Tag: The Temptations

We’re at Midweek With Music From Motor City, Tom Rush ‘In the Spotlight’, and Laura Nyro Live in Japan, March 12, 2025

Good morning, musicologists, and welcome to midweek. We’ve got another fantastic lineup here to get you over the hump and put you on the downslide to the weekend.

Here’s your midweek lineup:

9:00 a.m. M is for Motown: Various Artists

We start with all the artists that helped put Motown on the map, including Barrett Strong, Eddie Kendricks, Barrett Strong, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Jackson Five, Kim Weston, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Marvin Gaye, Martha & The Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Four Tops, The Isley Brothers, The Temptations, The Contours, Rare Earth, Mary Wells, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Tammi Terrell and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Tom Rush

A native New Englander drops by this afternoon to spin some tunes. His importance to music cannot be understated: He is known as the man who started the singer-songwriter genre more than six decades ago. He’s still going strong like the Energizer Bunny.

8:00 p.m. Laura Nyro Live in Japan, February 18-22, 1994

This was the tour when the late, great Laura Nyro conquered Japan. She was recorded live at Kintetsu Hall in Osaka on February 22, and also at On Air West on February 18 and 22.

We’re getting there, folks. We’re at midweek and we head toward another weekend. We’re here 24/7 to make the journey much more pleasant and we’re totally free of charge, and with no commercial interruptions. The button is below.

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We’re Feeling Soulful With Our Big EP, a Drifters ‘Spotlight’, and Live Nina Simone on Saturday, February 22, 2025

Good morning, soul and R & B lovers! We’re amped up today as we bring you ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul’ for starters, then it’s the Drifters ‘In the Spotlight’ and some live Nina Simone!

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

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

We officially begin the weekend with our biggest soul music EP, featuring Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Ronettes, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, The Drifters, 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, Ann Peebles, Al Green and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Drifters

The Drifters have an interesting background, reflecting the social injustice of the times. It’s too long for me to write about on this blog, but you can read all about it here. Regardless, they made some great music and we’ve got them ‘In the Spotlight’ today.

8:00 p.m. Nina Simone Live at Juan-les-Pins, Antibes, France, July 24 & 25, 1965 NEW!

Today we celebrate the birthday (February 21) of the late, great Nina Simone, singer, songwriter, music arranger and, yes, civil rights and social justice activist. Here she’s live at the the annual Jazz a Juan International Jazz Festival. We need her fighting spirit now.

Come on in to The Mermaid Lounge for a little bit of soul and R & B today. In between that programming, we’ve got our big, wide Open Stream running 24/7 at no charge. We’re anti-capitalist. We care about only one thing: Playing great music for you folks with absolutely no commercial interruption. The button is below.

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Sunday Brings ‘M is For Motown’, An Aretha Franklin ‘Spotlight’ and Marvin Gaye’s Number Ones On February 9, 2025

We’re celebrating Black History Month in February and that includes music (although every month is Black Musical History Month as far as we’re concerned). Today we bring you our big Motown EP and performances by two of the greatest!

Here’s the lineup of music that moved the world:

9:00 a.m. M is For Motown: Various Artists

We start with a trip to Motown to hear from Barrett Strong, Eddie Kendricks, Eddie Holland, Edwin Starr, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Jackson Five, Kim Weston, Marvin Gaye, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Martha & The Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, The Four Tops, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Isley Brothers, The Temptations, The Contours, Mary Wells, Rare Earth, Tammi Terrell, Diana Ross & The Supremes and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Aretha Franklin

Nope. We know she wasn’t Motown. She was Atlantic. Doesn’t matter. There were a number of labels signing soul and R & B artists. We celebrate them all. There was, and still isn’t, anybody quite like the undisputed Queen of Soul.

8:00 p.m. Marvin Gaye: The Number Ones

We close out the celebration with Marvin Gaye and all of his number one hits. There were plenty.

Once again, allow me to reiterate that we’re here 24/7; not just when we have programming. We do not air commercial advertising. We’re not going to track you or sell you a damned thing. We don’t require a “subscription” or take your personal information. The button is below.

Celebrate Black Music!

Saturday Brings Our House EP, Live Hot Tuna, and The Byrds, February 1, 2025

Good morning, weekenders! Welcome to a new month here in The Mermaid Lounge with our House EP chock full of great music, some live Hot Tuna and The Byrds ‘in the Spotlight’.

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

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

We start out with our big House EP including 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, Joan Baez, Bob Marley & The Wailers, CSNY, Pink Floyd, The Animals, Ten Years After, Sam Cooke, The Rolling Stones, Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix, Three Dog Night, Jimmy Cliff, Richie Havens, Marvin Gaye, The Association, Phil Ochs, Tom Rush, The Band and more!

4:00 p.m. Hot Tuna Live at The Ridgefield Theater, Ridgefield, CT, January 7, 2014

This is one fine band born of the decline of The Jefferson Airplane and helmed by Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen for all these years.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Byrds

Formed in L.A. in 1964, the band has gone through a long history of personnel changes, save for Roger McGuinn, who has been there from the start. His presence made them a consistently great band.

Some of you have started your weekend foray today. I’ve got one more day in retail hell. But The Music Mermaid is fully in charge and, as you know, she has impeccable taste in music. The button is below.

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On Sunday, It’s ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul’, Live Emmylou Harris, and The Pretenders ‘In The Spotlight’, January 26, 2025

Good morning, music lovers! We’re all over the musical map today with our ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul’ EP, some live Emmylou Harris and The Pretenders ‘In the Spotlight’ later!

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

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

We start the day off with our big kahuna of soul and R & B encompassing Motown, Stax and Atlantic, among others. You’ll hear Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Ronettes, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Jimmy Ruffin, The Drifters, 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, Fontella Bass, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Irma Thomas, The Box Tops, Ann Peebles, Al Green and more!

4:00 p.m. Emmylou Harris Live at My Father’s Place, Roslyn, New York, September 14, 1976

This afternoon we’ve got some early Emmylou Harris from My Father’s Place, a popular venue for young, aspiring artists on Long Island.

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

Chrissie Hynde’s band brings up the rear with some hard-edged rock as we close out the day’s programming.

But we’re here all day and all night. Before, in between, and after our scheduled programs we give you our big, wide Open Stream without interruption. The button is below.

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On Saturday It’s ‘The Female Species’ EP, Live Jackson Browne and The Marshall Tucker Band, December 4, 2025

Good morning, Weekenders! Today we give you songs about women, some vintage live Jackson Browne and a Marshall Tucker Band ‘Spotlight’ feature!

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

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

We start out with songs about women, girls, chicks, dames…you get the picture. There are many from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Talking Heads, Jackson Browne, John Mayall, Hot Tuna, The Eagles, Elvis Presley, Electric Light Orlchestra, Fleetwood Mac, Percy Sledge, The Beatles, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac (the original Mac), America, Roy Orbison, Billy Joel, Jimi Hendrix, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, The Beach Boys, The Temptations, Linda Ronstadt and more!

4:00 p.m. Jackson Browne Live at Atwood Hall, Clark University, Worcester, MA, March 13, 1974 NEW!

We’ve got some great live Jackson Browne this afternoon, a show I actually attended back in the day. I had no idea it had been recorded and found it quite by accident searching for something else. We have it for you today.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Marshall Tucker Band

Found in South Carolina in 1972, I consider this band the best of the post-Allman Brothers Southern rock bands. Charlie Daniels doesn’t get airplay here. He was a racist asshole and a homophobe. I don’t much like Skynyrd’s attitude either. Interestingly, the band’s name came from a blind piano tuner whose name was found on a key to their original rehearsal space. Today, we have them ‘In the Spotlight’.

We’re here 24/7 with absolutely no commercial interruption and no chatty DJ’s who like to hear themselves talk so much that they talk through the beginning and the end of songs. We leave that to others. See for yourselves. The button is below.

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On Sunday It’s The Staple Singers, Live Leon Russell and Our ‘M is For Motown’ EP. It’s December 15, 2024.

Good morning, musicologists and welcome to Sunday in The Lounge. We’ve got a Staple Singers ‘Spotlight’, some live Leon Russell and our ‘M is For Motown’ EP to bring us through late afternoon and into the evening hours.

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

9:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Staple Singers

The Staple Singers were an American gospel, soul, and R&B group with a civil rights emphasis founded by Roebuck “Pops” Staples and his children Cleotha, Pervis, and Mavis. They left us a great library of music.

1:00 p.m. Leon Russell Live at Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA, August 7, 1972

To put it bluntly, Leon Russell was a musical legend. Over a sixty-year career he had multiple hits covering many genres, including rock and roll, country, bluegrass, rhythm & blues, southern rock, blues rock, folk, surf and the Tulsa sound. He won two Grammys, was named the top concert attraction of 1973 by Billboard, and in 2011 he was inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

4:00 p.m. M is For Motown: Various Artists

We close out the day with our great multi-artist Motown EP featuring Barrett Strong, Eddie Kendricks, Eddie Holland, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Jackson Five, Kim Weston, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Marvin Gaye, Martha & The Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Four Tops, The Isley Brothers, The Temptations, The Contours, Rare Earth, Mary Wells, Tammi Terrell, Diana Ross & The Supremes and more!

It’s damned cold here today, and it’s a great day to be inside enjoying the world from a window with some great music coming from my speakers. Join me. The button is below.

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Sunday Delivers ‘The Female Species’ EP, CSNY at Wembley and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, November 3, 2024

Good morning, music lovers and welcome to Sunday. We’ve got a great lineup of music programming for you today interspersed within our big, wide Open Stream.

Here’s your musical lineup:

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

We start out with songs about women from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Talking Heads, Jackson Browne, John Mayall, Hot Tuna, The Beatles, Elvis Presley, The Eagles, Electric Light Orchestra, Fleetwood Mac, Percy Sledge, America, Roy Orbison, Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, Jimi Hendrix, Billy Joel, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, The Beach Boys, The Temptations, Linda Ronstadt and more!

4:00 p.m. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Live at Wembley Stadium, Wembley, UK, November 14, 1974

The world’s second best supergroup takes to the stage at Wembley, vintage 1874.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

We close out the day with a Spotlight featuring the great Smokey Robinson and his Miracles, undoubtedly one of the most popular of the Motown bands and one that was instrumental in putting Motown on the musical map.

It’s Sunday. Even the big guy took the day off. It’s a day of rest. Kick back. Tune us in. We’re streaming the best music on the planet 24/7 at no charge and without commercial interruption. The button is below.

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We Celebrate Soul Today With Our Big ‘M Is For Motown’ EP, Then Spotlight Features From The Four Tops and Ann Peebles, On Sunday, October 13, 2024

Good morning, soul and R&B lovers and welcome to another day in The Lounge. Today, we get into the music that made America dance!

Here’s your soul music madness:

9:00 a.m. M Is For Motown: Various Artists

We celebrate the sound of soul with Barrett Strong, Eddie Kendricks, Eddie Holland, Edwin Starr, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Jackson Five, Kim Weston, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Marvin Gaye, Martha & The Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Four Tops, The Isley Brothers, The Temptations, The Contours, Rare Earth, Mary Wells, Tammy Terrell, Diana Ross & The Supremes and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Four Tops NEW!

Another long-suffering project off the list with this one, and it’s about time. The Four Tops was was of the most commercially-successful quartets of the sixties and helped to establish Motown’s position in the music world.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Ann Peebles

You know who got me onto Ann Peebles? Believe it or not, Tom Petty. I first heard her music listening to his Buried Treasure show on Sirius XM. She is best remembered for her string of albums and hits from the seventies. Who knew? Not me. But I sure do now.

It’s Sunday, and that’s a day of rest. No matter what the raging capitalist world wants you to believe. You do not have to go out and spend money on Sunday. You can take a day off and spend it with us (not your money; your time). The button is below.

Stay home. Listen to music. Save money.

It’s Our ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul’ EP, Live Otis Redding and the Spotlight on The Queen of Soul, Wednesday, September 25, 2025

Good morning, soul music lovers and welcome to midweek. We’re soulful all day today with our big soul and R & B EP, the Big O live from the Whiskey and The Queen of Soul.

Here’s your midweek lineup:

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

We start off a day of soul programming with ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul.’ 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, Fontella Bass, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Irma Thomas, The Box Tops, Ann Peebles, Al Green and more!

4:00 p.m. Otis Redding Live at The Whiskey A Go Go, West Hollywood, CA, April 9 & 10, 1966 NEW!

We’ve got some new Otis Redding live music from the historic Whiskey A Go Go at 4:00 p.m this afternoon.

8:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Aretha Franklin

We close it out today with the undisputed Queen of Soul In the Spotlight!

It’s officially hump day. We’re over the hump today and heading for the weekend tomorrow, so take heart. We’ve got great soul and R & B to get you through the day. Just use the button below!

A Little Bit O’ Soul