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.
I also loved the lyrics of Deacon Blues;
i crawl like a viper through these suburban streets,
Make love to these women, languid and bittersweet...
Or Kid Charlamagne, man nobody writes like Fagen and Becker!
We own a ‘yacht’ and have been boaters for many many years. Have never heard of yacht rock........and any man dressed like that would have been laughed off the dock of anywhere we’ve ever been. Lol
Closest to that I’ve ever seen is on a Green Turtle Cay in the Bahamas that has a hotel where every one docks. It is British and you have to ‘dress’ for dinner. By dress they mean a shirt with a collar and no shorts. Lol
I really don’t think Rocky Burnette belongs on that list.
I was unaware he did that soundtrack. Interesting!
“Moonlight Feels Right” by Starbuck (1976), which is about sailing the Chesapeake Bay, would fit into this genre.
The wind blew some luck in my direction
I caught it in my hands today
I finally made a tricky french connection
You winked and gave me your ok
I'll take you on a trip beside the ocean
And drop the top at Chesapeake Bay
Ain't nothing like the sky to dose a potion
The moon'll send you on your way, ha, ha
Moonlight feels right, moonlight feels right
We'll lay back and observe the constellations
And watch the moon smiling bright
I'll play the radio on southern stations
'Cause southern belles are hell at night
You say you came to Baltimore from Ole Miss
A class of '74 gold ring
The eastern moon looks ready for a wet kiss
To make the tide rise again, ha, ha
Moonlight feels right, moonlight feels right
Bluto didn't.
A great, great moment. Thanks!
Steely Dan is featured prominently in the playlist and not just "Hey Nineteen" either.
Black Cow
Babylon Sisters
I'm thinking Babylon Sisters is now perhaps the greatest Steely Dan song of all. Shake it!
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