Tag: In The Spotlght

Monday Brings Valerie Carter, Bob Dylan, and Our ‘Between Heaven & Hell’ Playlist, October 9, 2023

It’s the beginning of another work week, and we’re here to make this day at least a bit more pleasant for you all. We start off today with the late, great Valerie Carter.

Here’s your musical lineup:

11:00 a.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Valerie Carter

We open up with the little girl with the big voice, who was so loved and respected by her musical peers. Aside from her own brilliant collection of albums, she sang with Linda Ronstadt, Don Henley, Little Feat, Jackson Browne, the Outlaws and James Taylor. She wrote the song Cook With Honey (a hit for Judy Collins) and co-wrote songs with Jackson Browne and several other artists. Carter left the planet way too soon, and today we put her In the Spotlight.

3:00 p.m. Bob Dylan: Rare Performances From the Copyright Collection (1962-1966)

Some early live performances from the amazing Mr. Dylan, including recordings from the artist’s coffeehouse era (Gerde’s Folk City, 1962), his mythic 1963 breakout concerts at New York’s Town Hall and Carnegie Hall, a duet with Joan Baez from the historic March on Washington (August 28, 1963), definitive performances from his European and world tours of 1965 and 1966, and moments from the 1964 and 1965 Newport Folk Festivals and more. Not to be missed.

7:00 p.m. Between Heaven & Hell: Various Artists

Not an EP, but a good one. You’ll hear the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Tom Petty, The Eagles, Steve Winwood, Lucinda Williams, John Lee Hooker, Fats Domino, the Grateful Dead, Foo Fighters, Bruce Hornsby & The Range, Van Morrison, Roberta Flack, The Byrds, The Grass Roots and more!

Monday, Monday all over again but, hey, it isn’t all bad when you’ve got this great music floating around you all day. We’re not just on when we have programs to run. We are here all the time for your listening pleasure at absolutely NO charge and with no commercial advertising. See for yourself. Your ticket to musical nirvana is right below this line.

Free Music Every Day!

We Hit Our Midweek Stride with ‘House’ EP, the Music of John Sebastian and a Toots & The Maytals Spotlight on Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Good morning, musicologists! We are at the midweek point and we’ve got our ‘House’ EP all cued up and ready to go, followed by John Sebastian and Toots & The Maytals.

Here’s your musical landscape for today:

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

Ah, yes. One of the first playlists we ever put together here. It started with two hours and became an EP very quickly. You’ll hear Barry McGuire, The Temptations, Edwin Starr, Peter Tosh, The Beatles, Genesis, 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, The Plastic Ono Band, George Harrison, Sam Cooke, The Rolling Stones, Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix, Three Dog Night, Jimmy Cliff, Richie Havens, Marvin Gaye, The Association, Phil Ochs, Tom Rush, Pete Seeger, The Band, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin and more!

4:00 p.m. The Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of John Sebastian

A fixture in Laurel Canyon and a pioneer in folk-rock, John Sebastian takes his second turn as this week’s featured singer-songwriter.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Toots & The Maytals

We get into some great ska and rocksteady tonight with Toots & The Maytals. Formed in the early 1960’s, the Maytals were a major influence in the popularization of Reggae music.

Jump in! The music’s fine! We play the best 60’s and 70’s music (not just the hits) on a 24/7 basis at no charge to you. And we do not accept commercial advertising. See for yourself. All you need to do is hit the button below.

Midweek in the Mermaid Lounge!

We’ve Got Linda Ronstadt In the Spotlight, Our ‘Looks Like Rain’ Playlist, and Roy Orbison on Monday, September 25, 2023

Good morning, music lovers! We’re back to the work week and we’ve got a great lineup today with a couple of programs we haven’t aired in a while!

Here’s your Monday, Monday lineup:

11:00 a.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Linda Ronstadt

The Queen of Rock (and our resident favorite female artist) was a bit of a misnomer after the seventies because Ronstadt could sing just about any genre she wanted in an impressive manner. This playlist proves it.

3:00 p.m. Looks Like Rain: Various Artists

It’s pouring here today, so this is appropriate. Who’s singing about the rain? You’ll hear The Rascals, Willie Nelson, the Grateful Dead, The Beatles, The Everly Brothers, Poco, James Taylor, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Carole King, Irma Thomas, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Melanie, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Eurythmics, Fats Domino, America, Linda Ronstadt, ,The James Gang, Joni Mitchell, The Searchers, The Eagles, Electric Light Orchestra, The Lovin’ Spoonful and more!

8:00 p.m. Roy Orbison & Friends: The Original Black & White Concert

On September 30, 1987 at the Ambassador Hotel’s Cocoanut Grove Nightclub, Roy Orbison and his friends got together for a concert of his many hits and it was filmed entirely in black & white. Those who participated included Jackson Browne, J.D. Souther, Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, k.d. lang, and Tom Waits. These folks sang background on many of the songs and played guitar as well. The backing band was the TCB band, who backed Elvis from 1969 until his death in 1977: Glen D. Hardin on piano, James Burton on lead guitar, Jerry Scheff on bass, and Ronnie Tutt on drums. A splendid time was had by all.

It’s a perfect day to tune us in. We’re here and we’re ready to rock and roll, as they say. So, let’s get our shit together and get this show on the road.

Monday, Monday

Monday’s Back, But We’ve Got the Best of Reggae & Ska, America In the Spotlight, and New ‘Live’ George Harrison, September 18, 2023

Good morning, musicologists! We’re back to help ease you into Monday with our ‘Best of Reggae & Ska’ playlist, a Spotlight featuring America and George Harrison in Maryland on The Dark Horse Tour.

Here’s your Monday lineup:

10:00 a.m. The Best of Reggae, Ska and Rocksteady: Various Artists

We’ve got all the greats with Prince Buster, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Judy Mowatt, Jimmy Cliff, Basil Gabbidon, The Rhythm Aces, Derrick Morgan, Laurel Aitken, Count Lasher, The Jiving Juniors, Marcia Griffiths, Rita Marley, Desmond Dekker, The I-Threes, Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh, Toots & The Maytals and more!

4:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of America

America is most remembered for their string of folk hits, like Sister Golden Hair, Tin Man, Sandman (a really great tune), and Don’t Cross the River. But America made some of the most alluring and creative music that was not released as singles. Albums like Hat Trick, Hideaway and Holiday had some incredible unreleased tunes on them. Give this playlist a listen and you can hear them.

7:00 p.m. George Harrison Live at The Capitol Centre, Landover, MD, December 13, 1974 NEW!

George Harrison on the Dark Horse Tour, which was somehow billed as a disaster. There was a lot of that going around after The Beatles broke up. Nevertheless, George Harrison went on to have a great solo career, proving himself an amazing songwriter and musician, and the founding genius behind The Traveling Wilburys.

Start your week off on the right foot but getting behind some great music. We’re on 24/7 without commercial interruption and we are free of charge. Join our international community now!

The Best of Reggae & Ska

We’re Weekend Bound With the ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul’ EP, Our AOW and an Ann Peebles Spotlight on Thursday, September 14, 2023

We’re on the downslide to the weekend with our big, bad soul and R & B extended playlist, our AOW from McCartney & Wings and Ann Peebles In the Spotlight this evening.

Here’s today’s musical lineup:

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

We collect all the great artists from Motown, Muscle Shoals, Soulsville U.S.A. and beyond for this one 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, Eddie Floyd, Percy Sledge, Wanda Jackson, The Ad Libs, Joe Tex, Ann Peebles, Al Green and more.

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Red Rose Speedway by Paul McCartney & Wings

We’re winding down on this gem. The final airing will be sometime on Saturday, so get in on this while you can!

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Ann Peebles

With all the great souls stars out there, sometimes Ann Peebles gets lost in the crowd, but that should never be the case. A fine soul singer, she is best known for her Memphis R & B albums of the seventies. Tune her in.

We’ve got soul on both ends of the programming day here today, with a little bit of McCartney genius in between. A fine day to be in The Mermaid Lounge with the rest of us. Be there or be square, as they used to say.

A Little Bit O’ Soul!

Tuesday Bluesday Brings ‘The Best of Chicago Blues’ EP, Koko Taylor In the Spotlight, and Our AOW, September 12, 2023

Good morning, bluesologists! We are back with another Tuesday Bluesday and we’ve got our ‘Best of Chicago Blues’ EP kicking things off this morning.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

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

Today we kick it off with the masters of the Chicago blues scene like Otis Rush, Willie Dixon, Albert King, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Bo Diddley, Koko Taylor, Lowell Fulson, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy, Magic Slim, Sonny Boy Williamson, Son Seals, James Cotton, Paul Butterfield, Elmore James, Jimmy Reed, Otis Spann and more!

4:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Red Rose Speedway by Paul McCartney & Wings

Coming in for a second spin this week, we give you the reissued version with all the bonus tracks. The critics didn’t like it much, but the fans put it at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart and My Love at number one on the Hot 100. This only bolsters my belief that music critics are an acquired taste.

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Koko Taylor

The Queen of Chicago Blues herself steps into the spotlight to close out our Tuesday Bluesday programming this evening.

It’s Tuesday Bluesday in The Mermaid Lounge and that’s our busiest day. Drop by. There’s plenty of room for everyone, and it won’t cost you a cent to listen in. We’re on 24/7 and we’re totally free. Best of all, there are no commercial interruptions.

Tuesday Bluesday!

Onward With the ‘Color My World’ EP, Jimmy Buffett’s AOW and CSNY In the Spotlight, Thursday, September 7, 2023

Good morning, musicologists and welcome to the downslide to the weekend! We start it all off with our ‘Color My World’ multi-artist (and very musically eclectic) EP today!

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Color My World: Various Artists

Songs with colors in the title, lyrics or both. Even the whiff of color puts it on this list with The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Donovan, Booker T. & The MGs, Electric Light Orchestra, Procol Harum, Joni Mitchell, The Who, Amy Winehouse, Sam & Dave, Badfinger, Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Elvis Costello, Neil Young, Jefferson Airplane, The Hollies, Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Cream, Marvin Gaye, Lucinda Williams, John Hiatt, J.D. Souther, Linda Ronstadt and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Changes In Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes by Jimmy Buffett

We’ve got one more airing for you after today and that’ll be sometime on Saturday. Get on it while you can!

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Right there behind The Traveling Wilburys on my Supergroup Meter, although quite dysfunctional compared to The Wilburys. They are the original drama llamas of music, but that didn’t stop them from making some of the best stuff on the planet.

We’ve passed the midweek point now. It’s all downhill to the weekend from here. This is your opportunity to get there in style. We’re on 24/7 at no charge and turning on the tunes is hassle-free. Just push play.

PLAY.

It’s Tuesday Bluesday With a Longplayer From the Ladies and a Robert Johnson Spotlight. In Between, it’s Jimmy Buffett. September 5, 2023

Good morning, bluesologists and welcome to another Tuesday Bluesday. We kick off the month with our ‘Ladies Sing The Blues’ EP promptly at 9:00 a.m. But there’s more!

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

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

Our newest blues EP is a sweet one indeed as we put the spotlight on the ladies. Spend some time with 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. Album of The Week: Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes by Jimmy Buffett

The career-defining album for Jimmy Buffett takes its second spin as our Album of The Week. This is just a brilliant album, frankly. It’s just got a groove and a feel to it.

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Robert Johnson

Blues great Robert Johnson’s recording career lasted only seven years. Yet he has managed to put himself at the top of the list of the great influential artists of the genre.

Tuesday Bluesday is always one of those high-traffic days, and with good reason. We’ve got a hell of a blues library and the Music Mermaid knows how to spin it. We’re on 24/7 at no charge and with no commercial interruption.

Ladies Sing The Blues!

Labor Day Brings a Desmond Dekker Spotlight, a New ‘Working Songs’ Playlist, and The All-Girl Revue Three, Monday, September 4, 2023

We celebrate the contributions of the American worker today, and we’ve got a brand new playlist about working at the mid-afternoon time slot. Read on for more!

Here’s the musical layout:

11:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Desmond Dekker

We start off with a bit of Reggae this morning from Desmond Dekker, with and without his Aces, as we jump-start the day.

3:00 p.m. Working Songs: Various Artists NEW!

I expect this one to evolve over time as have many of our other playlists. This go-around, you’ll hear Van Morrison, The Staple Singers, Canned Heat, Janis Joplin, Tom Petty, Maria Muldaur, Bob Dylan, Jim Croce, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Little Feat, Elvis Costello, Arlo Guthrie and more.

7:00 p.m. The All-Girl Revue, Volume Three: Various Artists

We have several volumes of this playlist and that is how our ‘Ladies Day Out’ EP evolved over time. We go to Volume Three, where you’ll hear Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Linda Ronstadt, Carly Simon, Judy Collins, Bonnie Raitt, Susan Tedeschi, Melissa Etheridge, The Shirelles, Melanie, Emmylou Harris and more!

Nothing like a Monday holiday. And there’s nothing like a good radio station to spend the day with. Just throw us on in the background. All you need is a new tab. It’s really that simple.

Happy Labor Day!

We’re at Midweek With Our ‘Water, Water Everywhere’ EP, Brian Wilson as Our Singer-Songwriter and Ellen McIlwaine In the Spotlight, Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Good morning, musicologists. Are you aware of the fact that the earth is 71% water? I know I’ve hammered that one home before. Be that as it may, it is only fitting that we have a playlist dedicated to water.

Here’s your midweek music:

9:00 a.m. Water, Water Everywhere: Various Artists

Music about water in all its forms from Paul McCartney, Deep Purple, Joe Cocker, Simon & Garfunkel, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Ois Redding, The Doobie Brothers, Valerie Carter, Bob Dylan, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Al Green, Loggins & Messina, Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, Linda Ronstadt, Spirit, The Grass Roots, The Beach Boys, Lindisfarne, Van Morrison, Bonnie Raitt, Carole King, Steely Dan, Tom Rush, Donovan, America, Johnny Rivers and more!

4:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson gets his second airing as our featured singer-songwriter, primarily for his work as co-founder of The Beach Boys.

8:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Ellen McIlwaine

Ellen McIlwaine had it all but, for some reason, fame eluded her. Yet she left behind a serious body of blues work, including talents that earned her the nickname ‘The Godess of Slide Guitar.” Drop in and give her a listen this evening.

We’re on 24/7 at no charge to you and with no commercial advertising interruption. That’s because we don’t accept any commercial advertising. Drop by and see for yourselves.

Welcome to Midweek!