Welcome to Finally Friday! We’ve Got ‘Great Beginnings’ and Then Two Great Live Shows From Linda Ronstadt and Van Morrison on August 30, 2025

Good morning, music lovers! Once again we are on the cusp of the weekend here in The Mermaid Lounge, and it’s a long weekend to boot! We start off with a great multi-artist playlist. It gets better from there.

Here’s your long-weekend lineup!

9:00 a.m. Great Beginnings: Various Artists.

It’s not an EP, but it’s oh, so close. We start off with songs that have great opening riffs from The Beatles, Elton John, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Electric Light Orchestra, Edgar Winter, The Doobie Brothers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Guess Who, Cream, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Emmylou Harris, Van Morrison, Linda Ronstadt, George Harrison and more!

3:00 p.m. Linda Ronstadt Live at Rai Halle, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, November 21, 1976

We give you the undisputed Queen of Rock live from Rai Halle in Amsterdam early in her illustrious career.

7:00 p.m. Van Morrison Live at The Grand Opera House, Belfast, Ireland, March 11-12, 1983

We close it out with Van “The Man” Morrison live from Belfast.

It’s a great day today here in The Lounge, partly because I have a day off from retail hell, a rare event for a Friday. And I get to listen to all this great music as I hang out here getting ready for the musical week. You should tune in too. It won’t cost you a penny, and there’s no commercial advertising…just music 24/7. No lie.

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.

We’re here 24/7 at no charge to you because we’re all about the music; not about the money. And we’re not kidding. See for yourself. No strings. No bait-and-switch. Nada. The button’s below.

Friday Delivers The Drifters, Songs About Food and Our ‘Ode To Morning’ EP at Night. No kidding. August 23, 2024

Good morning, music lovers (and foodies also). We’ve got a great lineup on the cusp of the weekend, including a brand new Spotlight featuring The Drifters!

Here’s your musical lineup:

Here’s another one off my musical ‘to do’ list. We (luckily) pipe a sixties station in our store and I hear an awful lot of songs by this band every day. I finally got to the point where this simply had to get done. Originally assembled as the back-up band for Clyde McPhatter, The Drifters turned their fortunes into a career that spanned half a century and generated plenty of number ones. Today, they are In the Spotlight.

2:00 p.m. For Foodies Only: Various Artists

Another great multi-artist list (a shorter one) with songs about food from The Rolling Stones, Little Feat, Sam & Dave, Van Morrison, Led Zeppelin, Judy Collins, The Beatles, Steely Dan, Harry Nilsson, Cream, The Guess Who, Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams, Bob Dylan, The Kinks, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Eagles, The Flying Burrito Brothers and more!

7:00 p.m. Ode To Morning: Various Artists

We head into the nighttime hours with songs about the morning. Yes. But earlier in the week we opened the morning programming with songs about the night. It’s only fitting. You’ll hear Cat Stevens, Hoyt Axton, The Beatles, Neil Young, The Rascals, Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez, James Taylor, Gram Parsons, Simon & Garfunkel, Taj Mahal, Dan Fogelberg, Linda Ronstadt, Harry Chapin, Three Dog Night, Ry Cooder, Tim Buckley, Muddy Waters, Jonathan Edwards, Bob Dylan and more.

Past the Hump With ‘Here Comes the Night’, Ringo Starr’s All Star Band, and Curtis Mayfield, Thursday, August 22, 2024

Good morning, music lovers. Here we are headed for the weekend with songs about the night, Ringo and his All Starr Band and the still brilliantly relevant Curtis Mayfield.

Here’s today’s musical mayhem:

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

Yes. We know it’s morning, but we’re opening up with songs about the night from 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 Eagles, The Ronettes, John Cougar Mellencamp, The Doors, Poco, Emmylou Harris, Neil Diamond, The Animals, The Rolling Stones, Don McLean, Steve Winwood, The Traveling Wilburys, Sam Cooke, Jimmy Cliff, Bonnie Raitt and more!

4:00 p.m. Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band Live at The Green Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, August 2, 2008

We here believe that Ringo deserves our spotlight with a full photo. The man is the best drummer on the planet and has been a popular musical artist in his own right (with more than 40 albums and sold-out shows everywhere) since the breakup of The Fab Four.

Tonight we finally get another one off the list with a Curtis Mayfield spotlight. He was a brilliant singer, songwriter and guitarist. He was also the one of the most consequential soul and politically conscious African-American musicians in music history.

It’s Sunday Funday With Live Bonnie Raitt, an Etta James Spotlight, and the ‘Color My World’ EP Tonight, August 18, 2024

Good morning, weekenders! We hope you’re enjoying your time off as much as we are, although my weekend is actually a Sunday-Monday combo. Today we start off with Bonnie Raitt and Etta James before we get into Open Stream with a theme this evening.

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

10:00 a.m. Bonnie Raitt Live at The Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA, February 15, 1972

We kick off the festivities with an iconic performer in an iconic venue. There have been so many who have passed through the doors of The Troubadour on their way to fame. Bonnie Raitt is no exception.

2:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Etta James

In my mind, Etta James is a contemporary of Aretha Franklin in so many ways. Over a six-decade career she has put her stamp on gospel, soul, jazz, R&B and rock and roll. Today she’s In The Spotlight.

5:00 p.m. Color My World: Various Artists

Tonight we give you Open Stream with a Theme as this playlist takes you late into the night. You’ll hear The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, James Taylor, 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, Elvis Costello, Neil Young, Jefferson Airplane, The Hollies, Elvis Presley, Lucinda Williams, Janis Joplin, John Hiatt, J.D. Souther, Linda Ronstadt and more!

Come and get it. It’s free. Every single day of the year. All of them. And we’re open all night; round the clock. Did I mention there’s no commercial advertising?

Steve Winwood Begins, Stephen Stills Ends, and Somewhere In Between It’s Either ‘Heaven Or Hell’ on Friday, August 16, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! We end the work week with a bang to day with two legends opening and closing, and our ‘Between Heaven and Hell’ playlist.

Here’s your end-of-the-work-week lineup:

10:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Steve Winwood

A Mermaid Lounge legend in our eyes. We don’t think the guy has made a bad song ever in his life. Today he’s front and center as a member of The Spencer-Davis Group, Blind Faith, Traffic and as a solo artist. That resume alone puts him in the Legend category.

4:00 p.m. Between Heaven & Hell: Various Artists

Not an EP, but a good one nevertheless with The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, The Eagles, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, The Rolling Stones, The Grass Roots, Emmylou Harris, Roberta Flack, Elvis Presley, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Fats Domino, Bruce Hornsby and more!

8:00 p.m. Stephen Stills Live at The Capitol Theater, Passaic, NJ, March 23, 1979

We close out the programming with another musical legend in Stephen Stills. Tonight we’ve got him live from the Capitol Theater.

Before, in between and after we’ve got our big, wide Open Stream running uninterrupted 24/7. There’s no cost to you and there is absolutely no commercial advertising. We’re all about the music. Hit the button below and see for yourself.

We Spend Thursday ‘Under The Influence’, Then It’s Bob Marley & The Wailers and Closing With CSNY, August 8, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! Musical artists agree that “love” is probably the most sung about topic in the world, but drink and drugs can’t be far behind! We managed to locate five hours of music on the topic.

Here’s your musical lineup:

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

Spend some mind-bending time with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Byrds, Arlo Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Linda Ronstadt, Little Feat, 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. Bob Marley & The Wailers Live at The Beacon Theater, New York, NY, May 1, 1976

The Legend and his mates live at the iconic Beacon Theater in New York.

7:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

We close out the program with our second favorite supergroup behind the Traveling Wilburys, and that’s CSNY (or sometimes, CSN and sometimes Y, depending up on how you look at it). Bands are like families. Sometimes they grind on each others’ nerves, but despite their sometimes contentions relationship, this band poured out a ton of great music.

We’re on the mark 24/7 with some of the best music on the planet. Best of all, we’re totally free and do not clog up the gears with commercial advertising.

Come Spend Monday With Hot Tuna, Laura Nyro, and Some Villains, Scumbags and Lowlives, August 5, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! We’re back to the work week today and we’ve got a lineup fit for a Monday, including a brand new Hot Tuna Spotlight feature.

Here’s your Monday, Monday musical lineup:

This great blues-rock band was formed back in 1969 by ex-Jefferson Airplane members Jack Casady and Jorma Kaukonen and is ready to tour again in 2024. Although many members come and go and the lineup is fluid, the two anchors remain the constant. They are one of our favorite bands here in The Mermaid Lounge.

3:00 p.m. Villains, Scumbags and Lowlives: Various Artists

Bad humans have always been a topic for musicians. Today you’ll hear Queen, Jethro Tull, Lesley Gore, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Shawn Colvin, Linda Ronstadt, Foo Fighters, The Eagles, Warren Zevon, Foreigner, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Supertramp, Jim Croce, Jimi Hendrix and more!

8:00 p.m. Laura Nyro Live at Stern Auditorium, Carnegie Hall, New York, NY, March 31, 1976

Laura Nyro’s songs have put many singers on the map, but there’s nothing like hearing her sing them herself.

It’s Sunday Funday With Roy Orbison, Our ‘In Your Dreams’ EP, and Live Music From The Heartbreakers, August 4, 2024

Welcome to the Mermaid Lounge as we enjoy another day of rest with The Big O, streaming and dreaming, and live TPATH to close the programming later.

We’re streaming and dreaming all afternoon!

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

10:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Roy Orbison

We start it off with a true rock n’ roll pioneer and a man with an amazing set of pipes who was alternately know as The Big O and The Caruso of Rock. He was also a Wilbury, and that is no small feat. Today we put Roy Orbison In the Spotlight.

2:00 p.m. In Your Dreams: Various Artists

This afternoon we’re streaming about dreaming with The Everly Brothers, The Moody Blues, Van Morrison, The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Monkees, The Mamas & The Papas, Linda Ronstadt, Randy Newman, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Buffett, Widespread Panic, Jackson Browne, Mudcrutch, Aretha Franklin, Patsy Cline, Harry Chapin, Roy Orbison, Townes Van Zandt, Electric Prunes, Dusty Springfield, Melissa Etheridge, John Prine, Tom Rush, Electric Light Orchestra and more!

8:00 p.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live at The Target Center, Minneapolis, MN, August 3, 1999

We close out the programming tonight with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers live from Minnesota on The Echo Tour.

Kick off your shoes. Take off our socks and toss them in the dirty laundry pile. Then, chill out here with us in The Mermaid Lounge! The button’s below.

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.