‘Are You Ready for The Country’, a Guy Clark Spotlight and ‘Live’ Lukas Nelson & POTR on Saturday, May 11, 2024

Good morning, musicologists! We keep it on the country side today with our programming, both old school and country-rock, that great sound out of Laurel Canyon.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. Are You Ready for The Country: Various Artists

Another EP out of mothballs this morning as we pay homage to the old standards and the country rockers with The Eagles, Asleep at The Wheel, The Byrds, Emmylou Harris, Neil Young, Guy Clark, Steve Earle, Dolly Parton, Poco, Linda Ronstadt, Alison Krauss & Union Station, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Jerry Jeff Walker, New Riders of The Purple Sage, Carlene Carter, Rosanne Cash, The Desert Rose Band, Kris Kristofferson, Gram Parsons, John Prine, Tom Rush, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Townes Van Zandt and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Guy Clark

Surely one of the absolute best country singer-songwriters ever. I know I’ve told this story before, but one dreadfully snowy night my friend George and I were walking around Harvard Square freezing when we decided to go into a place called Passim’s Coffee House to warm up. We had no idea who Guy Clark was, but we paid the cover charge and went inside. It was undoubtedly one of the best things I ever did in my life. I was totally hooked. And he played a mean fiddle to boot.

8:00 p.m. Lukas Nelson & Promise of The Real Live at The Boathouse, Newport News, VA, June 14, 2018

We close out the country programming with Lukas Nelson and his great little band. Lukas comes from great country outlaw pedigree, so it’s no wonder we love him here in The Mermaid Lounge.

We’re here 24/7 for your listening pleasure, at absolutely no charge to you and with absolutely no commercial interruption. Ever. Just an occasional station I.D. bit courtesy of yours truly. That’s it. The button’s below.

It’s Saturday With Joan Baez, Steely Dan & Our ‘Travelin’ Fever’ EP, April 6, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We’ve got a Joan Baez Spotlight, some ‘live’ Steely Dan this afternoon and our ‘Travelin’ Fever’ EP playing a night shift for the first time for any EP!

Here’s your musical lineup:

10:00 a.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Joan Baez

We kick things off with a Joan Baez Spotlight feature. In her vast 60-year career, Baez never failed to sing the music of justice. It’s in her DNA. In 2019, Joan Baez finally retired from touring, 59 years after she made her debut at the Newport Folk Festive at the age of 18.

3:00 p.m. Steely Dan Live at The National City Pavilion, Cincinnati, OH, July 13, 2008

We’ve got some great live jazz-rock from undoubtedly a Mermaid Lounge favorite, and one of the best things to come out of music in the seventies.

8:00 p.m. Travelin’ Fever: Various Artists FIRST TIME ON THE NIGHT SHIFT!

This marks the first time we’ve aired an EP in the evening, for the benefit of our global audience. You’ll hear Canned Heat, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Box Tops, Arlo Guthrie, The Allman Brothers Band, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, The Doors, Tom Rush, The Byrds, Little Feat, The Band, Willie Nelson, Edwin Starr, The Traveling Wilburys, Del Shannon, Janis Joplin, Ray Charles, The Doobie Brothers, Bob Dylan and more!

Stop on by The Lounge today. You won’t regret it. You can come and go as you please; there are no bouncers at the door. There’s no cover charge and we don’t run commercial advertising either. We’re all about the music.

We Start Out With ‘Live’ Kinks, Then It’s Willie Nelson and America, on (Finally) Friday, February 23, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We are doing something a bit different and kicking off the programming with some ‘live’ music. Then we move on to Willie Nelson and close out the programming with America.

Here’s today’s musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Kinks Live at The Palladium, New York, NY, December 31, 1980

We kick off the day with The Kinks’ New Year’s Eve performance from 1980.

2:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Willie Nelson FINAL AIRING!

Today is Willie’s final day as this week’s featured singer-songwriter. But don’t worry, his music is part of our daily standard rotation.

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

I always refer to America as a ‘great little band’ for some reason. I think that’s because I believe their music somehow got lost in the shuffle of the seventies. Their string of hits wasn’t lost, but their absolute best music remained in the background, and their creativity really took off when a guy named Sir George Martin (the fifth Beatle) began working with them. We believe they belong In the Spotlight.

Yes, we’ve made it to the end of another work week as I contemplate more changes to the programming (mostly related to airing programs in the late-night hours for our worldwide audiences). In the meantime, we remain free 24/7 with no commercial interruption. Give us a shot. The button’s below.

We Take a Trip On ‘The Psychedelic Express’, Then It’s Willie Nelson and ‘Live’ Traffic, Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We open and close the programming today with great bands from the psychedelic music era. In between, it’s outlaw Willie Nelson.

Here’s your musical lineup:

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

Certainly one of my favorite sixties musical genres. This EP has all the best bands of the era, plus some bands who simply pay homage to the genre. You’ll hear Vanilla Fudge, The Chambers Brothers, The Beatles, Electric Prunes, The Animals, Jefferson Airplane, 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, The Grateful Dead, Velvet Underground, Big Brother & The Holding Company and more!

4:00 p.m. Singer-Songwriter Series: The Music of Willie Nelson

Willie’s back for his second spin as our featured singer-songwriter.

We close out the psychedelic programming with the amazing Steve Winwood and Traffic, live from the Fillmore East in New York.

We’ve Got Willie Nelson as Our Featured Singer-Songwriter and Our ‘A Little Bit O’ Soul’ EP, Monday, February 19, 2024

Good morning, music lovers! We’ve got a great Monday on tap today with Willie Nelson as this week’s featured singer-songwriter and our big, bad soul EP this afternoon into evening.

Here’s your musical lineup:

You had to know we’d get around to the original Outlaw here in The Mermaid Lounge and today is that day.

3:00 p.m. A Little Bit O’ Soul: Various Artists

We’ve got our big, bad soul EP up at midday 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, Eddie Floyd, Percy Sledge, The Ad Libs, Joe Tex, Wanda Jackson, Ann Peebles, Al Green and more!

The Weekend is Here! We’ve Got “Caribou,” Our ‘Travelin’ Fever’ EP, and ‘Live’ Hot Tuna, Saturday, February 3, 2024

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m.  Album of The Week: Caribou by Elton John FINAL AIRING!

Another of our 50-year-old album club in 2024 is done. We move on to the next one on Sunday. Not telling. You’ll have to wait and see.

11:30 a.m. Travelin’ Fever: Various Artists

Being on the road is a popular musical subject. You’ll hear 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, Willie Nelson, Edwin Starr, Janis Joplin, Guy Clark, The Byrds, Joan Baez, Asleep at The Wheel, The Traveling Wilburys, Mudcrutch, Loggins & Messina, Buffalo Springfield, Tom Rush, The Guess Who, Ray Charles, Marshall Tucker Band, The Beatles, Bob Dylan and more!

Hot Tuna Live at Sweetwater, Mill Valley, CA, January 27 & 28, 1992

This fine blues-rock band was formed in 1969 from the ashes of Jefferson Airplane by Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady and, although other band members have come and gone, they have remained at the helm.

I have one more day of servitude, but you can hang out here in The Mermaid Lounge with our Music Mermaid and have a fine day. Remember, we’re on 24/7 at no charge and with absolutely no commercial interruption.

It’s a Simple Sunday With Dolly and Our AOW and the ‘Are You Ready for The Country’ EP Later, November 19, 2023

Good morning, musicologists! We’ve got a real treat for you today with our Album of The Week as Dolly Parton’s Rockstar makes its debut on our station. Read on for details!

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

When Dolly Parton learned she was being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, she turned it down because she felt she was not a rock star. She’d never made an album of rock music. The people at the Hall disagreed with her and wanted to induct her anyway. She returned the favor by releasing Rockstar, a 30-song album of classic rock and rock n’ roll songs given the Dolly treatment. And it’s a treat. Dolly had a lot of supporters on this one, including Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr on her version of The Beatles’ Let It Be, Ann Wilson on her version of Magic Man, and Emmylou Harris and Sheryl Crow on You’re No Good.

3:00 p.m. Are You Ready for The Country: Various Artists

While Dolly goes rock, you’ll also find her in our big, bad country EP. Along with Dolly, you’ll hear Guy Clark, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Neil Young, The Byrds, Gram Parsons, Pure Prairie League, Asleep at The Wheel, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Bob Dylan, The Eagles, Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle, the Marshall Tucker Band, Jerry Jeff Walker, Mudcrutch, The Band, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Glen Campbell, Rosanne Cash, Dan Fogelberg, New Riders of The Purple Sage, John Prine, The Desert Rose Band, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and more!

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.

Saturday Brings Linda Ronstadt, Our ‘Are You ReadyFor the Country’ EP, and John Fogerty as our Singer-Songwriter, October 21, 2023

Welcome, weekenders! It’s Saturday in The Lounge and we kick stuff off today with a final airing of our AOW, followed by our big, bad country EP and John Fogerty later.

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Duets by Linda Ronstadt FINAL AIRING!

Our official Queen of All Music bids us a fond farewell today as she and her friends serenade us for one more time. But not to worry, all of our AOWs are included in our standard rotation, so you’ll hear all of these songs again.

11:00 a.m. Are You Ready for The Country: Various Artists

This is our big, bad country EP with both traditional country musicians and the pioneers of country-rock. You’ll hear Guy Clark, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt, Neil Young, The Byrds, Gram Parsons, Pure Prairie League, Asleep at The Wheel, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Bob Dylan, The Eagles, Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle, the Marshall Tucker Band, Jerry Jeff Walker, Mudcrutch, The Band, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Glen Campbell, Rosanne Cash, Dan Fogelberg, New Riders of The Purple Sage, John Prine, The Desert Rose Band, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and more!

As the heart and soul of Creedence Clearwater Revival, this guy has written some of the most incredible songs of the sixties and seventies, including Proud Mary, Bad Moon Rising, Fortunate Son, and so many more. He also forged a successful solo career after the band broke up, writing Centerfield and The Old Man Down The Road. He is this week’s featured singer-songwriter.

Today We’ve Got Emmylou Harris, Sam Cooke and Our ‘Ode To Morning’ Multi-Artist EP, Saturday, October 14, 2023

Good morning, weekenders and welcome to the Mermaid Lounge where we have our final airing of Emmylou Harris’ AOW, the intro of Sam Cooke as our featured singer-songwriter, and our great ‘Ode to Morning’ EP!

Here’s your Saturday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Album of The Week: Duets by Emmylou Harris FINAL AIRING!

This great compilation album gets its final spin today, but there’s no need to fret. These songs are all in our standard rotation. Tomorrow we’ll have a new album, and it will be Duets by Linda Ronstadt. One good turn deserves another.

11:00 a.m. Ode to Morning: Various Artists

The last EP we heard was about night. This one’s about morning with 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, Badfinger, Chris Hillman and more!

Smooth-as-silk Sam Cooke has been called the man who invented soul and the “King of Soul” because of the pioneering influence that he has had on the genre, including his unique vocals and songwriting style. He is our new featured singer-songwriter.