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Hello Sailor! The Yacht Rock thread

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At Mini’s request on the “Lurkers” thread, a Yacht Rock thread.

What is it? Well, I guess, music that would sound good on a yacht as you glide around Catalina bay or the Med. Yet it’s hard to define. It’s not Easy Listening exactly. Or less still, Guilty Pleasures. Or is it?

It could be Fleetwood Mac. Or The Doobie Brothers. Could it be British? Sure, How about How Long by Ace. Sail On Sailor, yes. Sailor’s Glass Of Champagne? Probably not. Wait, maybe. Oh heck you decide.

It’s probably mid-tempo, slickly produced, well played, well sung. Good in other words.

As a starter, I’ve gone with prawn cocktail. And musically, something with a suitably nautical theme
Brandy by Looking Gkass

View post on imgur.com

4

Comments

  8. Really like the tracks being posted but feel very lukewarm about the label. Not that I’ve got an alternative, although blue-eyed soul is sometimes used. I’d say that Crosby and Nash fit in here, as does Jimmy Buffett. None more boaty.

    • I agree, KFD, these are great songs, but not what I perceive as yacht rock, that label to me meaning smoothly and expensively produced slick 80s bands, with gold chains on T shirts, under a pastel hued sleves up suit. Surely the inspiration would be Durrun Durrun and all that Rio caper, extending to Glenn Frey solo stuff over the pond. Vapid and insipid tosh, by and large.

      • @retropath I’ve taken my points of reference from the U.S online comedy series, Yacht Rock (see @attackdog ‘s post, further down.) The Wiki page for the series defines it thus:

        Yacht rock” is a pejorative name[6][7] used retrospectively to refer to the soft rock format that peaked in popularity between the years of 1975 and 1981. In part, the term relates to the stereotype of the yuppie yacht owner, enjoying smooth music while out for a sail. Additionally, since sailing was a popular leisure activity in Southern California, many “yacht rockers” made nautical references in their lyrics, videos, and album artwork, particularly the anthemic track “Sailing” by Christopher Cross. Notable artists also include Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Boz Scaggs, Steely Dan and Toto.[8]

        They then list the soundtrack for each episode, of which, I’m proud to say, I own and love 90%.

  19. I’m with KFD – Jimmy Buffett is classic yacht rock. Burt he was a great songwriter ,and dang me, he should be on the collapsed on stage list as he had a heart attack while performing at the Sydney Opera House.

    Yes it is polished soft rock. You think LA everyone was getting sick of that so it became a pejorative term.

    It’s also the look – short sleeved shirts with collars, palm trees and sunsetsin the background, occasionally even the eponymous yacht (TMFTL ?). Sun tans, moustaches, buffed hair, affluence and the suggestion of coke. I’m not a fan of mo’s or buffed hair.

    • Was it a heart attack? If you’re referring to the Jan 2011 incident, I thought that it was Jimmy simply tripping and falling off the stage

      Ironically for this thread, his last words were “It’s been a lovely cruise, I’m sorry it’s ended,”

      • Correct -so goes under the category of collapsed OFF stage. ..Great finale

        Singer Jimmy Buffett’s representative expects him to be released Thursday from an Australian hospital, where he was rushed after falling off stage while performing Tuesday night.

        Buffett, 64, fell into the first row at the end of the concert in Sydney, after singing the line, “It’s been a lovely cruise, I’m sorry it’s ended,” during an encore, according to Australian newspaper the Daily Telegraph.

        Buffett lay motionless for about eight minutes and was taken by ambulance to Sydney’s St. Vincent’s Hospital in Darlinghurst 30 minutes after the accident.

        Buffett’s tour manager, Michael Chugg, came onstage after the accident and asked fans to leave immediately, according to the Daily Telegraph.

  29. I think what we really need here is considered analysis of how the genre came to be and an extensional examination of just how closely some of the ‘Yachters’ mentioned above are inter-linked.

    What we need is Hollywood Steve.

  30. There ought to be a checklist: slight underlying funkiness, mention of Latin America, a boat, tight trousers and harmonies, beards and medium length centre-parted hair.

    This qualifies:

    Possibly this as well – though nudging into the niche genre Yacht Soul:

  33. In my head, “Yacht Rock” refers to those bands/artists who make so much money that their lifestyle involves copious amounts of cocaine, collections of fast cars and arsing about on Yachts.
    As a result of that definition, I think of this as the quintessential Yacht Rock track

    Joe Walsh – Lifes Been Good To

    • Spot on with your description (and any excuse to play a Joe Walsh track must always be taken) but, for the guys behind the comedy series, it was also the incestuous nature of it all that attracted them. Kenny Loggins wrote a huge hit for Michael McDonald, so MM returned the favour. The guys in Toto were also all over Steely Dan records, were in Boz Scaggs band and are on the Christopher Cross songs.

  35. This is just such a good song. Sounds great 40 years and more since it first appeared. I could listen to Paul Carrack sing the menu from local greasy spoon. Effortless warmth and soulfulness. And a great guitar solo by Alan “Bam” King too.

    How Long
    Ace

    • Yes it does tend to have that effect after a surfeit of the stuff. Especially, if you’re not actually on a yacht at the time.

      Mind you, Steely Dan have that effect on many landlubbers too.

  41. Since approximatley 73.69% of all my listening is Miles Davis related, it will have to be him.

    How about his “cover” of Cyndi Lauper’s Time After Time? Miles Davis and Yacht Rock, who’d a thunk it 🙂

  48. I’m going to push the boat out and suggest that Carly’s You’re so vain would in perfectly on a Yacht Rock compilation. Sophisticated, witty, well-produced and arranged. Ticks all the boxes. Are there no more Ladies of Yacht?

    Here are a few artists who would not be at home on a yacht.

    Neil Young – canoe

    Paul Weller -punt

    Lenmy- battleship or U-boat

    Sid Vicious -pirate ship

    Morrissey – pedalo

  52. No cocaine or enhanced boobs I’m afraid. But how about some Scottish sailors?

    And while we’re getting international, surely there must have YR from Italy, Spain, Sweden, France, Germany etc?

    These countries have all come up with sleek, classy pop in their time. Can’t believe they missed the boat on this one!

    • I’d say that the closest thing to YR coming out of Sweden would be Hansson De Wolfe United, or at least parts of their “oevre”… But in Sweden at the time I think the pejorative name used was “AD rock”, as in art director…
      Here’s “Iskalla Killen, Full Av Mänsklig Värme”:

      And “Yes Box Allright”:

  54. I’m not really fan of the term Yacht Rock but I love the music. The ‘Too Slow To Disco’ series is a must have as is the ‘The Ladies of Too Slow To Disco’ from which this Valerie Carter track is fabulous:

  55. It’s not really my thing but as Wax Poetics my favourite magazine’s record label has released Young Gun Silver Fox’s debut it has come on my radar. It definitely fits a yacht rock thread.

  58. Thanks for the piece on Neil Young’s yacht, Hubert. A Baltic trading schooner! Trust him to go his own way..

    Several of the artists here have something of a jazzy feel. Is there such a thing as Yacht Jazz? Or am I all at sea?

  59. An article from the Guardian by a long-term YR enthusiast complete with playlist.

    The Yacht vs Grunge split reminds me of Punk vs Prog.

    On the one hand a painstaking, lavish attention to detail, top notch musicianship and a no expense spared approach to getting it all right. Steely Dan and Yes spring to mind. On the other a striving for authenticity and a wish to sing songs about ordinary life and the social and political issues of the day.

    http://gu.com/p/4te85?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

  60. Steely Dan? Steely Dan are Yacht Rock?? How can that be? Does no-one actually listen to lyrics?

    Michael McDonald only joined in 1974 and was a backing singer. True, his backing singing on Peg out-trumps the lead but it is still backing.

    I guess Midnight Cruiser on their debut is responsible, crooned by Jim Hodder, the drummer. Here’s the closest I can get on YouTube.

  61. Well Tigs, I was just listening the Guardian YR playlist and Hey nineteen fitted in perfectly with its lush production qualities. Cynical, world weary YR, but YR nonetheless.

    And while we’re being heretical…

    Is there a more yachty song than Baker Street? Tasteful sax solo, luxurious soundscape, smooth vibes. There may not be too many boats sailing past Mr Holmes’s gaff, but it fits anyway.

  62. No snidely, cynical lyrics allowed on board? Must check my Admiralty Handbook on that. The great joy of the Dan is often the contrast between the sunny music and the bitter aftertaste of the lyrics.

    I think the rather lush Italian pop of Antonello Venditti would sound perfect on a yacht.

  69. Art Director music, eh @Locust? You teach me something every week.

    Must confess to having a soft spot for HDWolfe. Some lovely songs and his voice is marvellous. Not devoid of social commentary either.

    Some of the landlubbers on the AW should perhaps try to take a little of the smooth with the rough?

    How about Rumer doing some H & O?

  76. Yacht Rock weather in Londinium today. No breeze though. Just dropped anchor, sipping Mojito.

    This belongs on any YR thread

    Gary Wright
    Dream Weaver

  77. It’s been a great couple of days sailing. The light of the bay so near. The rock of yacht is easily maligned as a facile, shallow thing but at its heart is nostalgia. In its original sense. A yearning for home. Safe harbour. Peace. Love.

    Night night all.

    Player
    Baby Come Back

  80. I can’t let this thread sail away into the sunset without mentioning the Doobie Brothers’ What a fool believes. A gem of a track. That slightly jazzy rhythm is a killer.

      • The great pleasure of doing a list like this on Spotify, Niall, is that you suddenly think of other songs that should be on it and then just add them.

        Incidentally, I was playing Brandy on the car stereo as we drove home from Öland and it got a big thumbs up from Mrs KFD. My musical terrorist son was forced to stop playing Krepta and Konan for five minutes so that she could give it a listen.

        • Brilliant work Mr KFD. A nation’s heartfelt thanks and mine too as that’s tonight’s small BBQ type gathering playlist sorted. Primrose Hill will be rocking to the sounds of Quarterflash and Ned Doheny!

  84. Occasional touring band,The Dukes of September (McDonald, Scaggs and Fagen), could just as well be called The Dukes of Yacht. If one wants to hear some YR live, this must be as good as it gets though I don’t think they’ve played Europe.

    Incidentally, Rupert Holmes’s Escape, along with a couple of other YR classics, features prominently on the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack. Expect more in the sequel next year.

    Are the Raspberries YR? Great song anyway.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvE87Q2jg-E

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