The “Court & Spark” Finale, A Trip to Laurel Canyon, and ‘Live’ Heartbreakers on Saturday, March 16, 2024

Good morning, weekenders! We have made it to Saturday once again, and we’ve got some great stuff on tap, including The Heartbreakers 30th Anniversary Tour from Gainsville.

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Court & Spark by Joni Mitchell FINAL AIRING!

Today we give you the final airing of this unbelievably amazing album, one of the best albums of all time, as we continue on the 50th anniversary roundup.

12:00 p.m. Music From Laurel Canyon: Various Artists

We’ve got an update on tap for this great playlist that covers two generations of musicians who lived and made music together in Laurel Canyon. It was the cross-fertilization of styles that helped usher in country-rock. You’ll hear The Byrds, The Mamas & The Papas, The Doors, The Lovin’ Spoonful, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, The Monkees, CSNY, Manassas, John Mayall, The Eagles, J.D. Souther, Harry Nilsson, Canned Heat, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, James Taylor, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band and more!

8:00 p.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live From the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, Gainesville, FL, September 21, 2006

The photo on this post is from an earlier timeframe, but the energy The Heartbreakers brought to their live performances never changed over their amazing 40-year run. This would be the band’s 30th Anniversary Tour from their hometown, and it was a beauty.

Wake up and tune us in. We’re on 24/7; not just when we have programming. We’re continually circulating 27,000 songs daily. You never know what’s coming next, and that’s what we really like about radio. Those were the days. We didn’t have custom playlists, Spotify, or whatever else pay-for-play hell is out there. We had our transistor radios and endless summer days waiting for the next song to cue up.

Friday Brings a Fillmore East Focus With CSNY and Laura Nyro, Along With Our ‘Looks Like Rain’ Playlist, March 15, 2024

Good morning and welcome to the cusp of the weekend, my friends. We’ve got a focus on some live Fillmore East today with CSNY and Laura Nyro, plus our ‘Looks Like Rain’ playlist.

Here’s your Friday lineup:

10:00 a.m. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Live at The Fillmore East, New York, January 5, 1970

We start off the morning with the second best supergroup on the planet (sorry, the Wilburys reign). These guys, however, made some amazing music together, in spite of the fact that they were a bit dysfunctional on a personal level. We’ve got them live from the Fillmore East.

2:00 p.m. Looks Like Rain: Various Artists

This is appropriate for where I am today since it’s pouring out there this morning. We’ve got The Rascals, Willie Nelson, The Grateful Dead, Peter, Paul & Mary, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Ann Peebles, The Beatles, Maria Muldaur, Fats Domino, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Gordon Lightfoot, J.D. Souther, the James Gang, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Temptations, Warren Zevon and more.

8:00 p.m. Laura Nyro Live at The Fillmore East, New York, March 30, 1971

We return to the Fillmore East this evening to close out the programming with the late, great Laura Nyro. Yes, she was a songwriter who put many singers on the map, but there is nothing like hearing Laura sing her own songs.

We are one day away from the weekend. I’ve been down for the count with COVID, but I am negative today and things are looking up. We’ve got some great music to get you through and we’re totally free of charge and intend to remain so.

It’s ‘Color My World’, Joni Mitchell’s AOW, and Carly Simon, Thursday, March 14, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! I’m still lost in the COVID fog, so we are running a bit behind, but better late than never. We’ve got a full slate of good stuff for you today!

Here’s your Thursday lineup:

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

Ah, yes, we return again to colors in song titles, lyrics or both with 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, 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!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Court & Spark by Joni Mitchell

We’re back with this masterpiece of an album. It could not be any more perfect than it already is, and it has more than stood the test of time.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Carly Simon

We continue on with Women’s (Music) History Month with a Carly Simon spotlight.

Tune us in, folks. We’re here 24/7 totally free of charge for your listening pleasure. We give you music uninterrupted by commercial advertising. Just do it.

It’s Midweek With Our ‘What’s In A Name’ EP, The Big O, and The Allman Brothers Band, Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Good morning, music lovers. Still battling COVID, but definitely on the mend and feeling better. Sorry I’m running late, but trying to get a bit more sleep than usual.

Here’s your midweek music:

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

We love name droppers and we’ve got plenty here including 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. In The Spotlight: The Music of Otis Redding

The Big O was introduced to the world at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. Just months later he would be killed in a plane crash, only three days after recording “Sittin’ On The Dock Of The Bay.” It became the first posthumous No. 1 single in US chart history and sold over four million copies worldwide. We remember him today.

8:00 p.m. The Allman Brothers Band Live at The Fillmore East, New York, NY, March 12-13, 1971

We close out the programming tonight with a great performance by the brothers at the east coast venue of The Fillmore.

Get on board the music train, folks. We’re on 24/7, not just when we have programming scheduled, and we’re totally free of charge. No commercial advertising either because we don’t make a profit. Ever.

Sunday Brings Steely Dan’s “Pretzel Logic”, Our ‘Travelin’ Fever’ EP and More of Those Badass Guitarists, March 3, 2024

It’s Sunday Funday here in The Mermaid Lounge and we intro our new 50th birthday LP from Steely Dan, give you ‘Travelin’ Fever’ and volume two of Badass Guitarists.

Here’s your Sunday funday lineup:

Steely Dan’s third studio album was released on February 20, 1974 and became both a critical and commercial success. The single Rikki Don’t Lose That Number was the biggest single hit of the band’s career, but in my mind it wasn’t the only ‘hit’ on the album. Night By Night and With A Gun are pretty damned spectacular. Happy 50th!

1:00 p.m. Travelin’ Fever: Various Artists

More songs from the road from Canned Heat, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, 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, Buffalo Springfield, Loggins & Messina, Tom Rush, The Guess Who, Ray Charles, the Marshall Tucker Band, Bob Dylan, The Beatles and more!

8:00 p.m. Badass Guitarists, Volume Two: Various Artists

Yes. Various artists who may not be the singers of the songs. You’ll hear the handiwork of Duane Allman, Albert Lee, Eric Clapton, Brian May, Jimi Hendrix, Jerry Garcia, Neil Young, Bonnie Raitt, Andrew Gold, John Fogerty, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry and more!

The Weekend Begins in a Dream State, Then It’s Queen and Some Badass Guitarists, Saturday, March 2, 2024

Welcome, weekenders! We begin the weekend with songs about dreams, then it’s the final airing of Sheer Heart Attack by Queen and volume one of ‘Badass Guitarists.’

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

9:00 a.m. In Your Dreams: Various Artists

Who knew there’d be so many songs about dreams? You’ll spend nearly five uninterrupted hours with The Everly Brothers, The Moody Blues, Van Morrison, The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Monkees, The Mamas & The Papas, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, 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!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Sheer Heart Attack by Queen FINAL AIRING!

We bid farewell to Queen as our 50th Anniversary Album Bash continues. Tomorrow we’ll have a brand new old album for you.

8:00 p.m. Badass Guitarists, Volume One: Various Artists

We close out the evening with volume one of ‘Badass Guitarists.’ Some of these artists aren’t the singers of the songs, but they sure make their presence known. You’ll hear the handiwork of George Harrison, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Keith Richards, Dickie Betts, Mike Campbell, Jeff Beck, Joe Perry, Lowell George, Jimmy Page, Stephen Stills, Bonnie Raitt, Walter Becker and more!

Before, after and in between we’ve got our big, wide Open Stream 24/7. There’s no hoop jumping here in The Mermaid Lounge. Just hit the button below and you’re in.

We’ve Got ‘The Female Species’ EP, Queen’s AOW, and Bobbie Gentry In The Spotlight Later, Thursday, February 29, 2024

Good morning, musicologists and welcome to the downslide to the weekend! We’ve got quite an eclectic lineup today, including songs about women, girls, dames, sistahs, ladies and all that stuff.

Here’s your Thursday lineup:

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

We start out the programming with songs about women in all their forms. You’ll hear Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Jackson Browne, Talking Heads, The Boogaloo Swamis, Hot Tuna, John Mayall, The Eagles, Elvis Presley, Electric Light Orchestra, Fleetwood Mac, Percy Sledge, The Beatles, 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: Sheer Heart Attack by Queen

We’re winding down on this one. The final airing will be sometime Saturday.

7:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Bobbie Gentry

Did you know that Bobbie Gentry charted 11 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 during her career, and that she was one of the first female performers to write and produce her own material? Well, it’s true. Although she was a reluctant star who simply took herself out of the stardom loop, her talent and contributions should never be forgotten.

I can hear the wind outside; it’s been going all night. Yesterday here it was 55 degrees; today it’ll be 33. So, if you’re where I am and you don’t have to be anywhere, why not simply tune us in? We’re on 24/7 and we’re totally free. No strings. No kidding.

We’ve Got a Great Sunday On Tap With Queen, Our House EP and Birthday Boy George Harrison, February 25, 2024

It’s another Sunday here in The Mermaid Lounge and it’s also George Harrison’s birthday. We will celebrate that with our closing program. Before that it’s Queen’s new AOW and our multi-artist House EP.

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

The band’s third studio album was released in November 1974, and was a departure from the progressive sound of their first two album. It focused instead on more pop-centric songs and traditional rock, eventually leading to the Queen ‘sound.’ The album propelled the band to mainstream popularity in the UK and the rest of the world. Happy 50th!

1:00 p.m. The #BecomeUngovernable House EP: Various Artists

The music of the sixties (primarily) and seventies was the inspiration for starting this experiment. You’ll hear 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, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Joan Baez, CSNY, Pink Floyd, The Animals, The Plastic Ono Band, Paul McCartney & Wings, Joni Mitchell, Sam Cooke, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Three Dog Night, Jimmy Cliff, Marvin Gaye, Phil Ochs, Tom Rush, Pete Seeger, The Band, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Linda Ronstadt and more!

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of George Harrison

Today we celebrate what would be George Harrison’s 81st birthday by putting him In the Spotlight featuring his muisc with The Beatles, The Traveling Wilbury’s and as a solo artist.

It’s ‘Ladies Day Out’, The Rolling Stones, and ‘Great Beginnings’ Closing It Out, Saturday, February 24, 2024

Good morning, music lovers and welcome to the weekend! We start off with the women of music in charge, move on to the final airing of our AOW, and give you a brand new multi-artist playlist this evening.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Ladies Day Out: Various Artists

The ladies are back in the Lounge today and they own the first five hours of our programming. Spend some time with Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon, Emmylou Harris, Petula Clark, Laura Nyro, Irma Thomas, Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Etta James, Janis Joplin, Carole King, Maria Muldaur, Lucinda Williams, Rosanne Cash, Eva Cassidy, Wendy Waldman, The Supremes, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Susan Tedeschi, Valerie Carter, Dusty Springfield, Dolly Parton and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: It’s Only Rock N’ Roll by The Rolling Stones FINAL AIRING!

The Stones are back with the final airing of our Album of The Week. Tomorrow, we’ll have a new 50th anniversary album for you.

A friend suggested this one, and I thought it was a great idea. Songs with great ‘openings’, some of them definitely guitar riffs, but some not. You’ll hear The Beatles, Electric Light Orchestra, Johnny Rivers, Elton John, Yes, Linda Ronstadt, Chicago, Roy Orbison, Aerosmith, Jimi Hendrix Experience, CSNY, The Temptations, The Hollies, The Edgar Winter Group, Cream, Neil Young and more!

On Tuesday Bluesday We Head To Louisiana, Air Our AOW, and The Heartbreakers Sing The Blues Later, February 20, 2024

Good morning, bluesologists, and welcome to Tuesday Bluesday. We head on down to Louisiana and The Heartbreakers sing some blues later this evening.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Best of Louisiana Blues: Various Artists

We head on down to bayou country with Ray Charles, Lillian Glinn, Slim Harpo, Ray Brown, Fats Domino, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Rodney Harris, Roosevelt Sykes, Shirley & Lee, Papa Lightfoot, Guitar Slim, Annie Laurie, Fats Matthews, Big Joe Turner, Big Boy Myles, Little Walter, Mary Butler, Erline Harris, Dave Bartholomew, Marcia Ball, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Professor Longhair, The Neville Brothers, Irma Thomas and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: It’s Only Rock n’ Roll by The Rolling Stones

The Stones are back with our Album of The Week, their twelfth studio release that went to number one in the US and number two in the UK.

It’s no secret that Dr. Petty wanted his band to sit around on chairs as they grew old and play the blues. Unfortunately, we didn’t have him around for long enough. However, the Heartbreakers loved da blues and played their fair share. We’ve got a new, updated playlist for you this evening.