It’s Our Big Folk Music EP, Live Steely Dan, and The Roches ‘In the Spotlight’ on Friday, December 27, 2024

Good morning, folkies! We begin the day with our Folk Music From A-to-Z EP, then it’s Steely Dan at The Record Plant and The Roches ‘In The Spotlight’.

Here’s your Friday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Folk Music From A-To-Z: Various Artists

We’ve got all the great artists who have defined the genre plus others who have kept it alive, including Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, John Prine, Dave Van Ronk, Peter, Paul & Mary, Odetta, Cat Stevens, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Arlo Guthrie, The Beatles, Bonnie Raitt, 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, Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, Harry Chapin and more!

Live performances at The Record Plant was like a requirement for bands back in the day. This one was broadcast on KMET-FM in Los Angeles, which was active from May 2, 1966 until it went off air on February 14, 1987,

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

Maggie, Terre and Suzzy Roche were a trio of American folk singers who started modest and stayed modest, never really hitting the big time. The closest they came was when Linda Ronstadt and Phoebe Snow performed Maggie’s composition, The Married Men, on Saturday Night Live. A few months later in 1979 they appeared on Saturday Night Live with Paul Simon’s prodding. Simon himself had used the trio as backup singers on his 1973 album, There Goes Rhymin’ Simon.

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At Midweek, It’s Our Folk Fiesta, Followed by a Tom Waits ‘Spotlight’ and Some Live Tim Hardin, Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Good morning, folk music lovers! We’re opening today with our ‘Folk Music From A-To-Z’ EP, then it’s Tom Waits and Tim Hardin live at Woodstock ’69 (The only Woodstock).

Here’s your midweek musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Folk Music From A-To-Z: Various Artists

We’re starting the day off with a music genre that pretty much birthed the protest music movement with John Prine, Dave Van Ronk, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Odetta, Peter, Paul & Mary, Yusuf/Cat Stevens, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Beatles, Arlo Guthrie, Joan Baez, Bonnie Raitt, The Band, Eric Andersen, Tom Rush, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, Nanci Griffith, Jesse Winchester, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Lead Belly, Tim Hardin, The Kingston Trio, Simon & Garfunkel, Richie Havens, Phil Ochs, Harry Chapin, Townes Van Zandt, The Carter family and more.

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

Not always, but sometimes, folk is Tom Waits. He writes about the underbelly of humanity and delivers his stories in his signature gravelly voice. Today he’s ‘In the Spotlight.’

8:00 p.m. Tim Hardin Live at Woodstock, Max Yasgur’s Farm, Bethel, NY, August 15, 1969

We close out the programming tonight with folk icon Tim Hardin, one of those artist who passed from this planet at far too young an age.

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Midweek Brings Our Big Folk Music EP, a John Prine ‘Spotlight’ and Live Joni Mitchell on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

Good morning and welcome to midweek with our big folk music EP, and some of the best folk artists in the genre that started the protest music movement and raised everyone’s social consciousness.

Here’s your midweek musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Folk Music From A-To-Z: Various Artists

You’ll hear from John Prine, Dave Van Ronk, Peter, Paul & Mary, Odetta, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Arlo Guthrie, Bonnie Raitt, Joan Baez, The Band, Eric Andersen, Tom Rush, Judy Collins, Phil Ochs, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Lead Belly, Tim Hardin, The Kingston Trio, Simon & Garfunkel, The Kingston Trio, The Carter Family, Nanci Griffith, Richie Havens, Neil Young and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of John Prine

Truly one of the greats right here, a man who looked at life through a very different prism and brought a bit of humor to his brilliant songwriting work.

8:00 p.m. Joni Mitchell Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, February 3, 1972

We close with the great Joni Mitchell’s 1972 live performance from the iconic Carnegie Hall.

I apologize for the starkness of the blog. We are having technical difficulties an it will not allow photos today for some odd and annoying reason. But we’re here. Rest assured. The music will go on. Annoyingly, there is no button below, but there is a link.

http://cast5.citrus3.com:2199/start/becomeungovernable/

Sunday is Folk Day With Our Big EP in Between Early Live Dylan and a Gordon Lightfoot ‘Spotlight’, September 29, 2024

Good morning, folk music lovers! We’ve got some good stuff today, with our ‘Folk Music From A-To-Z’ EP sandwiched between early live Dylan and a Gordon Lightfoot Spotlight feature!

Here’s your Sunday Folk-day lineup:

I was eight years old when Bob Dylan performed at the Finjan Club. I actually discovered The Beatles first. Dylan came later, but the connection was instant. This is very early Dylan, but some call it one of his most passionate performances. It includes a few rarely-heard Dylan originals, including The Death of Emmet Till.

1:00 p.m. Folk Music From A-To-Z: Various Artists

We’ve got our big folk EP this afternoon where you will hear Bob Dylan along with John Prine, Dave Van Ronk, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul & Mary, Odetta, Cat Stevens, Bruce Springsteen, The Beatles, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Arlo Guthrie, Bonnie Raitt, Joan Baez, The Band, Eric Andersen, Tom Rush, Judy Collins, Nanci Griffith, Joni Mitchell, Jesse Winchester, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Lead Belly, Tim Hardin, The Kingston Trio, Simon & Garfunkel, Richie Havens, Phil Ochs, Harry Chapin, Neil Young, Townes Van Zandt, The Carter Family and more!

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Gordon Lightfoot

This guy is a giant of folk, folk-rock and country, and who is also rightfully credited with bridging the gap between folk and pop and defining the folk-pop sound of the seventies. He has been called the greatest Canadian songwriter, although I’m sure Joni Mitchell and Neil Young fans would have something to say about that. There’s plenty of room for all of them, and he is certainly on that list.

Kids, it’s Sunday and that is a day of rest by definition, is it not? Personally, I think retail business establishments should be closed on Sundays. One day will not kill anyone. But I digress. If you’re lucky enough to not have to work a retail Sunday, tune us in. The Magic Button is below.

On Thursday It’s ‘Folk Music From A-To-Z’, a Visit From The Soul Men and The Stones Live in Saitama, Japan, August 29, 2024

Good morning, music lovers and welcome to another day in The Mermaid Lounge as we get closer to the weekend! We’ve got a great lineup for you today.

FILE – In this Dec. 1975 file photo, musicians Roger McGuinn, Joni Mitchell, Richie Havens, Joan Baez and Bob Dylan perform the finale of the The Rolling Thunder Revue, a tour headed by Dylan. (AP Photo, File)

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Folk Music From A-To-Z: Various Artists

We kick the day off with a bit of Americana with the pioneers and revivalists of the craft like Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Lead Belly, The Kingston Trio, John Prine, Dave Van Ronk, Arlo Guthrie, Bonnie Raitt, Odetta, Peter, Paul & Mary, The Beatles, Cat Stevens, Tom Rush, The Band, Eric Andersen, Judy Collins, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Nanci Griffith, Jesse Winchester, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Lead Belly, Tim Hardin, Simon & Garfunkel, Richie Havens, James Taylor, Phil Ochs, Harry Chapin, Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, The Carter Family, Neil Young and more!

4:00 p.m. The Soul Men: Various Artists

We get a visit from some the Soul Men this afternoon, including Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Al Green, The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Fats Domino, Jackie Wilson and more!

8:00 p.m. The Rolling Stones Live at The Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan, April 2, 2006

We close the programming with The Stones live in Saitama, Japan.

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Friday We’ve Got ‘Drivin’ Songs’, a Tim Hardin Spotlight, and Brand New Live Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, August 2, 2024

Good morning, musicologists and welcome to the cusp of the weekend here in The Mermaid Lounge. We’ve got a pretty cool lineup here for you today, starting with a dose of driving songs.

Here’s your Friday lineup:

10:00 a.m. Drivin’ Songs: Various Artists

Not merely songs about being in a car or driving somewhere, but songs that give you lead foot. There are many. Radar Love by Golden Earring comes to mind, and that’s just one of the songs you’ll hear in this great multi-artist playlist.

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Tim Hardin

Tim Hardin’s heroin addiction kept him from greatness, yet he remains one of the most consequential artists of the folk movement in America. Today we put him In the Spotlight.

This is our first-ever live performance by this enduring band that has graced the musical airwaves for more than half a century now. In this particular show, they bring along special guests Bruce Hornsby and Michael Martin Murphy.

Monday Brings Bob Dylan Live With The Heartbreakers, Eva Cassidy and Our ‘Folk Music From A-To-Z’ EP, July 29, 2024

Good morning, workforce! We’re back at it already, but we’ve got some great musical programming to get you through the day.

Here’s your Monday, Monday lineup:

10:00 a.m. Bob Dylan with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, NY, July 4, 1986

Dylan and his band of choice for the True Confessions Tour back in ’86!

2:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Eva Cassidy

Eva Cassidy left us far too soon, passing at the age of just 33. However, while she was on this planet she made the best of her time using her soprano voice to interpret jazz, folk and blues music. We’ve got her In The Spotlight this afternoon.

5:00 p.m. Folk Music From A-To-Z: Various Artists

We have a late-in-the-day airing of our big, bad folk EP today where you’ll hear John Prine, Dave Van Ronk, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul & Mary, Odetta, Cat Stevens, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Beatles, Arlo Guthrie, Bonnie Raitt, Joan Baez, The Band, Tom Rush, Eric Andersen, Judy Collins, Nanci Griffith, Jesse Winchester, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Lead Belly, Tim Hardin, The Kingston Trio, Simon & Garfunkel, Richie Havens, James Taylor, Phil Ochs, Harry Chapin, Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, The Carter Family, Neil Young and more!

Before, in between, and after we’ve got our big, wide Open Stream of more than 27,000 songs to get you through. Just use the button below.

It’s Saturday in The Lounge With ‘Folk Music From A-To-Z’, Jesse Winchester and Jefferson Airplane, June 29, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! We’re making our way into the dog days of summer. But we’re cool in The Lounge with a folk music start and a psychedelic finish.

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Folk Music From A-To-Z: Various Artists

Songs about hope and bravery is what the early folk music movement was all about. In this EP, you’ll hear John Prine, Dave Van Ronk, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul & Mary, Odetta, Cat Stevens, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Beatles, Arlo Guthrie, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Rush, Joan Baez, The Band, Eric Andersen, Judy Collins, Nanci Griffith, Jesse Winchester, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Lead Belly, Tim Hardin, The Kingston Trio, Simon & Garfunkel, Richie Havens, Phil Ochs, James Taylor, Townes Van Zandt, The Carter Family, Neil Young and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Jesse Winchester

We continue the folk music vibe before we swing into something a bit more…psychedelic. I was fortunate enough to have seen Jesse Winchester perform twice, the first time as the opening act for Emmylou Harris; the second as the headliner. Bob Dylan, the master songwriter himself, once said of Jesse Winchester, “You can’t talk about the best songwriters and not include him.” Indeed.

We had the Airplane soaring high over Golden Gate Park as we were moving out of the sixties and into the next decade. However, I beg to differ with people out there talking about 1969 as the ‘Summer of Love.’ Not true. The ‘Summer of Love’ happened in 1967. We have definitive proof, so stop spreading musical misinformation. But I digress, and I apologize.

Saturday Brings a J.J. Cale Spotlight, ‘Folk Music From A-To-Z’ and Linda Ronstadt at The Record Plant, April 27, 2024

Good morning, music lovers and weekenders alike! We have made it intact, and we are celebrating with some great music today.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of J. J. Cale

Has there been a musician in history so revered who missed out on what we now call ‘the big time’? J.J. Cale invented the Oklahoma sound and his songs have propelled many an artist, but ‘fame’ eluded him. And perhaps that was by choice. Bobbie Gentry deliberately shunned the limelight. All we know is that artists like Tom Petty and Eric Clapton revered his handiwork, and we love him at the radio station, so we are putting him In the Spotlight.

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

We’ve got five hours of folk music uninterrupted this afternoon with John Prine, Dave Van Ronk, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul & Mary, Odetta, Yusuf/Cat Stevens, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Beatles, Arlo Guthrie, Bonnie Raitt, 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, Richie Havens, Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Phil Ochs, Townes Van Zandt, The Carter Family, Neil Young and more!

8:00 p.m. Linda Ronstadt Live at The Record Plant, Sausalito, CA, November 18, 1973

We’ve got some early Linda Ronstadt for you here this evening with a lot of Don’t Cry Now and just a hint of Heart Like A Wheel and the greatness to come.

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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.