Tag: Elvis Presley

We’ve Made It To Friday and We’ve Got ‘The Female Species’ EP and Poco ‘Live’ on KBFH, February 11, 2022

Good Morning, Music Lovers! We’ve got an excellent programming plan today that includes not on one of our newest EP’s but a brand new live performance from Poco, a band that does not get enough credit for what they’ve done for country-rock.

Today we’ve got some ‘live’ Poco, one of the premier bands of country-rock.

Here’s your Friday line-up:

11:00 a.m. The Female Species: Various Artists

Nope. It’s not an all-girl EP, but it is a playlist that includes references to women, girls and ladies in the title, lyrics, or both. Some references are happy, some sad, but either way you’ll hear from Talking Heads, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Jackson Browne, The Boogaloo Swamis, John Mayall, Hot Tuna, The Eagles, Elvis Presley, Fleetwood Mac, Electric Light Orchestra, Percy Sledge, The Beatles, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, America, Roy Orbison, Billy Joel, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Aretha Franklin, The Beach Boys, Linda Ronstadt, Bob Dylan, The Temptations, and many more!

7:00 p.m. Poco Live at Orrie de Nooyer Auditorium, Farleigh Dickerson University, Madison, NJ, November 2, 1973 NEW!

We should add that it is broadcast live on King Biscuit Flower Hour as well, one of our favorite radio stations in the history of popular music. Poco doesn’t get enough credit for its contributions to the development of the country-rock genre, but we’re going to change that as we build our music library. By the time this particular live event came around, a tour in support of their sixth album, Richie Furay, Jim Messina (who went on to play with Kenny Loggins), and Randy Meisner (who later became part of the Eagles) had already left the band. Only Rusty Young (pedal steel guitar, banjo and vocals) and George Grantham (drums, vocals) remained of the original members. They added Paul Cotton (guitar, vocals) and Timothy B. Schmidt (bass, acoustic guitar and vocals). We should mention that Timothy B. Schmidt would also later become part of the Eagles. For this particular show, they added two special guests who were also instrumental to the country-rock genre in Stephen Stills and Chris Hillman.

We’re all here waiting for you to join. And by that, I mean open up a tab and hit the link below. No subscriptions, credit cards, or personal information are required. Ever. We’re all about sharing music here in a world that gets uglier by the day. Music is soothing to the soul. Take advantage of us. We love it.

Come on. Do it.

We’re On the Downslide to the Weekend With ‘Nothing But Heartbreak’, Warren Zevon In the Spotlight, and our Album of The Week, Thursday, January 20, 2022

Good Morning, Musicologists! We’ve got some great programming interspersed with all that wide Open Stream. The festivities start promptly at 11:00 a.m. EST.

Later today, we put singer-songwriter Warren Zevon In the Spotlight

Here’s your musical landscape today:

11:00 a.m. Nothing But Heartbreak: Various Artists

We start out the day with something I’m an expert in: The love thing. Not my strength. I decided to give it up in my old age. Clearly, I’m not the only one because the lovelorn dominate the music scene. You’ll hear from Carole King, Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, the J. Geils Band, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Dan Fogelberg, Them, The Walker Brothers, The Pretenders, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Cat Stevens, The Bee Gees, Lucinda Williams and more!

3:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Raising Sand by Alison Krauss & Robert Plant

Our Album of the Week is back at mid-afternoon for it’s next-to-last airing. Many feel this was an unlikely musical duo, but it sure resulted in what I consider to be a masterpiece. I’m not the only one.

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Warren Zevon

The excitable boy is back In the Spotlight. We haven’t heard this playlist for a bit, and the time is right. Warren Zevon, undeniably one of the most brilliant singer-songwriters of his generation whose compositions became hits for several artists, struggled to break through as a solo artist. That is, until Linda Ronstadt began singing his songs on her albums and on stage. The result was a great career that spanned a quarter century until his untimely death at the age of 56. Tune him in tonight.

Before, in between, and after our programming (which we keep to a minimum), you’ll be listing to all that great wide Open Stream with The Music Mermaid in charge. There are days when she even picks up a playlist or two on her own. You’ll never know unless you tune in. By the way, today we add the Republic of Korea and Lithuania to our list of listeners. Where are you and what are you doing today?

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Saturday in The Mermaid Lounge Brings Our ‘The Female Species’ EP, the Final Airing of ‘Teaser and the Firecat’ and LIVE DEAD! January 8, 2022

Happy Saturday, Weekenders! It is here, and we’ve got the gang from Europe all tuned in and ready to go. Some of ’em have been there all night. What are you doing today? I know what you should include as part of your day, but I won’t unduly influence you.

We start the day with our EP about The Female Species…it may not be what you think.

Here’s your Saturday musical landscape:

12:00 p.m. The Female Species: Various Artists

Nope. It’s not 4+ hours of music by women. We’ve got that one in the hopper for mid-month. This one is musicians singing songs about women; songs with the word ladies, girls, or women in the title or lyrics…or both. You’ll hear Talking Heads, Jackson Brown, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Boogaloo Swamis, John Mayall, Hot Tuna, The Eagles, Elvis Presley, Fleetwood Mac, Percy Sledge, Electric Light Orchestra, The Beatles, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, America, Roy Orbison, Billy Joel, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, The Temptations, The Beach Boys, Linda Ronstadt, and more!

7:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Teaser and the Firecat by Cat Stevens FINAL AIRING!

This is the swan song for Teaser and the Firecat. Tomorrow when you roll yourselves out of bed, we’ll have a brand new album feature.

10:00 p.m. LIVE DEAD! The Grateful Dead Live at Manor Downs, Austin, Texas, July 4, 1981 NEW!

We’ve got another new soundboard recording of a great Dead live show here for your listening pleasure. But then again, the fact remains that every show sounds “new” when it comes to The Grateful Dead. (And by the way, no matter what they tell you, The Grateful Dead aren’t The Grateful Dead without Jerry Garcia.)

Before, in between, and after we give you all that great Open Stream courtesy of The Music Mermaid. She has impeccable taste in music, I must admit, and never fails to please. Speaking of which, we’ll be adding some new music over the next few weeks, so stay tuned!

Cursor Here Please!

Today We’re All About Our ‘Money, Honey’ Playlist, Blind Faith ‘live’ in Cali, and the Album of The Week, Thursday, December 23, 2021

We’re inching closer to the holiday weekend, and I have no idea what The Music Mermaid has in store, but I do know what’s going on today, and that’s a bonus.

Blind Faith, Britain’s first supergroup.

Here’s today’s musical landscape:

11:00 a.m. Money, Honey: Various Artists

We haven’t heard this one in a while, so let’s dust it off and spin it. It’s all about the money. Songs with references to money in the title, lyrics or both. You’ll hear from Elvis, The Guess Who, The Beatles, Warren Zevon, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Randy Newman, Bruce Springsteen, Allen Toussaint, The Wallflowers, Chuck Berry, the J. Geils Band, Willie Nelson, Laura Nyro, Tom Waits, Pink Floyd, J.J. Cale, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, Tom Rush, Albert King, The Traveling Wilburys, Barrett Strong, The Kinks, and more! Talk about an eclectic playlist!

3:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Big Brother & The Holding Company by Big Brother & The Holding Company

We’re winding down on this week’s selection. Our final airing will be on Saturday. On Sunday morning when you roll out of bed, we’ll have a brand new Album of The Week to help you move towards the New Year.

7:00 p.m. Blind Faith Live at The Earl Warren Showgrounds, Santa Barbara, California, August 16, 1969

Tonight we close the programming portion of the program with Britain’s very first supergroup, featuring Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Rich Grech, and Ginger Baker playing at, oddly enough, the Earl Warren Showgrounds. To be honest, for all of my musical knowledge, I had no idea this place even existed. You learn something new every day.

Come on kids. Join your friends from around the globe. #BecomeUngovernable Radio is the perfect Christmas present to give yourselves. It doesn’t cost a penny. Really. No lie. And we happen to play the best music on the planet. Just pull up a tab and hit the button below. See for yourself.

Just Do It, People.

The Doors to the College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge are Back Open: 2/17/2021

Well, we’re back up and running again. I am not sure the stamina is there to get this done every day, but I’m sure going to give it a hell of a shot.

Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash recorded together when Dylan was making Nashville Skyline. One of the songs found its way onto the album.

Here’s today’s lesson:

February 17, 1955: Little Richard sent his first audition tape to Specialty Records.

February 17, 1960: Elvis Presley received his first Gold Record for his debut album, Elvis.

Also on this day, after a string of hits on Cadence Records, The Everly Brothers sign a 10-year contract with Warner Brothers. The price is said to be a million dollars, but many think that was inflated for PR purposes.

February 17, 1962: The Beach Boys debuted on the charts with the song Surfin’.

February 17, 1964: Chad & Jeremy appear on the Patty Duke Show.

February 17, 1965: The Kinks release their single Tired of Waiting For You.

February 17, 1966: James Brown recorded It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World at Bob Gallo’s Talentmasters studio in New York. The song would eventually top the Billboard R & B chart.

Also on this day, The Beach Boys begin recording the Brian Wilson masterpiece, Good Vibrations. It would take eleven sessions and multiple layered overdubs to complete the song. Although it hit #1 around the globe and sold millions of copies, it would be the band’s last #1 for the next ten years.

February 17, 1967: The Beatles’ double A-side hit Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields Forever was released in the US.

Also on this day, The Beatles began recording a John Lennon song, Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite. The lyrics were taken from an antique poster that Lennon bought promoting a circus performance that took place in February 1843 in Rochdale, Lancashire.

February 17, 1968: Big Brother & The Holding Company signed a recording contract with the new CBS label, Columbia Records.

February 17, 1969: Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash got together to record some duets in Nashville while Dylan was recording his Nashville Skyline album. The song Girl From the North Country finds its way onto Dylan’s album. Cash wrote the liner notes for the album. The rest of their session would be released later.

February 17, 1971: James Taylor makes his debut on ABC’s Johnny Cash Show.

February 17, 1972: Pink Floyd wrapped up a tour of the UK with the first of four shows at The Rainbow Theatre in London. They perform Eclipse at the show. A year later, it becomes The Dark Side of the Moon album.

Born On This Day

February 17, 1941: Gene Pitney, who had hits with It Hurts To Be In Love and Only Love Can Break A Heart, was born in Hartford, Connecticut.

February 17, 1972: Taylor Hawkins, who was touring drummer for Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill tour, and drummer for the Foo Fighters, was born in Fort Worth, Texas.

And that is it for today.

It’s Wednesday in the College of Rock N’ Roll Knowledge: 1/27/2021

Good Morning, Trivia Buffs! It is one of the more boring days in rock history, I have to admit. Nevertheless, we press on here in The Mermaid Lounge.

The pre-disco Bee Gees were the bomb. But Saturday Night Fever killed it for me.

Here’s today’s lesson:

January 27, 1956: Elvis Presley made his TV debut on The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show where he sang Blue Suede Shoes and Heartbreak Hotel.

January 27, 1965: The Moody Blues reached #1 in the UK with Go Now.

Also on this day, The Who made their UK television debut when they appeared on Ready, Steady, Go! to promote their single, I Can’t Explain.

January 27, 1967: The Four Tops performed at the Royal Albert Hall.

January 27, 1971: The Bee Gees recorded How Can You Mend A Broken Heart at International Broadcasting Company Studios in London.

January 27, 1974: Paul McCartney & Wings released the song Jet.

January 27, 1977: Pink Floyd’s tenth studio album, Animals, entered the UK charts at #2.

January 27, 1978: Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours LP goes to #1 on the UK Album chart.

Born On This Day

January 27, 1943: Brian Keenan, drummer for the Chambers Brothers and Manfred Mann, was born in New York City.

January 27, 1946: Rick Allen, bassist for The Box Tops was born in Little Rock, Arkansas.

January 27, 1949: Eddie Bayers, drummer for Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band was born in Patuxent, Maryland.

January 27 1968: Sarah McLachlan was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

That is all. We’ll be back soon with today’s musical line-up!

Greetings & Salutations from the College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge: 1/26/2021

It’s another Tuesday Bluesday here as I prepare to return to Retail Hell. Still, your lessons are important, so here we go!

Today, we wish the great Lucinda Williams a very happy birthday indeed!

Here’s today’s lesson!

January 26, 1956: Buddy Holly recorded at Decca Records for the first time using the name Buddy and the Two Tones.

January 26, 1957: The great Fats Domino had the #1 song on the R & B chart with one of my favorites, Blue Monday.

January 26, 1961: Elvis Presley had his sixth #1 song in the UK with Are you Lonesome Tonight.

January 26, 1963: The Beatles continued their frenetic live performance pace, performing two concerts on this day. One was at the El Rio Club and Dance Hall in Maccelsfield, Cheshire. They then drove 20 miles to King’s Hall, Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire for an evening performance.

January 26, 1966: Eric Burdon handled lead vocals for Manfred Mann at a London concert, filling in for Paul Jones who was injured in an auto accident.

January 26, 1969: Just another day on the job for The Beatles. First, they recorded Let It Be and The Long and Winding Road for the upcoming Let It Be album. Then they decided to record a series of covers, including Shake, Rattle & Roll, Kansas City, Miss Ann, Blue Suede Shoes, and Lawdy Miss Clawdy. Ringo Starr wrote Octopus’s Garden on this day. Then the band came up with the idea and plan for their amazing final show — the rooftop concert on Saville Row.

January 26, 1970: Simon & Garfunkel released Bridge Over Troubled Water on this day, both the album and the hit single.

Three Dog Night also released the song Celebrate on this day.

John Lennon wrote and recorded his hit Instant Karma all in one day at Abbey Road Studios. It is known as one of the fastest releases in music history. And it’s a great fucking song to boot.

January 26, 1973: Elton John released the album Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only The Piano Player. I have a love-hate thing going with Sir Elton. Nothing personal. Music related.

January 26, 1974: Dolly Parton makes her first appearance on the charts with Jolene.

Born On This Day

January 26, 1953: Lucinda Williams was born in lake Charles, Louisiana. Hell, yeah!

January 26, 1944: Merilee Rush, of Angel of The Morning fame, was born in Seattle, Washington.

January 26, 1945: Ashley Hutchings, vocalist, songwriter, arranger, and bassist for the folk group Fairport Convention (yes, their music is coming) was born in Southgate, Middlesex, England.

January 26, 1948: Corky Laing, drummer for the band Mountain, was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

January 26, 1957: Not a fan of Van Halen the band. Never really have been. But I am a fan of Eddie Van Halen, kickass guitarist, and I pay him the utmost respect always. He was born on this day in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

The End. We’ll be back with the line-up soon!

It’s Saturday in The College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge: 1/23/2021

Good Morning, fellow music trivia buffs, and welcome to The Mermaid Lounge! We have today’s lesson all prepared for you. We guarantee you’ll impress your friends and family with your knowledge if you apply yourselves.

The Winter Dance Party Tour begins. But before it’s over, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper will die in a plane crash. Don McLean called it “the day the music died” in his hit American Pie.

Here’s today’s lesson:

January 23, 1959: The Winter Dance Party Tour began at the Million Dollar Ballroom in Milwaukee. Before the 24-city tour is over, the headliners, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper will die in a plane crash.

January 23, 1964: The Temptations released The Way You Do The Things You Do, one of the best R & B songs ever, in my opinion.

January 23, 1965: Herman’s Hermits released Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat.

Also on this day, Downtown made Petula Clark the first woman to have a #1 in the US since Vera Lynn in 1952. Of course, she’ll have many more here, but she is an old hand at this in the UK where she has been charting since 1954.

Beatles ’65 spent a third week at #1 on the Album charts.

January 23, 1966: Stevie Wonder played The Cavern Club in Liverpool.

January 23, 1967: Johnny Rivers, one of our favorites here, released Baby I Need Your Lovin’.

January 23, 1969: Alan Parsons (later of The Alan Parsons Project) engineered his first session at Apple Studios (as 2nd engineer to Glyn Johns) as The Beatles record one of their best ever, Get Back.

Elvis Presley records Suspicious Minds at American Sound, a small studio in Memphis. It is a huge comeback hit for The King, and it is also his final #1 hit in America.

January 23, 1970: Judy Collins is denied the opportunity to sing her testimony at the infamous Chicago 7 trial.

January 23, 1971: George Harrison is the first ex-Beatle to hit #1 on the UK charts with My Sweet Lord.

Also on this day, Gladys Knight & The Pips recached #1 on the R & B charts with If I Were Your Woman. This band never got the recognition it deserved, in my opinion, and Gladys Knight was a powerhouse of a singer.

January 23, 1973: While singing to a sell-out crowd at Madison Square Garden in New York, Neil Young is handed a message. He then announces that a peace accord had been reached in Vietnam. The crowd goes wild for 10 minutes. Here we are in 2020, and American imperialism continues on unabated and forgotten as we fucking argue over masks.

January 23, 1978: Terry Kath of Cbicago accidentally shoots himself in the head with a gun he believed was empty. He dies instantly, just eight days shy of his 32nd birthday. It also marks the death of Chicago, as far as I am concerned, as Peter Cetera leads them down the path of elevator music and renders them irrelevant.

Born On This Day

January 23, 1950: Danny Federici, keyboardist for the E Street Band, was born in Farmington, New Jersey.

January 23, 1950: Bill Cunningham, bassist for The Box Tops, was born in Memphis, Tennessee.

And that is all because we do not give a flying fuck about Mariah Carey or Justin Bieber. We will be back with our line-up soon!

Good Morning From The College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge: 1/19/2021

We return to retail slavery, so we’re getting a jump on the day today

The Pretenders have their first #1 hit with Brass In Pocket.

Here’s your lesson:

January 19, 1957: Fats Domino’s Blueberry Hill moves up to #2 on the charts.

Also on this day, Elvis Presley recorded It’s No Secret, Blueberry Hill (speak of the devil), Have I Told You Lately That I Love You, and Is It So Strange.

January 19, 1962: Jackie Wilson spent a sixth week at #1 with Lonely Teardrops.

January 19, 1963: The Beatles made their first national TV appearance in the UK, performing Please Please Me on Thank Your Lucky Stars.

January 19, 1966: Simon & Garfunkel released Homeward Bound.

January 19, 1967: The Beatles began recording A Day In The Life at Abbey Road Studios. They lay down the rhythm track, John Lennon’s vocal, and the alarm clock sound used in the song.

Also on this day, Pink Floyd and Marmalade play a bill at The Marquee Club in London.

January 19, 1970: The Easy Rider soundtrack, featuring The Byrds (The Ballad of Easy Rider) and Steppenwolf (Born To Be Wild) is certified Gold.

January 19, 1971: The Beatles song Helter Skelter is introduced as evidence and played at Charles Manson’s murder trial. He claims it’s about a race war and led to his murderous acts.

January 19, 1973: The Moody Blues released I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock n’Roll Band).

January 19, 1974: Jim Croce is still at #1 with You Don’t Mess Around With Jim.

Also, two shows by Bob Dylan and The Band are so popular that they cause a nine-mile traffic jam.

January 19, 1976: The Beatles turn down a $30 million offer by promoter Bill Sargeant to reunite. By now they don’t need the money.

January 18, 1980: The Pretenders have the new #1 song in the UK with the great Brass In Pocket.

And Pink Floyd reaches #1 with The Wall after just six weeks of release.

January 19, 1998: Rock & Roll legend Carl Perkins (who wrote Blue Suede Shoes) dies at the age of 65 after suffering three strokes over two days.

Born On This Day

January 19, 1939: Phil Everly (of the Everly Brothers) was born in Chicago, Illinois.

January 19, 1943: The great Janis Joplin was born in Port Arthur, Texas.

January 19, 1946: Dolly Parton (the fourth of twelve children) was born in Sevier County, Tennessee.

January 19, 1952: Dewey Bunnell of America was born in Harrogate, Yorkshire, England.

And that is it for today, my friends. We’ll be back with the line up soon.

It’s Sunday Funday From The College of Rock n’ Roll Knowledge: 1/17/2021

Happy Sunday, Musicologists! We are here in The Mermaid Lounge where we never sleep and the music never stops. It has been running 24/7 since February of 2017.

Joni Mitchell released the amazing album, Court & Spark, on this day in music history.

Here’s Sunday’s musical lesson:

January 17, 1963: The Beatles played their usual lunchtime gig at The Cavern Club, and then at the Majestic Ballroom in Birkenhead in the evening. The Majestic tickets all sold in advance. With literally hundreds of fans turned away, it was definitely time to look for a bigger venue.

January 17, 1964: The Rolling Stones released their first EP, which included You Better Move On, Poison Ivy, Bye Bye Johnny, and Money.

January 17, 1966: The Turtles released the song You Baby on this day. By the way, The Turtles were a great little band.

January 17, 1967: The Daily Mail ran a story about a local council survey finding 4,000 holes in the road in Lanashire, inspiring John Lennon’s contribution to the Beatles’ amazing A Day In The Life.

Also on this day, the Jimi Hendrix Experience recored a session for Radio Luxembourg’s Ready Steady Radio. The band ran up a $6.21 bar bill which they could not afford to pay. That would change soon.

January 17, 1970: The Doors performed the first of several concerts at the Felt Forum in New York City.

Also on this day, Led Zeppelin II would take over the #1 Album spot from Abbey Road after an 11-week run.

January 17, 1972: Neil Young released the great single Heart of Gold, with friends Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor singing background vocals.

Meanwhile, Paul Simon released his hit Mother and Child Reunion.

And a section of Highway 51 in South Memphis, Tennessee, was renamed Elvis Presley Boulevard. It was intended to be the entire road, but a church objected to their section being named after Elvis the Pelvis. No sense of humor.

January 17, 1974: Joni Mitchell’s amazing album, Court and Spark, was released on this day.

Bob Dylan also released Planet Waves on this day.

January 17, 1975: Bob Dylan released another great album on this day a year later called Blood On The Tracks.

Born On This Day

January 17, 1927: The amazing Eartha Kitt was born on this day in North, South Carolina.

January 17, 1949: Mick Taylor, guitarist for both John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and the Rolling Stones, was born in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England.

January 17, 1955: Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Steve Earle was born in Fort Monroe, Virginia. Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Gretchen Peters, and Shawn Colvin have covered his tunes.

And that is it for today’s lesson. Back with the line-up soon.