Yacht rock

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Cover of Loggins & Messina's 1973 album Full Sail.

Yacht rock is a variation of popular soft rock that peaked between the years of 1976 and 1984. Significant "yacht rockers" include Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross, and Toto.

While the music has existed for years, popular usage of the term yacht rock is relatively new, coming into circulation through the online comedy series of the same name.

1 The music
2 The show
- 2.1 Yacht Rock episode list
- 2.2 Real people portrayed in Yacht Rock
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] The music

In the musical sense, yacht rock refers to the highly polished brand of soft rock that emanated from Southern California during the late '70s and early '80s. In part, the term relates to the stereotype of the yuppie yacht owner, enjoying champagne and smooth music while out for a sail. Additionally, since sailing was a popular leisure activity in Southern California, many "yacht rockers" made nautical references in their lyrics and album artwork, particularly the anthemic track " Sailing" by Christopher Cross.

The foundation of the yacht rock scene was a local pool of versatile session musicians who frequently played on each other's records. This professionalism often gave yacht rock recordings a high level of sophistication in musical areas such as composition, arrangement, and instrumental skill.

The most popular yacht rock artists enjoyed massive commercial success. During its peak years, yacht rock dominated the Grammy Awards, with Christopher Cross and Toto sweeping the major awards in 1981 and 1983 respectively, feats consistently derided by Grammy prognosticators. ^[1] However, yacht rock was not a hit with most rock critics, who dismissed it as generic and "middle-of-the-road", favoring such acts as The Clash and Elvis Costello instead.^[2] (See Rockism.)

In developing the show Yacht Rock, creator J.D. Ryznar commented that the term was intended to describe the "more elite studio artists" of the period, such as Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins.^[3] David Lyons, who co-produced the show and played Koko Goldstein, noted that a friend of his devised the term "marina rock" in college to describe a more "working-class" group of artists that didn't achieve the same high profile, such as Seals and Crofts, Rupert Holmes, and Looking Glass.^[4] However, despite the show's intentions, music journalists have begun using the term yacht rock to describe all of the similar-sounding music of the period, including bands such as Ambrosia, 10cc, and Player.^[5]

While Ryznar and the show popularized the term yacht rock, it had existed previously. Its earliest-known Internet appearance came in a February 1994 Usenet posting, where a user explained that he had heard the term used to describe the music of Jimmy Buffett.^[6]

[edit] The show

Title screen of the first episode of Yacht Rock.

Ryznar devised the series after noticing several similarities between bands such as Steely Dan, Toto, and The Doobie Brothers. In particular, members of those bands often collaborated with each other and with singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins. For example, Loggins and Michael McDonald co-wrote several songs, including Loggins' "This Is It" and The Doobie Brothers' "What a Fool Believes". McDonald himself sang backing vocals for several yacht rock artists, including Steely Dan and Christopher Cross.

In a forum post on Channel 101's website, Ryznar noted that the show originated via his own fascination with the music of the period:

"Getting into Steely Dan really started this for me. As did the ability to buy dollar records at Amoeba and put them on tapes for my car. Kenny Loggins has made his way into all the pilots I've been involved with except [one]."^[7]

As Ryznar told Reuters contributor Andy Sullivan, "I'm making fun of the songwriting process, but the music is generally treated pretty lovingly."^[8]

The show took the real-life aspects of the music and built exaggerated storylines around them. For example, Steve Porcaro of Toto co-wrote "Human Nature" for Michael Jackson (with members of Toto performing on the recording), Christopher Cross' original name really was Christopher Geppert, and Toto's "Rosanna" really was written for Rosanna Arquette. However, many elements were creations of the show, such as Hall & Oates manager "Gino Balzarelli", a character inspired by the Hall & Oates song "Gino (the Manager)" (which was, in reality, based on their then-manager Tommy Mottola).

At times, the show plays with the popular "Behind The Music" take on the real-life events depicted on screen, for example by presenting a version of Hall & Oates where John Oates, a clear junior partner given his paucity of lead vocals or songwriting credits, rules over partner Daryl Hall in quasi-abusive fashion. Michael Jackson is depicted as a hard-rock enthusiast who believes his partnership with guitarist Eddie Van Halen will lead to an endless parade of female sexual conquests. Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, the Doobie Brothers' lead guitarist, is often seen pressuring central figure Michael McDonald to write the Doobies another hit; the real Baxter did bring McDonald into the band but left himself on the heels of its greatest commercial success because of his displeasure with the Doobies' focus on hit-making. The Eagles and Steely Dan really did insert lyrical references to each other in their music, as depicted in the show, but these were actually friendly in nature, not part of a longtime grudge involving baseball bats and lunch-money shakedowns.

The series was written, directed, and produced by Ryznar, co-produced by David Lyons, and edited by Lane Farnham. Yacht Rock's episodes were "hosted" by "Hollywood" Steve Huey, a legitimate music critic for All Music Guide.

Yacht Rock debuted at Channel 101's June 2005 screening. It placed in the top five at subsequent screenings until the June 2006 screening of its tenth episode, where it placed seventh and was cancelled. However, in subsequent posts on Channel 101's forum, Ryznar and Lyons left open the possibility that the show might continue in some form outside of Channel 101.

[edit] Yacht Rock episode list

JD Ryznar as Michael McDonald and Hunter Stair as Kenny Loggins from episode two of Yacht Rock.

"What a Fool Believes"

In the pilot episode, Kenny Loggins, under the guidance of Koko Goldstein, reaches out to a struggling Michael McDonald, who's having trouble writing a smooth hit for his band the Doobie Brothers.
"Keep the Fire"

Loggins and McDonald pair up against the duo Hall & Oates for a songwriting competition.
"I'm Alright"

An entertainment executive behind the movie Caddyshack demands that the movie's director, Harold Ramis, obtain Kenny Loggins' talents to write the movie's theme song.
"Rosanna"

Steve Porcaro, the keyboard player of the band Toto, is encouraged by his girlfriend, Rosanna Arquette, to write a song about her, and she wants him to have Michael McDonald sing on the track. Porcaro devises a three-step plan to make it happen.
"Believe in It"

Toto has been commissioned to write a smooth song for Michael Jackson's Thriller, but Jackson rejects the band, believing that such material is in his past. Fearing that Jackson will destroy "smooth music" for a decade, Porcaro turns to McDonald for help.
"The Seed Drill"

"Hollywood" Steve's father demands that Steve stop wasting his time on Yacht Rock, and regales a historic tale of Jethro Tull.
"I Keep Forgettin'"

McDonald and Loggins make a bet about McDonald's new song, "I Keep Forgettin'", that takes a decade to resolve.
"Gino (the Manager)"

"Hollywood" Steve returns to the very beginning, where Doobie Brothers producer Ted Templeman explains his dream about the origin of "the smoothest rock [he's] ever heard."
"Runnin' with the Devil"

Van Halen puts a curse on Ted Templeman to force him to produce their hard rock song. Comedian Drew Carey makes a cameo appearance.
"FM"

Steely Dan and the Eagles settle a long-time feud with a hit song.