The Ladies Open Up Tuesday Bluesday, Followed by Robert Johnson and Jimi Hendrix, July 2, 2024

Good morning, bluesologists! We’ve got yet another great Tuesday Bluesday in store for you all today, beginning with our ‘Ladies Sing The Blues’ multi-artist EP.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

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

The ladies are large and in charge to start the festivities, including 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. In The Spotlight: The Music of Robert Johnson

Although Johnson’s recording career spanned only seven years, he is one of the most influential artists in the history of blues music. Robert Johnson passed away at the age of 27 and is one of the earliest members of the fabled ‘27 Club‘.

When we think of Jimi Hendrix, we think of rock and psychedelia. But guess what? Jimi Hendrix loved the blues and he did play the blues too. We bring the receipts tonight.

We Step Into July With Our ’27 and Gone’ Playlist, a David Crosby Spotlight Feature and Live Little Feat, Monday, July 1, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We turn the page on a new chapter today with a pretty great playlist, including one from members of the fabled ’27 Club.’

Here’s your Monday musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. 27 and Gone: Various Artists

The lore and legend behind the ’27 Club’ is often the stuff of conspiracy theories. It reminds me of the ‘Paul is dead’ hysteria that spread across the nation back in the day. What we essentially have here is a bunch of really great musicians who left us far too soon; no big conspiracy needed: Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Pete Ham (Badfinger), Blind Al Wilson (Canned Heat), Amy Winehouse, Brian Jones (The Rolling Stones), Ron “Pigpen” McKernan (The Grateful Dead), bluesman Robert Johnson, and Spanky McFarlane (Spanky & Our Gang). Today we pay them remembrance.

3:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of David Crosby

A founding member of both The Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash (and sometimes Young), and a formidable solo artist was he. Yes, he was a bit prickly, but some people are.

7:00 p.m. Little Feat Live at Ultrasonic Studios, Hempstead, NY, April 10, 1973

We close out the programming today with Little Feat live in-studio from 1973.

We’re here 24/7; not just when there’s programming. Before, in between and after our programming, you’ll hear more than 27,000 songs circulated all day, all night by our resident Music Mermaid. And there’s no endless DJ chatter or commercial advertising. Did I mention we’re 100% free?

We Close Out The Month With Wendy Waldman, The ‘Ladies Day Out’ EP, and Live Carole King, June 30, 2024

Good morning, musicologists. When we say nobody plays the women of music like we do, we mean it. And we back it up. It’s a Ladies Only kind of day here in The Mermaid Lounge.

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

10:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Wendy Waldman

I dare say some may not know who Wendy Waldman is, but those who were enmeshed in the women of music during the seventies will. She was one of those women during an era where women banded together over music in the face of a totally male-dominated environment, and helped each other out by appearing on each other’s albums. It was certainly a great time in music. There was minimal competition among the women, and a whole lot of camaraderie. Wendy Waldman may not have been a ‘star’ in that sky, but she made some amazing albums and has a great voice, and her peers knew it. Tune her in.

1:00 p.m. Ladies Day Out: Various Artists

We close the month with one of our favorite EP’s featuring Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Carly Simon, Emmylou Harris, Petula Clark, Laura Nyro, Cilla Black, Irma Thomas, Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Etta James, Janis Joplin, Carole King, Maria Muldaur, Lucinda Williams, Rosanne Cash, Eva Cassidy, Wendy Waldman, Shawn Colvin, The Ronettes, The Supremes, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Norah Jones, Phoebe Snow, Nicolette Larson, Sheryl Crow, Susan Tedeschi, Valerie Carter, Dusty Springfield, Dolly Parton and more!

Billed as the ‘Home Again’ show, it was all that. Carole King is a legend in the annals of women’s music, starting out as a songwriter in the famous Brill Building. She then went on to build an amazing solo career highlighted by the release of Tapestry, a legendary album. We have her live from Central Park tonight.

It’s Saturday in The Lounge With ‘Folk Music From A-To-Z’, Jesse Winchester and Jefferson Airplane, June 29, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! We’re making our way into the dog days of summer. But we’re cool in The Lounge with a folk music start and a psychedelic finish.

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

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

Songs about hope and bravery is what the early folk music movement was all about. In this EP, you’ll hear John Prine, Dave Van Ronk, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul & Mary, Odetta, Cat Stevens, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Beatles, Arlo Guthrie, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Rush, Joan Baez, The Band, Eric Andersen, Judy Collins, Nanci Griffith, Jesse Winchester, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Lead Belly, Tim Hardin, The Kingston Trio, Simon & Garfunkel, Richie Havens, Phil Ochs, James Taylor, Townes Van Zandt, The Carter Family, Neil Young and more!

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

We continue the folk music vibe before we swing into something a bit more…psychedelic. I was fortunate enough to have seen Jesse Winchester perform twice, the first time as the opening act for Emmylou Harris; the second as the headliner. Bob Dylan, the master songwriter himself, once said of Jesse Winchester, “You can’t talk about the best songwriters and not include him.” Indeed.

We had the Airplane soaring high over Golden Gate Park as we were moving out of the sixties and into the next decade. However, I beg to differ with people out there talking about 1969 as the ‘Summer of Love.’ Not true. The ‘Summer of Love’ happened in 1967. We have definitive proof, so stop spreading musical misinformation. But I digress, and I apologize.

We Take a Trip On ‘The Psychedelic Express,’ Then It’s Live Jimi Hendrix and Carly Simon, Thursday, June 27, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We are officially over the hump and are on the downslide to the weekend. Today we start out on ‘The Psychedelic Express,’ then it’s on to some live music.

Here’s your mind bending lineup:

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

Truly a favorite genre in The Mermaid Lounge and, once again, pioneered by The Fab Four. In addition to The Beatles, you’ll hear Vanilla Fudge, The Chambers Brothers, the 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, Traffic, Cream, Dr. John, Procol Harum, The Who, Canned Heat, Yes, Electric Light Orchestra, Tommy James & The Shondell, Mudcrutch, Blind Faith, The Grateful Dead, Velvet Underground, Big Brother & The Holding Company and more!

4:00 p.m. Jimi Hendrix Live at The Berkeley Community Theater, Berkeley, CA, May 30, 1970

We’ve got Hendrix in a great live performance this afternoon that took place just months before his untimely death.

It was Jackie Onassis’ idea for Carly Simon to perform at Grand Central Station as a precursor to her first tour in 14 years. We’ve got it for you here this evening.

We’re at Midweek With ‘A Little Bit O’Soul’, Live Bob Marley and Ry Cooder In the Spotlight, Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Good morning, musicologists. We’re at midweek and we’ve got our ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul’ EP, The Wailers at The Record Plant and a brand new Spotlight featuring Ry Cooder.

UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 1970: Photo of Ry Cooder Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Here’s your midweek musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. A Little Bit O’ Soul: Various Artists

This is the big kahuna of soul with Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Ronettes, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Jimmy Ruffin, The Drifters, Chuck Berry, Stevie Wonder, Carla Thomas, James Brown, The Shirelles, Etta James, Curtis Mayfield, Sam & Dave, The Staple Singers, Nina Simone, LaVern Baker, The Supremes, Sam Cooke, Edwin Starr, Fontella Bass, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Irma Thomas, The Box Tops, Jr Walker & The All Stars, Percy Sledge, Al Green and more.

4:00 p.m. Bob Marley & The Wailers Live at The Record Plant, Sausalito, CA, October 13, 1973

The Legend and his bandmates take over The Record Plant for a great performance.

Truly one of the most incredible artists of our time. To this day, Linda Ronstadt calls Ry Cooder the best guitarist she’s ever worked with. He is a master of the slide guitar, and is one of the most sought-after studio musicians. He is also known for his collaborations with a variety of artists from a variety of musical backgrounds, like Taj Mahal, The Chieftains, and Ali Farka Toure. Ry Cooder has earned his place In The Spotlight.

It’s Tuesday Bluesday With Our Big, Bad Blues EP, a Slim Harpo Spotlight Feature, and Live Muddy Waters, June 25, 2024

Good morning, bluesologists and welcome back to Tuesday Bluesday in The Mermaid Lounge. We start off with five hours of uninterrupted blues!

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blues: Various Artists

Our biggest, baddest blues EP with Delbert McClinton, Robert Johnson, B. B. King, Little Walter, Slim Harpo, Ry Cooder, Canned Heat, John Lee Hooker, The Animals, Albert King, Johnny Winter, Muddy Waters, Little Feat, Bonnie Raitt, The Yardbirds, Janis Joplin, The Rolling Stones, Bobby “Blue” Bland, the Allman Brothers Band, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Elmore James, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Robert Cray Band, J. J. Cale, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, James Cotton, Koko Taylor, Marcia Ball, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Susan Tedeschi, Roomful of Blues, Howlin’ Wolf and more!

We’ve had this on our list for a long time and we’re happy it’s finally here. Slim Harpo was a great bluesman who was pretty popular in his time. He was also a master of the blues harp.

It’s a trip back in time in the Wayback Machine for this live performance at The Fillmore West, vintage 1966.

On Sunday It’s Jefferson Airplane, Our ‘Ode to Morning’ EP, and The Band Live in Japan, On June 23, 2024

Good morning, weekenders! We’ve got some great music today that includes a Jefferson Airplane Spotlight feature and The Band live from Kosei Nenkin Hall in Tokyo.

Here’s your Sunday lineup:

10:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Jefferson Airplane

Or, as we used to affectionately call them, The Airplane. The band was a true pioneer of the American psychedelic music genre, and we thank them for all their hard work.

1:00 p.m. Ode To Morning: Various Artists

This afternoon we have songs extolling the virtues of the morning from 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, Townes Van Zandt, Pure Prairie League and more.

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

We close out a great day with a The Band live from Tokyo. They went from being Bob Dylan’s back up band to becoming one of the most influential bands in the evolution American popular music.

It’s an official ‘day of rest,’ so kick your heels of and join us. The Magic Button is below. It’s as simple as that.

We Welcome Saturday With ‘Here Comes The Night’, The Animals, and Warren Zevon Live in London, June 22, 2024

Good morning, musicologists, and welcome to the weekend! We’ve got an excellent lineup here today, starting with our ‘Here Comes The Night’ multi-artist EP!

Here’s your musical lineup:

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

We start the morning with songs about the night from Warren Zevon, J. Geils Band, Them, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, 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, Poco, Emmylou Harris, Neil Diamond, The Animals, The Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, Don McLean, Steve Winwood, Jimmy Cliff, The Traveling Wilburys, Sam Cooke and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Animals

One of the best damned bands of the sixties playing their brand of British blues and R & B.

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

We close out the festivities with Warren Zevon in a performance from 1988 that was broadcast live on the BBC. I saw Mr. Zevon only once, but it was a memorable performance indeed at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston. Small venues are so much better.

Here we go! We’re at the weekend, and we are primed and ready to play some great music this weekend. We are also beginning to plan some special summer programming, which we shall not reveal here. Suffice it to say, all you need to do is use the button below.

We’re Over The Hump and We’ve Got Our ‘Original Sixties Rotation’, Sir Paul Live in New York, and Ringo In the Spotlight on Thursday, June 20, 2024

We’re over the hump and headed toward the weekend with a great lineup today, including a visit from the two surviving Beatles!

Here’s your musical lineup for Thursday:

9:00 a.m. The Original Sixties Rotation: Various Artists

These were the days, my friends, we’d thought they’d never end. They did, of course, but the music lives on through The Beatles, The Monkees, Sonny & Cher, Simon & Garfunkel, Little Eva, The Everly Brothers, The Searchers, Dusty Springfield, The Drifters, The Dave Clark Five, Johnny Rivers, Bob Dylan, The Animals, Petula Clark, The Rolling Stones, Procol Harum, The Turtles, Del Shannon, The Temptations, James Brown, Fontella Bass, The Box Tops, Blues Image, Booker T. & The MGs, The Four Tops, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Left Banke, Fats Domino and more!

4:00 p.m. Paul McCartney Live at Citi Field, Queens, NY, July 17-21, 2009

We’ve got Sir Paul live this afternoon from Citi Field in Queens on The Summer Live 09 Tour, his fourth North American concert tour of the 21st Century. There was special significance to his performance at Citi Field, opening a brand new venue in 2009. The Beatles opened a brand new venue at the same spot in 1965. Back then, it was known as Shea Stadium.

8:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Ringo Starr

The energizer bunny of music visits tonight with music from The Beatles and as a solo artist with his fantastic All Starr Bands. Ringo is undoubtedly one of music’s most accomplished percussionists and drummers, and he has made more than forty albums since the Beatles broke up.

It’s a Beatle kind of day here in The Lounge. The Beatles were the genesis for so much of the sixties music it’s unbelievable. We’ve got the full catalogue here, along with 27,000 other songs free of charge every day 24/7.