‘Friends Of Mine’ Returns, a J.D. Souther Spotlight Feature and Live Warren Zevon Awaits on Saturday, July 6, 2024

Good morning, musicologists, and welcome to the dog days of summer here in The Mermaid Lounge where the days are hot and the music is even hotter.

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

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

This one has been on hiatus for a few months, but it’s back and so are The Guess Who, Willie Nelson, War, The Beach Boys, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Todd Rundgren, Linda Ronstadt, Queen, REM, Simon & Garfunkel, John Prine, Carole King, Grateful Dead, Lou Reed, Robert Johnson, Hank Williams, The Kinks, Joan Baez, The Beatles, Carly Simon, Tracy Nelson, The Byrds, Desmond Dekker, Jackson Browne, Steppenwolf, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Elton John, Argent, Maria Muldaur, Otis Redding and more!

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

Here’s another artist known more for his songwriting than his singing, but that’s too bad. He’s got a great voice. I’ve never seen him live myself, but I have seen him grace the stage once with Linda Ronstadt, and that was a religious experience. This playlist has a little bit of that, some of his music from Souther-Hillman-Furay, and plenty of his solo stuff.

8:00 p.m. Warren Zevon Live at Club Metro, Boston, MA, September 29, 1982

Club Metro is gone, but it does have its own Facebook page for nostalgia freaks. And Warren Zevon is gone. But his music lives on. Another great songwriter whose songs became a staple for the likes of Linda Ronstadt and others. He was struggling until she began to sing his songs, and he took it from there. One of the best.

We’ve made it to the weekend. After today, I am on hiatus from hardware hell for two full days. But we’ll be here in The Mermaid Lounge cueing up great music. All you need to do is push the button below to check it out.

We’re At Midweek With Our ‘House’ EP, the Band Called Love In The Spotlight, and Surf Music! Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Good morning, surfer dudes and dudettes…and everyone in between. We are kicking off summer this week here in The Mermaid Lounge and we’re beginning a Summer of Love celebration tomorrow, so stay tuned!

Here’s your midweek musical lineup:

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

This was one of our very first (and small) playlists that grew into our little musical manifesto. You’ll hear Barry McGuire, The Temptations, Edwin Starr, Peter Tosh, T. Rex, The Beatles, 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, Plastic Ono Band, Sam Cooke, The Rolling Stones, Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix, Three Dog Night, Jimmy Cliff, The Association, Richie Havens, Marvin Gaye, Phil Ochs, Janis Joplin, Tom Rush, Pete Seeger, Nina Simone and more!

Nope. Not music about love. But music from the band named Love, one of the best of the sixties bands that you may not even know. It was Tom Petty who got me started on Love. It was not an intuitive discovery. If you have heard of them, then congratulations! If you haven’t, give a listen.

8:00 p.m. Going To Surf City: Various Artists

Surfer music is a musical genre all its own, and we haven’t spun this one in forever, so it’s time to break it out. You’ll hear The Beach Boys, Dick Dale & His Deltones, The Trashmen, The Challengers, Jan & Dean, The Surfaris, The Chantays, The Blue Stingrays and more! And here we have another connection to Tom Petty. The Blue Stingrays are essentially The Heartbreakers without Tom Petty, playing some of the coolest surfer music on record, and led by one of the best guitarists on the planet, Mike Campbell.

The Ladies Open Up Tuesday Bluesday, Followed by Robert Johnson and Jimi Hendrix, July 2, 2024

Good morning, bluesologists! We’ve got yet another great Tuesday Bluesday in store for you all today, beginning with our ‘Ladies Sing The Blues’ multi-artist EP.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

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

The ladies are large and in charge to start the festivities, including 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. In The Spotlight: The Music of Robert Johnson

Although Johnson’s recording career spanned only seven years, he is one of the most influential artists in the history of blues music. Robert Johnson passed away at the age of 27 and is one of the earliest members of the fabled ‘27 Club‘.

When we think of Jimi Hendrix, we think of rock and psychedelia. But guess what? Jimi Hendrix loved the blues and he did play the blues too. We bring the receipts tonight.

We Close Out The Month With Wendy Waldman, The ‘Ladies Day Out’ EP, and Live Carole King, June 30, 2024

Good morning, musicologists. When we say nobody plays the women of music like we do, we mean it. And we back it up. It’s a Ladies Only kind of day here in The Mermaid Lounge.

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

10:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Wendy Waldman

I dare say some may not know who Wendy Waldman is, but those who were enmeshed in the women of music during the seventies will. She was one of those women during an era where women banded together over music in the face of a totally male-dominated environment, and helped each other out by appearing on each other’s albums. It was certainly a great time in music. There was minimal competition among the women, and a whole lot of camaraderie. Wendy Waldman may not have been a ‘star’ in that sky, but she made some amazing albums and has a great voice, and her peers knew it. Tune her in.

1:00 p.m. Ladies Day Out: Various Artists

We close the month with one of our favorite EP’s featuring Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon, Emmylou Harris, Petula Clark, Laura Nyro, Cilla Black, Irma Thomas, Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Etta James, Janis Joplin, Carole King, Maria Muldaur, Lucinda Williams, Rosanne Cash, Eva Cassidy, Wendy Waldman, Shawn Colvin, The Ronettes, The Supremes, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Norah Jones, Phoebe Snow, Nicolette Larson, Sheryl Crow, Susan Tedeschi, Valerie Carter, Dusty Springfield, Dolly Parton and more!

Billed as the ‘Home Again’ show, it was all that. Carole King is a legend in the annals of women’s music, starting out as a songwriter in the famous Brill Building. She then went on to build an amazing solo career highlighted by the release of Tapestry, a legendary album. We have her live from Central Park tonight.

It’s Saturday in The Lounge With ‘Folk Music From A-To-Z’, Jesse Winchester and Jefferson Airplane, June 29, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! We’re making our way into the dog days of summer. But we’re cool in The Lounge with a folk music start and a psychedelic finish.

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Folk Music From A-To-Z: Various Artists

Songs about hope and bravery is what the early folk music movement was all about. In this EP, you’ll hear John Prine, Dave Van Ronk, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul & Mary, Odetta, Cat Stevens, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Beatles, Arlo Guthrie, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Rush, Joan Baez, The Band, Eric Andersen, Judy Collins, Nanci Griffith, Jesse Winchester, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Lead Belly, Tim Hardin, The Kingston Trio, Simon & Garfunkel, Richie Havens, Phil Ochs, James Taylor, Townes Van Zandt, The Carter Family, Neil Young and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Jesse Winchester

We continue the folk music vibe before we swing into something a bit more…psychedelic. I was fortunate enough to have seen Jesse Winchester perform twice, the first time as the opening act for Emmylou Harris; the second as the headliner. Bob Dylan, the master songwriter himself, once said of Jesse Winchester, “You can’t talk about the best songwriters and not include him.” Indeed.

We had the Airplane soaring high over Golden Gate Park as we were moving out of the sixties and into the next decade. However, I beg to differ with people out there talking about 1969 as the ‘Summer of Love.’ Not true. The ‘Summer of Love’ happened in 1967. We have definitive proof, so stop spreading musical misinformation. But I digress, and I apologize.

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’re at Midweek With ‘A Little Bit O’Soul’, Live Bob Marley and Ry Cooder In the Spotlight, Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Good morning, musicologists. We’re at midweek and we’ve got our ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul’ EP, The Wailers at The Record Plant and a brand new Spotlight featuring Ry Cooder.

UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 1970: Photo of Ry Cooder Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Here’s your midweek musical lineup:

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

This is the big kahuna of soul with 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, Percy Sledge, Al Green and more.

4:00 p.m. Bob Marley & The Wailers Live at The Record Plant, Sausalito, CA, October 13, 1973

The Legend and his bandmates take over The Record Plant for a great performance.

Truly one of the most incredible artists of our time. To this day, Linda Ronstadt calls Ry Cooder the best guitarist she’s ever worked with. He is a master of the slide guitar, and is one of the most sought-after studio musicians. He is also known for his collaborations with a variety of artists from a variety of musical backgrounds, like Taj Mahal, The Chieftains, and Ali Farka Toure. Ry Cooder has earned his place In The Spotlight.

It’s Tuesday Bluesday With Our Big, Bad Blues EP, a Slim Harpo Spotlight Feature, and Live Muddy Waters, June 25, 2024

Good morning, bluesologists and welcome back to Tuesday Bluesday in The Mermaid Lounge. We start off with five hours of uninterrupted blues!

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blues: Various Artists

Our biggest, baddest blues EP with Delbert McClinton, Robert Johnson, B. B. King, Little Walter, Slim Harpo, Ry Cooder, Canned Heat, John Lee Hooker, The Animals, Albert King, Johnny Winter, Muddy Waters, Little Feat, Bonnie Raitt, The Yardbirds, Janis Joplin, The Rolling Stones, Bobby “Blue” Bland, the Allman Brothers Band, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Elmore James, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Robert Cray Band, J. J. Cale, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, James Cotton, Koko Taylor, Marcia Ball, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Susan Tedeschi, Roomful of Blues, Howlin’ Wolf and more!

We’ve had this on our list for a long time and we’re happy it’s finally here. Slim Harpo was a great bluesman who was pretty popular in his time. He was also a master of the blues harp.

It’s a trip back in time in the Wayback Machine for this live performance at The Fillmore West, vintage 1966.

On Sunday It’s Jefferson Airplane, Our ‘Ode to Morning’ EP, and The Band Live in Japan, On June 23, 2024

Good morning, weekenders! We’ve got some great music today that includes a Jefferson Airplane Spotlight feature and The Band live from Kosei Nenkin Hall in Tokyo.

Here’s your Sunday lineup:

10:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Jefferson Airplane

Or, as we used to affectionately call them, The Airplane. The band was a true pioneer of the American psychedelic music genre, and we thank them for all their hard work.

1:00 p.m. Ode To Morning: Various Artists

This afternoon we have songs extolling the virtues of the morning from Cat Stevens, Hoyt Axton, The Beatles, Neil Young, The Rascals, Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez, James Taylor, Gram Parsons, Simon & Garfunkel, Taj Mahal, Dan Fogelberg, Linda Ronstadt, Harry Chapin, Three Dog Night, Ry Cooder, Tim Buckley, Muddy Waters, Jonathan Edwards, Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, Pure Prairie League and more.

8:00 p.m. The Band Live at Kosei Nenkin Hall, Tokyo, Japan, September 2, 1983

We close out a great day with a The Band live from Tokyo. They went from being Bob Dylan’s back up band to becoming one of the most influential bands in the evolution American popular music.

It’s an official ‘day of rest,’ so kick your heels of and join us. The Magic Button is below. It’s as simple as that.

We Welcome Saturday With ‘Here Comes The Night’, The Animals, and Warren Zevon Live in London, June 22, 2024

Good morning, musicologists, and welcome to the weekend! We’ve got an excellent lineup here today, starting with our ‘Here Comes The Night’ multi-artist EP!

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Here Comes The Night: Various Artists

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

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Animals

One of the best damned bands of the sixties playing their brand of British blues and R & B.

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

We close out the festivities with Warren Zevon in a performance from 1988 that was broadcast live on the BBC. I saw Mr. Zevon only once, but it was a memorable performance indeed at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston. Small venues are so much better.

Here we go! We’re at the weekend, and we are primed and ready to play some great music this weekend. We are also beginning to plan some special summer programming, which we shall not reveal here. Suffice it to say, all you need to do is use the button below.