We Bring On the Soul With Otis Redding, Our ‘M is For Motown’ EP, and Nina Simone on Sunday, January 12, 2025

Good morning, Weekenders! We’re making it a soulful Sunday today with a great programming that features a new live performance by Nina Simone, vintage 1963!

Here’s your Sunday funday lineup:

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

Known as The Big O, Otis Redding would not live to see how popular and influential he would become to the music world. He died in a plane crash in 1967 just after writing and recording Sittin’ On The Dock of The Bay. The song was released in January 1968 and would become the first posthumous number-one record on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the R&B charts. You can read all about Otis Redding here.

1:00 p.m. M is For Motown: Various Artists

We break into the Motown vault with Barrett Strong, Eddie Kendricks, Eddie Holland, Edwin Starr, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Jackson Five, Kim Weston, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Marvin Gaye, Martha & The Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Four Tops, The Isley Brothers, The Temptations, The Contours, Rare Earth, Mary Wells, Tammi Terrell, Diana Ross & The Supremes and more!

Singer, songwriter, pianist and activist, Nina Simone is a gem. We love her here in The Mermaid Lounge. Tonight we have a great live performance from Carnegie Hall that we’ve never aired before. Enjoy!

It’s a soulful Sunday here in the Mermaid Lounge. Tune us in. We’re totally free of charge and free of commercial interruption. See for yourselves. The button is below.

Our Big Country EP, The Lovin’ Spoonful and The Byrds Are All On the Docket for Saturday, January 11, 2025

Good morning, music lovers! We’ve got a great lineup for you Weekenders today starting with our big country and country-rock EP, then it’s The Lovin’ Spoonful and The Byrds bringing up the rear!

Here are the details, Weekenders:

9:00 a.m. Are You Ready for The Country: Various Artists

We only play real country here when we play country; none of that Jason Aldean crap. You’ll hear The Eagles, Asleep at The Wheel, Hank Williams, The Byrds, Patsy Cline, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, Guy Clark, Steve Earle, Dolly Parton, Poco, Linda Ronstadt, Alison Krauss, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Townes Van Zandt, Jerry Jeff Walker, New Riders of The Purple Sage, Carlene Carter, Rosanne Cash, The Desert Rose Band, Kris Kristofferson, Gram Parsons, Tom Rush, The Highwaymen and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Lovin’ Spoonful

John Sebastian and his mates were one find band back in the day, one that helped define the San Francisco sound.

8:00 p.m. The Byrds Live at The Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, CA, February 8, 1969

Another of our favorite bands here, with a changing lineup with the exception of stalwart Roger McGuinn, the band’s leader. Joining him for this performance were Gene Parsons (drums), Clarence White (guitar) and John York (bass). Enjoy!

Well, Weekenders, it begins today. I have one more day in hardware hell, but The Music Mermaid is always on duty and will take care of you until evening. The button is below.

It’s The British Invasion and Beyond on Thursday, along with Simon & Garfunkel, and Clapton & Winwood, January 9, 2025

Good morning, musicologists and welcome to Thursday. We head for the weekend with music from across the pond, Simon & Garfunkel ‘Spotlight’ and live Clapton & Winwood.

Here’s Thursday’s lineup:

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

We kick it off with 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, George Harrison, Them, Herman’s Hermits, The Rolling Stones, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Badfinger, The Yardbirds, Elton John, The Yardbirds, Lulu, Pink Floyd, Yes, The Animals, The Spencer Davis Group, Donovan, Cream and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Simon & Garfunkel

One of the greatest duos of all time actually met and started out while in grammar school. Over their long career they sold more than 100 million records worldwide. Today they are ‘In the Spotlight’.

8:00 p.m. Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood Live at Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, February 25-28, 2008

Two musical legends join forces for one great concert stint at Madison Square Garden. We’ve got it for you tonight.

Here we are again headed for the weekend. Thankfully, I might add. We’ll get you there in fine form. Just see for yourself. It’s free and effortless. The button is below. Just use it.

It’s Midweek and We’re ‘Under The Influence’ With The Beatles and The Supergroups, Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Good morning, musicologists, and welcome to the middle of the week. Tomorrow we’ll be heading for the weekend once again! We have a great Wednesday lineup.

Here’s your midweek lineup:

9:00 a.m. Under The Influence: Various Artists

Being under the influence is the subject of many a song as evidenced by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Byrds, Arlo Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Little Feat, Linda Ronstadt, The Rolling Stones, Small Faces, Jimi Hendrix, Steely Dan, New Riders of The Purple Sage, Talking Heads, Neil Young, The Beatles, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Foreigner, Jonathan Edwards, John Lee Hooker, Donovan and more!

4:00 p.m. Trippin’ With The Beatles

This afternoon we explore The Beatles psychedelic catalogue, an extraordinary journey. Did you know that Paperback Writer is considered one of the earliest examples of a psychedelic song?

8:00 p.m. Sounds of The Supergroups, Volume One: Various Artists

Tonight we close it out with the Supergroups, like Cream, Blind Faith, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Highwaymen, The Super, Super Blues Band (Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf & Bo Diddley), Manassas, and two of the best damned supergroups of all time, Trio (Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton & Emmylou Harris) and our faves, The Traveling Wilburys. You know, nobody ever speaks of Trio as a supergroup, at least not the music media which still entrenched in misogyny, but that is exactly what Trio was.

Like I said earlier, we’re headed for the weekend after today, and we aim to get you there in style. We’re on 24/7 with no commercial interruption. Ever. The button is below.

It’s Tuesday Bluesday with The Ladies, Then The Heartbreakers Sing the Blues, and Muddy Joins Johnny Winter, January 7, 2025

Good morning and welcome to another Tuesday Bluesday. We’re loaded with great programming today! Read on!

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Ladies Sing The Blues: Various Artists

The Ladies are back: Billie Holliday, Big Mama Thornton, Ruth Brown, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Koko Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Christine McVie, Marcia Ball, Ellen McIlwaine, Susan Tedeschi, Irma Thomas, Tracy Nelson, Etta James, Linda Ronstadt, Sippie Wallace, Bessie Smith, Shawn Murphy, Angela Strehli, Aretha Franklin, The Blues Broads and more.

4:00 p.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Sing The Blues

We all know how much Tom Petty loved the blues and dreamed of his momentous band growing old, sitting in chairs and playing away. He never got there, but The Heartbreakers played plenty of blues.

8:00 p.m. Muddy Waters: The Johnny Winter Sessions 1976-1981

After Chess Records folded, Muddy Waters needed a landing spot, so he singed up with Sky Records in 1971. Then he hooked up with energetic blues guitarist Johnny Winter, who helped return Muddy Waters to the top of his game, even winning a Grammy or two in the process.

Tuesday Bluesday is always a busy day, but there’s room aplenty in The Lounge. We’re on 24/7, we’re totally free and there’s no commercial advertising. The button is below.

Sunday It’s Leon Russell, Our ‘Travelin’ Fever’ EP and Live Allman Brothers Band On December 5, 2025

Good morning once again, Weekenders and welcome to The Mermaid Lounge where we start the day off with a Leon Russell ‘Spotlight’ feature and move on from there!

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

9:00 a.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Leon Russell

The man’s career spanned 60 years and multiple genres, including rock n’ roll, country, bluegrass, gospel, rhythm n’ blues. Southern rock, blues rock, surf and the Tulsa sound. Today we put him in our ‘Spotlight’.

1:00 p.m. Travelin’ Fever: Various Artists

It’s Open Stream with a Theme starting early afternoon with Canned Heat, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Steve Miller Band, Bonnie Raitt, Dan Fogelberg, Bruce Springsteen, Linda Ronstadt, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Paul McCartney & Wings, The Eagles, Little Feat, The Band, Willie Nelson, Edwin Starr, Janis Joplin, Guy Clark, The Byrds, Asleep at The Wheel, Mudcrutch, The Traveling Wilburys, Tom Rush, Buffalo Springfield, The Guess Who and more.

8:00 p.m. The Allman Brothers Band Live at Macon City Auditorium, Macon, Georgia, February 11, 1972

The Brothers air it out tonight from the Macon City Auditorium as only they can.

Blah. Blah. Blah. I’d give you my usual closing, but you’ve heard it all before. No charge. No interruption. No commercial advertising. Only music. The button is below. Just do it.

On Saturday It’s ‘The Female Species’ EP, Live Jackson Browne and The Marshall Tucker Band, December 4, 2025

Good morning, Weekenders! Today we give you songs about women, some vintage live Jackson Browne and a Marshall Tucker Band ‘Spotlight’ feature!

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Female Species: Various Artists

We start out with songs about women, girls, chicks, dames…you get the picture. There are many from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Talking Heads, Jackson Browne, John Mayall, Hot Tuna, The Eagles, Elvis Presley, Electric Light Orlchestra, Fleetwood Mac, Percy Sledge, The Beatles, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac (the original Mac), America, Roy Orbison, Billy Joel, Jimi Hendrix, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, The Beach Boys, The Temptations, Linda Ronstadt and more!

We’ve got some great live Jackson Browne this afternoon, a show I actually attended back in the day. I had no idea it had been recorded and found it quite by accident searching for something else. We have it for you today.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Marshall Tucker Band

Found in South Carolina in 1972, I consider this band the best of the post-Allman Brothers Southern rock bands. Charlie Daniels doesn’t get airplay here. He was a racist asshole and a homophobe. I don’t much like Skynyrd’s attitude either. Interestingly, the band’s name came from a blind piano tuner whose name was found on a key to their original rehearsal space. Today, we have them ‘In the Spotlight’.

We’re here 24/7 with absolutely no commercial interruption and no chatty DJ’s who like to hear themselves talk so much that they talk through the beginning and the end of songs. We leave that to others. See for yourselves. The button is below.

Thursday It’s Our House EP, an Alison Krauss ‘Spotlight’ Feature, and Live Jimi Hendrix, On January 2, 2025

Good morning, musicologists and welcome to day two of uncertainty in the world, but not here in The Mermaid Lounge where we have our usual eclectic collection on tap!

Here’s Thursday’s musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. The #BecomeUngovernable House Playlist: Various Artists

We start out with our House EP with music from Barry McGuire, The Temptations, Edwin Starr, Peter Tosh, The Beatles, T. Rex, The Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bob Dylan, Country Joe & The Fish, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Joan Baez, CSNY, Pink Floyd, The Animals, Ten Years After, Sam Cooke, The Rolling Stones, Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix, Three Dog Night, Jimmy Cliff, Richie Havens, Marvin Gaye, The Association, Phil Ochs, Tom Rush, The Band and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Alison Krauss

An American treasure with a beautiful voice. She’s also a mean fiddle player. We give you her music from her time with Union Station, her unlikely pairing with Robert Plant, and as a solo artist.

8:00 p.m. Jimi Hendrix Live at The Berkeley Community Center, Berkeley, CA, May 30, 1970

We close with a live Hendrix performance in Berkeley, just four months before his death.

We’re here 24/7 and we play music 365 days a year at no cost to you, our listeners. There’s no commercial advertising and no chatty DJ’s to break the mood. The button is below. See for yourselves.

We Ring in The New Year With The Grateful Dead at Midnight, Then It’s Tom Petty’s Top 100 Songs and Bruce Springsteen ‘In the Spotlight’, Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Happy New Year, music lovers! We post this early because we have a special midnight airing of The Grateful Dead live from Winterland on New Year’s Eve 1970, then we give you Tom Petty’s Top 100 songs and a Bruce Springsteen ‘Spotlight’ feature.

Here’s your New Year’s lineup:

12:00 a.m. LIVE DEAD: The Grateful Dead Live at Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA, December 31, 1970

We ring in the new year at midnight with a live performance by The Grateful Dead from the iconic Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco.

10:00 a.m. Tom Petty’s Top 100 Songs

We gave you The Beatles in chronological order over the Christmas holidays; now we give you Tom Petty’s Top 100 songs on New Year’s Day as we celebrate his work with The Heartbreakers, Mudcrutch, The Traveling Wilburys and as a solo artist.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Bruce Springsteen

We close out the programming this evening with The Boss ‘In the Spotlight’.

Before, in between and after our scheduled programming, we give you our big, wide Open Stream uninterrupted by commercial advertising and overly-chatty DJ’s. The button is below!

On Tuesday Bluesday It’s ‘The Best of Texas Blues’, Buddy Guy ‘In the Spotlight’ and Tedeschi Trucks, December 31, 2024

Good morning, bluesologists! We close out the year on a Tuesday Bluesday and with a brand new multi-artist EP of Texas blues! Then it’s Buddy Guy and Tedeschi Trucks!

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

We’re ringing out the old and ringing in the new with a new playlist featuring Johnny Winter, T. Bone Walker, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Doyle Bramhall II, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Marcia Ball, Gary Clark Jr., Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Janis Joplin, Freddie King, Angela Strehli, Big Mama Thornton, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Ally Venable and Kim Wilson!

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

Buddy Guy recently retired from the road, but he has spent decades influencing blues guitarists across the nation and beyond. He’s a blues legend.

8:00 p.m. Tedeschi Trucks Band Live at The Fox Theater, Oakland, CA, September 8 & 9, 2016

We close out the evening with the biggest, baddest electric blues band on the planet with two of the greatest blues guitarists on the planet in Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi. Her searing blues vocals complete the picture perfectly.

We’re getting ready to ring in a brand new year of great music here in The Mermaid Lounge as we prepare for one of the most horrendous political regimes in history. We’re all going to need each other moving forward. It’ll be a tough four years, but here in The Mermaid Lounge, we hope you’ll find relief of some sort. The button is below.