What Is 'Yacht Rock'? Plus 10 Essential Yacht Rock Albums 

This is one of my favorite genres of music. The 70s gave us hundreds of these catchy, breezy, hook-laden songs...Truly a magical time for radio.. I feel lucky to have lived through it.

Aja by Steely Dan is one of my favorite albums of all time. My older brothers loved Steely Dan when I was a child back in the seventies. I would go and listen to their Steely Dan albums, Aja was always my favorite. Total masterpiece from the seventies.

Yacht Rock for my family had always been called “Tag Sale” music. In the 80s every Saturday morning my parents would take us kids on tag sale trips and they’d always play this music on AM radio. HATED it at the time but now in my 40s I love it and look fondly on those days.

Yacht rock as a genre Survived all the way into 1984. Michael Ruff's Once in a lifetime being the major standout of that year. Although the most of the artists in that genre started switching to High Tech AOR by the mid 80's. The last two decades has seen a resurgance of Yacht Rock.

Great episode. I was born in '75 so yacht rock was huge when I was a wee lad. So many memories. One song that always brings me back was "Steal Away" by Robbie Dupree.

You have no idea how excited I am for this video. A large portion of my record collection is dedicated to “yacht rock”.

Peter Allen, probably best known for his 1976 hit "I Go To Rio" would be this genre, an album like Bi-Coastal (1980) had Toto guys et al on board. Maybe guys like Neil Diamond and Paul Anka too, it seems like every former big star and crooner dabbled in the genre in the late '70s/early '80s, Jack Jones did his fair share of easy listening albums and a version of Steve Perry's "Foolish Heart" on his 1987 album I Am a Singer. Paul Anka's Walk A Fine Line (1983) featured Lukather, Porcaro, McDonald, Loggins.

3:24 Proud old white American here. Yes I hated, I mean hated, this music as teen age metal head during high school but my wife converted me with the Yacht Rock channel on Sirius xfm. At 61 I appreciate the musical complexity and the melodies. None of that in the "music" these days.

For me Yacht Rock, translates into Dad Rock, when you get older, with kids, responsibilities, you slow down a little and so does your music choices. Doesn't mean you dislike Metal and other Rock genres, they still reign, but there are moments that you slow down a little. I think it's after I became a dad, that I started listening more to Steely Dan, Michael McDonald, Toto (including the jazzier tunes)

Glad to finally see a Yacht Rock / West Coast music show. Love it! There are so many great artists and albums in this genre, many of whom are unknown to most. I own about 500 albums in this genre. Probably the grand daddy of yacht rock artists is the famous Airplay, a band comprised of the great session players Jay Graydon and David Foster, yes THAT David Foster. They released one album in 1980 that is a true classic of the genre. Other great artists/albums in this genre are: Marc Jordan’s “Blue Desert” and “Hole in the Wall” Al Jarreau’s “Breaking Away” Bill Labounty’s self-titled debut Robbie Dupree self-titled debut Boz Scaggs “Silk Degrees” and “Middle Man” Eric Tagg “Dream Walkin” Michael Franks “Skin Dive” Bobby Caldwell’s “What you won’t do for love” Bill Champlin’s “Runaway” Greg Guidry’s “Over the Line Byrne and Barnes “Eye for an Eye” Carole Bayer Sager’s “Sometimes Late at Night” Dan Seals “Stones” David Gates “Goodbye Girl” Lee Ritenour’s “Rit 1” and “Rit 2” Michael McDonald’s “If that’s what it takes” Michael Johnson’s “Home Free” Pages’ self-titled Peter Allen “Bi-coastal” Randy Crawford’s “Secret Combination” Randy Goodrum collection Ned Doheny’s “Prone” Paul Anka “Walk a thin line” Wilson Brothers’ “Another Night”

Outstanding Yacht Rock-101 primer, Pete! Those 10 picks are ESSENTIAL examples! Here's a few others that I would highly recommend, and I'll even include a couple fairly obscure ones that are still worth a Yacht Rocker's time and attention: Rupert Holmes - Partners in Crime (1979) Sneaker - s/t (1981) Alan Parsons Project - The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980) 10cc - Ten Out of 10 (1981) Kenny Loggins - High Adventure (1982) Pages - s/t (1981) Gino Vanelli - Brother to Brother (1978) City Boy - Young Men Gone West (1977) Carly Simon - Boys in the Trees (1978) David Roberts - All Dressed Up (1982) McCluskey - A Long Time Coming (1978) Eric Tagg - Dreamwalkin' (1982) Climax Blues Band - Flying the Flag (1980) Judie Tzuke - Welcome to the Cruise (1979)

You really need to do a regular yatch rock show... the topics for this type of stuff are endlessssssss!

I could just put Baker Street on repeat and all my yachting needs are met! Perfect song for it.

Great picks Pete 👍 cool topic. I am an unapologetic hard rock/metal fan but Yacht Rock has always been a good friend throughout my life. 1. Doobie Brothers (Minute By Minute) 2. Steely Dan (Aja) 3. Boz Scaggs (Silk Degrees) 4. Christopher Cross (Christopher Cross) 5. Toto (Toto IV) 6. Chicago (Hot Streets) 7. Donald Fagen (The Nightfly) 8. Ambrosia ( One Eighty) 9. Pablo Cruise ( A Place In The Sun) 10. Little River Band (Sleeper Catcher) Honorable Mentions Lee Ritenour (Rit) Gino Vannelli (Nightwalker)

"Yacht Rock" is not part of my vocabulary, but I love (and own) most of what was covered in this video. Christopher Cross is excellent, and he has many other great albums besides the debut. Ambrosia? Of course! I love Boz Scaggs' Silk Degrees, and "Lido Shuffle" is one of the most addictive songs I've ever heard (that chorus is fire!) I've always had a soft spot for Michael McDonald (Doobie Brothers and solo.) Since Seals & Crofts' name often appears in conjunction with the term, I'll mention them, with Summer Breeze being my personal favorite of theirs. Maybe some of Gino Vannelli's music could qualify? Excellent topic!

One of my favorite "genres." I adore the summery, light, soulful & fizzy music of my youth.

Yacht Rock has a huge following in Japan. It's called AOR over here and it's nothing new. Most of these guys have been touring and selling since the 80s and never stopped. The other big thing about YR is the discussion about what is and what isn't. We all love to do that! The boundaries between Soft Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul, West Coast Rock, etc. are blurred. Of course some R&B artists are also included.

Great segment, Pete. All pretty classic stuff.

Thank you Pete for this excellent overview of Yacht Rock. I appreciate this discussion, because this subgenre is not typically what I go to first, although there's some amazing stuff here. I tend to rock harder than this, but I really like a lot of the material you discussed here, so I am inspired to delve further into it and explore more. Great job as always, Pete!

Terrific episode! Informative, fun, riveting stuff. Great job, Pete!

Man I love me this music! All of the ones you picked are great. I'm a hard rockin head banger, but those songs bring me back to having AM radio on at home growing up or on the school bus. So I often listen to this music alot. Big thanks for sharing this, as it's shows what's missing from today's music and that even hard rockers can appreciate good music of different styles

This episode illustrates the absolute greatness of SOT. I was catching up on the channel's latest review of the new album from Candlemas. And then, a few moments later, I find Pete talking about Yacht Rock. What a fantastic place the "Sea" can be! Love it.

My favorite ever album is techincally yacht rock. Avalon by Roxy Music. Say what you will, but the production of that album is top class.

Just one addition in your excellent overview. The term Yacht Rock is meant ironically. It’s a critique of the music of the 80s chasing style over substance. The term is a backlash against what many critics referred to as “banal” or meaningless music. Today the term has almost been adopted in an increasingly straightforward manner. I just think any understanding of the term should include the original purpose of the term. The show you mentioned in the beginning of the video was also meant as a spoof / a criticism of a certain character or lifestyle. Don’t get me wrong, these songs are nostalgic for me personally. But those definitions are worth mentioning in the context of the moniker. Perhaps this could be an ongoing discussion of the music? There is an excellent two CD set of Yacht Rock hits that is an excellent starting point. Enjoy.

I do enjoy "Yacht Rock". As you mentioned Pete the musicianship and caliber of songwriting on this music is awesome. Great show!

Great segment Pete, would love to make this a regular thing.🎧

Great discussion of the topic, Pete, and good on ya for the James Gang tee shirt (back cover photo from their 1970 album "Rides Again").

Hah! I kept thinking "where's Bozz Skaggs!" and there it is. It is immaculate.

Christopher Cross is one of the best melodic songwriters of the past 40 years. Too many people only know his first two albums, but there are some amazing releases out there, like RENDEZVOUS, WALKING IN AVALON, BACK OF MY MIND, and his recent "different" style of music in his band Freedonia. Dan Fogelberg did orchestrated singer/songwriter music. He could even rock out when he wanted to. Another brilliantly melodic songwriter. I think NETHERLANDS is his best album, but almost all of them are well worth listening to.

People don’t realize what a seriously great rock guitarist Christopher Cross is. His solo on the outro of “Ride Like the Wind” absolutely burns! Unfortunately it is completely buried in the mix under the Michael McDonald “Ba-da-ba-dum-bum-bum-bum-bum”s and usually truncated on radio.

Smoooooooooooooooth Episode!!!! This one needs a Part 2, Pete!!!

Yacht rock is my kind of music 👍. When I see all these artists on the thumbnail, I realize that again. Christopher Cross with "Sailing" ... What a beautiful well crafted tune. Hall & Oates ... great mix of soul, rock and pop. Lionel Richie ... one of my favorite songwriters ever. Doobie Brothers, Steve fricking Winwood ... great stuff. Man, I'm even into 80s Chicago ... Peter Cetera, what a voice.

Great show, I have 9 out of your 10 which I really considered pop rock. I found out about Firefall a year ago and got the same edition of their albums. Now I know a little about what yacht rock is. Thanks for the info.

I always liked most of these albums due to my parents' influence. Still reach for them frequently, especially late afternoons or Sunday mornings. Also explains the fact that my all-time favorite artist is the great and under-appreciated Al Stewart.

Surprisingly; Yacht Rock is pretty, enjoyable - when you're in the mood. The first artists that came to mind: Gerry Rafferty, Bertie Higgins, Steely Dan, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Hall & Oates, & Christopher Cross. When I'm not spinning some NWOBHM/THRASH/SOUTHERN ROCK/HARD(Classic) ROCK/A little DOOM or POWER METAL.... You said it , Pete - Easy, Breezy, very enjoyable!

Little River Band TOTALLY sounds like they are west coast. But nope, they're from Australia! Amazing stuff!

Nice video. I only heard the term "yacht rock" within the last 5 years. I always called this type of music as "easy listening 70s rock." Following up on your comment about this appealing to "older listeners," I recently said to someone, who asked me about being in my 50s, that I seem to be listening to more yacht rock.

Thanks Pete for another very cool and informative show. I want to check out some of the bands you mentioned that's for sure. This genre is quite unknown to me for the most part anyways. Cheers !

Great introduction and essential suggestions! I would also recommend Maxus - Maxus 1981, Pages - Future Street 1979, Nantucket - Your Face Or Mine 1979, Straight Lines - Straight Lines 1980

Perfect top 10 and honorable mentions 👍🏼 Easy listening or yacht rock, it’s all good!

Great stuff Peter.

Excellent informative video.

Yacht/Aor is a guilty pleasure for me. But, yes, it is a pleasure. One brilliant album not often mentioned is Bill Labounty's self-titled album from 1982. A true masterpiece in the genre.

Hello again Pete. Just listened to the first Firefall album and I shall placing an order as I really enjoyed it. Many thanks for the recommendation!

Never could stomach this music in my early yrs. Now at 57 I really enjoy it.

Pete- enjoyed this segment- just wanted to say since you mentioned Pablo Cruise- their is a connection with them and Hammer Horror- the band at the beginning of Dracula AD 1972 is Stoneground-which included members Cory Lerios,Steve Price, and David Jenkins who went on to form Pablo Cruise!

Seals and Croft, America, John Denver and pre Walsh Eagles

An interesting video Pete. I hadn`t heard the term before but I can see how it came about! I know and like some of those bands/singers but don`t know them all. Will certainly have a listen to Firefall that sounds pretty interesting. Thanks!

I would consider Linda Ronstadt, Carly Simon and Nicolette Larson the ladies of Yacht Rock.

Nothing like kicking back after a long day and watching sea of tranquility.😎

I had never heard that term until you mentioned it some months ago, but I've been listening to Yacht rock for most of my life I guess :-) At least to some extent. Nice episode. Cheers.

Pete, a while back you recommended a couple of albums from the band Lake, which I think you described as yacht rock. I picked up the two BGO sets comprising the first three albums on one disc and the fourth and fifth on the second disc. All of which are very enjoyable and the remastering is very good. The debut album is now one of my go to discs to play. Thank you.

Good video, thanks!

I saw The Little River Band in the early 90’s, and Peter Beckett of Player was part of the touring band and they even added “Baby Come Back” to the set list. Damn good vocalist. Really want that debut Player album.

Yacht Rock is Smoooth.

I think Hey Nineteen is the ultimate Yacht Rock song, and for me the category extends a bit more into the 80s, to include of course Christopher Cross, Steely Dan, Toto, Doobie Brothers, but also, Michael Mcdonald solo, Hall & Oates, Donald Fagen solo, Chris de Burgh, Chris Rea, and James Taylor (Her town too).

What a great video Pete! 🤘Here are some artists I feel may also fall under the yacht rock category. Benny Mardones America (1972 debut) Atlanta rhythm section Raydio Gino vannelli Nitty gritty dirt band Jefferson Starship (late 70s releases) England Dan and John Ford coley Seals & Croft Michael Murphy Sammy Johns (Chevy van) David loggins Starbuck King Harvest Sugar Loaf Looking Glass Dr. Hook Robbie Dupree Joey Scarbury (believe it or not) Chilliwack John Hall Band Frankie & the knockouts The babys Tarney spencer band (No time to lose) Greg Kihn Band Blotto Gerry Rafferty Al Stewart Michael Stanley Band Brothers Johnson Dr. John Gary wright Cliff Richard Definitely, something very special about that particular period of AM radio. I’m sure that there are many more artists as well.

Absolutely enjoyed this video! I agree w many of your picks and also discovered some new artists I will check out. (Millennial here 🙋)

I saw Ambrosia two years ago so good I am going to see them again this year. I am the biggest fan of 70's soft rock and Yatch rock is such a big part of that.

I love yacht rock!! So many great chilled out tunes. Love it all!✌️

Here in Australia we have a lot of BBQ's with numerous guests along for the ride. Due to my huge record/cd collection they always expect to hear quality music. For these warm breezy occasions, I always turn to my Iphone's Yacht Rock Playlist. They love it !

Guess I'm a yacht-er. Got lots of these. Poco Legend vinyl literally arrived today. Dan Fogelberg Phoenix vinyl in transit. Ordered a Firefall album today. Saw Christopher Cross open for Fleetwood Mac in 1980 on Tusk tour, and again this spring on Celebrating The Beatles tour with Todd Rundgren and others. I could go on and on...

Yacht Rock: Pablo Cruise, Player, Ambrosia, Christopher Cross, Rupert Holmes, and other bands and artists like this are in that category for me.

Channel 311 on Sirius XM! You never go too long without hearing Michael McDonald

Have been looking forward to this video since you first mentioned it some time ago. Yes, maybe out of the usual SoT ballpark but some music that I thoroughly enjoy though not too crazy about the 'yacht rock' terminology that has developed. Many of the CDs you selected were in my high listening rotation when they first were issued and those have been purchased in LP [for the stereo], cassette [for driving in the pre-CD era] and on CD. You picked some stone-cold classics and Phoenix by Dan Fogelberg is still a high favorite of mine and one of those albums that I enjoy every track. And starting with the Christopher Cross debut set the tone perfectly. I'd likely include some Seals & Crofts in the honorable mentions if not in the list but otherwise, you and the other commenters included what I would say. This is what I was listening to at the time as I had left metal behind [for a while] and could only listen disco at the bars for dancing. Thanks so much, Pete, for this episode. You continue to prove why SoT is so highly regarded and basically a must-watch channel.

Yacht Rock is certainly my "guilty pleasure". Great songwriting, polished production, and great playing. Not profound, heavy or charged up emotionally, but great comfort food for my ears. : P

Love Yacht Rock music, I went to see a covers band over the summer. Here is a list of artists/albums/songs that fall in the category of yacht rock music: 1. Christopher Cross - 'Sailing' off the S/T Debut 2. Rupert Holmes- Escape (The Piña Colada Song) 3. Michael McDonald- If That's What It Takes 4. Toto 5. Captain & Tennille 6. Eagles- 'New Kid in Town' off the Hotel California album 7. Kenny Loggins 8. Boz Scaggs- Lowdown 9. The Blue Jean Committee- Catalina Breeze 10. Hall & Oates 11. Steely Dan- Aja 12. Styx- 'Come Sail Away' or 'Babe' 13. Pablo Cruise 14. Fleetwood Mac- 'Dreams'

Donald Fagen's "The Nightfly", Foreigner "4", Gaucho.

Hi Pete! Greetings from Alberta, Canada. Love your channel! Got me through Covid and beyond. I'm a 64 yr old musician, very familiar with all of the albums you mentioned. Your choices were bang on. As you said, there are many more one could add. Myself, I would add Seals and Crofts and even Eddie Money to the Yacht Rock list. That stuff takes me away. I'd like to see your dog sometime! Cheerz!

I love all those albums you mentioned Pete, and love that kind of music too, Maxus self titled album I think fits in this genre and is a great album, the hit on that album is "Nobody's Business"

All three albums from Pages are hidden gems that I highly recommend. They were the prequel band Richard Page and Steve George were in before Mr. Mister, and they released numerous hidden gems such as "If I Saw You," "Who's Right, Who's Wrong," and "You Need A Hero" :D

Gino Vannelli - Brother to Brother. Amazing guitar work from Carlos Rios. Also Jimmy Haslip plays bass on a few tracks.

I would add these albums selections to your "Yacht Rock" playlist.... "No Secrets" by Carly Simon...early selection from before the official yacht rock years, but I feel it qualifies. "Imaginary Lover" by The Atlanta Rhythm Section-throwin in some light Southern rock here, but it fits the description and style of Yacht Rock Rickie Lee Jones' first album with Chuck E's In Love on it. Chuck Mangione-"Feels So Good"-jazz enters the Yacht Rock world.

Little River Band were very popular in Canada, The Diamantina Cocktail album sold very well here.

Great show Pete. I recommend the first 2 Stephen Bishop LP's Careless & Bish..Gerry Rafferty City To City LP..like your said Eagles & even Fleetwood Mac..you could throw in..

Enjoyed the show Pete. As much as I love this music, I have always listened to the hits, but never really bought the albums. I have a bunch of Steely Dan and the first two Ambrosia, and a few greatest hits compilations.

Pablo Cruise’s Zero To Sixty in Five is a rocking instrumental I remember being played at midnight laser light shows at the local college

Dude, Brillant!

interesting topics from this channel particularly

Yacht rock "primer" thanks Pete once again

Love this review. I grew up listening to Yacht Rock. Love me some Play "Baby Come Back", Christopher Cross rocks. Michael McDonald was on lots of great Yacht Rock songs could talk for hours about Yacht Rock.

Great topic Pete, what I have learned is that it is quite difficult to find Pablo Cruise on cd.

Good songwriting is good songwriting, no matter the genre, and there is definitely some great songwriting from these Yacht Rock artists. And don't forget that Saxon did a killer cover of "Ride Like the Wind," so they get it.

I have been waiting for this for a while. Now there needs to be a video about the Hard Yacht Rock like the first Barry Manilow album, Jefferson Starship - Jane, Touch and many more Hard Driving Yacht Rock for the Yacht races, and mafia celebrations

The then popular band "Orleans", for sure. Thinking of their '79 hit, Love takes time...and of course their hits & albums just previous to that. Real glad you mentioned "Pablo Cruise". They get so forgotten about, nowadays. Yet they were pretty darn big, in the late seventies

Nice list, I’d add Carly Simon’s music from that era as well. Great video.

Great list! Also a fan of America's albums "Alibi" and "View From The Ground".

Big fan of Fogelberg. Innocent Age is fantastic. Gerry Rafferty is typically considered yacht rock.

Eric Carmen late 1977 masterpiece "Boats Against The Current" Is a must!!

If Michael McDonald sings backup on it, IT's Yacht Rock. Fine w Me.

Hey Sea of Tranquility. AWESOME post. ! Can you do a part 2?!? We'd REEALLY appreciate it. my girlfiend and I live in So. California near Marina Del Rey. (!) We have been working on a Yacht Rock set. EXCELLENT choices, as always S of T! Bon Voyage. HA!

Australian contribution to Yacht Rock was the Little River Band

My dad turned me onto a lot of this music. Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, Boz scaggs etc. my uncle Ric turned me on to this type of music. I prefer yacht rock over a lot of the dance pop of today, because of the more mature themes and the qualities that are meant to be soothing. The so-called R&B to me is really just vocal smooth jazz, especially when the primary form of singing is crooning.

Great episode Pete! You mentioned several of my favorites in your video. So how would you classify Seals and Crofts, early country-rock era Eagles or America? All had pretty big hits before 1975 and they all sort of walk that line between soft rock and "yacht rock." Not to mention Steely Dan's first three albums...

Glad that you mentioned Dan Fogelberg.. he was a very great guitarist, I saw him live and he knocked me out...

Cool. This should be neat The saying that came about a few years back combining soft rock and easy listening together became known as The yacht Rock. However for me with the exception of maybe one or two actual studio albums my essential yacht Rock is pretty much essentials and greatest hits.

Obviously my interest goes only so far where "Yacht Rock" is concerned , but these albums would work for me on any level. 1) Aja - Steely Dan (1977) 2) Silk Degrees - Boz Scaggs (1976) 3) Takin' It To The Streets - Doobie Brothers (1975) 4) Ambrosia - Ambrosia (1976) 5) Let It Flow - Dave Mason (1976) 6) CSN - Crosby , Stills & Nash (1977) 7) City To City - Gerry Rafferty (1978) 8) Changes In Latitudes , Changes In Attitudes - Jimmy Buffett (1977) 9) Diamond Girl - Seals & Crofts (1973) 10) Christopher Cross - Christopher Cross (1979)

My fave "Yacht Rock" artists. Player,Pablo Cruise,Little River Band,Le Roux,Dragon(NZ),Chilliwack,The Outfield,Don Henley,Eagles,Dan Fogelberg.

Lots of high-quality musicianship and songwriting on those albums. Of course, there are tons of yacht rock one-hit wonders as well as some of the more established album artists that were mentioned on this video. Hopefully some of the acts known more for their yacht rock singles will show up in a future episode ...

I love yacht rock . Even though im a hard rock, metal guy i definitely love most of the albums Pete named. The common theme is great musianship . I thought of Firefall a couple mins before Pete mentioned them.