Recommended For You
Each week we’re featuring a playlist to get your mind going and help you assemble your favorites. This week we take a deep dive into the soft rock hits of the late ’70s and early ’80s, which have come to be known in some circles as Yacht Rock. The term Yacht Rock generally refers to music in the era where yuppies enjoyed sipping champaign on their yachts — a concept explored in the original web series Yacht Rock, which debuted in 2005 and has developed a cult following. Artists most commonly thought of in the Yacht Rock era include Michael McDonald, Ambrosia, 10cc, Toto, Kenny Loggins, Boz Scaggs, and Christopher Cross. Yacht Rock has become the muse of a great number of tribute bands, and is the current subject of a short-run channel on Sirius XM.
Here is a stab at the Top 100 Songs of Yacht Rock — not necessarily in rank order, with a few more added for honorable mention. We welcome your comments. What songs are ranked too high? What songs are ranked too low? What songs are missing? Make your case. Also, please let us know concepts for playlists you’d like to see — or share a favorite list of your own.
Artist | Title | |
---|---|---|
1 | Steely Dan | Hey Nineteen |
2 | Herb Alpert | Route 101 |
3 | Robbie Dupree | Steal Away |
4 | Jan Hammer Group | Don't You Know |
5 | Blues Image | Ride Captain Ride |
6 | Toto/Cheryl Lynn | Georgy Porgy |
7 | Gerry Rafferty | Right Down The Line |
8 | Paul Young | Every Time You Go Away |
9 | Boz Scaggs | Jojo |
10 | Johnny Nash | I Can See Clearly Now |
11 | Daryl Hall/John Oates | Sara Smile |
12 | Orleans | Dance With Me |
13 | Olivia Newton John | Magic |
14 | Seals & Crofts | Summer Breeze |
15 | Lionel Richie | All Night Long |
16 | Fleetwood Mac | You Make Loving Fun |
17 | Steely Dan | Deacon Blues |
18 | Christopher Cross | Ride Like The Wind |
19 | Little River Band | Cool Change |
20 | Jackson Browne | Somebody's Baby |
21 | 10cc | Dreadlock Holiday |
22 | Dr. Hook | When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman |
23 | Boz Scaggs | Lowdown |
24 | Player | This Time I'm In It For Love |
25 | Fleetwood Mac | Everywhere |
26 | Steely Dan | Peg |
27 | Todd Rundgren | I Saw The Light |
28 | Gerry Rafferty | Baker Street |
29 | Eagles | One Of These Nights |
30 | James Ingram | Yah-Mo Be There |
31 | 10cc | I'm Not In Love |
32 | Ambrosia | Biggest Part Of Me |
33 | Terri Gibbs | Somebody's Knockin' |
34 | Atlanta Rhythm Section | So In To You |
35 | Boz Scaggs | Lido Shuffle |
36 | Steve Miller Band | Wild Mountain Honey |
37 | Michael McDonald | I Gotta Try |
38 | Matthew Wilder | Break My Stride |
39 | England Dan & John Ford Coley | I'd Really Love To See You Tonight |
40 | Player | Baby Come Back |
41 | Kenny Loggins | This Is It |
42 | Michael McDonald | I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near) |
43 | Toto | Rosanna |
44 | Daryl Hall/John Oates | Kiss On My List |
45 | The Doobie Brothers | What A Fool Believes |
46 | Christopher Cross | Sailing |
47 | Loggins & Messina | Watching The River Run |
48 | Eagles | The Long Run |
49 | Looking Glass | Brandy (You're A Fine Girl) |
50 | Bread | Everything I Own |
51 | Steely Dan | Reelin' in the Years |
52 | Joe Jackson | Steppin' Out |
53 | Jackson Browne | Doctor My Eyes |
54 | Sanford & Townsend | Smoke from a Distant Fire |
55 | Bobby Caldwell | What You Won't Do For Love |
56 | Fleetwood Mac | Rhiannon |
57 | Ace | How Long |
58 | Daryl Hall/John Oates | Rich Girl |
59 | Toto | Africa |
60 | Steely Dan | Do It Again |
61 | Bertie Higgins | Key Largo |
62 | Rupert Holmes | Escape (The Pina Colada Song) |
63 | Little River Band | Reminiscing |
64 | Jimmy Buffett | Margaritaville |
65 | Fleetwood Mac | Dreams |
66 | Firefall | Just Remember I Love You |
67 | Eagles | I Can't Tell You Why |
68 | Eagles | The Best Of My Love |
69 | Eagles | Take It To The Limit |
70 | Eagles | Tequila Sunrise |
71 | Chicago | Saturday In The Park |
72 | Bob Welch | Sentimental Lady |
73 | America | Sister Golden Hair |
74 | America | A Horse With No Name |
75 | Ambrosia | How Much I Feel |
76 | Alan Parsons | Eye In The Sky |
77 | Air Supply | Lost In Love |
78 | Steely Dan | Dirty Work |
79 | Steely Dan | Only A Fool Would Say That |
80 | Orleans | Still The One |
81 | Stephen Bishop | Sinking In An Ocean Of Tears |
82 | 10cc | The Things We Do For Love |
83 | America | Ventura Highway |
84 | Al Stewart | Year Of The Cat |
85 | Bread | Baby I'm A Want You |
86 | Firefall | You Are The Woman |
87 | George Benson | Gimme The Night |
88 | Barbara Streisand/Barry Gibb | Guilty |
89 | Christopher Cross | Arthur's Theme |
90 | Marty Balin | Hearts |
91 | Poco | Barbados |
92 | Daryl Hall/John Oates | I Can't Go For That (No Can Do) |
93 | Al Stewart | Time Passages |
94 | Jay Ferguson | Thunder Island |
95 | Dr. Hook | Sexy Eyes |
96 | Donald Fagen | I.G.Y. |
97 | Michael McDonald | Gotta Try |
98 | Bread | Make It With You |
99 | Pablo Cruise | Whatcha Gonna Do |
100 | Doobie Brothers | Dependin' On You |
101 | Ozark Mountain Daredevils | Jackie Blue |
102 | Pablo Cruise | Love Will Find A Way |
103 | Starbuck | Moonlight Feels Right |
104 | Billy Ocean | Caribbean Queen |
105 | Linda Ronstadt | Ooh Baby Baby |
106 | Hues Corporation | Rock The Boat |
107 | Loggins & Messina | Danny's Song |
108 | Rupert Holmes | Answering Machine |
109 | Stephen Bishop | On And On |
110 | Bread | The Guitar Man |
111 | Seals & Crofts | Diamond Girl |
112 | Air Supply | Even The Nights Are Better |
113 | Ambrosia | You're The Only Woman |
114 | George Benson | Breezin' |
115 | Daryl Hall/John Oates | She's Gone |
116 | Dave Loggins | Please Come To Boston |
117 | Rickie Lee Jones | Chuck E.'s In Love |
118 | Captain/Tennille | Love Will Keep Us Together |
119 | Dr. Hook | Better Love Next Time |
120 | Chilliwack | I Believe |
121 | Crosby, Stills & Nash | Southern Cross |
122 | Climax Blues Band | Couldn't Get It Right |
123 | Gilbert O'Sullivan | Alone Again (Naturally) |
124 | America | Daisy Jane |
125 | Beach Boys | Sail On, Sailor |
Please join our FREE Newsletter
Related articles more from author, josh ross announces headlining single again tour, gwar to bring the stoned age tour to nashville, nashville venue the eighth room expands hours, debuts renovated patio oasis, close to home news, photos: metro nashville release master plan for global mall at the..., heritage foundation of williamson county announces late night party chair for..., tdot celebrates pollinator week and resumes project milkweed orders, everything coming to netflix july 2024, franklin police participating in tennessee’s best-looking cruiser photo contest, close to home events, williamson weekend: 5 happenings this weekend, at&t hosting hiring event on june 20, what you need to know about monster jam at nissan stadium, nashville’s best piƱa colada crown up for grabs at white limozeen’s..., giant troll exhibition brings message of sustainability to cheekwood, american idol and the voice finalists to perform at franklin summer....
I’ve been wanting to put together a best of Yacht Rock list for quite sometime. Now that we’re into the month of May – I’m inspired to pull this list together and get ready to jam to these (and others) all summer long. As an added bonus, recording artist Carly Shea stopped by to talk about her favorite Yacht Rock songs. She listed her songs during the intermission or halftime on the video countdown below .
As I started writing down names to songs that I felt should be included on the list, I noticed that it was being dominated by Michael McDonald/Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, Christopher Cross and America. So I decide to make some ground rules:
Only one song per band would be ranked with solo projects being treated separately. Of course that made for even more decisions. Choosing between the three or four America songs to include on the list was TOUGH. Same with Seals & Croft. Summer Breeze or Diamond Girl ? But then it hit me. A calmness of floating through a no wake zone, if you will. Just relax and make your selections and live with it. At the end of the day, when you are dealing with Yacht Rock – there really aren’t any bad choices.
Speaking of which. A couple of artists got left off of the list. I nearly expanded the list to 30 to make room for anyone. But I decided to keep the top 24. So Hall and Oates (I Can’t Go For That), Toto (Georgy Porgy), Fleetwood Mac (You Make Loving Fun), Kenny Loggins (This Is It), Dobie Gray (Drift Away) and Olvia Newton-John (Magic) – just missed. In fact, the first two names I wrote down initially were Hall & Oates and Toto. It’s a touch business – this Yacht Rock.
Without further ado. Here’s my Top 24 Yacht Rock Songs .
24. England Dan and John Ford Coley – I’d Really Love To See You Tonight
23. Herb Alpert – Route 101
22. Jay Ferguson – Thunder Island
21. Boz Scaggs – JoJo
20. Bobby Caldwell – What You Won’t Do For Love
19. Looking Glass – Brandi (You’re A Fine Girl)
18. Player – Baby Come Back
17. Ambrosia – Biggest Part Of Me
16. Michael Martin Murphey – Wildfire
15. Todd Rundgren – I Saw The Light
14. Michael McDonald – Sweet Freedom
13. Ace – How Long
12. Lionel Richie – All Night Long
11. 10cc – I’m Not In Love
10. Rupert Homes – Escape (Pina Colada)
09. Donald Fagen – I.G.Y.
08. Robbie Dupree – Steal Away
07. Seals & Croft – Summer Breeze
06. America – Horse With No Name
05. Gerry Rafferty – Baker Street
04. Christopher Cross – Ride Like The Wind
03. Steely Dan – Peg
02. Starbuck – Moonlight Feels Right
01. Doobie Brothers – What A Fool Believes
So there you go. The songs I consider the greatest Yacht Rock Songs ever. Of course, with the twist of only one song per act.
Do you have a favorite? Hit me up on Twitter or Instagram below and let me know which song is your top choice.
-Tommy Marz
You can follow Tommy on Twitter and Instagram let him know what you think.
Often dissed as slick, overly-produced music made by white men in the '70s, Yacht Rock actually resulted in some amazing pop music beyond Christopher Cross' "Sailing." Here are tracks that define the genre's rich, jazzy textures and irresistible melodies.
12 Songs, 1 hour, 1 minute
Featured artists, the doobie brothers, gerry rafferty, daryl hall & john oates, blues image, donald fagen, africa, middle east, and india.
Follow us online to find out when we launch., spotify gives you instant access to millions of songs ā from old favorites to the latest hits. just hit play to stream anything you like..
Spotify works on your computer, mobile, tablet and TV.
No ads. No interruptions. Just music.
Keep playing, even when you don't have a connection.
Get ready for incredible sound quality.
By David Browne
Summer’s here and time is right for dancing … on the deck of a large nautical vessel. During the late Seventies and early Eighties, the radio was dominated by silver-tongued white-dude crooners with names like Rupert and Gerry, emoting over balmy R&B beats, swaying saxes, and dishwasher-clean arrangements. Though it didn’t have a name, the genre — soft rock you could dance to — was dismissed by serious rock fans as fluffy and lame. But thanks to a web series in the mid-2000s, the style — belatedly named “ yacht rock ” — has since spawned a satellite-radio channel, tribute bands, and a Weezer cover of Toto’s “Africa.” Is the modern love of the music ironic or sincere? Hard to say, yet there’s no denying yacht rock is a legit sound with a vibe all its own that produced a surprising amount of enduring music perfectly at home in summer. (John Mayer even tips his own sailor’s hat to the genre on his new “Last Train Home” single, and even the aqua-blue cover of his upcoming Sob Rock album.) The resumption of the Doobie Brothers’ 50th anniversary tour, postponed last year due to COVID-19 but scheduled to restart in August, is the cherry atop the Pina colada.
Before yacht rock was an identifiable genre, Scaggs (no fan of the term, as he told Rolling Stone in 2018) set the standard for what was to come: sharp-dressed white soul, burnished ballads that evoked wine with a quiet dinner, and splashes of Me Decade decadence (the narrator of the pumped “Lido Shuffle” is setting up one more score before leaving the country). Add in the Philly Soul homage “What Can I Say,” the burbling life-on-the-streets homage “Lowdown,” and the lush sway of “Georgia,” and Silk Degrees , internationally or not, set a new high bar for Seventies smoothness.
The sophisticated high-water mark of yacht, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker’s masterpiece is the midway point between jazz and pop, with tricky tempo shifts, interlocking horn and keyboard parts, and pristine solos. Not settling for easygoing period clichés, these love songs, so to speak, are populated by a sleazy movie director (the gorgeous rush of “Peg”), a loser who still hopes to be a jazzman even if the odds are against him (the heart-tugging “Deacon Blues”), and a guy whose nodding-out girlfriend is probably a junkie (“Black Cow”). The most subversive cruise you’ll ever take.
The Doobies got their start as a biker-y boogie band, but they smoothed things out for Minute by Minute . Highlighted by “What a Fool Believes,” the unstoppable Michael McDonald-Kenny Loggins co-write, the LP piles on romantic turmoil, falsetto harmonies, and plenty of spongy electric piano. But it also proves how much personality and muscle the Doobies could bring to what could be a generic sound. McDonald’s husky, sensitive-guy delivery shrouds the unexpectedly bitter title song (“You will stay just to watch me, darlin’/Wilt away on lies from you”) and honoring their biker roots, “Don’t Stop to Watch the Wheels” is about taking a lady friend for a ride on your hog.
Every awful thing trump has promised to do in a second term, the 250 greatest guitarists of all time, the 500 greatest albums of all time, the 50 worst decisions in movie history.
Seals & crofts, get closer (1976).
The Dylan-goes-electric moment of yacht, “Get Closer” validated the idea that folkie singer-songwriters could put aside their guitars (and mandolin), tap into their R&B side and cross over in ways they never imagined. In addition to the surprising seductiveness of the title hit, Get Closer has plenty of yacht-rock pleasures. In “Goodbye Old Buddies,” the narrator informs his pals that he can’t hang out anymore now that he’s met “a certain young lady,” but in the next song, “Baby Blue,” another woman is told, “There’s an old friend in me/Tellin’ me I gotta be free.” A good captain follows the tide where it takes him.
Cross’ debut swept the 1981 Grammys for a reason: It’s that rare yacht-rock album that’s graceful, earnest, and utterly lacking in smarm. Songs like the politely seductive “Say You’ll Be Mine” and the forlorn “Never Be the Same” have an elegant pop classicism, and the yacht anthem “Sailing” could be called a powered-down ballad. Fueled by a McDonald cameo expertly parodied on SCTV , the propulsive “Ride Like the Wind” sneaks raw outlaw lyrics (“Lived nine lives/Gunned down ten”) into its breezy groove, perfecting the short-lived gangster-yacht subgenre.
The album that made Holmes a soft-rock star is known for “Escape (The Piña Colada Song),” which sports a made-for-karaoke chorus and a plot twist worthy of a wide-collar O. Henry. But what distinguishes the album is the Steely Dan-level musicianship and Holmes’ ambitious story songs, each sung with Manilow-esque exuberance. The title track equates a hooker and her john to co-workers at a department store, “Lunch Hour” ventures into afternoon-delight territory, and “Answering Machine” finds a conflicted couple trading messages but continually being cut off by those old-school devices.
The Dan’s last studio album before a lengthy hiatus doesn’t have the consistency of Aja, but Gaucho cleverly matches their most vacuum-sealed music with their most sordid and pathetic cast of characters. A seedy older guy tries to pick up younger women in “Hey Nineteen,” another loser goes in search of a ménage à trois in “Babylon Sisters,” a coke dealer delivers to a basketball star in “Glamour Profession,” and the narrator of “Time Out of Mind” just wants another heroin high. It’s the dark side of the yacht.
Michael mcdonald, if that’s what it takes (1982).
Imagine a Doobie Brothers album entirely comprised of McDonald songs and shorn of pesky guitar solos or Patrick Simmons rockers, and you have a sense of McDonald’s first and best post-Doobs album. If That’s What it Takes builds on the approach he nailed on “What a Fool Believes” but amps up the sullen-R&B side of Mac’s music. His brooding remake of Lieber and Stoller’s “I Keep Forgettin’” is peak McDonald and the title track approaches the propulsion of Christopher Cross’ “Ride Like the Wind.” With his sad-sack intensity, McDonald sounds like guy at a seaside resort chewing over his mistakes and regrets – with, naturally, the aid of an electric piano.
Yacht rock babylon, lawsuit against madonna over late start times dismissed.
Loggins’ journey from granola folk rocker to pleasure-boat captain embodies the way rock grew more polished as the Seventies wore on. Anchored by the percolating-coffeemaker rhythms and modestly aggro delivery of “This Is It,” another McDonald collaboration, Keep the Fire sets Loggins’ feathery voice to smooth-jazz saxes and R&B beats, and Michael Jackson harmonies beef up the soul quotient in “Who’s Right, Who’s Wrong.” The secret highlight is “Will It Last,” one of the sneakiest yacht tracks ever, fading to a finish after four minutes, then revving back up with some sweet George Harrison-style slide guitar.
Earlier in the Seventies, these jokesters established themselves with novelty hits like “The Cover of ‘Rolling Stone,’’ but they soon paddled over to unabashed disco-yacht. Sometimes You Win features three of their oiliest ear worms: “Sexy Eyes,” “When You’re in Love with a Beautiful Woman” and “Better Love Next Time,” all oozing suburban pickup bars and the somewhat desperate dudes who hang out there. The album, alas, does not include “Sharing the Night Together,” recently reborn by way of its sardonic use in last year’s Breaking Bad spinoff El Camino .
As a trailblazing female singer-songwriter, Simon was already a star by the time yacht launched. Boys in the Trees features her beguiling contribution to the genre, “You Belong to Me,” a collaboration with the ubiquitous Michael McDonald. The Doobies cut it first, but Simon’s version adds an air of yearning and hushed desperation that makes it definitive. The album also packs in a yacht-soul cover of James Taylor’s “One Man Woman” and a “lullaby for a wide-eyed guy” called “Tranquillo (Melt My Heart),” all proving that men didn’t have a stranglehold on this style.
More smooth hits for your next high-seas adventure.
“BREEZIN’”
George Benson, 1976
The guitarist and Jehovah’s Witness made the leap from midlevel jazz act to crossover pop star with a windswept instrumental that conveys the yacht spirit as much as any vocal performance.
“WHATCHA GONNA DO?”
Pablo Cruise, 1976
Carefree bounce from a San Francisco band with the best name ever for a soft-rock act — named, fittingly, after a chill Colorado buddy.
“BAKER STREET”
Gerry Rafferty, 1978
Rafferty brought a deep sense of lonely-walk-by-the-bay melancholy to this epic retelling of a night on the town, in which Raphael Ravenscroft’s immortal sax awakens Rafferty from his morning-after hangover.
“REMINISCING”
Little River Band, 1978
The Aussie soft rockers delivered a slurpy valentine sung in the voice of an old man looking back on his “lifetime plan” with his wife. Innovative twist: flugelhorn solo instead of sax.
“WHENEVER I CALL YOU ‘FRIEND’ ”
Kenny Loggins and Stevie Nicks, 1978
After its ethereal intro, this rare genre duet grows friskier with each verse, with both Loggins and Nicks getting more audibly caught up in the groove — and the idea of “sweet love showing us a heavenly light.”
“LOTTA LOVE”
Nicolette Larson, 1978
Neil Young’s sad-boy shuffle is transformed into a luscious slice of lounge pop by the late Larson. Adding an extra layer of poignancy, she was in a relationship with Young around that time.
“STEAL AWAY”
Robbie Dupree, 1980
Is it real, or is it McDonald? Actually, it’s the best Doobies knockoff — a rinky-dink (but ingratiating) distant cousin to “What a Fool Believes” that almost inspired McDonald to take legal action.
“TAKE IT EASY”
Archie James Cavanaugh, 1980
Cult rarity by the late Alaskan singer-songwriter that crams in everything you’d want in a yacht song: disco-leaning bass, smooth-jazz guitar, sax, and a lyric that lives up to its title even more than the same-titled Eagles song.
“BIGGEST PART OF ME”
Ambrosia, 1980
Ditching the prog-classical leanings of earlier albums, this trio headed straight for the middle of the waterway with this Doobies-lite smash. Bonus points for lyrics that reference a “lazy river.”
“I CAN’T GO FOR THAT (NO CAN DO)”
Daryl Hall and John Oates, 1981
The once unstoppable blue-eyed soul duo were never pure yacht, but the easy-rolling beats and shiny sax in this Number One hit got close. Hall adds sexual tension by never specifying exactly what he can’t go for.
“COOL NIGHT”
Paul Davis, 1981
The Mississippi crooner-songwriter gives a master class on how to heat up a stalled romance: Pick a brisk evening, invite a female acquaintance over, and suggest . . . lighting a fire.
“KEY LARGO”
Bertie Higgins, 1981
Yacht’s very own novelty hit is corny but deserves props for quoting from not one but two Humphrey Bogart films ( Key Largo and Casablanca ).
“AFRICA”
The same year that members of Toto did session work on Michael Jackson’s Thriller, they released the Mount Kilimanjaro of late-yacht hits.
“SOUTHERN CROSS”
Crosby, Stills, and Nash, 1982
The combustible trio’s gusty contribution to the genre has choppy-water rhythms and enough nautical terminology for a sailing manual.
Pat sajak passes 'wheel of fortune' hosting baton to ryan seacrest and tells him: 'youāre never going to find a better job' or 'a better co-host' in vanna white, kenya moore suspended indefinitely from āreal housewives of atlantaā, prince harry & meghan markle might be going back to their royal exit plan that queen elizabeth nixed, photographer wins ai image contest with real picture, then gets disqualified, you might also like, banijay branded entertainment strikes strategic deals with launchmetrics, ima (exclusive), personal luxury goods market to slow inĀ 2024, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors, his parentsā roles in āthe exorcistā and āfaster pussycat kill killā helped joshua john miller find his place as a cult filmmaker, time for policy makers to think about sportsĀ differently.
Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Rolling Stone, LLC. All rights reserved.
Please log in.
Call Us (561) 445-5664
Published April 28, 2023
Yacht rock is a subgenre of soft rock. It became prevalent in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and while itās no longer as popular now, it still continues to be loved by fans today.
Itās best known for the jazzy arrangements, sophisticated harmonies, and lyrics that would often encapsulate the laid-back lifestyle of yacht owners. Needless to say, yacht rock targets a specific niche, and even those outside of that niche can enjoy the songs the genre offers.
If that sounds like you, then youāre in luck. In this post, weāve compiled a list of the best yacht rock songs of all time, from deep cuts to classics that came out from 1972 to 1990.
While yacht rock is often associated with the late 1970s and early 1980s, there have been some recent songs that were able to capture the yacht rock vibe or sound. Theyāre now quite popular among fans of this genre. Hereās a yacht rock songs list of these songs:
Yacht rock has proven to be a timeless genre that has, for decades, captured the hearts of not only yacht enjoyers and owners, but also music lovers in general. Whether you’re a newcomer to yacht rock or a long-time enthusiast of the genre, the top yacht rock songs in this list will offer a glimpse into the melodic, smooth sound that defines the yacht genre.
Looking for a great time on the water in Boca Raton Florida? Seafari Yacht Charters is number choice for yacht rentals in Boca Raton . Book our yachts for parties , exciting day trips to the Bahamas, romantic yacht dinner cruises , and much more. Come experience all South Florida has to offer with us.
Our team of internal experts has conducted rigorous fact-checking on this content. Explore the editorial standard for our website to dive deeper into our commitment to excellence.
Lenard Arceo is passionate about the outdoors and South Florida life. He is a professional blogger for several renowned publications and also loves learning how to code in his free time.
Most Popular , Yachting
Find us on social media.
Ā© SeafariYachtCharters.com 2024
View Our Privacy Policy
Website design by Correct Digital
Yacht Rock isnāt exactly a genre. Itās more a state of mind. It is the musical equivalent of a mid-afternoon mimosa nap in some nautical locationāa cool breeze of lite-FM confection with the substance of a romance novel and the machismo of a Burt Reynolds mustache comb.
Yacht Rock is ā70s soft schlock about boats, love affairs, and one-night stands.
Typified by artists like Christopher Cross, Rupert Holmes, and Pablo Cruise, Yacht Rock is not only easy to mock, but itās also deserving of the abuse. Thereās a sensitive 70s male brand of chauvinism that permeates this materialālike somehow because you could schnarf an 8-ball of cocaine and sail a boat into the sunset, your indulgences and marital infidelity were actually kind of sexy. Cheap pickup lines and beardly come-ons abound.
And yet, this stuff is irresistible on a slow summer day. It reeks of sunshine and laziness, and couldnāt we all use a little of both?
These are the 25 Best Yacht Rock Songs, in order. Zero suspense. (Sorry if that’s less fun for you).
If you would like to learn more about Yacht Rock without getting a sailing license, read on…
So Yacht Rock refers to a type of soft rock, right? But thereās a ton of soft rock out there that doesnāt fit the bill. Thereās no room on my boat for Barry Manilow. At the Copa? Sure. But not so much on my boat. So what makes a great yacht rock song exactly?
Ideally, one or more of these themes will be present:
These features pretty much capture everything thatās great about this milieu. But there’s also an important cheese factor at play here. While Steely Dan, Hall & Oates, CSN, and the Doobie Brothers all made songs that might qualify for inclusion here, the artists themselves are–let’s just say it–too good to be considered Yacht Rock.
We’ll make sure to include them in our deluxe playlist at the article’s conclusion.
But in order for a song to be considered for our list, it must be at least slightly embarrassing. Case in point, the top song on our list…
“The Pina Colada Song” is arguably the most perfect embodiment of yacht rock, fulfilling, as it does, all three of the qualifications cited above. Holmes sings about making love in the dunes, attempts to cheat on his wife, then ultimately, rediscovers that his “old lady” is actually the love he’s been searching for all along. That’s the holy trinity of Yacht Rock themes, all wrapped up in a breezy story of casual adultery. And at the turn of a new decade, listeners were feeling it. Released as a single in 1979, “Escape” stood at the top of the charts during the last week of the year. Falling to #2 in the new year, it returned to the top spot in the second week of 1980. This made it the first song to top the charts in two separate, consecutive decades. Fun fact: Rupert Holmes never drank a Pina Colada in his life. He just thought the lyric sounded right. Hard to argue that point.
Formed at Rutgers University in 1969, Looking Glass topped the charts in 1972 with the tale of a lovelorn barmaid in a harbor town haunted by lonely sailors. It would be the band’s only hit. Lead singer Elliot Lurie would go on to a brief solo career before becoming head of the music department for the 20th Century Fox movie studio in the ’80s and ’90s. That means he was the musical supervisor for the soundtrack to Night at the Roxbury . Do with that information what you will. And with respect to “Brandy,” see the film Guardians of the Galaxy 2 for Kurt Russell’s surprisingly detailed treatise on its lyrical genius.
The title track from the soft-rock duo’s breakout 1972 record, “Summer Breeze” is an incurable earworm, a bittersweet twilight dream that captures everything that’s right about Lite FM. From an album inhabited by Wrecking Crew vets and studio aces, “Summer Breeze” curls like smoke drifting lazily through an open window.
Toto singer David Paich had never been to Africa. The melody and refrain for this #1 hit from 1982 came to him fully formed as he watched a late night documentary about the plight of those living on the African continent. The lyrics touch on missionary work and describe the landscape as inspired by images from National Geographic , according to Paich’s own recollection. Putting aside its self-aware inauthenticity, “Africa” is an infectious, 8x platinum AOR monster.
Released in the summer of 1978 and reaching up to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, “Reminiscing” was guitarist Graeham Goble ‘s nostalgic take on the swing band era. Not only is it the only Australian song ever to reach five million radio plays in the U.S., but rumor is that it was among the late John Lennon’s favorite songs.
Recorded originally by a country-swamp rocker named Jeffrey Kurtz, Dobie’s 1973 cover became his biggest hit, reaching #5 on the charts. Though not explicitly nautical, “Drift Away” captures the distinct sensation of cruising at sunset.
Pablo Cruise may have the most “yachty” of all band names on our list. And “Love Will Find a Way” is sort of the musical equivalent of a ketch skipping along a glassy surface on a crisp summer dawn. Pablo Cruise was formed in San Francisco by expats from various mildly successful bands including Stoneground and It’s a Beautiful Day. And there is a certain slick professionalism to the proceedings here. Of course, Pablo Cruise was never a critic’s darling. Homer Simpson once accurately classified them as wuss rock. Still, they perfectly captured the white-folks-vacationing-in-the-Caribbean energy that was all the rage at the time. Love found a way to reach #6 on the Billboard charts, remaining in constant radio rotation during the red-hot summer of ’78.
Blues Image emerged from South Florida in the late ’60s and served as the house band for Miami’s vaunted Thee Image music venue upon its inception in 1968. This gave Blues Image the opportunity to open for ascendant headliners like Cream and the Grateful Dead. The association landed them a contract Atco Records. Their sophomore record Open yielded their one and only hit, a #4 in 1970 about a bunch of men who disappear into the mists of the San Francisco Bay in search of a hippie utopia.
This #3 hit from 1982 has nothing to do with sailing. But it’s infectiously smooth production sheen, layered synth, and dreamy vocals make it a perfect Lite FM gem–one cut from the stone that gave us yacht rock. The “Project” was actually a British duo–studio wizard Alan Parsons and singer Eric Woolfson. The title track from their sixth studio album is also their very best recording. It’s also often paired with the instrumental lead-in “Sirius,” a song famous in its own right for blaring over unnumbered sporting arena PA systems. If that tune doesn’t make you think of Michael Jordan, you probably didn’t live through the late 80s.
Marty Balin was a pioneer of the San Francisco scene, founding Jefferson Airplane in 1965 as the house band for his own legendary club–The Matrix. But in 1971, deeply shaken by the death of Janis Joplin, Balin quit his own band. Four years later, he was invited to rejoin his old mates on the already-launched Starship. He immediately contributed what would become the biggest hit by any Jeffersonian vessel. “Miracles” reached #3 in 1975. Gorgeous, elegant, and open, this is a complete anomaly in the Airplane-Starship catalogue. Listen closely for the NSFW lyrics that have often flown under the radar of some adorably innocent censors.
In 1972, Robert John had a #3 hit with his cover of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” And yet, just before recording “Sad Eyes”, the Brooklyn-born singer was employed as a construction worker in Long Branch, New Jersey. By the summer of ’79, he would have a #1 hit. In fact, the charting success of “Sad Eyes” was part of a cultural backlash against the reign of disco. A wave of pop hits swept on to the charts, including this slick soft rock throwback. With his sweet falsetto and doo wop sensibility, Robert John knocked The Knack’s “My Sharona” from its 6-week stand atop the charts.
Before launching headlong into his music career, Walter Egan was one of the very first students to earn a fine arts degree from Georgetown, where he studied sculpture. The subject would figure into his biggest hit, a #8 easy listening smash from 1978. Featured on his second solo record, “Magnet and Steel” enjoys the presence of some heavy friends. Lindsey Buckingham produced, played guitar and sang backup harmonies with Stevie Nicks. By most accounts, Nicks was also a primary source of inspiration for the song.
Of course, not all yacht rock songs are about sailing on boats. Some are about missing boats. Boz Scaggs looks dejected on the cover of 1977’s Silk Degrees , but things turned out pretty well for him. This bouncy #11 hit is a classic rock mainstay today. The band you hear backing Boz–David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, and David Hungate–would go on to form the nucleus of Toto that very same year. Toto, as it happens, is essentially a recurring theme of the genre. Before rising to massive success in their own right, the members of Toto absolutely permeated rock radio in the 70s, laying down studio tracks with Steely Dan, Seals and Crofts, Michael McDonald, and more.
This smooth-as-silk tune reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 upon its 1978 release. It also reached #6 on the Hot Selling Soul Singles Chart. This is significant only because of Caldwell’s complexion. He was a white man signed to TK Records, a label most closely associated with disco acts like KC and the Sunshine Band. Catering to a largely Black audience, the label went to minor lengths to hide their new singer’s identity–dig the silhouetted figure on the cover of his own debut. Suffice it to say, once Caldwell hit the road, audiences discovered he was white. By then, they were already hooked on this perfect groove, which you might also recognize as a sample in 2Pac’s posthumous 1998 release, “Do For Love.”
Technically, Michael McDonald’s “I Keep Forgettin’” is an adaptation of an earlier tune by the same name. In fact, the original “I Keep Forgettin” was conceived by the legendary songwriting duo Leiber and Stoller–best known for iconic staples like “Hound Dog”, “Kansas City”, “Poison Ivy” and much much more. The original recording is by Chuck Jackson and dates to 1962. But McDonald’s 1982 take is definitive. If that wasn’t already true upon its release and #4 peak position on the charts, certainly Warren G. and Nate Dogg cemented its status when they sampled McDonald on “Regulate”. Get the whole history on that brilliant 1994 time capsule here .
Oh and by the way, this tune also features most of the guys from Toto. I know, right? These dudes were everywhere.
To the casual listener, Gerry Rafferty’s name may sound vaguely familiar. Indeed, you may remember hearing it uttered in passing in the film Reservoir Dogs . In a key scene, the DJ (deadpan comedian Steven Wright) mentions that Rafferty formed half the duo known as Stealers Wheel, which recorded a “Dylanesque, pop, bubble-gum favorite from April of 1974” called “Stuck in the Middle With You.” In the same scene, Mr. Blonde (portrayed with sadistic glee by Michael Madsen), slices off a policeman’s ear. At any rate, this is a totally different song, and is actually Rafferty’s biggest hit. “Baker Street” is a tune that reeks of late nights, cocaine, and regret. Peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, “Baker Street” soared on wings of the decade’s most memorable sax riff. Raphael Ravenscroft’s performance would, in fact, lead to a mainstream revitalization of interest in the saxophone writ large.
There are several interesting things about Silver that have almost nothing to do with this song. First, bass guitarist and singer Tom Leadon was both the brother of Bernie Leadon from the Eagles and a member of Tom Petty’s pre-fame band, Mudcrutch. Second, the band’s keyboardist was Brent Mydland, who would go on to become the Grateful Dead’s longest tenured piano guy. Third, Silver put out their only record in 1976, and future Saturday Night Live standout Phil Harman designed the cover art. With all of that said, Arista executives felt that their first album lacked a single so they had country songwriter Rick Giles cook up this ridiculous, gooey concoction that I kind of love. Let’s say this one falls into the “so bad it’s good” category. Anyway, the song peaked at #16 on the charts. The band broke up in ’78, leading Mydland to accept the deadliest job in rock music. He defied the odds by playing with the Grateful Dead until an accidental drug overdose claimed his life in 1990.
I admit, I’m kind of hard-pressed to make Ambrosia interesting. In fact, they were extremely prolific, and earned high regard in early ’70s prog rock circles. And in the 1990s, lead singer David Pack would actually be the musical director for both of Bill Clinton’s presidential inauguration concerts. But this Southern California combo is much better known to mainstream audiences for their top-down, hair-blowing-in-the-wind soft rock from the decade in between. Peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1980, “Biggest Part of Me” is the group’s best-known tune–a seafoamy bit of blue-eyed soul served over a raw bar of smooth jazz and lite funk.
Player released their self-titled debut album in 1977 and immediately shot up to #1 with “Baby Come Back.” Bandmates Peter Beckett and J.C. Crowley had both recently broken up with their girlfriends. They channeled their shared angst into this composition, a self-sorry guilty pleasure featuring former Steppenwolf member Wayne Cook on keys. Granted, Steppenwolf’s edgy disposition is nowhere to be found on this record, but it is pretty infectious in a late-summer-night, slightly-buzzed, clenched-fist sort of way. Player endured various lineup changes, but never returned to the heights of their first hit.
Remember that scene in National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978) where there’s this dude in a turtleneck singing a super cloying folks song before John Belushi mercifully snatches away his guitar and smashes it to smithereens? That guy was Stephen Bishop, who was actually in the middle of enjoying considerable success with his 1976 debut album, Careless . “On and On” was the album’s biggest hit, a vaguely Caribbean soft-rocker that reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in ’77. The gentle electric riffs you hear there are supplied by guitarist Andrew Gold–who wrote the theme song for the Golden Girls . (I freakin’ know you’re singing it right now).
The classic tale of boy-meets-girls, bangs-her-in-his-van, and brags-to-his-buds, all with backing from the world famous Wrecking Crew studio team. In 1975, a lot of people super related to it. It sold over a million copies and reach #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. I can’t tell you this song is good. But I also can’t tell you I don’t like it.
Firefall’s lead guitarist Jock Bartley perfectly captures this song’s impact, calling the band’s biggest hit “a singing version of [a] Hallmark card.” That feels right. The second single from Firefall’s 1976 self-titled debut was only a regional hit at first. But it was driven all the way to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the strength of radio requests. As Bartley explained, “Every female between the ages of 18 and 24 wanted to be the woman portrayed in the song, and that caused their boyfriends and spouses to call radio stations and subsequently flood the airwaves with dedications of the song and the sentiment.”
Arguably, “Sailing” is the single most emblematic song of the Yacht Rock genre. Its thematic relevance requires no explanation. But it’s worth noting that the song is inspired by true events. During a tough time in his youth, Cross was befriended by Al Glasscock. Serving as something of an older brother to Cross, Glasscock would take him sailing. He recalls in his biggest hit that this was a time of escape from the harsh realities of his real life. In 1979, Cross released his self-titled debut. In early 1980, “Sailing” became a #1 hit, landing Cross a hat-trick of Grammys–including recognition as best new artist. Though Cross and Glasscock would lose touch for more than 20 years, they were reunited during a 1995 episode of The Howard Stern Show . Cross subsequently mailed a copy of his platinum record to Glasscock.
Apparently, this song was perceived as so blatant a ripoff of Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins’ “What a Fool Believes” that legal action was actually threatened. It never formulated. Instead, Robbie Dupree landed a #6 Billboard Hot 100 hit with the lead single from his self-titled 1980 debut. Critics hated it, but it was a dominant presence in the summer of 1980. It even earned Dupree a Grammy nomination for best new artist. He ultimately lost to the man just above–Christopher Cross.
You didn’t think we’d get through this whole list without an actual Kenny Loggins tune. This song has the perfect pedigree, teaming Loggins and Michael McDonald on a 1979 composition that became the lead single off of Kenny Loggins’ Keep the Fire. Coming on the tail end of the ’70s, “This is It” felt positively omnipresent in the ’80s. I may be biased here. I grew up in Philadelphia, where a local television show by the same name adopted “This is It” as its theme song. But then, it did also reach #11 on the Billboard Hot 100.
And in that spirit…this is it, the end of our list.
But as usual, here’s a bonus playlist–an expanded voyage through the breezy, AOR waters of the mid-’70s to early ’80s.
Popular podcasts.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Nikki Glaser Podcast
Every week comedian and infamous roaster Nikki GlaserāÆprovides a fun, fast-paced, and brutally honest look into current pop-culture and her own personal life.
The Idaho Massacre
On November 13, 2022, four students from the University of Idaho are brutally stabbed to death in an off-campus house. After a lengthy investigation and cross-country manhunt, a Ph.D. student from a neighboring university is charged with the crimes. As it turns out, the 28-year-old was majoring in criminology, studying the behavior of killers like the ones he would later be accused of becoming. Did he use his skills to become a real-life Dexter? Were the Idaho victims his first, or was a serial killer hiding in the midst? The producers of The Piketon Massacre explore all sides of the shocking crime in pursuit of the truth.
Out of the Pods
No edits, no filters, just reality. Hosted by Love is Blindās Deepti Vempati and Natalie Lee, Out of the Pods is a weekly deep-dive into the reality TV world of Love is Blind. Each week, Deepti and Natalie share their unfiltered thoughts, hot takes, and insider tea on the latest episodes, along with never-been-told stories from across the seasons. For weekly updates, follow their instagram @outofthepods.
Family Secrets
Family Secrets. We all have them. And while the discovery of family secrets can initially be terrifying or traumatic, often these discoveries have the power to liberate, heal, and even uplift us. Join Dani Shapiro, bestselling author of the memoir Inheritance, and her guests as they explore astonishing family secrets and uncover the extraordinary lessons the truth can teach us.
Ā© 2024 iHeartMedia, Inc.
H ave you ever found yourself lost in the rhythm of a vintage rock song? Have you ever sung along to "Hey Jude" or bopped your head to "Bohemian Rhapsody"? Today, we'll look at the songs and histories of the top 5 rock bands. Get ready for an amazing trip through the background of rock 'n' roll!
Formation and rise.
Once upon a time in Liverpool, England, four lads named John, Paul, George, and Ringo came together to form a band that would become synonymous with rock 'n' roll - The Beatles. Their journey from playing in dingy clubs to becoming international superstars is inspiring.
The Beatles left us with a plethora of music that transcends time. "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," "Revolver," and "Abbey Road" are all masterpieces that show their versatility and innovation in songwriting. Who can forget songs like "Hey Jude," "Let It Be, "or "Yesterday"?
The Beatles' music continues influencing artists across genres, and their records still top charts. Their profound impact on popular culture and music is undeniable. They're not just a band; they're a phenomenon.
Led Zeppelin, the high-flying English rock band, was formed in 1968. With the powerful vocals of Robert Plant and the guitar wizardry of Jimmy Page, they quickly rose to prominence, creating some of the most iconic rock anthems along the way.
"Led Zeppelin IV" and "Physical Graffiti" remain rock landmarks. Their signature tune, "Stairway to Heaven," is often considered one of the greatest rock songs ever. Other hits include "Whole Lotta Love" and "Black Dog."
Led Zeppelin's influence on hard rock and heavy metal is immeasurable. They're remembered for their creative songwriting, groundbreaking albums, and unforgettable live performances.
Queen, the British rock band, burst onto the scene in the 1970s. They defied norms and revolutionized rock music with Freddie Mercury's dynamic presence and Brian May's unique guitar sound.
"News of the World," "A Night at the Opera," and "The Game" are among their standout albums. Songs like "Bohemian Rhapsody," "We Will Rock You," and "Don't Stop Me Now" showcase their flamboyant style and musical prowess.
Queen's music transcends boundaries and generations. Their blend of rock and opera continues to inspire musicians and captivate audiences. Their performances, especially Live Aid in 1985, are etched in rock 'n' roll folklore.
Pink Floyd, the masters of progressive and psychedelic rock, started their journey in London in the 1960s. Their experimental soundscape and philosophical lyrics set them apart from their contemporaries.
"The Dark Side of The Moon," "Wish You Were Here," and "The Wall" are albums that turned the tide in the world of rock music. Tracks like "Comfortably Numb," "Another Brick in the Wall," and "Money" are considered timeless classics.
Pink Floyd's impact on music is profound. They pushed the boundaries of what rock music could be, introducing concept albums and intricate live shows. They continue to be revered by fans and critics alike.
The Rolling Stones, hailing from London, stormed onto the rock scene in the early '60s. With Mick Jagger's electrifying stage presence and Keith Richards' bluesy guitar riffs, they embodied the rebellious spirit of rock 'n' roll.
Their extensive discography includes gems like "Exile on Main St.", "Sticky Fingers," and "Beggars Banquet." Iconic songs? Think "Paint It, Black," "Angie," or "Sympathy for the Devil."
The Rolling Stones longevity and consistent relevance in the music industry are unmatched. They're not just a band but a cultural institution representing the enduring spirit of rock 'n' roll.
Whether it's the timeless appeal of The Beatles, the hard-hitting Led Zeppelin, the innovative Queen, the psychedelic Pink Floyd, or the ever-rebellious Rolling Stones, these bands have left an indelible mark on rock music. Their stories, music, and legacies continue to inspire, reminding us of the transformative power of rock 'n' roll.
I love to give blood . It is one of lifeās most pleasant activities: 100% indulgence, self-care, a spa treatment.
As for a spa, I go regularly, every 56 days or so, for about an hour. In the spotless venue, yacht rock floats on the sound system; in the air, a light tang of isopropyl alcohol. A cheerful team member pampers me. I take the treatment, I relax with juice and cookies, then Iām on my way.
Giving blood is so great, it ought to have a cool subculture, with anime or a Netflix series. But such celebration requires an activity to be at least a little popular already. And giving blood is definitely not.
Last year, only 6.8 million Americans gave blood once. Thatās 3% of the U.S. population eligible by age. The trend is uglier. The American Red Cross says that in the past 20 years, donorship has fallen by 40%.
An entire generation has never known the delights. Itās as if giving blood has been actively discouraged, like sex and drugs and rock ānā roll. The time has arrived to open minds. June 14 is World Blood Donor Day , so consider me your Merry Prankster through the gates of perception: Giving blood is good for you.
How to give blood And frequently asked questions about blood donations
Giving blood feels like magic because for most of human awareness, blood was magic. We spilled it, we drank it, we painted our faces with it. We wrote messages in blood, usually misspelled.
Then one night in England in 1818, everything changed. A woman was dying from blood loss after childbirth. Her desperate doctor drew blood from her husband and injected it into her . She lived.
That transfusion turned blood from magic into something more -- knowledge.
In the next 200 years, we learned to type blood, to bank it, to ensure its safety, to ship it, to give it to the right person, and to make giving blood feel a visit to a spa.
Iāll never forget my first time. I was nervous but curious. I shed my inhibitions to bare my arm, and I was transformed. Then my donor card arrived with stunning news. My blood type is AB negative, the rarest , the 1%, like the billionaire 1%. When I show up to give, I get a billionaireās welcome, everyone a-flutter, hello, thank you for visiting, please sit here, we validate parking.
Giving blood doesnāt melt my stubborn belly flab. But over the 56 days that my body replaces that pint, I burn 500 calories , no extra exercise. That is one plain glazed doughnut.
Research shows that giving blood has an antioxidant effect . It can reduce chemicals that produce inflammation. And get this: Giving blood improves the skin tone of mice . My spa treatment also floods my brain with dopamine because I am thinking about that plain glazed doughnut in my future.
Plus, in giving blood, I get a lesson in supply and demand. Americans are in terrible health and need a lot of blood, often more than is available. Hospitals buy blood from the Red Cross and other collection organizations and pay on average $634 a pint . That spiraling cost gets baked into insurance premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. Medicare covers three pints of blood , but if I need more, thatās on me.
All community service should be like giving blood: a tiny, personal cost for direct, instant gratification. I donāt get money to give blood. I get free branded stuff. My collection includes 27 T-shirts marking major holidays, local sports teams, even the cicada emergence; six travel mugs; three throw blankets; three water bottles; two beach towels; two scarves; two half-zip sports shirts; one pair of flannel pajama bottoms; a knee-length fleece hoodie; a windbreaker, and the piece de resistance , a barbecue set.
One year, Hoxworth Blood Center in Cincinnati raffled off a red Mini Cooper. No magic here; I did not win. I took comfort in my barbecue set.
Only once did I consider not giving blood anymore, when the blood center stopped serving plain glazed doughnuts after donation. I settled for the juice and cookies, but I moped about that. Then 56 days later, I rolled back in with a billionaireās swagger that my itsy-bitsy contribution holds up the entire edifice.
Yet hereās the delicious irony. Like the billionaire 1%, the AB negative 1% is nearly useless. I can take blood from anyone. But almost no one can take mine. The real work gets done by all those strong, silent O negatives, whose blood can go to everyone.
In part, the decline in donors was a factor of the COVID-19 pandemic, since working from home wiped out blood drives in workplaces and high schools. And only last year did the government lift the donation ban on all gay men , imposed 35 years ago to stop HIV transmission.
Blood donation policy is updated allowing gay and bisexual men to give
But a 40% drop in donors over 20 years testifies to the one thing that spreads faster than a virus : fear.
People fear the sight of blood. But come on, that burgundy is gorgeous. I want a pair of suede boots in that color.
People also fear theyāll faint . So eat the doughnut before giving blood. And add some protein.
And people fear needles. Yet every year, millions get tattooed from metacarpal to clavicle, and a blood-donation needle never leaves regret. Itās a means to a barbecue set ā and something more.
Not long ago, I arrived for my spa treatment, the Big One Percenter, and the cheerful team member said hello, the NICU just called looking for you.
No, I said. Me? Are you sure? Yes, she replied. We give your platelets and plasma to the preemies .
I rolled up my sleeve marveling that every 56 days, thanks to this AB negative, some very sick babies got strong, and went home, and grew up. Later, with my juice and cookies, I knew at last why I love to give blood.
Iām someoneās magic.
Anne Saker is a writer in Cincinnati and an 18-gallon blood donor.
The Key Points at the top of this article were created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. No other parts of the article were generated using AI. Learn more .
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
20. "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)," Looking Glass (1972) Like "Summer Breeze" (found later in our list of Top 50 Yacht Rock Songs), Looking Glass' tale of an alluring barmaid in a busy harbor town ...
England Dan and John Cord Foley - 'I'd Really Love to See You Tonight'. England Dan & John Ford Coley - I'd Really Love To See You Tonight.avi. A big hit for this duo in 1976, it showcases the very best of the sock rock/AOR/yacht rock sound that the 1970s could offer.
Putting aside its self-aware inauthenticity, "Africa" is an infectious, 8x platinum AOR monster. 5. "Reminiscing" by Little River Band. Released in the summer of 1978 and reaching up to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, "Reminiscing" was guitarist Graeham Goble 's nostalgic take on the swing band era.
Furthermore, Aja, the album that houses Peg, is one of the most impressive American albums of all time, beyond its Yacht Rock appeal. 3. Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) - Looking Glass. Released in 1972, the one-hit wonder by Looking Glass, Brandy, established a much bigger name for itself than the band ever managed to achieve on its own.
Founded in 2014, the Yacht Rock Music channel is dedicated to the preservation and celebration of the smoothest rock that ever existed. Yacht Rock Music features tracks and videos from Michael ...
From England, Climax Blues Band scored a top-15 hit with "I Love You." Love was a dependable and generally successful topic for artists within the soft/yacht rock genre. ... the song has had a ...
Two light-rock classics from Year One of Yacht Rock. "You Are the Woman" would become a quasi-staple of yachty wedding reception playlists, especially if a flautist happened to be on board; "Still ...
Join Pete Pardo for a show all about that breezy pop rock music labeled 'yacht rock'. #yachtrock š°Donate via Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/peterpardosseaoftranqu...
This week we take a deep dive into the soft rock hits of the late '70s and early '80s, which have come to be known in some circles as Yacht Rock. The term Yacht Rock generally refers to music in the era where yuppies enjoyed sipping champaign on their yachts ā a concept explored in the original web series Yacht Rock, which debuted in 2005 ...
Shakespeare said, "The course of true love never did run smooth." Well, maybe not. But fortunately the MUSIC of true love is a different matter. Especially w...
It's a touch business - this Yacht Rock. Without further ado. Here's my Top 24 Yacht Rock Songs. 24. England Dan and John Ford Coley - I'd Really Love To See You Tonight. 23. Herb Alpert - Route 101. 22. Jay Ferguson - Thunder Island. 21. Boz Scaggs - JoJo. 20. Bobby Caldwell - What You Won't Do For Love. 19.
Often dissed as slick, overly-produced music made by white men in the '70s, Yacht Rock actually resulted in some amazing pop music beyond Christopher Cross' "Sailing." Here are tracks that define the genre's rich, jazzy textures and irresistible melodies. 12 Songs, 1 hour, 1 minute.
The One You Love- Glenn Frey (this would be my first pick) Fool If You Think It's Over- Chris Rea. Biggest Part of Me- Ambrosia. So Into You- Atlanta Rhythm Section. (a couple of these you could say are more soul related but I always get that yacht rock vibe from them haha)
Yacht Rock Ā· Playlist Ā· 130 songs Ā· 1.5M likes
Yacht Rock: Album Guide. From Steely Dan to Christopher Cross to Carly Simon, these smooth summer jams will take you away to where you're going to. Walter Becker, left, and Donald Fagen are Steely ...
Regardless, there are many classic soft or yacht rock songs from the 70's. My choice would be Baby Come Back, by Player. I'd Really Love To See You Tonight - England Dan and John Ford Coley. Actually any song by England Dan and John Ford Coley, they all (yacht) rock! my favorite is nights are forever.
"When You Love a Woman" by Journey (1984) "When I Need You" by Leo Sayer (1985) "You Belong to Me" by Carly Simon (1985) ... but also music lovers in general. Whether you're a newcomer to yacht rock or a long-time enthusiast of the genre, the top yacht rock songs in this list will offer a glimpse into the melodic, smooth sound ...
If you don't love songs about boats, one-night stands, and breezy California nights, you've come to the wrong place. Yacht Rock embodies the singer-songwriter soft rock that dominated FM radio playlists in the '70s. Combine slick L.A. production, earnest singing, and a touch of lite-country songwriting, and chances are, you had a Top 40 hit. These are the best of them.
Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) - Looking Glass. Written by the band's lead guitarist Elliot Lurie, pop-rock band Looking Glass is a one-hit wonder thanks to their popular single 'Brandy (You're a Fine Girl).'. The song tells the story of a young "barmaid" in a bustling seaport who brushes off endless propositions as she longs for ...
Mixes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1QpTe6yOLLAJYXME3ikOUjucox9WTudYGTA Radio Stations: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1QpTe6yOLLB5uc2H6l...
Yacht rock (originally known as the West Coast sound or adult-oriented rock) is a broad music style and aesthetic commonly associated with soft rock, one of the most commercially successful genres from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s. Drawing on sources such as smooth soul, smooth jazz, R&B, and disco, common stylistic traits include high-quality production, clean vocals, and a focus on light ...
Playlists from Yacht Rock Radio. Yacht Rock. Nothing but smooth sailing ahead. Yacht Rock Radio Playlist. A playlist for 70s & 80s Smooth Soft Rock - updated weekly! Singer-Songwriter Legends. Legendary storytellers, poets and voices. Cover: James Taylor. iHeart70s Playlist.
Specialties: We have been called America's Favorite Yacht Rock Band and we are proud of it! Our show highlights the best soft rock hits of th 70s and 80s. Established in 2018. Originally from Milwaukee Wisconsin, we have been touring the Country for the last 4 years. We have all moved to Las Vegas for our residency that started in 2022.
Stream Full Concert with Passport: https://to.pbs.org/yachtrockA sneak peek of this nostalgic musical journey through the late 70s and early 80s, featuring h...
The Beatles Formation and Rise. Once upon a time in Liverpool, England, four lads named John, Paul, George, and Ringo came together to form a band that would become synonymous with rock 'n' roll ...
I love to give blood. It is one of life's most pleasant activities: 100% indulgence, self-care, a spa treatment. ... every 56 days or so, for about an hour. In the spotless venue, yacht rock ...