Tag: Irma Thomas

The Ladies Are In Charge on Tuesday Bluesday, Then It’s Live John Mayall, and a Marcia Ball ‘Spotlight’ on June 17, 2025

Good morning, blueologists, and welcome to another Tuesday Bluesday. We open with five hours of bluesy women, then it’s John Mayall live from the UK, and an interlude of swamp blues with a Marcia Ball ‘Spotlight.’

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

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

We start off with the ladies, some of them blues legends, some those who simply respected the blues and kept the genre fresh and current. You’ll hear Billie Holiday, 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. John Mayall Live at Leicester Square Theatre, London, UK, November 1, 2010

A true blues master visits us this afternoon, live from Leicester Square Theatre.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Marcia Ball

Marcia Ball is simply teriffic, an award-winning blues singer, songwriter and superb pianist whose music was described by The Boston Globe as “an irresistible celebratory blend of rollicking, two-fisted New Orleans piano, Louisiana swamp rock and smoldering Texas blues from a contemporary storyteller.” You’ll enjoy her ‘Spotlight’ feature.

We start and end the day with the ladies today, and that is always a good thing. We’re on 24/7 without commercial interruption, and with no chatty DJs to spoil the flow. The button is, as always, below!

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It’s Tuesday Bluesday Again! We’ve Got ‘The Best of Louisiana Blues’ EP To Start, a Buddy Guy ‘Spotlight’ Feature, and Live Jeff Beck Group, On June 10, 2025

Welcome to another Tuesday Bluesday in The Mermaid Lounge. I’m heading back to hardware hell, but The Music Mermaid has this down!

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

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

We’ve got five hours of uninterrupted blues from the bayou and beyond with Ray Charles, Lillian Glinn, Fats Domino, Roy Brown, Slim Harpo, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Rodney Harris, Roosevelt Sykes, Shirley & Lee, Papa Lightfoot, Annie Laurie, Guitar Slim, Big Joe Turner, Little Walter, Big Boy Myles, Mary Butler, Erline Harris, Marcia Ball, Dave Bartholomew, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, The Neville Brothers, Irma Thomas, Professor Longhair, and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Buddy Guy

This afternoon we spend some time with a guitar legend who has influenced so many who have followed him.

8:00 p.m. The Jeff Beck Group Live at The Palace Theater, Waterbury, CT, May 17, 1972

Tonight we close with a little blues-rock from yet another guitar master named Jeff Beck, the stuff of legends.

We’re here all day playing blues programming. But before, in between, and after it’s our big, wide Open Stream of more than 27,000 songs covering many genres of music. We play the best music on the planet. For free. No shit. The button is below.

It’s Tuesday Bluesday!

We Close The Month With ‘Ladies Day Out,’ Live Stephen Stills, and a Steve Winwood ‘Spotlight’ Feature, Saturday, May 31, 2025

Welcome, weekenders! We’re closing the month in style as we turn the studio over to the women of music this morning, followed by Stephen Stills live at The Capitol Center, and a Steve Winwood ‘Spotlight’ covering his vast musical career.

Here’s your Saturday musical lineup:

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

We kick off the day with the ladies in charge. You’ll hear Linda Ronstadt, Valerie Carter, 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, Dolly Parton, Dusty Springfield, Ann Peebles, Lucinda Williams, Rosanne Cash, Eva Cassidy, Wendy Waldman, Shawn Colvin, The Ronettes, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Sheryl Crow, Norah Jones, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Phoebe Snow, Susan Tedeschi, Nicolette Larson and many, many more!

4:00 p.m. Stephen Stills Live at The Capitol Center, Passaic, NJ, March 23, 1979

Later this afternoon, we give you some great live Stephen Stills. Always a treat.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Steve Winwood

We close with legendary artist Steve Winwood and his music from The Spencer Davis Group, Blind Faith, Traffic, and his solo career!

I’ll be spending one more day in hardware hell before my weekend begins, but The Music Mermaid will be in charge and she never disappoints. Stop by and see for yourselves. It costs nothing and we won’t make you sign up for a ‘subscription’ to anything. Best of all, there’s absolutely no commercial advertising. The button is below.

Ladies Day Out!

On Saturday It’s ‘A Little Bit O’Soul,’ a Patty Griffin ‘Spotlight’ Feature, and the Zombies Live in the UK, On May 24, 2025

Welcome, weekenders! We’ve got quite an eclectic lineup here for you today…something for everybody. It starts with great soul and R & B, then on to country-folk and British Invasion rock!

Here’s your Saturday musical lineup:

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

All the best from the sixties and seventies including The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Ronettes, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, The Drifters, Chuck Berry, Stevie Wonder, Carla Thomas, James Brown, Etta James, Curtis Mayfield, Sam Cooke, Edwin Starr, Sam & Dave, The Staple Singers, Nina Simone, Irma Thomas, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Ann Peebles, Al Green, Fontella Bass, and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Patty Griffin

Patty Griffin has written many songs performed and interpreted by many artists. She’s an accomplished singer, songwriter and musician in the folk, folk[-rock, and country-folk genres, and it’s always a pleasure to hear her sing her own stuff.

8:00 p.m. The Zombies Live at Metropolis Studios, London, UK, March 8, 2008

One of the most important and influential bands of the sixties British Invasion reunited for a time, including for this performance at Metropolis Studios in London. Enjoy.

We are here cooking in The Mermaid Lounge on a 24/7 basis. We play the best music on the planet at no cost to our listeners, and we never run commercial advertising. With over 27,000 songs on our playlist, we give you the most variety and we play more women than any other music stations hands down. The button is below.

Welcome, Weekenders!

Tuesday Bluesday Brings ‘The Best of Louisiana Blues,’ a John Lee Hooker ‘Spotlight’, and Live Yardbirds, May 6, 2025

Good morning and welcome to another Tuesday Bluesday. We take a break from Festival Week just for today to carry on our blues tradition here in The Mermaid Lounge.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

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

We’ve got music from Ray Charles, Lillian Glinn, Slim Harpo, Roy 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, Marcia Ball, Dave Bartholomew, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Professor Longhair, Irma Thomas, The Neville Brothers and more!

4:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of John Lee Hooker

One of the greatest of all time, he was the son of a sharecropper, a singer, songwriter and guitarist who developed an electric-guitar adaptation of the Delta Blues in Detroit. Hooker was a true innovator, who developed his own driving-rhythm boogie style.

8:00 p.m. The Yardbirds Live at B. B. King’s Blues Club, New York, NY, July 16, 2006

We close out the blues with Jeff Beck and the boys live from B. B. King’s club in New York, a great way to end a Tuesday Bluesday.

We’re taking a break from ‘Festival Week’ for just one day to carry out our great blues tradition. We’ll be back tomorrow with Woodstock ’69. In the meantime, tune us in for some great blues. The button is below! That’s all it takes.

Tuesday Bluesday!

We Close the Month With All-Girl Programming Featuring Our Big EP, Ruth Brown, and Linda Ronstadt & Friends, On Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Good morning, music lovers! We are closing out the month in style. Most stations don’t play this much women’s music in two months as we play in a week. For us, it’s a matter of routine. Read on as we close the month in full-female mode!

Here’s your all-girl midweek lineup:

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

We start out with our big EP featuring Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, 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, Norah Jones, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Phoebe Snow, Susan Tedeschi, Nicolette Larson, Sheryl Crow, Valerie Carter, Dusty Springfield, Ann Peebles, Lulu, and more!

4:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Ruth Brown NEW!

We finally get this one under our belt, as we give the late, great Ruth Brown her due. She was signed to Atlantic Records and dominated the scene during the fifties with a string of huge hits. As a result, Atlantic became knows as “the house that Ruth built.” Today, she’s in our ‘Spotlight.’

8:00 a.m. Linda Ronstadt & Friends: Duets & More

People who are Ronstadt watchers know that she loved singing with other people more than she enjoyed her solo career. Today she brings along her friends as we hear her duets and so much more. Her brilliant vocals dominate, and we here in The Mermaid Lounge miss her very much.

We’re here every day and today belongs to the women of music. We’re on 24/7. We’re totally free, and we do not run commercial advertising. The button is below.

Ladies Day Out Indeed!

On Thursday We Open With ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul,’ Then It’s Live Allman Brothers Band, and a Laura Nyro ‘Spotlight’, April 24, 2025

We’re headed toward the weekend today. It’s all downhill from here. We open with five hours of soul and R & B music, then we’ve got the Allman Brothers Band live at the Beacon and Laura Nyro ‘In the Spotlight!’

Here’s your Thursday lineup:

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

We start off with five uninterrupted hours of soul and R & B with Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, 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, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Edwin Starr, Sam Cooke, Fontella Bass, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Irma Thomas, The Box Tops and more!

4:00 p.m. The Allman Brothers Band Live at The Beacon Theater, New York, NY, March 10 & 11, 1992

The Brothers give yet another masterful live performance at The Beacon in NYC.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Laura Nyro

We close out the programming with a ‘Spotlight’ featuring the amazing Laura Nyro. She was a catalyst for many artists who covered her songs.

We are closer to the weekend, folks, and that means stability in a nation with a very unstable lout in office. Here in The Mermaid Lounge we play the best music on the planet and the journey is everything. The button is below.

A Little Bit O’Soul!

On Sunday, It’s ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul,’ Live Emmylou Harris & Spyboy, and a Supremes ‘Spotlight’, March 23, 2025

Good morning, musicologists! We’ve got a lot of soul today with some live Emmylou Harris with one of her fantastic backing bands in tow. See below for details!

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

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

We’ve got our soul mojo working today with Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Ronettes, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, The Drifters, Chuck Berry, Stevie Wonder, Carla Thomas, James Brown, Etta James, Curtis Mayfield, Sam Cooke, Edwin Starr, Sam & Dave, The Staple Singers, Nina Simone, Irma Thomas, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Ann Peebles, Al Green, Fontella Bass and more!

4:00 p.m. Emmylou Harris & Spyboy Live at Kongresshaus, Zurich, Switzerland, January 20, 1997

Since her touring days with The Hot Band, Emmylou Harris has had a knack for putting together amazing road bands. Spyboy was no exception. The band was formed for the tour supporting her career-redefining album, Wrecking Ball. Spyboy consisted of three members: country singer-songwriter Buddy Miller on guitar and New Orleans musicians Daryl Johnson on bass and Brady Blade on drums.

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

We’re back to soul tonight with a focus on The Supremes. It’s a great way to close out a soulful musical day.

Here we are again providing a respite in this tempest with great music 24/7. No charge. No tracking. No subscription required. We are all about the music. Come and go as you please. The button is below.

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It’s Tuesday With the ‘Ladies Sing The Blues’, Then It’s Live Paul Butterfield in Boston, and Bloomfield, Kooper and Stills Together On March 11, 2025

Good morning, blueologists, and welcome to another great Tuesday Bluesday here in The Lounge. We start off with five hours of uninterrupted blues from the ladies, then we move to vintage live Paul Butterfield and a great trio of blues-rock artists ‘in session.’

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Ladies Sing The Blues: Various Artist

From old to new, you’ll hear 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! This playlist is also scheduled for an update, so stay tuned!

4:00 p.m. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band Live at The Unicorn Coffee House, Boston, MA, Spring 1968

We’re not sure of the exact date, but we know it happened because it’s right here. This is an iconic band in another of those iconic Boston music venues that is no more. It’s a Wayback Machine event.

8:00 p.m. Mike Bloomfield, Al Kooper and Stephen Stills Recorded at CBS Columbia Square Studios, Los Angeles, CA, May 1968

Another Wayback Machine event that took place after Bloomfield and Kooper had finished working with Bob Dylan on his Highway 61 Revisited album, and after they played in the backing band for Dylan’s 1965 performance at the Newport Folk Festival where he used electric instruments for the first time and ruffled quite a few feathers in the folk music world. The result was an album that peaked at number 12 on the Billboard 200, where it remained for 37 weeks.

Blah. Blah. Blah. I could give you the usual closing, but I’m in a bit of a rush this morning. Back to the retail work week for me. The Music Mermaid is in charge until I return. The button is below.

Tuesday Bluesday!

Saturday We’ve Got Songs About Trains, Music From ‘The Queens’, and Marvin Gaye at Montreux, March 8, 2025

Welcome, weekenders! Today we begin celebrating International Women’s Month in earnest. We’re most definitely a DEI radio station. If you don’t celebrate the differences in the human race, like women or believe we’re all in this together, then this is not your venue!

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

10:00 a.m. Train Tracks: Various Artists

Today we start out with songs about trains and train travel, a very popular topic. You’ll hear from Steve Winwood, Guy Clark, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Rosanne Cash, Electric Light Orchestra, J. J. Cale, Chicken Shack, Nanci Griffith, Taj Mahal, Paul Butterfield, The Eagles, Paul Simon, Pete Seeger, Joni Mitchell, Mother Earth, Kim Weston, Little Feat and more!

4:00 p.m. Long Live The Queens: Various Artists

We’ve got Aretha Franklin (The Queen of Soul), Koko Taylor (The Queen of The Blues), Irma Thomas (The Soul Queen of New Orleans) and Linda Ronstadt (The Queen of Rock) this afternoon. We give the ladies plenty of shine all the time, but this is International Women’s Month and we’re giving them some extra.

8:00 p.m. Marvin Gaye Live at The Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux Casino, Montreux, Switzerland, July 17, 1980

We close out the day’s programming with the Prince of Soul this evening, live from the Montreux Jazz Festival.

We’re here 24/7 at no charge to our listeners. We don’t track you and we don’t allow the Elongated Muskrat to get into your personal shit. We’re anti-capitalist and anti-fascist. The button is below.

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