We’ve Got a Lot of Soul Today With Our Big Motown EP, Sam Cooke, and James Brown on Thursday, November 14, 2024

Good morning, soul music lovers! We’ve got a lot of soul going on today here in The Mermaid Lounge, starting out with our big ‘M is for Motown’ multi-artist EP!

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. M is For Motown: Various Artists

We start out the day in Motor City 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!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Sam Cooke

Known as ‘The King of Soul’, Sam Cooke was indeed a pioneer and remains one of the most influential soul and R&B singers on the planet because of his incredible songwriting and unique vocal style.

8:00 p.m. James Brown & The Famous Flames Live at The Apollo Theater, Harlem, New York, June 24-25, 1967

We close out the programming this evening with the hardest working man in show business, hands down, at the iconic Apollo Theater in Harlem.

Here we are as we pass hump day and head for the weekend. We’re on 24/7 and we’re totally free. We never air commercial advertising and that’s because we’re not in it for the money. We’re anti-capitalist music lovers here. The button is below.

It’s Motown Music, a Doris Troy Spotlight Feature and Live James Taylor, on Saturday, September 14, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We’ve got our ‘M is For Motown’ multi-artist EP, a Spotlight featuring Doris Troy and some live James Taylor later.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. M is For Motown: Various Artists

We start with five hours of music from the Motor City 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, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Mary Wells, Tammi Terrell and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Doris Troy

Known to her fans as “Mama Soul,” singer-songwriter Doris Troy’s only top ten hit was Just One Look, recorded in ten minutes and released in 1963. She faded from the American conscience and found herself in England, signed by The Beatles to Apple Records and releasing an album co-produced by George Harrison. She fared much better in the UK than she did here, and that’s a shame. Doris Troy was truly one of the many talented who fall through the cracks. Today we have her In the Spotlight.

8:00 p.m. James Taylor Live at The Beacon Theater, New York, NY, May 30, 1998

We close out the evening’s programming with Sweet Baby James Taylor live from The Beacon in New York.

Here we are, weekenders! We’re hanging in The Lounge until my work day begins, when The Music Mermaid comes on board and guides us through until later today. You will not be disappointed. Better still, we’re free of charge and free from commercial advertising.

Welcome Weekenders! It’s ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul’, an Al Green Spotlight, and Live Norah Jones on Saturday, August 24, 2024

Good morning, Weekenders! We’ve got a soulful day all lined up for you before we head into Norah Jones territory later, our first ‘live’ Norah Jones feature ever, but it won’t be the last.

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

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

Actually a lot of soul here 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, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Nina Simone, Sam & Dave, The Staple Singers, LaVern Baker, Diana Ross & The Supremes and more! Five hours of uninterrupted soul and R&B!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Al Green

We bring the Reverend Al into The Mermaid Lounge this afternoon for his particular brand of soul, some of the most soulful stuff you’ll ever hear.

We’ve got Norah Jones, that purveyor of soulful jazz, closing out our programming for the evening.

At Midweek We Head for Motor City, Then It’s Booker T. & The MGs and New Marvin Gaye, Wednesday, August 14, 2024

Good morning, lovers of the ‘Motown sound’! We open up with a trip to Motor City this morning, then we move on to a Booker T. Spotlight feature and Marvin Gaye’s number one hits this evening!

Here’s your midweek lineup:

9:00 a.m. M is For Motown: Various Artists

We head for Motor City to hear Barrett Strong, Eddie Kendricks, 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!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Booker T. & The MG’s

Surely one of the finest bands of the sixties. Before they hit the big time, they were the House Band for Stax Records, another soul and R&B powerhouse.

Known as the Prince of Soul, Marvin Gaye was instrumental in shaping the Motown sound of the sixties. It’s only fitting that we close out the programming with a collection of his number one hits.

It’s a Motown Kind of Sunday With Our ‘M is For Motown’ EP, Stevie Wonder and The Supremes on July 14, 2024

Good morning, Motown maniacs! We’ve got a full magilla Motown Sunday going on today with our programming. But before, in between, and after, it remains our big, wide Open Stream!

Here’s your Motown musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Stevie Wonder

We open not with our EP, but with a Stevie Wonder Spotlight feature. He is one of the foundational artists of Motown, scoring his first smash hit at the age of thirteen with Fingertips Pt. 2. He also went on the Ed Sullivan show playing harmonica and singing the song, with another future sensation, Marvin Gaye, playing drums.

12:00 p.m. M is For Motown: Various Artists

At noon, we launch into the Motown sound 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!

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Diana Ross & The Supremes

Known as the Primettes in the early sixties, this band would morph into Diana Ross & The Supremes and help establish Motown as a musical force in American popular music.

Here we are on another Sunday in The Mermaid Lounge. It’s far too hot to venture outside, so we will bask in the comfort of the cave that is our studio here and play some great music all day and all night long at absolutely no cost to you. And, I might add, with no commercial interruption. Enjoy it with us. The button’s below.

It’s a Soul Music Fest on Mother’s Day With ‘M is For Motown’, ‘Live’ James Brown, and Bill Withers, Sunday, May 12, 2024

Good morning, soul music lovers! We celebrate Mother’s Day with a little bit of soul in our programming today, starting with ‘M is For Motown’.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. M is For Motown: Various Artists

We kick it off with our tribute to Motown 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!

4:00 p.m. James Brown Live at The House of Blues, Las Vegas, NV, June 13, 1999

The hardest working man in showbiz takes the stage this afternoon live from The House of Blues in Vegas.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Bill Withers

In comparison to other artists, singer-songwriter Bill Withers career in music was short, spanning only 18 years, but he had an amazing impact on music during that time, winning three Grammy awards and being nominated for six more. He also had a string of great hits including Lean On Me, Just The Two of Us, and Ain’t No Sunshine. He is a Mermaid Lounge favorite and he’s In the Spotlight this evening.

Happy Mother’s Day, everyone, because everyone is essentially a mother. Kick off those shoes, sit back and listen to some great music today. We’re on 24/7 and we’re totally free of charge and free of advertising!

It’s Sunday and The Ladies Own the Morning, Followed by The I-Threes and Some ‘Live’ ELO, April 28, 2024

Good morning, musicologists and welcome to another Sunday in The Mermaid Lounge where the music is free and the living is easy. The ladies rule the morning and early afternoon.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Ladies Day Out: Various Artists

The ladies are back to rule The Lounge this morning with 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, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Norah Jones, Phoebe Snow, Nicolette Larson, Sheryl Crow, Susan Tedeschi, Dusty Springfield, Valerie Carter, Dolly Parton and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The I-Threes

Without a doubt the most influential all-woman Reggae band is In The Spotlight this afternoon. The I-Threes are Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths, and Judy Mowatt.

8:00 p.m. The Electric Light Orchestra Live at The Paris Theatre, London, UK, April 19, 1973

Jeff Lynne’s ELO (not what they were called back in the day; but it is now) is here to close out the programming for today with a great live show at The Paris Theatre. They are on the road now for their farewell tour, and blow through Boston in September.

Join us on this fine, sunny Sunday (at least it is here for the moment) as we play the best music on the planet 24/7, free of charge and free from commercial advertising.

‘M is For Motown’, Loggins & Messina and The McGarrigle Sisters Are All On Tap For Thursday, January 11, 2024

Morning, folks! We are on track for a great day here in The Mermaid Lounge with a trip to Motor City planned, our AOW, and some rare gems from Kate & Anna McGarrigle.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m.  M is For Motown: Various Artists

We’ve got five hours of the music that made America dance with Barrett Strong, Eddie Kendricks, Edwin Starr, Eddie Holland, 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!

4:00 p.m.  Album of The Week: Sittin’ In by Kenny Loggins & Jim Messina

Back again for another airing of what was first intended to be a solo album by Loggins, but became Loggins & Messina’s first album together.

7:00 p.m.  Tell My Sister: The Unreleased Recordings of Kate & Anna McGarrigle

We haven’t aired this one for a while, so this is a good time to break it out. This is a rare gem for fans of the McGarrigle sisters, two of the greatest singer-songwriters ever who became fertile ground for the likes of Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Judy Collins and others. Their covers led to Kate & Anna McGarrigle getting their first recording contract.

Get on in here. The Mermaid Lounge is open to all and we’re open all night. What better day to head toward the weekend?

We Visit Hitsville, U.S.A., Robbie Robertson is Back and We Have Some ‘Live’ Little Feat, on Wednesday, September 6, 2023

Good morning, musicologists, and welcome to our midweek mayhem here as we start out with ‘M is For Motown,’ move on to Robbie Robertson and close with Little Feat.

Here’s your midweek lineup:

9:00 a.m. M is for Motown: Various Artists

It’s back 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!

4:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Robbie Robertson

The late, great Robbie Robertson is back for his second turn as our featured singer-songwriter. Robertson was the lead guitarist for The Hawks and Bob Dylan, before taking the helm of The Band and helping them become one of the most influential in the development of Americana music.

8:00 p.m. Little Feat Live at Lisner Auditorium, Washington, D.C., August 18, 1977

On this particular outing, Little Feat brings the Tower of Power horns along. Little Feat is one of the most funky, fun bands ever, particularly their years with Lowell George. Don’t miss it.

We’ve made it to midweek. We don’t have far to go until it’s the weekend again and we’ll be able to relax and kick back. In the meantime, we’re running 24/7 to make life more tolerable.

It’s Simply Sunday Here in The Lounge With Maria Muldaur’s AOW and Our ‘M is For Motown’ Multi-Artist EP, July 2, 2023

Good morning, weekenders, and welcome to another simple Sunday here in The Mermaid Lounge where we kick things off with Maria Muldaur’s Louisiana Love Call.

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

10:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Louisiana Love Call by Maria Muldaur NEW!

Maria Muldaur got her start during the great folk revival of the sixties hanging out in Greenwich Village. She has not only made great solo albums, but has sung harmony and background vocals for scores of other artists, including Linda Ronstadt, the Jerry Garcia band and the Jim Kweskin Jug Band. Her repertoire includes folk, blues, jazz, pop and spiritual music. This particular album pays tribute to Crescent City soul and includes many New Orleans artists, including Dr. John. Not to be missed.

2:00 p.m. M is For Motown: Various Artists

We’re back with our homage to the sounds of Motown, the music that made America dance. You’ll hear Barrett Strong, Eddie Kendricks, 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! It’s an extended trip to Hitsville U.S.A.!

It’s Sunday before the festivities of the July 4 holiday, so kick your shoes off, stick your socks in your pockets and enjoy the day with some great music. We’re on 24/7, totally free of charge and commercial advertising, and we’re all about the music.