Tag: Ray Charles

Saturday It’s Back To The Roots With ‘The Founders’ EP, Dylan, and The Supremes In The Spotlight, February 10, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! We jump into the Wayback Machine this morning and take a trip back to those who made all of this possible; the artists who inspired the music that inspired us. Got that?

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m.  The Founders: Various Artists

This is our newest EP, introduced for the first time on New Year’s Eve 2023. You will hear Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner, Hank Williams, Bill Haley & His Comets, Ray Charles, The Drifters, Roy Orbison, Robert Johnson, Carl Perkins, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters and more!

4:00 p.m.  Album of The Week: Planet Waves by Bob Dylan FINAL AIRING!

Another of our 50th birthday albums takes its final spin today. Tomorrow we’ll have a new birthday disc.

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

The Supremes were originally founded as The Primettes back in the early 60’s. They would eventually become one of the artists that would help put Motown on the map. Tonight we put them In the Spotlight.

Just think…while I’m laboring away in retail hell, you could be listening to some great music! Today in the Boston area, we’re on track to break temperature records at 59 degrees…in February. Unheard of. Then, according to the weather wonks, it’s a snowstorm on Monday night. I am now leery of such predictions. Nope. But I digress. Join us.

Saturday In the Lounge!

Today We’ve Got ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul’, Al Green’s Final Spin, and an Emmylou Harris Spotlight, Friday, January 19, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! Hope all is well where you are and that you’re ready for another day in The Mermaid Lounge where the attitude is easy and the music is fine.

Here’s your musical lineup:

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

Soul from all over the spectrum with Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Ronettes, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Jimmy Ruffin, 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, The Supremes, Sam Cooke, Edwin Starr, Fontella Bass, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Irma Thomas, The Box Tops, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Eddie Floyd, Percy Sledge, Wanda Jackson, Ann Peebles, Al Green and more.

4:00 p.m.  Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Al Green FINAL AIRING!

Speaking of the great Al Green, he takes his final spin today as our featured singer-songwriter. On Monday, we will have a brand new artist.

8:00 p.m.  In the Spotlight: The Music of Emmylou Harris

I was not a real country fan until I heard Linda Ronstadt. And it was Linda Ronstadt’s music that helped introduced me to Emmylou Harris. I heard Elite Hotel and I was hooked, and have been ever since. Emmylou Harris has deservedly won nearly every music accolade humanly possible. She helped continue to shape country music, while refusing to allow it to define her singing. Tonight she’s our Spotlight artist.

Yes, it’s Friday once again. We’ve nearly made it to the weekend. And what better way to get over the final line than right here with great music at absolutely no charge to anyone and with absolutely no commercial interruption?

A Little Bit O’ Soul

It’s ‘The Best of Louisiana Blues’ EP, Our AOW, and ‘Live’ Paul Butterfield Blues Band on Tuesday Bluesday, January 16, 2024

Welcome to Tuesday Bluesday here in The Lounge where we begin our musical journey down in Louisiana and close it out at The Fillmore.

Here’s your musical lineup:

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

There are two main reasons to go to Louisiana. One is the food. The other is music. Today you’ll hear Ray Charles, Lillian Glinn, Slim Harpo, Ray 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, Dave Bartholomew, Marcia Ball, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Professor Longhair, The Neville Brothers, Irma Thomas and more.

4:00 p.m.  Album of The Week: Jesus Was A Capricorn by Kris Kristofferson

Kris Kristofferson is back for his second spin with the Album of The Week.

7:00 p.m.  Paul Butterfield Blues Band Live at The Fillmore, San Francisco, October 14, 1966

We’ve got one of the greatest live from the fabled Fillmore West to close out our Tuesday Bluesday programming today.

Tuesday Bluesday is always a big day in The Lounge, and it will not cost you one cent to be part of it. In fact, we’re totally free 24/7 and we never run commercial advertising. What’s not to love?

Tuesday Bluesday!

The Week’s End Brings ‘The Founders’, Kris Kristofferson’s Swan Song, and Live Joni Mitchell & JT, Friday, January 12, 2024

Good morning, budding weekenders! We’ve made it to another Friday, and we’ve got some great music lined up to get you to the first day of the weekend!

Here’s your Friday lineup:

9:00 a.m.  The Founders: Various Artists

We start where it all started with Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner, Hank Williams, Bill Haley & His Comets, Ray Charles, The Drifters, Roy Orbison, Robert Johnson, Carl Perkins, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters and more!

4:00 p.m.  Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Kris Kristofferson FINAL AIRING!

We bid a fond farewell to Kris Kristofferson this afternoon as our featured singer-songwriter but, rest assured, he is in our standard rotation and we have some live music coming up in 2024.

8:00 p.m.  Joni Mitchell & James Taylor Live at The Paris Theatre, London, UK, October 29, 1970 NEW!

We are really pleased to add this brilliant performance to our scheduled rotation in 2024. We know you’ll like it as well.

Before, in between and after our scheduled programming, we give you that big, wide Open Stream at the whim of The Music Mermaid. Did I mention that we are totally free of charge and accept no commercial advertising?

The Founders!

The Final Day of 2023 Brings “Bloodshot” by J. Geils and Our New ‘Founders’ Playlist, December 31, 2023

Good morning, musicologists! We have not one, but two, new bits of programming for you on this simple Sunday, our last day of 2023, including our long-awaited ‘Founders’ playlist!

Here’s your musical journey:

11:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Bloodshot by The J. Geils Band NEW!

The band’s third studio album is the one that put them on the map, released on April 12, 1973. It includes their single release, Give It To Me. And no matter what anyone from Boston tells you, these are Boston’s original bad boys.

3:00 p.m.  The Founders: Various Artists NEW!

We finally found time to get this one done, paying homage to all of those who contributed to the birth of rock and roll: Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner, Hank Williams, Bill Haley & The Comets, Ray Charles, The Drifters, Roy Orbison, Robert Johnson, Eddie Cochran, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters.

It’s a great day to tune us in as we celebrate the end of 2023 and move into a brand new year with a tribute to those who helped get us here. Not to be missed!

The Founders Are Here!

Volume Two of The Sixties, Hank Williams and ‘Live’ Little Feat Are in the Plan for Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Yes, music lovers, we’re motoring toward our sixth year playing tunes her in The Mermaid Lounge, and we are going out in style.

Here’s your midweek musical lineup:

9:00 a.m.  The Sixties Rotation, Volume Two: Various Artists

The sixties are back for another round, this time covering the mid-to-late part of the decade with The Mamas & The Papas, Simon & Garfunkel, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead, Buffalo Springfield, Sly & The Family Stone, The Temptations, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Roy Orbison, The Yardbirds, The Animals, Linda Ronstadt, The Byrds, Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, Blind Faith, The Spencer Davis Group, James Brown, Elvis Presley, The Box Tops, The Beatles, Marvin Gaye, B.B. King, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Wilson Pickett, Bob Dylan, The Band, Judy Collins, The Ronettes, The Kinks, Creedence Clearwater Revival and more!

4:00 p.m.  Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Hank Williams

The late, great Hank Williams is back for his second airing as our featured singer-songwriter.

8:00 p.m.  Little Feat Live at Ultrasonic Studios, Hempstead, New York, April 10, 1973

Nothing like a live performance by Little Feat. I saw them for the first time at Harvard Square Theater when they opened for Jerry Jeff Walker. Have loved them ever since, but there is nothing like the Lowell George version of the band. Some artists just cannot be replaced.

We’re at midweek and we’re cooking with gas. Get on board. The music’s free; no credit card required; no personal information requested. And we’re not tracking you because we’re not selling you anything. Our music is uninterrupted by commercial advertising.

Midweek Madness!

It’s Simply Sunday With Carlene Carter’s AOW and Our ‘A Little Bit O’Soul’ Multi-Artist EP, December 17, 2023

Good morning, music lovers! We’re here on another lighter-than-usual programming day with plenty of our great wide Open Stream. We kick things off with June Carter’s daughter and Johnny Cash’s stepdaughter, Carlene Carter.

Here’s your musical lineup:

11:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Two Sides To Every Woman by Carlene Carter NEW!

Carlene Carter boasts the lineage of The Carter Family. She’s the daughter of June Carter and her first husband, the stepdaughter of Johnny Cash, and the stepsister of country great Rosanne Cash. She’s had a rough-and-tumble life with multiple failed relationships (including a marriage to Nick Lowe, and a long-standing relationship with late, great Heartbreaker Howie Epstein), and plenty of drug offenses, but she has made some supremely good music over the years. Much of her early stuff, like this album, has been overlooked and we hope to change that here.

3:00 p.m.  A Little Bit O’ Soul: Various Artists

We’re back with our big, bad soul and rhythm & blues EP with music from Motown to Muscle Shoals to Atlantic and beyond. You’ll hear Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Ronettes, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Jimmy Ruffin, 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, The Supremes, Sam Cooke, Edwin Starr, Fontella Bass, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Irma Thomas, The Box Tops, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Percy Sledge and more!

We’re preparing to go out with a bang here in 2023 and open up a brand new year with some new music and some new ideas. Stick around. We’ll remain free of charge and free of advertising. We’re all about the music.

It’s Simply Sunday.

It’s Simply Sunday Here and Maria Muldaur Owns Our AOW and ‘Travelin’ Fever’ is the EP, Then It’s Open Stream on December 3, 2023

Good morning, weekenders! We’ve got another simple Sunday on tap here in The Mermaid Lounge with light programming and plenty of wide Open Stream.

Here’s your musical lineup:

11:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Richland Woman Blues by Maria Muldaur NEW!

Maria Muldaur is undoubtedly one of the most underappreciated singers of her generation, hanging out with her peers Linda Ronstadt and Bonnie Raitt, among others. They knew who to tap for background and harmony vocals, and vice versa. On this release, she works with some of the best, including Bonnie Raitt, John Sebastian (founder of The Lovin’ Spoonful), Taj Mahal, and fellow blues singers Angela Strehli and Tracy Nelson.

3:00 p.m. Travelin’ Fever: Various Artists

We’re back on the road with some of our musical friends, including Canned Heat, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, the Steve Miller Band, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Dan Fogelberg, Bruce Springsteen, Linda Ronstadt, Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney & Wings, The Doors, The Eagles, Little Feat, The Band, Willie Nelson, Edwin Starr, Janis Joplin, Guy Clark, The Byrds, Joan Baez, Asleep at The Wheel, The Traveling Wilburys, Mudcrutch, Loggins & Messina, Buffalo Springfield, Tom Rush, The Guess Who, Ray Charles, the Marshall Tucker Band, The Beatles, Bob Dylan and more!

It’s the official day of rest here on planet earth, so take some time off and open your ears to the music. Turn off that football game and those softball political football, like Meet the Press, and sink your teeth into the music.

Travelin’ Fever!

It’s Tuesday Bluesday With the Louisiana Blues EP and ‘Live’ Tedeschi Trucks Later. In Between, It’s Dolly! November 21, 2023

Good morning, blues lovers! We’ve got our multi-artist Louisiana blues EP and the Tedeschi Trucks Band up later. In between, Dolly’s Rockstar airs.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

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

We kick off the blues programming with blues on the bayou! You’ll hear from Ray Charles, Lillian Glinn, Slim Harpo, Ray 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, Dave Bartholomew, Marcia Ball, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Professor Longhair, Irma Thomas, The Neville Brothers and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Rockstar by Dolly Parton

Dolly drops by for a second airing of her rock release, Rockstar, our Album of The Week.

8:00 p.m. The Tedeschi Trucks Band Live at The Orpheum, Madison, WI, March 18, 2015

Let’s fast-forward to one of the greatest blues-rock bands on the planet today. Led by Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, this is one of the most amazing blues bands on the planet.

Join us. It’s Tuesday Bluesday, always a big draw in The Mermaid Lounge. We’re on a short work week, and we have great music to be thankful for. Screw the pilgrims; they were a nasty lot.

Tuesday Bluesday!

It’s Midweek With Our Big, Bad Soul EP, Some Dr. John and Jakob Dylan In The Spotlight, Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Good morning, musicologists! We’re on a soul music path to start out our day, then it’s Dr. John as our featured singer-songwriter, and Jakob Dylan In the Spotlight later.

Here’s your musical lineup at midweek:

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

It’s not just Motown. It’s also the artists of Stax, Atlantic, Muscle Shoals and beyond. You’ll hear Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Ronettes, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Jimmy Ruffin, 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, The Supremes, Sam Cooke, Edwin Starr, Fontella Bass, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Irma Thomas, The Box Tops, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Eddie Floyd, Percy Sledge, The Ad Libs, Joe Tex, Wanda Jackson, Ann Peebles, Al Green and more!

4:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Dr. John

The good Doctor returns this afternoon for his second spin as our featured singer-songwriter for the week.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: Jakob Dylan In the Spotlight

We’ve not aired this one in a while, but Bob’s boy is a bit of a chip off the old block. We like him here in The Lounge. Tonight we give you his music with and without The Wallflowers.

What could be better than starting off your day with the music that made America dance? It’s Hitsville, U.S.A. and beyond. We’re on 24/7 with no commercial interruption, and at no cost to you. Just do it.

A Little Bit O’ Soul