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

Donald Fagen keeps a piece of paper in his wallet with his favorite EQ settings (Denny Dias drew it out)

(The YR Twitter feed is very enjoyable )

I was rolling with some 'Lowdown' by Boz Scaggs in the truck last weekend. The production on that LP is exquisite. Clear as a bell and smoothe as Cutty Sark.

not sure that I'd consider it the greatest song that can fit within the ultraloose boundaries of yacht rock but for me the quintessential song of that era/sound is Player - "Baby Come Back".

1978 was a big radio year for me (I was 14/15) and the music that would later be jokingly/lovingly called yacht rock ruled the airwaves. another biggie is Bob Welch - "Sentimental Lady" (which can be compared to his earlier Fleetwood Mac version to get a sense of the production slickness that helps define yacht rock). Little River Band's album Sleeper Catcher contained 2 yacht rock hits: "Reminiscing" and "Lady". same could be said of Gerry Rafferty's City To City album but I find him a bit on the energetic/impassioned side (at times he's practically raw punk in yacht rock terms - still, for "oooman" we want him in). Steely Dan's Aja is probably the king of yacht rock era hits, again a bit too ambitious to be at the core - yacht implies a certain lightweight, guilty pleasure aspect to the music... (lovesongs with just a hint of saudade and a sense that the craft/production triumphed over raw expression). most yacht rock is well-produced funky soft rock.

Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds are gods of soft/yacht rock for 1975's "Fallin' In Love" and come from the turn of & early 70's MOR (often rustic) pop-rock scene that pretty much evolved into mid to late 70's softer, more polished yacht rock sound. Starbuck's "Moonlight Feels Right" was another early highpoint and as some people have said sounds like aliens wanted a shot at the pop charts (The Residents must have been jealous).

The Eagles definitely deserve a mention and (their ballads especially) had to have helped inspire the spare/slick production style and vocal delivery of many of these records. "One Of These Nights" is so good it transcends yacht rock, but together with 10cc's "I'm Not In Love" probably made a few bands/producers strive for a lushness (specifically multi-tracked backing vocals) in the production. interestingly, "One Of These Nights" is directly inspired by and partly copped from The Spinners' "I'll Be Around", so could Philly International and Thom Bell have a small role in the sophisticated/quality production levels? some of The O'Jay's songs (thinking "Darlin' Darlin' Baby" and "Use Ta Be My Girl" especially) can easily fit in a yacht rock set. another r&b song that sounds yacht to the core (and gorgeous) is Delegation's "Oh Honey".

Sorry, Eagles are not yacht.

^^^ mention the Eagles to the yacht rock guys and they will end you

yeah, I get that The Eagles are not technically yacht rock, despite featuring in the original video series and "I Can't Tell You Why" appearing on many yacht playlists. nor are Fleetwood Mac or most of Steely Dan's songs (unless Michael McDonald is in da house).
but the success of their West Coast soft rock hits and the slickness of their productions helped create the environment in which yacht rock flourished, so think of them as fertilizer if that helps.

I remember the YR guys saying that Steely Dan inspired Yacht Rock but aren't really a Yacht Rock band in the same way that Slayer inspired Death Metal but are not a Death Metal band.

I'm pretty convinced now, especially after spending **mumble** amount of time watching YouTube covers of it, that it's Pablo Cruise "Love Will Find A Way."

i buy paul's sonic family-tree inclusion of the eagles. also reflects a longer cultural debt, yacht is basically self-involved turn-of-the-70s post-hippie peaceful-easy-feelings, plus material comfort and middle-aged relationship problems.

The one or two-hit wonder aspect of the big YR acts plays a big role, too. Robbie Dupree, Pablo Cruise, Ace, etc. That's why it's hard to accept Steely Dan or The Eagles as yacht rock imho.

The one or two-hit wonder aspect of the big YR acts plays a big role, too. Robbie Dupree, Pablo Cruise, Ace, etc. That's why it's hard to accept Steely Dan or The Eagles as yacht rock imho.

I dunno man, Toto? The Doobie Brothers? Kenny Loggins?

I mentioned this one on an album covers thread, but please take 5 minutes to bask in the smooooothness that is "Rio de Janeiro Blue." I can actually feel the saltwater spray in my face during the flute solo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLkw2Uz3JuU

I want to change my vote from Pablo Cruise to "You Are The Woman" by Firefall. That song is the aural equivalent of a giant marshmallow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By_clrkw9C8

The Rippingtons - Tourist in Paradise

also perhaps the best music video ever

"I saw your face and that's the last I've seen of my heart" is such a great hook that the whole rest of "You Are The Woman" is essentially an in-between throwaway.

another quintessential tune of that era/sound: England Dan & John Ford Coley - "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight"

Eagles (save maybe "I Can't Tell You Why") not yacht, but Glenn's "The One You Love" surely is!

(bummer Youtube has taken down the so-bad-it's-awesome video)

"casablanca" by dane donahue is a good yachty eagles rip

this music is kinda more about what shirt you're wearing

and night driving

Rich Girl by Hall & Oates, no wait....anything by Hall & Oates.

except "downtown life", that's not very yacht

but it is very street and very good

some mention of Orleans' "Dance With Me" must be made

yeah, I get that The Eagles are not technically yacht rock, despite featuring in the original video series and "I Can't Tell You Why" appearing on many yacht playlists. nor are Fleetwood Mac or most of Steely Dan's songs (unless Michael McDonald is in da house).
but the success of their West Coast soft rock hits and the slickness of their productions helped create the environment in which yacht rock flourished, so think of them as fertilizer if that helps.

― Paul, M

You shall not pass

Summer breeze by seals and croft

My favorite contemporary soft rock pastiche is "You Can Feel It" by Young Gun Silver Fox

Greg Phillinganes on some good yacht funk w/ Lazy Nina

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJMelsJukC0

Koko’s nodding his head along to this one

fresh

Wings' London Town isn't considered "yacht rock" but I just found out a lot of it was actually recorded on a yacht.

‘Sailing’ Was Supposed to Save Christopher Cross. It Drowned Him Instead