Yacht Rock, otherwise known as “West Coast Sound” is a pinnacle of summertime vibes.
If you aren’t familiar with the term, Wikipedia defines Yacht Rock as such: “In the musical sense, yacht rock refers to the highly polished brand of soft rock that emanated from Southern California between 1976 and 1984. The term is meant to suggest the kind of smooth, mellow music that early yuppies likely enjoyed while sipping champagne on their yachts. Significant “yacht rockers” include Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross, and Toto.”
This list is sure to make you feel posh even if you don’t own a yacht! This list is best enjoyed with a few cocktails or beer if that’s your thing. So dust off your favorite pair of Sperry’s and don that cardigan, because, yacht rock!
- Steal Away by Robbie Dupree: this hit came out in 1980 and became a big hit during the summer.
- Life’s Been Good by Joe Walsh: Released in May of 1978, this song is pretty much the embodiment of the yacht rock lifestyle.
- Coconut by Harry Nilsson: this summery gem was released in June 1972 on the album Nilson Schmilsson. this song is best enjoyed anytime.
- Summer Breeze by Seals and Crofts: This often covered tune has been hailed as #13 by Rolling Stone’s “Best Summer Songs of All Time” keeping the soft in rock since August of 1972
- Two Tickets to Paradise by Eddie Money came out June 1978 this song is just classic.
- Reelin’ In the Years by Steely Dan was released in March 1973 from the album Can’t Buy a Thrill. This song is one of those that hosts one of the best guitar solos of all time.
- Rosanna by Toto came out on April 1, 1982, but this song is no joke! Rosanna ranked 14 out of the top 100 in 1982
- What a Fool Believes by The Doobie Brothers is another quintessential yacht rock jam, written by Michael Mcdonald & Kenny Loggins came out in 1979 and stayed on the Hot 100 for 8 months
- Kiss on My List by Hall & Oates: What yacht rock playlist would be complete without this impossibly smooth song. The video was aired on MTV’s first day of broadcast.
- Sailing by Christopher Cross has been hailed as the most “softsational soft rock” song of all time by VH1. Recorded in 1979 it was also one of the first digitally recorded songs to chart. An archetype of the Yacht Rock genre.
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