We Open Festival Week With the Sounds of the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, Then It’s Otis Redding and Janis Joplin, on Monday, Monday, April 5, 2025

Good morning, musicologists! Festival Week is here and we’re opening up with the sounds of the Monterey International Pop Festival from 1967, the Summer of Love no matter how many people tell you it was 1969. It was not. It was ’67, and there are no alternative facts on that.

Here’s your Monday musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Monterey International Pop Festival, Monterey County Fairgrounds, Monterey, CA, June 16-18, 1967

The sounds of the Summer of Love abound here. This was the precursor to the big festival to beat all, Woodstock. The diversity of music and artists that flooded Monterey was astounding as you will see. We’ve got five hours of uninterrupted Monterey Pop music. This repeats beginning at 11:00 p.m. tonight!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Otis Redding

Otis Redding was introduced to the world at Monterey Pop. He hadn’t even released his first song yet. Sadly, he would never get to enjoy the legendary place in music history that he would eventually achieve. His chartered plane, which also carried his back-up band, The Bar-Kays, crashed into Lake Monona while on his way to another performance in December of that year killing all on board. All of Redding’s hits were posthumous, but his gritty voice and his songwriting made him one of the legends of soul and R & B.

8:00 p.m. Janis Joplin Live at The Fillmore East, New York, NY, February 12, 1969

Janis Joplin established herself solidified her position as one of the stars of the sixties at Monterey in 1967. Tonight we close out the programming with a great Fillmore performance. Sadly, Janis too would be gone by 1970, a member of musical folklore’s 27 Club.

We’re just getting started. All week long we’ll be featuring the sounds of some of the greatest music festivals and the artists who made them great. Don’t miss a minute. We’ll also be replaying the festival music in the late night hours for our international friends. The button is below!

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!

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.

It’s Sunday Funday With ‘Color My World’, a Richard & Mimi Farina ‘Spotlight’ Feature, and Live Joan Baez, on April 27, 2025

Welcome to Sunday Funday here in The Mermaid Lounge and we are bringing in some new folk music for the resistance along with the ‘Color My World’ EP and live Joan Baez.

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

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

We open with five hours of songs about all colors of the spectrum with music from James Taylor, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Donovan, Booker T & The MGs, Procol Harum, Electric Light Orchestra, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell, John Hiatt, J.D. Souther, The Who, Sam & Dave, Bob Dylan, Amy Winehouse, Badfinger, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Elvis Costello, Neil Young, Jefferson Airplane, The Hollies, Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Cream, Marvin Gaye, Lucinda Williams and more!

Not a lot of music, but some of the most inspiring music ever made. Richard Farina tragically died at the age of 29, never realizing his full genius potential. They were a fixture in the Boston-Cambridge (Massachusetts) folk scene, gracing the stage at Club 47, the Unicorn Coffee House, and other iconic venues. They appeared at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, and collaborated with some of the best, including Joan Baez. Today, we put them in the spotlight where they belong as part of our growing ‘protest music’ focus.

8:00 p.m. Joan Baez: Live in 1962

We close out the day with the great Joan Baez, no stranger to songs about social justice, recorded live at several venues during 1962 at the very beginning of a long and brilliant musical career.

We are committed to music, and we are committed to free music with no commercial avertising. We are also committed to meeting the moment and raising our voices through song. We vowed never to involve politics, but where we are is not a question of politics. It’s right vs. wrong. Truth vs. lies. We must all stand and deliver in some way. This is our way. The button is below.

On Tuesday Bluesday It’s ‘Ladies Sing the Blues’, Live Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and a Rory Block ‘Spotlight’, April 15, 2025

Good morning, bluesologists and welcome to another Tuesday Bluesday. We’ve got a full plate of great blues programming and we start with The Mermaid Lounge in the care of the blues women.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

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

Five hours of the legendary blues women and those who keep it alive with 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. The Paul Butterfieid Blues Band Live at The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA, October 14, 1966

We’re headed for the Wayback Machine with this performance from The Fillmore, a legendary blues band in a legendary venue!

8:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Rory Block

We close out the programming in style with a Rory Block ‘Spotlight’ featuring music over her long six-decade career.

Remember, before, in betwee and after our programming, we give you our big, wide Open Stream of more than 27,000 songs. It’s hard to find a repeat in a week, let alone a day. The button is below!

On Sunday, We’ve Got ‘Travelin’ Fever’, Live Maria Muldaur, and a John David Souther ‘Spotlight’ Feature, April 6, 2025

Welcome to Sunday Funday here in The Mermaid Lounge and we’ve got a fine selection today. We start with songs about being on the road, then it’s a live performance by Maria Muldaur and a J.D. Souther ‘Spotlight’ to get us through.

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Travelin’ Fever: Various Artists

More open stream with a theme from Canned Heat, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Dan Fogelberg, Bruce Springsteen, Linda Ronstadt, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Paul McCartney & Wings, The Eagles, Little Feat, The Band, Willie Nelson, Edwin Starr, Janis Joplin, Guy Clark, The Byrds, Asleep at The Wheel, Mudcrutch, The Travelin’ Wilburys, Tom Rush, Buffalo Springfield, The Guess Who and more!

4:00 p.m. Maria Muldaur Live at Ebbets Field, Denver, CO, January 30, 1974

This afternoon we’ve got a rare Maria Muldaur live performance from Ebbets Field!

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of John David Souther

J.D. Souther was a master of the singer-songwriter craft whose songs were covered by so many great artists, including Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, The Eagles, and James Taylor. He was also a pretty damned great singer himself. Tonight he’s our ‘Spotlight’ artist.

Today we’re off the streets and back in The Lounge for some rest and relaxation. But we’ll be out there again and again…whatever it takes. Enjoy your musical journey here today. We’re always free of charge and free of advertising. We’re all about the music, as you will see for yourselves. The button is below.

On Saturday It’s ‘Ladies Day Out’, A Booker T & The MGs ‘Spotlight’, and Live Kris Kristofferson at the Moody, March 29, 2025

Good morning, musicologists, and we continue celebrating Women’s Month with our ‘Ladies Day Out’ EP, then it’s a great ‘Spotlight’ featuring Booker T & The MGs, and Kris Kristofferson live at Austin City Limits.

Here’s your Saturday musical lineup:

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

The women of music are large and in charge for five hours. We’re featuring songs from 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, Norah Jones, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Phoebe Snow, Susan Tedeschi, Nicolette Larson, Sheryl Crown, Valerie Carter, Dolly Parton, Dusty Springfield, Ann Peebles and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Booker T & The MGs

The original Stax house band broke out to become one of the most influential instrumental R & B and funk bands in music. They helped to establish the Souther and Memphis soul genres. Today we put them ‘In The Spotlight’.

8:00 p.m. Kris Kristofferson Live at The Moody Theater, Austin, TX, September 14, 1981

We close out the programming with the late, great Kris Kristofferson recorded live at The Moody Theater for Austin City Limits.

We’ve made it to another weekend. The Orange Shitstain usually golfs, so things seem to quiet down so that we can rejuvenate ourselves before the next onslaught. This is a great place to be. Join us. The button is below.

On Thursday It’s the ‘Color My World’ EP, a Bob Marley & The Wailers ‘Spotlight’, and Norah Jones at the HOB, March 27, 2025

Good morning, musicologists. We’re over the hump and on the downslide to the weekend with a great lineup of programming dispersed in our big, wide Open Stream!

Here’s your musical lineup:

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

We start off with Open Stream with a theme: All the colors of the rainbow. You’ll hear The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, James Taylor, Donovan, Booker T. & The MGs, Procol Harum, Electric Light Orchestra, 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, Linda Ronstadt, J.D. Souther and more!

4:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Bob Marley & The Wailers

The Legend himself and his bandmates stop by The Mermaid Lounge this afternoon to show us why they were a groundbreaking reggae, ska and rocksteady band.

8:00 p.m. Norah Jones Live at The House of Blues, Chicago, IL, August 24, 2002

We close the programming with a great live performance from the one and only Norah Jones, who also happens to be the daughter of the great Ravi Shankar.

Another day in paradise awaits. We’re almost to the weekend, when things settle down a bit…but just a bit. We’re never out of the shadow of The Orange Menace here. But music can help restore a bit of sanity in these trying times. The button is below.

Monday Delivers Our ’27 and Gone’ Playlist, a Rickie Lee Jones ‘Spotlight’, and Chicago Live at Tanglewood, March 24, 2025

It’s Monday, Monday again and we’ve got our playlist from the members of the ’27 Club,’ followed by Rickie Lee Jones ‘In The Spotlight’ and live Chicago.

Here’s your Monday, Monday programming:

10:00 a.m. 27 and Gone: Various Artists

Songs from members of the ’27 Club’, those musicians who died who died in their 27th year. You’ll hear Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Badfinger (Pete Ham), Canned Heat (Al Wilson), Amy Winehouse, The Rolling Stones (Brian Jones), The Grateful Dead (Ron “Pigpen” McKernan), Robert Johnson, Spanky & Our Gang (Malcolm Hale) and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Rickie Lee Jones

One great singer-songwriter whose career has spanned five decades and many genres, including rock, R & B, pop, soul and jazz.

8:00 p.m. Chicago Live at Tanglewood Music Center, Lenox, MA, July 21, 1970

I was at this performance. It was and still is a truly amazing outdoor setting and this was a great show. Enjoy.

Here we are again at the beginning of another work week with more uncertainty in the air because The Orange Buffoon is back from Mar-A-Lago. I try not to be political, but these are not ordinary times and none of us can keep our mouths shut. We’re anti-capitalist and we don’t charge any money. We’re here 24/7. And we don’t track you. The button is below.

Thursday It’s Songs About Water, Blood, Sweat & Tears ‘In the Spotlight’, and The All-Girl Revue, March 13, 2025

Good morning, music lovers! Today we open with songs about water which, of course, makes The Music Mermaid happy. Then it’s ;pioneering band B,S&T and volume four of the All-Girl Revue!

Here’s Thursday’s musical lineup:

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

Water takes many forms, and the earth is 71% water, so there are plenty of songs about it in all its forms. You’ll hear Paul McCartney, Deep Purple, Joe Cocker, Simon & Garfunkel, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Otis 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, Bonnie Raitt, Carole King, The Grass Roots, Tom Rush, Donovan, America, Johnny Rivers, Van Morrison, The Beach Boys and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Blood, Sweat & Tears

This band had two lives, thankfully, one under the great Al Kooper and another under David Clayton Thomas. Regardless who their leader was, they were a groundbreaking jazz-rock band and a great one at that.

8:00 p.m. The All-Girl Revue, Volume Four: Various Artists

Our celebration of Women’s Month continues with Carly Simon, Nicolette Larson, Joni Mitchell, Shawn Colvin, Carole King, Rosanne Cash, Linda Ronstadt, Lucinda Williams, Janis Joplin, Martha & The Vandellas, Emmylou Harris, Stevie Nicks, Valerie Carter and more!

Don’t make me say it over and over again. Just tune us in. You’ll see for yourself why this should be a routine for you…especially during these trying times. The button is below.

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.