By Kathryn S. Kraus
I am surrounded by a couple of thousand middle-aged folks ready for a party. In their hands are tropical drinks, and atop their heads are yacht captain hats. Am I at a fancy-dress party? Am I at a massive watch party for the premiere of the new season of the reality show ‘Below Deck’? Not even close. I am at the Yacht Rock Revue concert at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida.
Before you immediately shut me down, give me a chance to defend myself. Yes, the hats were ridiculous – especially when worn by a thousand people in the same venue. We get it, you’ve interpreted the genre name literally. However, for the rest of us, it’s not about a silly name or the garb… it’s about the music. Yacht Rock Revue is the most successful cover band in the United States. This ten piece band packs 2,500+ seat venues across the country and abroad, playing over 100 shows per year. On this night they played for a solid two hours, performing 30 classic songs from the 1970’s and early 1980’s (the time span considered to be the height of the genre).
For some readers, this may be the first time you’ve heard the term, ‘Yacht Rock’. The origin traces back to a 2005 satirical web series, which fictionalized the backstories of how some of the most popular smooth rock hits coming out of California were created. Exaggerated storylines such as Jim Messina becoming a drunken bum after his break-up from Kenny Loggins, and Donald Fagen of Steely Dan speaking in incoherent scat that only Walter Becker and Michael McDonald can understand, were two sketches that made fans howl. However, beneath the satire was a deep respect and genuine love for the music of this era.
Generally, music historians put the beginning of the genre at about 1976, fifty years ago. America was celebrating its bicentennial. Motown hitmakers, along with their boss, Berry Gordie had already relocated to Los Angeles four years prior. The famous sidemen, The Wrecking Crew, were getting older and yielding to younger musicians who were not only brought up on American Jazz and the Motown sound, but also on the sophistication of music from the British Invasion. These changes led to a new California sound. It was smooth, and polished. You don’t need to own a yacht to understand the music, but the blend of jazz progression chords, laid-back groove, and quality musicianship, make it feel as though you are sailing upon one.
The seed of this genesis generally begins with Steely Dan. In November 1975, their album, ‘Katy Lied’ hit the airwaves. The album was a turning point for the duo, who up to that point had been known as a traditional rock band. This release showcased a sophistication of lyrics, married to a new jazz-pop sound. Becker and Fagen began their use of the best session musicians on the California scene, such as Jeff Porcaro and David Paich (future Toto founders), Michael Omartian (future multi-Grammy winner with Christopher Cross), Michael McDonald (future multi-Grammy winner The Doobie Brothers and solo albums), and I could go on and on with the line-up. It was important to mention those artists on that album, because they will feature on most of the Yacht Rock playlist.
David Paich will co-write the entire ‘Silk Degrees’ (1976) album with Boz Scaggs. That hit album led to the formation of Toto. Paich, along with bandmates Jeff Porcaro, Steve Porcaro, David Hungate, and Steve Lukather, will play on thousands of studio sessions for other artists. Steve Porcaro, David Paich, and Steve Lukather will write songs that will be number one hits. Paich pens ‘Got to Be Real’ (1978) for Cheryl Lynn. Lukather wins a Grammy for co-writing ‘Turn Your Love Around’ (1981) for George Benson. Steve Porcaro hits number one with ‘Human Nature’ (1983) for Michael Jackson. I guarantee that if you flip over the covers of your favorite LP’s from that time period, you’ll see the same names in all the liner notes.
Have I whet your appetite enough to create your first Yacht Rock playlist? Here are some essentials, ten of the top songs in any Yacht Rock enthusiast’s library.
- ‘What a Fool Believes’ (1978) The Doobie Brothers. The band was known as a harder rock band before Michael McDonald joined in 1976. McDonald, and co-writer Kenny Loggins, created a syncopated rhythmic opening to this song on McDonald’s Fender Rhodes electric piano, which is now synonymous with Yacht Rock. Known as the ‘Doobie Bounce,’ the riff has been replicated by several bands in this genre.
- ‘Heart to Heart’ (1982) Kenny Loggins. Co-written by Michael McDonald (are you starting to see the connection yet?). This was Emo Rock before Emo songs were popular.
- ‘Sailing’ (1979) Christopher Cross. One of the few songs in the genre that mentions sailing.
- ‘Lowdown’ (1976) Boz Scaggs. Co-written by David Paich, this was Scaggs first number one hit.
- ‘Rosanna’ (1982) Toto. First single off the Grammy Toto IV album, best known for Jeff Porcaro’s half-time shuffle, and brother Steve’s electrifying synth solo.
- ‘Peg’ (1977) Steely Dan. From their masterful album, ‘AJA,’ this track features one of the most infamous guitar solos by Jay Graydon. Seven top L.A. guitarists attempted the solo before Graydon got the nod. The track also features a layered vocal track by Michael McDonald that adds that extra spice on top of the masterful song.
- ‘Steal Away’ (1980) Robbie Dupree. One hit wonder for Dupree. Note the Doobie Bounce, and the similarities to ‘What a Fool Believes.’
- ‘I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near)’ (1982) Michael McDonald. With one of the most recognizable voices in music, McDonald shines on his solo debut album. When you see Michael McDonald performing the song on Soul Train (with Toto’s drummer Jeff Porcaro), you know this guy is the real deal!
- ‘Let Me Love You Tonight’ (1980) Pure Prairie League. Most people don’t know that future country music star, Vince Gill, was the lead vocalist on this first and only hit by the band.
- ‘Baby Come Back’ (1977) Player. One of the few British American bands from the genre, Player’s first single from their self-titled album features an iconic opening bassline, mixed with tight three-part harmonies, and an electrifying guitar solo.
Still not sold on Yacht Rock? Consider this… Many rap artists have sampled Yacht Rock songs. Biz Markie sampled Gilbert O’Sullivan’s ‘Alone Again.’ De La Soul sampled Steely Dan’s ‘Peg.’ The Notorious B.I.G.’s ‘Hypnotize’ sampled Herb Alpert’s ‘Rise.’ Warren G and Nate Dogg’s ‘Regulate’ sampled McDonald’s ‘I Keep Forgettin’ and Bob James’ ‘Sign of the Times.’ Additionally, current artists like Thundercat, Bruno Mars, John Mayer, The Weeknd, Wiz Kalifa, Train, and Keith Urban, are either re-recording Yacht Rock classics, or recording songs in the same style of the genre. New artists such as Ginger Root, Drug Dealer, Tennis, and British duo, Young Gun Silver Fox, are excelling by embracing the smooth vibe of Yacht Rock.
There have been a multitude of documentaries on the genre. BBC Four presented, ‘I Can Go for That: The Smooth World of Yacht Rock’ in 2019. Showtime produced ‘Sometimes When We Touch’ in 2023. The best documentary to date was the HBO feature, ‘Music Box: Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary’ in 2024. Sirius XM satellite radio has a channel devoted to the genre, with other channels featuring Yacht Soul, Yacht Country, and Yacht House/Disco.
I realise that I may not have changed your mind about the genre. Remember, though, that we all made fun of ABBA, and then along came ‘Mamma Mia.’ Returning to the Yacht Rock Revue, it occurs to me that we all have paid to essentially see a cover band play what we could have easily listened to from an iTunes playlist. However, it’s about the shared experience. The fact that we’ll never see the original bands play live again – let alone in a single show – makes this a unique concert. This music brings us back to a simpler time. For those two hours, nothing outside the venue mattered. Love it or hate it, the groove of the tunes is the connective tissue that unites us as human beings, that grounds us in our humanity.
Judging by the thousands in captain hats attending the concert, many have no issue with the ‘Yacht Rock’ moniker. Personally, I think it is ridiculous. Guitarist Steve Lukather has been quoted as saying, ‘Where’s my f*cking yacht?!” Donald Fagen of Steely Dan, when asked to comment on his band being the primordial ooze from whence the genre spawned from, told the interviewer, “Go f*ck yourself!”
I believe the music falls between soft rock and pop, but why do we have to put a label on it at all? It’s simply good music, made by excellent musicians. The music will live on long after the ridiculous moniker has faded away, because that’s what music does. Yacht or Nyacht, the music will live forever. So, hand me my margherita, I’ll be groovin’ to the tunes, on a beach, in my lounge.
Photos and cover art by Kathryn S. Kraus
June 20, 2026
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