Friday Brings Vintage Joni Mitchell, a Musical Trip to New Orleans, and a Surprise Byrds Reunion, April 12, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! We have made it to the end of the week once again and we’ve got a great lineup for y’all today starting with the one and only Joni.

Here’s your musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. Joni Mitchell Live at Club 47, Cambridge, MA, January 10, 1968

Time to jump into the Wayback Machine again for this one at the famous Club 47 in my hometown. It would morph into Passim’s Coffee House, where I would spend a good deal of time hearing great music in Harvard Square. Many have passed through here on their way to their heralded musical careers, like Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt and Guy Clark. Then, there’s Joni Mitchell. And we’ve got that one today.

12:30 p.m. Down In New Orleans: Various Artists

Haven’t broken this one out in a while and it’s about damned time. We have authentic NOLA music mixed in with rock n’ roll artists who were born and raised there. You’ll hear BeauSoleil, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John. Buckwheat Zydeco, Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Irma Thomas, Allen Fontenot, The Neville Brothers, Lucinda Williams, Boozoo Chavis, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Louis Armstrong, Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zydeco Band, The Daywalkers, Jerry Lee Lewis and more!

8:00 p.m. The Byrds Live at The Boarding House, San Francisco, CA, February 9, 1978

Here’s the story on this great performance. Three of the Byrds’ founding members, Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark and Chris Hillman were touring the west coast, each playing a short solo set and then convening on stage for some vintage Byrds tunes. On this particular night, David Crosby joined them on stage for several tunes (I think it was 9 songs), making it the closest thing to a Byrds reunion as you can get. The only missing piece was drummer Michael Clarke. It’s here tonight.

We’ve got some great stuff on tap for today. Don’t know about the weather where you are but we’re at monsoon level today I hear. Lots of wind and rain. Great day to hunker down with some great tunes.

It’s Sunday and We’ve Got Jackson Browne, Stephen Stills, and The Founders All On Tap For Today, April 7, 2024

Good morning, musicologists and welcome to Sunday in The Mermaid Lounge. We continue to air some of our EP’s in the evening hours just to ensure all this great stuff is available globally to all our listeners.

Here’s today’s musical lineup:

We’ve got a great live in-studio performance of Jackson Browne with David Lindley that was broadcast on WPLI-FM in New York to start off the programming.

3:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Stephen Stills

Yeah, there was a lot of drama with CSNY. If you were on Twitter you heard about it. But their greatness cannot be diminished. Neither can the brilliance and influence of a guy named Stephen Stills. He’s In the Spotlight today with CSNY, Manassas and as a solo artist.

8:00 p.m. The Founders: Various Artists

Just who invented rock n’ roll? That’s a tough one because all these folks played a part in that effort. It was not a one-man or -woman event. You’ll hear them all, 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!

Friday Brings Both Volumes of ‘All About Blue’ Along With George Harrison & Eric Clapton in Nagoya, April 5, 2024

Good morning budding weekenders! We are on the cusp of the weekend and we’ve got some good stuff going in today here in The Mermaid Lounge.

Here’s your end-of-the-work-week lineup:

10:00 a.m. All About Blue, Volume II: Various Artists

As my grandmother used to say, we start this day out ass-end over tea kettle by beginning with volume two. All about the color blue comes from The Rolling Stones, Robert Johnson, Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Van Morrison, Marvin Gaye, The Kinks, Linda Ronstadt, Electric Light Orchestra, B. B. King, Little Feat, The Smithereens, Emmylou Harris and more!

3:00 p.m. George Harrison & Eric Clapton Live at The Nagoya International Exhibition Hall, Nagoya, Japan, December 5, 1991

A couple of guys (one who was a much better guy than the other) whose friendship transcended all kinds of personal drama together live in a great concert.

8:00 p.m. All About Blue I: Various Artists

We close with volume one from The Allman Brothers Band, Linda Ronstadt, Mudcrutch, Joni Mitchell, Jonathan Edwards, Paul McCartney & Wings, George Harrison, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Band, Fats Domino, Badfinger, Elvis Presley and more!

We’re here every day without stopping. That means 24/7 with our without programming. And we’re totally free of charge and unencumbered by commercial advertising. What’s not to love?

Today It’s Blues From the Bayou, Little Feat and Mr. High Energy Johnny Winter Live at The Bottom Line, Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Welcome to Tuesday Bluesday where we’ve got ‘The Best of Louisiana Blues’ and Johnny Winter to open and close. In between, it’s Little Feat’s AOW.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Best of Louisiana Blues: Various Artists

There’s another thing that Louisiana has besides great food, and it’s some great blues artists. You’ll hear Ray Charles, Lillian Glinn, Slim Harpo, Ray Brown, Fats Domino, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Rodney Harris, Roosevelt Sykes, Shirley & Lee, Papa Lightfoot, Guitar Slim, Annie Laurie, Fats Matthews, Big Joe Turner, Big Boy Myles, Little Walter, Mary Butler, Erline Harris, Dave Bartholomew, Marcia Ball, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Professor Longhair, The Neville Brothers, Irma Thomas and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Feats Don’t Fail Me Now by Little Feat

We continue our 50th anniversary celebration with this great Little Feat album.

7:00 p.m. Johnny Winter Live at The Bottom Line, New York, NY, September 5, 1978

High energy is a mild description for this guy, a brilliant blues guitarist and singer, as well as a record producer. Tonight we close out our Tuesday Bluesday programming with a live performance from The Bottom Line.

It’s always a busy day in The Mermaid Lounge on Tuesday Bluesday, but there’s plenty of room for everyone. We promise.

Friday Brings a Fillmore East Focus With CSNY and Laura Nyro, Along With Our ‘Looks Like Rain’ Playlist, March 15, 2024

Good morning and welcome to the cusp of the weekend, my friends. We’ve got a focus on some live Fillmore East today with CSNY and Laura Nyro, plus our ‘Looks Like Rain’ playlist.

Here’s your Friday lineup:

10:00 a.m. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Live at The Fillmore East, New York, January 5, 1970

We start off the morning with the second best supergroup on the planet (sorry, the Wilburys reign). These guys, however, made some amazing music together, in spite of the fact that they were a bit dysfunctional on a personal level. We’ve got them live from the Fillmore East.

2:00 p.m. Looks Like Rain: Various Artists

This is appropriate for where I am today since it’s pouring out there this morning. We’ve got The Rascals, Willie Nelson, The Grateful Dead, Peter, Paul & Mary, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Ann Peebles, The Beatles, Maria Muldaur, Fats Domino, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Gordon Lightfoot, J.D. Souther, the James Gang, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Temptations, Warren Zevon and more.

8:00 p.m. Laura Nyro Live at The Fillmore East, New York, March 30, 1971

We return to the Fillmore East this evening to close out the programming with the late, great Laura Nyro. Yes, she was a songwriter who put many singers on the map, but there is nothing like hearing Laura sing her own songs.

We are one day away from the weekend. I’ve been down for the count with COVID, but I am negative today and things are looking up. We’ve got some great music to get you through and we’re totally free of charge and intend to remain so.

At Midweek It’s Rock and Roll’s Founders, Lennon & McCartney, and Live Maria Muldaur, Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We are at midweek. After today, it’s all a downslide to the weekend. But today? Today we start off with ‘The Founders.’

Here’s your musical lineup:

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

The artists that were instrumental in the creation of rock and roll are in The Lounge today. You’ll hear 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. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Lennon & McCartney

John Lennon and Paul McCartney return to The Lounge today as our featured singer-songwriters as we close out the series in style.

Tonight we close out the programming with Maria Muldaur live at Ebbets Field as we continue to celebrate Women’s (Music) History Month.

On Tuesday Bluesday We Head To Louisiana, Air Our AOW, and The Heartbreakers Sing The Blues Later, February 20, 2024

Good morning, bluesologists, and welcome to Tuesday Bluesday. We head on down to Louisiana and The Heartbreakers sing some blues later this evening.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Best of Louisiana Blues: Various Artists

We head on down to bayou country with Ray Charles, Lillian Glinn, Slim Harpo, Ray Brown, Fats Domino, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Rodney Harris, Roosevelt Sykes, Shirley & Lee, Papa Lightfoot, Guitar Slim, Annie Laurie, Fats Matthews, Big Joe Turner, Big Boy Myles, Little Walter, Mary Butler, Erline Harris, Dave Bartholomew, Marcia Ball, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Professor Longhair, The Neville Brothers, Irma Thomas and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: It’s Only Rock n’ Roll by The Rolling Stones

The Stones are back with our Album of The Week, their twelfth studio release that went to number one in the US and number two in the UK.

It’s no secret that Dr. Petty wanted his band to sit around on chairs as they grew old and play the blues. Unfortunately, we didn’t have him around for long enough. However, the Heartbreakers loved da blues and played their fair share. We’ve got a new, updated playlist for you this evening.

We’re in the Wayback Machine Heading for the Sixties, and We’ve Got Jackson Browne’s AOW, Thursday, January 25, 2024

Good morning, time travelers. We’re headed back to the early sixties today with ‘The Original Sixties Rotation’ EP, and we’ve also got some rare ‘live’ Hendrix.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m.  The Original Sixties Rotation: Various Artists

Personally speaking, the sixties and early seventies were the best of times in music. It is why I started the station to begin with. This EP features Del Shannon, Little Eva, The Drifters, The Beatles, Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Hollies, The Walker Brothers, Mary Wells, Dusty Springfield, The Searchers, The Monkees, Sonny & Cher, Petula Clark, Glen Campbell, Johnny Rivers, The Dave Clark Five, The Supremes, Harry Nilsson, The Band, The Yardbirds, The Kinks, Simon & Garfunkel, Blind Faith, Janis Joplin, Chuck Berry, The Temptations, Elvis Presley, Marvin Gaye, The Who, Bob Dylan, Tony Joe White, Barry McGuire, Fats Domino and more!

4:00 p.m.  Album of The Week: Late For The Sky by Jackson Browne

Jackson Browne’s Late For The Sky, his third studio album, is the first album in our ‘Happy 50th Birthday’ series of albums to open up the new year.

Yes, there’s no venue in the title because this show was held on a farm on the lower slope of the Haleakala volcano on a makeshift stage. The only audience were a few hundred Maui residents who heard the show was happening and showed up. These folks got to see a rare, little-known Hendrix performance. There’s a long story behind how this show came about and why it was so “secret” to begin with. It’s explained here much better than I could ever manage.

It’s ‘The Best of Louisiana Blues’, Carlene Carter and ‘Live’ Johnny Winter on Tuesday Bluesday, December 19, 2023

Good morning, bluesologists! Here we are on another fine Tuesday Bluesday with our big Louisiana bayou blues show and Johnny Winter closing out the night. In between, it’s our Album of The Week with Carlene Carter.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m.  The Best of Louisiana Blues: Various Artists

Some names you may know; others you should. Ray Charles, Lillian Glinn, Slim Harpo, Ray Brown, Fats Domino, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Rodney Harris, Roosevelt Sykes, Shirley & Lee, Papa Lightfoot, Guitar Slim, Annie Laurie, Fats Matthews, Big Joe Turner, Big Boy Myles, Little Walter, Mary Butler, Erline Harris, Dave Bartholomew, Marcia Ball, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Professor Longhair, The Neville Brothers, Irma Thomas and more!

4:00 p.m.  Album of The Week: Two Sides To Every Woman by Carlene Carter

Carlene Carter drops by the lounge for the second airing of her album.

7:00 p.m.  Johnny Winter Live at Parker’s Place, Seattle, WA, March 9, 1985

There’s nothing like some live ‘high-energy blues’ from one of the greatest bluesmen around. This time we have Johnny playing at Parker’s Place in Seattle.

Tuesday Bluesday is the day to hang in The Lounge. Great music all day because we have our great Wide Open stream in between this great programming. We’re on 24/7 and we’re totally free of charge.

We Start a New Month With Dreaming, Fats & Dave and The Doors in The Spotlight on Friday, December 1, 2023

We’ve made it to Friday and we start the final month of the year with a bang! We’ve got our ‘In Your Dreams’ EP to start out, then we’ve got Fats Domino & Dave Bartholomew, and The Doors bring up the rear later.

Here’s your Friday lineup:

9:00 a.m. In Your Dreams: Various Artists

We start out the new month in a dream state with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Aerosmith, Crowded House, the Moody Blues, Van Morrison, The Eurythmics, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Nanci Griffith, the Electric Prunes, Fleetwood Mac, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Mamas & The Papas, Jimmy Buffett, the Alan Parsons Project, the Allman Brothers Band, Supertramp, Randy Newman, Aretha Franklin, Linda Ronstadt, Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Widespread Panic, The Youngbloods, Jimmy Ruffin, Jackson Browne, Mudcrutch, Patsy Cline, Joe Walsh, Bruce Springsteen, k.d. lang, Dusty Springfield and more.

4:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Fats Domino & Dave Bartholomew FINAL AIRING!

Today is the final airing of our homage to two pioneers of rock n’ roll. Don’t miss it.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Doors

To close out the programming tonight, we play the music of one of the pioneers of the psychedelic and acid rock sounds. They were only together for four years, but they made an amazing impact on music.

It’s Friday and we’ve made it. It’s going to be a dismal day here, with rain, but we can transcend that with great music. We’ve got it here.