Tag: In The Spotlight

We Hit Our Midweek Stride With The ‘M is For Motown’ EP and Dusty Springfield In the Spotlight Later, August 31, 2022

Not only is it midweek, but we’re closing out the month of August in fine form with a trip to Motown and a visit from the Queen of Blue-eyed Soul later, Dusty Springfield!

Here’s today’s lineup:

10:00 a.m. M is For Motown: Various Artists

We’ve got a couple of Soul and R & B extended playlists, but this one focuses strictly on Motown artists like 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, Mary Wells, Rare Earth, Tammi Terrell, Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Marvelettes, The Spinners, Jimmy Ruffin, and many more!

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Dusty Springfield

Tonight we have the Queen of Blue-Eyed Soul paying us a visit here in The Mermaid Lounge. Dusty Springfield was one of the most popular British female singers on either side of the Atlantic Ocean during the sixties, and her career spanned five decades. A Mermaid Lounge favorite here.

Great day to tune us in. Of course, we believe that every day is a great day to tune us in. We say it over and over and over. We’re not just playing music when we have programming. We run 24/7 totally free of charge to the world. Before, in between and after our programs we give you that great wide Open Stream of more than 27,000 songs and albums.

M is For Motown!

No Drought Here as We Give You Our ‘Water, Water Everywhere’ EP and Put Wendy Waldman In The Spotlight, Friday, August 26, 2022

Good Morning, Music Lovers! Today we’re back on the multi-artist EP train with our ‘Water, Water Everywhere EP’ to start our programming off. Later, it’s Wendy Waldman for a return performance.

Folks, the drought is no joke. Want some water? Go to the beach. Don’t water your lawns. Please.

Here’s your Friday lineup:

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

Speaking scientifically, the world is composed of 71% water. But we are in a major drought right now across the nation, and even here in New England. I feel compelled to say this: Please take yourselves out of your self-serving zone and do not turn on those sprinklers. Seriously. There. I’ve said it.

Now, when you tune us in, you’ll hear Paul McCartney, Deep Purple, Joe Cocker, Simon & Garfunkel, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Otis Redding, Neil Young, Elton John, The Doobie Brothers, Valerie Carter, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Al Green, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Loggins & Messina, Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band, Linda Ronstadt, Spirit, The Grass Roots, The Beach Boys, Lindisfarne, Van Morrison, Tom Rush, Bonnie Raitt, Carole King, Steely Dan, Johnny Rivers, America, Donovan and more!

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Wendy Waldman

Wendy Waldman’s career has been as diverse as her capabilities. She’s a singer, songwriter and record producer who started out in a band called Bryndle. Singer-songwriter Karla Bonoff was another member of Bryndle (and we will be featuring her soon, BTW) along with Andrew Gold and Kenny Edwards who would later become members of Linda Ronstadt’s band. But I digress. After Bryndle, Waldman embarked on a successful solo career releasing several great albums, including The Main Refrain, a brilliant effort. Later, she moved to Nashville to focus on songwriting. Today we put Wendy Waldman In The Spotlight.

Hey, we made it to the end of the week. There’s no better time to tune us in and get a flavor for what we’re all about. We are not like other radio stations. We’re not trying to be Spotify. You can’t build custom lists here. We’re radio. Tune us in. We’re also totally free of charge — no strings, no surprises — on a 24/7 schedule. Every day.

Water, Water Everywhere!

Today It’s The Music That Inspired The Station With Our House EP, Along With Carole King In the Spotlight, Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Good Morning, Music Lovers! We’ll be on the road a bit earlier than usual today, but you’re in good hands with The Music Mermaid pushing the buttons as we give your our #BecomeUngovernable House EP, and a brand new Spotlight featuring Carole King!

The fun starts at 10:00 a.m.

Here’s today’s musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. The #BecomeUngovernable House EP: Various Artists

It’s back again…the music that inspired the station. You’ll hear Barry McGuire, The Temptations, Edwin Starr, Peter Tosh, The Beatles, Genesis, T. Rex, The Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Country Joe & The Fish, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, CSNY, Pink Floyd, The Animals, Ten Years After, Plastic Ono Band, Billy Joel, George Harrison, The Rolling Stones, Sam Cooke, 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 and more!

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Carole King NEW!

Join us as we put a musical legend In the Spotlight tonight. It’s long overdue, but it’s finally here. One of the greatest singer-songwriters of her generation will close out the programming later today.

As always, we’ve got you covered 24/7 and we’re always totally free of charge. There are no surprises and no hidden charges. And we never, ever ask for your credit card or personal information. Your money is absolutely no good here.

The #BU House EP!

We Keep It Simple Today With Our ‘Color My World’ EP and Elton John In the Spotlight Later, Monday, August 22, 2022

Good Morning, Music Lovers! It’s Monday and I have a rare call to retail duty today, so The Music Mermaid is in charge. She’s keeping it simple on this fine day with our newest EP and a long-awaited Spotlight feature.

Today we’ve got our newest EP, Color My World, starting at 11:00 a.m. EST

Here’s your Monday, Monday lineup:

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

This EP made its debut last month right around this time, so it’s back again. A multi-artist EP with references to colors in the title, lyrics or both will bring songs from Valerie Carter, Linda Ronstadt, 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, Booker T & The MGs, Marvin Gaye, Lucinda Williams, Creedence Clearwater Revival, John Cougar Mellencamp and more!

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Elton John NEW!

This one has been a long time coming, and I finally broke through last night and figured out why it has taken me so long: I much prefer early Elton John to the music he has made later in his career. And so it is that you will hear little of his newer music here. But early Elton John? Spectacular stuff, and The Music Mermaid and I feel like we’ve got the best of all that here in this playlist.

Speaking of The Music Mermaid, she give us all that great wide Open Stream before, in between and looooong after the programming ends. We run 24/7 totally free of charge for your musical listening pleasure. And we do not run advertising. No sir.

Monday, Monday

It’s Sunday and We Have Our ‘Original Sixties Rotation’ EP, a Great Collaboration for Our AOW, and Peter Tosh In the Spotlight, August 21, 2022

Good Morning, Musicologists! We’ve got an eclectic programming day planned for you today, starting with our great Album of The Week, then moving into our very first Sixties Rotation. We close out later with our Reggae selection.

Here’s today’s lineup:

10:00 a.m. Album of The Week: The Union by Elton John and Leon Russell NEW!

Any album with these two guys in collaboration can only be called a tour de force. Released in 2010, the album was produced by the great T. Bone Burnett (who also contributes on electric guitar). Others who helped out include Booker T. Jones (Hammond B-3), Neil Young (vocals), Robert Randolph (pedal steel guitar), and Brian Wilson (vocal harmonies). It debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, and was listed at No. 3 on Rolling Stone’s 30 Best Albums of 2010.

1:00 p.m. The Original Sixties Rotation: Various Artists

We’ve got just over five hours of uninterrupted sixties music coming your way in the early afternoon. This particular rotation focuses on the early-to-mid years of the decade, although I can’t guarantee we don’t slip some stuff in from later in the decade. I may have been stoned when I made it. You will hear 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, Tony Joe White, Barry McGuire, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Fats Domino and more.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Peter Tosh NEW!

Peter Tosh has a long, storied musical history. Abandoned by his parents and shuffled among his relatives, he eventually became a self-taught singer, songwriter and musician who was a critical part of The Wailers. He eventually met Robert Nesta Marley (THE Bob Marley) and Neville O’Reilly Livingston (Bunny Wailer). They started singing together in 1962 and the rest is history. He wrote several of the Wailers hit songs including Get Up, Stand Up, 400 Years, and No Sympathy. After the Wailers, Peter Tosh went on to a successful solo career starting with his album, Legalize It. Today, we put Reggae legend Peter Tosh In the Spotlight.

Here we are again. Another Sunday in The Mermaid Lounge, and a perfect day to acquaint yourselves with our special brand of radio. Yep. It’s true. You can’t create “custom” playlists here. That’s not what we’re about. We’re about real radio. I remember the days of summer laying around in my yard with my friends tuned into our transistor radios listening to WMEX. We waited in anticipation for every song.

Sunday Funday!

It’s Saturday in The Mermaid Lounge With Our ‘Psychedelic Express’ EP, Desmond Dekker In The Spotlight, LIVE DEAD! and The Final Airing of Neil Young’s AOW, August 20, 2022

Good Morning, Music Lovers! We have a very full Saturday here for you but, nevertheless, our wide Open Stream dominates on the time scale. We never give you too much programming…just enough.

It’s time for our monthly trip into the land of psychedelia!

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Songs for Judy by Neil Young FINAL AIRING!

We bid Neil Young an early fond farewell today as we kick this one off early for our overseas listeners. Tomorrow, we’ll have a brand new album for you all when you finally wake up!

12:00 p.m. The Psychedelic Express: Various Artists

We’re back with our trip to psychedelic music land where you’ll hear Vanilla Fudge, The Chambers Brothers, The Beatles, 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 Experience, Traffic, Cream, Dr. John, Procol Harum, Fleetwood Mac, The Who, Canned Heat, Tommy James & The Shondells, Yes, Electric Light Orchestra, Mudrutch, Blind Faith, Grateful Dead, The Velvet Underground, Big Brother & The Holding Company and more!

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Desmond Dekker and The Aces NEW!

Another trip down Reggae Road here with Desmond Dekker, a Jamaican Reggae, Ska and Rocksteady singer-songwriter and musician. Together with his backing band, The Aces, he had one of the first international reggae hits with his song Israelites. I remember hearing that song on the radio over and over and I loved it. But I didn’t really have a total appreciation for Reggae then as I do now.

10:00 p.m. LIVE DEAD! The Grateful Dead Live at Boston Garden, Boston, MA, May 12, 1980 NEW!

Another great concert from a great jam band. This one comes from my hometown back in 1980. We’ve had a few from Boston, but not from 1980 yet. Tonight, we’ve got that one too.

Well, once again, allow me to tell you that it would be a great day to spend with us here in The Mermaid Lounge if you can spare some time. It won’t take long for you to get hooked. Trust me. We’re not about charging money so you can build Internet playlists. If you want to do that, you can go pay Spotify. We’re all about being radio. And we don’t clog our airwaves with mouthy DJs and commercial advertising.

Join us in The Mermaid Lounge!

It’s Finally Friday and We’ve Got Our ‘Folk Music From A-To-Z’ EP and a Visit From the I-Threes Coming Up, August 19, 2022

Good Morning, Reggaeologists! Yes. It’s still Reggae Week, right through to Sunday. Or Maybe Monday. We’ll see. But today, we’ve got the I-Threes coming’ at ya, and I’m pretty sure there’ll be plenty of folks out there who don’t really know who they are. We’re going to help you with that.

The I-Threes are Rita Marley, Judy Mowatt and Marcia Griffiths.

Here’s today’s lineup:

11:00 a.m. Folk Music From A-To-Z: Various Artists

Folk music was the original musical genre of the protest generation with Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Odetta, Phil Ochs, Lead Belly as the forefathers. Today, they’ll be joined by others, including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Peter, Paul & Mary, John Prine, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Arlo Guthrie, Tim Hardin, The Kingston Trio, Simon & Garfunkel, Richie Havens, The Carter Family, Eric Andersen, Tom Rush, Jackson Browne, Jesse Winchester, Joni Mitchell, The Stone Poneys, Harry Chapin, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, and more!

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The I-Threes NEW!

So, who are the I-Threes? The I-Threes are Rita Marley (yes, wife of Bob), Judy Mowatt and Marcia Griffiths and it is the most influential female group in Reggae music. From 1974 right up until Bob Marley’s untimely death ten years later, they provided his rich vocal backgrounds. They also made music of their own. And today we are very excited about putting them In the Spotlight as we continue to focus on the women of music here in The Mermaid Lounge.

Come on, people. This is your chance to tune us in. We’re hear 24/7 around the clock every day trying to bring you the best of music. And that means we don’t play the same songs over and over and over. We play just enough of our house bands, but not too much. We are also advertising-free and do not require your personal information, a subscription or your credit card. Your money is absolutely no good here.

The I-Threes are here!

It’s Reggae Week With Toots & The Maytals Starting Off, Then Neil Young’s AOW, and Our ‘All About Blue’ Playlist Later, Thursday, August 18, 2022

Good Morning! We’re back to reggae every day through Sunday as we build our Reggae, Ska and Rocksteady collection and move toward a new multi-artist playlist this weekend!

Toots Hibbert of Toots & The Maytals

Here’s today’s lineup:

11:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Toots & The Maytals

Toots & The Maytals, led by Toots Hibbert, was one of the best known ska and rocksteady musical groups, and were instrumental in popularizing Reggae music worldwide. Today we put them In the Spotlight.

3:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Songs for Judy by Neil Young

Young’s great compilation of live acoustic set songs from his 1976 tour with Crazy Horse is an artistic tour de force. This is our second-to-last airing of this great album, so don’t let it pass you by. Our final airing will be on Saturday.

7:00 p.m. All About Blue, Volume One: Various Artists

A great little playlist here about the color blue in the title, lyrics or both with The Allman Brothers Band, Linda Ronstadt, Mudcrutch, Foreigner, Taj Mahal, Joni Mitchell, Jonathan Edwards, George Harrison, Electric Light Orchestra, The Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Badfinger, The Band, Elvis Presley and more!

Come on, people, get on board with us! We’re a great little radio station that puts music before money. In fact, we haven’t a cent to spend on advertising because we don’t accept any commercial advertising. Don’t pass us by. We’re free without strings (or surprises) on a 24-hour basis, rain or shine!

Cursor Here, Please!

We Start The Day With Our ‘Under The Influence’ EP and Close It With Bob Marley & The Wailers, On Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Good Morning, Musicologists! We start out the day Under The Influence with our many friends who sing about those mind-altering vices, and get back to Reggae with Bob Marley & The Wailers tonight.

The Caterpillar knows best.

Here’s today’s midweek lineup:

10:00 a.m. Under The Influence: Various Artists

Let’s all admit that we’ve been here, whether or not our vices of choice are legal or illegal. You’ll hear many a tale from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Arlo Guthrie, The Byrds, Jefferson Airplane, Bob Dylan, Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen, Donovan, Glenn Frey, John Lee Hooker, Jonathan Edwards, Linda Ronstadt, Little Feat, The Traveling Wilburys, The Temptations, Small Faces, Steely Dan, Talking Heads, The Beatles, Neil Young, New Riders of The Purple Sage, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Velvet Underground, The Rolling Stones, Dave Van Ronk, Emmylou Harris, John Prine, Jackson Browne, Steve Winwood, Led Zeppelin, Harry Chapin, The Band, The Fraternity of Man and more!

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Bob Marley & The Wailers

Known as ‘The Legend’ among Reggae fans, Bob Marley is perhaps the most visual and storied ambassador of Reggae, Ska, Rocksteady. In 1963, he formed The Wailers with Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer. By late 1963, Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso, and Cherry Smith had joined the group. The rest, as they say, is history as they became the most influential band in Reggae music.

Come on, music lovers. What’s not to love here? We don’t spread endless chatter while we should be playing music. We simply play music. No cost to you. Ever. And no reason to ask for personal information or a credit card. I know you probably find that hard to believe, but hey, why not see for yourself?

Reggae Week!

It’s Tuesday Bluesday With Our ‘Best of Chicago Blues’ EP and Tracy Nelson In The Spotlight Later, In Between It’s The AOW, August 16, 2022

We are clearly rolling on through August, Bluesologists, and it’s time once again for our trip to the blues clubs of Chicago (at least in our minds).

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

10:00 a.m. The Best of Chicago Blues: Various Artists

They always say that Chicago blues ain’t like any other blues. We put that to the test to day with 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!

5:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Songs for Judy by Neil Young

It’s a longer than usual AOW; almost like a concert. This is an amazing compilation of Neil Young’s opening acoustic set from his 1976 tour with Crazy Horse. This is our second airing. You definitely want to get this one in by Saturday.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Tracy Nelson

Tracy Nelson has had a storied career and started out in band called Mother Earth. She’s sung some country-rock and a whole lot of blues. She also wrote one of my all-time favorite Linda Ronstadt tunes, Down So Low. We put Tracy Nelson in the spotlight tonight.

Tuesday Bluesday is always a good day to tune us in, but we say that every day. We’re totally free 24/7 with no strings and no surprises. We do not accept commercial advertising, so we actually have no money to spend on advertising. So, if you tune us in and you like what we do here, please share with your friends!

Tuesday Bluesday is Back!