The Weekend Begins With The Sixties Rotation, Linda Ronstadt, and The Tedeschi Trucks Band, Saturday, March 30, 2024

Good morning, weekenders and welcome to The Mermaid Lounge where we give you our ‘Original Sixties Rotation’ to start, followed by Heart Like A Wheel, and closing with The Tedeschi Trucks Band.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Original Sixties Rotation: Various Artists

Nothing like The Sixties from a musical perspective, and we’ve got the early-to-mid portion of the decade this morning with The Beatles, The Monkees, Simon & Garfunkel, Sonny & Cher, The Everly Brothers, The Searchers, The Drifters, Dusty Springfield, The Dave Clark Five, Johnny Rivers, Bob Dylan, The Animals, Petula Clark, The Rolling Stones, Procol Harum, The Turtles, Del Shannon, The Temptations, James Brown, Fontella Bass, The Box Tops, Them, The Left Banke and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Heart Like A Wheel by Linda Ronstadt FINAL FINAL!

Today we not only say farewell to a brilliant album but also to our Album of The Week features, which has been in place for five years. Time to move on, but we will be featuring albums as part of our standard rotation.

8:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of The Tedeschi Trucks Band

What we have here is the best damned blues-rock and on the planet led by a brilliant blues singer in Susan Tedeschi, and the best blues-rock guitarist in the business in Derek Trucks.

The weekend is here, people and we are geared up for a great weekend of music as we make several programming changes. But there are things that never change: We never charge for our musical programming, and we don’t ask for your personal information. We’re all about the music, not making money.

We Head Toward The Weekend With Our House EP, Lucinda Williams & Linda Ronstadt, Thursday, March 28, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! Remember that great Heartbreakers song, It’s Raining Again? Well, it is here in Boston. But we’ve got our great House EP and a couple of amazing ladies to get us through today.

Here’s Thursday’s lineup:

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

All the music that inspired the station. You’ll hear Barry McGuire, The Temptations, Edwin Starr, Peter Tosh, The Beatles, 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, Plastic Ono Band, 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, Linda Ronstadt and more!

4:00 p.m. Lucinda Williams Live at The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA, November 20-22, 2003

We’ve got a live one from the woman whom Tom Petty called one of the greatest songwriters ever, and he should know because he’s one as well. This one is live from the fabled Fillmore.

7:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Heart Like A Wheel by Linda Ronstadt

We’re winding down on this magical album and on the AOW feature itself. The final performance will be sometime on Saturday.

We’re here rain or shine, folks, playing the greatest music on planet earth at no charge and with no commercial advertising to break up the flow. We’re streaming and dreaming.

We’re at Midweek With ‘Ladies Day Out,’ Badfinger, and Derek & The Dominos, Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! Today we start out with the women of music in charge, then move on to ‘live’ Badfinger at The BBC and Derek & The Dominos at The Fillmore.

Here’s your midweek lineup:

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

It’s a little bit country, jazz, rock n’ roll, folk, soul and everything in between with Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon, Emmylou Harris, Petula Clark, Laura Nyro, Cilla Black, Irma Thomas, Aretha Franklin, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Etta James, Janis Joplin, Carole King, Maria Muldaur, Lucinda Williams, Rosanne Cash, Eva Cassidy, Wendy Waldman, Shawn Colvin, The Ronettes, The Supremes, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Norah Jones, Phoebe Snow, Nicolette Larson, Sheryl Crow, Susan Tedeschi, Valerie Carter, Dolly Parton and more!

4:00 p.m. Badfinger Live at The Paris Theatre, London, UK, June 8, 1972 and August 8, 1973

Badfinger recorded two seven-song sets for broadcast on The BBC within months of each other. The set lists avoided their big hits, with the exception of Come And Get It, written by Sir Paul McCartney.

8:00 p.m. Derek & The Dominos Live at The Fillmore East, New York, November 23, 1970

We close out the programming with a live performance in New York by Derek & The Dominos.

After today, everything is on the downslide to the weekend once again. Keep your chins up. We’re right here playing the best music on the planet for you 24/7 free of charge and with no commercial interruption.

It’s Tuesday Bluesday and Our Big, Bad Blues EP, Ronstadt’s AOW and ‘Live’ Paul Butterfield BB in Boston, March 26, 2024

Good morning, bluesologists and welcome to another Tuesday Bluesday. We kick things off with our biggest, baddest blues playlist and close it with some ‘live’ Paul Butterfield.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blues: Various Artists

This is our big one that encompasses all of the blues. You’ll hear Delbert McClinton, Robert Johnson, 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, James Cotton, Koko Taylor, Marcia Ball, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Susan Tedeschi, Roomful of Blues, Howlin’ Wolf, Tracy Nelson, Linda Ronstadt and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Heart Like A Wheel by Linda Ronstadt

Ronstadt takes her second spin as our final AOW artist with her 1974 masterpiece as we celebrate it’s 50th anniversary.

7:00 p.m. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band Live at The Unicorn Coffee House, Boston, MA, May 1966

We hop into the Wayback Machine for this live performance from an iconic Boston location. We had so many great musical venues here in Boston back in the day playing all kinds of diverse music. This was one of them.

Tuesday Bluesday is always a busy day here in The Mermaid Lounge, but there’s plenty of room left for you. All you need to do is hit the button below, folks!

It’s Monday and We’ve Got Linda Ronstadt, The Flying Burrito Brothers and a CCR Spotlight Later, March 25, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We are on a roll here with a bit of a new approach. We’ve got a lot of music already in our arsenal and we’re adding new live ‘gigs’ and Spotlights.

Here’s Monday’s music:

10:00 a.m. Linda Ronstadt Live at Television Center Studios, Hollywood, CA, April 24, 1980

Another great live performance by the undisputed Queen of Rock (sorry, Taylor). This was recorded at a time when Ronstadt was at the peak of her reign as America’s most popular singer.

3:00 p.m. The Flying Burrito Brothers Live at My Father’s Place, Roslyn, Long Island, NY, November 28, 1976

One of the pioneering bands of the country-rock genre whose members were ever present in the Laurel Canyon scene. Today they are live from an iconic venue.

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Creedence Clearwater Revival

In 1969 alone, Creedence released 3 albums, had 4 hit US singles, performed on the Ed Sullivan show twice, toured the US and headlined the Woodstock Festival. They went on to become one of the most successful bands of its generation and the music has stood the test of time.

It’s supposed to be sunny here today, but as I look at my weather app, it ends there. Today will be followed by four days of rain. Nobody will convince me that the weather in the Boston area isn’t changing. Virtually no snow three years running, but plenty of rain. But I digress. Tune us in. We’re on 24/7. We’re totally free. And there’s no commercial advertising.

Linda Ronstadt’s Final AOW, ‘Folk Music From A-to-Z’ and a Jimmy Cliff Spotlight on Sunday, March 24, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! It’s Sunday in The Lounge and we have our final AOW in the series today, along with our ‘Folk Music From A-to-Z’ EP and Jimmy Cliff later.

Here are your Sunday Funday programs:

This album was one of the very first we featured back in 2019, and it’s our final AOW as we’ll be using the slot for other programming. This album turns 50 this year, and it stands the test of time. Ronstadt’s fifth studio album was her final for Capitol Records and the album that finally put her on the map. There was no turning back. The rest is music history.

12:00 p.m. Folk Music From A-To-Z: Various Artists

I remember the great folk music revival of the sixties, much centered around the Greenwich Village area. However, folk has a long history and was the catalyst for protest music. You’ll hear Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, John Prine, Dave Van Ronk, Odetta, Yusuf/Cat Stevens, Bruce Springsteen, The Beatles, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Arlo Guthrie, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, The Band, Eric Andersen, Tom Rush, Judy Collins, Nanci Griffith, Jesse Winchester, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Lead Belly, Tim Hardin, The Kingston Trio, Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor, Phil Ochs, Townes Van Zandt, The Carter Family, Neil Young and more!

8:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Jimmy Cliff

Jimmy Cliff is a reggae, ska, rocksteady, soul singer, musician and multi-instrumentalist. He is the only living reggae musician to hold the Order of Merit, the highest honor that can be granted by the Jamaican government for achievements in the arts and sciences. Tonight we have him In the Spotlight.

It’s Friday With ‘Live’ Steely Dan, ‘Everybody But Bob’ and Our ‘Train Tracks’ Multi-Artist Playlist, March 22, 2024

Good morning and welcome to the end of the work week! We’ve got some early ‘live’ Steely Dan and two outstanding multi-artist playlists for you today.

Here’s your Friday playlists:

This live in-studio concert was part of a promotion run by ABC Dunhill Records around the release of Countdown To Ecstasy and the hits that were spawned by that album. It was broadcast live over now-defunct (sadly) rock station KMET.

3:00 p.m. Everybody But Bob: Bob Dylan Cover Songs

It should come as no surprise that the man who won a Nobel Prize for Literature for his songwriting would boast an impressive lists of artists who have covered his songs. You’ll hear Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, George Harrison, Linda Ronstadt, Joan Baez, Chrissie Hynde, Tracy Nelson, The Band, Johnny Winter, Shawn Colvin, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Fairport Convention, The Byrds, Hot Tuna and more.

8:00 p.m. Train Tracks: Various Artists

We close out the programming with a playlist of songs about trains, runaway and otherwise, with Steve Winwood, the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, New Riders of The Purple Sage, the Doobie Brothers, J.J. Cale, Chicken Shack, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Rosanne Cash, Allen Toussaint, The Eagles, Paul Simon, The Guess Who, Lucinda Williams, Guy Clark, Joni Mitchell and more!

Monday, Monday Brings More Cowbell, Joni Mitchell and Warren Zevon To the Mermaid Lounge, March 18, 2024

Good morning, music lovers. Yes, the work week has returned, but it’s not all bad. We’ve got some great stuff going on in The Lounge today. So, tune us in if you can!

Here’s your Monday lineup:

10:00 a.m. More Cowbell, Please: Various Artists

Bet you never knew there were so many songs with cowbell. We’ve got just over three hours today with The Beatles (the best cowbell ever on “I Call Your Name”), The Alan Parson’s Project, Argent, Aretha Franklin, CSNY, Edgar Winter, The Eagles, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Electric Light Orchestra, Harry Nilsson, the J. Geils Band, Joe Walsh, The Move, Linda Ronstadt, Journey, The Pretenders, Steely Dan, The Move, Little Feat, Creedence Clearwater Revival and more.

4:00 p.m. Joni Mitchell Live at Red Rocks Amphitheater, Morrison, CO, July 30, 1983

Nothing like a little ‘live’ Joni Mitchell in the afternoon, that’s what I always say. Today she’s live from the amazing natural surroundings of Red Rocks.

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Warren Zevon

We haven’t aired this one in a while, so it’s time to break it out. Although a troubled soul through most of his life, he was a brilliant songwriter with a rich rock and roll voice.

This is the first day of the work week, and a good day to lock your office doors and tune in the music. I say ease yourself back into reality rather than jolt yourself. We’re waiting for you.

Sunday We’re In the Lounge With Little Feat, The Stones and Our ‘Ode To Morning’ EP, March 17, 2024

Good morning, music lovers and welcome back to The Mermaid Lounge where we celebrate the 50th anniversary of another great album, among other things.

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

Another album celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and one of the finest albums ever made indeed. Little Feat has carried on admirably since the death of Lowell George, but there is nothing like Little Feat with Lowell George.

1:00 p.m. Ode To Morning: Various Artists

Yeah. I know. We’re playing this EP in the afternoon, but rules were made to be broken and we break plenty here in The Mermaid Lounge. You’ll hear Yusuf/Cat Stevens, Hoyt Axton, The Beatles, Neil Young, The Rascals, Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez, James Taylor, Gram Parsons, Simon & Garfunkel, Taj Mahal, Dan Fogelberg, Linda Ronstadt, Harry Chapin, Three Dog Night, Ry Cooder, Tim Buckley, Muddy Waters, Jonathan Edwards, Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, Pure Prairie League, Badfinger, Chris Hillman and more!

8:00 p.m. The Rolling Stones Live at The Fonda Theatre, Hollywood, CA, May 20, 2015

On this date, the Stones played a surprise concert at this intimate venue that holds about 1,300 people. They played a 16-song set, including all 10 songs from Sticky Fingers. We have it for you tonight.

The “Court & Spark” Finale, A Trip to Laurel Canyon, and ‘Live’ Heartbreakers on Saturday, March 16, 2024

Good morning, weekenders! We have made it to Saturday once again, and we’ve got some great stuff on tap, including The Heartbreakers 30th Anniversary Tour from Gainsville.

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Court & Spark by Joni Mitchell FINAL AIRING!

Today we give you the final airing of this unbelievably amazing album, one of the best albums of all time, as we continue on the 50th anniversary roundup.

12:00 p.m. Music From Laurel Canyon: Various Artists

We’ve got an update on tap for this great playlist that covers two generations of musicians who lived and made music together in Laurel Canyon. It was the cross-fertilization of styles that helped usher in country-rock. You’ll hear The Byrds, The Mamas & The Papas, The Doors, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, The Monkees, CSNY, Manassas, John Mayall, The Eagles, J.D. Souther, Harry Nilsson, Canned Heat, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, James Taylor, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band and more!

8:00 p.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live From the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, FL, September 21, 2006

The photo on this post is from an earlier timeframe, but the energy The Heartbreakers brought to their live performances never changed over their amazing 40-year run. This would be the band’s 30th Anniversary Tour from their hometown, and it was a beauty.

Wake up and tune us in. We’re on 24/7; not just when we have programming. We’re continually circulating 27,000 songs daily. You never know what’s coming next, and that’s what we really like about radio. Those were the days. We didn’t have custom playlists, Spotify, or whatever else pay-for-play hell is out there. We had our transistor radios and endless summer days waiting for the next song to cue up.