Posted on 06/28/2015 4:44:04 PM PDT by SamAdams76
The term "Yacht Rock" did not exist during the time when Yacht Rock was at its peak (roughly 1976-1984). I believe the term came into common usage when, in the late 2000s, an obscure TV show of that same name celebrated that era in "mockumentary" fashion.
Yet Yacht Rock is a perfect description of the smooth, polished pop songs that came out of recording studios during that era by artists like Christopher Cross, Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers, Little River Band, and Boz Scaggs, just to name a few.
When listening to this music, one can almost picture oneself plying the tranquil waters of Southern California in a pristine yacht. Wearing white pants (short or long), a white shirt and a blue blazer, sockless with boat shoes, maybe a faux captains hat, and sipping a glass of wine or champaign on a deck folding chair, as the blue waters and blue skies surround you and "Key Largo" by Bertie Higgins plays. Or maybe "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" by Rupert Holmes.
Yes, kind of like this guy here...
The summer of 1980 probably saw the jackpot of Yacht Rock hits which include the following:
There are scores and scores of other "Yacht Rock" hits from that era that sound impossibly smooth and effortless when listened to today.
We don't get that kind of polished popcraft today, crafted by studio musicians, mixed and remixed, infused with saxophones and other "smooth" sounding instruments.
This is the first I heard of it.
“Miami Vice” had a lot to do with it ... And don’t forget the movie “Cocktail,” which gave the Beach Boys a huge #1 with “Kokomo.”
Steely Dan doesn’t belong on this list.
I always thought “Into The Night” by Benny Mardones was a creepy pedophile song.
Never heard of this term before.
The Cuervo Gold
The fine Colombian
Make tonight a wonderful thing
The “Gaucho” album with “Hey Nineteen” I think qualifies.
Southern Cross is firmly in that other category, “Trop Rock” (Tropical).
Cut-offs, flip-flops and parrot shirts
Perhaps you’re right. I just bristled at Steely Dan on the same list as Air Supply. I hated that band.
L
Of which Jimmy Buffett is still the undisputed master to this day. I recommend his concerts, tuneful and funny and he hasn't lost a step.
A less generous term is “corporate” rock. I’ll stick to “pop” rock.
Yep lots of Steeley Dan, and Sade playing on the docks. Still are.
Air Supply?
Pass some gas!
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Otherwise known as Songs That Have Always Sucked.
In the radio business, we called it “soft rock” or “chicken rock.”
They were later albums, but I would categorize Donald Fagen’s “The Nightfly” and “Kamakiriad” as Yacht Rock.
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