Friday Brings Psychedelia With Our Multi-Artist EP and The Beatles; Becker & Fagan in Between, November 24, 2023

Good morning, psychedelic music lovers, this is your day! We open and close with it, and in between we have Walter Becker and Donald Fagan as our featured singer-songwriters.

Here’s your Friday line-up:

9:00 a.m. The Psychedelic Express: Various Artists

We’re back with some great psychedelic music courtesy of Vanilla Fudge, The Chambers Brothers, The Beatles, Electric Prunes, The Animals, Jefferson Airplane, Blues Image, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Doors, Pink Floyd, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Donovan, Strawberry Alarm Clock, The Byrds, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Traffic, Cream, Dr. John, Procol Harum, Fleetwood Mac, The Who, Canned Heat, Yes, Electric Light Orchestra, Tommy James & The Shondells, Mudcrutch, Blind Faith, Grateful Dead, Velvet Underground, Big Brother & The Holding Company and more!

4:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: Walter Becker & Donald Fagan FINAL AIRING!

Today is the final airing of the great music these two guys made as part of Steely Dan, surely one of the absolute best bands of the seventies and eighties.

8:00 p.m. The Beatles: Tripping The Light Fantastic

We close out with a dose of Beatles psychedelic music. As with so many other genres, the Beatles led the way here as well. In fact, Paperback Writer and Rain (the latter being the B-side of Paperback Writer), included in this playlist are considered the forerunners of the psychedelic future we’d all experience.

Get on board The Psychedelic Express, folks. You don’t need no stinkin’ tickets or a credit card. Just push the button below.

Today We Give Thanks For Arlo & Alice, Dolly, Linda and Tom, Thursday, November 23, 2023

Good morning, music lovers! It’s Turkey Day and we are NOT celebrating the colonization of the free world. No sir. We are celebrating our musical artists of the day (as well as our families and friends, of course).

Here’s your Turkey Day lineup:

9:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Rockstar by Dolly Parton

Some of us thought we’d never see the day when Dolly Parton would make a rock album, but it has arrived and it is a treat. We’re winding down on this one, so get in on it. The final airing will be sometime on Saturday.

12:00 p.m. Arlo Guthrie: Alice’s Restaurant

Our Thanksgiving tradition continues at high noon with Arlo Guthrie’s ode to Alice. There will be no intro. No fanfare. It shall simply begin on cue and last for just under 20 minutes.

3:00 p.m. Linda Ronstadt Live at The Troubadour, W. Hollywood, CA, March 17, 1976

Linda live at the iconic Troubadour on St. Patty’s day in 1976. This was two years after Heart Like A Wheel, still one of the absolute best albums ever made by anyone, and the release of another gem, Hasten Down The Wind (which would be released in August of 1976).

8:00 p.m. Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Live at The Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA, October 16, 2002

The Heartbreakers on The Last DJ tour at The Olympic. I actually really love this album because it’s simply an album of great songs. The song The Last DJ laments the fall of radio into the abyss of utter capitalism: ‘As we celebrate mediocrity all the boys upstairs want to see/How much you’ll pay for what you used to get for free.’

The Music Mermaid is all keyed up and ready in The Lounge for an early start. Making a bird today? Hey, turn us on in the background. We’ll keep you entertained before the mob arrives.

Saturday Brings Elvis’ AOW, Our ‘Under The Influence’ EP and Walter Becker-Donald Fagan as Our Singer-Songwriters, November 18, 2023

Good morning, weekenders! Yes, it’s finally Saturday and The Music Mermaid has her selections all queued up for this fine day. Read on for the details!

Here are your musical details:

9:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Elvis Presley by Elvis Presley FINAL AIRING!

We bid farewell to Elvis’ debut album today, a fine piece of music from what I personally consider his best time, right around 1956 and the Nashville/Sun sessions. Tomorrow, we’ll have a new album.

12:00 p.m. Under the Influence: Various Artists

Ah, yes. In my youth, some of my best times were spent under the influence. Today, you’ll hear Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Arlo Guthrie, Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan, Jefferson Airplane, Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen, Donovan, Glen Frey, John Lee Hooker, Jonathan Edwards, Linda Ronstadt, Little Feat, The Traveling Wilburys, The Temptations, Small Faces, Steely Dan, The Beatles, Talking Heads, Neil Young, New Riders of The Purple Sage, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Velvet Underground, The Rolling Stones, Dave Van Ronk, Emmylou Harris, John Prine, Jackson Browne, Steve Winwood, Led Zeppelin, Harry Chapin, The Band, The Fraternity of Man and more!

There’s a thing out there on social media asking the best bands of the seventies. Had it not been for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Steely Dan would have been my number one. They’re a very close number two. We love them here in The Mermaid Lounge, and they are that good because of the singer-songwriter duo that put them on the map.

It’s Simply Sunday With Our AOW and the ‘Here Comes The Night’ EP, November 12, 2023

Good morning, children, and welcome to Sunday in The Mermaid Lounge where the programming is light and the open stream is the norm.

Here’s your Sunday lineup:

Yes, we are Elvis lovers here in The Mermaid Lounge. He is one of our forefathers; one of the artists that people like The Beatles, Tom Petty, The Rolling Stones, and so many others that we play invoke as their inspiration. There were others to be sure, like Fats Domino, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Big Mama Thornton (the original Hound Dog hit was hers), but today we focus on Elvis because he did the one thing the others needed to complete the cycle: He made that music accessible to everyone and helped usher in rock n’ roll. This is Elvis’ debut album, released March 23, 1956. This is our favorite time frame for Elvis music, and today he owns our Album of The Week.

3:00 p.m. Here Comes The Night: Various Artists

Today it’s our ode to the night time. The dark hours. You’ll hear Warren Zevon, the J. Geils Band, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Them, The Beatles, Van Morrison, Patti Smith, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bruce Springsteen, The Kinks, the Electric Prunes, Phoebe Snow, Joe Walsh, The Eagles, The Ronettes, John Cougar Mellencamp, The Doors, Emmylou Harris, Poco, Neil Diamond, The Animals, The Band, the Rolling Stones, Don McLean, Steve Winwood, Cat Stevens, The Traveling Wilburys, Sam Cooke, Jimmy Cliff, Bonnie Raitt and more!

We Head Toward The Weekend With Our ‘Color My World’ EP, The Bee Gees’ AOW, and ‘Live’ Rolling Stones, Thursday, November 9, 2023

Good morning, musicologists! We’ve got a great day lined up for you today with the multi-artist ‘Color My World’ EP, our AOW by The Bee Gees, and some ‘live’ Stones later.

Here’s today’s musical lineup:

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

Songs about colors, fancy and otherwise, by 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, Linda Ronstadt, J.D. Souther and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Bee Gees 1st by The Bee Gees

We’re winding down on this selection. The final airing will be sometime Saturday and, by Sunday, we’ll have a new selection.

7:00 p.m. The Rolling Stones Live at Palais Royale, Toronto, Canada, August 16, 2002

Get yourself some ‘live’ Stones tonight as we feature their 2002 performance in Canada at the Palais Royale.

Come on. You know you want to tune us in. We’re on 24/7 totally free of charge. No lies. No strings. We do not accept any commercial advertising either; an added bonus.

Monday, Monday Brings Our ‘In Your Dreams’ EP and Puts Carole King In The Spotlight Tonight, November 6, 2023

Good morning, music lovers! We start out our day dreaming while awake, and later on this evening we put the legendary Carole King In the Spotlight.

Here’s your musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. In Your Dreams: Various Artists

We start out in deep dream mode with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Aerosmith, Crowded House, the Moody Blues, Van Morrison, The Eurythmics, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Nanci Griffith, Electric Prunes, Fleetwood Mac, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Mamas & The Papas, Jimmy Buffett, Alan Parsons Project, Allman Brothers Band Supertramp, Randy Newman, Aretha Franklin, Linda Ronstadt, Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Widesread Panic, The Youngbloods, Jimmy Ruffin, Jackson Browne, Mudcrutch, Patsy Cline, Joe Walsh, Bruce Springsteen, k.d. lang, Dusty Springfield and more.

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

Tonight we close out our programming with the legendary singer-songwriter Carole King in a Spotlight feature.

Come on in to The Mermaid Lounge and join the fun! We’re on 24/7 at no charge and with no commercial interruption. See for yourself. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Friday Has Arrived and We’ve Open Up With Some Seedy People, Then Roy Orbison and New ‘Live’ Little Feat, November 3, 2023

Good morning, budding weekenders! We are almost there, kids, and today we’ve open up with our multi-artist ‘Villains, Scumbags and Lowlives’ Playlist, then it’s on to Roy Orbison and Little Feat.

Here’s your work week-ending lineup:

11:00 a.m. Villains, Scumbags and Lowlives: Various Artists

There are a lot of seedy people on the planet. Some of them are in full view in Washington right now. And they are a popular subject in music as well. You’ll hear The Beatles, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Shawn Colvin, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers,The Rolling Stones, Electric Light Orchestra, The Who, Warren Zevon, Supertramp, Linda Ronstadt, Foreigner, John Lee Hooker, Elton John, Dolly Parton, Neil Young and more!

4:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Roy Orbison FINAL AIRING!

We bid a fond farewell to Roy Orbison today, this week’s featured singer-songwriter. Tomorrow, we’ll have a brand new artist featured here.

We’ve got a new-to-the-station live performance by Little Feat during the Lowell George period (the best period, I might add) live from the Uptown Theatre.

Heading Toward the Weekend With the ‘Travelin’ Fever’ EP, Tom Rush, and Sir Paul McCartney, Thursday, November 2, 2023

Good morning, music lovers! We are in great company here as we roll along toward the weekend.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Travelin’ Fever: Various Artists

There are topics, and then there are topics. There are loads of songs about life on the road and traveling in general. We’ve got them today with Canned Heat, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jackson Browne, Steve Miller Band, 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, The Traveling Wilburys, Asleep at The Wheel, Mudcrutch, Loggins & Messina, Buffalo Springfield, Tom Rush, The Guess Who, Ray Charles, Marshall Tucker Band, The Beatles, Bob Dylan and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Merrimack County by Tom Rush

We’re winding down on this great album, so get in on it while you can. The final airing will be on Saturday, time TBD.

7:00 p.m. Paul McCartney Live at Citi Field, New York, NY, July 17-21, 2009

Tonight we close the programming with Macca recorded live at Citi Field in New York City. I never got the chance to see The Beatles live, leaving a musical hole in my life. However, I did get to see Sir Paul at Fenway Park in Boston and it was everything it was cracked up to be and then some. Tonight we have his New York performance from 2009.

We’re getting closer now. The weekend is on the horizon. And we’ve got some great new music coming up in November, including an expansion of our general rotation and some of our older playlists. Stand by.

Back to the Working World With Bobbie Gentry, Karla Bonoff and Our Petty Month Finale, Monday, October 30, 2023

Good morning, working folks! It’s back to the real world, and we’re here to see that your transition is a more pleasant one with some great programming.

Here’s your musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. Bobbie Gentry Live at BBC Studios, London, UK 1968-1969

The reclusive Bobbie Gentry brought along two friends in James Taylor and Donovan when she graced the studios at the BBC. Gentry was a brilliant songwriter who only ever wanted to write for others, so she was a reluctant star. She eventually just walked away, but left some great music behind.

3:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Karla Bonoff

Here we have another brilliant female songwriter who has helped to put other singers on the map, like Linda Ronstadt. In turn, Linda Ronstadt has shone a light on Karla Bonoff. And that’s how this works. As it turns out, and as Ronstadt will tell you, Karla Bonoff can sing. She’s in our Spotlight today.

7:00 p.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live at The Piazza Napoleone, Lucca, Italy, June 9, 2012

We close out Tom Petty’s birthday month with a great live performace from Lucca, Italy.

Hey, it’s Monday. It happens once a week and there’s not a damned thing we can do about it. But there is something we can do to make it less bleak, and that is to play great music. We’re here 24/7 with no commercial interruption and at no charge to you!

Our #BecomeUngovernable House EP, Steve Winwood’s AOW and Roy Orbison is Our New Singer-Songwriter, Saturday, October 28, 2023

Good morning, weekenders! Here I am writing to you from my favorite spot on the planet, Provincetown, Massachusetts. And the show goes on with a great musical lineup!

Here’s today’s musical lineup:

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

The music that started this whole idea of mine with Barry McGuire, The Temptations, Edwin Starr, Peter Tosh, The Beatles, Genesis, 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, Ten Years After, The Plastic Ono Band, Billy Joel, George Harrison, Sam Cooke, The Rolling Stones, Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix, Three Dog Night, Jimmy Cliff, Richie Havens, Marvin Gaye, The Association, Phil Ochs, Tom Rush, Pete Seeger, The Band and more!

4:00 p.m. Album of The Week: Roll With It by Steve Winwood FINAL AIRING!

Steve Winwood’s great AOW is in its final airing phase today. Tomorrow, we’ll have a brand new selection here.

A lot of people younger than me remember Roy Orbison as a Wilbury. But before he was a Wilbury (no small feat, I might add), he had a brilliant solo career. Known as ‘The Caruso of Rock,’ Roy Orbison’s voice is so distinctive you’d never mistake him for anyone else. A key influencer for generations of musicians who followed, including Tom Petty, George Harrison, Bob Dylan, and Jeff Lynne, his Wilbury bandmates.

I’m on vacation, so I’m not waxing poetic this morning about why you should make us part of your daily routine. You’ll figure it out eventually.