Yacht Rock Extravaganza – The Top 24 Greatest Yacht Rock Songs
I’ve been wanting to put together a best of Yacht Rock list for quite sometime. Now that we’re into the month of May – I’m inspired to pull this list together and get ready to jam to these (and others) all summer long. As an added bonus, recording artist Carly Shea stopped by to talk about her favorite Yacht Rock songs. She listed her songs during the intermission or halftime on the video countdown below.
As I started writing down names to songs that I felt should be included on the list, I noticed that it was being dominated by Michael McDonald/Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, Christopher Cross and America. So I decide to make some ground rules:
Only one song per band would be ranked with solo projects being treated separately. Of course that made for even more decisions. Choosing between the three or four America songs to include on the list was TOUGH. Same with Seals & Croft. Summer Breeze or Diamond Girl? But then it hit me. A calmness of floating through a no wake zone, if you will. Just relax and make your selections and live with it. At the end of the day, when you are dealing with Yacht Rock – there really aren’t any bad choices.
Speaking of which. A couple of artists got left off of the list. I nearly expanded the list to 30 to make room for anyone. But I decided to keep the top 24. So Hall and Oates (I Can’t Go For That), Toto (Georgy Porgy), Fleetwood Mac (You Make Loving Fun), Kenny Loggins (This Is It), Dobie Gray (Drift Away) and Olvia Newton-John (Magic) – just missed. In fact, the first two names I wrote down initially were Hall & Oates and Toto. It’s a touch business – this Yacht Rock.
Without further ado. Here’s my Top 24 Yacht Rock Songs.
24. England Dan and John Ford Coley – I’d Really Love To See You Tonight
23. Herb Alpert – Route 101
22. Jay Ferguson – Thunder Island
21. Boz Scaggs – JoJo
20. Bobby Caldwell – What You Won’t Do For Love
19. Looking Glass – Brandi (You’re A Fine Girl)
18. Player – Baby Come Back
17. Ambrosia – Biggest Part Of Me
16. Michael Martin Murphey – Wildfire
15. Todd Rundgren – I Saw The Light
14. Michael McDonald – Sweet Freedom
13. Ace – How Long
12. Lionel Richie – All Night Long
11. 10cc – I’m Not In Love
10. Rupert Homes – Escape (Pina Colada)
09. Donald Fagen – I.G.Y.
08. Robbie Dupree – Steal Away
07. Seals & Croft – Summer Breeze
06. America – Horse With No Name
05. Gerry Rafferty – Baker Street
04. Christopher Cross – Ride Like The Wind
03. Steely Dan – Peg
02. Starbuck – Moonlight Feels Right
01. Doobie Brothers – What A Fool Believes
So there you go. The songs I consider the greatest Yacht Rock Songs ever. Of course, with the twist of only one song per act.
Do you have a favorite? Hit me up on Twitter or Instagram below and let me know which song is your top choice.
-Tommy Marz
You can follow Tommy on Twitter and Instagram let him know what you think.