Tag: In The Spotlight

We’ve Got Our ‘Seasons’ Multi-Artist Playlist, the Final Airing of Jackson Browne as our Singer-Songwriter, and a New Carly Simon Spotlight on Friday, January 6, 2023

Good Morning, Weekenders! Yes, it’s here: The Weekend, brought to you by The Labor Movement. And it’s going to be a great musical weekend indeed. There’s no time to lose as we begin today!

Here’s your Friday lineup:

11:00 a.m. Seasons: Various Artists

It’s supposed to be winter here in the Boston area, but it has been anything but with temperatures reaching the fifties on some days. But nevertheless, it is one of the four seasons and we have a playlist for that. You’ll hear Bobbie Gentry, Janis Ian, Donovan, the Lovin’ Spoonful, Johnny Rivers, Hoyt Axton, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Wendy Waldman, Eva Cassidy, Michael Murphy, The Rolling Stones, John Prine, Electric Light Orchestra, Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor, Jefferson Airplane, The Band, The Doors, The Kinks, Linda Ronstadt, Nina Simone and more!

3:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Jackson Browne

This is the final airing of Jackson Browne as our featured singer-songwriter, an artist who wrote for others during the sixties, helped pioneer country-rock down in Laurel Canyon and put the Eagles on the map, and whose own career took off in the seventies and is still rolling. Don’t miss it. Tomorrow, we’ll have a brand new artist.

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Carly Simon NEW!

This one has been on my ‘to do’ list for a while and I’ve finally brought it to fruition here. Carly Simon began singing with her sister, Lucy, back in 1963 and strung together a bunch of great hits during the seventies like Anticipation, That’s The Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be, and You’re So Vain. While Mick Jagger appears on You’re So Vain and everyone assumed it was about him, Carly Simon actually revealed that it was about Warren Beatty.

We’re just getting warmed up for the weekend here in The Mermaid Lounge, so do give us a shot. We’re totally free 24/7 and we do not run commercial advertising. We’re not looking for anyone to pay our way here. We take care of that ourselves. It’s all about the music here. We intend to keep it that way.

Cursor Here, Please.

Monday Brings You Santana In the Spotlight, Hot Tuna ‘Live’ at The Fillmore, and The All-Girl Revue, Volume Five, on January 2, 2023

Good morning Latin rock lovers and musicologists alike! Today we give Santana its due by putting Carlos Santana and his great band In the Spotlight. We also give you some ‘live’ Hot Tuna and the Women wrap up the programming later.

Here’s today’s musical lineup:

11:00 a.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Santana NEW!

Guitar great Carlos Santana started his band in San Francisco back in 1966. They appeared for the first time at Woodstock in 1969. Santana has stood the test of time, but with many different lineups over the years. The one constant has been Carlos Santana. He recently reunited the original band on the road. We finally give Carlos Santana and his band the spotlight it deserves.

3:00 p.m. Hot Tuna Live at The Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA, March 4, 1988

This great blues-rock band was formed in 1969 by Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, former members of the Jefferson Airplane. Like Santana, they’ve had many musical lineups over the yeard, but Kaukonen and Casady have remained the band’s centerpieces. Today we have them live from The Fillmore.

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

We close out the evening’s programming with the women of music. I keep typing the ‘women of rock’ but that would be inaccurate because these female-based playlists offer such a diverse array of styles. You’ll hear Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon, Jackie DeShannon, Chi Coltrane, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton, Petula Clark, Irma Thomas, Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders), Christine McVie (Fleetwood Mac), Sheryl Crow, Shawn Colvin, Ann Peebles, Valerie Carter, Rosanne Cash, Lucinda Williams and more!

We’ve beefed up our rotation adding artists like blues artists like Ellen McIlwaine and early Christine McVie, new reggae/ska music from the I-Threes, Desmond Dekker and Rita Marley and we’ve got more waiting in the chute. We’re on 24/7 and we are totally free. No joke and no strings. We are also free of commercial advertising. You’re not risking a thing trying us out.

Just Push Play.

Today We’ll Do a Little Dreaming, Give You The Final Airing of Kate & Anna McGarrigle, and Put Aretha In the Spotlight Later, Friday, December 30, 2020

Good Morning, Music Lovers! We’re onto a good day here in The Mermaid Lounge with our ‘In Your Dreams’ EP starting everything off and Aretha Franklin closing out the programmed portion of the program. Did you get that?

Here’s Friday’s programming:

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

Do you remember your dreams? Sometimes I do. Dreaming is a good subject for a playlist. We left a lot of songs off this one. Maybe we’ll build two eventually. For today, you’ll hear 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, The Mamas & The Papas, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Jimmy Buffett, The Allman Brothers Band, Supertramp, Randy Newman, Aretha Franklin, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Bob Dylan, Widespread Panic, The Youngbloods, Jimmy Ruffin, Jackson Browne, Mudcrutch, Patsy Cline, Joe Walsh, Bruce Springsteen, k.d. lang, Dusty Springfield and more!

3:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Kate & Anna McGarrigle

We wrap up the McGarrigle sister’s stint as our featured singer-songwriters today. Next up is Jackson Browne on New Year’s Eve.

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: the Music of Aretha Franklin

Closing out the programming is the undisputable Queen of Soul. She’ll be here to serenade you as we close out the day’s programming and return to our wide Open Stream.

We’re off to the races this morning as I’ve been bequeathed a mission of mercy by my eldest child. They never really grow up, you know. It’s a myth. But I digress. Tune us in. We’re totally free of charge 24/7. Your money’s no good here.

In Your Dreams…

Welcome To Tuesday Bluesday With Some ‘Live’ James Cotton, Our AOW, and a New Spotlight Featuring the Tedeschi Trucks Band, December 13, 2022

Good Morning, Bluesologists! It’s another Tuesday Bluesday here in The Mermaid Lounge, and we’ve got some great stuff on tap for today, including the Tedeschi Trucks Band Spotlight feature!

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

11:00 a.m. James Cotton Live at Antoine’s Night Club, New Orleans, LA, July 1987

There are just some shows we can’t nail a date down for. Trust me. I’m totally anal retentive about this stuff. I have looked everywhere. Not happening. But nevertheless, it’s a great James Cotton show. Enjoy.

3:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Dixie Chicken by Little Feat

Not a blues album per se, but this is the album where Little Feat established its sound, moving into the realm of New Orleans rhythm & blues and funk. Sam Clayton (percussion) and the late, great Paul Barrere (guitar) became permanent members of the band on this album. This would be the final lineup before the death of Lowell George and the band’s dissolution.

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Tedeschi Trucks Band NEW!

Right now, this is our premier blues-rock band with arguably the best blues guitarist in the business in Derek Trucks. His wife, Susan Tedeschi, is no slouch on that thing either. And she can sing the blues. This one has been a long time coming. We’ve also gotten hold of some great live performances that we’ll soon be featuring.

This is the place to be on Tuesday because it’s blues day. We’ve always got a global full house on this day, so why not join the club? We’re on 24/7. We’re totally free…no credit card or personal info required. It’s all about the music.

Tuesday Bluesday!

Monday Returns With the J. Geils Band, Our New ‘Best of Reggae & Ska’ Playlist, and ‘Live’ Byrds Later, December 12, 2022

Good Morning, Reggae-Ologists! We are back here in The Mermaid Lounge for the beginning of another week of indentured servitude to the masters. But hell, we’ve got some great programming today including our new Reggae, Rocksteady and Ska playlist.

Here’s today’s lineup:

11:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The J. Geils Band

We haven’t spun this baby for a while, and we consider J. Geils the official original Bad Boys of Boston. I’ve seen these guys a few times and they never, ever disappointed. We give you the best of their music to start off the programming day.

3:00 p.m. The Best of Reggae & Ska: Various Artists NEW!

Finally a playlist dedicated strictly to this great genre. You’ll hear Bob Marley & The Wailers, Jimmy Cliff, Prince Buster, Judy Mowatt, Basil Gabbidon, Peter Tosh, The Rhythm Aces, Derrick Morgan, Laurel Aitken, Count Lasher, the Jiving Juniors, Marcia Griffiths, Rita Marley, Desmond Dekker, Bunny Wailer, and more! We expect to expand this list over time!

7:00 p.m. The Byrds’ Reunion Concert at The Boarding House, San Francisco, February 9, 1978

The Byrds get back together for a reunion concert at this great San Francisco venue. Recorded and broacast live on KSAN-FM, and here for you tonight to close out our formal programming.

Monday. Back to the mines. And always a great day to tune us in. There’s no better way to start off a new work week, is there? Personally, I can’t think of one. But hey, that’s me. Remember that we are totally free. Every day. No strings. No surprises. No questions asked. We’re not about profit. We’re all about the music.

Best of Reggae & Ska!

Today Brings Our ‘Color My World’ Multi-Artist EP, and a Tribute to the Late, Great Christine McVie Who Sadly Passed Yesterday, Friday, December 2, 2022

Good Morning, Music Lovers! Today most of us learned of the passing of Christine McVie, whom we considered the heart and soul of Fleetwood Mac. She was an extraordinary talent whose roots were in the blues and today we pay her homage.

British musician Christine McVie of the group Fleetwood Mac performs onstage at the Los Angeles Forum, Inglewood, California, December 6, 1979. (Photo by Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images)

Here’s today’s musical journey:

11:00 a.m. Color My World: Various Artists

Our very first EP airing of the month is about colors, all colors of the spectrum, in the title, lyrics, or both. You’ll hear songs from Linda Ronstadt, Valerie Carter, The Kinks, The Beatles, The Traveling Wilburys, Jonathan Edwards, George Harrison, The Rolling Stones, Neil Young, John Hiatt, Joni Mitchell, Badfinger, Donovan, Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan, Ry Cooder, Elton John, Procol Harum, Electric Light Orchestra, Amy Winehouse, The Who, Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, Sam & Dave, Jefferson Airplane, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Elvis Costello, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, The Hollies, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Marvin Gaye, Booker T & The MGs, Lucnda Williams, John Cougar Mellencamp, Creedence Clearwater Revival and more!

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Christine McVie NEW!

Although not the most flamboyant member of Fleetwood Mac, Christine McVie was, without a doubt, the heart and soul of that band. Her original roots were in singing the blues, starting with a British blues band called Chicken Shack. She also had a solo career prior to her marriage to John McVie when she was known as Christine Perfect. As a member of Fleetwood Mac, she wrote many of their biggest hits, like Say You Love Me, Over My Head, You Make Loving Fun and Don’t Stop. Christine McVie passed away on November 30 at the age of 79, leaving a hole in the music world. We pay tribute to her this evening.

Join in the fun. We’ve got listeners from around the globe on 24/7. They know a good thing when they hear it. We’re nonstop with no membership or credit card required. We’re all about the music here in The Mermaid Lounge. The Music Mermaid wouldn’t have it any other way.

Farewell, Christine McVie.

We Leap Into December With Neil Young, Creedence Clearwater Revival and The (Young) Rascals, Thursday, December 1, 2022

Good Morning, Musicologists! We are in the final month of what has certainly been an eventful 2022 if nothing else, and we kick it off in style with some great programming. But fear not, we always have more Open Stream than we do planned music and that is by design!

Here are your tasty musical tidbits for today:

10:00 a.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Neil Young

We’ve got the final airing of our featured artist in this series on Saturday, but you can tune in today and hear Neil’s musical contribution to music as a member of CSNY, Buffalo Springfield and as a solo artist collaborating with bands like The International Harvesters, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real and his longtime stand-by, Crazy Horse.

3:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Green River by Creedence Clearwater Revival

We’re also winding down on this week’s AOW by Creedence. Our final airing of this will also be on Saturday, time still TBD. This was but one of three CCR album releases in 1969 alone, a musical tour de force.

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The (Young) Rascals

We wish a very happy birthday to the great Felix Cavaliere, the heart and soul of The Rascals, certainly one of the best bands during the best musical time of my life. It is only fitting that they occupy the spotlight as we close out Thursday’s programming.

We’re on the downslide to the weekend, folks, and life is way too short to listen to bad music. There’s no bad music here, we promise. We’ve got the first generation of classic rock n’ roll artists, those who inspired them, and those they have inspired. We’re on 24/7 without interruption and at no cost to you. Your money’s absolutely no good here. When you take the profit motive out, everything is better.

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We Open Tuesday Bluesday With Trifectas, Close with Robert Johnson In the Spolight, and Slot Our AOW in Between, November 28, 2022

Good Morning and welcome to Tuesday Bluesday! We’ve got a great line-up for you all today, including a brand new Spotlight featuring the great bluesman Robert Johnson.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Tuesday Bluesday Trifectas: Various Artists

9:00 a.m. B. B. King

10:00 a.m. Canned Heat

11:00 a.m. Stevie Ray Vaughan

12:00 p.m. The Allman Brothers Band

1:00 p.m. John Lee Hooker NEW!

2:00 p.m. Koko Taylor NEW!

3:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Green River by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Today we have the second airing of this week’s featured album by Creedence Clearwater Revival, their third release in 1969 alone as they burst onto the music scene.

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

Robert Johnson only lived to the ripe old age of 27. He is a bona fide member of the 27 Club, and his musical recording career lasted a grand total of seven months. However, his recordings from 1936 and 1937 are historic and expose a combination of songwriting, singing and guitar playing that has influenced generations of blues musicians. Johnson is known as the master of the Delta Blues and one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame describes Robert Johnson as “the first ever rock star.”

Tuesday Bluesday is always a full house, folks, and today is no exception! Join your global friends as we focus on the blues this fine Tuesday. We’re totally free 24/7. There are no surprises. And we don’t employ overly-chatty DJ’s. We’re all about the music.

Tuesday Bluesday!

Back to The Real World With Our ‘Water, Water Everywhere’ EP and The Pretenders In the Spotlight Later, Friday, November 25, 2022

Good Morning, Musicologists. Now, I’m all messed up with a Thursday holiday. I feel like this is Monday but, in fact, it’s Friday and my week is almost over (one more day tomorrow). That is what I’m thankful for in case anyone wants to know. And this great job I have messing with the music.

Here’s today’s lineup:

11:00 a.m. Water, Water Everywhere: Various Artists

Did you know that the earth is 71% water? I’m sure I’ve said this before. I have a tendency to repeat myself. Luckily, we don’t repeat a lot of music too quickly. But it is, and there is no shortage of songs on the subject of water. You’ll hear Paul McCartney, Deep Purple, Joe Cocker, Simon & Garfunkel, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Otis Redding, Neil Young, Elton John, 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 and more!

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Pretenders

The Pretenders is one of those bands that just dug its hooks into me, and Chrissie Hynde is a goddamned force of nature, a pioneer and an authentic woman rocker who just won’t quit. We haven’t heard this one for a while, but it’s here tonight. It’s also one of our playlists that’s about to get an update, so next time around it’ll be expanded. In the meantime, enjoy.

It’s the day after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday. Now, most people think of Black Friday as the start of the Christmas shopping season. Personally? I think of it as life in hell if you’re in the retail world. And it remains life in hell until Christmas is over. But here in The Mermaid Lounge? The living is easy. We’ve got great music to help you get you through these trying capitalist times. And no. We will not play Christmas music. We promise.

Black Friday Retail Blues

It’s Tuesday Bluesday and We’ve Got Our Big, Bad Blues EP, Our AOW, and A New Spotlight Featuring Buddy Guy (and Some Friends), November 22, 2022

Good Morning, Bluesologists! It’s another Tuesday Bluesday here in The Mermaid Lounge, and we’ve got a brand new playlist featuring Buddy Guy coming up this evening.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Everybody Knows by Stephen Stills & Judy Collins

We start the day with the second airing of our Album of The Week by Stephen Stills and Judy Collins, the first album they’ve ever made together in spite of the fact that they’ve known each other and worked together for decades. It was released in 2017.

11:00 a.m. Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blues: Various Artists

This is our big, five-hour blues EP featuring Delbert McClinton, 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, Koko Taylor, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, James Cotton, Marcia Ball, Duane Allman, Susan Tedeschi, Howlin’ Wolf, Roomful of Blues, Tracy Nelson and more!

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Buddy Guy NEW!

Buddy Guy is an extraordinary blues guitarist and singer whose guitar chops have influenced generations of musicians, including Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richard, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Beck, Gary Clark Jr. and John Mayer. He hails from the Chicago blues genre. Tonight you get to hear him alone and with his friends.

It’s always jumpin’ here in The Mermaid Lounge on Tuesday Bluesday, and today will be no exception. We’re free 24/7 with no surprises, no credit card required…you don’t even have to give us your name. All you need is a free tab and a mouse so you can click on the button below.

Tuesday Bluesday!