Angeles.

January 8, 1947: Terry Sylvester, who replaced Graham Nash in The Hollies, was born in Liverpool, England.

And that is it on this day in music history. We will be back with the line-up soon.