Indeed! They were such smooth vocalists, whose very distinct styles melded into musical magic.
I would suggest their later song Southern Cross deserves a place on the GOAT list of yacht rock. The percussion parts are just so tasty, and their vocal harmonies , as always, are mesmerizing.
I'm fan of all of these songs! Most were released when I was in high school and they were all huge hits. Kenny Loggins, the Doobie Brothers, and Steely Dan are probably my favorite artists here that fit the "yacht rock" genre. Have you heard any of the recent releases from Young Gun Silver Fox? They beautifully emulate the sounds and vibes of it.
This is a great article. I was 13 when “Kiss You All Over” came out, and couldn’t quite tell you why at the time but I loved that song.
To me it feels a little incomplete without either Firefall or Orleans. (To be fair, I thought “Baby Come Back” was by one of those bands.) I’mma give a 👎🏼 to “Human Nature” at the expense of both of these bands. I also don’t necessarily think of Baker Street as “yacht rock,” but it would completely fit in at a YR show, if that makes sense.
In sum, thanks for the fun and surprisingly thought-provoking article!
Love this and I agree that Yacht Rock is a total vibe. The inclusion of Human Nature is absolutely perfect and the song could have been a 10 if Michael MacDonald had contributed BVs. Song to add - I Keep Forgetting' or is it just like that one extra cigarette you smoke at the end of a drunken night, a touch too bitter?
Agreed. But no Pablo? I danced at a bayside marina dock disco to Boz's Lowdown in Sausalito after sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge on a Friday night. A nobody, a cowhand on a Petaluma Dairy Farm by day taking a sailing class. The sloop owner handed me the tiller and the ropes and off into the sunset we went. I was shoveling shit the next morning. There are no days off on a farm. "Cows don't know it's Christmas." my boss used to say. Stephen Bishop's "On and On" would play on the crackly radio as I pushed each wheelbarrow full up the ramp and dumped the manure into the pit. And that song would keep me going, not fun on a rainy day. But there were many great moments too, too many to mention here but in my memoirs from the road for sure coming soon. New Kid in Town (that I was) and I Fooled Around and Fell in Love these were all instant "AM" classics in real time. I was a musician trying to get a foothold in the NoCal scene. I wrote and performed my song "Sailing on the Bay" and recorded it live at the storied Inn of the Beginning 78 the night before I rode to Austin to try my luck in the Cosmic Cowboy scene. Wildfire anyone? See a few chapters in my LostinAustinbook.substack.com if you're up for a real American adventure. I'm going to re-record my ode to the hardworking man on a mission looking for adventure in whatever comes his way this year. It was written from the heart about that most memorable of fateful days on the bay into the not so lonely night. My 1 contribution to the genre. Yes, it is a genre and a damn good one. America really started it but it's not the America we live in today. Horse With No Name and also Seals and Crofts had a hand in it too Diamond Girl / Summer Breeze. I've played all kinds of music mostly rock and roll real rock, folk rock, funk rock, hard rock, blues rock, punk rock, country rock, psychedelic rock, noise rock after the love is gone... Love Will Find a Way.
I'm all in bro, thanks once again for the heavy lifting.
This is my childhood in a playlist. My dad had 5 foot tall speakers and he and my mom would tie on a little buzz and blast all of this, all weekend long. 😊
"Brandy" and "What a Fool Believes" have looong been among my favorite tunes in this sphere. "Human Nature" by Michael is a classic no matter what you label it.
My Dad was / is the Commodore of the Yacht and would approve of most of these selections.
Case about my Dad made word.
https://open.substack.com/pub/alanpierson/p/this-is-the-day-of-the-expanding?r=3xmibo&utm_medium=ios
Anything from the Album CSN by Crosby, Stills & Nash
Shadow Captain
Indeed! They were such smooth vocalists, whose very distinct styles melded into musical magic.
I would suggest their later song Southern Cross deserves a place on the GOAT list of yacht rock. The percussion parts are just so tasty, and their vocal harmonies , as always, are mesmerizing.
I'm fan of all of these songs! Most were released when I was in high school and they were all huge hits. Kenny Loggins, the Doobie Brothers, and Steely Dan are probably my favorite artists here that fit the "yacht rock" genre. Have you heard any of the recent releases from Young Gun Silver Fox? They beautifully emulate the sounds and vibes of it.
I have not! Which is a crime because I adore yacht rock. Adding to my listening queue for this week. Thanks Dan!
Just gave them a listen! They are great. Definitely know their way around the yacht rock genre.
👍🏻
This is a great article. I was 13 when “Kiss You All Over” came out, and couldn’t quite tell you why at the time but I loved that song.
To me it feels a little incomplete without either Firefall or Orleans. (To be fair, I thought “Baby Come Back” was by one of those bands.) I’mma give a 👎🏼 to “Human Nature” at the expense of both of these bands. I also don’t necessarily think of Baker Street as “yacht rock,” but it would completely fit in at a YR show, if that makes sense.
In sum, thanks for the fun and surprisingly thought-provoking article!
Thanks Joe! Orelans were a supremely understated band, even at their peak. Appreciate your comment.
I also meant to say that featuring “Georgy Porgy” from Toto was an inspired choice.
If Baker St is yacht rock then the yacht must be the Marie
Celeste. Or the Bounty
That made me lol
Love this and I agree that Yacht Rock is a total vibe. The inclusion of Human Nature is absolutely perfect and the song could have been a 10 if Michael MacDonald had contributed BVs. Song to add - I Keep Forgetting' or is it just like that one extra cigarette you smoke at the end of a drunken night, a touch too bitter?
Thanks Jason! It made the long list but I cut it for more or less the reason you described.
Wasn't expecting Michael Jackson but that song fits. Also thanks for including Robbie Dupree!
Thanks for reading Christopher!
Agreed. But no Pablo? I danced at a bayside marina dock disco to Boz's Lowdown in Sausalito after sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge on a Friday night. A nobody, a cowhand on a Petaluma Dairy Farm by day taking a sailing class. The sloop owner handed me the tiller and the ropes and off into the sunset we went. I was shoveling shit the next morning. There are no days off on a farm. "Cows don't know it's Christmas." my boss used to say. Stephen Bishop's "On and On" would play on the crackly radio as I pushed each wheelbarrow full up the ramp and dumped the manure into the pit. And that song would keep me going, not fun on a rainy day. But there were many great moments too, too many to mention here but in my memoirs from the road for sure coming soon. New Kid in Town (that I was) and I Fooled Around and Fell in Love these were all instant "AM" classics in real time. I was a musician trying to get a foothold in the NoCal scene. I wrote and performed my song "Sailing on the Bay" and recorded it live at the storied Inn of the Beginning 78 the night before I rode to Austin to try my luck in the Cosmic Cowboy scene. Wildfire anyone? See a few chapters in my LostinAustinbook.substack.com if you're up for a real American adventure. I'm going to re-record my ode to the hardworking man on a mission looking for adventure in whatever comes his way this year. It was written from the heart about that most memorable of fateful days on the bay into the not so lonely night. My 1 contribution to the genre. Yes, it is a genre and a damn good one. America really started it but it's not the America we live in today. Horse With No Name and also Seals and Crofts had a hand in it too Diamond Girl / Summer Breeze. I've played all kinds of music mostly rock and roll real rock, folk rock, funk rock, hard rock, blues rock, punk rock, country rock, psychedelic rock, noise rock after the love is gone... Love Will Find a Way.
I'm all in bro, thanks once again for the heavy lifting.
And thanks to YOU for another phenomenal comment (I legit visualized the sailing class). NoCal is so beautiful, I always treasure my time up there.
This is my childhood in a playlist. My dad had 5 foot tall speakers and he and my mom would tie on a little buzz and blast all of this, all weekend long. 😊
😍😍😍
YYYYAAASSSSSS. This is quintessential summertime gold. ☺️
🔥🎸🎉
A fantastic read, All Over by State Cows is a song I'd highly recommend for yacht rock aficionados, well worth listening to.
Thanks John!
I’ll paraphrase Donald Fagan of Steely Dan when asked to contribute to a recent “Yacht Rock” project, FUCK NO.
Scuttle that yacht!!!!
😂😂
SUMMER BREEZE.🎶🎶🎶🎶
Ahhhh…Seals and Croft. That song saturated the airwaves in its day. Great to be reminded of another awesome 70’s duo. They fit right in.
Great list. Not the Toto song I would have picked. But good stuff and thanks for contributing to the discourse of the most important music genre.
Great list. One quibble: “This Is It” is probably a better representative of yacht rock than “Heart to Heart”.
You could definitely make that argument, but “Heart to Heart” is the better song IMO. I could only pick one Kenny song 😭
"Brandy" and "What a Fool Believes" have looong been among my favorite tunes in this sphere. "Human Nature" by Michael is a classic no matter what you label it.
Absolutely agree! Thanks 😊