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.

On Friday It’s Live Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, a David Crosby ‘Spotlight’, and The Fab Four, January 31, 2025

We head into the weekend in fine style today with The Heartbreakers live in Lucca, Italy, David Crosby ‘In the Spotlight’ and The Beatles’ transformative years.

Here’s your Friday musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live at Piazza Napoleone, Lucca, Italy, June 29, 2012

The Heartbreakers, one of the most incredible live bands in the history of music, starts us off in a performance live from Lucca, Italy.

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of David Crosby

As a founding member of both The Byrds and Crosby, Stills & Nash (and, sometimes, Young), as well as a solo artist, David Crosby has left an indelible mark on music.

8:00 p.m. The Beatles: The Transformation Years

From Rubber Soul, to Revolver, Sargeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and beyond, The Beatles’ music transformed into something otherworldly. This great playlist focuses on those years.

We’re here ’round the clock playing the best music on the planet. We’re totally free of charge with no commercial interruption and no mouthy DJs. The button is below.

Saturday Brings A Folk Music Extravaganza With Our Big EP, Then Jesse Winchester and Tim Hardin, January 25, 2025

Good morning, folk music lovers! The genre that birthed the protest song takes over the programming today, starting with our ‘Folk Music From A-To-Z’ EP!

Here’s your musical lineup:

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

We start the day with our big folk EP that includes music from 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, Phil Ochs, Harry Chapin, Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, The Carter Family and more!

4:00 p.m. Jesse Winchester Live at The Bijou Cafe, Philadelphia, PA, May 26, 1972

The first time I saw Jesse Winchester live, he opened for Emmylou Harris at Boston’s Music Hall. I was hooked. Today we’ve got him live from Philly.

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

Tim Hardin’s heroin addiction kept him from achieving the star level he could have had. He died in 1980 at the age of 39 from an overdose. Singer Bobby Darin had a hit with If I Were A Carpenter, but it was Hardin who wrote it. He also wrote Rod Stewart’s hit, Reason to Believe. His music lives on.

We’re here around the clock playing some of the greatest music on the planet at no charge to you and with absolutely no commercial interruption. Ever. The button is below.

We Start Off With Songs About the Night, Then It’s Spanky & Our Gang and Live Steely Dan, Thursday, January 23, 2025

Good morning, music lovers! We’re starting off the morning with songs about the night, then we move on with an underrated sixties band and some live Steely Dan.

Here’s your musical lineup:

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

We start the day with songs about the night with Warren Zevon, the J. Geils Band, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Them, The Beatles, Van Morrison, Patti Smith, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bruce Springsteen, The Kinks, Electric Prunes, Phoebe Snow, Joe Walsh, The Doors, The Eagles, Poco, Emmylou Harris, Neil Diamond, The Animals, The Rolling Stones, Steve Winwood, The Traveling Wilburys, Sam Cooke, Jimmy Cliff, Bonnie Raitt and more!

4:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Spanky & Our Gang

One of those sixties pop bands that flew under the radar, powered by the voice of Elaine ‘Spanky’ McFarlane. I’ve always thought that Give A Damn was one of the best songs ever recorded.

8:00 p.m. Steely Dan Live at The Rainbow Theatre, London, UK, November 20, 1974

Without a doubt, one of the absolute best bands of the seventies here in another excellent performance, this one from London.

Once again, there’s no better way to spend the day than with good music uninterrupted by commercial bullshit. We’re all about the music, not capitalism. The button is below.

On Saturday We’ve Got Songs About Colors, Live Linda Ronstadt, and an I-Three ‘Spotlight’ Feature, January 18, 2025

Welcome, Weekenders! We’ve made it to Saturday and we have songs about colors. After that, the focus turns to some very talented women.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Color My World: Various Artists

Whoever thought there’d be five hours worth of songs about colors. In fact, this EP could have gone on longer. You’ll hear from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, James Taylor, Donovan, Booker T & The MGs, 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, Linda Ronstadt, John Hiatt, Lucinda Williams, J.D. Souther and more!

4:00 p.m. Linda Ronstadt Live at The Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, August 24, 1980

The undisputed Queen of Rock drops by The Mermaid Lounge this afternoon for a live performance. I’ve seen Ronstadt 40 times in my lifetime, and she never disappointed once.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The I-Threes

I’m sure some people will be scratching their heads and asking who these ladies are. These are the women who helped to uplift Bob Marley’s music by providing amazing background vocals, but they are so much more accomplished than that. They are literal legends in the Reggae music world. You can learn about them here if you’re interested and, better still, drop by The Lounge tonight and see for yourself.

We begin the weekend once again, and the living is easy here in The Mermaid Lounge. I’ll be finishing up my final day in hardware hell, but The Music Mermaid is here to take care of running things. The button is below.

It’s Friday and We’ve Got Chuck Berry, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, and ‘The Founders’ EP on January 17, 2025

Good morning, musicologists and welcome to Friday! We’ve got a lot of ‘founders’ in the mix today. Even The Heartbreakers contribution contains songs from the founders or rock and roll!

Here’s your Friday lineup:

10:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry was a true pioneer of rock n’ roll as we know it. John Lennon cited Berry as a hero and one of his main musical influences, stating “If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it Chuck Berry.”

2:00 p.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: The Fillmore ’97 Covers

During The Heartbreakers legendary 20-night Fillmore residency, they surely covered many of ‘The Founders’ songs. The qualities that make TPATH a great rock and roll band also made them the greatest cover band. You’ll hear them cover songs by Little Richard, J.J. Cale, The Kinks, Booker T & The MGs, Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead, Them, Bo Diddley, Bill Withers, The Byrds, John Lee Hooker, Ricky Nelson and more!

5:00 p.m. The Founders: Various Artists

We have the founders themselves taking us into the night. You’ll 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!

We’re here. We’re free. We’re on 24/7. We do not run commercial advertising. We don’t ask you for a credit card or personal information. We’re all about the music. See for yourselves. The button is below.

Monday’s Back With Our ‘Friends of Mine’ EP, a Curtis Mayfield ‘Spotlight’ and Live Warren Zevon, January 13, 2025

Good morning, music lovers! We’re back to another Monday, but the music is just fine here in The Mermaid Lounge. Great way to start the week with an EP that’s been on a short hiatus!

Here’s your Monday, Monday lineup:

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

We start it up with Open Stream With a Theme about friends, both good and bad, with The Guess Who, Willie Nelson, War, The Beach Boys, Linda Ronstadt, Todd Rundgren, Amy Winehouse, The Doors, Simon & Garfunkel, John Brine, Joan Baez, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Beatles, The Byrds, Carole King, Steppenwolf, Paul McCartney, Jackson Browne, Lou Reed, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Loggins & Messina, Free, Leon Russell, Talking Heads, Robert Johnson, Argent and more!

4:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Curtis Mayfield

An extraordinary singer, songwriter, guitarist and record producer known as the “Gentle Genius.” Mayfield is recognized as one of the most influential and socially-conscious African American musicians in popular music, first known to the public as the leader of The Impressions during the civil rights movement.

8:00 p.m. Warren Zevon Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK, January 25, 1988

We close out the Monday programming with a live performance by the late, great Warren Zevon at Hammersmith Odeon in London.

One more time: We’re totally free of charge (no strings) and completely free of commercial advertising. We’re not here to make money. We’re here to play the greatest music on the planet. The button is below.

On Friday It’s Paul Revere & The Raiders, Our ‘All Fired Up’ Playlist and Van Morrison Live in NY, January 10, 2025

Good morning, music lovers and welcome to Friday. We’re on the cusp of the weekend and we have some great music for you today starting off with something new!

Here’s your musical lineup:

Yeah, baby a great little band and a hit machine. Formed in 1958, the had amazing chart success in the sixties and seventies, charting 12 Top 30 hits between 1966 and 1969. This is long overdue.

2:00 p.m. All Fired Up: Various Artists

Open Stream with a theme this afternoon with Basia, Electric Light Orchestra, The Rolling Stones, Steve Winwood, The Doors, Hank Williams, Three Dog Night, Joni Mitchell, Shawn Colvin, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Bob Dylan, Ann Peebles, Patti Smith, Jimmy Cliff, Bruce Springsteen, Warren Zevon, The Move, Stevie Ray Vaughan and more. It’s almost an EP, but not quite.

8:00 p.m. Van Morrison Live at The Bottom Line, New York, NY, November 1, 1978

We close it out with a great performance by Van “The Man” Morrison at The Bottom Line. I’m not particularly fond of the man. He can be annoyingly self-absorbed, but he is a brilliant artist. We make some allowances.

One more day and you will be on your official weekend. Mine doesn’t start until Sunday but, hey, that’s the retail life isn’t it? I refuse to work Sunday retail, so Sunday and Monday are my weekend days. Get on it, folks. The button is below.

It’s Midweek and We’re ‘Under The Influence’ With The Beatles and The Supergroups, Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Good morning, musicologists, and welcome to the middle of the week. Tomorrow we’ll be heading for the weekend once again! We have a great Wednesday lineup.

Here’s your midweek lineup:

9:00 a.m. Under The Influence: Various Artists

Being under the influence is the subject of many a song as evidenced by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Byrds, Arlo Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Little Feat, Linda Ronstadt, The Rolling Stones, Small Faces, Jimi Hendrix, Steely Dan, New Riders of The Purple Sage, Talking Heads, Neil Young, The Beatles, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Foreigner, Jonathan Edwards, John Lee Hooker, Donovan and more!

4:00 p.m. Trippin’ With The Beatles

This afternoon we explore The Beatles psychedelic catalogue, an extraordinary journey. Did you know that Paperback Writer is considered one of the earliest examples of a psychedelic song?

8:00 p.m. Sounds of The Supergroups, Volume One: Various Artists

Tonight we close it out with the Supergroups, like Cream, Blind Faith, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Highwaymen, The Super, Super Blues Band (Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf & Bo Diddley), Manassas, and two of the best damned supergroups of all time, Trio (Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton & Emmylou Harris) and our faves, The Traveling Wilburys. You know, nobody ever speaks of Trio as a supergroup, at least not the music media which still entrenched in misogyny, but that is exactly what Trio was.

Like I said earlier, we’re headed for the weekend after today, and we aim to get you there in style. We’re on 24/7 with no commercial interruption. Ever. The button is below.

It’s Tuesday Bluesday with The Ladies, Then The Heartbreakers Sing the Blues, and Muddy Joins Johnny Winter, January 7, 2025

Good morning and welcome to another Tuesday Bluesday. We’re loaded with great programming today! Read on!

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Ladies Sing The Blues: Various Artists

The Ladies are back: Billie Holliday, Big Mama Thornton, Ruth Brown, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Koko Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Christine McVie, Marcia Ball, Ellen McIlwaine, Susan Tedeschi, Irma Thomas, Tracy Nelson, Etta James, Linda Ronstadt, Sippie Wallace, Bessie Smith, Shawn Murphy, Angela Strehli, Aretha Franklin, The Blues Broads and more.

4:00 p.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Sing The Blues

We all know how much Tom Petty loved the blues and dreamed of his momentous band growing old, sitting in chairs and playing away. He never got there, but The Heartbreakers played plenty of blues.

8:00 p.m. Muddy Waters: The Johnny Winter Sessions 1976-1981

After Chess Records folded, Muddy Waters needed a landing spot, so he singed up with Sky Records in 1971. Then he hooked up with energetic blues guitarist Johnny Winter, who helped return Muddy Waters to the top of his game, even winning a Grammy or two in the process.

Tuesday Bluesday is always a busy day, but there’s room aplenty in The Lounge. We’re on 24/7, we’re totally free and there’s no commercial advertising. The button is below.