• Top 15 Fleetwood Mac Solo Songs
  • When Will Heart Tour Again?
  • No. 1 Rock Albums Since 2000
  • Schon & Cain Legal Request
  • Top 20 Rolling Stones Solo Songs
  • Win a Chris Jericho Cruise

Ultimate Classic Rock

Top 50 Yacht Rock Songs

Yacht rock was one of the most commercially successful genres to emerge from the '70s and yet has managed to evade concise definition since its inception. For many listeners, it boils down to a feeling or mood that cannot be found in other kinds of music: Simply put, you know it when you hear it.

Some agreed-upon elements are crucial to yacht rock. One is its fluidity, with more emphasis on a catchy, easy-feeling melody than on beat or rhythm. Another is a generally lighthearted attitude in the lyrics. Think Seals & Crofts ' "Summer Breeze," Christopher Cross ' "Ride Like the Wind" or Bill Withers ' "Just the Two of Us." Yes, as its label suggests, music that would fit perfectly being played from the deck of a luxurious boat on the high seas.

But even these roughly outlined "rules" can be flouted and still considered yacht rock. Plenty of bands that are typically deemed "nyacht" rock have made their attempts at the genre: Crosby, Stills & Nash got a bit nautical with "Southern Cross," leading with their famed tightly knit harmonies, and Fleetwood Mac also entered yacht rock territory with "Dreams" – which, although lyrically dour, offers a sense of melody in line with yacht rock.

Given its undefined parameters, the genre has become one of music's most expansive corners. From No. 1 hits to deeper-cut gems, we've compiled a list of 50 Top Yacht Rock Songs to set sail to below.

50. "Thunder Island," Jay Ferguson (1978)

Younger generations might be more apt to recognize Jay Ferguson from his score for NBC's The Office , where he also portrayed the guitarist in Kevin Malone's band Scrantonicity. But Ferguson's musical roots go back to the '60s band Spirit; he was also in a group with one of the future members of Firefall, signaling a '70s-era shift toward yacht rock and "Thunder Island." The once-ubiquitous single began its steady ascent in October 1977 before reaching the Top 10 in April of the following year. Producer Bill Szymczyk helped it get there by bringing in his buddy Joe Walsh for a soaring turn on the slide. The best showing Ferguson had after this, however, was the quickly forgotten 1979 Top 40 hit "Shakedown Cruise." (Nick DeRiso)

49. "Southern Cross," Crosby, Stills & Nash (1982)

CSN's "Southern Cross" was an example of a more literal interpretation of yacht rock, one in which leftover material was revitalized by Stephen Stills . He sped up the tempo of a song titled " Seven League Boots " originally penned by brothers Rick and Michael Curtis, then laid in new lyrics about, yes, an actual boat ride. "I rewrote a new set of words and added a different chorus, a story about a long boat trip I took after my divorce," Stills said in the liner notes  to 1991's CSN box. "It's about using the power of the universe to heal your wounds." The music video for the song, which went into heavy rotation on MTV, also prominently displayed the band members aboard a large vessel. (Allison Rapp)

48. "Jackie Blue," the Ozark Mountain Daredevils (1974)

Drummer Larry Lee only had a rough idea of what he wanted to do with "Jackie Blue," originally naming it after a bartending dope pusher. For a long time, the Ozark Mountain Daredevils' best-known single remained an instrumental with the place-keeper lyric, " Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh Jackie Blue. He was dada, and dada doo. He did this, he did that ... ." Producer Glyn Johns, who loved the track, made a key suggestion – and everything finally snapped into place: "No, no, no, mate," Johns told them. "Jackie Blue has to be a girl." They "knocked some new lyrics out in about 30 minutes," Lee said in It Shined: The Saga of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils . "[From] some drugged-out guy, we changed Jackie into a reclusive girl." She'd go all the way to No. 3. (DeRiso)

47. "Sailing," Christopher Cross (1979)

You’d be hard-pressed to find a more quintessential yacht rock song than “Sailing.” The second single (and first chart-topper) off Christopher Cross’ 1979 self-titled debut offers an intoxicating combination of dreamy strings, singsong vocals and shimmering, open-tuned guitar arpeggios that pay deference to Cross’ songwriting idol, Joni Mitchell . “These tunings, like Joni used to say, they get you in this sort of trance,” Cross told Songfacts in 2013. “The chorus just sort of came out. … So I got up and wandered around the apartment just thinking, ‘Wow, that's pretty fuckin' great.’” Grammy voters agreed: “Sailing” won Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Arrangement at the 1981 awards. (Bryan Rolli)

46. "Just the Two of Us," Bill Withers and Grover Washington Jr. (1980)

A collaboration between singer Bill Withers and saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. resulted in the sleek "Just the Two of Us." When first approached with the song, Withers insisted on reworking the lyrics. "I'm a little snobbish about words," he said in 2004 . "I said, 'Yeah, if you'll let me go in and try to dress these words up a little bit.' Everybody that knows me is kind of used to me that way. I probably threw in the stuff like the crystal raindrops. The 'Just the Two of Us' thing was already written. It was trying to put a tuxedo on it." The track was completed with some peppy backing vocals and a subtle slap bass part. (Rapp)

45. "Sara Smile," Daryl Hall & John Oates (1975)

It doesn't get much smoother than "Sara Smile," Daryl Hall & John Oates ' first Top 10 hit in the U.S. The song was written for Sara Allen, Hall's longtime girlfriend, whom he had met when she was working as a flight attendant. His lead vocal, which was recorded live, is clear as a bell on top of a velvety bass line and polished backing vocals that nodded to the group's R&B influences. “It was a song that came completely out of my heart," Hall said in 2018 . "It was a postcard. It’s short and sweet and to the point." Hall and Allen stayed together for almost 30 years before breaking up in 2001. (Rapp)

44. "Rosanna," Toto (1982)

One of the most identifiable hits of 1982 was written by Toto co-founder David Paich – but wasn't about Rosanna Arquette, as some people have claimed, even though keyboardist Steve Porcaro was dating the actress at the time. The backbeat laid down by drummer Jeff Porcaro – a "half-time shuffle" similar to what John Bonham played on " Fool in the Rain " – propels the track, while vocal harmonies and emphatic brass sections add further layers. The result is an infectious and uplifting groove – yacht rock at its finest. (Corey Irwin)

43. "Diamond Girl," Seals & Crofts (1973)

Seals & Crofts were soft-rock stylists with imagination, dolling up their saccharine melodies with enough musical intrigue to survive beyond the seemingly obvious shelf life. Granted, the lyrics to “Diamond Girl,” one of the duo’s three No. 6 hits, are as sterile as a surgery-operating room, built on pseudo-romantic nothing-isms ( “Now that I’ve found you, it’s around you that I am” — what a perfectly natural phrase!). But boy, oh boy does that groove sound luxurious beaming out of a hi-fi system, with every nuance — those stacked backing vocals, that snapping piano — presented in full analog glory. (Ryan Reed)

42. "What You Won't Do for Love," Bobby Caldwell (1978)

Smooth. From the opening horn riffs and the soulful keyboard to the funk bass and the velvety vocals of Bobby Caldwell, everything about “What You Won’t Do for Love” is smooth. Released in September 1978, the track peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went on to become the biggest hit of Caldwell’s career. It was later given a second life after being sampled for rapper 2Pac's posthumously released 1998 hit single “Do for Love.” (Irwin)

41. "We Just Disagree," Dave Mason (1977)

Dave Mason's ace in the hole on the No. 12 smash "We Just Disagree" was Jim Krueger, who composed the track, shared the harmony vocal and played that lovely guitar figure. "It was a song that when he sang it to me, it was like, 'Yeah, that's the song,'" Mason told Greg Prato in 2014. "Just him and a guitar, which is usually how I judge whether I'm going to do something. If it holds up like that, I'll put the rest of the icing on it." Unfortunately, the multitalented Krueger died of pancreatic cancer at age 43. By then, Mason had disappeared from the top of the charts, never getting higher than No. 39 again. (DeRiso)

40. "Crazy Love," Poco (1978)

Rusty Young was paneling a wall when inspiration struck. He'd long toiled in the shadow of Stephen Stills , Richie Furay and Neil Young , serving in an instrumentalist role with Buffalo Springfield and then Poco . "Crazy Love" was his breakout moment, and he knew it. Rusty Young presented the song before he'd even finished the lyric, but his Poco bandmates loved the way the stopgap words harmonized. "I told the others, 'Don't worry about the ' ooh, ooh, ahhhh haaa ' part. I can find words for that," Young told the St. Louis Dispatch in 2013. "And they said, 'Don't do that. That's the way it's supposed to be.'" It was: Young's first big vocal became his group's only Top 20 hit. (DeRiso)

39. "Suspicions," Eddie Rabbitt (1979)

Eddie Rabbitt 's move from country to crossover stardom was hurtled along by "Suspicions," as a song about a cuckold's worry rose to the Top 20 on both the pop and adult-contemporary charts. Behind the scenes, there was an even clearer connection to yacht rock: Co-writer Even Stevens said Toto's David Hungate played bass on the date. As important as it was for his career, Rabbitt later admitted that he scratched out "Suspicions" in a matter of minutes, while on a lunch break in the studio on the last day of recording his fifth album at Wally Heider's Los Angeles studio. "Sometimes," Rabbitt told the Associated Press in 1985, "the words just fall out of my mouth." (DeRiso)

38. "Moonlight Feels Right," Starbuck (1976)

No sound in rock history is more yacht friendly than Bruce Blackman’s laugh: hilarious, arbitrary, smug, speckled with vocal fry, arriving just before each chorus of Starbuck’s signature tune. Why is this human being laughing? Shrug. Guess the glow of night will do that to you. Then again, this is one of the more strange hits of the '70s — soft-pop hooks frolicking among waves of marimba and synthesizers that could have been plucked from a classic prog epic. “ The eastern moon looks ready for a wet kiss ,” Blackman croons, “ to make the tide rise again .” It’s a lunar make-out session, baby. (Reed)

37. "Same Old Lang Syne," Dan Fogelberg (1981)

“Same Old Lang Syne” is a masterclass in economic storytelling, and its tragedy is in the things both protagonists leave unsaid. Dan Fogelberg weaves a devastating tale of two former lovers who run into each other at a grocery store on Christmas Eve and spend the rest of the night catching up and reminiscing. Their circumstances have changed — he’s a disillusioned professional musician, she’s stuck in an unhappy marriage — but their love for each other is still palpable if only they could overcome their fears and say it out loud. They don’t, of course, and when Fogelberg bids his high-school flame adieu, he’s left with only his bittersweet memories and gnawing sense of unfulfillment to keep him warm on that snowy (and later rainy) December night. (Rolli)

36. "Eye in the Sky," the Alan Parsons Project (1982)

Few songs strike a chord with both prog nerds and soft-rock enthusiasts, but the Alan Parsons Project's “Eye in the Sky” belongs to that exclusive club. The arrangement is all smooth contours and pillowy textures: By the time Eric Woolfson reaches the chorus, shyly emoting about romantic deception over a bed of Wurlitzer keys and palm-muted riffs, the effect is like falling slow motion down a waterfall onto a memory foam mattress. But there’s artfulness here, too, from Ian Bairnson’s seductive guitar solo to the titular phrase conjuring some kind of god-like omniscience. (Reed)

35. "Somebody's Baby," Jackson Browne (1982)

Jackson Browne 's highest-charting single, and his last Top 10 hit, was originally tucked away on the soundtrack for the 1982 teen comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High . That placed Browne, one of the most earnest of singer-songwriters, firmly out of his element. "It was not typical of what Jackson writes at all, that song," co-composer Danny Kortchmar told Songfacts in 2013. "But because it was for this movie, he changed his general approach and came up with this fantastic song." Still unsure of how it would fit in, Browne refused to place "Somebody's Baby" on his next proper album – something he'd later come to regret . Lawyers in Love broke a string of consecutive multiplatinum releases dating back to 1976. (DeRiso)

34. "Still the One," Orleans (1976)

Part of yacht rock’s charm is being many things but only to a small degree. Songs can be jazzy, but not experimental. Brass sections are great but don’t get too funky. And the songs should rock, but not rock . In that mold comes Orleans’ 1976 hit “Still the One.” On top of a chugging groove, frontman John Hall sings about a romance that continues to stand the test of time. This love isn’t the white-hot flame that leaves passionate lovers burned – more like a soft, medium-level heat that keeps things comfortably warm. The tune is inoffensive, catchy and fun, aka yacht-rock gold. (Irwin)

33. "New Frontier," Donald Fagen (1982)

In which an awkward young man attempts to spark a Cold War-era fling — then, hopefully, a longer, post-apocalyptic relationship — via bomb shelter bunker, chatting up a “big blond” with starlet looks and a soft spot for Dave Brubeck. Few songwriters could pull off a lyrical concept so specific, and almost no one but Donald Fagen could render it catchy. “New Frontier,” a signature solo cut from the Steely Dan maestro, builds the sleek jazz-funk of Gaucho into a more digital-sounding landscape, with Fagen stacking precise vocal harmonies over synth buzz and bent-note guitar leads. (Reed)

32. "Sail On, Sailor," the Beach Boys (1973)

The Beach Boys were reworking a new album when Van Dyke Parks handed them this updated version of an unfinished Brian Wilson song. All that was left was to hand the mic over to Blondie Chaplin for his greatest-ever Beach Boys moment. They released "Sail On, Sailor" twice, however, and this yearning groover somehow barely cracked the Top 50. Chaplin was soon out of the band, too. It's a shame. "Sail On, Sailor" remains the best example of how the Beach Boys' elemental style might have kept growing. Instead, Chaplin went on to collaborate with the Band , Gene Clark of the  Byrds  and the Rolling Stones – while the Beach Boys settled into a lengthy tenure as a jukebox band. (DeRiso)

31. "Time Passages," Al Stewart (1978)

Al Stewart followed up the first hit single of his decade-long career – 1976's "Year of the Cat" – with a more streamlined take two years later. "Time Passages" bears a similar structure to the earlier track, including a Phil Kenzie sax solo and production by Alan Parsons. While both songs' respective album and single versions coincidentally run the same time, the 1978 hit's narrative wasn't as convoluted and fit more squarely into pop radio playlists. "Time Passages" became Stewart's highest-charting single, reaching No. 7 – while "Year of the Cat" had stalled at No. 8. (Michael Gallucci)

30. "I Go Crazy," Paul Davis (1977)

Paul Davis looked like he belonged in the Allman Brothers Band , but his soft, soulful voice took him in a different direction. The slow-burning nature of his breakthrough single "I Go Crazy" was reflected in its chart performance: For years the song held the record for the most weeks spent on the chart, peaking at No. 7 during its 40-week run. Davis, who died in 2008, took five more songs into the Top 40 after 1977, but "I Go Crazy" is his masterpiece – a wistful and melancholic look back at lost love backed by spare, brokenhearted verses. (Gallucci)

29. "Biggest Part of Me," Ambrosia (1980)

Songwriter David Pack taped the original demo of this song on a reel-to-reel when everyone else was running late, finishing just in time: "I was waiting for my family to get in the car so I could go to a Fourth of July celebration in Malibu," he told the Tennessean in 2014. "I turned off my machine [and] heard the car horn honking for me." Still, Pack was worried that the hastily written first verse – which rhymed " arisin ,'" " horizon " and " realizin '" – might come off a little corny. So he followed the time-honored yacht-rock tradition of calling in Michael McDonald to sing heartfelt background vocals. Result: a Top 5 hit on both the pop and adult-contemporary charts. (DeRiso)

28. "Africa," Toto (1982)

Remove the cover versions, the nostalgia sheen and its overuse in TV and films, and you’re left with what makes “Africa” great: one of the best earworm choruses in music history. Never mind that the band is made up of white guys from Los Angeles who'd never visited the titular continent. Verses about Mt. Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti paint a picture so vivid that listeners are swept away. From the soaring vocals to the stirring synth line, every element of the song works perfectly. There’s a reason generations of music fans continue to proudly bless the rains. (Irwin)

27. "Hello It's Me," Todd Rundgren (1972)

“Hello It’s Me” is the first song Todd Rundgren ever wrote, recorded by his band Nazz and released in 1968. He quickened the tempo, spruced up the instrumentation and delivered a more urgent vocal for this 1972 solo rendition (which became a Top 5 U.S. hit), but the bones of the tune remain the same. “Hello It’s Me” is a wistful, bittersweet song about the dissolution of a relationship between two people who still very much love and respect each other a clear-eyed breakup ballad lacking the guile, cynicism and zaniness of Rundgren’s later work. “The reason those [early] songs succeeded was because of their derivative nature,” Rundgren told Guitar World in 2021. “They plugged so easily into audience expectations. They’re easily absorbed.” That may be so, but there’s still no denying the airtight hooks and melancholy beauty of “Hello It’s Me.” (Rolli)

26. "Smoke From a Distant Fire," the Sanford/Townsend Band (1977)

There are other artists who better define yacht rock - Michael McDonald, Steely Dan, Christopher Cross - but few songs rival the Sanford/Townsend Band's "Smoke From a Distant Fire" as a more representative genre track. (It was a Top 10 hit in the summer of 1977. The duo never had another charting single.) From the vaguely swinging rhythm and roaring saxophone riff to the light percussion rolls and risk-free vocals (that nod heavily to Daryl Hall and John Oates' blue-eyed soul), "Smoke" may be the most definitive yacht rock song ever recorded. We may even go as far as to say it's ground zero. (Gallucci)

25. "Dream Weaver," Gary Wright (1975)

Unlike many other songs on our list, “Dream Weaver” lacks lush instrumentation. Aside from Gary Wright’s vocals and keyboard parts, the only added layer is the drumming of Jim Keltner. But while the track may not have guitars, bass or horns, it certainly has plenty of vibes. Inspired by the writings of Paramahansa Yogananda – which Wright was turned on to by George Harrison – “Dream Weaver” boasts a celestial aura that helped the song peak at No. 2 in 1976. (Irwin)

24. "Reminiscing," Little River Band (1978)

The third time was the charm with Little River Band 's highest-charting single in the U.S. Guitarist Graeham Goble wrote "Reminiscing" for singer Glenn Shorrock with a certain keyboardist in mind. Unfortunately, they weren't able to schedule a session with Peter Jones, who'd played an important role in Little River Band's first-ever charting U.S. single, 1976's "It's a Long Way There ." They tried it anyway but didn't care for the track. They tried again, with the same results. "The band was losing interest in the song," Goble later told Chuck Miller . "Just before the album was finished, Peter Jones came back into town, [and] the band and I had an argument because I wanted to give 'Reminiscing' a third chance." This time they nailed it. (DeRiso)

23. "Heart Hotels," Dan Fogelberg (1979)

Ironically enough, this song about debilitating loneliness arrived on an album in which Dan Fogelberg played almost all of the instruments himself. A key concession to the outside world became the most distinctive musical element on "Heart Hotels," as well-known saxophonist Tom Scott took a turn on the Lyricon – a pre-MIDI electronic wind instrument invented just a few years earlier. As for the meaning of sad songs like these, the late Fogelberg once said : "I feel experiences deeply, and I have an outlet, a place where I can translate those feelings. A lot of people go to psychoanalysts. I write songs." (DeRiso)

22. "Year of the Cat," Al Stewart (1976)

Just about every instrument imaginable can be heard in Al Stewart's "Year of the Cat." What begins with an elegant piano intro winds its way through a string section and a sultry sax solo, then to a passionate few moments with a Spanish acoustic guitar. The sax solo, often a hallmark of yacht-rock songs, was not Stewart's idea. Producer Alan Parsons suggested it at the last minute, and Stewart thought it was the "worst idea I'd ever heard. I said, 'Alan, there aren’t any saxophones in folk-rock. Folk-rock is about guitars. Sax is a jazz instrument,'" Stewart said in 2021 . Multiple lengthy instrumental segments bring the song to nearly seven minutes, yet each seems to blend into the next like a carefully arranged orchestra. (Rapp)

21. "How Long," Ace (1974)

How long does it take to top the charts? For the Paul Carrack-fronted Ace: 45 years . "I wrote the lyric on the bus going to my future mother-in-law's," he later told Gary James . "I wrote it on the back of that bus ticket. That's my excuse for there only being one verse." Ace released "How Long" in 1975, reaching No. 3, then Carrack moved on to stints with Squeeze and Mike and the Mechanics . Finally, in 2020, "How Long" rose two spots higher, hitting No. 1 on Billboard's rock digital song sales chart after being featured in an Amazon Prime advertisement titled "Binge Cheat." (DeRiso)

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 pre-dates the classic yacht-rock era. Consider acts like Seals & Crofts and these one-hit wonders pioneers of the genre. Ironically, the effortless-sounding "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" was quite difficult to complete. "We recorded 'Brandy' two or three different times with various producers before we got it right," Looking Glass' principal songwriter Elliot Lurie told the Tennessean in 2016. The chart-topping results became so popular so fast, however, that Barry Manilow had to change the title of a new song he was working on to " Mandy ." (DeRiso)

19. "I Can't Tell You Why," Eagles (1979)

Timothy B. Schmit joined just in time to watch the  Eagles disintegrate. But things couldn't have started in a better place for the former Poco member. He arrived with the makings of his first showcase moment with the group, an unfinished scrap that would become the No. 8 hit "I Can't Tell You Why." For a moment, often-contentious band members rallied around the outsider. Don Henley and Glenn Frey both made key contributions, as Eagles completed the initial song on what would become 1979's The Long Run . Schmit felt like he had a reason to be optimistic. Instead, Eagles released the LP and then promptly split up. (DeRiso)

18. "Sentimental Lady," Bob Welch (1977)

Bob Welch  first recorded "Sentimental Lady" in 1972 as a member of Fleetwood Mac . Five years later, after separating from a band that had gone on to way bigger things , Welch revisited one of his best songs and got two former bandmates who appeared on the original version – Mick Fleetwood and Christine McVie – to help out (new Mac member Lindsey Buckingham also makes an appearance). This is the better version, warmer and more inviting, and it reached the Top 10. (Gallucci)

17. "So Into You," Atlanta Rhythm Section (1976)

Atlanta Rhythm Section is often wrongly categorized as a Southern rock band, simply because of their roots in Doraville, Ga. Songs like the seductively layered "So Into You" illustrate how little they had in common with the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd . As renowned Muscle Shoals sessions ace David Hood once said, they're more like the " Steely Dan of the South ." Unfortunately, time hasn't been kind to the group. Two of this best-charting single's writers have since died , while keyboardist Dean Daughtry retired in 2019 as Atlanta Rhythm Section's last constant member. (DeRiso)

16. "Dreams," Fleetwood Mac (1977)

Stevie Nicks was trying to channel the heartbreak she endured after separating from Lindsey Buckingham into a song, but couldn't concentrate among the bustle of Fleetwood Mac's sessions for Rumours . "I was kind of wandering around the studio," she later told Yahoo! , "looking for somewhere I could curl up with my Fender Rhodes and my lyrics and a little cassette tape recorder." That's when she ran into a studio assistant who led her to a quieter, previously unseen area at Sausalito's Record Plant. The circular space was surrounded by keyboards and recording equipment, with a half-moon bed in black-and-red velvet to one side. She settled in, completing "Dreams" in less than half an hour, but not before asking the helpful aide one pressing question: "I said, 'What is this?' And he said, 'This is Sly Stone 's studio.'" (DeRiso)

15. "Minute by Minute," the Doobie Brothers (1978)

Michael McDonald was so unsure of this album that he nervously previewed it for a friend. "I mean, all the tunes have merit, but I don't know if they hang together as a record," McDonald later told UCR. "He looked at me and he said, 'This is a piece of shit.'" Record buyers disagreed, making Minute by Minute the Doobie Brothers' first chart-topping multiplatinum release. Such was the mania surrounding this satiny-smooth LP that the No. 14 hit title track lost out on song-of-the-year honors at the Grammys to "What a Fool Believes" (found later in our list of Top 50 Yacht Rock Songs) by the Doobie Brothers. (DeRiso)

14. "Lonely Boy," Andrew Gold (1976)

Andrew Gold’s only Top 10 U.S. hit is a story of parental neglect and simmering resentment, but those pitch-black details are easy to miss when couched inside such a deliciously upbeat melody. Gold chronicles the childhood of the titular lonely boy over a propulsive, syncopated piano figure, detailing the betrayal he felt when his parents presented him with a sister two years his junior. When he turns 18, the lonely boy ships off to college and leaves his family behind, while his sister gets married and has a son of her own — oblivious to the fact that she’s repeating the mistakes of her parents. Gold insisted “Lonely Boy” wasn’t autobiographical, despite the details in the song matching up with his own life. In any case, you can’t help but wonder what kind of imagination produces such dark, compelling fiction. (Rolli)

13. "Baby Come Back," Player (1977)

Liverpool native Peter Beckett moved to the States, originally to join a forgotten act called Skyband. By the time he regrouped to found Player with American J.C. Crowley, Beckett's wife had returned to England. Turns out Crowley was going through a breakup, too, and the Beckett-sung "Baby Come Back" was born. "So it was a genuine song, a genuine lyric – and I think that comes across in the song," Beckett said in The Yacht Rock Book . "That's why it was so popular." The demo earned Player a hastily signed record deal, meaning Beckett and Crowley had to assemble a band even as "Baby Come Back" rose to No. 1. Their debut album was released before Player had ever appeared in concert. (DeRiso)

12. "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight," England Dan & John Ford Coley (1976)

There aren't too many songs with choruses as big as the one England Dan & John Ford Coley pump into the key lines of their first Top 40 single. Getting there is half the fun: The conversational verses – " Hello, yeah, it's been a while / Not much, how 'bout you? / I'm not sure why I called / I guess I really just wanted to talk to you " – build into the superpowered come-on line " I'm not talking 'bout moving in ...  ." Their yacht-rock pedigree is strong: Dan Seals' older brother is Seals & Croft's Jim Seals. (Gallucci)

11. "Hey Nineteen," Steely Dan (1980)

At least on the surface, “Hey Nineteen” is one of Steely Dan’s least ambiguous songs: An over-the-hill guy makes one of history’s most cringe-worthy, creepiest pick-up attempts, reminiscing about his glory days in a fraternity and lamenting that his would-be companion doesn’t know who Aretha Franklin is. (The bridge is a bit tougher to crack. Is anyone sharing that “fine Colombian”?) But the words didn’t propel this Gaucho classic into Billboard's Top 10. Instead, that credit goes to the groove, anchored by Walter Becker ’s gently gliding bass guitar, Donald Fagen’s velvety electric piano and a chorus smoother than top-shelf Cuervo Gold. (Reed)

10. "Rich Girl," Daryl Hall & John Oates (1976)

It’s one of the most economical pop songs ever written: two A sections, two B sections (the second one extended), a fade-out vocal vamp. In and out. Wham, bam, boom. Perhaps that's why it’s easy to savor “Rich Girl” 12 times in a row during your morning commute, why hearing it just once on the radio is almost maddening. This blue-eyed-soul single, the duo’s first No. 1 hit, lashes out at a supposedly entitled heir to a fast-food chain. (The original lyric was the less-catchy “rich guy ”; that one change may have earned them millions.) But there’s nothing bitter about that groove, built on Hall’s electric piano stabs and staccato vocal hook. (Reed)

9. "Fooled Around and Fell in Love," Elvin Bishop (1975)

Elvin Bishop made his biggest pop-chart splash with "Fooled Around and Fell In Love," permanently changing the first line of his bio from a  former member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band to a solo star in his own right. There was only one problem: "The natural assumption was that it was Elvin Bishop who was singing,” singer  Mickey Thomas told the Tahoe Daily Tribune in 2007. Thomas later found even greater chart success with Starship alongside Donny Baldwin, who also played drums on Bishop's breakthrough single. "A lot of peers found out about me through that, and ultimately I did get credit for it," Thomas added. "It opened a lot of doors for me." (DeRiso)

8. "Baker Street," Gerry Rafferty (1978)

Gerry Rafferty already had a taste of success when his band Stealers Wheel hit the Top 10 with the Dylanesque "Stuck in the Middle With You" in 1973. His first solo album after the group's split, City to City , made it to No. 1 in 1978, thanks in great part to its hit single "Baker Street" (which spent six frustrating weeks at No. 2). The iconic saxophone riff by Raphael Ravenscroft gets much of the attention, but this single triumphs on many other levels. For six, mood-setting minutes Rafferty winds his way down "Baker Street" with a hopefulness rooted in eternal restlessness. (Gallucci)

7. "Dirty Work," Steely Dan (1972)

In just about three minutes, Steely Dan tells a soap-opera tale of an affair between a married woman and a man who is well aware he's being played but is too hopelessly hooked to end things. " When you need a bit of lovin' 'cause your man is out of town / That's the time you get me runnin' and you know I'll be around ," singer David Palmer sings in a surprisingly delicate tenor. A saxophone and flugelhorn part weeps underneath his lines. By the time the song is over, we can't help but feel sorry for the narrator who is, ostensibly, just as much part of the problem as he could be the solution. Not all yacht rock songs have happy endings. (Rapp)

6. "Ride Like the Wind," Christopher Cross (1979)

“Ride Like the Wind” is ostensibly a song about a tough-as-nails outlaw racing for the border of Mexico under cover of night, but there’s nothing remotely dangerous about Christopher Cross’ lithe tenor or the peppy piano riffs and horns propelling the tune. Those contradictions aren’t a detriment. This is cinematic, high-gloss pop-rock at its finest, bursting at the seams with hooks and elevated by Michael McDonald’s silky backing vocals. Cross nods to his Texas roots with a fiery guitar solo, blending hard rock and pop in a way that countless artists would replicate in the next decade. (Rolli)

5. "Summer Breeze," Seals & Crofts (1972)

Jim Seals and Dash Crofts were childhood friends in Texas, but the mellow grandeur of "Summer Breeze" makes it clear that they always belonged in '70s-era Southern California. "We operate on a different level," Seals once said , sounding like nothing if not a Laurel Canyon native. "We try to create images, impressions and trains of thought in the minds of our listeners." This song's fluttering curtains, welcoming domesticity and sweet jasmine certainly meet that standard. For some reason, however, they released this gem in August 1972 – as the season faded into fall. Perhaps that's why "Summer Breeze" somehow never got past No. 6 on the pop chart. (DeRiso)

4. "Lowdown," Boz Scaggs (1976)

As you throw on your shades and rev the motor, the only thing hotter than the afternoon sun is David Hungate’s sweet slap-bass blasting from the tape deck. “This is the good life,” you say to no one in particular, casually tipping your baseball cap to the bikini-clad crew on the boat zooming by. Then you press “play” again. What else but Boz Scaggs ’ silky “Lowdown” could soundtrack such a moment in paradise? Everything about this tune, which cruised to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, is equally idyllic: Jeff Porcaro’s metronomic hi-hat pattern, David Paich’s jazzy keyboard vamp, the cool-guy croon of Scaggs — flexing about gossip and “schoolboy game.” You crack open another cold one — why not? And, well, you press play once more. (Reed)

3. "Lido Shuffle," Boz Scaggs (1976)

Scaggs' storied career began as a sideman with Steve Miller  and already included a scorching duet with Duane Allman . Co-writer David Paich would earn Grammy-winning stardom with songs like "Africa." Yet they resorted to theft when it came to this No. 11 smash. Well, in a manner of speaking: "'Lido' was a song that I'd been banging around, and I kind of stole – well, I didn't steal anything. I just took the idea of the shuffle," Scaggs told Songfacts in 2013. "There was a song that Fats Domino did called 'The Fat Man ' that had a kind of driving shuffle beat that I used to play on the piano, and I just started kind of singing along with it. Then I showed it to Paich, and he helped me fill it out." Then Paich took this track's bassist and drummer with him to form Toto. (DeRiso)

2. "Peg," Steely Dan (1977)

"Peg" is blessed with several yacht-rock hallmarks: a spot on Steely Dan's most Steely Dan-like album, Aja , an impeccable airtightness that falls somewhere between soft-pop and jazz and yacht rock's stalwart captain, Michael McDonald, at the helm. (He may be a mere backing singer here, but his one-note chorus chirps take the song to another level.) Like most Steely Dan tracks, this track's meaning is both cynical and impenetrable, and its legacy has only grown over the years – from hip-hop samples to faithful cover versions. (Gallucci)

1. "What a Fool Believes," the Doobie Brothers (1978)

Michael McDonald not only steered the Doobie Brothers in a new direction when he joined in 1975, but he also made them a commercial powerhouse with the 1978 album Minute by Minute . McDonald co-wrote "What a Fool Believes" – a No. 1 single; the album topped the chart, too – with Kenny Loggins and sang lead, effectively launching a genre in the process. The song's style was copied for the next couple of years (most shamelessly in Robbie Dupree's 1980 Top 10 "Steal Away"), and McDonald became the bearded face of yacht rock. (Gallucci)

Top 100 Classic Rock Artists

Gallery Credit: UCR Staff

More From Ultimate Classic Rock

Who Are the Big 4 of Hair Metal?

Yacht Rock Hits

Curated by Amazon's Music Experts

Raise your sail high, pour some bubbly, turn up this smooth rock mix, and let it happen, Cap'n.

126 SONGS • 8 HOURS AND 56 MINUTES

Doctor My Eyes

Stream Top Podcasts

Popular podcasts.

1. Dateline NBC

1. Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.

2. The Dan Bongino Show

2. The Dan Bongino Show

He’s a former Secret Service Agent, former NYPD officer, and New York Times best-selling author. Join Dan Bongino each weekday as he tackles the hottest political issues, debunking both liberal and Republican establishment rhetoric.

3. Crime Junkie

3. Crime Junkie

If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people.

Featured Podcasts

Law & Order: Criminal Justice System

Law & Order: Criminal Justice System

Law & Order: Criminal Justice System tells the real stories behind the landmark cases that have shaped how the most dangerous and influential criminals in America are prosecuted. In its first season, the series tackles the most influential crime organization in American history, the New York Mafia. Discover how the seemingly random murder of an influential mafioso sparked a chain of events that led to the downfall of the city's five major crime families at the height of their power.

Dream Sequence

Dream Sequence

When down-on-her-luck Kay Craft gets a call from her estranged genius sister Sadie inviting her to document Sadie’s new invention – a machine that records dreams – Kay can’t resist. What Kay doesn’t know is that Sadie’s come to believe there’s something alive in their dreams. Something that holds the key to the tragedy that tore them apart seven years ago. Something that can scare them to death. Created and written by Andrew Martin Robinson. Directed by Dave Beazley and John Brooks. Starring Jessi Case and Alice Kremelberg. Dream Sequence is a co-production of Blumhouse Television, iHeartPodcasts, and Realm.

Who Killed Jennifer Judd?

Who Killed Jennifer Judd?

In May 1992, nine days after marrying her high-school sweetheart, 20-year-old Jennifer Judd was killed in her apartment in Baxter Springs, Kansas. The killer had used knives from Jennifer's own set, a wedding gift the couple had only just opened. Upon returning home from work, her husband, Justin Judd, finds Jennifer lying on the kitchen floor with the blade of a knife still lodged in her back. Police immediately suspect one of Jennifer and Justin’s friends. A decade later, another man confesses. However, the case is never solved. In this captivating new series from ID, investigator Sarah Cailean attempts to answer the 32-year-old question: Who Killed Jennifer Judd? She’ll speak with Jennifer’s friends and family as she seeks to understand Jennifer’s life and untimely death. Throughout, Sarah also attempts to understand why police dismissed the confession of convicted murderer, Jeremy Jones. Also, go back and listen to Season 1, Why Can't We Talk About Amanda's Mom? On Why Can't We Talk About Amanda's Mom? host Sarah Cailean recounts her three-year investigation into the unsolved murder of Renée Bergeron that seems to leave more questions than answers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

iHeart Podcast Networks .css-1q01m3q{margin:0 0 -2px 0;}

© 2024 iHeartMedia, Inc.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

yacht rock music playlist

Dan Sharp "Between The Brave, Bold and Given Up" - Review

yacht rock music playlist

Built To Spill "Keep It Like a Secret" - Retrospective Review

yacht rock music playlist

Wolf Parade "Apologies to the Queen Mary" - Retrospective Review

yacht rock music playlist

The Housemartins "London 0 Hull 4" - Retrospective Review

yacht rock music playlist

The Libertines "All Quiet On the Eastern Esplanade" - Review

Franz Ferdinand "Franz Ferdinand" - Twentieth Anniversary Review

Franz Ferdinand "Franz Ferdinand" - Twentieth Anniversary Review

Cage the Elephant "Out Loud & Neon Pill" - Single Review

Cage the Elephant "Out Loud & Neon Pill" - Single Review

yacht rock music playlist

The Decemberists "The King Is Dead" - Retrospective Review

yacht rock music playlist

Modest Mouse "Good News For People Who Love Bad News" - Twentieth Anniversary Review

yacht rock music playlist

The Vaccines "Pick-Up Full of Pink Carnations" - Review

  • John Robinson

Top 100 Greatest Yacht Rock Songs of All Time

Top 100 Greatest Yacht Rock Songs of All Time

Yacht Rock, a term that has steadily grown in popularity, refers to the smooth, groovy rock music of the '70s and '80s that has been popularized over the recent years. Initially categorized as soft rock or adult contemporary, Yacht Rock places a stronger emphasis on the groove rather than the lyrics, making it some of the easiest and catchiest easy listening music for many rock fans. Interestingly, nearly all Yacht Rock songs were created 35-40 years before the genre was officially recognized as its own distinct style, leaving room for interpretation about what exactly qualifies as Yacht Rock. For our criteria, we analyzed the entire catalog of Sirius XM Yacht Rock Radio alongside Spotify and Apple Music’s Yacht Rock playlists and ranked the songs accordingly. Each song included has been deemed Yacht Rock by at least one of these sources and was scored against all other entries. Some songs may rank higher in a broader rock or soft rock sphere, but here are what we have deemed to be the 100 Greatest Yacht Rock Songs of All Time complete with a playlist of all 100 Songs . For a broader list across at songs across the rock realm, be sure to check out the Top 200 Greatest Rock Songs of All Time .

1. What a Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers

Deemed almost unanimously as the quintessential Yacht Rock tune by the few publications that have taken the time to dive into this same endeavor , What a Fool Believes  stands out as one of the grooviest rock tunes to ever achieve mainstream success. Featuring the quintessential Yacht Rock vocalist, Michael McDonald, the song topped charts across North America and became one of the most recognizable and frequently played songs of the '70s. Michael McDonald, who joined The Doobie Brothers in 1975, had become the band's primary vocalist by the release of Minute by Minute  in 1978, which houses What a Fool Believes . With this album marking a new sound for the band, especially following the temporary health-related departure of Tom Johnston, the band's new sound was polished to perfection, a dramatic shift from the Toulouse Street  sound of the early part of the decade. Nevertheless, What a Fool Believes  is a serious earworm, a critically "perfect" pop-rock song, if you will, and a song that reinvented The Doobie Brothers.

2. Peg   - Steely Dan

One of the most talented groups on our list, if not the most talented, Steely Dan transcended the typical confines of Yacht Rock during their initial ten-year run. Covering genres from Yacht Rock to jazz rock, progressive rock, and funk rock, Steely Dan captivated audiences uniquely throughout the '70s and early '80s. Walter Becker and Donald Fagen consistently collaborated with the world's finest studio musicians, producing albums of perfectionist caliber. Within the realm of Yacht Rock, Peg  takes their top spot, ranking just behind What a Fool Believes  in the genre. Once again, Michael McDonald provides backing vocals, harmonizing behind Donald Fagen and Paul Griffin. The silky smooth vocals paired with top-notch instrumentals make Peg  a standout track. 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. As one of the smoothest and catchiest songs of the ‘70s, Brandy  consistently appears on nearly every Yacht Rock, adult contemporary, or easy listening playlist available. The song tells a melancholic tale that is open to interpretation, though it is generally understood to describe an attractive bartender based in Northern New Jersey. Featuring catchy harmonies, clean soft guitar, and subtle horn use, what's not to love about this song?

4. Sailing   - Christopher Cross

If it were up to us at Melophobe, the "Yacht Rock Crown" would go to San Antonio’s own Christopher Cross. Although Cross really shined with just his first two studio albums before his later releases (post-1983) fell into obscurity, his early work still grabs all the attention. From his self-titled debut album, Sailing  stands out as a top ten hit that's the epitome of Yacht Rock. Interestingly, the term "yacht rock" itself is often linked right back to this song. His debut album is loaded with iconic tunes in this style, with Sailing  rightfully taking its place at the forefront.

5. Escape (The Pi ñ a Colada Song)  - Rupert Holmes

The second tune in our top ten that found its way onto one of the three Guardians of the Galaxy  soundtracks—as well as its original LP release—comes from yacht rock icon Rupert Holmes. Escape (The Piña Colada Song)  tells a story that feels more comical today than it might have in the ‘70s, describing a personal ad in search of a like-minded, carefree, fun-loving companion. Beyond the quirky lyrics, the sounds of crashing waves and clean guitars have turned the tune into a timeless earworm, cementing its status as a yacht rock masterpiece long before the term even existed. Guardians of the Galaxy  wasn't just a great series for action lovers; who would've guessed its soundtrack would become almost as iconic as the movies themselves?

6. Lowdown  - Boz Scaggs

Part of the same studio musician collective that worked with Steely Dan, Boz Scaggs hit major commercial success in 1976 with the release of his richly decorated album Silk Degrees . Boz Scaggs found success as one of the few artists to achieve substantial mainstream success in the jazz rock world aside from Steely Dan, with both artists utilizing many of the same studio musicians. Released from Silk Degrees , the standout yacht rock tune is Lowdown , a tightly produced masterpiece. Similar to Christopher Cross, Boz's peak in the mainstream was relatively brief, with his fame primarily anchored to Silk Degrees  and sporadic airplay of his other songs over about a decade.

7. Come and Get Your Love  - Redbone

Yet another tune from the Guardians of the Galaxy  soundtracks to make our top ten is Come and Get Your Love , released in 1975 by the swamp rock band Redbone. While often labeled as a one-hit-wonder, Redbone actually scored another American top 40 hit in 1971 and enjoyed scattered success in the R&B scene throughout the '70s. Come and Get Your Love  has since been celebrated as one of the greatest pop songs of the '70s and also managed to somewhat subtly tap into the disco craze of the era.

8. Margaritaville  - Jimmy Buffett

The question of whether Jimmy Buffett fits into the yacht rock category has stirred some debate lately, with the answer remaining somewhat unclear since the term itself is still relatively new. Most agree that Buffett's music is in a category of its own, but there are still those who argue that his unique sound has a place within yacht rock. Regardless, Margaritaville  and a few other Buffett tunes are staples on yacht rock radio stations, so we've deemed them eligible. Buffett's music embodies a carefree lifestyle that mirrors the feel and attitude of yacht rock. His iconic song Margaritaville  instantly puts listeners in a vacation mindset, a unique characteristic that has garnered it extensive praise and airplay over the years. The passing of Jimmy Buffett, an American legend, touched the hearts of many.

9. Africa  - Toto

The first track from the 1980s to make our top ten is Africa  from Toto's fourth album, aptly named Toto IV , released in 1982. Africa  topped the charts across North America and performed exceptionally well worldwide with its powerful chorus, extensive keyboard usage, and subtle guitar playing. Alongside Rosanna , also from Toto IV , Africa  has become a yacht rock staple, but it didn’t stop there—it transcended the genre to become one of the most iconic songs of the '80s. Today, it's still adored, nearing two billion streams on Spotify. The song has also become a favorite for covers, from bar bands to top-notch acts like Weezer.

10. Baby Come Back  - Player

Player carved out a slice of mainstream success in the late '70s, as soft rock began to resonate with those not taken by styles like punk rock and disco. Their biggest hit by far was the North American chart-topper Baby Come Back . Aside from being a soft rock staple, the song has also gained a new life as a meme across the internet. While yacht rock songs typically shy away from overly heartfelt or emotional lyrics, focusing more on the groove, Baby Come Back  manages to do both masterfully. The song blends notable emotional depth with an undeniably groovy beat, making it incredibly memorable—so much so that it's recognized by just about every American

11. Just the Two of Us  - Grover Washington Jr, Bill Withers

12. Southern Cross  - Crosby, Stills & Nash

13. Take it Easy  - Eagles

14. Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)  - Christopher Cross

15. Year of the Cat  - Al Stewart

16. Hey Nineteen  - Steely Dan

17. Still the One  - Orleans

18. Sharing the Night Together  - Dr. Hook

19. Sister Golden Hair  - America

20. Dreams  - Fleetwood Mac

21. Summer Breeze  - Seals & Croft

22. Guitar Man  - Bread

23. Thunder Island  - Jay Ferguson

24. Lido Shuffle  - Boz Scaggs

25. Give Me the Night  - George Benson

26. How Much I Feel  - Ambrosia

27. Reminiscing  - Little River Band

28. Doctor My Eyes  - Jackson Browne

29. Sara Smile  - Hall & Oates

30. Rosanna  - Toto

31. All Night Long (All Night)  - Lionel Richie

32. I.G.Y.  - Donald Fagan

33. Minute By Minute  - The Doobie Brothers

34. If You Leave Me Now  - Chicago

35. Time Out of Mind  - Steely Dan

36. Kokomo  - The Beach Boys

37. Eye in the Sky  - Alan Parsons Project

38. Sentimental Lady  - Bob Welch

39. Rich Girl  - Hall & Oates

40. What You Won't Do for Love  - Bobby Caldwell

41. Ride Like the Wind  - Christopher Cross

42. I'd Really Love to See You Tonight  - England Dan & John Ford Coley

43. Lovely Day  - Bill Withers

44. Graceland  - Paul Simon

45. Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes - Jimmy Buffett

46. Time Passages  - Al Stewart

47. One of These Nights  - Eagles

48. She's Gone  - Hall & Oates

49. Silly Love Songs  - Wings

50. Hold On  - Santana

51. Steal Away  - Robbie Dupree

52. Dance With Me  - Orleans

53. Listen to the Music  - The Doobie Brothers

54. How Long  - Ace

55. So Into You  - Atlanta Rhythm Section

56. Diamond Girl  - Seals & Croft

57. Lotta Love  - Nicolette Larson

58. We Just Disagree  - Dave Mason

59. Mexico  - James Taylor

60. Keep on Loving You  - REO Speedwagon

61. Baker Street  - Gerry Rafferty

62. Tender is the Night  - Jackson Browne

63. Love Will Find a Way  - Pablo Cruise

64. You Can Do Magic  - America

65. Key Largo  - Bertie Higgins

66. When You're In Love With a Beautiful Woman  - Dr. Hook

67. Dirty Work  - Steely Dan

68. All Out of Love  - Air Supply

69. I Saw the Light  - Todd Rundgren

70. Let Me Love You Tonight  - Pure Prairie League

71. I Love You  - Climax Blues Band

72. I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)  - Michael McDonald

73. This is It  - Kenny Loggins

74. The Things We Do For Love  - 10cc

75. Say You Love Me  - Fleetwood Mac

76. Biggest Part of Me  - Ambrosia

77. You're the Inspiration  - Chicago

78. Dream Weaver  - Gary Wright

79. Longer  - Dan Fogelberg

80. You Are  - Lionel Richie

81. Just a Song Before I Go  - Crosby, Stills & Nash

82. Right Down the Line  - Gerry Rafferty

83. New Frontier  - Donald Fagan

84. I Love a Rainy Night  - Eddie Rabbitt

85. Cool Night  - Paul Davis

86. Get Down On It  - Kool & The Gang

87. It's Raining Again - Supertramp

88. Vincent  - Don McLean

89. Crazy Love  - Poco

90. Spooky  - Atlanta Rhythm Section

91. Vienna  - Billy Joel

92. Cool Cat  - Queen

93. Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You  - George Benson

94. Hypnotized  - Bob Welch (Also Released by Fleetwood Mac)

95. Casablanca  - Bertie Higgins

96. Think of Laura  - Christopher Cross

97. Fooled Around and Fell in Love  - Elvin Bishop

98. Private Eyes  - Hall & Oates

99. Lonesome Loser  - Little River Band

100. Moonlight Feels Right - Starbuck

All of the picks from this list have been compiled into a streamable Spotify Playlist below entitled Yacht Rock Top 100 .

Recent Posts

Top 200 Greatest Rock Songs Post 1960

Top 50 Greatest Singer-Songwriter Albums of All Time

Top 100 Greatest American Rock Artists of All Time

Comentários

Listen now on spotify.

2000's alternative & indie rock playlist cover 2.JPEG

50 Fantastic Long-form Rock Songs

yacht rock music playlist

Top 100 Greatest Pop-Punk Songs of All Time

yacht rock music playlist

Top 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time

yacht rock music playlist

Top 100 Greatest Alternative Rock Albums of the '90s

yacht rock music playlist

Top 15 Songs by Vampire Weekend

yacht rock music playlist

Top 100 Greatest Indie Rock Albums of 2000-2009

yacht rock music playlist

Top 100 Greatest American Albums of All Time

yacht rock music playlist

100 Underrated Indie Rock Songs

yacht rock music playlist

Top 100 Greatest Rock Vocalists of All Time

yacht rock music playlist

100 Greatest Alternative Albums

100 Gre atest Alternative Artists

100 Greatest Debut Alternative Albums

100 Greatest Indie Rock Albums

100 Greatest Indie Rock Artists

100 Greatest Indie Rock Songs

100 Greates t Indie Rock Songs Post 2000

100 Fantastic Indie Rock DEEP CUTS Post 2000

100 Greatest Alternative Rock Songs of the '90s

100 Greatest Rock Artists

100 Greatest Rock Albums

100 Greatest Rock Albums of the '70s

100 Most Influential Rock Albums

10 Iconic Ea rly Alternative Rock Songs

ANOTHER 10 Iconic Early Alternative Rock Songs

10 Fantastic Song Titles

Five Underrated Albums of the 2000's 

  • COVID-19 News
  • Submit A Story Idea
  • Submit A Picture Or Video
  • Main Street Festival
  • Tennessee Event Venues
  • Submit An Event
  • Eat & Drink
  • Entertainment
  • Kids & Family
  • Fashion and Style
  • Things to Do
  • Relocating to Williamson County
  • Morning Source
  • High School Football Scores
  • Nashville Predators
  • Nashville SC
  • Nashville Sounds
  • Tennessee Titans
  • Columbia State Community College
  • Tennessee Volunteers
  • Vanderbilt Commodores
  • Search Local Homes
  • Battle Ground Academy
  • Brentwood Academy
  • Brentwood High School
  • Centennial High School
  • Christ Presbyterian Academy
  • Fairview High School
  • Father Ryan High School
  • Franklin High School
  • Franklin Road Academy
  • Grace Christian Academy
  • Independence High School
  • Nolensville High School
  • Page High School
  • Ravenwood High School
  • Spring Hill High School
  • Summit High School
  • Cool Springs
  • Spring Hill
  • Nolensville
  • Thompsons Station

Williamson Source

Playlist of the Week: Top 100 Songs of Yacht Rock

Featured Playlist

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.

ArtistTitle
1Steely DanHey Nineteen
2Herb AlpertRoute 101
3Robbie DupreeSteal Away
4Jan Hammer GroupDon't You Know
5Blues ImageRide Captain Ride
6Toto/Cheryl LynnGeorgy Porgy
7Gerry RaffertyRight Down The Line
8Paul YoungEvery Time You Go Away
9Boz ScaggsJojo
10Johnny NashI Can See Clearly Now
11Daryl Hall/John OatesSara Smile
12OrleansDance With Me
13Olivia Newton JohnMagic
14Seals & CroftsSummer Breeze
15Lionel RichieAll Night Long
16Fleetwood MacYou Make Loving Fun
17Steely DanDeacon Blues
18Christopher CrossRide Like The Wind
19Little River BandCool Change
20Jackson BrowneSomebody's Baby
2110ccDreadlock Holiday
22Dr. HookWhen You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman
23Boz ScaggsLowdown
24PlayerThis Time I'm In It For Love
25Fleetwood MacEverywhere
26Steely DanPeg
27Todd RundgrenI Saw The Light
28Gerry RaffertyBaker Street
29EaglesOne Of These Nights
30James IngramYah-Mo Be There
3110ccI'm Not In Love
32AmbrosiaBiggest Part Of Me
33Terri GibbsSomebody's Knockin'
34Atlanta Rhythm SectionSo In To You
35Boz ScaggsLido Shuffle
36Steve Miller BandWild Mountain Honey
37Michael McDonaldI Gotta Try
38Matthew WilderBreak My Stride
39England Dan & John Ford ColeyI'd Really Love To See You Tonight
40PlayerBaby Come Back
41Kenny LogginsThis Is It
42Michael McDonaldI Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)
43TotoRosanna
44Daryl Hall/John OatesKiss On My List
45The Doobie BrothersWhat A Fool Believes
46Christopher CrossSailing
47Loggins & MessinaWatching The River Run
48EaglesThe Long Run
49Looking GlassBrandy (You're A Fine Girl)
50BreadEverything I Own
51Steely DanReelin' in the Years
52Joe JacksonSteppin' Out
53Jackson BrowneDoctor My Eyes
54Sanford & TownsendSmoke from a Distant Fire
55Bobby CaldwellWhat You Won't Do For Love
56Fleetwood MacRhiannon
57AceHow Long
58Daryl Hall/John OatesRich Girl
59TotoAfrica
60Steely DanDo It Again
61Bertie HigginsKey Largo
62Rupert HolmesEscape (The Pina Colada Song)
63Little River BandReminiscing
64Jimmy BuffettMargaritaville
65Fleetwood MacDreams
66FirefallJust Remember I Love You
67EaglesI Can't Tell You Why
68EaglesThe Best Of My Love
69EaglesTake It To The Limit
70EaglesTequila Sunrise
71ChicagoSaturday In The Park
72Bob WelchSentimental Lady
73AmericaSister Golden Hair
74AmericaA Horse With No Name
75AmbrosiaHow Much I Feel
76Alan ParsonsEye In The Sky
77Air SupplyLost In Love
78Steely DanDirty Work
79Steely DanOnly A Fool Would Say That
80OrleansStill The One
81Stephen BishopSinking In An Ocean Of Tears
8210ccThe Things We Do For Love
83AmericaVentura Highway
84Al StewartYear Of The Cat
85BreadBaby I'm A Want You
86FirefallYou Are The Woman
87George BensonGimme The Night
88Barbara Streisand/Barry GibbGuilty
89Christopher CrossArthur's Theme
90Marty BalinHearts
91PocoBarbados
92Daryl Hall/John OatesI Can't Go For That (No Can Do)
93Al StewartTime Passages
94Jay FergusonThunder Island
95Dr. HookSexy Eyes
96Donald FagenI.G.Y.
97Michael McDonaldGotta Try
98BreadMake It With You
99Pablo CruiseWhatcha Gonna Do
100Doobie BrothersDependin' On You
101Ozark Mountain DaredevilsJackie Blue
102Pablo CruiseLove Will Find A Way
103StarbuckMoonlight Feels Right
104Billy OceanCaribbean Queen
105Linda RonstadtOoh Baby Baby
106Hues CorporationRock The Boat
107Loggins & MessinaDanny's Song
108Rupert HolmesAnswering Machine
109Stephen BishopOn And On
110BreadThe Guitar Man
111Seals & CroftsDiamond Girl
112Air SupplyEven The Nights Are Better
113AmbrosiaYou're The Only Woman
114George BensonBreezin'
115Daryl Hall/John OatesShe's Gone
116Dave LogginsPlease Come To Boston
117Rickie Lee JonesChuck E.'s In Love
118Captain/TennilleLove Will Keep Us Together
119Dr. HookBetter Love Next Time
120ChilliwackI Believe
121Crosby, Stills & NashSouthern Cross
122Climax Blues BandCouldn't Get It Right
123Gilbert O'SullivanAlone Again (Naturally)
124AmericaDaisy Jane
125Beach BoysSail On, Sailor

Please join our FREE Newsletter

Featured Local Savings

Related articles more from author, see photos from acm takeover of downtown nashville, everything new coming to max in september 2024, miranda lambert to receive country icon award at 2024 people’s choice country awards, close to home news, tennessee fish and wildlife commission approves 2025-26 budget, reviews new deer..., the shalom foundation with partner vanderbilt children’s hospital celebrate 10,000 surgeries..., don’t miss the last weekend of wilson county fair/ tn state..., southwest airlines to add two nonstop international flights, one domestic flight..., close to home events, miranda lambert to receive country icon award at 2024 people’s choice..., williamson weekend: 5 happenings this weekend, save the date for college and industry fair, see the documentary ‘when patsy cline was crazy’ in franklin, tickets are available to brentwood bruins under the lights event, them dirty roses to perform at the cannery hall, get ready for the rhea lana’s of franklin consignment sale, tickets go on sale next month for nashville zoo’s zoolumination, franklin author will hold book release at landmark booksellers.

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • Copyright Infringement Claims

Singer/songwriters of the ‘70s and ‘80s sure knew how to imbue a song with the smooth abandon of a jaunt on the open sea. That's why this rich era in soft rock is cheekily referred to as “yacht rock,” right? Well, maybe it also has to do with so many California artists like Christopher Cross and Steely Dan fixating on boating in their lyrics and album art. Either way, we love it.

20 Songs, 1 hour, 21 minutes

Featured Artists

The doobie brothers, james taylor, jimmy buffett, christopher cross, daryl hall & john oates, gary wright, africa, middle east, and india.

  • Côte d’Ivoire
  • Congo, The Democratic Republic Of The
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Niger (English)
  • Congo, Republic of
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Sierra Leone
  • South Africa
  • Tanzania, United Republic Of
  • Turkmenistan
  • United Arab Emirates

Asia Pacific

  • Indonesia (English)
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • New Zealand
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Philippines
  • Solomon Islands
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • France (Français)
  • Deutschland
  • Luxembourg (English)
  • Moldova, Republic Of
  • North Macedonia
  • Portugal (Português)
  • Türkiye (English)
  • United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina (Español)
  • Bolivia (Español)
  • Virgin Islands, British
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile (Español)
  • Colombia (Español)
  • Costa Rica (Español)
  • República Dominicana
  • Ecuador (Español)
  • El Salvador (Español)
  • Guatemala (Español)
  • Honduras (Español)
  • Nicaragua (Español)
  • Paraguay (Español)
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • St. Vincent and The Grenadines
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Turks and Caicos
  • Uruguay (English)
  • Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • United States
  • Estados Unidos (Español México)
  • الولايات المتحدة
  • États-Unis (Français France)
  • Estados Unidos (Português Brasil)
  • 美國 (繁體中文台灣)

Yacht Warriors Logo

Matt Weidert

Sailing Songs – The Best Yacht Rock Playlist

  • Rich Girl – Hall & Oates
  • Southern Cross – Crosby, Stills, & Nash
  • Peaceful Easy Feeling – Eagles
  • Africa – TOTO
  • Steve Winwood – Higher Love
  • Running on Empty – Jackson Browne
  • Into the Mystic – Van Morrison
  • Smooth Operator – Sade
  • Come Sail Away - Styx
  • Vahevala – Loggins & Messina
  • Sailing - Christopher Cross
  • Carolina in my Mind - James Taylor
  • Sailing - Rod Stewart
  • Sail Away - David Gray
  • Knee Deep - Zac Brown Band (featuring Jimmy Buffett)
  • Banana Boat - Harry Belafonte 

yacht rock music playlist

Yacht Warriors Rock Sailing Songs

Yacht rock starter playlist, morning jams - summertime steel drums, dinner music playlist - master and commander, explore these related articles from the yacht warriors.

yacht rock music playlist

What is a Motu?

What is a motu? They are mall, sandy islands in volcanic lagoons. Explore their beauty, unique ecosystems, and role in Polynesian culture.

yacht rock music playlist

The complete sailing trip packing list- Here’s What to Pack

We've perfected our sailing trip packing list over the years. Here's what to pack on your next trip - the obvious, and maybe not so-obvious.

yacht rock music playlist

Catamaran vs Monohull: Why the Cat is Better for Your Sailing

Find out why the catamaran is the best option for your next sailing trip. These 6 key factors decide the catamaran vs monohull debate.

When is your next yacht charter? Consider booking with the Yacht Warriors.

yacht rock music playlist

Charter. Beyond.

Get fresh ideas for your next yacht charter trip - insider guides, sailing itineraries, planning tips, and more. Subscribe and receive my free BVI Trip Planning Document.

Yacht Rock Radio Ch. 17 rock

Yacht Rock Radio celebrates the smooth-sailing soft rock from the late '70s and early '80s. You'll hear artists like Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross, Steely Dan and other titans of smooth music. It's the kind of rock that doesn't rock the boat!

Him album cover

  • Rupert Holmes  

Diamond Girl album cover

Diamond Girl

Takin' It To The Streets album cover

Takin' It To The Streets

  • Doobie Brothers  

I Go Crazy album cover

  • Paul Davis  

Sundown album cover

  • Gordon Lightfoot  

Love Will Find A Way album cover

Love Will Find A Way

  • Pablo Cruise  

I Just Wanna Stop album cover

I Just Wanna Stop

  • Gino Vanelli  

Just Remember I Love You album cover

Just Remember I Love You

Kiss On My List album cover

Kiss On My List

  • Daryl Hall  
  • John Oates  

Fool (If You Think It's Over) album cover

Fool (If You Think It's Over)

  • Chris Rea  

We're In This Love Together album cover

We're In This Love Together

  • Al Jarreau  

Crazy Love album cover

You're The Only Woman

Laughter In The Rain album cover

Laughter In The Rain

  • NEIL SEDAKA  

Let Me Love You Tonight album cover

Let Me Love You Tonight

  • Pure Prairie League  

Only A Fool Would Say That album cover

Only A Fool Would Say That

  • Steely Dan  

Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight album cover

Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight

  • James Taylor  

Lowdown album cover

  • Boz Scaggs  

Every Kinda People album cover

Every Kinda People

  • Robert Palmer  

I'm Not In Love album cover

I'm Not In Love

This Is It album cover

  • Kenny Loggins  

Right Down The Line album cover

Right Down The Line

  • Gerry Rafferty  

Dreams album cover

  • Fleetwood Mac  

Save It For A Rainy Day album cover

Save It For A Rainy Day

  • Stephen Bishop  

© 2024 xmplaylist.com All rights reserved.

Not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with Sirius XM Radio Inc. The official SiriusXM website can be found at siriusxm.com . The channel names, marks, emblems and images are registered trademarks of their respective owners.

3 Eternal Yacht Rock Songs that Continue to Rock the Boat

Jacob Uitti

Yacht rock is one of those genres of music that you know when you hear it. It’s a combination of a lot of styles, from rock to jazz to blue-eyed soul to disco, but in the end what it constitutes is smooth music that gives you a jolt and a reason to start moving your feet. Even if those feet are in deck shoes planted firmly on a giant boat in the middle of the ocean.

Videos by American Songwriter

Here below, we wanted to, ahem, dive into three songs from the genre that still get the boat a-rocking. A trio of tracks that boast the appeal of the genre as well as legitimate staying power. Indeed, these are three eternal yacht rock songs that continue to inspire the boatside dance moves.

[RELATED: Yacht Rock Essentials: “Time Passages,” the Smash Hit Al Stewart Wrote and Performed but Never Much Liked]

“Sailing” by Christopher Cross from Christopher Cross (1979)

Believed by many to be the quintessential yacht rock song, this track, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, has it all: a sharp-yet-mellow singing voice, drifting musical melodies, and a poignant delivery. Couple that with the title and this song becomes the top track to put on your yacht rock playlists. It’s like melding into an ocean breeze and finding yourself traveling from shore to island and back again. Not only was this track a success on the charts but it won Cross Grammys for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Arrangement of the Year. He also garnered the Best New Artist award, too. On the floating single, he sings,

Well, it’s not far down to paradise At least it’s not for me And if the wind is right you can sail away And find tranquility Oh, the canvas can do miracles Just you wait and see, believe me

It’s not far to never never land No reason to pretend And if the wind is right you can find the joy Of innocence again Oh, the canvas can do miracles Just you wait and see, believe me

“Africa” by Toto from Toto IV (1982)

If we’re talking yacht rock, why not offer a song that gives listeners a far-off destination to think of. And for those listening in the Western world, the continent of Africa is just that. This track from Toto is one of those that music listeners love to sing along to, especially when it comes to the chorus. Its synthesizers and vocal harmonies are catnip to yacht rock fans—and, really, music fans of any kind. On the compelling track, David Paich sings,

I hear the drums echoing tonight But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation She’s coming in, 12:30 flight The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation

I stopped an old man along the way Hoping to find some old forgotten words or ancient melodies He turned to me as if to say, “Hurry boy, it’s waiting there for you”

“Kiss on My List” by Hall & Oates from Voices (1980)

When it comes to blending rock with disco and soul, perhaps no group did it better than Hall & Oates and this track is one of the prime examples of that. A toe-tapper and easy-listener, this song is driven by pianos and percussion but is accentuated by Daryl Hall’s bright, soaring voice. If you’re ever on a boat and in charge of the music, if you put this song on the playlist, just sit back and watch your fellow travelers begin to sing and get down with big smiles on their faces as this tune plays. It’s the perfect balance of pop stickiness and yacht rock flavor. On the track, Hall sings,

(Because your kiss) your kiss is on my list Because your kiss is on my list of the best things in life (Because your kiss) your kiss is on my list (Because your kiss) your kiss I can’t resist (Because your kiss) is what I miss when I turn out the lights

I go crazy wondering what there is to really see Did the night just take up your time, ’cause it means more to me Sometimes I forget what I’m doing I don’t forget what I want, what I want Regret what I’ve done, regret you, I couldn’t go on

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Photo by Monday Jr./ Mad Ink PR

Leave a Reply

Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.

More From: The List

Exclusive: Carly Pearce Gives Health Update, Says She “Didn’t Want to Hide”

Exclusive: Carly Pearce Gives Health Update, Says She “Didn’t Want to Hide”

How Led Zeppelin’s ‘Physical Graffiti’ Became a Blueprint for Double Albums

How Led Zeppelin’s ‘Physical Graffiti’ Became a Blueprint for Double Albums

Exclusive: Ex-Yes Singer Jon Anderson Dishes on His Inspired New Album, ‘True,’ a Collaboration with The Band Geeks

Exclusive: Ex-Yes Singer Jon Anderson Dishes on His Inspired New Album, ‘True,’ a Collaboration with The Band Geeks

Behind The Song: The Century-Long Lineage of Bob Dylan and Ketch Secor’s “Wagon Wheel”

Behind The Song: The Century-Long Lineage of Bob Dylan and Ketch Secor’s “Wagon Wheel”

The Beatles Lyric that Sings the Praises of Menial Tasks

The Beatles Lyric that Sings the Praises of Menial Tasks

Proto-Everything: 5 of the Very First Songs From Popular Genres

Proto-Everything: 5 of the Very First Songs From Popular Genres

You may also like.

What are Hall & Oates’ 6 U.S. No. 1 Hits?

What are Hall & Oates’ 6 U.S. No. 1 Hits?

Revisiting 5 Forgotten Radio Hits by Toto

Revisiting 5 Forgotten Radio Hits by Toto

5 Hard-Rocking Deep Cuts from Toto

5 Hard-Rocking Deep Cuts from Toto

Yacht Rock Essentials: “Ride Like the Wind,” an Outlaw Anthem from Christopher Cross’ Landmark Debut Album

Yacht Rock Essentials: “Ride Like the Wind,” an Outlaw Anthem from Christopher Cross’ Landmark Debut Album

Yacht Rock Essentials: How Little River Band Struck a New Chord with “Reminiscing”

Yacht Rock Essentials: How Little River Band Struck a New Chord with “Reminiscing”

Yacht Rock Essentials: The Story and Meaning Behind “How Much I Feel,” a Change of Pace for Former Prog Rockers Ambrosia

Yacht Rock Essentials: The Story and Meaning Behind “How Much I Feel,” a Change of Pace for Former Prog Rockers Ambrosia

Spotify is currently not available in your country.

Follow us online to find out when we launch., spotify gives you instant access to millions of songs – from old favorites to the latest hits. just hit play to stream anything you like..

yacht rock music playlist

Listen everywhere

Spotify works on your computer, mobile, tablet and TV.

yacht rock music playlist

Unlimited, ad-free music

No ads. No interruptions. Just music.

yacht rock music playlist

Download music & listen offline

Keep playing, even when you don't have a connection.

yacht rock music playlist

Premium sounds better

Get ready for incredible sound quality.

setlist.fm logo

  • Statistics Stats
  • You are here:

Yacht Rock Revue

  • August 26, 2024 Setlist

Yacht Rock Revue Setlist at Dos Equis Pavilion, Dallas, TX, USA

  • Edit setlist songs
  • Edit venue & date
  • Edit set times
  • Add to festival
  • Report setlist

There are no songs in this setlist because the concert hasn't started yet.

If you know the scheduled start time of Yacht Rock Revue or the time the venue's doors open, you could add set times .

Otherwise, just check back later to view, add or edit the setlist.

Edits and Comments

1 activity (last edit by AlanGreenPhD , 23 Apr 2024, 18:47 Etc/UTC )

Yacht Rock Revue setlists

More from this Artist

  • More Setlists
  • Artist Statistics
  • Add setlist

Related News

yacht rock music playlist

Foo Fighters Kick Off World Tour with Texas-Sized Tributes

yacht rock music playlist

Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper Kick Off Freaks On Parade 2023 Tour

Dos equis pavilion.

  • Yacht Rock Revue This Setlist Add time Add time
  • Train Add time Add time
  • REO Speedwagon Add time Add time

Yacht Rock Revue Gig Timeline

  • Aug 23 2024 The Wharf Amphitheater Orange Beach, AL, USA Add time Add time
  • Aug 25 2024 Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion The Woodlands, TX, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time
  • Aug 26 2024 Dos Equis Pavilion This Setlist Dallas, TX, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time
  • Aug 28 2024 Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre Greenwood Village, CO, USA Add time Add time
  • Aug 29 2024 Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre West Valley City, UT, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time

1 person was there

Share or embed this setlist.

Use this setlist for your event review and get all updates automatically!

<div style="text-align: center;" class="setlistImage"><a href="https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/yacht-rock-revue/2024/dos-equis-pavilion-dallas-tx-63a826f7.html" title="Yacht Rock Revue Setlist Dos Equis Pavilion, Dallas, TX, USA 2024" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.setlist.fm/widgets/setlist-image-v1?id=63a826f7" alt="Yacht Rock Revue Setlist Dos Equis Pavilion, Dallas, TX, USA 2024" style="border: 0;" /></a> <div><a href="https://www.setlist.fm/edit?setlist=63a826f7&amp;step=song">Edit this setlist</a> | <a href="https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/yacht-rock-revue-63dc3253.html">More Yacht Rock Revue setlists</a></div></div>

Last.fm Event Review

[url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/yacht-rock-revue/2024/dos-equis-pavilion-dallas-tx-63a826f7.html][img]https://www.setlist.fm/widgets/setlist-image-v1?id=63a826f7[/img][/url] [url=https://www.setlist.fm/edit?setlist=63a826f7&amp;step=song]Edit this setlist[/url] | [url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/yacht-rock-revue-63dc3253.html]More Yacht Rock Revue setlists[/url]

Tour Update

Marquee memories: foster the people.

  • Foster the People
  • Aug 22, 2024
  • Aug 21, 2024
  • Aug 20, 2024
  • Aug 19, 2024
  • Aug 18, 2024
  • Aug 17, 2024
  • FAQ | Help | About
  • Terms of Service
  • Ad Choices | Privacy Policy
  • Songtexte.com

yacht rock music playlist

  • Documentari
  • Televisione
  • Cover Story

©2020 CRM S.r.l. P.Iva 11921100159

Il reggaeton vi ha rotto il caz*o? Riscoprite lo yacht-rock guidati da Katie Puckrik

Emiliano Raffo

24 agosto 2024

Il reggaeton vi ha rotto il caz*o? Riscoprite lo yacht-rock guidati da Katie Puckrik

M a davvero tocca a una donna di 62 anni provare a liberarci dalla schiavitù di reggaeton et similia? Oddio, non che Katie Puckrik abbia mai avuto esattamente questo , in mente, ma il suo ammirevole tentativo di diffondere il verbo yacht-rock potrebbe davvero sortire effetti imprevisti e straordinari. Americana, Puckrik parte forte in Inghilterra, negli anni ’90, presentando “The word” su Channel 4 e “The Sunday show” su BBC Two. Una buona partenza, sebbene il suo nome non venga immediatamente accostato a quello di una Julie Burchill (NME, The Face) o di una Anne Nightingale (la radiofonia al femminile in casa BBC). Non siamo a quel livello di stima e fama. Tuttavia Puckrik si trasforma piano piano in una scommessa già vinta per chiunque investa su di lei. Nel 1999 pubblica un’autobiografia, “Shooting from the lip”, la cui struttura prevede che siano le canzoni a dettare i tempi (e i temi, in parte) della narrazione. Dopo anni di varie collaborazioni che tengono il suo nome un po’ nell’ombra, Puckrik decide però di associare il suo sorriso al filone yacht-rock. E lì scatta una magia. Perché lo yacht-rock è un segreto che periodicamente necessita di essere svelato. Non è un autentico mistero da più di 40 anni, cioè da quando è stato seriamente considerato (e studiato) come sottogenere (un’evoluzione del più generico “soft-rock”). Tuttavia, le generazioni si succedono, il passato oggi rischia di essere più un impiccio che una risorsa a cui attingere, e allora qualcuno deve ri-svelare i segreti già precedentemente svelati…

20240821 144857556 2828

I l circo pop offre, mastica e trita di tutto a ritmi così elevati che, al tramonto degli anni ’80, lo yacht-rock scompare quasi dai radar mainstream, andandosi a rannicchiare in un campetto per ossessivi aficionados che poco ha avuto a che fare con la sua natura spudoratamente pop. E sì, perché l’etichetta yacht-rock potrà senza dubbio insospettire, ma per circa 15 anni sotto tale ombrello si sono rifugiati alcuni successi letteralmente colossali, brani che hanno colonizzato i palinsesti radiofonici per anni a venire: “Ride like the wind” di Christopher Cross , “This is it” di Kenny Loggins , “Lowdown” di Bozz Scaggs , “Africa” dei Toto , “Fly like an eagle” della Steve Miller Band . Tutti artisti inclusi nel box di 4 cd (o doppio vinile) intitolato “ Kate Puckrik presents A yacht rock odyssey ” (uscita, 30 agosto), una mappa sonora che torna ad occuparsi (si va a folate) di un sottogenere che con la sua estetica leccata, cose da cartoline esotiche provenienti da qualche atollo per assoluti priviliegiati, ha fatto a lungo sognare il pubblico occidentale. Yacht-rock che esplode, fragoroso, nella seconda metà degli anni ’70 per poi irrompere, potente e virale, negli anni ’80 (pensate che persino un gruppo sofisticato come gli Steely Dan furono accusati, nel 1980, di essersi eccessivamente “yacht-izzati” con “Gaucho”). E che oggi torna ad essere recuperato, stavolta da colei che se ne era occupata, nel 2018, sulla BBC, con “I can go for that: the smooth world of yacht-rock”, documentario in due parti che fece registrare un sorprendente successo.

F orse perché l’immaginario yacht, associato a brani impeccabilmente concepiti e divinamente arrangiati, spesso baciati da melodie cristalline quanto i mari su cui si affacciano, è destinato a sopravvivere a ogni mutamento tecnologico-politico. Ah, perché “yacht”? Potrebbe risponderci Mauro Ronconi , giornalista, scrittore e critico musicale fra i più esperti nel settore. Nel suo “Canzoni per un mondo senza Beatles. Dai Santana ai Coldplay, il meglio dopo l'indispensabile” (Arcana, 2022) compaiono parecchie gemme “yacht”. In copertina, poi, c’è Ronconi medesimo nei panni di Donald Fagen formato “The nightfly”. Fagen non è un artista “yacht” ma, come accennato prima, anche gli ultimi (prima del ritorno nel 2000) Steely Dan evocarono lo stile. Quindi “yacht-rock” perché i brani sono spesso caratterizzati da un’ambientazione “fissa” particolarmente affascinante e persuasiva: mare, amori, brezze, libertà. Sublime disimpegno cesellato da strepitosi session-men e da tutti gli artisti che Puckrik passa in rassegna nella sua imminente, elefantiaca, compilation. Quanto un’operazione simile, figlia di un’altra ardita operazione (il documentario del 2018 andato in onda sulla BBC), possa rimettere in circolo, in epoca di tensioni belliche e crisi economiche, il verbo yacht è tutto da vedere. Di certo, questo sussulto, l’ennesimo di un sottogenere che rifiuta la morte forse perché la morte è un tema che non ha mai contemplato, fa sognare tutti gli over-40 massacrati dalla povertà creativa di suoni soprattutto estivi come il famigerato reggaeton. Che la più improbabile delle sfide abbia inizio, allora.

Katie Puckrik

Altro che Mahmood e Anna, il balletto dell’estate viene da Deadpool & Wolverine. Ecco la storia di una delle canzoni più “fastidiose” e di come è tornata virale grazie (o per colpa) del film. Bye, bye, bye...

Niccolò Fantini

Morto Pino D’Angiò, l’ultima intervista inedita. Il Grammy con Stevie Wonder, la canzone per Mina, le donne (e con Simona Ventura…), le moto e la speranza: “Voglio vivere il più a lungo possibile, vediamo come va a finire…”

Maria Francesca Troisi

ma quale idea lasciarci...

Morto Pino D&rsquo;Angi&ograve;, l&rsquo;ultima intervista inedita. Il Grammy con Stevie Wonder, la canzone per Mina, le donne (e con Simona Ventura&hellip;), le moto e la speranza: &ldquo;Voglio vivere il pi&ugrave; a lungo possibile, vediamo come va a finire&hellip;&rdquo;

Federico Zampaglione (Tiromancino) indipendente al cinema con l’horror “The Well”: “Film di serie b? In Italia élite ignoranti e chiuse mentalmente”. E su Garrone, Sorrentino, Marracash, il rap e il disastro del pop delle “hit a tutti i costi”...

Domenico Agrizzi

Splatter per scelta

Federico Zampaglione (Tiromancino) indipendente al cinema con l&rsquo;horror &ldquo;The Well&rdquo;: &ldquo;Film di serie b? In Italia &eacute;lite ignoranti e chiuse mentalmente&rdquo;. E su Garrone, Sorrentino, Marracash, il rap e il disastro del pop delle &ldquo;hit a tutti i costi&rdquo;...

Top Stories

Come mai nella serie netflix sul caso yara gambirasio non si parla del fatto che bossetti ammise di essere stato nel campo dove fu trovato il corpo della tredicenne.

di Otto De Ambrogi

Come mai nella serie Netflix sul caso Yara Gambirasio non si parla del fatto che Bossetti ammise di essere stato nel campo dove fu trovato il corpo della tredicenne?

Come mai nella serie Netflix sul caso Yara Gambirasio non si parla della foto che potrebbe scagionare Massimo Bossetti? C'entra il produttore e regista della docu-serie, Gianluca Neri, perché...

Come mai nella serie Netflix sul caso Yara Gambirasio non si parla della foto che potrebbe scagionare Massimo Bossetti? C&#039;entra il produttore e regista della docu-serie, Gianluca Neri, perch&eacute;...

Altro che Fedez e Tony Effe, il vero tormentone estivo (che ha rotto il caz*o, complici Olimpiadi e Europei) è De Gregori con “La storia siamo noi” nello spot Enel

di Gianni Miraglia

Altro che Fedez e Tony Effe, il vero tormentone estivo (che ha rotto il caz*o, complici Olimpiadi e Europei) &egrave; De Gregori con &ldquo;La storia siamo noi&rdquo; nello spot Enel

“Le cantanti italiane famose? Non hanno talento ma mostrano il cu*o h24. Svegliatevi!”. L'attacco della concorrente di X Factor. Ma con chi ce l'ha?

di Grazia Sambruna

&ldquo;Le cantanti italiane famose? Non hanno talento ma mostrano il cu*o h24. Svegliatevi!&rdquo;. L&#039;attacco della concorrente di X Factor. Ma con chi ce l&#039;ha?

Elodie e la supercazzola filosofica per giustificare perché si sveste sul palco e per il calendario The Cal Pirelli: anche meno, o la verità fa male?

di Jacopo Tona

Elodie e la supercazzola filosofica per giustificare perch&eacute; si sveste sul palco e per il calendario The Cal Pirelli: anche meno, o la verit&agrave; fa male?

Amici, ma davvero i concorrenti di Maria credono ancora di poter diventare cantanti famosi? Arriva l'ennesimo sfogo (di Giovanni Cricca): ma non è ora di svegliarsi dal sogno?

Amici, ma davvero i concorrenti di Maria credono ancora di poter diventare cantanti famosi? Arriva l&#039;ennesimo sfogo (di Giovanni Cricca): ma non &egrave; ora di svegliarsi dal sogno?

Se sei arrivato fin qui seguici su

  • crm-opener" href="#"> Newsletter
  • Se hai critiche suggerimenti lamentele da fare scrivi al direttore [email protected]

Enrico Melozzi, “La notte dei serpenti” (Rai 2), Geolier e il dialetto a Sanremo: “Una canzone in abruzzese...”. E sui testi dei Queen...

di Giulia Ciriaci

Enrico Melozzi, &ldquo;La notte dei serpenti&rdquo; (Rai 2), Geolier e il dialetto a Sanremo: &ldquo;Una canzone in abruzzese...&rdquo;. E sui testi dei Queen...

Enrico Melozzi, “La notte dei serpenti” (Rai 2), Geolier...

yacht rock music playlist

IMAGES

  1. Yacht Rock

    yacht rock music playlist

  2. Yacht Rock Playlist for DJs on Beatsource

    yacht rock music playlist

  3. NOW That's What I Call Music!

    yacht rock music playlist

  4. The Yacht Rock Playlist Your Summer Needs

    yacht rock music playlist

  5. Yacht Rock Playlist

    yacht rock music playlist

  6. The Ultimate Yacht Rock Playlist for a Super Chill Summer

    yacht rock music playlist

COMMENTS

  1. Top 50 Yacht Rock Songs

    A look at the very best silky smooth yacht rock songs. ... the 1978 hit's narrative wasn't as convoluted and fit more squarely into pop radio playlists. "Time Passages" became Stewart's highest ...

  2. YACHT ROCK

    Playlist · YACHT ROCK - CERTIFIED PLAYLIST · 626 songs · 13.6K likes

  3. Best Yacht Rock Songs

    Best Yacht Rock Songs - Ultimate Yacht Rock Music (Playlist Updated in 2024) If you liked this playlist, we recommend you also listen to these music lists: 1...

  4. Sailing: The Best Of Yacht Rock

    Sailing: The Best Of Yacht Rock is the ultimate #YachtRock playlist of the smoothest classic rock songs ever written.

  5. Yacht Rock Classics

    Tie a sweater around your neck and set sail for the high seas with these smoother than smooth yacht rock classics.

  6. ‎Yacht Rock Essentials

    Apple Music Classic Rock. In 2005, the actor/screenwriter J.D. Ryznar wrote, directed, and produced a TV series for the Los Angeles short-film festival Channel 101 called Yacht Rock. The idea was to tell comically overblown backstories about the creation of a strain of ultra-smooth music from the late '70s and early '80s.

  7. The Ultimate Collection of Yacht Rock/70's and 80's hits

    The Ultimate Collection of Yacht Rock/70's and 80's hits. This is the ultimate playlist of favorites from the 70's, 80's and in between. No fillers or obscure artists you've never heard of. Only the greatest rock, soft-rock and pop hits.

  8. Top 100 Yacht Rock Songs

    Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

  9. ‎YACHT ROCK

    70s + 80s Soft Rock for a day on the boat. Island tunes, chill summer hits + nothing but smooth sailing while jamming to hits from TOTO, Looking Glass, Billy Joel, Hall & Oates + more. 101 Songs, 6 hours, 52 minutes

  10. The Best Yacht Rock Songs (That Don't Suck) on Apple Music

    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.

  11. Top 100 Yacht Rock Songs

    Top 100 Yacht Rock Songs. A new music service with official albums, singles, videos, remixes, live performances and more for Android, iOS and desktop.

  12. Yacht Rock Hits Playlist on Amazon Music Unlimited

    Yacht Rock Hits. Curated by Amazon's Music Experts. Raise your sail high, pour some bubbly, turn up this smooth rock mix, and let it happen, Cap'n. 126 SONGS • 8 HOURS AND 56 MINUTES. ... Playlist: The Very Best Of Air Supply. 04:01. 55. Love Will Find A Way. Pablo Cruise. Worlds Away. 04:11. 56. Too Hot. Kool and The Gang. Ladies' Night. 04: ...

  13. Yacht Rock Radio

    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! ... Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App. Connect. Explore. iHeart. Live Radio. Podcasts. Artist Radio. Exclusives. News. Features. Events.

  14. Top 100 Greatest Yacht Rock Songs of All Time

    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.As one of the smoothest and catchiest songs of the '70s, Brandy consistently appears on nearly every Yacht Rock, adult contemporary, or easy listening playlist available. The song tells a melancholic tale that is open to interpretation ...

  15. Playlist of the Week: Top 100 Songs of Yacht Rock

    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 ...

  16. ‎Yacht Rock

    Listen to the Yacht Rock playlist on Apple Music. 20 Songs. Duration: 1 hour, 21 minutes. Listen to the Yacht Rock playlist on Apple Music. 20 Songs. Duration: 1 hour, 21 minutes. ... That's why this rich era in soft rock is cheekily referred to as "yacht rock," right? Well, maybe it also has to do with so many California artists like ...

  17. Sailing Songs

    The name, Yacht Warriors Rock, is a play on the Yacht Rock genre which was coined in 2005. It features primarily soft rock bands from California that produced music in the 1970s and 1980s. We honor a few of those artists, but our playlist is intentionally much more diverse in style.

  18. Yacht Rock

    Yacht Rock top charts and more of your top songs of the year 2023 including 'Right Down the Line", "Everywhere", "On the Beach", "Summer Breeze", "Reelin' in...

  19. Yacht Rock

    Playlist · Yacht Rock · 130 songs · 1.6M likes

  20. Yacht Rock Music

    Listen to Yacht Rock music on Pandora. Discover new music you'll love, listen to free personalized Yacht Rock radio.

  21. Yacht Rock

    Where can one listen to the smoothest rock music from the 70s and 80s? On a yacht, of course. Featuring the best of soft rock from the 70s and 80s, the Smooth Sailing Yacht Rock playlist promises you nothing but smooth sailing while jamming to hits from K

  22. Yacht Rock Radio Recently Played and Playlist

    Yacht Rock Radio. Ch. 17 rock. Yacht Rock Radio celebrates the smooth-sailing soft rock from the late '70s and early '80s. You'll hear artists like Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross, Steely Dan and other titans of smooth music. It's the kind of rock that doesn't rock the boat!

  23. 3 Eternal Yacht Rock Songs that Continue to Rock the Boat

    Believed by many to be the quintessential yacht rock song, this track, which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, has it all: a sharp-yet-mellow singing voice, drifting musical melodies, and ...

  24. YACHT ROCK

    Playlist · YACHT ROCK | TOP 100 SONGS · 153 songs · 52.9K likes

  25. Yacht Rock Revue Setlist at Dos Equis Pavilion, Dallas

    There are no songs in this setlist because the concert hasn't started yet. If you know the scheduled start time of Yacht Rock Revue or the time the venue's doors open, you could add set times. Otherwise, just check back later to view, add or edit the setlist.

  26. Il reggaeton vi ha rotto il caz*o? Riscoprite lo yacht-rock guidati da

    Katie Puckrik, 62enne americana, presentatrice e broadcaster che ha sempre avuto successo in Inghilterra, ha da anni associato il suo nome a quello dello yacht-rock, sublime sottogenere anni '70-'80 che ha prodotto decine di classici (fra tutti, "Africa" dei Toto). Dopo un documentario del 2019 per la BBC, Puckrik ha curato un mastodontico box a tema (4 cd e 2 vinili) di imminente uscita.