what is the greates yacht rock song of all-time???

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I think the "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" vs. "Key Largo" showdown needs to happen. Cast yer votes now.

Also, the awesomeness that is Dan Hill's "Sometimes When We Touch" has been woefully overlooked on this thread. It's the sensitive 70's guy version of "I might like you better if we slept together" as far as I can tell, in the most roundabout self-serving way possible, like mike a pointed out upthread.

slugbuggy (slugbuggy), Monday, 10 July 2006 04:52 (eighteen years ago) link

"i wanna hold you 'til i die/til we both break down and cry/i wanna hold you 'til the fear in me subsides" = pre-emo!

mike a (mike a), Monday, 10 July 2006 13:04 (eighteen years ago) link

IMG SRC=

Mr. TEST (Mr.Que), Monday, 10 July 2006 15:52 (eighteen years ago) link

two months pass...
Here's my favorite Yacht Rock CD80 go!

Christopher Cross - Sailing
The Doobie Brothers - What a Fool Believes
Kenny Loggins - This Is It
Steely Dan - Hey Nineteen
Christopher Cross - Ride Like the Wind
Steely Dan - Peg
Alan Parsons Project - Eye in the Sky
England Dan & John Ford Coley - I'd Really Love to See You Tonight
Toto - Rosanna
Christopher Cross - Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)
Player - Baby Come Back
Toto - Africa
Starbuck - Moonlight Feels Right
Michael McDonald - I Keep Forgettin'
Steely Dan - Do It Again
Little River Band - Reminiscing
Journey - Who's Crying Now
Joey Scarbury - Believe It or Not

(75:12, not chronological, haven't really thought about the proper playing order yet. obviously influenced by the show, but also by my own faves)

I.M. From Hollywood (i_m_from_hollywood), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 18:00 (eighteen years ago) link

Substitue Bertie Higgins' Key Largo for Journey, and Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds "Don't Pull Your Love" for Steely Dan and you've got yourself nearly 80 minutes of yacht rock bliss.

kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 18:08 (eighteen years ago) link

Down on Cripple Creek/she sends me/if I sprang a leak/she mends me/I don't have to speak/she defends me/ A DRUNKARD'S DREEEEAM IS I EVER DID SEE...one

Maybe not yacht, but drunken, rich, rhode island summer home-owning, beach bonfire song.

Andi Headphones (Andi Headphones), Sunday, 8 October 2006 21:08 (eighteen years ago) link

three years pass...

i know i've always thought yacht rock is a lame term, but this video is amazing.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/100310/late-night-with-jimmy-fallon-christopher-cross---ride-like-the-wind

jaxon, Thursday, 8 October 2009 06:22 (fifteen years ago) link

eight months pass...

I heard "You're the Biggest Part of Me" by Ambrosia at a Steak and Shake that was playing seventies music.

Band Fag X (u s steel), Thursday, 17 June 2010 18:33 (fourteen years ago) link

six months pass...

Yacht Rock is my favorite genre of music ever! Here is my playlist:

Frank Stallone-"Moody Girl"
Ambrosia-"You're the Only Woman"
Frankie Bleu-"Take Your Time"
England Dan and John Ford Coley-"Love is the Answer"
Frankie and the Knockouts-"Sweetheart"
Paul Davis-"Cool Night"
Michael Sembello-"First Time"
Bill Labounty-"Slow Fade"
Al Jarreau-"I Will Be Here for You"
Christopher Cross-"The Light is On"
Pages-"You Need a Hero"
Kenny Loggins-"Heart to Heart"
Lauren Wood and Robbie Dupree-"Work on It"
Paul Anka-"Walk a Fine Line"
Walter Egan-"Magnet and Steel"
Bugatti and Musker-"Mystery Girl"
Doobie Brothers-"Real Love"
Exile-"Kiss You All Over"
Climax Blues Band-"Couldn't Get it Right"

As to the previous post on any new yacht rock in 2010, I highly recommend the self-titled album/ band "State Cows":

http://www.statecows.com/

Another recommendation is the band Nightshift:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7k_gOIrn_c

johnrodrigu, Saturday, 25 December 2010 14:34 (thirteen years ago) link

hi johnrodrigu

buzza, Saturday, 25 December 2010 16:21 (thirteen years ago) link

Hi Johnrodrigu. Actually, there is no such thing as "Yacht Rock". "Yacht Rock" is a Youtube underground comedy series, originally made to make fun of the kind of music you like.

However, if you are a fan of soft rock, you are welcome. There are way too few of you guys. :)

You're Twistin' My Melody Man! (Geir Hongro), Saturday, 25 December 2010 22:29 (thirteen years ago) link

It doesn't make fun,you humourless robot. It's an affectionate tribute.

À la recherche du temps Pardew (jim in glasgow), Saturday, 25 December 2010 23:22 (thirteen years ago) link

I can't think of many white musicians who are as influential on the black music of today.

Judging from acts often namechecked by big black names: Phil Collins and Coldplay.

You're Twistin' My Melody Man! (Geir Hongro), Sunday, 26 December 2010 02:02 (thirteen years ago) link

"Yacht Rock" is definitely different from "soft rock". When I think of "soft rock" I think of the bland music that is blared all over the soft rock stations like Mariah Carey, Michael Bolton, Michael Buble and the like. Another name for "Yacht Rock" is "Westcoast". There is a website called http://www.bluedesert.dk which is completely dedicated to this special genre of music. This website is both humorous and knowledgeable as you can really find some gems from the era to listen to.

johnrodrigu, Sunday, 26 December 2010 15:58 (thirteen years ago) link

What would you consider to be the ultimate yacht rock album? :)

johnrodrigu, Monday, 27 December 2010 03:18 (thirteen years ago) link

Currently grooving on "Love Will Find a Way"....I had no idea Pablo Cruise were any good! You could be ostracized for liking them back in the day. The singer is pretty good! Also "Rich Girl", always hated this song!

open ass, insert dome (u s steel), Monday, 27 December 2010 15:21 (thirteen years ago) link

yeah, pablo cruise's singles are okay. boz scaggs, too! (e.g., love, look what you've done to me, which i think of as a yahct rock song).

btw, answer to this thread is walter egan's magnet and steel.

Daniel, Esq., Monday, 27 December 2010 15:32 (thirteen years ago) link

I went out of my way to get Magnet and Steel only to find a terrible re-recording!! Great song!

open ass, insert dome (u s steel), Monday, 27 December 2010 15:49 (thirteen years ago) link

does chevy van count as a yacht rock song? if so, might be that one.

Daniel, Esq., Monday, 27 December 2010 15:51 (thirteen years ago) link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bddd_xfZLYA

would like a calmer set (Eazy), Monday, 27 December 2010 15:58 (thirteen years ago) link

"Magnet and Steel" is definitely my pick as well for one of the best examples of yacht rock. I would also nominate "Sad Eyes" by Robert John.

johnrodrigu, Monday, 27 December 2010 20:57 (thirteen years ago) link

I watched Christopher Cross perform Sailing on the Midnight Special a couple nights ago and

1) he played one of those guitars that was like, a double guitar
2) he was wearing a football jersey
3) he looked like a balder version of Jack Black. with a chinstrap beard

kind of disturbing

twat dust and ego overload (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 27 December 2010 22:12 (thirteen years ago) link

He looks like a less bald version of Frank Black to me.

Fig On A Plate Cart (Alex in SF), Monday, 27 December 2010 22:17 (thirteen years ago) link

Funny thing about all of this music paired together is that in my hometown back in the early to mid-80s there used to be an FM station that did this robotic playlist called "SOLID GOLD" that had no DJs at all and it pretty much played all of this stuff non-stop. You would have to mix in some Grover Washington Jr. "Just the Two of Us" and some Al Jarreau hits to this stuff, but it was pretty much all Yacht Rock all the time.

earlnash, Monday, 27 December 2010 23:13 (thirteen years ago) link

a lot of towns had stations like that (incl. mine)

Daniel, Esq., Monday, 27 December 2010 23:23 (thirteen years ago) link

Yes, "Heart to Heart" by Kenny Loggins is a great song, even though its not his most popular. But L.A. soft-rock/pop at its best.

jetfan, Tuesday, 28 December 2010 01:23 (thirteen years ago) link

poor Christopher Cross, the radio star killed by video

'Babylon Sisters' for #1 Yacht-Rachk imo

Mangrove Earthshoe (herb albert), Tuesday, 28 December 2010 01:28 (thirteen years ago) link

or my theme song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ennMD1fPtXA

which is more Yacht-Disco but whatevs

Mangrove Earthshoe (herb albert), Tuesday, 28 December 2010 01:34 (thirteen years ago) link

I'm partial to the yacht rock with the 'undercurrent' as mentioned previously--the songs with a darker sound i.e. Chris Rea "Fool(If you think it's over)",Jefferson Starship "Runaway", Eagles "Those Shoes", etc.

johnrodrigu, Tuesday, 28 December 2010 05:18 (thirteen years ago) link

When I think of "soft rock" I think of the bland music that is blared all over the soft rock stations like Mariah Carey, Michael Bolton, Michael Buble and the like.

Aren't those MOR more than soft rock? I would say there needs to be some kind of rock element in soft rock.

You're Twistin' My Melody Man! (Geir Hongro), Tuesday, 28 December 2010 09:13 (thirteen years ago) link

One thing that puzzles me about the "Yacht Rock" series is there isn't even a mention of 10cc, Supertramp, ELO or similar bands. To me, those fit in with the rest, only they are much better.

You're Twistin' My Melody Man! (Geir Hongro), Tuesday, 28 December 2010 09:15 (thirteen years ago) link

they're British

twat dust and ego overload (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 28 December 2010 14:35 (thirteen years ago) link

So was Billy Ocean.

jodeci & oracle (kkvgz), Tuesday, 28 December 2010 14:43 (thirteen years ago) link

I thought he was from the Caribbean

twat dust and ego overload (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 28 December 2010 14:47 (thirteen years ago) link

they're British

Maybe. And surely not Westcoast, although neither are Steely Dan.

You're Twistin' My Melody Man! (Geir Hongro), Tuesday, 28 December 2010 15:18 (thirteen years ago) link

xp: born in Trinidad. Raised in Essex.

jodeci & oracle (kkvgz), Tuesday, 28 December 2010 15:23 (thirteen years ago) link

Steely Dan did a lot of recording in LA

twat dust and ego overload (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 28 December 2010 15:30 (thirteen years ago) link

Sure, right about that. A lot of the LA studio mafia are very much present on their late 70s/early 80s albums in particular.

You're Twistin' My Melody Man! (Geir Hongro), Tuesday, 28 December 2010 15:31 (thirteen years ago) link

one month passes...

Several indie bands have new albums out that venture into 70s AM gold/yacht rock territory

Iron and Wine-Kiss Each Other Clean
Band of Horses-Infinite Arms
Broken Bells-s/t
She and Him-Volume Two

johnrodrigu, Saturday, 5 February 2011 18:04 (thirteen years ago) link

^ ariel pink

acid druthers temple (crüt), Saturday, 5 February 2011 18:45 (thirteen years ago) link

always assumed "how long" by ace was a 10cc song.

http://i56.tinypic.com/xnsu1g.gif (max arrrrrgh), Saturday, 5 February 2011 19:30 (thirteen years ago) link

I've skimmed through this thread, and I think I understand the concept of Yacht Rock: it's basically drawn from the music that showed up on Ronco compilations, the late-'70s successor to K-Tel. Anyway, re "Magnet and Steel": I linked to this on another thread, but it's brilliant enough for a revisit.

clemenza, Saturday, 5 February 2011 19:42 (thirteen years ago) link

Josh Rouse - Love Vibration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1kZbQyGJ3Q

Not for nothing are the backup vocals credited to "The Sweathogs."

Hideous Lump, Saturday, 5 February 2011 21:27 (thirteen years ago) link

ha, when i saw this thread title i immediately thought of magnet and steel, having been inspired by revisiting boogie nights a few days ago. aside from being a great song on its own, it is stashed so perfectly in the film vibe-wise. also that thing you linked to is one of the funniest pieces of dialogue in the film imo

dell (del), Sunday, 6 February 2011 17:35 (thirteen years ago) link

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti is a mix of garage rock and drug induced yacht rock, pretty good stuff.

johnrodrigu, Monday, 7 February 2011 06:19 (thirteen years ago) link

I've skimmed through this thread, and I think I understand the concept of Yacht Rock: it's basically drawn from the music that showed up on Ronco compilations, the late-'70s successor to K-Tel. Anyway, re "Magnet and Steel": I linked to this on another thread, but it's brilliant enough for a revisit.

― clemenza, Saturday, February 5, 2011 2:42 PM (2 days ago)

the term itself comes from the title of JD Ryznar's internet TV series, but maybe you know that already.

unregistered, Monday, 7 February 2011 07:11 (thirteen years ago) link

Thanks--didn't know that, no. A friend and I wrote a book on the '70s, and we had a chapter on Ronco Records, which used to compile the late-'70s equivalent of what K-Tel compiled in the early '70s. When I started scrolling through this thread, it seemed like there was a huge amount of overlap between yacht rock and Ronco: Walter Egan, Pablo Cruise, Gerry Rafferty, Exile, Ambrosia, Little River Band, Player, Rupert Holmes, etc., etc.

clemenza, Monday, 7 February 2011 13:16 (thirteen years ago) link

always assumed "how long" by ace was a 10cc song
Well, the two chords of the intro sound much like the same two as in the intro to 'I'm Not in Love'.

Greatest yacht rock song? 'What a Fool Believes'. End of argument, surely?

Bloody Snail, Monday, 7 February 2011 14:18 (thirteen years ago) link

I can't believe no one's posted this - The Yachts doing "Yachting Life"!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGB9VvOrPgo

Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 7 February 2011 14:26 (thirteen years ago) link


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