Thursday It’s Our ‘Here Comes The Night’ EP, Then Our AOW and ‘Live’ Dylan & The Heartbreakers, December 14, 2023

Today brings the downslide to the weekend and we start the morning with songs about the night time, then it’s on to The Boogaloo Swamis and Dylan’s True Confessions tour with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers!

Here’s your Thursday lineup:

9:00 a.m.  Here Comes The Night: Various Artists

We start the morning with songs about the night from Warren Zevon, J. Geils Band, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Them, The Beatles, Van Morrison, Patti Smith, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bruce Springsteen, The Kinks, Electric Prunes, The Ronettes, John Cougar Mellencamp, The Doors, Emmylou Harris, Poco, Neil Diamond, The Animals, The Band, The Rolling Stones, Steve Winwood, Don McLean, Cat Stevens, The Traveling Wilburys, Sam Cooke, Jimmy Cliff, Bonnie Raitt and more!

4:00 p.m.  Album of The Week: Down At The Roadhouse by The Boogaloo Swamis

The Swamis are back with their great brand of Cajun-Zydeco music. This band is a serendipitous find from the days of my youth.

7:00 p.m.  Bob Dylan with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live at The Cal Expo Amphitheater, Sacramento, CA, June 12, 1986

Perhaps this was a little bit of a foreshadowing of things to come with The Traveling Wilburys here. Two brilliant musical entities on the road together on Dylan’s True Confessions Tour. Tonight we’re airing the Sacramento show.

Here we are again in The Mermaid Lounge as I prepare to turn the reigns over to The Music Mermaid. She will keep the boat afloat!

Welcome to Monday, Monday With The Beatles, David Crosby and Our ‘Out In The Cold’ Playlist, December 11, 2023

Good morning, workers! We’ve got a great day lined up for you musically starting with one of our House Bands known as The Beatles.

Here’s your musical lineup:

A listener suggested we expand our Beatles horizon with some new playlists, so we’re doing just that. Today we kick one off with Beatle songs with Mr. Lennon playing all kinds of keys, like piano, electric piano, harpsichord, Hammond organ and any other kind of keyboard instrument you might find.

3:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of David Crosby

Haven’t cued this one up in a bit, so we’ve got it lined up for mid-afternoon. Personality conflicts abound in musical groups, and CSNY was no exception. Yet they managed to leave us an incredible body of music, and David Crosby was an influence for more than half a century as a solo artist, with CSNY and as a founding member of The Byrds.

7:00 p.m. Out In The Cold: Various Artists

Not an EP, but a great playlist about the weather with Bob Dylan, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Marshall Tucker Band, Bill Withers, The Beatles, The Doors, Joni Mitchell, Dr. John, Martha & The Vandellas and more!

Our Simple Sunday Fare Includes The Boogaloo Swamis With Our AOW and the ‘Color My World’ EP, December 10, 2023

Good morning, weekenders! We are here in the Boston area with temps of about 55 degrees slated for today, absurd for December in New England. People just seem to love the effects of global warming. That’s all I hear. Just wait. That’s all I can say.

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

More than likely, you’ve never heard of this Boston-based band unless you have sought out Cajun and Zydeco music, but I learned about them at Johnny D’s Uptown, a favorite haunt of my youth. They are a fantastic band playing some of the best New Orleans sounds on the planet. These days, you can only get their music on Ebay or Discogs. We have been on a search for more, and we’ve finally found some. It’s on the way. Get ready by listening to this great album.

3:00 p.m. Color My World: Various Artists

Primary colors are a popular topic in the music world. We’ve got an entire EP about color from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Donovan, Booker T & The MG’s, Electric Light Orchestra, Procol Harum, 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, J.D. Souther, Linda Ronstadt and more!

The British Invasion is Back, So is Maria Muldaur. And Happy Birthday, Little Richard, Thursday, December 7, 2023

Good morning, musicologists! As I prepare to depart for my final opening morning of the week, I give you our musical lineup for the day. The Music Mermaid is in charge.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. The British Are Coming: Various Artists

I made reference to The British Invasion in the opening, but this playlist goes beyond that. You’ll hear The Beatles, The Who, Dave Mason, Electric Light Orchestra, Petula Clark, The Zombies, The Hollies, Dusty Springfield, Small Faces, Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Kinks, Dave Clark Five, Bee Gees, Moody Blues, Rod Stewart, George Harrison, Them, Herman’s Hermits, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Badfinger, The Yardbirds, Traffic, Elton John, Lulu, Pink Floyd, Yes, The Animals, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, Spencer Davis Group, Cream, The Rolling Stones, Donovan, The Searchers and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Richland Woman Blues by Maria Muldaur

Maria Muldaur is another of those female singers of the sixties and seventies who refused to be pigeon-holed into one style of music. She drops by today with a great blues album with help from Bonnie Raitt, John Sebastian and others.

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Little Richard HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Today we celebrate the birthday of one of the founders of rock and roll, Little Richard, who influenced so many of the British artists you’ll hear in today’s EP (including The Beatles and The Rolling Stones).

Well, kids, it’s another day of great music here in The Mermaid Lounge and we think you should take full advantage of it. We’re on 24/7 and we’re totally free of charge. Get on it!

We’re at Midweek With the ‘What’s In a Name’ EP, Randy Newman and John Fogerty, on Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Today we’ve got songs about names, Randy Newman as our featured singer-songwriter and John Fogerty ‘live’ from Royal Albert Hall.

Here’s your midweek lineup:

9:00 a.m. What’s In a Name: Various Artists

What’s in a name? Ask Shakespeare. Or ask Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, Them, Janis Joplin, Simon & Garfunkel, The Beach Boys, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Donovan, Steve Winwood Bonnie Raitt, Shawn Colvin, Carly Simon, Warren Zevon, Laura Nyro, Bobbie Gentry, The Kinks, Three Dog Night, The Association, Joni Mitchell, Badfinger, Linda Ronstadt, Steely Dan, Chi Coltrane, Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart, James Taylor, Tony Joe White and more!

4:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Randy Newman

Randy Newman is back for his second airing as our featured singer-songwriter for the week.

When John Fogerty appeared at this performance in 2008, it was his first time returning to that venue since Creedence played there in 1971 and, believe me, it was well worth the wait.

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:

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!

Saturday Brings Sam Cooke, Our ‘Water, Water Everywhere’ EP and Randy Newman Later On, December 2, 2023

We’ve successfully gotten to Saturday and we’ve got the final airing of our AOW, songs about water (which comprises 71% of planet earth), and Randy Newman is our new featured singer-songwriter.

Here’s today’s musical extravaganza:

9:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Ain’t That Good News by Sam Cooke FINAL AIRING!

It’s the final airing of Sam Cooke’s featured album. Tomorrow we’ll have a brand new selection here.

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

Once again, we’ve got songs about water…one of the most important components of human existence 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, Linda Ronstadt, Spirit, The Grass Roots, The Beach Boys, Lindisfarne, Van Morrison, Bonnie Raitt, Carole King, Steely Dan, Tom Rush, Donovan, America, Johnny Rivers and more!

Truly one of the most prolific writers of his generation, he is like Laura Nyro in the sense that he has provided material for many, many singers. Linda Ronstadt recorded Feels Like Home and Sail Away, Three Dog Night recorded Mama Told me Not To Come, Irma Thomas recorded Baby Don’t Look Down, and there were many others. He has also scored nine Disney-Pixar movies. On top of all that, Randy Newman has had his own successful solo career writing songs about the human condition and with some wry sarcasm at times. He’s a favorite here.

‘The Female Species’ EP, Our AOW and ‘Live’ Kinks On Tap Thursday, November 30, 2023

Good morning, musicologists! We head toward the weekend in fine form with an EP we haven’t heard in a bit, some Sam Cooke and The Kinks ‘live’ in the UK.

Here’s your Thursday lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Female Species: Various Artists

It’s been since late summer, and the time is now. Not songs by females, but songs about ladies, women, females, girls from Talking Heads, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Boogaloo Swamis, Jackson Browne, John Mayall, Hot Tuna, The Eagles, Elvis Presley, Electric Light Orchestra, The Beatles, Percy Sledge, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, America, Roy Orbison, Billy Joel, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, The Beach Boys, The Temptations, Linda Ronstadt and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: “Ain’t That Good News” by Sam Cooke

We’re winding down on this one. Get it while you can!

7:00 p.m. The Kinks Live at The Hippodrome Theatre, London, UK, July 14, 1974

A great performance by one of the best bands on the planet tonight at 7:00 p.m.

I have one more opening shift this week and I’m running late, so I won’t belabor the point but you really have to be here.

Midweek Delivers Volume Two of ‘The Sixties Rotation’ EP, Fats & Dave and ‘Free As a Bird’ on Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Good morning, musicologists! We’re at the midweek point with some great sixties music, our featured singer-songwriters and our ‘Free As a Bird’ playlist to end the day.

Here’s your midweek lineup:

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

Today we focus on the mid-to-late portion of this great generation of music with The Beatles, The Mamas & The Papas, Simon & Garfunkel, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead, Buffalo Springfield, Sly & The Family Stone, The Temptations, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Roy Orbison, The Yardbirds, The Animals, Janis Joplin, Linda Ronstadt, Wilson Pickett, The Band, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, The Ronettes, The Kinks, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jimmy Cliff, Velvet Underground and more!

4:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Fats Domino & Dave Bartholomew

Our featured singer-songwriters are back for their second spin, two of the pioneers of rock and roll.

8:00 p.m. Free As A Bird: Various Artists

We close it out with a much shorter multi-artist playlist featuring Chicago, CSNY, The Byrds, Otis Redding, Steve Winwood, Cream, Jesse Winchester, Dave Mason, Van Morrison, Curtis Mayfield, Bob Dylan, Allen Toussaint, Elton John, Tracy Chapman, Emmylou Harris, Chicken Shack, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Pete Seeger, The Beatles and more!

We certainly have some great music on tap for you today. I’m on my third day of early morning shifts, so The Music Mermaid is on duty today and she’ll be on morning duty for one more day tomorrow. We’re taxing her fins this week for sure.

Our ‘Friends Of Mine’ EP, A Trio of Songwriters, and a Blood, Sweat & Tears Spotlight on Monday, November 27, 2023

Welcome to a rainy Monday here in the Boston area as I prepare to work a rare Monday shift. But The Music Mermaid has a great show lined up for you!

Here’s your Monday, Monday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Friends of Mine: Various Artists

This one has been waiting its turn for a bit. Songs to our friendships are in the pipeline today with The Guess Who, Willie Nelson, War, The Beach Boys, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Todd Rundgren, Linda Ronstadt, Queen, REM, Simon & Garfunkel, John Prine, Carole King, Grateful Dead, Lou Reed, Robert Johnson, Hank Williams, The Kinks, Joan Baez, The Beatles, Carly Simon, Tracy Nelson, The Byrds, Desmond Dekker, Jackson Browne, Steppenwolf, Elton John, Maria Muldaur, Argent, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Otis Redding and more.

4:00 p.m. Steve Earle, Townes Van Zandt & Guy Clark Live at The Bluebird Cafe, Nashville, TN, September 3, 1995

Three brilliant singer-songwriters playing a live show together at a nationally-renowned musical venue for songwriters. This show happened just 15 months before Van Zandt’s death.

We’ve had this one on the burner simmering for months. It finally comes full circle today as we put one of the greatest jazz-rock bands on the planet In the Spotlight. Yet, there is a mystery surrounding what happened to this band that literally burst onto the scene and skyrocketed, and then just seemed to disappear. If you’re interested, here’s the story.