yacht rock warren g

MusicInfluence.com

The 25 Best Yacht Rock Songs Of All Time

Yacht rock isn’t exactly a genre. it’s more a state of mind..

Yacht Rock is the musical equivalent of a mid-afternoon mimosa nap in a nautical location—a balmy lite-FM breeze with the substance of a romance novel and the machismo of a Burt Reynolds mustache comb.

But what exactly is Yacht Rock?

Yacht Rock is ‘70s 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 just easy to mock. It’s also deserving of the abuse. There’s a sensitive-male brand of chauvinism that permeates this material—like 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 couldn’t 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...

The survival of high quality music writing depends on subscribers like you. For as little as $5 per month, you can fund a project dedicated entirely to the love of music (and receive access to special monthly features). Upgrade today and support an endangered species—the independent music writer.

What are the qualifications for inclusion on our list?

So Yacht Rock refers to a type of soft rock, right? But there’s a ton of soft rock out there that doesn’t fit the bill. There’s 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:

Finding the love of your life;

Having a memorable one-night stand; or 

These features pretty much capture everything that’s 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...

1. "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" by Rupert Holmes

"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.

2. "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) by The Looking Glass

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.

3. "Summer Breeze" by Seals and Crofts

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.

4. "Africa" by Toto

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 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.

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. 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.

6. "Drift Away" by Dobie Gray

Originally recorded 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.

7. "Love Will Find a Way" by Pablo Cruise

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.

8. "Ride Captain Ride" by Blues Image

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 with Atco Records. Their sophomore record, Open , yielded their one and only hit. The Blues Image reach #4 on the charts in 1970 with a tune about a bunch of men who disappear into the mists of the San Francisco Bay while searching for a hippie utopia.

9. "Eye in the Sky" by The Alan Parsons Project

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 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.

10. "Miracles" by Jefferson Starship

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 Jefferson 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.

11. "Sad Eyes" by Robert John

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.

In the summer of '79, he would again climb the charts, this time to the top spot. 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.

12. "Magnet and Steel" by Walter Egan

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.

13. "Lido Shuffle" by Boz Scaggs

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.

14. "What You Won't Do for Love" by Bobby Caldwell

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."

15. "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)" by Michael McDonald

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.

16. "Baker Street" by Gerry Rafferty

To the casual listener, Gerry Rafferty's name should sound vaguely familiar. Indeed, you may remember hearing it uttered in passing in the film Reservoir Dogs . In a key scene, a radio 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 the 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.

17. "Wham Bam Shang-A-Lang" by Silver

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.

18. "Biggest Part of Me" by Ambrosia

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.

19. "Baby Come Back" by Player

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.

20. "On and On" by Stephen Bishop

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).

21. "Chevy Van" by Sammy Johns

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 reached #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.

22. "You Are the Woman" by Firefall

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."

23. "Sailing" by Christopher Cross

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.

24. "Steal Away" by Robbie Dupree

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 listed just above--Christopher Cross.

25. "This is It" by Kenny Loggins

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.

Ready for more?

• Hunter D Stair
• Cancelled Shows
• Brenan Campbell
• Doug Benson
• Kevin Bacon
• Justin Roiland
• James Adomian
• Peter Cetera
• Tom Savarese
• Vincent Price
• Steve Porcaro
• Kenny Loggins
• Michael McDonald
• Hall & Oates
• David B Lyons
• Lane Farnham

By Zettai on Flickr

Yacht Rock is an 12-part series following the fictionalized lives and careers of American smooth rock stars of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Created by JD Ryznar , Hunter D Stair and Lane Farnham , it is one of the most successful projects to come out of Channel 101 .

J. D. Ryznar and Hunter D. Stair devised the series after noticing the incestuous recording careers of such bands as Steely Dan , Toto , and The Doobie Brothers and the singer-songwriters Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald . For example, McDonald co-wrote Loggins' "This Is It" and Loggins co-wrote McDonald's band The Doobie Brothers' "What a Fool Believes" and also performed backing vocals for several other 'yacht rock' artists, including Steely Dan and Christopher Cross. Yacht Rock's episodes were "hosted" by "Hollywood" Steve Huey , a legitimate music critic for Allmusic. It should be noted that the term "Yacht Rock" is never used throughout the series by any characters except for by Huey during his introductions, instead it is always referred to as "Smooth Music". The look of the series was the responsibility of the show's editor Lane Farnham.

• 1 Channel101.com Summary
• 3 Music in the show
• 4 Artist Acknowledgment
• 5 Real people portrayed in Yacht Rock
• 6 Episode & Song List
• 7 Best Episode
• 8 Production
• 9 Fun Facts
• 10 See also
• 11 External links
• 12 References

Channel101.com Summary [ ]

JD and Hunter having won Channy Awards for Yacht Rock.

What can be said about Yacht Rock that hasn't been said by various magazines, newspapers and disc jockeys across the country? J.D. Ryznar and Hunter Stair's saga detailing the unknown mythical origins of a previously obscure genre of music struck the audience like a lightning bolt on its first episode, much like fellow 101 breakout House of Cosbys. Unlike HoC, however, Yacht Rock was never sued by its iconic characters' real life counterparts. In fact, it is said that at one time or another, just about every musician lovingly portrayed in the series has witnessed and enjoyed it behind closed doors. Yacht Rock enjoyed success on levels and in ways previously unattained by 101 shows, its title becoming a household phrase at radio stations, a bin at your local record store and a category on iTunes. But beneath its pop cultural triumph was an artistic one that often went undescribed: Yacht Rock's stories were always clever and sometimes downright genius in their assembly, weaving trivia, common knowledge, exaggerations and fabrications into a rope strong enough to hold it at the #1 position for an unbelievable number of non-consecutive months, setting audience share records at Channel 101 that are unlikely to be broken any time soon and sweeping the 2005 Channy Awards. Ironically, Channel 101's most memorable show came to its end quietly and unremarkably, not unlike some of the careers it saluted with a smirk. Instead of choking on its vomit in a Paris bathtub or overdosing on a Hollywood sidewalk, Yacht Rock simply told us one last story about Steely Dan, then hoisted its sails and drifted away while a satisfied crowd waved goodbye from the docks, exactly one incredible year after its historical debut. Bye, Yacht Rock. We loved you.

Synopsis [ ]

Ryznar admits to having a fascination with the music of the period. Ryznar explains, "Getting into Steely Dan really started this for me. As did the ability to buy dollar records at Amoeba and put them on tapes for my car. Kenny Loggins has made his way into all the pilots I've been involved with except one. [1] " As Ryznar told Reuters contributor Andy Sullivan, "I'm making fun of the songwriting process, but the music is generally treated pretty lovingly." [2]

The series depicts some realistic aspects of the music, but builds exaggerated storylines around them. For example, main protagonists Loggins and McDonald receive inspiration from a fictional Yacht Rock impresario named Koko Goldstein, whose death in Episode 2 ultimately leads them to go their separate ways musically. Another example is the series' presentation of several real-life characters. McDonald is an idealistic and earnest singer/songwriter, but takes both Smooth Music and himself far too seriously. Loggins is his easygoing friend and frequent collaborator who eventually abandons Smooth Music in favor of commercial rock and roll in the 80s, which strains their friendship. The portrayal of John Oates as the abusive, foulmouthed leader of Hall & Oates , exerting sometimes violent control over the milquetoast Daryl Hall , is clearly different from reality, in which Hall is the main lead vocalist and songwriter with no hint of a rivalry. Christopher Cross is depicted as a wide-eyed, timid newbie whose song "Sailing" is lauded as the "smoothest song ever". Loggins' former partner Jim Messina is a bitter wino who hates Loggins for his success and perceived betrayal. Michael Jackson is depicted as a hard-rock enthusiast who believes his partnership with guitarist Eddie Van Halen will lead to an endless parade of female sexual conquests. Jeff Baxter , the Doobie Brothers' lead guitarist, is seen threatening to kick McDonald "out of the Doobies" if he doesn't write them another hit. The real Baxter did bring McDonald into the band but, as they achieved their greatest commercial success, Baxter left the Doobie Brothers because of his displeasure with their new commercial sound and attitude. The Eagles (portrayed here as jock-like meatheads) and Steely Dan (portrayed as snarky nerds, with Donald Fagen speaking in an incoherent babble of Scat) really did insert lyrical references to each other in their music, as depicted in the show, but these were actually friendly in nature, not part of a longtime grudge involving baseball bats and lunch-money shakedowns. [3]

The series was written, directed, and produced by Ryznar, co-produced by David B Lyons and Hunter Stair, and edited by Lane Farnham. The production has a "bad-on-purpose aesthetic". [4] Ryznar credits lots of people here.

Yacht Rock 2 Behind the Smooth

Yacht Rock debuted on Channel 101 at the June 26, 2005 screening. It placed in the top five at subsequent screenings until the June 25, 2006 screening, where it placed seventh and was canceled.

However, the show remained a popular download on Channel 101, convincing the creators to make an 11th episode independently. This episode, featuring Jason Lee as Kevin Bacon , debuted during a screening at the Knitting Factory in New York City on December 27, 2007. A month later, Channel 101 themselves included it in a screening, and hosted it on their website along with the other episodes on January 28, 2008. [5]

Of the episode, Abed Gheith had this to say:

"Truly a great and wonderful episode in all ways. From the blood bath Footloose scene to the Me-L.T. There were moments in this that restored those awesome memories from what seemed like ages ago. I think Sevan said something that he heard Hunter say that was pretty crazy, about seeing the show up there was like ghosts on the screen. It was a wonderful ride down memory lane of Channel 101's best days."

A 12th and final episode premiered in April 2010.

Music in the show [ ]

"Yacht rock" is a name [6] [7] for the popular soft rock that peaked between the years of 1975 and 1984. Significant "yacht rockers" include Michael McDonald , Kenny Loggins , Christopher Cross , and Toto . In the musical sense, yacht rock refers to the highly polished brand of soft rock that emanated from Southern California] during the late 1970s and early 1980s. In part, the term relates to the stereotype of the yuppie yacht owner, enjoying cocaine and smooth music while out for a sail. Additionally, since sailing was a popular leisure activity in Southern California, many "yacht rockers" made nautical references in their lyrics, videos, and album artwork, particularly the anthemic track "Sailing" by Christopher Cross.

Yacht Rock music is commonly described as, "A little bit better than elevator music!"

The foundation of the yacht rock scene was a local pool of versatile session musicians who frequently played on each other's records. This professionalism often gave yacht rock recordings a high level of sophistication in composition, arrangement, and instrumental skill.

The most popular yacht rock artists enjoyed considerable commercial success. During its peak years, yacht rock dominated the Grammy Awards, with Christopher Cross and Toto sweeping the major awards in 1981 and 1983 respectively, feats consistently derided by Grammy prognosticators. [8] However, yacht rock was not a hit with most rock critics at the time, who dismissed it as being corporate rock that was overproduced, generic, and middle of the road, instead favoring punk and new wave acts such as The Clash , Blondie , Patti Smith , and Elvis Costello . [9]

In developing the show Yacht Rock , creator J. D. Ryznar commented that the term was intended to describe the "more elite studio artists" of the period, such as Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins. [10] David B. Lyons , who co-produced the show and played Koko Goldstein, noted that a friend of his devised the term "marina rock" in college to describe a more "working-class" group of artists that didn't achieve the same high profile, such as Seals and Crofts, Rupert Holmes, and Looking Glass. [11] However, despite the show's intentions, music journalists have begun using the term yacht rock to describe all of the similar-sounding music of the period, including bands such as Ambrosia, 10cc, Pablo Cruise, Firefall, England Dan & John Ford Coley, Orleans, Ace, and Player. [12]

While Ryznar and the show popularized the term "yacht rock," it's alleged to have existed previously, according to Wikipedia, which states its earliest-known appearance came in 1990 from Dave Larsen, popular music critic for the Dayton Daily News, describing an upcoming Jimmy Buffett concert in Cincinnati.

Artist Acknowledgment [ ]

Hunter D Stair with Steve Porcaro .

John Oates credited Yacht Rock in 2007 with rekindling interest in Hall & Oates and lowering the demographic age of the group's fans. He wrote:

I think Yacht Rock was the beginning of this whole Hall & Oates resurrection...They were the first ones to start to parody us and put us out there again, and a lot of things have happened because of Yacht Rock. [13]

Daryl Hall and John Oates with Wade Randolph and Drew Hancock .

Michael McDonald acknowledged Yacht Rock in 2008:

Have you ever owned a yacht? No, but I thought Yacht Rock was hilarious. And uncannily, you know, those things always have a little bit of truth to them. It’s kind of like when you get a letter from a stalker who’s never met you. They somehow hit on something, and you have to admit they’re pretty intuitive.

Okay. So what’s the craziest thing you ever did with Kenny Loggins? We mostly worked a lot when we would get together. Kenny, he’s one of those guys who was a more serious artist; I was just a schlub. He was like, "C’mon, let’s get this right," and I was like, "Got any beer?" [14]

Real people portrayed in Yacht Rock [ ]

• Ian Anderson
• Michael Anthony (referred to as 'the other guy' in Van Halen)
• Rosanna Arquette
• Jeff "Skunk" Baxter
• Walter Becker
• Jimmy Buffett
• Christopher Cross
• Daryl Dragon
• Donald Fagen
• David Hungate
• James Ingram
• Michael Jackson
• Steve Lukather
• Jim Messina
• Jaye P. Morgan
• David Paich
• Steve Perry
• Jeff Porcaro
• Harold Ramis
• Tanya Roberts
• David Lee Roth
• David Sanborn
• Patrick Simmons
• Ted Templeman
• Toni Tennille
• Charles, Lord Townshend
• Jethro Tull
• Alex Van Halen
• Eddie Van Halen
• Lindsey Buckingham

Episode & Song List [ ]

SPOILERS in the Episode Summaries!

1. " What a Fool Believes "

• SCREENING DATE Sunday, June 26th - 2005
• AUDIENCE SHARE 70.2% (1st at screening with 194 votes)

In the pilot episode, Kenny Loggins, under the guidance of Koko Goldstein, reaches out to a struggling Michael McDonald, who's having trouble writing a smooth hit for his band the Doobie Brothers.

• Michael McDonald-Sweet Freedom
• George Benson-Breezin'
• Loggins & Messina-Sailin the wind
• Kenny Loggins-Whenever I call You Friend
• Doobie Brothers-What a Fool Believes
• Doobie Brothers-Sweet Feelin'
• Doobie Brothers-You Never Change
• Hall and Oates-Alley Katz
• Kenny Loggins - What a fool Believes

2. " Keep the Fire "

• SCREENING DATE Sunday, July 24th - 2005
• AUDIENCE SHARE 95.0% (1st at screening with 233 votes)

Loggins and McDonald pair up against the duo Hall & Oates for a songwriting competition. Koko is accidentally impaled by his lucky harpoon during the ensuing melee, but is at peace before his death by hearing the smoothest song ever sung by a young Christopher Cross.

• Steely Dan: Peg
• Doobie Brothers - What a fool believes
• Hall and Oates-Sara Smile
• Hall and Oates-Portable Radio
• Kenny Loggins-This is It
• Kenny Loggins-Love has come of age
• Also featured in S.O.S. Fantome episode two.

3. " I'm Alright "

• SCREENING DATE Sunday, August 28th - 2005
• AUDIENCE SHARE 68.9% (2nd at screening with 234 votes)

As everyone grieves Koko's death, Loggins lashes out at McDonald and "smooth music" as a whole, causing a rift between the two. An entertainment executive behind the movie Caddyshack demands that the movie's director, Harold Ramis, obtain Loggins' talents to write the movie's theme song. Ramis takes advantage of an angry and confused Loggins and gets him to write and record the hard rock song "I'm Alright" much to McDonald's dismay.

• Bad Caddyshack Theme - Rick Johnson
• Steely Dan-King of the World
• Kenny Loggins- This is it (Live)
• Steely Dan-Time Out of Mind
• Kenny Loggins - Keep the Fire
• Doobie Brothers-How do the Fools Survive
• Journey - Lights
• Journey - Anyway you want it
• Steely Dan - Kid Charlamagne
• Kenny Loggins-I'm Alright

4. " Rosanna "

• SCREENING DATE Sunday, September 25th - 2005
• AUDIENCE SHARE 87.7% (1st at screening with 274 votes)

Steve Porcaro ( Steve Agee ), the keyboard player of the band Toto, is asked by his girlfriend, Rosanna Arquette, to write a song about her, and she wants him to have Michael McDonald sing on the track. Discouraged by McDonald's disdain for his band, Porcaro devises a three-step plan to make it happen.

• Something by Benetictine Monks
• Toto-Hold the Line
• Toto-I Won't Hold You Back
• Toto-Make Believe
• Doobie Brothers - What a Fool Believes
• Doobie Brothers - You Never Change
• Christopher Cross-Ride the Wind
• Loggins & Messina - Sailing the wind
• Kenny Loggins/Steve Perry-Don't Fight it
• Michael McDonald-Love Lies
• Toto-I'll supply the Love
• Toto-Rosanna

5. " Believe in It "

• SCREENING DATE Sunday, October 30th - 2005
• AUDIENCE SHARE 78.6% (1st at screening with 268 votes)

Toto has been commissioned to write a smooth song for Michael Jackson's Thriller, but Jackson rejects the band, believing after working with Eddie Van Halen on Beat It that such material is in his past. Fearing that Jackson will destroy "smooth music" for a decade, Porcaro turns to McDonald, Loggins, Skunk Baxter, Cross, and Vincent Price ( James Adomian ), to summon up Koko's ghost for help writing Human Nature.

• Samuel Barber- Adagio for Strings
• Michael McDonald - Believe in It
• Michael Jackson - Beat it
• Michael Jackson - Thriller
• Kenny Loggins - I Gotta Try
• Michael McDonald - I Gotta Try
• Christopher Cross - Sailing
• Kenny Loggins - This is it
• Van Halen - Eruption
• Michael Jackson - Human Nature

6. " The Seed Drill "

• SCREENING DATE Sunday, January 29th - 2006
• AUDIENCE SHARE 62.1% (2nd at screening with 315 votes)

"Hollywood" Steve's father demands that Steve stop wasting his time on Yacht Rock, and regales a historic tale of Jethro Tull, which is very similar to episode one.

• Michael McDonald - Sweet Freedom
• Jethro Tull - Velvet Green
• Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick
• Jethro Tull - Witch's Promise
• Jethro Tull - Flute Solo (Live)
• Jethro Tull - Aqualung
• Jethro Tull - Teacher
• Jethro Tull - Jack-In-The-Green
• Jethro Tull - Cold Wind to Vallhalla
• Jethro Tull - Too Old to Rock and Roll, Too Young to Die
• Jethro Tull - Living in the Past
• Jethro Tull - Reasons for Wait
• Jethro Tull - The Whistler

7. " I Keep Forgettin' "

• SCREENING DATE Sunday, February 26th - 2006
• AUDIENCE SHARE 89.1% (1st at screening with 318 votes)

McDonald and Loggins make a bet about McDonald's new song, "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)", that takes a decade to resolve. Ten years later, Long Beach-based rappers Warren G and Nate Dogg struggle with creating smooth rap (yacht rap), and only when they kidnap McDonald, is there a solution to everyone's problems.

• Michael McDonald - I Keep Forgetting
• Kenny Loggins - Swear Your Love
• Michael McDonald - Love Lies
• Dr. Dre - Nothin' but a G Thang
• Dr. Dre - Dre Day
• Snoop Doggy Dogg - G's and Hustlaz
• Dr. Dre - Let Me Ride
• Christoper Cross - Words of Wisdom
• Snoop Doggy Dogg - Who am I (What's My Name?)
• Doobie Brothers - What a Food Believes
• Warren G - Regulate

8. " Gino (the Manager) "

• SCREENING DATE Sunday, March 26th - 2006
• AUDIENCE SHARE 70.9% (2nd at screening with 251 votes)

"Hollywood" Steve returns to the very beginning, where Doobie Brothers producer Ted Templeman explains his dream about the origin of "the smoothest rock [he's] ever heard" to Skunk Baxter over lunch. Baxter suggests seeing Koko about it, and Templeman starts seeing his dream come into fruition as he meets a young McDonald, then a background singer for Steely Dan, being talked into joining the Doobie Brothers by Steely Dan and Koko, Loggins showing signs of his imminent break from Messina and solo stardom, and an effeminate Hall and Oates with a very familiar looking manager named Gino, who tries to bully McDonald and Loggins into employing him as a manager. When they refuse, he plots revenge.

• Steely Dan - Your Gold Teeth II
• Doobie Brothers - Takin It to the Streets
• Hall & Oates - Gino (The Manager)
• Captain & Tennille - Love Will Keep Us Together
• Steely Dan - Any World (That I'm Welcomed To)
• Loggins & Messina - Watching the River Run
• Loggins & Messina - Your Mama Don't Dance
• Kenny Loggins - Love Has Come of Age
• Kenny Loggins - Danger Zone

9. " Runnin' with the Devil "

• SCREENING DATE Sunday, May 28th - 2006
• AUDIENCE SHARE 66.9% (4th at screening with 216 votes)

Van Halen puts a curse on Ted Templeman to force him to produce their hard rock song. In a subplot, Loggins loses his car keys and has everyone in the studio helping him look. Comedian Drew Carey makes a cameo appearance.

• Limewire tricked JD into thinking this was a Cheap Trick song. The original version was from an Ian Hunter (Mott the Hoople) solo album. The one used in the Drew Carey Show was the Presidents of the USA version. His intention for Yacht Rock was to use the classic version, but he messed up. NEVER trust Limewire. Buy your music from the store.
• Michael McDonald "Sweet Freedom"
• Kenny Loggins "Only a Miracle"
• Van Halen "Atomic Punk"
• Van Halen "Runnin' with the Devil"
• Doobie Brothers "Echoes of Love"
• Van Halen "I'm The One"
• Michael McDonald "Playin by the Rules"
• SCREENING DATE Sunday, June 25th - 2006
• AUDIENCE SHARE 44.4% (7th at screening with 155 votes)

Steely Dan and the Eagles settle a long-time, childish feud with a hit song.

• Tori Amos - "Winter"
• Michael MacDonald - "Sweet Freedom"
• Kenny Loggins - "I Believe In Love"
• Eagles - "Life In The Fast Lane"
• Steely Dan- "Everything You Did"
• Steely Dan - "Do It Again"
• Steely Dan - "Peg"
• The Eagles - "Hotel California"
• Steely Dan - "FM"
• Kenny Loggins - "Danger Zone"

11. " Footloose "

• SCREENING DATE Sunday, January 27th - 2008

Jimmy Buffett is convinced by Kevin Bacon and Gene Balboa to trick Loggins into making yet another movie song. He is subsequently kidnapped by Buffett and psychotic "Parrot Heads" and its up to McDonald and James Ingram to rescue him. Jason Lee makes a guest appearance as Bacon.

• Cheeseburger in Paradise - Jimmy Buffet
• I Need a Hero - Bonnie Tyler
• If it's Not What You're Looking For - Kenny Loggins
• Yah Mo Be There - James Ingram & Michael McDonald
• Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffett
• Changes in Latitude - Jimmy Buffett
• I'm Free (Heaven Helps the Man) - Kenny Loggins
• There's No Easy Way to Break Someone's Heart - James Ingram
• Pencil Thin Mustache - Jimmy Buffett
• Why Don't We Get Drunk - Jimmy Buffett
• Footloose - Kenny Loggins
• Boat Drinks - Jimmy Buffett
• Danger Zone - Kenny Loggins

12. "Dangerzone"

Premiered at the Bell House in Brooklyn, New York. Screened at Channel 101 April 24th.

Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald must fight Hall and Oates to destroy a Black Hole with Smooth Music.

• Sweet Freedom - Michael McDonald * No Lookin' Back - Kenny Loggins * Chase - Giorgio Moroder * No Lookin' Back - Michael McDonald * We are the World - USA for Africa * Adult Education - Hall & Oates * Charm The Snake - Christopher Cross * Out of Touch - Hall & Oates * From Here to eternity - Giorgio Moroder * Danger Zone - Kenny Loggins * Playing With The Boys - Kenny Loggins * Method of Modern Love - Hall & Oates * Sailing - Christopher Cross

Best Episode [ ]

Production [ ].

When asked by Will Hines on the Channel 101:NY forums about how good the production and editing values were on Yacht Rock, Ryznar replied:

"Its just the blessing of living in LA. I work for a company who lets us borrow their 24p and the office itself on the weekend. My next door neighbor is an editor. In LA, EVERYONE's next door neighbor is an editor, although I'm one of the few creators that doesnt do his own editing. Plus channel 101 is just an amazing wealth of acting talent. Yet, everyone is a writer... but everyone can act. Its weird and awesome. The studio is courtesy of Ryan Elder who emailed me after the first Yacht Rock and said "I'm a fan of Yacht Rock. I work at a recording studio wink wink." Its amazing. Someone on Yacht Rock is working on a big movie (MI:3) so we used this huge HOLLYWOOD BLOCKBUSTER greenscreen that they had THROWN AWAY (it was 20 by 20 and scraped!) to shoot the Koko ghost stuff, which we set up in the DV room of my office, lit with the company's lights, etc, etc.

Everyone loves making movies here, and not everyone wants to be in front of the camera or behind a typewriter. Some people just like to work on projects that actually get finished. This town is awesome.

We shot two days on this one, each about 6 hour days. I'm not sure how long the editing took. Lane picks at it here and there while he works on other things. Then I come in after the rough cut and we tighten the shit out of it, usually about 2 4-6 hour sessions with him gets it done.

But really, the secret is the Panasonic dvx100a camera. They're coming out with new models now, so maybe the older, but still awesome, ones will get cheaper. I want to own one soon. Fingers crossed."

Fun Facts [ ]

• Became the second show to make it a year, after The 'Bu , (June to May) with 3 months off. Only to be canceled the next show.

See also [ ]

• Yacht Rock/Quotes

External links [ ]

• The AV Club looks back on Yacht Rock in 2013
• Channel 101 Show Page
• Official Website
• Wikipedia article
• Facebook Page
• Have You Heard About The Lonesome Losers?
• Really Smooth Music
• Knights of Monte Carlo
• A Yacht Rock party how-to.
• Interview with JD about series.
• Yacht Rock Myspace
• The true story of the song "What a Fool Believes"
• Mention at Panopticist.

References [ ]

• ↑ http://channel101.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=54719#54719
• ↑ http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,178467,00.html
• ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20080531045840/http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/chi-hall-oates-0527may27,0,6549277.story
• ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/02/AR2007020200358_pf.html
• ↑ http://archive.is/20120913063143/www.spinner.com/2008/05/28/yacht-rock-docks-in-sea-of-musical-spoofs/
• ↑ http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2002726917_yachtfix09.html
• ↑ http://www.observer.com/node/52629
• ↑ http://archives.cnn.com/2001/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/23/grammy.albums/index.html
• ↑ http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_popmachine/2006/02/u2_vs_kanye_rev.html
• ↑ http://www.seattleweekly.com/music/0549/051207_music_talktalk.php
• ↑ http://channel101.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=69553#69553
• ↑ http://music.ign.com/articles/710/710545p1.html
• ↑ http://www.seattleweekly.com/2007-08-22/music/hall-oats-are-living-harmonizing-proof-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as-ironic-hipster-kryptonite.php
• ↑ http://www.timeout.com/newyork/articles/hot-seat/26823/michael-mcdonald

• 1 Story Structure 101: Super Basic Shit
• 2 Story Structure 104: The Juicy Details
• 3 Story Structure 102: Pure, Boring Theory

• Songwriter Interviews
• Song Writing
• Fact or Fiction
• They're Playing My Song
• Songfacts Pages
• Songwriting Legends
• Songfacts Podcast
• Amanda Flinner
• Bruce Pollock
• Corey O'Flanagan
• Dan MacIntosh
• Laura Antonelli
• Leslie Michele Derrough
• Maggie Grimason
• Nicole Roberge
• Roger Catlin
• Shawna Ortega
• Stephanie Myers
• Trevor Morelli

Regulate by Warren G. & Nate Dogg

Songfacts®:

• "Regulate" is a '90s hip-hop classic that tells the tale of night out in Long Beach, California. Rapper Warren G and singer Nate Dogg trade verses, each telling the story from their own perspective. Warren sets out looking to get some phone numbers from the ladies; Nate heads out looking to meet up with him. Warren gets carjacked and robbed, but Nate comes to his rescue, regulating the situation by opening fire on the perpetrators. Most of us would call it a night at this point, but Nate stays out and ends up at the Eastside Motel with a hottie. According to Warren, the story is composited from different events he and Nate went through when they were growing up together.
• "Regulate" is built on a sample of the 1982 Michael McDonald hit " I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near) ," an evocative but very mellow song in the yacht rock genre. Warren G is a practitioner of G Funk, which typically samples P-Funk grooves and the like. "I Keep Forgettin'" is a very melodic song, so it created a very different feel. To accommodate the groove, Warren and Nate are both very restrained vocally, speaking softly but carrying big sticks. It was unlike anything we'd heard before in hip-hop, which helped it stand out and become a huge hit.
• Warren G grew up listening to "I Keep Forgettin'," and it was his idea to sample the song. It's a tune that always stuck in his head, so he knew if he could find a way to rework it, he'd have a winner.
• The dialogue at the beginning of the song ("Regulators... we regulate any stealin' of his property...") comes from the 1988 movie Young Guns , where the "Regulators" are hired to maintain order. The line is spoken not Charlie Sheen, Emilio Estevez or one of the other famous actors in the film, but by Casey Siemaszko, who plays one of the Regulators. Warren G already had the song written when he saw the film. When he came across that scene, he decided to integrate it into the song, which he did by getting a VHS copy of the film and plugging it into his MPC60 sampler.
• In an interview with DJ Skee, Warren recalled that Nate recorded his portion of this track in a closet. "I had an apartment on Long Beach Boulevard and San Antonio, and I didn't have no furniture," he reminisced. "I called Nate, and said 'Nate, I got a record I think we should do, and go back-and-forth on it. I think it'd be dope.' He came over, he heard it, and was like, 'Damn!' So from there, we hooked up a mic in the closet, and I called my engineer, Greg. He came over and recorded it, and there it is."
• The songwriting credits on this one read: Warren Griffin Nathaniel Hale Jerry Leiber Mike Stoller The first two guys are Warren G and Nate Dogg, and the second two are the Leiber and Stoller songwriting/production team, the guys responsible for " Hound Dog " by Elvis Presley, " Stand By Me " by Ben E. King, and many other hits of the '50s and '60s. What are they doing in these credits? They wrote a 1962 song called "I Keep Forgettin'" the was recorded by Chuck Jackson in 1962 and formed the basis for the Michael McDonald song "Regulate" samples. Leiber and Stoller are the credited writers on the Michael McDonald song, so even though they had nothing to do with the groove sampled in "Regulate," they still get the credit. It's not clear if McDonald was compensated for the sample.
• The whistling sound at the beginning of the song is sampled from a 1981 song by Bob James called "Sign Of The Times."
• The song first appeared on the soundtrack to the film Above The Rim on March 22, 1994. The movie, about a young basketball phenom, stars Tupac and Bernie Mac - the song plays at the end of the film. "Regulate" was released as a single on April 28 and climbed to #2 on July 2, where it stayed for three weeks, held off by " I Swear " by All-4-One. The song was Warren G's first single and later appeared on his debut album, Regulate... G Funk Era . His next single, "This D.J.," was also a hit, climbing to #9.
• In the early 1990s Warren G and Nate Dogg were in a group called 213 (at the time, the area code for Long Beach) with a certain Snoop Dogg, who was known as Snoop Doggy Dog at the time. At the end of the song, they shout out the group with the line, "213 will regulate."
• Warren G is the stepbrother of rapper and producer Dr. Dre. They share the same mother but have different fathers.
• Nate Dogg became a top hook singer in hip-hop after this song took off. Other tracks he appears on include "Never Leave Me Alone" with Snoop Dogg and " Area Codes " with Ludacris. He died at 41 on March 15, 2011 of congestive heart failure along with complications related to two previous strokes.
• It was only a matter of time before someone in a late-night TV show writers room came up with the idea of pairing Warren G with the smooth jazz saxophone player Kenny G . These Gs came together in February 2015 to perform "Regulate" on Jimmy Kimmel Live , with Kenny embellishing the song with sax runs. It was part of Kimmel's "Mash Up Mondays" series, which also paired Aloe Blacc with Blackstreet "Aloe Blaccstreet" on " No Diggity ."
• More songs from Warren G. & Nate Dogg
• More songs that use samples
• More songs with clips from movies, TV shows or speeches
• More songs used in movies
• More songs without a chorus
• More songs that were an artist's first hit
• More songs from 1994
• Lyrics to Regulate

More Songfacts:

Boot Scootin' Boogie Brooks & Dunn

Ronnie Dunn wrote "Boot Scootin' Boogie" before he teamed up with Kix Brooks to form Brooks & Dunn. It was originally recorded by the country group Asleep At The Wheel, but Brooks & Dunn did it themselves when it got its own line dance.

Black Hole Sun Soundgarden

It has long been speculated that the Soundgarden song "Black Hole Sun" came from the name of a sculpture in Seattle, but according to their frontman Chris Cornell the title came from a phrase he misheard on the news. The band's name did come from a sculpture.

Where It's At Beck

The sample in Beck's song "Where It's At" that says "What about those who swing both ways: AC-DC" came from a 1969 sex-ed album for middle schoolers.

At This Moment Billy Vera & the Beaters

"At This Moment" was first released by Billy Vera & the Beaters in 1981, and hit #79. After it was used in two episodes of Family Ties in 1985-1986, it went to #1.

My Generation The Who

Roger Daltrey stutters the vocal on "My Generation" by The Who. The idea was to sound like a British kid on speed.

Only Wanna Be With You Hootie & the Blowfish

"Only Wanna Be With You" by Hootie & the Blowfish is a tribute to Bob Dylan, but Dylan sued them over it for using lyrics from his song "Idiot Wind."

Editor's Picks

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July" They're Playing My Song

When Dave recorded the first version of the song with his group the Blasters, producer Nick Lowe gave him some life-changing advice.

Rufus Wainwright Songwriter Interviews

Rufus Wainwright on "Hallelujah," his album Unfollow The Rules, and getting into his "lyric trance" on 12-hour walks.

Chris Fehn of Slipknot Songwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.

Gentle Giant Songwriter Interviews

An interview with Ray and Derek Shulman of the progressive rock band Gentle Giant to discuss counterpoint, polyrhythms, and... Bon Jovi.

How The Beatles Crafted Killer Choruses Song Writing

The author of Help! 100 Songwriting, Recording And Career Tips Used By The Beatles, explains how the group crafted their choruses so effectively.

Corey Hart Songwriter Interviews

The Canadian superstar talks about his sudden rise to fame, and tells the stories behind his hits "Sunglasses At Night," "Boy In The Box" and "Never Surrender."

Songfacts® Newsletter

A monthly update on our latest interviews, stories and added songs

Information

• Terms of Service
• Our Privacy Policy
• Google Privacy Policy
• Songfacts API
• Music History Calendar
• Song Licensing
• Affiliate Disclosure
• Privacy Manager
• X (Twitter)

Contribution

• Message Boards
• Songfacts Writers

©2024 Songfacts, LLC

August 28, 2024

MUSIC MONDAY: “Yacht Soul” – What It Is, Who Made It, and Why It’s Everything You Love About Yacht Rock But Cooler (LISTEN)

by Lori Lakin Hutcherson ( @lakinhutcherson )

As we sail away from summer into the (hopefully) cooler climes of autumn, a playlist filled with Yacht Soul might just be the perfect accompaniment to those post-Labor Day outdoor gatherings.

In case you’re thinking, “Sounds fun, but what exactly is ‘Yacht Soul’?,” it’s the supercool, sophisticated sibling of the “Yacht Rock” genre , a term coined fifteen years ago to describe 1970s and 1980s adult-oriented rock music infused with jazz and R&B recorded primarily in California by acts such as Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, Toto, Kenny Loggins and Christopher Cross.

“Yacht Soul” heightens the soul, R&B and jazz elements of the music while dropping a dollop of funk in the mix.

The following quotes from  soultracks.com  perhaps illuminate the distinctions best:

… Donald Cleveland says that we have Yacht Soul question entirely backwards. “ To be honest, Yacht Rock should have been called Yacht Soul from the start. Anybody with ears knows that. The only thing ‘rock’ about Yacht is the label that was on the albums as originally released, so they could be filed separately from the ‘Soul’ albums. It was just easier for the White people listening to this music with obvious soulful stylings to just keep the White ‘rock’ labeling going, even if the musicians themselves were influenced by and working from a framework of Black Soul .” Mama’s Gun lead singer Andy Platts agrees. “ Really if we’re honest, you don’t get ‘Yacht Rock’ without the evolution of Black music in the first place, from which it borrows heavily, so perhaps this just underscores the issues with appropriating and using terms like the ‘yacht’ label .”

Songs like  “Just The Two of Us” by Grover Washington, Jr. and Bill Withers , “Forget Me Nots” by Patrice Rushen , “Give Me The Night” by George Benson , “Rio De Janiero Blue” by Randy Crawford and Joe Sample and  “Golden Time of Day” by Maze  are strong examples of the style.

Many Yacht Soul classics were produced by music legend Quincy Jones , who guided Patti Austin , James Ingram , and  Michael Jackson  through unforgettable tunes such as “The Heat of Heat,” “Ai No Corrida,” “One Hundred Ways,” “It’s The Falling In Love,” “I Can’t Help It , “  and “Human Nature .”

Artists such as Al Jarreau, Donny Hathaway & Roberta Flack, Keni Burke, Brenda Russell, Earth, Wind and Fire, Chaka Khan and Sade also swim in the deep seas of Yacht Soul, which came to be known as “urban contemporary” by the late 1980s and 1990s.

I want to highlight a personal favorite from this era – Jermaine Jackson ‘s Top 20 R&B hit “You Like Me Don’t You” from his 1980 album Jermaine , written and produced by Jermaine and featuring a heart-melting harmonica solo from Stevie Wonder . The this mid-tempo cut still low key slaps. Hard.

You’ll notice some white artists in the Yacht Soul waters – many who charted as well or higher on the R&B charts than the Hot 100 with singles such as  “Georgy Porgy”  by Toto (featuring vocals by Cheryl Lynn ), “What You Won’t Do For Love” by Bobby Caldwell and “The Lowdown” by Boz Skaggs .

Yacht Soul songs have also provided ample sample material for hip hop producers from the 1990s to present day — like  Will Smith ‘s use of “Forget Me Nots” as the backbone to his 1997 hit “Men in Black” and “I Keep Forgettin” as the driving groove of 1994’s “Regulate” by Warren G . — but there’s nothing like the original jams!

We truly hope you enjoy this compilation.

Share this:

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on X (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Discover more from Good Black News

Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.

Type your email…

Published in Jazz/Blues/Folk , Music , Playlists , Podcasts/Audio , Pop/R&B/Dance and U.S.

• Brenda Russell
• Cheryl Lynn
• Earth Wind and Fire
• George Benson
• James Ingram
• Jermaine Jackson
• Lori Lakin Hutcherson
• Michael Jackson
• Patti Austin
• Quincy Jones

[…] Credit: Source link […]

[…] Source link […]

My favorite GBN mix yet. This is the perfect equivalent to a 3 or 4 CD boxed set of Yacht Soul, a compilation I didn’t even know I needed. Now if only it would come out on vinyl!

Thank u Giltz!!!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

Cookie banner

We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy . Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use , which became effective December 20, 2019.

By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies.

Follow The Ringer online:

• Follow The Ringer on Twitter
• Follow The Ringer on Instagram
• Follow The Ringer on Youtube

Site search

• Fantasy Football Rankings
• Bill Simmons Podcast
• 24 Question Party People
• 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s
• Against All Odds
• Bachelor Party
• The Bakari Sellers Podcast
• Beyond the Arc
• The Big Picture
• Black Girl Songbook
• Book of Basketball 2.0
• Boom/Bust: HQ Trivia
• Counter Pressed
• The Dave Chang Show
• East Coast Bias
• Every Single Album: Taylor Swift
• Extra Point Taken
• Fairway Rollin’
• Fantasy Football Show
• The Fozcast
• The Full Go
• Gambling Show
• Gene and Roger
• Higher Learning
• The Hottest Take
• Jam Session
• Just Like Us
• Larry Wilmore: Black on the Air
• Last Song Standing
• The Local Angle
• Masked Man Show
• The Mismatch
• Mint Edition
• Morally Corrupt Bravo Show
• New York, New York
• Off the Pike
• One Shining Podcast
• Philly Special
• Plain English
• The Pod Has Spoken
• The Press Box
• The Prestige TV Podcast
• Recipe Club
• The Rewatchables
• Ringer Dish
• The Ringer-Verse
• The Ripple Effect
• The Rugby Pod
• The Ryen Russillo Podcast
• Sports Cards Nonsense
• Slow News Day
• Speidi’s 16th Minute
• Somebody’s Gotta Win
• Sports Card Nonsense
• This Blew Up
• Trial by Content
• Ringer Wrestling Worldwide
• What If? The Len Bias Story
• Wrighty’s House
• Wrestling Show
• Latest Episodes
• All Podcasts

Filed under:

• 60 Songs That Explain the '90s
• The Ringer Podcast Network

‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: Nate Dogg, Warren G, and the Apex of the G-Funk Era

Talking “Regulate,” Michael McDonald, and the effortless brilliance of the late gangsta crooner Nate Dogg

Share this story

• Share this on Facebook
• Share this on Twitter
• Share All sharing options

Share All sharing options for: ‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: Nate Dogg, Warren G, and the Apex of the G-Funk Era

Grunge. Wu-Tang Clan. Radiohead. “Wonderwall.” The music of the ’90s was as exciting as it was diverse. But what does it say about the era—and why does it still matter? 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s is back for 30 final episodes ( and a brand-new book! ) to try to answer those questions. Join Ringer music writer and ’90s survivor Rob Harvilla as he treks through the soundtrack of his youth, one song (and embarrassing anecdote) at a time. Follow and listen for free on Spotify . In Episode 98 of 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s — yep, you read that right—we’re covering Warren G, Nate Dogg, and “Regulate.” Below is an excerpt of this episode’s transcript.

Warren G’s album Regulate… G Funk Era debuted and peaked at no. 2 on the Billboard album chart, beaten out only by Purple by Stone Temple Pilots. That’s funny. I think that’s funny. I’m very concerned that the CD copy of Purple that I bought might’ve been the single copy of Purple that kept Warren G’s album from debuting at no. 1. I feel bad about that. The Above the Rim soundtrack, also featuring SWV, Tupac, Lady of Rage, and the Dogg Pound, also peaked at no. 2 on the Billboard album chart, beaten out only by The Division Bell by Pink Floyd. Slightly less funny but still funny. I didn’t buy a copy of The Division Bell . That one’s not my fault. “Regulate,” the Warren G and Nate Dogg song, peaked at, you guessed it, no. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, beaten out only by “I Swear” by All-4-One. Huh. Wow. At least it wasn’t Pink Floyd, I guess.

I had nothing to do with “I Swear” keeping “Regulate” from going no. 1. Yes, “Regulate” as a hit song and a hit-album seller achieved the ultra-rare triple no. 2. There’s your pathos. That’s tough. That’s cool, though. I imagine that hitting no. 2 three times is harder than hitting no. 1 anywhere once. Yes, “Regulate,” the story of three great men brought together to achieve true greatness together. Yes, three men. Cards on the table, I am a 40-something white male who owns a lawn mower, and I am thus obligated, by our personal code, by the podcaster’s code, by the FCC, I am obligated by the Constitution to speak to you now about a truly great man named Michael McDonald.

Yes, national treasure and voice of a generation Michael McDonald, regaling us here with his tasty 1982 hit song “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near),” from his 1982 album If That’s What It Takes . I go back and forth on yacht rock, right, as a genre, as an era, as an ethos. I loved this sort of extra-luxurious soft rock—your Steely Dans, your Kenny Logginses, maybe kinda your Hall & Oateses—when this music proliferated, when it dominated from the mid-’70s to the mid-’80s, or at least it dominated my experience of the late ’70s to mid-’80s, when I was literally a baby and then a slightly unruly child. And as an unruly young adult, I loved it in the early 2000s, when this music was retroactively and lovingly reclassified as yacht rock, via the Yacht Rock early web video series and via the perpetual, the permanent Steely Dan renaissance, right? There’s a great new book by Alex Pappademas and Joan LeMay about Steely Dan, of course. I am not the sort of guy who is immune to the charms of, say, Weezer covering “Africa” by Toto, even if 2018 Weezer covering the also-1982 hit song “Africa” is an almost parodically Weezer sort of thing to do.

It’s cool, it’s lovely, and it’s loving, it’s sincere , all this yacht rock talk and celebration. But there’s still the slight inherent tension, right, when a musical genre only receives its canonical name, its widely accepted cultural framework several decades later; “yacht rock” became an old, legit pop-music sensation and a new, hilarious internet meme simultaneously. That’s a little weird, but also quite wonderful. Same deal with Michael McDonald’s physical voice .

That part is not sampled on “Regulate,” and Michael McDonald’s physical singing voice does not appear on “Regulate,” but that part of “I Keep Forgettin’” still kicks ass, does it not? Me and my boys, we went to see Michael McDonald play the Blue Note, the famous West Village jazz club, in 2008—I feel like me and my boys is the exact right way to describe us in that circumstance—and it kicked ass. Michael played “I Keep Forgettin’,” of course, and his saxophone player, who looked like Wilford Brimley, the sax player threw in a little of John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme in the intro; I wrote up that show and described Michael McDonald in print as “the Akon of the ’80s.” Ahh, shut up, Rob.

I’m tapping somebody else in. The great rock critic and author Eric Harvey wrote a great appreciation of Michael McDonald for Deadspin in 2014, back when I worked there— Deadspin classic. And Eric wrote, “Michael McDonald’s voice is so unique that for more than 30 years, it has subsumed Michael McDonald the man.” He went on, “I have an impression of the dude in my own repertoire, and there’s a good chance many of you do, too. It’s not that hard. Doing a Ray Charles, an Al Green, or even a Daryl Hall requires a good deal of vocal training and genetic luck. A Michael McDonald impression, on the other hand, is 95 percent timbre—the subjective ‘color’ of a voice—which I know because I have zero singing talent and can nonetheless imitate ‘I Keep Forgettin’’ with a high degree of verisimilitude. I just find the spot in my throat where a sound that would otherwise signify ‘soul’ instead sounds like one of those uncannily human Japanese robots programmed to ‘soul.’”

Michael McDonald’s voice, and his whole sound , is so distinct—it’s precisely at the level where nobody can duplicate it but everyone can try to imitate it—that all the love for him feels ironic even if it isn’t. Loving Michael McDonald is a funny idea, but what’s really funny is that all the people who love him are absolutely serious. Last thing, and maybe you didn’t expect this to happen, but trust me, you’ll be mad at yourself, after this happens, that you didn’t expect this to happen. I never watched Family Guy , the animated TV show Family Guy . I don’t mean that in any sort of elitist way, but I only know one Family Guy joke. And it’s when Peter, the Family Guy, he hires Michael McDonald to walk around with him and sing backing vocals for all his conversations, but then Michael McDonald refuses to leave.

Songs That Explain the ’90s , the Book

If you’ve ever listened to  60 Songs That Explain the ’90s  and thought, “I wish this podcast were a book,” do we have some news for you.  Songs That Explain the ’90s  is out now on Twelve Books. Order here.

Can I say that I did not expect that I would go that hard on Michael Mcdonald just now? Now I’m mad at myself for not expecting me to go that hard. Michael McDonald endures, is my point. There’s a viral TikTok going around right now where a preteen girl is extremely excited to go see Michael McDonald sing with his old band the Doobie Brothers. The kids know why I just went that hard on Michael McDonald. Warren G, the rapper and DJ and producer we were previously discussing, Warren G knows why I went that hard. Talking to Billboard about Michael McDonald in 2014, Warren G said, “I’m a fan. I’m still a fan. I really love his work, man. I think he’s one of the greatest of all time. His voice is incredible.”

And then Warren retold the story of living in the early ’90s in a dingy Long Beach Boulevard apartment with dog poop all over the floor, and he goes and gets a bunch of vinyl records from a dealer near Roscoe’s House of Chicken ’N Waffles, and one of the records is If That’s What It Takes by Michael McDonald, and Warren G hears “I Keep Forgettin’” and he knows. He knows immediately. Warren said to Billboard , “I was like, ‘Wow, this is an incredible record—plus it’s a record my stepmom and my pops used to play. It brought back feelings for me of living with my parents, when we lived in North Long Beach. They used to jam with some good music, man.” So Warren G samples the bejesus out of Michael Mcdonald. Next thing he does, he watches a movie.

Young Guns , from 1988. Starring Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, and that guy. Casey Siemaszko. Casey was also in Back to the Future . He played 3-D, the guy wearing 3-D glasses who was one of Biff’s henchmen in Back to the Future . Regulating any stealing of Biff’s property. Casey, appearing in Young Guns in the role of the famous outlaw Charlie Bowdre, Casey most likely does not realize, as he’s saying these words, that these will be the most famous words he ever says. But then again, the vigor with which Casey says this suggests that maybe he knows?

That was a pig. So there you go. So Warren G hooks up his VCR to his Akai MPC60 sequencer, and he samples that dialogue from a VHS tape of Young Guns . I am delighted by that detail. The VCR plugged into the sequencer. Which, obviously: This is the early ’90s. How else is Warren supposed to sample that? But a physical VHS tape pushed into a physical VCR plugged into a physical sequencer, with a cord between them: I’m into it. I’m into the tangible, the tactile, the corporeal nature of this sample. Next thing Warren does, he decides this song outta be a duet, a dialogue, like what Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg did with “Nuthin’ But a ‘G’ Thang.” And furthermore, Warren G—graciously, I have to say—will play the guy in this duet who needs rescuing.

To hear the full episode, click here . Subscribe here and check back every Wednesday for new episodes. And to preorder Rob’s new book , Songs That Explain the ’90s , visit the Hachette Book Group website .

Next Up In 60 Songs That Explain the '90s

• “Closing Time”—Semisonic
• ‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: The Complete Collection
• ‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: Garth Brooks, “Friends in Low Places”
• ‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: Tracy Chapman Never Had Much to Prove. She Did It Anyway.
• The Songs We Didn’t Do (Everyone Yells at Rob)
• ‘60 Songs That Explain the ’90s’: Jay-Z, in the Past Tense

Sign up for the The Ringer Newsletter

Thanks for signing up.

Check your inbox for a welcome email.

Oops. Something went wrong. Please enter a valid email and try again.

The Annual NFC Over/Unders With Cousin Sal

Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to run through the expected win totals of every NFC team and make their over/under picks

Wes Lee on NXT No Mercy, His Relationship With Shawn Michaels, and His Love for Video Games

Wes Lee joins Ben, Khal, and Brian for a bonus episode ahead of his match with Zach Wentz at No Mercy

Is ‘Rings of Power’ Ready to Emerge From the Shadow of Westeros?

Season 2 of Amazon’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ series doesn’t have to compete with ‘House of the Dragon,’ unlike the first time around. But ‘Rings of Power’ might have bigger problems than a mere rivalry with HBO.

“Hanging Out With the Mississippi” With Alex Brown

Jason and Alex delve into ‘Hard Knocks,’ the Chicago Bears’ cut-down decisions, the promise of the secondary, and record predictions for the Bears

Debating Your Premier League 2024-25 Ripple Effects

James Allcott is joined by Cai to debate and react to your 2024-25 Premier League ripple effects

Pats Cut-Down Day With Khari Thompson

Brian chats with Boston.com’s Khari Thompson about the Patriots’ final roster heading into the season

• Show Spoilers
• Night Vision
• Sticky Header
• Highlight Links

Follow TV Tropes

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/WebVideo/YachtRock

Yacht Rock is an 12-part series following the fictionalized lives and careers of American Soft Rock stars of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Created by JD Ryznar, Hunter D Stair and Lane Farnham, it is one of the most successful projects to come out of Channel101 .

J. D. Ryznar and Hunter D. Stair devised the series after noticing the incestuous recording careers of such bands as Steely Dan , Toto , and The Doobie Brothers and the singer-songwriters Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald . For example, McDonald co-wrote Loggins' "This Is It" and Loggins co-wrote McDonald's band The Doobie Brothers ' "What a Fool Believes" and also performed backing vocals for several other 'yacht rock' artists, including Steely Dan and Christopher Cross. Yacht Rock's episodes were "hosted" by "Hollywood" Steve Huey , a legitimate music critic for Allmusic. It should be noted that the term "Yacht Rock" is never used throughout the series by any characters except for by Huey during his introductions, instead it is always referred to as "Smooth Music". The look of the series was the responsibility of the show's editor Lane Farnham.

The storyline of the series employs a non-linear chronology, jumping back and forth in various points in time. Also, Space.

After the series became a web hit, the term yacht rock was retroactively popularized as the genre name for the style of soft rock featured in the show, marked by high production values, Jazz Fusion and R&B influences, and lyrics about romantic longing and personal follies, acting as an American equivalent to the Sophisti-Pop and City Pop scenes in the UK and Japan, respectively. Ryznar and Stair further specified their definition of the term as encompassing usage of upbeat rhythms, prominent usage of electric piano, and a reliance on elite producers and musicians from Los Angeles . Owed to their discontent with what they saw as the label's dilution, the pair went on to host two podcasts — Beyond Yacht Rock and Yacht or Nyacht? — in which they debate whether individual songs count as being part of their definition of the genre.

Hi, I'm Hollywood Steve, and these are some of the tropes used in the series Yacht Rock :

• Arc Villain : Jimmy Buffett, who functioned as an insane cult leader in his lone episode.
• Affectionate Parody : While the show makes fun of the songwriting process, it does still hold the music featured in high regard.
• Batman Gambit : Most of episodes show the "origins" of several yacht rock classics by way of this trope, from " Rosanna " to " Human Nature "
• Big Bad : Gene Balboa runs his entertainment business like a Bond villain.
• Beethoven Was an Alien Spy : Several (real life) characters are revealed to be aliens.
• The Bet : Cartoonishly downplayed in episode 7 where Loggins and McDonald bet a dollar on which one of their songs will end up number 2 on the music charts. McDonald gets the last laugh, though .
• Brainwashed and Crazy
• Carpet of Virility : John Oates, albeit made out of construction paper .
• Canon Character All Along : Hall and Oates' first manager, Gino Basareli turns out to be Gene Balboa after a drastic makeover .
• Cerebus Syndrome : Played for Laughs in the Hollywood Steve host segments for the last two episodes. While Episode 10 ends with him falling in love with the girl he saves from choking, Episode 11 opens with said girl leaving him and Episode 12 with Steve on his death bed.
• In episode 2, when Koko hears Chris Geppert plays his song.
• Happens twice to Ted Templeman, first in episode 8 involving smooth music from a singing walrus being interrupted by two ugly women and in episode 9 with visions of impalement .
• Downer Ending : Episode 2 and 12
• Easy Amnesia : McDonald after he gets run over by Warren G.
• Insistent Terminology : Only Hollywood Steve refers to it as "Yacht Rock" in his introductions. Everyone else calls it "Smooth Music"
• Jerkass : John Oates is depicted as an abusive foulmouthed control freak.
• Jerk Jock : Don Henley and Glenn Frey of the Eagles are depicted as this.
• Halloween Episode : Episode 5, complete with a Vincent Price led exorcism.
• The doo-wop section of Van Halen 's song "I'm the One" is the result of an in-studio scuffle between Koko Goldstein and Ted Templeman.
• " Human Nature " got recorded thanks to Koko's spirit harpooning Michael Jackson 's crotch .
• "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)" got sampled in "Regulate" because Nate Dogg and Warren G ran over McDonald .
• Glenn Frey and Don Henley sang background vocals for Steely Dan's song "FM" because they beat the crap out of them after as revenge.
• The title of "Yah Mo B There" came from a drunk Michael McDonald and James Ingram making fun of Kenny Loggins saying over the phone that he would be by to record some music with them later (with a mouthful of apple so it came out as "Yah Mo Be There")...they kept it up the whole time.
• Hostile Show Takeover : Happens twice in the series, with Hollywood Steve's dad in episode 6 and Drew Carey in episode 9.
• Human Aliens : Giorgio Moroder , who hails from Planet Synthos.
• Impaled with Extreme Prejudice : In episode two, Koko dies by being impaled with his lucky harpoon .
• Manchurian Agent : David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen use a magical amulet on Ted Templeman so that he'll produce their debut album when he hears Micheal McDonald's voice.
• Nobody Loves the Bassist : Provides the page quote.
• Origins Episode : Episode 8 shows how yacht rock got started, from McDonald leaving Steely Dan for The Doobie Brothers to Loggins and Messina in happier days.
• Post-Script Season : Downplayed as there were two more episodes made after the "finale" with episode 10.
• The Power of Rock : All over the place, especially the crotch laser Loggins shoots to defeat the Parrotheads .
• Record Producer : Koko Goldstein , Gene Balboa and Ted Templeman .
• The Reveal : Papa Moroder is Koko, and his body was only a vessel.
• Hollywood Steve introducing the episodes in inconvenient moments, like using the bathroom, attending a funeral, killing a homeless woman .
• Descriptors for Loggins and McDonald .
• Gene Balboa makes increasingly bizarre demands to his unseen manservant Manuel.
• Shout-Out : The final battle in episode 12 resembles the Death Star approach from Star Wars . It even has a Big Damn Heroes moment by the Millennium Falcon!
• Special Guest : Episode 11, Jason Lee as Kevin Bacon and Wyatt Cenac as James Ingram.
• Story Arc : Throughout the series, Loggins tries to move away from the smoothness of yacht rock to straight hard rockin' to make his way up to the top. This is shown to be like him sliding to "the dark side", but Rule of Funny of course.
• Storybook Episode : Episode 6 uses the plot of episode 1 to tell a fairytale version of both the historical and modern Jethro Tull .
• Take That! : Most of the parody is affectionate, but the invectives against Jimmy Buffett are particularly strong. James Ingram: "Yah mo murdered a lot of people out here tonight." Michael McDonald : "They're not people, James Ingram. They're Jimmy Buffett fans." Jimmy Buffett: "...with a cheeseburger in paradise..." Gene Balboa: "Fuck you, Jimmy Buffett!" Kevin Bacon : "Your music is shit!"
• The Unintelligible : Donald Fagen , with some exceptions. Donald Fagen: " Eat. Bat. Prick. "
• The Un-Reveal : Koko Goldstein's killer, as Hollywood Steve died while narrating it.
• Vitriolic Best Buds : Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins
• We Used to Be Friends : Loggins and Messina, especially when Loggins starts going solo and Messina ends up being a drunk.
• Wormtooth Nation
• Web Video Series
• YidLife Crisis
• Youth Is Wasted on the Dumb
• QuoteSource/Web Video
• Nobody Loves the Bassist

Important Links

• Action Adventure
• Commercials
• Crime & Punishment
• Professional Wrestling
• Speculative Fiction
• Sports Story
• Animation (Western)
• Music And Sound Effects
• Print Media
• Sequential Art
• Tabletop Games
• Applied Phlebotinum
• Characterization
• Characters As Device
• Narrative Devices
• British Telly
• The Contributors
• Creator Speak
• Derivative Works
• Laws And Formulas
• Show Business
• Split Personality
• Truth And Lies
• Truth In Television
• Fate And Prophecy
• Image Fixer
• New Articles
• Edit Reasons
• Isolated Pages
• Images List
• Recent Videos
• Crowner Activity
• Un-typed Pages
• Recent Page Type Changes
• Trope Entry
• Character Sheet
• Playing With
• Creating New Redirects
• Cross Wicking
• Tips for Editing
• Text Formatting Rules
• Handling Spoilers
• Administrivia
• Trope Repair Shop
• Image Pickin'

Advertisement:

Yacht Rock (2005–2010)

Mehran heard: warren g.

It looks like we don't have any photos or quotes yet.

Be the first to contribute! Add a photo or add a quote .

Release Dates | Official Sites | Company Credits | Filming & Production | Technical Specs

• Full Cast and Crew
• Release Dates
• Official Sites
• Company Credits
• Filming & Production
• Technical Specs
• Plot Summary
• Plot Keywords
• Parents Guide

Did You Know?

• Crazy Credits
• Alternate Versions
• Connections
• Soundtracks

Photo & Video

• Photo Gallery
• Trailers and Videos
• User Reviews
• User Ratings
• External Reviews
• Metacritic Reviews
• Episode List

Related Items

• External Sites

Related lists from IMDb users

Recently Viewed

THE WARREN HAYNES BAND

Million voices whisper tour, sunday, september 22 at 8pm.

The Warren Haynes Band: Million Voices Whisper Tour

Sunday, September 22 at 8pm

Tickets go on sale Fri, 7/26 at 10am

Member Presale begins Wed, 7/24 at 12pm

VIP Packages available

Tickets available on Ticketmaster

Or call (727) 300-2000

Tickets for this performance go on sale to the public on Friday, July 26 at 12pm. Interested in reserving your seats before the public? Members of Bill Edwards Foundation for the Arts have access to an exclusive presale starting Wednesday, July 24 at 12pm. Call (727) 300-2000 to reserve your seats and to learn more about the perks of membership!

GRAMMY Award-winning artist Warren Haynes has been recognized as a cornerstone of the American music landscape and revered as one of the finest guitar players in the world. Throughout his prolific career as part of three of the greatest live groups in rock history – Allman Brothers Band, Gov’t Mule and the Dead – his virtuosic artistry has led to thousands of unforgettable performances and millions of album and track sales.

Evening Dining Yacht St. Pete Beach Area

Starlite sapphire dining yacht.

Ready for a dazzling dinner and night out? StarLite offers a fine dining experience, entertainment and dancing with some of the best waterfront views in all of the Gulf Beaches from brilliant vistas to starlit evenings, every StarLite cruise is special. Our dining service includes a full, restaurant-style menu featuring continental cuisine prepared fresh on board. Entertainment is a mix of live selections and a wide variety of recorded songs to satisfy any musical request. Full bar and your own server ensure your enjoyment.

EVENING YACHT DINING MENU ~ ST. PETE BEACH AREA LOCATION

Blackened Chicken Alfredo a tender boneless breast of chicken prepared blackened style and placed atop a nest of fettuccine pasta Alfredo, served with chef’s selection of seasonal vegetable 24.95

Herb and Bell Pepper Red Snapper a roasted red snapper filet topped with herbs and bell peppers, finished with a squeeze of lemon, served with chef’s selection of rice and seasonal vegetable 26.95

Flat Iron Steak Argentine tender flat iron steak seared to medium and topped with a traditional Argentinian green chimichurri sauce, served with garlic red skin mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetable 31.95

StarLite Chicken Spinachi breaded boneless chicken breast stuffed with a mix of goat and Parmesan cheeses, artichoke hearts, and sauteed spinach, served with chef’s selection of rice and seasonal vegetable 26.95

Vegetarian Harvest an assortment of lightly seasoned, roasted garden vegetables combined with fettuccine and tossed in a garlic infused olive oil 18.95

Stuffed Shrimp five large blue water shrimp filled with blue crab and Italian herb stuffing, drizzled with our Cajun remoulade, served with chef’s selection of rice and seasonal vegetable 34.95

Boneless Pork Ribeye tender pork ribeye prepared with our own dry rub seasoning, roasted in its own juices and tastefully accented with a red wine reduction, served with garlic red skin mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetable 27.95

Oven Roasted Salmon filet of salmon complimented with shallot and lemon beurre blanc sauce, served with chef’s selection of rice and seasonal vegetable 28.95

Chateaubriand classic beef tenderloin slow-roasted to medium-rare and topped with our homemade bearnaise sauce, served with garlic red mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetable 35.95

Land and Sea a pairing of our two favorites - chateaubriand and stuffed shrimp, served with garlic red mashed potatoes and chef’s selection of seasonal vegetable 35.95

Entrees are ordered and prepared on board the vessel. Entrees are served with a mixed greens salad, bread and house dessert. A 20% gratuity will be added to parties of seven or more guests. Menu changes may occur as we strive to provide the freshest products and ideas.

CELEBRATING A BIRTHDAY OR AN ANNIVERSARY?

Make it an event you won't forget with a Special Occasion Package

The package includes: • a bottle of house champagne or wine • a Birthday or Anniversary mylar balloon • a decorated birthday cake or 3 roses in a vase for an anniversary

Price of package is $50.00 – subject to sales tax. All packages should be ordered a minimum of two days prior to cruise date in order to guarantee package availability.

2 1/2 - 3 HOUR EVENING DINING YACHT CRUISE Small parties booking this Evening Dining Yacht Cruise purchase an admission ticket covering the cruise and entertainment. Once on board, you will order and pay for your dining service in much the same way you would in any other restaurant.

In addition to our selection of entrees, appetizers , wine selections , and full cocktail service are available for purchase on board.

• Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday - Boarding at 6:30 pm; Departing at 7:00 pm
• Sunday - Boarding at 5:30 pm; Departing at 6:00 pm
• Departs: 3400 Pasadena Ave. South - St. Pete Beach Area ( Directions, Parking & FAQ )
• Guaranteed window table seating for parties of 6 or less, may be added for $25
• Tax is additional
• Children are ages 3-12
• Infants ages 2 & under are FREE but must be included with your reservation
• Dining Yachts
• Dolphin Speedboat Adventure
• Tropical Buffet Cruises
• Holiday Cruises
• Yacht Charters
• Corporate Events
• StarLite Fleet
• Gift Certificates
• Parking & Directions
• Health & Safety