Best Yacht Rock Songs

Everybody has a favorite when it comes to best yacht rock songs!  Or, do they?  First, you gotta KNOW what tunes from the mid 70’s to mid 80’s make the cut as SMOOTH.  Then, you’ll have to struggle through the decision on which song truly floats your boat.  This bevy of lushly produced, jazzy, R&B jams by the best session musicians of the decade make it a brutal choice.  In fact, selecting your fave guilty pleasure from a genre ubiquitously represented on TV, film, commercials, and now yacht rock radio can be downright splitting hairs.  Lastly, there have been a million articles written on the topic, but rarely do you hear from one of the top cover bands in America.  Let’s dive in.

Also, here’s our last blog post if you’d like to peruse 🙂

What a Fool Believes

If you pay attention to the Yachtski Scale, there’s only ONE perfect score for best yacht rock songs.  That song is What a Fool Believes by the Doobie Brothers and scores a perfect 100.  Factually, JD Ryznar and his fellow pioneer en-smooth-iasts CREATED this genre.  They wrote the YouTube parody of the musical genre back in 2006 that launched the entire movement.

Subsequently, they assert that the personnel, the style, the writing, the lyrics, the instrumentation itself, and the famous Doobie Bounce of What a Fool presents the ideal materialization of SMOOTH.  Indeed, this tune begins with that bouncy, syncopated e-piano that the creators of Yacht Rock love.  Importantly, the buttery smooth Michael McDonald vocal, the jazzier chords, lush harmonies, and simple lyric of romantic regret registers as the north star that our yacht rock compass points to.  When in doubt, pull up anchor, batten down the hatches and sail in that direction.

Can you Sail to it?

Now that we have a baseline for the best yacht rock songs, let’s set sail!  Ahoy.  In order to steady our course, watch out for the obvious bogies, buoys, icebergs, and misgivings.  Not all of our favorite 70’s and 80’s songs are verified yacht, so let’s be aware of what the purists of Yacht Rock say.  First, they say the song Brandy is too early to be considered.  It only registers a 36.83 on the scale (under 50 points is labeled Nyacht Rock).  Feel free to read about why one of the world’s favorite captain songs is not technically on the boat.  They’ve written a healthy article on the subject!  In fact, Hall and Oates only made the cut with a couple tunes like Kiss on my List.  Even Little River Band, Ambrosia and others barely make the cut.

Of course, if we go by the rules, all songs by the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, and Jimmy Buffett are completely out.  Ultimately, now we can focus on the pillars of that Yachty sound.  Toto and all their personnel, Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross, Kenny Loggins, Boz Scaggs, Steely Dan, Pablo Cruise, and George Benson are among the undeniable superstars of smooth.

Deeper Cuts

Apart from these Yacht Stars, let’s take a look at the bigger picture of bands.  Deeper artists like Ned Doheny, Bill LaBounty, Pages, Airplay, Marc Jordan, Robbie Dupree, Player, Ace, and the Sanford Townsend Band throw down a yachty groove as well.  Lastly, don’t forget the All Star personnel of Jay Graydon, David Foster, Jeff Porcaro, David Paich, and Bill Champlin that really keep us afloat.  In fact, there’s even newer groups that make the grade as contenders for the best yacht rock songs.  Artists like State Cows, Norwegian Fords, Thundercat, and Daft Punk have given us a healthy boost of modern Yachtiness.  Importantly, John Mayer’s new album Sob Rock testifies to the power of vintage style smooth soft rock.

Yacht Rock playlist time

Okay, time to choose.  Do the main heavy hitters make your list?  Africa, Rosanna, Ride Like the Wind, This is It and Lowdown are always crowd favorites.  But is your fave a deep cut like Who’ll Be the Fool Tonight by Larsen/Feiten Band?  Or do you go against all the Facebook group posts chiming in about how they hate the Piña Colada song?  Or Georgy Porgy… or the dreaded Answering Machine Song by Rupert Holmes?  If you’re like me, I go headfirst into those songs and appreciate the pure joy of Escape, which is a notoriously Nyacht song.  This begs the question, do I have to stay to the strict list of the purists who made the Yachtski Scale?  Or can I venture into the songs that just float my boat and keep me sailing.  Ultimately, it’s your choice.

While the Yacht Rock guys have rated some 400 songs, there’s plenty out there.  So feel free to improvise your top ten list of tunes that support your dancin’ on a yacht, sippin’ boat drinks and swaying to the palm trees good times.  Whether you’re a purist or freelancer out for the feelgood vintage party, there’s something in there for everyone!

Best Yacht Rock Songs 2.0

Ultimately, we hope this resource helps you find a way to your yacht.  Sailing, grooving, and overall jamming to the smooth sounds of the 70’s and 80’s doesn’t have to be one speed. Actually, there’s a lot of help in your quest.  You can listen to yacht rock radio.  Or, read articles like Captain Carl and his Top 8 best yacht rock songs and more. And even check out an amazing look at the comedy and meaning of the smooth top 100.  Of course, there’s Spotify, Sirius/XM, and YouTube galore.

Lastly, we hope you’ll come check a Yachty by Nature show and get to experience the thrill of LIVE yacht rock and the party of it all.  The band will surely play a bunch of your favorites and hit some deep cuts as well.  With Captain Carl at the helm, it’s always a great time.  Add the cruise director, Courtney Cruise and Scotty McYachty’s golden vocals and it’s ON!

Speaking of which, here’s the top 10 picks from Yachty by Nature for your listening pleasure.

1. Africa by Toto
2. I Keep Forgettin’ by Michael McDonald
3. What a Fool Believes by the Doobie Brothers
4. All Night Long by Lionel Richie
5. Lowdown by Boz Scaggs
6. Rich Girl by Hall and Oates
7. Rosanna by Toto
8. Peg by Steely Dan
9. Ride Like the Wind by Christopher Cross
10. This is It by Kenny Loggins

Yachty Playlist

So, what’s your jam?  Surely, you have plenty of food for thought and a first class approach and background to choosing that tune that raises your sail.  Let’s salute those about to dock and get listening, participating and overall celebrating the smooth music that puts a smile on our face.  Cheers to your best yacht rock songs and feel free to send us an email, post here, or connect on social media to let us know what you’re listening to.  As always, check the blog for ongoing yachtiness!  And check out our song list for all the smooth tunes we play 🙂

Ahoy!  Captain Carl #yachtrock #yachtybynature

Yacht Rock music ’22

Ahoy, yacht rock music lovers!  Yachty by Nature just celebrated it’s 6th birthday in June and this summer has been one for the record books.  In fact, we’ve had some pretty huge summers.  However, Summer of ’22 proved to be a hot one so far.  With two years of limping thru the pandemic, this season of smooth showed that everybody was truly ready to get out to experience the fun live concerts we’ve been missing since Covid 19 shut so many shows down.  Ultimately, the band has been having fun on the road, but we also returned to the fun park shows and the busy schedule that keeps that boat afloat.

Hollywood Bowl

First of all, THANK YOU so much for voting each day to help us win a spot as Opening Band at the Hollywood Bowl.  We are currently in the top 10 in our group.  Make sure to vote today for DOUBLE credit!  In fact, you can vote once per day and help us win $10,000 as well.  Please vote for us and scroll down to where it says VERIFY ON FACEBOOK and you’ll be able to vote for us!  Wouldn’t that be the ultimate bringing Yacht Rock Music and your captains of smooth 70’s and 80’s soft rock to one of the most historic stages in the world.  Moreover, keep up the great work.

As always, you’ll never hear exactly the same smooth setlist with Yachty by Nature!  We constantly love keeping the set fresh and mixing new and old songs into our concerts.  Importantly, at OC Park’s summer show, we opened with Takin’ it to the Streets by the Doobie Brothers.  It was a joy to watch our seasoned super fans shocked that we didn’t open with Ride Like Wind.  That Christopher Cross gem has long been a staple intro for us.  In fact, drop us a line, a text, a DM to let us know which song you’d like us to begin with.

Yacht Rock tunes

Speaking of which, our OC Parks show at Mason Park got us off to a smooth and yachty start to July!  What a cool venue, great crowd and a blast to see everyone get up and boogie to Kenny Loggins’ Footloose.  We were able to keep the easy listening early set with masterpieces like Baker Street and Don’t Go Breakin’ my heart.  Additionally, the band caught fire ramping up the close of the set with Africa, Regulate, and Ain’t Nobody.  Does Courtney Cruise bring it on Chaka Khan or what???  Anyways, that was a glorious July 7 and we were coming off a beautiful 4th of July at our buddy, Mark Sanchez’s house and July 3 at the Beach Club in Pacific Palisades.

Next up, Yachty was seen in Corona del Mar at 5 Crowns for a yacht rock wedding.  Natasha and David’s wedding was a blast and the food was off the hook.  What an honor to celebrate them in style.  The next week saw Garden Grove cutting a rug on the lawn at Eastgate Park and Rancho Santa Margarita packing their park with about 3,500 hardcore soft rock fans!  Oh what a Night!  Once again, the band launched into Come Sail Away as an encore.  Ultimately, the crowd began waving their phones’ flashlights in the air making for a highlight of the summer.  What a feeling out there and we always appreciate the big love in RSM.

Coast to Coast

Yacht Rock Music has seen a meteoric rise across the country lately.  However, it’s not just California that’s getting Yachty.  In fact, Yachty by Nature has been the most sought after Yacht Rock act in the nation, second to only Yacht Rock Revue!  Moreover, we found ourselves on a plane again to Jacksonville this time for a concert in Amelia Island, Florida.  What a glorious place for smooth music to fill the air.  The powdery white sands on the beach and the resort feel out there was a nice counter to the oppressive heat and humidity inland.  Apart from the travel difficulties that Rim and Scotty experienced and narrowly missing the show, our weekend in Florida was grand!  Thank you to the Georgia Dental Association for all the fun, good vibes, and southern hospitality.  The boat bar in the middle of the party especially said, “I’m on a boat”.

If dropping anchor in Florida wasn’t enough, we had to get right back to California for another corporate party at the Waldorf in Dana Point.  The MBA had a beautiful spread on the grand lawn and what a beautiful night at this 5 star jewel of a resort.  We loved meeting people from all over the United States and new and old fans of yacht rock music!  Specifically, we found a crew from Atlanta who were already sailing far and wide.

San Francisco

We had the rest of the week to rally and prepare for a Friday Night with Levi’s and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park before the MLB baseball game!  Wow.  The band setup right on the San Francisco Bay and the Giants/Cubs game attendees cruised through the yacht rock party just outside the park.  What a thrill and we even danced with their mascot, Lou Seal.  To celebrate the sponsorship from Levi’s, the band was decked out in denim.  The jean jackets were on fire with our brand of SMOOTH.  Giants and Levi’s even gave us Captain’s Hats with the San Francisco Giants color and logo.  Too fun.

Sea Legs Cancellation

Sadly, we returned from the Bay Area with a sick Scotty McYachty and we had to do a very rare thing.  We were forced to cancel the Sea Legs show on July 30.  This would have been the crowning glory of a wonderful Summer of 2022.  This venue is right on the sand and such a fun spot that we probably had well beyond our typical 1,000 people preparing to attend.  Thanks for everyone’s patience and a heartfelt sorry to those people who showed up and didn’t get the word of the canceled show.

It was agonizing for everybody and we thank the JettHeadz for putting on a great show as our opener.  In addition, we were lucky enough to get the 90’s RockShow and Offsprung to play in our absence and hold the crowd that came out to support us!  Cheers!  Importantly, Yachty by Nature will return to SeaLegs on October 8.  Moreover, mark that calendar.

Paso Robles

We are scheduled for the City of Corona concert in the park on August 4 and then a huge show in Paso Robles on August 6!  In fact, we are super pumped to return to wine country on the Central Coast for a return show at Cal Coast Beer in Paso.  Last year’s show there was a blast and we really love this town.  Yacht Rock music goes over huge there and we loved that crowd and venue.  Get your tickets and plan to be with us, even if you are in San Luis Obispo or surrounding cities.  Additionally, come up for a killer weekend!

Yacht Rock Music LA & more!

Let’s see where the band will drop anchor next.  In fact, we return for some Los Angeles dates.  Check the links and see which cool venue that you’ll get Yachty with us at:

August 10, private Corporate Party in San Diego

Thursday, August 11, La Santa in Santa Ana – hip, cool, funky venue right downtown

8.13, Santa Clarita Concert in the Park

August 19, Canyon Club Agoura Hills

August 27, Lake Forest Concert in the Park

September 4, Delta Coves in Bethel Island, CA

In closing, we’d like to thank you for all the love and support.  Moreover, let us return to lots of exciting shows and venues.  Importantly, the band is on fire and playing on the next level.  Keep the fire! In fact, Stay Yachty with us and we look forward to seeing you soon!  Overall, check out our LINKTREE site.  Ultimately, you will find even easier ways to connect with the band.  As a result, check the calendar and stay informed for great yachty happenings.

Yacht Rock Music next

Lastly, we do have some honorable mention events coming up.  In fact, we head up to the Bay Area again for that show in Bethel Island again.  In addition, the following weekend features YachtRocktober Fest with the Biergarten at Old World Huntington Beach.  Then, the Original Lobster fest is happening and we are on the bill for Sunday, September 11.  Importantly, we return once again to the friendly shores of Disco Bay on October 1.  Yes, Discovery Bay is getting Yachty and our concert will be at Campos Family Winery.  As stated earlier, we’ll be at SeaLegs in Huntington Beach on October 8.  Lastly, the band returns to Palm Springs to headline the Circa Caliente event on October 15.  In particular, make sure you get your tickets for Circa as soon as possible as it will sell out fast!

Of course, we will post reminders.  However, add to your list the fact that we will be back to Campus Jax on October 28 and then Daily’s in Rancho Santa Margarita on November 19.  That’s a lot of great yacht rock music for your listening and grooving pleasure.  Cheers and Ahoy!

Throwback to opening for Snoop here!

#yachtrockband #yachtybynature

Yacht Rock Tribute

Ahoy Yacht Rock Nation.  This summer of 2022 is shaping up to be one for the ages.  In fact, Yachty by Nature and our Yacht Rock tribute is flying higher than ever.  This smooth band is buoyed by our amazing fans, new songs, and fun shows all over the country.  Importantly, make sure to FOLLOW us on the Bandsintown app for the ultimate calendar and then, we’ll post upcoming concerts right here.  Moreover, we’ve played a ton of private parties this last month, but check out what we have coming up!

Smooth Cruise

Since April, it’s been such a smooth ride!  Specifically, playing House of Blues in front of 1,200 people was a massive event.   As always, our yacht rock tribute over at Sea Legs was a blast and sailing to Catalina Island was possibly the smoothest ride ever.  Thanks to our amazing fans for taking the trip and getting Yachty on Descanso Beach.  The weather was perfect, the band was on point and we got to share the stage with our friends, Redneck Rodeo!

Finest moment:  Scotty McYachty, Captain Carl and Ben Shreddin’ harmonizing with the band on Wagon Wheel and Country Roads by John Denver.

June 2022

Then, it was off to Gaslamp in Long Beach and Summerfest in Fountain Valley ahead of Tijuana Dogs and DSB band.  Big Stages and big fun.  Incredibly, we journeyed to Denver for a corporate show and THREE shows in the Bay Area in the space of a couple weeks.  In fact, our yacht rock party aboard the San Francisco Belle couldn’t have been smoother.  The West Coast’s largest dining vessel was the perfect venue for this Yacht Rock Band!

Finally, our private parties ranged from super fan birthdays to a 4th of July at our buddy, Mark Sanchez’s house!  Of course, we always wish everyone was invited!  Importantly, we are so grateful for fun times, great sounding music, and a pumping crowd out at Palisades Beach Club a couple days before the Fourth.  Of course, we hope you’re listening to some Sirius/XM and Spotify channels that are playing that sweet summer AM Gold in preparation for seeing us again LIVE!

Yacht Rock tribute Summer Calendar

Moreover, let’s take a look at what’s coming up!  The summer concerts in the park will be in full effect for July and August.  As well, check for some really great ticketed shows but soak up our appearances for FREE while you can get them.  We appreciate your love and support and thanks for the great song requests, check our Song List!

7/7 OC Parks concert at Mason Regional Park in Irvine at 645pm FREE

7/14 Garden Grove summer series 630pm at Eastgate Park FREE

7/17 Rancho Santa Margarita concert series 6pm at Central Park FREE

7/23 Private Concert in Amelia Island, FL

7/29 Oracle Park LEVI’S concert series at Seal’s Plaza 5pm to 7pm FREE

7/30 Sea Legs at the Beach in Huntington Beach:  Jett Headz play at 2pm and Yachty by Nature at 4pm FREE

8/4 Corona summer series at City Hall Park 7pm FREE

8/11 La Santa in Santa Ana at 8pm ticketed event

8/13 Santa Clarita concert in the park 7pm FREE

8/19 Canyon Agoura Hills 8pm

8/27 Lake Forest park show at the Sports Park 530 pm FREE

9/4 Bethel Island, CA it’s FREE if you can boat in to their lagoon!

9/9 Biergarten HB 8pm tickets HERE

TELL A FRIEND

As you can see, this Yacht Rock Tribute band is sailing.  The guilty pleasures are flowing, the AM Gold abounds, and we can’t wait to see you again soon!  In fact, be sure to TELL A FRIEND and share the good news with your crowd.  Ultimately, it’s so encouraging when you bring NEWBIES to our Yachty by Nature shows and SHARE our Facebook and Instagram posts for maximum fun potential.  So, mark the calendar and get out to a few summer shows while they last!

Whether it’s the big stage of the concerts in the park or the intimate venues where you can get close to the music, vibe, and witty banter of Captain Carl and Scotty McYachty, it’s gonna be smooth!

I’m on a Boat

Don’t forget to consider your Yachty attire when you come to our shows.  In fact, the possibilities are endless.  Be sure to check Captain Carl’s advice on Yacht Rock outfits when you are preparing for that smooth show.  Read that blog entry and make sure to have your Captain’s Hat handy for the fun of this yacht rock tribute.

You can flow with the Caddyshack attire or the nautical stripes or even the disco bellbottoms.  Importantly, there’s nothing that prepares you for the fun of our concert like the Yachtical clothing that propels the fun.

Yacht Rock Tribute Boat Drinks

Lastly, what are you drinking?  If you’re ready for a libation or two, certainly a Seabreeze, Mai Tai, umbrella drink or simply a Miami Vice might just do the trick.  All the fun of saying, “I’m on a Boat” will send you sailing on this fine S.S. Yachty by Nature groove.  We provide that music that sends you on an Escape!  So, Come Sail Away soon and send us some comments, good vibes, and AHOY’s to our email, social media, etc.  Set a course for adventure… we’re expecting you 🙂

#yachtrocktribute