We Bring Back ‘What’s In a Name,’ Then It’s Dylan & The Heartbreakers Live, and a Jimmy Cliff ‘Spotlight,’ Thursday, May 29, 2025

We’re headed for the weekend with a great lineup, including the return of our ‘What’s In a Name’ EP after a hiatus. What follows is even better!

Here’s your musical lineup:

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

We’re back with songs about people, some real, some imagined. You’ll hear 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, Linda Ronstadt, Laura Nyro, Bobbie Gentry, The Kinks, Three Dog Night, The Association, Joni Mitchell, Badfinger, Steely Dan, Chi Coltrane, Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart, James Taylor, Tony Joe White, and more!

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

Two unbelievably great acts together on one stage on Dylan’s True Confessions tour. It was a thing of beauty.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Jimmy Cliff

Jimmy Cliff is the stuff of legends. He’s a reggae, ska, rocksteady and soul singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, and the only living reggae musician to ever hold The Order of Merit. Bob Dylan called his song Vietnam the best protest song he’d ever heard. If you don’t know Jimmy Cliff, you can learn more about him here. And you can tune him in tonight!

We’re here. We’re free. We don’t run advertising. And we’re on 24/7. What could be better. And no, you can’t build personal playlists, but I say that’s not radio. This is radio, except we don’t play the same hundred songs over, and over, and over. See for yourselves.

We’re at Midweek With the ‘Color My World’ EP, a Jesse Winchester ‘Spotlight,’ and ELO Live at Wembley, Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Good morning, music lovers, and welcome to midweek! We’ve got it going today, beginning with songs about colors, Jesse Winchester, and Jeff Lynne’s ELO!

Here’s your midweek music lineup:

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

We open it up with songs about all the colors on the spectrum from James Taylor, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Booker T & The MGs, Electric Light Orchestra, Procol Harum, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell, John Hiatt, J. D. Souther, The Who, Sam & Dave, Bob Dylan, Amy Winehouse, Badfinger, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Elvis Costello, Neil Young, Jefferson Airplane, The Hollies, Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Cream, Marvin Gaye, Lucinda Williams and more!

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

Bob Dylan once said that you cannot talk about the best songwriters in music without including Jesse Winchester on that list. He’s right. The first time I ever saw him live was when he opened for Emmylou Harris at Boston’s Music Hall. It was a great performance all the way around. I often dreamed of seeing him in a small venue, like Passim’s Coffee House in Cambridge, but never had the opportunity. We do have a live performance or two by him at other small venues. We’ll be sure to get those on soon.

8:00 a.m. Jeff Lynne’s ELO Live at Wembley Stadium, London, UK, June 24, 2017

We close out the programming with Jeff Lynne’s ELO, who took their final world tour last year and passed through Boston, live at Wembley Stadium.

We’ll be headed for the weekend once again after today, and that is always a good thing to look forward to in a time where there seems to be so little to look forward to. The great music we play is another good thing to look forward to. The button is below!

Today We’ve Got Our ‘Folk Music From A-To-Z’ EP, a New Marcia Griffiths ‘Spotlight’ Feature, and Laura Nyro Live at Carnegie Hall, On Friday, May 23, 2025

Good morning, musicologists and welcome to Friday. We’re on the cusp of the weekend, and we’ve got some great music here today, including a new ‘Spotlight’ from a reggae legend!

Here’s your week’s end musical lineup:

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

This is one of our favorite EP’s with music from the folk legends as well as the artists who keep the genre alive, including John Prine, Dave Van Ronk, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul & Mary, Odetta, Yusuf/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, Jesse Winchester, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Lead Belly, Tim Hardin, The Kingston Trio, Simon & Garfunkel, Richie Havens, Bob Dylan, Harry Chapin, Townes Van Zandt, The Carter Family and more!

Today we introduce a brand new ‘Spotlight’ featuring a six-decade legend in Reggae music. Marcia Griffiths has been on the scene not only as a solo artist for decades, but also as a fierce collaborator with other reggae artists. She was a member of the I-Threes (who also have a ‘Spotlight’ here) along with Rita Marley and Judy Mowatt. Together, they were Bob Marley’s back-up singers and one of the most influential Reggae acts in the genre. Today she’s in our ‘Spotlight.’

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

Speaking of music legends, here’s another. Her compositions put many, many artists on the map and on the charts, but there is nothing like hearing her sing them herself. Tonight you can!

Once again, allow me to remind you all. We’re on 24/7 and we’re completely free. No strings. No surprises. No credit card required, nor is there a required subscription. We’re anti-capitalist, anti-fascist, and all about the music. The button is below!

It’s Midweek With ‘Here Comes The Night,’ a New Fleetwood Mac ‘Spotlight’, and Live Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, May 21, 2025

Good morning, musicologists! We’re at midweek and we’ve got some great stuff lined up that includes a brand new ‘Spotlight’ featuring Fleetwood Mac from blues band to one of music’s most potent pop/rock hitmakers.

Here’s your midweek musical lineup:

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

No time to wax poetic because it’s Truck Day, but the long and short is that you’ll hear Warren Zevon, the J. Geils Band, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Van Morrison, The Beatles, Patti Smith, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bruce Springsteen, The Kinks, Electric Prunes, Phoebe Snow and so many more!

From a Britsh blues band under the leadership of the late, great Peter Green to the hitmakers of the seventies with the addition of Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, we give it all to you.

8:00 p.m. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live at Coleman Coliseum, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, October 5, 1995

One of the absolute greatest road bands, if not the greatest, live on the campus of the University of Alabama in a great performance.

We’re here. We’re free. We’ve got the best music on the planet, and all you’ve got to do is hit the button below.

We Return to Our Routine With the ‘Travelin’ Fever’ EP, Then It’s Live Allman Brothers, and a ‘Carole King’ Spotlight on Monday, May 12, 2025

Good morning, working class and welcome to another week. We’re back to our usual programming, although you’ll see some brand new playlists in the mix coming up over the next couple of weeks! We start the week off with our ‘Travelin’ Fever’ EP!

Here’s your Monday, Monday lineup:

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

We’re getting from point A to point B with Canned Heat, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Steve Miller Band, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Dan Fogelberg, Bruce Springsteen, Linda Ronstadt, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Paul McCartney & Wings, The Eagles, Little Feat, The Band, Willie Nelson, Edwin Starr, Janis Joplin, Guy Clark, The Byrds, Asleep at The Wheel, Mudcrutch, The Traveling Wilburys, Tom Rush, Bruce Springsteen, The Guess Who and more!

4:00 p.m. The Allman Brothers Band Live at The Cow Palace, Daly City, CA, December 31, 1973

The folks in the Cow Palace rang in the new year with The Brothers! We’ve got that one live for you today.

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

From one of the original Brill Building songwriting inhabitants who wrote great songs for other people to music legend. Carole King finally decided to use her incredible songwriting talents to make herself famous. One of the true greats. Tapestry changed the landscape.

We’re here. We’re free. We’re anti-capitalist, which means we’re not tracking you or selling you anything. We’re all about the music. We have no money to advertise because we don’t make any money. Spotify is now introducing advertising for their paying customers. We’re not doing that. See for yourself and, if you like us, tell your friends. The button is below.

On Sunday It’s a Christine McVie ‘Spotlight’ Feature, ‘The Female Species’ EP & The Band Live in Japan, May 4, 2025

Good morning, weekenders! We’ve got a great lineup today that includes our ‘Female Species’ EP sandwiched in between Christine McVie and The Band.

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

10:00 a.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Christine McVie

From Chickenshack to Fleetwood Mac, we open with a Christine McVie ‘Spotlight’ feature. In my humble opinion, Christine McVie was always the heart and soul of Fleetwood Mac, although Stevie Nicks got more attention.

1:00 p.m. The Female Species: Various Artists

We take you through the afternoon with songs about women, some real and some imagined, from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Talking Heads, Jackson Browne, John Mayall, Hot Tuna, 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!

8:00 p.m. The Band Live at Kosei Nenkin Hall, Tokyo, Japan, September 2, 1983

We close out the programming today with a great performance by The Band from Kosei Nenkin Hall in Tokyo.

Just a quick reminder that tomorrow begins Festival Week here in The Mermaid Lounge! We’re here 24/7 and we’re totally free of charge every single day. We do not run any commercial advertising because we do not make one penny from what we do. We’re all about the music. See for yourselves. The button is below.

We’re Back With Our ‘House EP’, a Beatles ‘Spotlight’ Feature, and The Byrds Live in London, On Saturday, May 3, 2025

Welcome, Weekenders! We’re back with some great programming today as we begin the weekend and head toward ‘Festival Week’ on Monday. Read on for all the details!

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

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

The music that inspired the radio station starts off the day. We’ve got music from Barry McGuire, The Temptations, Edwin Starr, Peter Tosh, The Beatles, T. Rex, The Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bob Dylan, Country Joe & The Fish, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Joan Baez, CSNY, Pink Floyd, The Animals, Ten Years After, Plastic Ono Band, Sam Cooke, The Rolling Stones, Joni Mitchell, Jimi Hendrix, Three Dog Night, Jimmy Cliff, Phil Ochs, Richie Havens, Marvin Gaye, The Association, Tom Rush, The Band and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Beatles

This was a tough playlist to create. Ultimately, I ended up putting a bunch of sheets of paper in a bucket with songs written on them and pulling them out. There’s simply no logical way to do this in your head. There are far too many great songs from the greatest rock band on the planet.

8:00 p.m. The Byrds Live at Royal Albert Hall, London, UK, May 13, 1971

We close it out from one of the most significant bands of the sixties whose music influenced many who followed, most notably Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. The Byrds were a fine band, and Roger McGuinn is a legend.

We’re here 24/7 and we play the best damned music on the planet. It’s an eclectic rotation with few duplications in even a week, let alone a day. The Music Mermaid has this down. Join us. The button is below.

Today We Ride ‘The Psychedelic Express’, Get a New Phil Ochs ‘Spotlight’, and Some Live James Brown, On May Day, 2025

Welcome to May Day, 2025! We’ve got some great stuff today as we continue to build our protest and social justice music content. We give you a Phil Ochs ‘Spotlight’ today along with a free tip on ‘The Psychedelic Express’ and some live James Brown this evening.

Here’s your May Day lineup:

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

This morning we take a trip on ‘The Psychedelic Express’ along with Vanilla Fudge, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Chambers Brothers, The Beatles, The Electric Prunes, The Animals, Blues Image, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Doors, Pink Floyd, Donovan, The Byrds, Strawberry Alarm Clock, Jimi Hendrix, Traffic, Cream, Dr. John, Procol Harum, The Who, Canned Heat, Yes, Electric Light Orchestra, Tommy James & The Shondells, Mudcrutch, Blind Faith, The Grateful Dead, Big Brother & The Holding Company, Velvet Underground and more!

Phil Ochs is the stuff of legends, blessed with great songwriting chops and sardonic humor along with a passion for social justice. He was one of the most prolific musical social activists of his generation. Today we put him ‘In the Spotlight’ and you can read more about him here in The Guardian.

8:00 p.m. We close out May Day with a live performance from James Brown, the hardest working man in show business, from the House of Blues in Las Vegas.

We’re on 24/7 and we do not require a subscription. We also do not track. We do not play commercial advertising and we don’t buy music from Amazon. Ever. We’re all about the music and how we source it. The button is below.

On Monday It’s Live Derek & The Dominos, Then Our ‘Great Beginnings’ EP, and a J.J. Cale ‘Spotlight’ Feature, April 28, 2025

Good morning, music lovers! It’s Monday all over again, but all is not lost. We’ve got some great programming for you today.

Here’s your Monday musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Derek & The Dominos Live at The Fillmore East, New York, NY, October 23, 1970

Yet another Supergroup featuring Eric Clapton, Bobby Whitlock, Duane Allman and Jim Gordon. We’ve got them live from The Fillmore East to start the day.

1:00 p.m. Great Beginnings: Various Artists

This is the newest of our EPs, and it features songs with great openings. You’ll hear The Beatles, Elton John, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, the J. Geils Band, Aretha Franklin, Yes, Chicago, The Who, Johnny Rivers, Electric Light Orchestra, The Kinks, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Rolling Stones, The Allman Brothers Band, The Temptations, CSNY, Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, ZZ Top, Badfinger, Steely Dan, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Strawberry Alarm Clock, Paul Simon, The Chambers Brothers and more!

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of J. J. Cale

One of the best right here. A pioneer of the “Tulsa Sound” which blended blues, rockabilly, country, and jazz. His bluesy guitar, whispery vocals, and shuffling beat defined the genre. He also wrote some of the best: Cocaine, After Midnight, The Old Man and Me, 13 Days, and Crazy Mama are among his compositions.

We’re here 24/7 without any commercial interruption. We don’t ask for a subscription, a credit card or your personal information. We don’t track or try to sell to you. What’s not to love? The button is below.

It’s Sunday Funday With ‘Color My World’, a Richard & Mimi Farina ‘Spotlight’ Feature, and Live Joan Baez, on April 27, 2025

Welcome to Sunday Funday here in The Mermaid Lounge and we are bringing in some new folk music for the resistance along with the ‘Color My World’ EP and live Joan Baez.

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

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

We open with five hours of songs about all colors of the spectrum with music from James Taylor, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Donovan, Booker T & The MGs, Procol Harum, Electric Light Orchestra, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell, John Hiatt, J.D. Souther, The Who, Sam & Dave, Bob Dylan, Amy Winehouse, Badfinger, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Elvis Costello, Neil Young, Jefferson Airplane, The Hollies, Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Cream, Marvin Gaye, Lucinda Williams and more!

Not a lot of music, but some of the most inspiring music ever made. Richard Farina tragically died at the age of 29, never realizing his full genius potential. They were a fixture in the Boston-Cambridge (Massachusetts) folk scene, gracing the stage at Club 47, the Unicorn Coffee House, and other iconic venues. They appeared at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, and collaborated with some of the best, including Joan Baez. Today, we put them in the spotlight where they belong as part of our growing ‘protest music’ focus.

8:00 p.m. Joan Baez: Live in 1962

We close out the day with the great Joan Baez, no stranger to songs about social justice, recorded live at several venues during 1962 at the very beginning of a long and brilliant musical career.

We are committed to music, and we are committed to free music with no commercial avertising. We are also committed to meeting the moment and raising our voices through song. We vowed never to involve politics, but where we are is not a question of politics. It’s right vs. wrong. Truth vs. lies. We must all stand and deliver in some way. This is our way. The button is below.