Yacht Rock Revisted: What Yacht Rock is—and isn't.

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by LeftCoastGator, Feb 4, 2017.

  1. Champagne Boot

    Champagne Boot Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride

    Location:
    Michigan
    And it's a genre that's never died. See this new track by Thundercat, featuring both Loggins and McDonald.

     
  2. LeftCoastGator

    LeftCoastGator Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    94501
    Well, if it makes you feel any better, I saw the Flaming Lips open for Candlebox. Poor, poor Candlebox.
     
  3. ducksdeluxe

    ducksdeluxe A voice in the wilderness.

    Location:
    PNW
    From Aja on they definitely qualify. The earlier albums, no way.
     
  4. LeftCoastGator

    LeftCoastGator Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    94501
    An excellent trade indeed, my friend. I thought about picking up one of their BYR shirt to support the podcast, but $30+ is ridiculous.
     
  5. videoman

    videoman Senior Member

    Location:
    Lake Tahoe, NV
    I was listening to "The Bridge" channel on SiriusXM today and on comes Stephen Bishop's "On and On" and I thought "wow. Is this the ultimate Yacht Rock" song or what?
     
    ARK, Gary7704, ispace and 1 other person like this.
  6. videoman

    videoman Senior Member

    Location:
    Lake Tahoe, NV
    Crosby Stills and Nash probably
     
    bonus likes this.
  7. LeftCoastGator

    LeftCoastGator Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    94501
    …or what? I can totally see why that would seem like a great yacht song, and thematically the escape to an exotic locale only to have your heart broken lyrics are spot on. That said, the sound isn't quite there. It's too meandering, too much acoustic guitar, what sounds like a bit of western steel—it's basically a country song. One of the misconception is that yacht rock has to be mellow and soft, which isn't the case. It has to be smooth, but some of it is quite upbeat. If you listen to Airplay's s/t album—which may be the yachtest album of all time—it's actually really in your face. Smooth as heck, but quite energetic.
     
    ChrisScooter1 likes this.
  8. Joey The Lemur

    Joey The Lemur Forum Resident

    When I hear the term, I think smooth. And I also seem to think of the light rock - especially from acts that, whether they are or not, from Southern California - of the late '70s/early '80s. I know a lot of folks mention Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins, but I think of Christopher Cross as the iconic yacht rock artist if for no other reason than his debut album which, to me, is the most perfect yacht rock album of all time.
     
    Wil1972, ARK, Bleu Noir and 9 others like this.
  9. videoman

    videoman Senior Member

    Location:
    Lake Tahoe, NV
    Doesn't hurt if your big hit is called "Sailing" either...
     
    wrat, ARK, Schmeig and 3 others like this.
  10. Joey The Lemur

    Joey The Lemur Forum Resident

    No, it doesn't.
     
  11. Grant

    Grant Life is a rock, but the radio rolled me!

    "Yacht Rock" is something that needs to be in that "Words and Phrases People Need to Stop Using" thread. :realmad: I'd like to hang the person who created that term by their feet, and jab searing hot razor blades under their toenails.

    Now, with that outta the way: I love soft rock, or Southern California rock. Laurel Canyon rock, if you will. I include bands/artists like Pablo Cruise, Fleetwood Mac, Boz Scaggs, Linda Ronstadt,, James Taylor, Little River Band, England Dan & John Ford Coley, Firefall...you get the point.
     
    Dazbuff, wrat, Wil1972 and 9 others like this.
  12. videoman

    videoman Senior Member

    Location:
    Lake Tahoe, NV
    Pablo Cruise (of whom I'm a big fan) probably define it more than anyone just because of their name and songs like "I Go To Rio".

    Don't be offended by the term "Yacht Rock" though just because it was probably intended as a perjorative. Own it!
     
  13. jalexander

    jalexander Forum Resident

    Location:
    Canada
    The dissertation forgot the most important distinction. Yacht rock is not rock. ;)

    Does the CSN album with them on a yacht qualify?
     
    Mickey2, BrentB, JediJoker and 3 others like this.
  14. videoman

    videoman Senior Member

    Location:
    Lake Tahoe, NV
    It not only qualifies, it helps define it!

    Great album, too BTW!
     
  15. O Don Piano

    O Don Piano Senior Member

    Nope.
    Haitian Divorce, Reeling In The Years, Aja, Green Earrings, and so on are not "smooth".
     
    BoogieFish and Bluesman Mark like this.
  16. O Don Piano

    O Don Piano Senior Member

    Nope!
    WTF?
     
    BoogieFish likes this.
  17. videoman

    videoman Senior Member

    Location:
    Lake Tahoe, NV
    Yes!

    WTF!!

    The Godfathers of yacht rock!

    [​IMG]
     
    wrat, Tooth, Mickey2 and 10 others like this.
  18. videoman

    videoman Senior Member

    Location:
    Lake Tahoe, NV
    But so much else of what they do is!
     
    Gratefully Deadicated likes this.
  19. Champagne Boot

    Champagne Boot Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride

    Location:
    Michigan
    Yet Bad Sneakers, Dr. Wu, Deacon Blues, Boston Rag, Your Gold Teeth, Any Major Dude Will Tell You, Peg, Hey Nineteen...

    I mean, come on. They're the admirals of the genre.
     
  20. O Don Piano

    O Don Piano Senior Member

    Oy.
     
  21. O Don Piano

    O Don Piano Senior Member

    Whatever.
    They are as far away from "feel good smooth" as you can get IF you're actually paying attention!

    But obviously most of you are not, and I get it.
    Have fun!
     
    BoogieFish, EricSwan and sbsugar like this.
  22. Champagne Boot

    Champagne Boot Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride

    Location:
    Michigan
    These posts are not smooth.
     
    lastdamdown, Murph, kyouki and 17 others like this.
  23. videoman

    videoman Senior Member

    Location:
    Lake Tahoe, NV
    I think you're too easily offended by the term. But clearly you're a closet Yachter.

    Embrace your inner moorings. Take your shirt off for an album cover or two and indulge!
     
  24. videoman

    videoman Senior Member

    Location:
    Lake Tahoe, NV
    The best Yacht Rock is performed wet and shirtless!

    [​IMG]
     
  25. videoman

    videoman Senior Member

    Location:
    Lake Tahoe, NV
    Steely Dan is what the Yachters listen to after a few too many Mai Tais.

    Suddenly all those young girls look so much more accessible..
     

Share This Page

molar-endocrine