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Yacht Rock: Album Guide

By David Browne

David Browne

Summer’s here and time is right for dancing … on the deck of a large nautical vessel. During the late Seventies and early Eighties, the radio was dominated by silver-tongued white-dude crooners with names like Rupert and Gerry, emoting over balmy R&B beats, swaying saxes, and dishwasher-clean arrangements. Though it didn’t have a name, the genre — soft rock you could dance to — was dismissed by serious rock fans as fluffy and lame. But thanks to a web series in the mid-2000s, the style — belatedly named “ yacht rock ” — has since spawned a satellite-radio channel, tribute bands, and a Weezer cover of Toto’s “Africa.” Is the modern love of the music ironic or sincere? Hard to say, yet there’s no denying yacht rock is a legit sound with a vibe all its own that produced a surprising amount of enduring music perfectly at home in summer. (John Mayer even tips his own sailor’s hat to the genre on his new “Last Train Home” single, and even the aqua-blue cover of his upcoming Sob Rock album.) The resumption of the Doobie Brothers’ 50th anniversary tour, postponed last year due to COVID-19 but scheduled to restart in August, is the cherry atop the Pina colada.

Boz Scaggs, Silk Degrees (1976)

Before yacht rock was an identifiable genre, Scaggs (no fan of the term, as he told Rolling Stone in 2018) set the standard for what was to come: sharp-dressed white soul, burnished ballads that evoked wine with a quiet dinner, and splashes of Me Decade decadence (the narrator of the pumped “Lido Shuffle” is setting up one more score before leaving the country). Add in the Philly Soul homage “What Can I Say,” the burbling life-on-the-streets homage “Lowdown,” and the lush sway of “Georgia,” and Silk Degrees , internationally or not, set a new high bar for Seventies smoothness.

Steely Dan, Aja (1977)

The sophisticated high-water mark of yacht, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker’s masterpiece is the midway point between jazz and pop, with tricky tempo shifts, interlocking horn and keyboard parts, and pristine solos. Not settling for easygoing period clichés, these love songs, so to speak, are populated by a sleazy movie director (the gorgeous rush of “Peg”), a loser who still hopes to be a jazzman even if the odds are against him (the heart-tugging “Deacon Blues”), and a guy whose nodding-out girlfriend is probably a junkie (“Black Cow”). The most subversive cruise you’ll ever take.

The Doobie Brothers, Minute by Minute (1978)

The Doobies got their start as a biker-y boogie band, but they smoothed things out for Minute by Minute . Highlighted by “What a Fool Believes,” the unstoppable Michael McDonald-Kenny Loggins co-write, the LP piles on romantic turmoil, falsetto harmonies, and plenty of spongy electric piano. But it also proves how much personality and muscle the Doobies could bring to what could be a generic sound. McDonald’s husky, sensitive-guy delivery shrouds the unexpectedly bitter title song (“You will stay just to watch me, darlin’/Wilt away on lies from you”)  and honoring their biker roots, “Don’t Stop to Watch the Wheels” is about taking a lady friend for a ride on your hog.

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Further Listening

Seals & crofts, get closer (1976).

The Dylan-goes-electric moment of yacht, “Get Closer” validated the idea that folkie singer-songwriters could put aside their guitars (and mandolin), tap into their R&B side and cross over in ways they never imagined. In addition to the surprising seductiveness of the title hit, Get Closer has plenty of yacht-rock pleasures. In “Goodbye Old Buddies,” the narrator informs his pals that he can’t hang out anymore now that he’s met “a certain young lady,” but in the next song, “Baby Blue,” another woman is told, “There’s an old friend in me/Tellin’ me I gotta be free.” A good captain follows the tide where it takes him.

Christopher Cross, Christopher Cross  (1979)

Cross’ debut swept the 1981 Grammys for a reason: It’s that rare yacht-rock album that’s graceful, earnest, and utterly lacking in smarm. Songs like the politely seductive “Say You’ll Be Mine” and the forlorn “Never Be the Same” have an elegant pop classicism, and the yacht anthem “Sailing” could be called a powered-down ballad. Fueled by a McDonald cameo expertly parodied on SCTV , the propulsive “Ride Like the Wind” sneaks raw outlaw lyrics (“Lived nine lives/Gunned down ten”) into its breezy groove, perfecting the short-lived gangster-yacht subgenre.

Rupert Holmes, Partners in Crime (1979)

The album that made Holmes a soft-rock star is known for “Escape (The Piña Colada Song),” which sports a made-for-karaoke chorus and a plot twist worthy of a wide-collar O. Henry. But what distinguishes the album is the Steely Dan-level musicianship and Holmes’ ambitious story songs, each sung with Manilow-esque exuberance. The title track equates a hooker and her john to co-workers at a department store, “Lunch Hour” ventures into afternoon-delight territory, and “Answering Machine” finds a conflicted couple trading messages but continually being cut off by those old-school devices.

Steely Dan, Gaucho (1980)

The Dan’s last studio album before a lengthy hiatus doesn’t have the consistency of Aja, but Gaucho cleverly matches their most vacuum-sealed music with their most sordid and pathetic cast of characters. A seedy older guy tries to pick up younger women in “Hey Nineteen,” another loser goes in search of a ménage à trois in “Babylon Sisters,” a coke dealer delivers to a basketball star in “Glamour Profession,” and the narrator of “Time Out of Mind” just wants another heroin high. It’s the dark side of the yacht.

Going Deeper

Michael mcdonald, if that’s what it takes  (1982).

Imagine a Doobie Brothers album entirely comprised of McDonald songs and shorn of pesky guitar solos or Patrick Simmons rockers, and you have a sense of McDonald’s first and best post-Doobs album. If That’s What it Takes builds on the approach he nailed on “What a Fool Believes” but amps up the sullen-R&B side of Mac’s music. His brooding remake of Lieber and Stoller’s “I Keep Forgettin’” is peak McDonald and the title track approaches the propulsion of Christopher Cross’ “Ride Like the Wind.” With his sad-sack intensity, McDonald sounds like guy at a seaside resort chewing over his mistakes and regrets – with, naturally, the aid of an electric piano.

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Kenny Loggins, Keep the Fire (1979)

Loggins’ journey from granola folk rocker to pleasure-boat captain embodies the way rock grew more polished as the Seventies wore on. Anchored by the percolating-coffeemaker rhythms and modestly aggro delivery of “This Is It,” another McDonald collaboration, Keep the Fire sets Loggins’ feathery voice to smooth-jazz saxes and R&B beats, and Michael Jackson harmonies beef up the soul quotient in “Who’s Right, Who’s Wrong.” The secret highlight is “Will It Last,” one of the sneakiest yacht tracks ever, fading to a finish after four minutes, then revving back up with some sweet George Harrison-style slide guitar.

Dr. Hook, Sometimes You Win  (1979)

Earlier in the Seventies, these jokesters established themselves with novelty hits like “The Cover of ‘Rolling Stone,’’ but they soon paddled over to unabashed disco-yacht. Sometimes You Win features three of their oiliest ear worms: “Sexy Eyes,” “When You’re in Love with a Beautiful Woman” and “Better Love Next Time,” all oozing suburban pickup bars and the somewhat desperate dudes who hang out there. The album, alas, does not include “Sharing the Night Together,” recently reborn by way of its sardonic use in last year’s Breaking Bad spinoff El Camino .

Carly Simon, Boys in the Trees  (1978)

As a trailblazing female singer-songwriter, Simon was already a star by the time yacht launched. Boys in the Trees features her beguiling contribution to the genre, “You Belong to Me,” a collaboration with the ubiquitous Michael McDonald. The Doobies cut it first, but Simon’s version adds an air of yearning and hushed desperation that makes it definitive. The album also packs in a yacht-soul cover of James Taylor’s “One Man Woman” and a “lullaby for a wide-eyed guy” called “Tranquillo (Melt My Heart),” all proving that men didn’t have a stranglehold on this style.

Anchors Aweigh

More smooth hits for your next high-seas adventure.

“BREEZIN’”

George Benson, 1976

The guitarist and Jehovah’s Witness made the leap from midlevel jazz act to crossover pop star with a windswept instrumental that conveys the yacht spirit as much as any vocal performance.

“WHATCHA GONNA DO?”

Pablo Cruise, 1976

Carefree bounce from a San Francisco band with the best name ever for a soft-rock act — named, fittingly, after a chill Colorado buddy.

“BAKER STREET”

Gerry Rafferty, 1978

Rafferty brought a deep sense of lonely-walk-by-the-bay melancholy to this epic retelling of a night on the town, in which Raphael Ravenscroft’s immortal sax awakens Rafferty from his morning-after hangover.

“REMINISCING”

Little River Band, 1978

The Aussie soft rockers delivered a slurpy valentine sung in the voice of an old man looking back on his “lifetime plan” with his wife. Innovative twist: flugelhorn solo instead of sax.

“WHENEVER I CALL YOU ‘FRIEND’ ”

Kenny Loggins and Stevie Nicks, 1978

After its ethereal intro, this rare genre duet grows friskier with each verse, with both Loggins and Nicks getting more audibly caught up in the groove — and the idea of “sweet love showing us a heavenly light.”

“LOTTA LOVE”

Nicolette Larson, 1978

Neil Young’s sad-boy shuffle is transformed into a luscious slice of lounge pop by the late Larson. Adding an extra layer of poignancy, she was in a relationship with Young around that time.

“STEAL AWAY”

Robbie Dupree, 1980

Is it real, or is it McDonald? Actually, it’s the best Doobies knockoff — a rinky-dink (but ingratiating) distant cousin to “What a Fool Believes” that almost inspired McDonald to take legal action.

“TAKE IT EASY”

Archie James Cavanaugh, 1980

Cult rarity by the late Alaskan singer-songwriter that crams in everything you’d want in a yacht song: disco-leaning bass, smooth-jazz guitar, sax, and a lyric that lives up to its title even more than the same-titled Eagles song.

“BIGGEST PART OF ME”

Ambrosia, 1980

Ditching the prog-classical leanings of earlier albums, this trio headed straight for the middle of the waterway with this Doobies-lite smash. Bonus points for lyrics that reference a “lazy river.”

“I CAN’T GO FOR THAT (NO CAN DO)”

Daryl Hall and John Oates, 1981

The once unstoppable blue-eyed soul duo were never pure yacht, but the easy-rolling beats and shiny sax in this Number One hit got close. Hall adds sexual tension by never specifying exactly what he can’t go for.

“COOL NIGHT”

Paul Davis, 1981

The Mississippi crooner-songwriter gives a master class on how to heat up a stalled romance: Pick a brisk evening, invite a female acquaintance over, and suggest . . . lighting a fire.

“KEY LARGO”

Bertie Higgins, 1981

Yacht’s very own novelty hit is corny but deserves props for quoting from not one but two Humphrey Bogart films ( Key Largo and Casablanca ).

“AFRICA”

The same year that members of Toto did session work on Michael Jackson’s Thriller, they released the Mount Kilimanjaro of late-yacht hits.

“SOUTHERN CROSS”

Crosby, Stills, and Nash, 1982

The combustible trio’s gusty contribution to the genre has choppy-water rhythms and enough nautical terminology for a sailing manual.

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The Bizarre History Of Yacht Rock Music

Popular music has always been complex. Different musical styles break up into infinite sub-genres — what started off as rock 'n' roll has splintered into dozens of sub-genres, and even the considerably younger musical genre of rap has splintered into several distinct styles. And each of those sub-genres then splinters as musicians innovate and reinvent the form.

None of this is science, though, so it's easy to get lost down rabbit holes when discussing what bands or songs belong in what genre or sub-genre. Yacht rock is a perfect example: None of the artists currently considered to be yacht rockers called themselves that at the time or were even aware that they were carving out a distinct sub-genre of rock music. The whole idea of yacht rock is a modern invention — and yet it perfectly describes a specific type of music that ruled pop culture roughly between 1975 and 1985.

What was yacht rock? It's a soft rock musical style, sometimes called the California sound, exemplified by smoothness and melody — these weren't exactly bangers, but that doesn't mean they were bad. Yacht rock could be very musically complex, incorporating elements of jazz into their compositions. The songs were usually introspective and did not engage with politics or current events at all — they were frictionless. Imagine a wealthy white man sailing on his yacht in 1980, and the music he's listening to in your imagination is what we're talking about. Here's the bizarre history of yacht rock.

The term was coined in 2005

Although the roots of yacht rock arguably go back to the 1960s, the history of yacht rock begins in 2005. That's because prior to that year, the term and concept of yacht rock simply didn't exist.

According to Rolling Stone , it all began on June 26, 2005, when the 12-episode web series "Yacht Rock" was released by Channel 101. As explained by Mental Floss , the series was a lovingly mocking look back at the smooth music of the late 1970s and early 1980s, written and directed by J.D. Ryznar, produced David B. Lyons and Hunter D. Stair, and hosted by Steve Huey, a former editor at AllMusic. MasterClass notes that the series was fictional — it depicted rockers like Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald as a bunch of goofy friends hanging out and composing the smoothest rock music possible.

Ryznar and company were making gentle fun of those soft rock musicians, but the concept of yacht rock was so obviously appropriate it became viral. They defined it as perfectly produced, with a high level of musicianship and harmonic sophistication (in fact, far from being bad music, many yacht rock songs have been sampled numerous times by modern artists ), and imbued with the vibe and sound of 1970s Los Angeles. Although many yacht rock songs do have nautical references, it's not necessary to be considered yacht rock. 

The roots of yacht rock go back to the 1960s

Although not all yacht rock songs reference the ocean, yachts, or the beach, the distant roots of the sound and the vibe go back to 1961. That's the year The Beach Boys was formed. As noted by Jacobin Magazine , the cheerful fun in the sun beach aesthetic of The Beach Boys' sound provides the fundamental template for yacht rock's sound. What elevated The Beach Boys was the songwriting craft of Brian Wilson — without his subtle genius, all that was left was the perfect production standards and sunny vibe. As noted by Warm 106.9 , the band's classic song "Sloop John B" is often cited as a clear influence on the sailing-obsessed soft rock that hit the charts a decade later.

In fact, as noted by MeTV , The Beach Boys' 1973 song "Sail On, Sailor" is considered a proto-yacht rock song. Because it was co-written by troubled musical genius Brian Wilson, the song isn't really yacht rock, but it holds many of the seeds, from its perfect production to the jazzy complexity hidden under mellow good-time vibes. And everything came full circle in 1988 when The Beach Boys released their Number One hit, "Kokomo," a song Stereogum describes as "extremely boring and self-satisfied yacht-rock." Singer Mark McGrath cites "Kokomo" as probably the last legitimate yacht rock song to ever be released.

Two foundational groups form

It wasn't just the California vibe and sailing imagery that yacht rock took from The Beach Boys. As noted by The Guardian , in the mid-1960s, a man named Daryl Dragon began playing keyboards with The Beach Boys as a backup musician. Dragon had a habit of wearing a ship captain's hat as part of his on-stage costume, underscoring the nautical theme and earning him the nickname "The Captain." According to Jacobin Magazine , Toni Tennille also toured with The Beach Boys. Dragon and Tennille married and, a few years later, formed the group Captain & Tennille, whose Grammy-winning song "Love Will Keep Us Together" is considered one of the earliest yacht rock hits.

Meanwhile, another foundational yacht rock band formed in 1972: Steely Dan . According to  The Seattle Times , part of what defines yacht rock is the people involved. Members of The Doobie Brothers  – especially Michael McDonald, Toto , and Steely Dan tend to be involved in some capacity (songwriting, background vocals, or performing) on most yacht rock songs. This was the inspiration for the original comedy sketch that birthed the whole concept . Steely Dan came to define the perfect production, jazzy musicality, and smooth melody lines of the genre. And as noted by Mental Floss , Steely Dan shared session musicians with many of their musical genre peers, explaining the somewhat similar sound produced by these different groups.

Loggins and Messina broke up in 1976

Many of the pieces that would form yacht rock existed long before the genre coalesced into a recognizable sound and vibe. Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina formed Loggins & Messina in 1971, and according to The Chicago Tribune , their 1975 album "Full Sail" is part of yacht rock legend. The album's cover art depicts Loggins and Messina on an actual yacht, looking pretty relaxed and very California. The album was held up at the very beginning of the "Yacht Rock" series to demonstrate what the creators of the series were talking about.

Loggins & Messina are crucial to the yacht rock story because they broke up. As noted by The Seattle Times , one of the features of yacht rock is the loose collaborations between a small group of musicians — and Kenny Loggins is a key member of that group. Loggins wrote many yacht rock classics recorded and performed by other artists, and Loggins himself often released his own versions of songs he gave to other artists, increasing his influence over the genre.

Loggins, now a free agent, worked with Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers several times as the core yacht rock musicians collaborated freely, ensuring a certain uniformity of sound and style that resulted in a recognizable sub-genre.

Steely Dan releases Aja

Mention the band Steely Dan in conjunction with the concept of yacht rock, and many people will have a passionate reaction . Yacht rock is often erroneously believed to be bad music and is frequently conflated with soft rock. But the opposite is true: According to MasterClass , part of what defines yacht rock is the harmonic sophistication and jazz influences of the music. In other words, yacht rock was often composed and recorded at a very high level of musical ability.

That's where Steely Dan comes in. Famed for their complex arrangements and overt jazz influences, the band produced smooth, melodic songs that perfectly captured the late-1970s California vibe. Rolling Stone  considered the band's sixth studio album, "Aja," a pinnacle for the musical genre. The songs are intricate, the production is pristine, and the mood is mellow. Decider  was even more enthusiastic in their praise, establishing the album as essential listening to any fan of yacht rock and notes that by the time Steely Dan (Walter Becker and Donald Fagan) recorded "Aja" they weren't really a band — they were two guys with a lot of session musicians, musicians who often played on other yacht rock bands' recordings, resulting in a similar sound on many of these records. And Michael McDonald of The Doobie Brothers even sings backup on some songs.

U ltimate Classic Rock ranks one of the songs from the "Aja,"  "Peg," as the second-best yacht rock song of all time and describes "Aja" as having "impeccable airtightness that falls somewhere between soft pop and jazz."

The Doobie Brothers release What a Fool Believes

Movements in music and the evolution of sub-genres usually have deep roots that go back invisibly into the past. But they often also have a key moment that clearly marks their beginning. As noted by Mental Floss , for yacht rock, that beginning comes in 1978 with the release of "What a Fool Believes" by The Doobie Brothers.

The song was written by Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald. Not only did this song kick off the habit of collaboration between the artists that came to define this genre —  IGN pegs it as number three on its list of the best yacht rock songs, describing the song as quirky and mellow, while according to  Smooth Radio , the song is the ultimate example of what makes a yacht rock song. The song was a massive hit for The Doobie Brothers, one of the few non-disco hits that year.

The song is considered so "yachty," in fact, that according to Houstonia Magazine , the "Yacht Rock" series that defined the musical genre kicks off with an episode spoofing the writing of the song. The song is, indeed, kind of the platonic ideal of a yacht rock song: It's musically complex, smooth as heck, and lyrically focused on a lovelorn fool, a frequent topic of yacht rock songs. And, of course, it involves Loggins and McDonald.

Rupert Holmes releases Escape (The Piña Colada Song)

M ark McGrath , the lead singer of Sugar Ray, calls "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" by Rupert Holmes the ultimate yacht rock song and an inspiration for all future yacht rock songs to follow. The song's connection to the genre is so clear that ABC News reports it was chosen for inclusion in the "NOW That's What I Call Yacht Rock" compilation album.

It's easy to see why the song (and the album containing it, 1979's "Partners in Crime") is what a computer algorithm would create if tasked with composing a yacht rock song. As noted by Rolling Stone , Holmes displays the musicianship of Steely Dan while singing with the exuberance of Barry Manilow. That combination of mellow, smooth delivery and complex song arrangements, and a distinctly California vibe make this an iconic example of yacht rock. As MasterClass notes, the song's clean production links it to other yacht rock songs because it eliminates mistakes or rough spots and offers the illusion of smooth perfection.

The song is also one of the most enduring and well-known yacht rock songs of all time. If you're trying to explain yacht rock to someone, this is the song to use as an example.

The high point of yacht rock: Christopher Cross releases Sailing

The unquestioned high point of yacht rock came in 1980. Songs from bands associated with this genre of music had been big hits before, but that year a yacht rock album dominated pop culture, ensuring that this style of music would be remembered and defined decades later. We're talking about, of course,  "Sailing" by Christopher Cross .

U ltimate Classic Rock reports the song was a smash hit, earning Cross several Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Arrangement. Its yacht rock cred begins with its title and themes — it's literally about sailing, presumably on some sort of yacht (Cross doesn't seem the type to sail on anything less). The song is smooth as glass but extremely complex, combining strings, open-tuned arpeggios, and what Rolling Stone calls "an elegant pop classicism." And as Jacobin Magazine notes, the song features backing vocals from none other than the artistic glue that holds the genre together, Michael McDonald.

"Sailing," and the album it hailed from, remain the most successful examples of yacht rock, a pinnacle of sales and awards both Cross and the genre never managed again. No one knew they were part of the yacht rock movement at the time or that it was all (slowly) downhill from there.

Toto ties it all together

One of the characteristics of yacht rock, as noted by Mental Floss , is the extremely high level of musicianship on the records — largely due to the use of professional session musicians that were shared by yacht rock groups like Steely Dan. In the late 1970s, some of those session musicians decided to form their own band, and Toto was born. This was a key moment: As noted by the man who helped define yacht rock, J.D. Ryznar, one way to identify a yacht rock song is to ask if members of Toto played on it.

In 1982, Toto released "Toto IV," which Smooth Radio noted contains two all-time yacht rock classics in "Rosanna" and "Africa." Vinyl Me, Please calls "Toto IV" a perfect introduction to the musical genre, which makes sense since the members of Toto were involved in so many recordings we now consider to be yacht rock.

But Toto was involved in another project in 1982, one that proves how the yacht rock sound traveled through session musicians: Michael Jackson's "Thriller." As reported by NOW Magazine , Toto was heavily involved with the album, and Toto keyboardist Steve Porcaro even contributed a classic yacht rock track that became the fifth Top Ten song from the album (per Rolling Stone ): "Human Nature." Porcaro originally wrote it for Toto but accidentally included it on a tape of demos for producer Quincy Jones — who immediately loved it.

Kokomo: Yacht rock's last gasp

The heyday of this musical genre was between roughly 1975 and 1985. By the late 1980s, musical tastes had shifted, and most yacht rockers found themselves fading off the charts. But there was one final gasp of the genre in 1988 when the legendary band The Beach Boys released their No.1 hit  on the Billboard Hot 100, "Kokomo." 

Despite its success, the song is widely hated ( Mel Magazine shared their extreme dislike for the song and even Mike Love), but it's definitely a yacht rock song. According to Sugar Ray lead singer Mark McGrath , it's likely the last yacht rock song to be released. By the time The Beach Boys began working on it, however, they weren't too concerned about quality — as noted by EW.com , the band hadn't been on the charts in years, didn't have a record contract, and had been reduced to playing Oldies tours to pay the bills. The band accepted the invitation to contribute a song to the soundtrack of the Tom Cruise and Elisabeth Shue romantic comedy,  "Cocktail"  largely for the money and actually left the composition of the song to John Phillips, Scott McKenzie, and Terry Melcher, giving the song the traditional session-player touch of all yacht rock songs.

The song's yacht rock bona-fides are pretty clear — in fact, as Stereogum notes,  the original demo makes its yacht rock roots very, very clear. But even The Beach Boys' version with its earworm chorus retains the smooth, slickly-produced sound that marks all yacht rock tunes.

The resurgence of yacht rock

After being established as a distinct genre of music by the " Yacht Rock" web series in 2005 , yacht rock enjoyed a period of viral fame. Everyone who came across the term quickly realized it actually made sense to regard these songs as a specific style of soft rock, and there was a lot of buzz around the topic. But all buzz fades, and after a few years, yacht rock was no longer an exciting new idea — it was an accepted truth.

But in recent years, the genre has made a comeback, infiltrating pop culture for the second time. A seminal moment in this comeback was the release of "The Blue Jean Committee" in 2018. As noted by 100.9 The Eagle , "The Blue Jean Committee" is a "mockumentary" that has actually served as an introduction to yacht rock for a whole new generation of people. Esquire reports that the show (and the "fake yacht rock band" at its center) was created by comedians Fred Armisen and Bill Hader for their TV series "Documentary Now!" But they went as far as actually writing songs for the band — and even made a music video showcasing the very yacht rocky song "Catalina Breeze," eventually releasing an entire EP, according to Wired . Suddenly, yacht rock was on everyone's mind again, more than 15 years after the initial phenomenon and more than 40 years since the actual musical era ended.

Yacht rock is modern again

As noted by The Guardian , yacht rock is experiencing a full-on reappraisal. Long considered to be trite and boring, emblematic of the insincere late 1970s and early 1980s era, a new appreciation for the very things that make these songs yacht rock is developing. One key reason is that clear production noted by MasterClass  — yacht rock songs sound timeless and still slap today because they weren't thrown together. The bands spent a lot of time and money and care to make every song sound amazing, which has helped them pass the test of time. And recent years have seen bands like The Yacht Rock Revue achieve surprising success in the genre, as noted by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution .

As InsideHook notes, the rise of Internet culture has helped people rediscover and appreciate yacht rock. Younger generations have grown up in a world where they can listen to anything, any time they want. The result has been a softening of genre edges, and the adoption of old, outdated musical trends. There's a whole new group of soft rock bands that aren't covering yacht rock songs; they're writing new ones.

And as reported by MTV , yacht rock original gangsters are also releasing new music, proving that the genre has fresh legs. According to NPR , in 2017, Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald collaborated with bassist and singer Thundercat on the song "Show You the Way."  Suffice it to say, this ship (or should we say yacht?) is still sailing. 

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The 20 greatest yacht rock songs ever, ranked

27 July 2022, 17:50

By Tom Eames

We can picture it now: lounging on a swish boat as it bobs along the water, sipping cocktails and improving our tan. Oh, and it's the 1980s.

There's only one style of music that goes with this image: Yacht rock.

What is Yacht Rock?

Also known as the West Coast Sound or adult-oriented rock, it's a style of soft rock from between the late 1970s and early 1980s that featured elements of smooth soul, smooth jazz, R&B, funk, rock and disco.

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Although its name has been used in a negative way, to us it's an amazing genre that makes us feel like we're in an episode of Miami Vice wearing shoulder pads and massive sunglasses.

Here are the very best songs that could be placed in this genre:

Player - 'Baby Come Back'

Player - Baby Come Back

Not the reggae classic of the same name, this 1977 track was Player's biggest hit.

After Player disbanded, singer Peter Beckett joined Australia's Little River Band, and he also wrote 'Twist of Fate' for Olivia Newton-John and 'After All This Time' for Kenny Rogers.

Steely Dan - 'FM'

It's tough just choosing one Steely Dan song for this list, but we've gone for this banger.

Used as the theme tune for the 1978 movie of the same name, the song is jazz-rock track, though its lyrics took a disapproving look at the genre as a whole, which was in total contrast to the film's celebration of it. Still, sounds great guys!

Bobby Goldsboro - 'Summer (The First Time)'

Bobby Goldsboro - Summer (The First Time)

A bit of a questionable subject matter, this ballad was about a 17-year-old boy’s first sexual experience with a 31-year-old woman at the beach.

But using a repeating piano riff, 12-string guitar, and an orchestral string arrangement, this song just screams yacht rock and all that is great about it.

Kenny Loggins - 'Heart to Heart'

Kenny Loggins - Heart To Heart (Official Music Video)

If Michael McDonald is the king of yacht rock, then Kenny Loggins is his trusted advisor and heir to the throne.

This track was co-written with Michael, and also features him on backing vocals. The song is about how most relationships do not stand the test of time, yet some are able to do so.

Airplay - 'Nothing You Can Do About It'

Nothin' You Can Do About It

You might not remember US band Airplay, but they did have their moment on the yacht.

Consisting of David Foster (who also co-wrote the Kenny Loggins song above), Jay Graydon and the brilliantly-named Tommy Funderburk, this tune was a cover of a Manhattan Transfer song, and was a minor hit in 1981.

Boz Scaggs - 'Lowdown'

Boz Scaggs - Lowdown (Official Audio)

We've moved slightly into smooth jazz territory with this track, which is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

The song was co-written by David Paich, who would go on to form Toto along with the song's keyboardist David Paich, session bassist David Hungate, and drummer Jeff Porcaro.

Steve Winwood - 'Valerie'

Steve Winwood - Valerie (Official Video)

This song is probably as far as you can get into pop rock without totally leaving the yacht rock dock.

Legendary singer-songwriter Winwood recorded this gong about a man reminiscing about a lost love he hopes to find again someday.

Eric Prydz later sampled it in 2004 for the house number one track ‘Call on Me’, and presented it to Winwood, who was so impressed he re-recorded the vocals to better fit the track.

Toto - 'Rosanna'

Toto - Rosanna (Official HD Video)

We almost picked 'Africa' , but we reckon this tune just about pips it in the yacht rock game.

Written by David Paich, he has said that the song is based on numerous girls he had known.

As a joke, the band members initially played along with the common assumption that the song was based on actress Rosanna Arquette, who was dating Toto keyboard player Steve Porcaro at the time and coincidentally had the same name.

Chicago - 'Hard to Say I'm Sorry'

Chicago - Hard To Say I'm Sorry (Official Music Video)

Chicago began moving away from their horn-driven soft rock sound with their early 1980s output, including this synthesizer-filled power ballad.

• The 10 greatest Chicago songs, ranked

The album version segued into a more traditional Chicago upbeat track titled ‘Get Away’, but most radio stations at the time opted to fade out the song before it kicked in. Three members of Toto played on the track. Those guys are yacht rock kings!

Michael Jackson - 'Human Nature'

Michael Jackson - Human Nature (Audio)

A few non-rock artists almost made this list ( George Michael 's 'Careless Whisper' and Spandau Ballet 's 'True' are almost examples, but not quite), yet a big chunk of Thriller heavily relied on the yacht rock sound.

Michael Jackson proved just how popular the genre could get with several songs on the album, but 'Human Nature' is the finest example.

The Doobie Brothers - 'What a Fool Believes'

The Doobie Brothers - What A Fool Believes (Official Music Video)

Possibly THE ultimate yacht rock song on the rock end of the spectrum, and it's that man Michael McDonald.

Written by McDonald and Kenny Loggins, this was one of the few non-disco hits in America in the first eight months of 1979.

The song tells the story of a man who is reunited with an old love interest and attempts to rekindle a romantic relationship with her before discovering that one never really existed.

Michael Jackson once claimed he contributed at least one backing track to the original recording, but was not credited for having done so. This was later denied by the band.

Christopher Cross - 'Sailing'

Christopher Cross - Sailing (Official Audio)

We're not putting this in here just because it's called 'Sailing', it's also one of the ultimate examples of the genre.

Christopher Cross reached number one in the US in 1980, and VH1 later named it the most "softsational soft rock" song of all time.

Don Henley - 'The Boys of Summer'

The Boys Of Summer DON HENLEY(1984) OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO

Mike Campbell wrote the music to this track while working on Tom Petty’s Southern Accents album, but later gave it to Eagles singer Don Henley, who wrote the lyrics.

The song is about the passing of youth and entering middle age, and of a past relationship. It was covered twice in the early 2000s: as a trance track by DJ Sammy in 2002, and as a pop punk hit by The Ataris in 2003.

England Dan and John Cord Foley - 'I'd Really Love to See You Tonight'

England Dan & John Ford Coley - I'd Really Love To See You Tonight.avi

A big hit for this duo in 1976, it showcases the very best of the sock rock/AOR/yacht rock sound that the 1970s could offer.

Dan Seals is the younger brother of Jim Seals of Seals and Crofts fame. Which leads to...

Seals & Crofts - 'Summer Breeze'

Summer Breeze - Seals & Croft #1 Hit(1972)

Before The Isley Brothers recorded a slick cover, 'Summer Breeze' was an irresistible folk pop song by Seals & Crofts.

While mostly a folk song, its summer vibes and gorgeous melody make for a perfect yacht rock number.

Christopher Cross - 'Ride Like the Wind'

Ride Like The Wind Promo Video 1980 Christopher Cross

If Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins are in charge of the yacht rock ship, then Christopher Cross has to be captain, right? Cabin boy? Something anyway.

The singer was arguably the biggest success story of the relatively short-lived yacht rock era, and this one still sounds incredible.

Eagles - 'I Can't Tell You Why'

The eagles - I can't tell you why (AUDIO VINYL)

Many Eagles tunes could be classed as yacht rock, but we reckon their finest example comes from this track from their The Long Run album in 1979.

Don Henley described the song as "straight Al Green", and that Glenn Frey, an R&B fan, was responsible for the R&B feel of the song. Frey said to co-writer Timothy B Schmit: "You could sing like Smokey Robinson . Let’s not do a Richie Furay, Poco-sounding song. Let’s do an R&B song."

Gerry Rafferty - 'Baker Street'

Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street (Official Video)

Gerry Rafferty probably didn't realise he was creating one of the greatest yacht rock songs of all time when he wrote this, but boy did he.

• The Story of... 'Baker Street'

With the right blend of rock and pop and the use of the iconic saxophone solo, you can't not call this yacht rock at its finest.

Michael McDonald - 'Sweet Freedom'

Michael McDonald - Sweet Freedom (1986)

If you wanted to name the king of yacht rock, you'd have to pick Michael McDonald . He could sing the phone book and it would sound silky smooth.

Possibly his greatest solo tune, it was used in the movie  Running Scared , and its music video featured actors Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines.

Hall & Oates - 'I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)'

Daryl Hall & John Oates - I Can't Go For That (No Can Do) (Official Video)

This duo knew how to make catchy hit after catchy hit. This R&B-tinged pop tune was co-written with Sara Allen (also the influence for their song 'Sara Smile').

• Hall and Oates' 10 best songs, ranked

John Oates has said that the song is actually about the music business. "That song is really about not being pushed around by big labels, managers, and agents and being told what to do, and being true to yourself creatively."

Not only was the song sampled in De La Soul's 'Say No Go' and Simply Red 's 'Home', but Michael Jackson also admitted that he lifted the bass line for 'Billie Jean'!

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Top 50 Yacht Rock Songs

Yacht rock was one of the most commercially successful genres to emerge from the '70s and yet has managed to evade concise definition since its inception. For many listeners, it boils down to a feeling or mood that cannot be found in other kinds of music: Simply put, you know it when you hear it.

Some agreed-upon elements are crucial to yacht rock. One is its fluidity, with more emphasis on a catchy, easy-feeling melody than on beat or rhythm. Another is a generally lighthearted attitude in the lyrics. Think Seals & Crofts ' "Summer Breeze," Christopher Cross ' "Ride Like the Wind" or Bill Withers ' "Just the Two of Us." Yes, as its label suggests, music that would fit perfectly being played from the deck of a luxurious boat on the high seas.

But even these roughly outlined "rules" can be flouted and still considered yacht rock. Plenty of bands that are typically deemed "nyacht" rock have made their attempts at the genre: Crosby, Stills & Nash got a bit nautical with "Southern Cross," leading with their famed tightly knit harmonies, and Fleetwood Mac also entered yacht rock territory with "Dreams" – which, although lyrically dour, offers a sense of melody in line with yacht rock.

Given its undefined parameters, the genre has become one of music's most expansive corners. From No. 1 hits to deeper-cut gems, we've compiled a list of 50 Top Yacht Rock Songs to set sail to below.

50. "Thunder Island," Jay Ferguson (1978)

Younger generations might be more apt to recognize Jay Ferguson from his score for NBC's The Office , where he also portrayed the guitarist in Kevin Malone's band Scrantonicity. But Ferguson's musical roots go back to the '60s band Spirit; he was also in a group with one of the future members of Firefall, signaling a '70s-era shift toward yacht rock and "Thunder Island." The once-ubiquitous single began its steady ascent in October 1977 before reaching the Top 10 in April of the following year. Producer Bill Szymczyk helped it get there by bringing in his buddy Joe Walsh for a soaring turn on the slide. The best showing Ferguson had after this, however, was the quickly forgotten 1979 Top 40 hit "Shakedown Cruise." (Nick DeRiso)

49. "Southern Cross," Crosby, Stills & Nash (1982)

CSN's "Southern Cross" was an example of a more literal interpretation of yacht rock, one in which leftover material was revitalized by Stephen Stills . He sped up the tempo of a song titled " Seven League Boots " originally penned by brothers Rick and Michael Curtis, then laid in new lyrics about, yes, an actual boat ride. "I rewrote a new set of words and added a different chorus, a story about a long boat trip I took after my divorce," Stills said in the liner notes  to 1991's CSN box. "It's about using the power of the universe to heal your wounds." The music video for the song, which went into heavy rotation on MTV, also prominently displayed the band members aboard a large vessel. (Allison Rapp)

48. "Jackie Blue," the Ozark Mountain Daredevils (1974)

Drummer Larry Lee only had a rough idea of what he wanted to do with "Jackie Blue," originally naming it after a bartending dope pusher. For a long time, the Ozark Mountain Daredevils' best-known single remained an instrumental with the place-keeper lyric, " Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh Jackie Blue. He was dada, and dada doo. He did this, he did that ... ." Producer Glyn Johns, who loved the track, made a key suggestion – and everything finally snapped into place: "No, no, no, mate," Johns told them. "Jackie Blue has to be a girl." They "knocked some new lyrics out in about 30 minutes," Lee said in It Shined: The Saga of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils . "[From] some drugged-out guy, we changed Jackie into a reclusive girl." She'd go all the way to No. 3. (DeRiso)

47. "Sailing," Christopher Cross (1979)

You’d be hard-pressed to find a more quintessential yacht rock song than “Sailing.” The second single (and first chart-topper) off Christopher Cross’ 1979 self-titled debut offers an intoxicating combination of dreamy strings, singsong vocals and shimmering, open-tuned guitar arpeggios that pay deference to Cross’ songwriting idol, Joni Mitchell . “These tunings, like Joni used to say, they get you in this sort of trance,” Cross told Songfacts in 2013. “The chorus just sort of came out. … So I got up and wandered around the apartment just thinking, ‘Wow, that's pretty fuckin' great.’” Grammy voters agreed: “Sailing” won Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Arrangement at the 1981 awards. (Bryan Rolli)

46. "Just the Two of Us," Bill Withers and Grover Washington Jr. (1980)

A collaboration between singer Bill Withers and saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. resulted in the sleek "Just the Two of Us." When first approached with the song, Withers insisted on reworking the lyrics. "I'm a little snobbish about words," he said in 2004 . "I said, 'Yeah, if you'll let me go in and try to dress these words up a little bit.' Everybody that knows me is kind of used to me that way. I probably threw in the stuff like the crystal raindrops. The 'Just the Two of Us' thing was already written. It was trying to put a tuxedo on it." The track was completed with some peppy backing vocals and a subtle slap bass part. (Rapp)

45. "Sara Smile," Daryl Hall & John Oates (1975)

It doesn't get much smoother than "Sara Smile," Daryl Hall & John Oates ' first Top 10 hit in the U.S. The song was written for Sara Allen, Hall's longtime girlfriend, whom he had met when she was working as a flight attendant. His lead vocal, which was recorded live, is clear as a bell on top of a velvety bass line and polished backing vocals that nodded to the group's R&B influences. “It was a song that came completely out of my heart," Hall said in 2018 . "It was a postcard. It’s short and sweet and to the point." Hall and Allen stayed together for almost 30 years before breaking up in 2001. (Rapp)

44. "Rosanna," Toto (1982)

One of the most identifiable hits of 1982 was written by Toto co-founder David Paich – but wasn't about Rosanna Arquette, as some people have claimed, even though keyboardist Steve Porcaro was dating the actress at the time. The backbeat laid down by drummer Jeff Porcaro – a "half-time shuffle" similar to what John Bonham played on " Fool in the Rain " – propels the track, while vocal harmonies and emphatic brass sections add further layers. The result is an infectious and uplifting groove – yacht rock at its finest. (Corey Irwin)

43. "Diamond Girl," Seals & Crofts (1973)

Seals & Crofts were soft-rock stylists with imagination, dolling up their saccharine melodies with enough musical intrigue to survive beyond the seemingly obvious shelf life. Granted, the lyrics to “Diamond Girl,” one of the duo’s three No. 6 hits, are as sterile as a surgery-operating room, built on pseudo-romantic nothing-isms ( “Now that I’ve found you, it’s around you that I am” — what a perfectly natural phrase!). But boy, oh boy does that groove sound luxurious beaming out of a hi-fi system, with every nuance — those stacked backing vocals, that snapping piano — presented in full analog glory. (Ryan Reed)

42. "What You Won't Do for Love," Bobby Caldwell (1978)

Smooth. From the opening horn riffs and the soulful keyboard to the funk bass and the velvety vocals of Bobby Caldwell, everything about “What You Won’t Do for Love” is smooth. Released in September 1978, the track peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went on to become the biggest hit of Caldwell’s career. It was later given a second life after being sampled for rapper 2Pac's posthumously released 1998 hit single “Do for Love.” (Irwin)

41. "We Just Disagree," Dave Mason (1977)

Dave Mason's ace in the hole on the No. 12 smash "We Just Disagree" was Jim Krueger, who composed the track, shared the harmony vocal and played that lovely guitar figure. "It was a song that when he sang it to me, it was like, 'Yeah, that's the song,'" Mason told Greg Prato in 2014. "Just him and a guitar, which is usually how I judge whether I'm going to do something. If it holds up like that, I'll put the rest of the icing on it." Unfortunately, the multitalented Krueger died of pancreatic cancer at age 43. By then, Mason had disappeared from the top of the charts, never getting higher than No. 39 again. (DeRiso)

40. "Crazy Love," Poco (1978)

Rusty Young was paneling a wall when inspiration struck. He'd long toiled in the shadow of Stephen Stills , Richie Furay and Neil Young , serving in an instrumentalist role with Buffalo Springfield and then Poco . "Crazy Love" was his breakout moment, and he knew it. Rusty Young presented the song before he'd even finished the lyric, but his Poco bandmates loved the way the stopgap words harmonized. "I told the others, 'Don't worry about the ' ooh, ooh, ahhhh haaa ' part. I can find words for that," Young told the St. Louis Dispatch in 2013. "And they said, 'Don't do that. That's the way it's supposed to be.'" It was: Young's first big vocal became his group's only Top 20 hit. (DeRiso)

39. "Suspicions," Eddie Rabbitt (1979)

Eddie Rabbitt 's move from country to crossover stardom was hurtled along by "Suspicions," as a song about a cuckold's worry rose to the Top 20 on both the pop and adult-contemporary charts. Behind the scenes, there was an even clearer connection to yacht rock: Co-writer Even Stevens said Toto's David Hungate played bass on the date. As important as it was for his career, Rabbitt later admitted that he scratched out "Suspicions" in a matter of minutes, while on a lunch break in the studio on the last day of recording his fifth album at Wally Heider's Los Angeles studio. "Sometimes," Rabbitt told the Associated Press in 1985, "the words just fall out of my mouth." (DeRiso)

38. "Moonlight Feels Right," Starbuck (1976)

No sound in rock history is more yacht friendly than Bruce Blackman’s laugh: hilarious, arbitrary, smug, speckled with vocal fry, arriving just before each chorus of Starbuck’s signature tune. Why is this human being laughing? Shrug. Guess the glow of night will do that to you. Then again, this is one of the more strange hits of the '70s — soft-pop hooks frolicking among waves of marimba and synthesizers that could have been plucked from a classic prog epic. “ The eastern moon looks ready for a wet kiss ,” Blackman croons, “ to make the tide rise again .” It’s a lunar make-out session, baby. (Reed)

37. "Same Old Lang Syne," Dan Fogelberg (1981)

“Same Old Lang Syne” is a masterclass in economic storytelling, and its tragedy is in the things both protagonists leave unsaid. Dan Fogelberg weaves a devastating tale of two former lovers who run into each other at a grocery store on Christmas Eve and spend the rest of the night catching up and reminiscing. Their circumstances have changed — he’s a disillusioned professional musician, she’s stuck in an unhappy marriage — but their love for each other is still palpable if only they could overcome their fears and say it out loud. They don’t, of course, and when Fogelberg bids his high-school flame adieu, he’s left with only his bittersweet memories and gnawing sense of unfulfillment to keep him warm on that snowy (and later rainy) December night. (Rolli)

36. "Eye in the Sky," the Alan Parsons Project (1982)

Few songs strike a chord with both prog nerds and soft-rock enthusiasts, but the Alan Parsons Project's “Eye in the Sky” belongs to that exclusive club. The arrangement is all smooth contours and pillowy textures: By the time Eric Woolfson reaches the chorus, shyly emoting about romantic deception over a bed of Wurlitzer keys and palm-muted riffs, the effect is like falling slow motion down a waterfall onto a memory foam mattress. But there’s artfulness here, too, from Ian Bairnson’s seductive guitar solo to the titular phrase conjuring some kind of god-like omniscience. (Reed)

35. "Somebody's Baby," Jackson Browne (1982)

Jackson Browne 's highest-charting single, and his last Top 10 hit, was originally tucked away on the soundtrack for the 1982 teen comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High . That placed Browne, one of the most earnest of singer-songwriters, firmly out of his element. "It was not typical of what Jackson writes at all, that song," co-composer Danny Kortchmar told Songfacts in 2013. "But because it was for this movie, he changed his general approach and came up with this fantastic song." Still unsure of how it would fit in, Browne refused to place "Somebody's Baby" on his next proper album – something he'd later come to regret . Lawyers in Love broke a string of consecutive multiplatinum releases dating back to 1976. (DeRiso)

34. "Still the One," Orleans (1976)

Part of yacht rock’s charm is being many things but only to a small degree. Songs can be jazzy, but not experimental. Brass sections are great but don’t get too funky. And the songs should rock, but not rock . In that mold comes Orleans’ 1976 hit “Still the One.” On top of a chugging groove, frontman John Hall sings about a romance that continues to stand the test of time. This love isn’t the white-hot flame that leaves passionate lovers burned – more like a soft, medium-level heat that keeps things comfortably warm. The tune is inoffensive, catchy and fun, aka yacht-rock gold. (Irwin)

33. "New Frontier," Donald Fagen (1982)

In which an awkward young man attempts to spark a Cold War-era fling — then, hopefully, a longer, post-apocalyptic relationship — via bomb shelter bunker, chatting up a “big blond” with starlet looks and a soft spot for Dave Brubeck. Few songwriters could pull off a lyrical concept so specific, and almost no one but Donald Fagen could render it catchy. “New Frontier,” a signature solo cut from the Steely Dan maestro, builds the sleek jazz-funk of Gaucho into a more digital-sounding landscape, with Fagen stacking precise vocal harmonies over synth buzz and bent-note guitar leads. (Reed)

32. "Sail On, Sailor," the Beach Boys (1973)

The Beach Boys were reworking a new album when Van Dyke Parks handed them this updated version of an unfinished Brian Wilson song. All that was left was to hand the mic over to Blondie Chaplin for his greatest-ever Beach Boys moment. They released "Sail On, Sailor" twice, however, and this yearning groover somehow barely cracked the Top 50. Chaplin was soon out of the band, too. It's a shame. "Sail On, Sailor" remains the best example of how the Beach Boys' elemental style might have kept growing. Instead, Chaplin went on to collaborate with the Band , Gene Clark of the  Byrds  and the Rolling Stones – while the Beach Boys settled into a lengthy tenure as a jukebox band. (DeRiso)

31. "Time Passages," Al Stewart (1978)

Al Stewart followed up the first hit single of his decade-long career – 1976's "Year of the Cat" – with a more streamlined take two years later. "Time Passages" bears a similar structure to the earlier track, including a Phil Kenzie sax solo and production by Alan Parsons. While both songs' respective album and single versions coincidentally run the same time, the 1978 hit's narrative wasn't as convoluted and fit more squarely into pop radio playlists. "Time Passages" became Stewart's highest-charting single, reaching No. 7 – while "Year of the Cat" had stalled at No. 8. (Michael Gallucci)

30. "I Go Crazy," Paul Davis (1977)

Paul Davis looked like he belonged in the Allman Brothers Band , but his soft, soulful voice took him in a different direction. The slow-burning nature of his breakthrough single "I Go Crazy" was reflected in its chart performance: For years the song held the record for the most weeks spent on the chart, peaking at No. 7 during its 40-week run. Davis, who died in 2008, took five more songs into the Top 40 after 1977, but "I Go Crazy" is his masterpiece – a wistful and melancholic look back at lost love backed by spare, brokenhearted verses. (Gallucci)

29. "Biggest Part of Me," Ambrosia (1980)

Songwriter David Pack taped the original demo of this song on a reel-to-reel when everyone else was running late, finishing just in time: "I was waiting for my family to get in the car so I could go to a Fourth of July celebration in Malibu," he told the Tennessean in 2014. "I turned off my machine [and] heard the car horn honking for me." Still, Pack was worried that the hastily written first verse – which rhymed " arisin ,'" " horizon " and " realizin '" – might come off a little corny. So he followed the time-honored yacht-rock tradition of calling in Michael McDonald to sing heartfelt background vocals. Result: a Top 5 hit on both the pop and adult-contemporary charts. (DeRiso)

28. "Africa," Toto (1982)

Remove the cover versions, the nostalgia sheen and its overuse in TV and films, and you’re left with what makes “Africa” great: one of the best earworm choruses in music history. Never mind that the band is made up of white guys from Los Angeles who'd never visited the titular continent. Verses about Mt. Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti paint a picture so vivid that listeners are swept away. From the soaring vocals to the stirring synth line, every element of the song works perfectly. There’s a reason generations of music fans continue to proudly bless the rains. (Irwin)

27. "Hello It's Me," Todd Rundgren (1972)

“Hello It’s Me” is the first song Todd Rundgren ever wrote, recorded by his band Nazz and released in 1968. He quickened the tempo, spruced up the instrumentation and delivered a more urgent vocal for this 1972 solo rendition (which became a Top 5 U.S. hit), but the bones of the tune remain the same. “Hello It’s Me” is a wistful, bittersweet song about the dissolution of a relationship between two people who still very much love and respect each other a clear-eyed breakup ballad lacking the guile, cynicism and zaniness of Rundgren’s later work. “The reason those [early] songs succeeded was because of their derivative nature,” Rundgren told Guitar World in 2021. “They plugged so easily into audience expectations. They’re easily absorbed.” That may be so, but there’s still no denying the airtight hooks and melancholy beauty of “Hello It’s Me.” (Rolli)

26. "Smoke From a Distant Fire," the Sanford/Townsend Band (1977)

There are other artists who better define yacht rock - Michael McDonald, Steely Dan, Christopher Cross - but few songs rival the Sanford/Townsend Band's "Smoke From a Distant Fire" as a more representative genre track. (It was a Top 10 hit in the summer of 1977. The duo never had another charting single.) From the vaguely swinging rhythm and roaring saxophone riff to the light percussion rolls and risk-free vocals (that nod heavily to Daryl Hall and John Oates' blue-eyed soul), "Smoke" may be the most definitive yacht rock song ever recorded. We may even go as far as to say it's ground zero. (Gallucci)

25. "Dream Weaver," Gary Wright (1975)

Unlike many other songs on our list, “Dream Weaver” lacks lush instrumentation. Aside from Gary Wright’s vocals and keyboard parts, the only added layer is the drumming of Jim Keltner. But while the track may not have guitars, bass or horns, it certainly has plenty of vibes. Inspired by the writings of Paramahansa Yogananda – which Wright was turned on to by George Harrison – “Dream Weaver” boasts a celestial aura that helped the song peak at No. 2 in 1976. (Irwin)

24. "Reminiscing," Little River Band (1978)

The third time was the charm with Little River Band 's highest-charting single in the U.S. Guitarist Graeham Goble wrote "Reminiscing" for singer Glenn Shorrock with a certain keyboardist in mind. Unfortunately, they weren't able to schedule a session with Peter Jones, who'd played an important role in Little River Band's first-ever charting U.S. single, 1976's "It's a Long Way There ." They tried it anyway but didn't care for the track. They tried again, with the same results. "The band was losing interest in the song," Goble later told Chuck Miller . "Just before the album was finished, Peter Jones came back into town, [and] the band and I had an argument because I wanted to give 'Reminiscing' a third chance." This time they nailed it. (DeRiso)

23. "Heart Hotels," Dan Fogelberg (1979)

Ironically enough, this song about debilitating loneliness arrived on an album in which Dan Fogelberg played almost all of the instruments himself. A key concession to the outside world became the most distinctive musical element on "Heart Hotels," as well-known saxophonist Tom Scott took a turn on the Lyricon – a pre-MIDI electronic wind instrument invented just a few years earlier. As for the meaning of sad songs like these, the late Fogelberg once said : "I feel experiences deeply, and I have an outlet, a place where I can translate those feelings. A lot of people go to psychoanalysts. I write songs." (DeRiso)

22. "Year of the Cat," Al Stewart (1976)

Just about every instrument imaginable can be heard in Al Stewart's "Year of the Cat." What begins with an elegant piano intro winds its way through a string section and a sultry sax solo, then to a passionate few moments with a Spanish acoustic guitar. The sax solo, often a hallmark of yacht-rock songs, was not Stewart's idea. Producer Alan Parsons suggested it at the last minute, and Stewart thought it was the "worst idea I'd ever heard. I said, 'Alan, there aren’t any saxophones in folk-rock. Folk-rock is about guitars. Sax is a jazz instrument,'" Stewart said in 2021 . Multiple lengthy instrumental segments bring the song to nearly seven minutes, yet each seems to blend into the next like a carefully arranged orchestra. (Rapp)

21. "How Long," Ace (1974)

How long does it take to top the charts? For the Paul Carrack-fronted Ace: 45 years . "I wrote the lyric on the bus going to my future mother-in-law's," he later told Gary James . "I wrote it on the back of that bus ticket. That's my excuse for there only being one verse." Ace released "How Long" in 1975, reaching No. 3, then Carrack moved on to stints with Squeeze and Mike and the Mechanics . Finally, in 2020, "How Long" rose two spots higher, hitting No. 1 on Billboard's rock digital song sales chart after being featured in an Amazon Prime advertisement titled "Binge Cheat." (DeRiso)

20. "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)," Looking Glass (1972)

Like "Summer Breeze" (found later in our list of Top 50 Yacht Rock Songs), Looking Glass' tale of an alluring barmaid in a busy harbor town pre-dates the classic yacht-rock era. Consider acts like Seals & Crofts and these one-hit wonders pioneers of the genre. Ironically, the effortless-sounding "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" was quite difficult to complete. "We recorded 'Brandy' two or three different times with various producers before we got it right," Looking Glass' principal songwriter Elliot Lurie told the Tennessean in 2016. The chart-topping results became so popular so fast, however, that Barry Manilow had to change the title of a new song he was working on to " Mandy ." (DeRiso)

19. "I Can't Tell You Why," Eagles (1979)

Timothy B. Schmit joined just in time to watch the  Eagles disintegrate. But things couldn't have started in a better place for the former Poco member. He arrived with the makings of his first showcase moment with the group, an unfinished scrap that would become the No. 8 hit "I Can't Tell You Why." For a moment, often-contentious band members rallied around the outsider. Don Henley and Glenn Frey both made key contributions, as Eagles completed the initial song on what would become 1979's The Long Run . Schmit felt like he had a reason to be optimistic. Instead, Eagles released the LP and then promptly split up. (DeRiso)

18. "Sentimental Lady," Bob Welch (1977)

Bob Welch  first recorded "Sentimental Lady" in 1972 as a member of Fleetwood Mac . Five years later, after separating from a band that had gone on to way bigger things , Welch revisited one of his best songs and got two former bandmates who appeared on the original version – Mick Fleetwood and Christine McVie – to help out (new Mac member Lindsey Buckingham also makes an appearance). This is the better version, warmer and more inviting, and it reached the Top 10. (Gallucci)

17. "So Into You," Atlanta Rhythm Section (1976)

Atlanta Rhythm Section is often wrongly categorized as a Southern rock band, simply because of their roots in Doraville, Ga. Songs like the seductively layered "So Into You" illustrate how little they had in common with the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd . As renowned Muscle Shoals sessions ace David Hood once said, they're more like the " Steely Dan of the South ." Unfortunately, time hasn't been kind to the group. Two of this best-charting single's writers have since died , while keyboardist Dean Daughtry retired in 2019 as Atlanta Rhythm Section's last constant member. (DeRiso)

16. "Dreams," Fleetwood Mac (1977)

Stevie Nicks was trying to channel the heartbreak she endured after separating from Lindsey Buckingham into a song, but couldn't concentrate among the bustle of Fleetwood Mac's sessions for Rumours . "I was kind of wandering around the studio," she later told Yahoo! , "looking for somewhere I could curl up with my Fender Rhodes and my lyrics and a little cassette tape recorder." That's when she ran into a studio assistant who led her to a quieter, previously unseen area at Sausalito's Record Plant. The circular space was surrounded by keyboards and recording equipment, with a half-moon bed in black-and-red velvet to one side. She settled in, completing "Dreams" in less than half an hour, but not before asking the helpful aide one pressing question: "I said, 'What is this?' And he said, 'This is Sly Stone 's studio.'" (DeRiso)

15. "Minute by Minute," the Doobie Brothers (1978)

Michael McDonald was so unsure of this album that he nervously previewed it for a friend. "I mean, all the tunes have merit, but I don't know if they hang together as a record," McDonald later told UCR. "He looked at me and he said, 'This is a piece of shit.'" Record buyers disagreed, making Minute by Minute the Doobie Brothers' first chart-topping multiplatinum release. Such was the mania surrounding this satiny-smooth LP that the No. 14 hit title track lost out on song-of-the-year honors at the Grammys to "What a Fool Believes" (found later in our list of Top 50 Yacht Rock Songs) by the Doobie Brothers. (DeRiso)

14. "Lonely Boy," Andrew Gold (1976)

Andrew Gold’s only Top 10 U.S. hit is a story of parental neglect and simmering resentment, but those pitch-black details are easy to miss when couched inside such a deliciously upbeat melody. Gold chronicles the childhood of the titular lonely boy over a propulsive, syncopated piano figure, detailing the betrayal he felt when his parents presented him with a sister two years his junior. When he turns 18, the lonely boy ships off to college and leaves his family behind, while his sister gets married and has a son of her own — oblivious to the fact that she’s repeating the mistakes of her parents. Gold insisted “Lonely Boy” wasn’t autobiographical, despite the details in the song matching up with his own life. In any case, you can’t help but wonder what kind of imagination produces such dark, compelling fiction. (Rolli)

13. "Baby Come Back," Player (1977)

Liverpool native Peter Beckett moved to the States, originally to join a forgotten act called Skyband. By the time he regrouped to found Player with American J.C. Crowley, Beckett's wife had returned to England. Turns out Crowley was going through a breakup, too, and the Beckett-sung "Baby Come Back" was born. "So it was a genuine song, a genuine lyric – and I think that comes across in the song," Beckett said in The Yacht Rock Book . "That's why it was so popular." The demo earned Player a hastily signed record deal, meaning Beckett and Crowley had to assemble a band even as "Baby Come Back" rose to No. 1. Their debut album was released before Player had ever appeared in concert. (DeRiso)

12. "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight," England Dan & John Ford Coley (1976)

There aren't too many songs with choruses as big as the one England Dan & John Ford Coley pump into the key lines of their first Top 40 single. Getting there is half the fun: The conversational verses – " Hello, yeah, it's been a while / Not much, how 'bout you? / I'm not sure why I called / I guess I really just wanted to talk to you " – build into the superpowered come-on line " I'm not talking 'bout moving in ...  ." Their yacht-rock pedigree is strong: Dan Seals' older brother is Seals & Croft's Jim Seals. (Gallucci)

11. "Hey Nineteen," Steely Dan (1980)

At least on the surface, “Hey Nineteen” is one of Steely Dan’s least ambiguous songs: An over-the-hill guy makes one of history’s most cringe-worthy, creepiest pick-up attempts, reminiscing about his glory days in a fraternity and lamenting that his would-be companion doesn’t know who Aretha Franklin is. (The bridge is a bit tougher to crack. Is anyone sharing that “fine Colombian”?) But the words didn’t propel this Gaucho classic into Billboard's Top 10. Instead, that credit goes to the groove, anchored by Walter Becker ’s gently gliding bass guitar, Donald Fagen’s velvety electric piano and a chorus smoother than top-shelf Cuervo Gold. (Reed)

10. "Rich Girl," Daryl Hall & John Oates (1976)

It’s one of the most economical pop songs ever written: two A sections, two B sections (the second one extended), a fade-out vocal vamp. In and out. Wham, bam, boom. Perhaps that's why it’s easy to savor “Rich Girl” 12 times in a row during your morning commute, why hearing it just once on the radio is almost maddening. This blue-eyed-soul single, the duo’s first No. 1 hit, lashes out at a supposedly entitled heir to a fast-food chain. (The original lyric was the less-catchy “rich guy ”; that one change may have earned them millions.) But there’s nothing bitter about that groove, built on Hall’s electric piano stabs and staccato vocal hook. (Reed)

9. "Fooled Around and Fell in Love," Elvin Bishop (1975)

Elvin Bishop made his biggest pop-chart splash with "Fooled Around and Fell In Love," permanently changing the first line of his bio from a  former member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band to a solo star in his own right. There was only one problem: "The natural assumption was that it was Elvin Bishop who was singing,” singer  Mickey Thomas told the Tahoe Daily Tribune in 2007. Thomas later found even greater chart success with Starship alongside Donny Baldwin, who also played drums on Bishop's breakthrough single. "A lot of peers found out about me through that, and ultimately I did get credit for it," Thomas added. "It opened a lot of doors for me." (DeRiso)

8. "Baker Street," Gerry Rafferty (1978)

Gerry Rafferty already had a taste of success when his band Stealers Wheel hit the Top 10 with the Dylanesque "Stuck in the Middle With You" in 1973. His first solo album after the group's split, City to City , made it to No. 1 in 1978, thanks in great part to its hit single "Baker Street" (which spent six frustrating weeks at No. 2). The iconic saxophone riff by Raphael Ravenscroft gets much of the attention, but this single triumphs on many other levels. For six, mood-setting minutes Rafferty winds his way down "Baker Street" with a hopefulness rooted in eternal restlessness. (Gallucci)

7. "Dirty Work," Steely Dan (1972)

In just about three minutes, Steely Dan tells a soap-opera tale of an affair between a married woman and a man who is well aware he's being played but is too hopelessly hooked to end things. " When you need a bit of lovin' 'cause your man is out of town / That's the time you get me runnin' and you know I'll be around ," singer David Palmer sings in a surprisingly delicate tenor. A saxophone and flugelhorn part weeps underneath his lines. By the time the song is over, we can't help but feel sorry for the narrator who is, ostensibly, just as much part of the problem as he could be the solution. Not all yacht rock songs have happy endings. (Rapp)

6. "Ride Like the Wind," Christopher Cross (1979)

“Ride Like the Wind” is ostensibly a song about a tough-as-nails outlaw racing for the border of Mexico under cover of night, but there’s nothing remotely dangerous about Christopher Cross’ lithe tenor or the peppy piano riffs and horns propelling the tune. Those contradictions aren’t a detriment. This is cinematic, high-gloss pop-rock at its finest, bursting at the seams with hooks and elevated by Michael McDonald’s silky backing vocals. Cross nods to his Texas roots with a fiery guitar solo, blending hard rock and pop in a way that countless artists would replicate in the next decade. (Rolli)

5. "Summer Breeze," Seals & Crofts (1972)

Jim Seals and Dash Crofts were childhood friends in Texas, but the mellow grandeur of "Summer Breeze" makes it clear that they always belonged in '70s-era Southern California. "We operate on a different level," Seals once said , sounding like nothing if not a Laurel Canyon native. "We try to create images, impressions and trains of thought in the minds of our listeners." This song's fluttering curtains, welcoming domesticity and sweet jasmine certainly meet that standard. For some reason, however, they released this gem in August 1972 – as the season faded into fall. Perhaps that's why "Summer Breeze" somehow never got past No. 6 on the pop chart. (DeRiso)

4. "Lowdown," Boz Scaggs (1976)

As you throw on your shades and rev the motor, the only thing hotter than the afternoon sun is David Hungate’s sweet slap-bass blasting from the tape deck. “This is the good life,” you say to no one in particular, casually tipping your baseball cap to the bikini-clad crew on the boat zooming by. Then you press “play” again. What else but Boz Scaggs ’ silky “Lowdown” could soundtrack such a moment in paradise? Everything about this tune, which cruised to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, is equally idyllic: Jeff Porcaro’s metronomic hi-hat pattern, David Paich’s jazzy keyboard vamp, the cool-guy croon of Scaggs — flexing about gossip and “schoolboy game.” You crack open another cold one — why not? And, well, you press play once more. (Reed)

3. "Lido Shuffle," Boz Scaggs (1976)

Scaggs' storied career began as a sideman with Steve Miller  and already included a scorching duet with Duane Allman . Co-writer David Paich would earn Grammy-winning stardom with songs like "Africa." Yet they resorted to theft when it came to this No. 11 smash. Well, in a manner of speaking: "'Lido' was a song that I'd been banging around, and I kind of stole – well, I didn't steal anything. I just took the idea of the shuffle," Scaggs told Songfacts in 2013. "There was a song that Fats Domino did called 'The Fat Man ' that had a kind of driving shuffle beat that I used to play on the piano, and I just started kind of singing along with it. Then I showed it to Paich, and he helped me fill it out." Then Paich took this track's bassist and drummer with him to form Toto. (DeRiso)

2. "Peg," Steely Dan (1977)

"Peg" is blessed with several yacht-rock hallmarks: a spot on Steely Dan's most Steely Dan-like album, Aja , an impeccable airtightness that falls somewhere between soft-pop and jazz and yacht rock's stalwart captain, Michael McDonald, at the helm. (He may be a mere backing singer here, but his one-note chorus chirps take the song to another level.) Like most Steely Dan tracks, this track's meaning is both cynical and impenetrable, and its legacy has only grown over the years – from hip-hop samples to faithful cover versions. (Gallucci)

1. "What a Fool Believes," the Doobie Brothers (1978)

Michael McDonald not only steered the Doobie Brothers in a new direction when he joined in 1975, but he also made them a commercial powerhouse with the 1978 album Minute by Minute . McDonald co-wrote "What a Fool Believes" – a No. 1 single; the album topped the chart, too – with Kenny Loggins and sang lead, effectively launching a genre in the process. The song's style was copied for the next couple of years (most shamelessly in Robbie Dupree's 1980 Top 10 "Steal Away"), and McDonald became the bearded face of yacht rock. (Gallucci)

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Gallery Credit: UCR Staff

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Yachty by Nature

What a Fool Believes

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Brandy - you're a fine girl

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America's Yacht Rock Band!

YBN Yachty By Nature - Your Captains of SMOOTH Yacht Rock

AHOY!!!!  Get on board for our next public shows by FOLLOWING us on   LINKTREE  

3/22/24 Stillwater Dana Point 9pm

3/23/24 The Edge Pavilion, Laughlin, NV   Yachty by Nature tickets ! 

Since 2016, Yachty by Nature has brought you the very best in LIVE Yacht Rock, originating in Southern California but playing from sea to shining sea!

This hot 6 piece band plays the finest groovy soft yacht rock tunes from the late 70’s and early 80’s. We are a Yachtical Tribute to your favorite artists like Michael McDonald, Hall and Oates, Boz Scaggs, Steely Dan, Toto, Christopher Cross, & so much more.

Expert musicality, groove and improvisational flavor ignite these classic vinyl cuts. All LIVE, ALL the time.  Scotty McYachty on the big vocals, then Captain Carl, Wes Coast & Big Wave Dave locking the rhythm section down, & Pacific Rim on sax and jazz flute for nonstop fun!

We are the Yacht Rock Tribute you’ve been looking for and we’re bringing the Yacht Party to YOU! Put on your captain’s hat and Ride Like the Wind to get Yachty with us.

yachtybynature1

The SMOOTHEST #YachtRockband on Land & Sea! 70’s & 80’s #yachtrock superstars.

Book Us by calling Captain Carl at (949) 510-3264 or email: [email protected]

AHOY!!! Jump onboard for our next concert!

Stillwater on 3/22 and Edgewater Laughlin on 3/23

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Julie McCoy

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Best Known For

The cruise director, Julie is the newest addition to the S.S. Yachty by Nature and comes to us from Iowa via New York City! This songstress brings the fun, exuberance, and all those tasty vocal notes and those fancy disco dance moves to boot. No diva attitude here, Julie kicks butt on those vocals and takes names later!

Likes: a fine rosé, karate kicks, bell bottoms, elevator shoes, and anything patent leather. Dislikes: pushy people, mutton chops, and slow dancing

Captain Carl

Captain Carl has been the funky white boy moonwalking and breakdancing his way through gigs with his 80's tribute band Neon Nation and the 10 piece soul band Barela for quite a few years. Aside from the shaggy 70's look, he's bringing the same funk, groove, verve, and 70's swagger he's been bringing to the stage for years. When he's on the mic, prepare to put the champagne down and boogie.

Likes: vinyl, jazz flute, mahogany, leather bound books, pool parties, fondue, champagne, and waterbeds.

Scotty McYachty

Scotty has been a regular with Southern California 80's fave Neon Nation also! Our true seaman, Scotty is a veteran of the navy and though he never appeared in the Village People song of the same name, we are still looking for the footage....he had to be there. While he's not sipping on a coconut filled umbrella drink, he's laying down the smooth grooves and kickass vocals that heat this band up. Watch out cuz Scotty is our own resident Michael McDonald!!!!!!

Our resident Floridian drops those Yachty good guitar solos and shredding Steely Dan lines over our smooth and groovy rhythm section. Imported from Florida, Wes comes to us with pirate good looks, super guitar chops, and a Yachty heart of gold under those shredtastic solos!

likes clever hooks, long walks on the beach at sunset, and southern comforts.

turnoffs include: manscaping, people who are mean to puppies, and rude people.

Big Wave Dave

Droppin' anchor wherever the smooth grooves keep goin'.

Watch out, Dave will groove you hard or groove you soft, but it won't quit til' you've been dancin' All Night Longgggg.

Pacific RIM

Getting disqualified in the 2015 World Sax Off for being too SMOOTH. Luckily these days, Yacht Rock reigns supreme and Pacific Rim has brought his talents to Southern California. Our resident Lithuanian, Rim enjoys sunsets, palm trees, and flamingo laden wallpaper and has traded his Baltic roots for the sunny shores of the Pacific. So smooth.

Get Yachty with our Merch!

Do that to me one more time, once is never enough.

I'm not much into health food, I am INTO champagne.

You’d be a fool to stop this tide. Spread your wings and let me come inside.

Everyday is Christmas, and every night is New Year's Eve.

And I've got such a long way to go, to make it to the border of Mexico.

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• Past Events

Ahoy! Virgin Voyages New Years cruise to the Caribbean is happening with Yachty by Nature. America's Yacht Rock Band comes aboard the Valiant Lady December 30 for the SMOOTHEST NYE 2024 on land and sea. These smooth sailors will travel to the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, St. Croix and Bahamas. What a way to cap off a brilliant 2023 and usher in the new year in style. Virgin boasts the sexiest cruises on the seven seas. With Pacific Rim on board, we'll make it the SAXIEST yacht rock band experience on the Atlantic. #yachtrock #virginvoyage #yachtrockband

Campus Jax Christmas concert with Yachty by Nature! December 16, 2023 this yacht rock band will play all your favorite 70's and 80's smooth soft rock jams. Get yachty with us! #yachtrockband

Sea Legs at the Beach in Huntington Beach on October 21.  Come Sail Away with California's #1 yacht rock band.  All your favorite 70's and 80's soft rock jams played by this incredibly fun band.

Come Sail Away when Campus Jax yacht rock party stars Yachty by Nature on October 6, 2023.  Get your tickets and reserve a spot to dine and dance with the hottest yacht rock band this side of the Mississippi.  Ahoy!  Check our song list for the fun tunes that our concert includes.

Ahoy Copper Blues Brea!  Yachty by Nature is the West Coast's #1 yacht rock band and they'll be docking in Brea on March 4, 2023.  Get your tickets now for the best in 70's and 80's soft rock. #yachtrock #yachtrockband

Knitting Factory NoHo is hosting the yacht rock party on February 18, 2023.  Yachty by Nature headlines with Hollywood Crue as the support act for a night of smooth.  Don't miss the boat for the hottest in 70's and 80's soft rock jams.  #yachtrock #yachtrockband

Live Yacht Rock Band at Pala Casino with Yachty by Nature in concert for your smooth 70's and 80's guilty pleasures.  The soft rock smorgasbord will be an all-you-can-eat affair :). Get your tickets $15 and enjoy the very BEST yacht rock band on the West Coast!  For all of our songs, click here !

#yachtrock #yachtrockband #yachtybynature

Venice West hosts America's yacht rock band, Yachty by Nature on 1/7/23.  Doors open at 6pm.  Wayback Daddies will open at 8pm and then your favorite 70's and 80's smooth soft rock by yours truly.  Get Yachty in Los Angeles with us and get your tickets now while supplies last.

Tiki Bar Costa Mesa is getting Yachty on 1/6/23.  Get your tickets for the Yachty by Nature concert at 8pm.  It's gonna be smooth 70's and 80's soft rock to your heart's content.  Get yachty !

Huntington Beach yacht rock LIVE .  Yachty by Nature will play your favorite 70's and 80's vinyl cuts at Biergarten Old World HB this Saturday night 11/12/22 at 830pm.  Come Sail Away with Southern California's finest yacht rock band.  Tickets are $15.  Don't miss the boat!

Tiki and Yacht Rock together!  Yep, it's official.  Yachty by Nature will headline the action packed lineup for Circa Caliente 2022 on October 15, Saturday at 8pm.  This event will be sold out, so get those tickets and wristbands ready for a smooth show with this yachty crew!

Check our blog for fun stuff going on :)

Redneck Rodeo and Yachty by Nature have a free concert coming up on October 8, 2022.  Come Sail Away when the Redneck Yacht Club will become the center of the Southern California music universe.  These two bands are some of the southland's most popular bands out there so the combination will be an epic party on the BEach in Huntington Beach.  2pm the show begins with Yachty and then RR will take over at 5pm for the night shift.

Don't miss the boat!

#yachtrock #yachtrockband #countryclub #redneckyachtclub #redneckrodeo

Old World Huntington Beach Biergarten is having a Yacht Rock party!  Yachty by Nature will headline the event and provide the best in 70's and 80's soft rock music.  The concert starts at 8pm and tickets are $20 for the special installment of Old World's Rocktoberfest event!  Can't wait to get yachty with our peeps at Old World.  It's always a super fun venue for us!

Come Sail Away with the SMOOTHEST yacht rock band on Land and Sea!  City of Lake Forest presents their summer concert series and Yachty by Nature will headline with an opening band Santanaways beginning at 530.  Ahoy! #yachtrock #yachtrockband #yachtybynature #yachtrockradio

Canyon Club presents Southern California's FINEST yacht rock band, Yachty by Nature.  Prepare for the best in 70's and 80's soft rock hits coming at you live by this professional crew of musicians.  Come Sail Away with the pleasure cruise that is YBN.  Get your tickets and don't miss the boat at the Canyon Agoura :) #yachtrock #yachtrockband

La Santa OC is having a yacht rock party and you are invited on August 11, 2022 at 8pm.  Yachty by Nature takes the stage for the first time since they moved the venue from the old Marty's on Newport in Tustin a couple years ago.  Come out for the Back To School special on a Thursday night.  Pop the champagne, your smooth grooves await!

Cal Coast Beer presents California's #1 Yacht Rock Band, Yachty by Nature.  The band comes to Paso Robles for an evening of smooth 70's and 80's soft rock hits.  For all those about to dock, we salute you.  Get your tickets now and reserve that table before it's too late!  Last time at the friendly confines, it was a super yachty crowd.  Looks like the smooth pleasure cruise is going to get even smootherer this time around.  Don't miss the boat.

#yachtrockband #pasorobles #calcoastbeer

Yacht Rock beach party with California's #1 Yacht Rock Band, Yachty by Nature.  In fact, the band will be flying in from the San Francisco Giants show the night before.  Always a special event, Sea Legs is one of our absolute favorite venues and Huntington Beach always comes out to party.  Don't miss the boat and get Yachty on the sand.

Our friends at the JettHeadz will open the show at 2pm and then we play at 4pm.  They are the premiere Joan Jett and the Blackhearts tribute!

#yachtrock #ahoy #sealegshb #huntingtonbeach

Yacht Rock San Francisco will feature Yachty by Nature at Oracle Park on July 29, 2022 at 5pm.  This port on a Western Bay is gonna serve yacht rock fans this day.  So Ride Like the Wind to Seal's Plaza before the major league baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and Giants .  You know the players will Steal Away to home plate for the opening pitch at 7pm.  So dance All Night Long with America's yacht rock band and Get Yachty with us for an epic free concert on the Bay!

RSM summer concert series !  Yachty by Nature is California's #1 yacht rock band and they will perform at Rancho Santa Margarita on July 17, 2022.  The free summer concert begins at 630pm and runs for 2 hours.  It's an all you can eat smorgasbord of 70's and 80's soft rock.  Don't miss the boat!

City of Garden Grove brings in the West Coast's #1 yacht rock band, Yachty by Nature on July 14, 2022.  6pm the live concert will begin.  Enjoy the finest 70's and 80's soft rock in California.

Long Beach Yacht Rock is happening again with Yachty by Nature at the Gaslamp on June 11, 2022 at 8pm.  Tickets are $20, so follow the link and get your tables reserved today.  Don't miss the boat on the SMOOTHEST yacht rock band in the land.  YBN only plays the very best in 70's and 80's soft rock.  Get your captain's hat ready and don that yacht rock attire for one smooth pleasure cruise.

Anchors Aweigh everyone!  Check our song list for the yacht rock playlist!

#yachtrock #yachtrockband #yachtybynature #softrock #gaslamp #longbeachyachtrock #smooth #cruise #crew #yachtycrew

Don't miss the boat on the Catalina Wine Mixer that you've been waiting for.  Yachty by Nature, America's Yacht Rock Band and Redneck Rodeo together again for smooth times!  This Memorial Day weekend, you're going to say I'm On a Boat!  YBN will be all over your favorite 70's and 80's yacht rock songs right in the city of Avalon!  Talk about getting Yachty.  You can't get yachtier than that.

In fact, that Sunday May 29, we'll transform the island from an 80's weekend to SURF AND TURF.  Yes, Redneck Rodeo will start things off at 12 noon and then hand off the yacht rock party to the smoothest band on the west coast:  Yachty by Nature.

Can't wait to share the stage with our buddies at Redneck, it's going to be a fun one!

Get your accommodations while you can, your ferry ticket and your tickets for the show.  In fact, why not chopper in.  Don't blow it Dale!

#yachtrock #yachtrockband #yachtybynature #imonaboat #catalinawinemixer #catalina #catalinabreeze

Yacht Rock Beach Party at Sea Legs HB.  Yachty by Nature is the SMOOTHEST yacht rock band in the land.  Come Sail Away with us for a beautiful day of fun in the sand on April 23, 2022.  Anchors Aweigh for a decadent day at the beach and sing along with your favorite guilty pleasure playlist.  Plenty of Ambrosia, Christopher Cross, Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, Doobies, Toto, Steely Dan, and so much more.  Yachty by Nature plays the 70's and 80's soft rock songs you're dying to hear LIVE!

Call ahead for your table/cabana reservations and let's get Yachty on the sand!

#yachtrock #yachtrockband #yachtybynature #softrock #beach #beachparty #yachtrockbeach #crew #cruise #sealegshb #hb #oc

Yacht Rock House of Blues on April 2, 2022. Yachty by Nature plays all your 70's and 80's soft rock hits with their friends from the 80's glam metal band, Power Serge.  The party starts at 6pm and you won't want to miss this epic affair!!!

Don't miss the boat, get your tickets now.

#yachtrock #yachtrockband #yachtybynature #powerserge #hobanaheim #houseofblues #glammetal #oc #orangecounty

Biergarten HB at Old World brings you the finest in yacht rock, Yachty by Nature.  January 29, 2022 this crew of smooth sailors hits the stage in Huntington Beach for a one-of-a-kind yacht party.  If you like Piña Coladas, you'll love this band.  Get your tickets now and reserve a table to get yachty with the hottest 70's and 80's soft rock band in California.

Set a course for smooth and pop the champagne.  You won't want to miss the boat on Yachty by Nature's unique brand of yacht rock and one helluva boat party!

#yachtrock #yachtrockband #yachtybynature #softrock #imonaboat #hb #biergartenhb #oldworld

Country Club Yacht Rock happens this December 11 in Costa Mesa.  Climb aboard this Holiday Special as the S.S. Yachty by Nature comes to town bearing gifts like Toto, Steely Dan, Boz Scaggs, Ambrosia, Hall and Oates and Michael McDonald.  We'll play all your 70's and 80's soft rock hits at Country Club.  They have awesome food, crafty cocktails, and that Caddyshack vibe that just doesn't quit.

Make sure to wear your yachty attire or an Ugly Christmas Sweater for maximum fun and frolic!

Yes, it'll be an all you can eat smorgasbord of SMOOTH as California's #1 LIVE yacht rock band takes the stage.  Don't miss the boat for this pleasure cruise.  In fact, pop the champagne, your smooth grooves await.

Call for your table reservation and let's get yachty!  Country Club is in Costa Mesa on 17th Street and it will sell out fast :)

#yachtrock #yachtrockband #yachtybynature #softrock #countryclub #yachtclub

Gaslamp Long Beach is hosting the Yacht Rock Party of the year on November 20, 2021 with Yachty by Nature.  America's yacht rock band will rock the boat with the freshest covers of 70's and 80's soft rock in the business.  This crew of smooth sailors has been sailing the smooth seas of yacht since 2016.  In fact, they play coast to coast and all points in between.  They are the most well traveled national hardcore soft rock band except for Yacht Rock Revue.  Come Sail Away and pop the champagne, your smooth grooves await.

#yachtrockband #yachtrock #yachtybynature #softrock #gaslamp #longbeach #southerncalifornia #losangeles

Paddys Station has the Halloween Party that you won't wanna miss.  Yacht Rock Superstars make a stop at the old San Juan Capistrano train station.  They bring in your favorite 70's and 80's soft rock hits and rock the yacht as OC's #1 yacht rock band.  Don't miss the boat and Get Yachty with us on October 30, 2021.  Doors open at 7pm and the band will hit at 9pm.  Pop the champagne, your smooth grooves await.

#yachtrock #yachtrockband #yachtybynature #sanjuancapistrano #halloween #october #paddysstation

Paso Robles gets yachty!  Yachty by Nature takes the stage at California Coast Beer Co. on October 23, 2021 at 7pm.  Make sure to get your tickets, this event will sell out, so don't miss the boat.  In fact, it's not every day that Yachty by Nature gets to the central coast.  So, get your yacht rock on while you can!  This is the band you've been waiting for.  The smooth pleasure cruise of 70's and 80's soft rock hits the friendly shores of Paso Robles this week.  Pop the champagne, your smooth grooves await.  Yacht Rock Song List

#yachtrock #yachtrockband #yachtybynature #livemusic #yachtconcert #softrock #pasorobles #centralcoast #calcoastbeer

Yachty by Nature brings live Yacht Rock to the Moonshine Festival in Bakersfield on 10/9.  It'll be a Yacht Rocktoberfest at the Ice House so get your tickets now!

The bands will include:  Kali Sol, The Aviators, No Duh , Yachty by Nature, and The Hitmen.

Doors open at 5pm and your favorite yacht rock band will go on at 8pm.

Sea Legs Yacht Rock

Yachty by Nature brings the finest 70's and 80's soft rock jams to Huntington Beach on September 11, 2021 at 4pm.  Free concert, don't miss the boat.  Orange County's #1 yacht rock band always brings the house down on the sand.  Pop the champagne, your smooth grooves await.  #yachtrockband #softrock #sealegshb #yachtrock #yachtybynature #orangecounty #oc Yacht Rock Song List

Delta Coves for Labor Day!

Join Yachty by Nature for an amazing evening of 70's and 80's yacht rock jams at Delta Coves, Bethel Island on 9/5/21 at 5pm.  It'll be a smooth pleasure cruise with all your old school guilty pleasures with California's hottest yacht rock band.  Sacramento River Delta will be getting yachty for Labor Day.

#yachtrockband #yachtrock #yachtybynature #laborday #northerncalifornia #deltacoves

Old World Biergarten Huntington Beach

August 7, Yachty by Nature comes to HB for a night of 70's and 80's soft rock.  The finest yacht rock band on land and sea!  Come Sail Away with us for one smooth pleasure cruise of a good time.  Ahoy, you'll be sailing in no time.  Tickets are $15 and feel free to reserve a VIP table for your crew.  It'll be a don't miss type of concert this summer as we get moving out of a year of Covid.  Cheers to an all-you-can-eat smorgasbord of smooth music.  In fact, we'll rock your sailor jams all night long.

#yachtrock #yachtrockband #yachtybynature #huntingtonbeach #oldworld #biergarten #smooth #captainshat #crew #sailing #biergartenhb

Canyon Montclair and America's yacht rock band, Yachty by Nature.  Two great tastes that taste great together!  Let's Get Yachty with all your favorite 70's and 80's yacht rock hits.  Hardcore soft rock at its finest here.  Nothing like the smooth pleasure cruise with the nation's hottest LIVE yacht rock band.  Join us for a memorable evening of smooth music with this haute crew.  Captain Carl, Scotty McYachty, Courtney Cruise, Big Wave Dave, Ben Shreddin' and Pacific Rim put out the vibe.  Pop the champagne, your smooth grooves await! #yachtrock #yachtrockband #yachtybynature #canyonmontclair

Lake Forest in Orange County will be yacht rock central this 4th of July 2021.  They bring you Orange County's #1 yacht rock band, Yachty by Nature.  As you may know, this is the hottest yacht party going.  Indeed, they play all your 70's and 80's soft rock favorites.  Imagine cruising the sports park with Toto, Steely Dan, Ambrosia, Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs covers filling the air.  It's going to be a smooth pleasure cruise for Independence Day this time around.

Fireworks begin at 9pm and will cap the evening after California's smoothest tribute to yacht rock wraps at 830pm.  Don't miss the boat the FREE concert and all you can eat smorgasbord of smooth music.  In fact, this yacht concert is a sight for sore eyes.  It's been a difficult year of Covid 19 and quarantines and very little live concerts, shows, and entertainment.  Yachty by Nature and Lake Forest aim to change that and put a kick in your step.

Moreover, put on your captain's hat and your yacht rock clothes to celebrate the occasion.   In addition, if you need some yachty merch, come visit our store for new shirts, hats, and even captain's hats from Broner.  Let's Get smooth this 4th of July and show our patriotic spirit with the best yacht rock band on the West Coast.  Sea you there!

#yachtrock #yachtrockband #lakeforest #orangecounty #oc #fireworks #yachtybynature #softrock #numberone #concertinthepark #rocktheyacht #

Canyon Agoura Hills, here we come!

Yachty by Nature is on a crash course for adventure in Los Angeles on July 3, 2021 at 8pm.  In fact, don't miss the boat.   We play all your 70's and 80's smooth soft rock hits like Hall and Oates, Toto, and Steely Dan.  The smooth pleasure cruise begins at 8pm and we'll dance like Lionel Richie, All Night Long.  Don't worry, you've got the real thing here and we'll play it all live for you every note of the way.  Ultimately, Yachty by Nature is all the fun of the yacht party.  Think Step Brothers meets Ron Burgundy meets Love Boat and a bit of Caddyshack.

Don't forget to wear your captains hat and your yacht rock outfits to get in the smooth mood.  Can't wait for the yacht concert of the year.  It's all happening at Canyon Agoura Hills.  Let's kick off the 4th of July weekend in style and have a yachty Independence Day.

Get your tickets and drop anchor with us!  https://wheremusicmeetsthesoul.com/canyon-agoura-hills/

#yachtrock #yachtrockband #yachtybynature #mayday #huntingtonbeach #sealegs #sealegshb #softrock #saxonthebeach #hallandoates

Yacht Rock in Lake Arrowhead!

June 12, America's Yacht Rock band will take Center Stage in the village up in Lake Arrowhead.  Don't miss the boat on the finest crew of captains to rock the yacht on the West Coast.  Adult oriented rock will reign supreme as we hit the town SMOOTHLY!  Hope to sea you there and enjoy the sounds of the yacht concert on the friendly shores of this mountain top hamlet.  All your favorite 70's and 80's soft rock artists like Hall and Oates, Toto, Steely Dan and more played by Yachty by Nature.

This crew of smooth sailors played Lake Arrowhead last in 2017.  Since then, the band has blown up playing to audiences from sea to shining sea.  Come Sail Away with us and find out what out everyone is talking about.  AHOY, this cruise is getting under way and it'll be a yacht party to remember.  Don't forget to wear your captain's hats and all your yachty garb for full effect.  We'll be sailing in no time.

I believe we are sold out, but get on the waiting list!!!

#yachtrock #lakearrowhead #mountains #yachtrockband #yachtconcert #livemusic #yachtybynature #ambrosia #comesailaway #arrowhead #bigbear #bigbearlake #skypark

Lake Havasu and America's yacht rock band Yachty by Nature.

This show will certainly float your boat.  It's an all you can eat smorgasbord of smooth 70's and 80's yacht rock music.  Come down to Yard City and enjoy the hottest smooth music from 6pm to 9pm.

And for more information on the event, check out Lake Havasu .

#yachtrock #yachtrockband #yachtybynature #lakehavasu #lake #pleasurecruise #liveband #livemusic #yachtconcert #yachtband

Sax On the Beach!

Yachty by Nature plays all your favorite 70's and 80's soft rock gems.  In fact, they drop anchor on the sand in Huntington Beach on May 1, 2021.  Join us at Sea Legs for a smooth pleasure cruise with the entire crew.  The yacht concert of the year is happening on Mayday.  Yep, Mayday, Mayday!  It'll be a crash course for adventure when the Yachtiest Crew in all the land goes live Saturday 5/1/21.

Free Admission, but parking can get tricky so get there early and stay with us til 5 as the band will rev up all your smooth vinyl cuts.

#yachtrock #sealegs #yachtrockband #huntingtonbeach #yachtybynature

OC Tavern brings America's Yacht Rock band to town on April 17, 2021.  In fact, the show starts at 7pm so get your table reservation now before it sells out!  Yachty by Nature plays only the finest in 70's and 80's yacht rock.

Known as the Captains of Smooth, the band is coming out of Covid 19 with new songs and new energy to play smooth music for our amazing fans who've been sidelined for a year now.  We can't wait to get back on the stage and bring you the best in yacht rock entertainment.  Importantly, OC Tavern will be the perfect port to be in this smooth storm.  Their outdoor concert lounge is primed for captain hats, 70's attire, country club dress, and your yachty gear.  It's gonna be a fun one so don't miss out as San Clemente is dropping anchor with the best yacht rock band, Yachty by Nature.  Let's Get Yachty!

We love our San Clemente peeps, so come out and groove with us while tickets last.  Sax on the Beach will be served just like the 1978 yacht party in Marina del Rey.  So, Ride Like the Wind for a table reservation!  In fact, come out early and bet the ponies if you can.  This yacht concert will be one to remember!  OC Tavern will be ground zero for smooth yacht rock on April 17.   Read up on some Yachty by Nature band history here.

Take a look at our yachty song list and feel free to hit us up for requests!

#yachtrock #yachtrockband #yachtybynature #sanclemente #octavern #yachtconcert #softrock #tributeband #coverband #softrockband #orangecounty #oc #yachtrockbands #sandiego #ybn #talega #saxonthebeach

High Park Tap House on March 27, 2021 will play host to America's Yacht Rock band.  In fact, get your tickets now before it's too late!  Outside concert and VIP tables available while they last.  Get your smooth pleasure cruise on!  You'll be saying, I'm on a Boat when the yacht party begins.  So, make plans to drop anchor with Southern California's ONLY all Live yacht rock band.  We are your captains of smooth and the yacht rock tribute experience everyone is talking about.  Toto, Steely Dan, Boz Scaggs, Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross, Lionel Richie, Hall and Oates and so much more.

Lastly, the concert is outside in the parking lot venue.  So, you can socially distance and be as comfortable as you'd like with Covid 19 protocol.  Can't wait to see everyone getting yachty.  Most importantly, let's Deck the Hall and Oates together!

Buy your tickets now!

#yachtrock #yachtrockband #highparktaphouse #missionviejo #yachtconcert #yachtband #yachtybynature #liveyachtrock #softrock #yachtrockcoverband

St. Paddy's Day will feel like Opening Day 2021.

Importantly, as things open up from the Coronavirus Covid 19 pandemic in 20-21, we look forward to playing yacht rock live again.  We have a last minute concert at Black Marlin on March 17 at 5pm and tickets are $20 and $30.  The band plays from 5pm to 8pm outdoors on the back concert grounds in Tustin and can't wait to play live again.  It's been one year of Covid and the band has played everything from virtual concerts to drive-ins, boat-ins and beyond.  In fact, here we are, ready to put the green hats on and rock the yacht again!

Don't miss the boat and purchase your paper tickets from the restaurant itself.  Limited capacity and it will sell out.  Erin go bragh.

Let's celebrate a unique and wonderful St. Patrick's Day this year.  Check our song list here.

#yachtrock #yachtrockband #shamrock #irish #kissmeimirish #yachtybynature #smooth #captainshats #blackmarlin #tustin

Private Party in Yorba Linda for a 50th birthday party, wish you were invited!  #yachtrock #yachtrockbands #yachtrockband #yachtybynature #softrock #tributeband

Yacht Rock Paso Robles

Yachty by Nature is cruising up the coast for a private party in the Central Coast.  In fact, the crew is bringing smooth to the seaside of Paso Robles and wish you were invited!  Going to be Yacht Party fun for this concert for the bride and groom.  Hope they have enough Rosé to keep the smooth pleasure cruise going like Lionel Richie...All Night Long!  This yacht will sail at the Cass Winery for the straits of smooth music.

#yachtrock #yachtrockpasorobles #yachtparty #yachtywedding #yachtrockwedding #pasorobles #centralcoast #yachtybynature #yachtband #yachtconcert #smoothmusic #yachtrockband

Brea Virtual Concert on August 12, 2020 features California's hottest yacht rock band, Yachty by Nature.  They'll play your favorite 70's and 80's soft rock hits and wow you with their LIVE renditions of these vinyl classics.  In addition, for more about the genre, check our blog!

Enjoy from the comfort of your own home and feel free to wear your boat shoes, captains hats, and yacht rock attire to get into the groove.  Moreover, Covid 19 is getting us all down.  So, get yachty with us live streaming from the Curtis Theater in Brea, CA.  Until we can go truly live again, thanks for catching us online.  We'll include some deep cuts and your favorites too from all kinds of yacht rock artists.  With Scotty McYachty dazzling you with those high vocals and Courtney Cruise on the mic, you'll be swimming in the smooth.  In fact, it's been said that yacht rock is the tequila hideaway as we escape from the norm, the bland, and the difficult.  Bask in the glow of Pacific Rim's punctuated sax solos and Captain Carl's e-piano good vibes.  And then let Big Wave Dave groove you to your happy place while Ben Shreddin' heats up those guitar strings.

With an unmistakable groove and warm Catalina Breezes, let us float your boat.  In fact, Come Sail Away for Maximum smooth next Wednesday night and let your troubles fade away for an evening of fun.

#yachtrock #yachtybynature #whatisyachtrock #yachtrockmusic #yachtconcert #yachtband #brea #virtualconcert #livestreaming #curtistheater #softrock #babycomeback #softrockcover #softrocktribute #yachtrockband #softrockband

Yacht Rock on Catalina Island 8/1/20 with yacht rock band Yachty by Nature. The shores of Avalon will be graced by one heck of a smooth Catalina Breeze. Your captains of smooth, Yachty by Nature embody that unique style of 70's and 80's yacht rock that has them playing coast to coast. The real deal, they play everything 100% live and don't use backing tracks just like the original. 26 miles across the sea, get on a boat and strap on that captain's hat and deck shoes. In fact, we'll have the best tribute band to Journey, playing with us as a special addition. Don't Stop Believin' is otherwise known as DSB and this combo will be unprecedented awesomeness.

We play on the shores at Descanso Beach and the event runs from 3pm to 8pm. Don't miss the boat, come sail away with America's Yacht Rock band. #yachtrock #yachtybynature #yachtrockband #catalina #avalon #catalinabreeze

Whittier Summer Concert

Join us when the best yacht rock band in Southern California goes Virtual Concert for you in these Covid 19 pandemic times.  Yachty by Nature will serve up an all you can eat buffet of smooth 70's and 80's soft rock.  The City of Whittier hosts these concerts on Monday and Thursday thru the summer.  And, we'll close out the concert series with a yacht rock concert on July 30, 2020.

Featuring soft rock artists like Hall and Oates, Steely Dan, Toto, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Chaka Khan, Lionel Richie, Player and Ace, we aim to rock the yacht.  In fact, wear your captains hats at home and maybe some boat shoes to celebrate this yacht concert.  Additionally, we're the yacht band you've been looking for.  With amazing vocals, harmonies, saxy smooth rhythm section, and occasional keytar, this band is smooth!

These are tough times.  We wish to be with you live but thanks to Whittier for bringing us to you online!

#yachtrock #yachtrockband #summerconcert #virtualconcert #covid19 #yachtybynature #yachtconcert #yachtband #socialdistancing

Canyon Montclair features soft rock superstars Yachty by Nature on July 17, 2020.  The band will drop anchor to perform the best in 70's and 80's yacht rock music .  #yachtrock #yachtrockband #yachtybynature #montclair #thecanyon #softrock

Get ready for Southern California's hottest Yacht Rock band, Yachty by Nature on July 11, 2020 at Gaslamp Long Beach.  In fact, we play all your favorite 70's and 80's soft rock hits .  We feature music from Michael McDonald, Hall and Oates, Lionel Richie, Boz Scaggs, Christopher Cross, Kenny Loggins, Player, Ace, England Dan and John Ford Coley, Ambrosia, Toto, Steely Dan, and more.  Moreover, get smooth with your captains of smooth.  No backing tracks, just LIVE musicians playing your favorite West Coast jams. Tickets are $20 and it's going to be our first show coming out of the Covid 19 pandemic.

#gaslamp #longbeach #smooth #yachtrock #softrock #yachtybynature #yachtrockband

Canyon Club Agoura Hills hosts yacht rock band Yachty by Nature on April 11, 2020.  As always, YBN plays all your 70's and 80's soft rock favorites.  In addition, support act Wayward Sons will rock the yacht ahead of Southern California's captains of smooth.

Call now for your table reservation and buy your tickets before the seas get rough!  Prepare for the smooth pleasure cruise by wearing your yachty finest and celebrating those Toto, Steely Dan, Pablo Cruise, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, and Hall and Oates tunes that keep us dancing.  So, strap on your deck shoes, captains hat, and resort attire for the full yachty experience.  With Captain Carl at the helm and Scotty McYachty providing those Daryl Hall vocals, we'll smooth those seas out for you.  Additionally, our cruise director Courtney plans to ease your mind with a smorgasbord of yacht rock classics like Olivia Newton John, Captain and Tennille, Carly Simon, Nicolette Larson, and more!

Also, Big Wave Dave locks it down on drums and gives us that Africa beat.  Ben Shreddin' will scale Mount Smootherest on guitar.  And, Rim gives you all the Sax Appeal necessary for those Catalina Breezes to take us away to Avalon and beyond!  Come Sail Away with Southern California's hottest Yacht Rock Band and the ones playing it ALL LIVE no backing tracks.  Looking forward for maximum smooth in Los Angeles.  Sea you there! #yachtrock #yachtrockband #allnightlong #softrock #yachtybynature #canyonclubagoura #canyonclub

Scottsdale Arts Festival celebrates 50 years!

Yachty by Nature is the headliner for this awesome event. Your captains of smooth play at 4pm on March 14, 2020 at this Phoenix area festival celebrating art. The location is Scottsdale Civic Center Park and happens the entire weekend from Friday to Sunday. Yachty by Nature returns to Scottsdale for a 4th time since 2017. This yacht rock band brings the ONLY ALL LIVE yacht rock party in the Southwest. Don't be fooled by a cheap rip off that pretends to play live with pre-recorded backing tracks. There's really no substitute for playing 70's and 80's soft rock 100% live just like the original. We take our sound so seriously that we refuse to pretend, the music is all authentic, all live, and all note for note yachty fun! So, climb aboard, we're expecting you for a Love Boat meets Stepbrother meets Ron Burgundy fun fest of Yachty proportions in Scottsdale. Let's get Yachty !

#captaincarl #ronburgundy #imonaboat #yachtrock #yachtrockband #yachtrockparty #yachtybynature

Campus Jax and Yachty by Nature what a combo! On February 22, 2020, yacht rock sensation Yachty by Nature takes the stage for a smooth soft rock concert. In fact, located in Newport Beach, Campus Jax serves up the historically tasty Jax Shrimp and so much more. It's a comfy supper club with the perfect set up for your captains of smooth to provide a one-of-a-kind yacht rock experience for you. In addition, get your reservation in.  They typically pack the place for a smooth pleasure cruise to the stuff you listened to in the back of mom and dad's station wagon.

So, come out to Newport Beach, Campus Jax is near the airport and Yachty by Nature will take you back to those vinyl cuts of the 70's and 80's. Come Sail Away and dance the night away with Southern California's ONLY ALL LIVE yacht rock band. A very special guest will be singing with us this night and so don't miss the boat for an added layer of smooth. See you at Campus Jax . $10 entertainment fee and all you can eat smorgasbord of smooth! #yachtrock #yachtybynature #yachtband #yachtrockband #captainsofsmooth #comesailaway #yachtrockparty

Fort Lauderdale FL

Fort Lauderdale FL the weekend of February 8, 2020 will showcase some of the best Yacht Rockers out there.  First of all, the Yacht Rock Revue plays at  https://www.jointherevolution.net/concerts/ .  Next, they'll appear at the House of Blues Orlando, FL on February 8.  That same night, Yachty by Nature takes the helm of the Yacht Rock Party for Emeril Lagasses's Foundation in Fort Lauderdale, FL.  In fact, the famous chef, Emeril, is bringing the smooth California yacht rock band out to play for the charity fishing tournament.  Located at the Conrad Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, the smooth pleasure cruise will be in first class company on the strand there.  In addition, Peter Beckett and many yacht rock heroes will bust a smooth on the 70's Rock and Romance Cruise to the Dominican Republic out of Miami, FL on Feb. 15.  Among others, Ambrosia, Player, Todd Rundgren, America, Pablo Cruise, Stephen Bishop, and Don Felder will appear on the smooth pleasure cruise as well.

As you can see, Fort Lauderdale FL will be the place to be in February 2020.  Get your tickets, get smooth, and get down with the grooviest music of all time with the best yacht rock bands in the business!  It's gonna be a stone groove my man.  In fact, if you're in Florida, don't miss the boat.  Additionally, if you don't know what to wear to one of these concerts, check our blog about how to dress to a yacht rock party.

Moreover, this is Yachty by Nature's maiden voyage first trip to Florida!  In fact, we've been as far as North Carolina and deep into the Midwest in Iowa, but never this far south.  We look forward to playing for Emeril and a BAM crew of sailors, captains, captainettes, and nautical guys and gals.  Not to mention, Florida is brimming with yachty peeps and so anchors aweigh to one Yachtical good time.  #yachtrock #yachtybynature #yachtrockflorida #fortlauderdalefl #emeril #linevineanddine #floridafishing #conradhotel #emerillagasse #bam #yachtrockparty #yachtrockband #nautibynature #knottybynature #fortlauderdale

NAMM Show 2020 Yachty by Nature is on fire! Playing at the NAMM show this year, we recognize playing to our music peers is more than a thrill. In fact, it is an honor to play at the largest music merchant show on the planet. Moreover, we play at the Pioneer Pro Audio Arena Plaza Stage at 3pm on Saturday, January 18, 2020.  Oh buoy!  What could we possibly put in the setlist for our musical brethren out on the Plaza?  Tough to hammer out that perfect short set of yacht rock, but we can't wait to grip it and rip it.  Come Sail Away with us at NAMM 2020.

With so many new firsts this year, the NAMM show is quite a capper.  Additionally, it'll be fireworks to start up the new decade in 2020 with one of the coolest gigs ever.  Soft rock at the Anaheim Convention Center never felt so good.  Thus, if you're heading to the show, stop by and get yachty with us.  In fact, we might even play local in Anaheim after the show so stay tuned.

The show is closed to the public but if you have a NAMM pass, we'll see you there.  In addition, the show is quick from 300pm to 340pm so get there on time.  Enjoy!

Here's the official website for the show as well and here's a list of our tunes.

#nammshow #namm #namm2020 #anaheim #numberone #yachtrock #yachtrockband #getyachty #yachtybynature #yachtrockshow

Start your New Year in 2020 with Southern California's HOTTEST yacht rock band, Yachty by Nature. In fact, get your smooth cruise on as 2020 gets into full swing by coming to the yacht rock concert at Tiki Bar in Costa Mesa. Additionally, the band is on fire, new tunes, great vibe, and a love fest as always in Orange County! Don't miss the boat.  Check their website for more info !

Yacht Rock Song List

#yachtrock #captaincarl #yachtybynature #tikibar #orangecounty #bestlivecoverband

Whisky a Go Go!

The world famous Whisky a Go Go plays host to the ultimate Yacht Rock band, Yachty by Nature on December 7, 2019 at 11:30pm. Just imagine, all your 70's and 80's soft rock hits come to life on one of the most famous and iconic stages EVER! In fact, legendary performances by the Doors, Motley Crue, Guns n' Roses, Linkin Park, the Byrds, AC/DC and so many more. Yachty by Nature takes over the Sunset Strip in Hollywood for smooth sailing at 11:30pm so get your tickets now, it's going to be an event!!!

#yachtrock #sunsetstrip #hollywood #losangeles #yachtrockband #whiskyagogo #yachtybynature #thewhisky #socalsbest

Las Vegas Topgolf

Yacht Rock band Yachty by Nature drops anchor on the Las Vegas strip again this November. Thus, get your reservations now, it's gonna get Yachty. In fact, we take all your 70's and 80's soft rock favorite hits and bring them to life.  In addition, put on your captain's hat and deck shoes and come sail away with us to Thunder Island.  As always, check Facebook for more details on the show!  Here's our yacht rock playlist .

#yachtbynature #topgolf #topgolfvegas #vegas #lasvegas #yachtrock

Halloween Yacht Rock time! Yachty by Nature will play live yacht rock and all your favorite 70's and 80's soft rock hits at Back Bay Bistro on October 26, 2019.  The band starts at 8pm and we'll have costume contests and everything.  In fact, there's nothing quite like celebrating Halloween on the water in Newport Beach.  So, let's get yachty with Southern California's #1 yacht rock band.  Get Smooth and get your Yacht Rock outfit ready for greatness!

#yachtrockband #yachty #newportbeach #crew #softrocksailors #yachtybynature #backbaybistro

Private Concert in the Midwest!

Yachty by Nature continues to book shows around the country. Similarly, our first big show was out in Raleigh, North Carolina a couple years ago.  In addition, we regularly play first rate yacht rock shows to audiences all over California, Nevada, Arizona, and now the Midwest. In fact, our guitarist Ben Shreddin' is even filling in for the Docksiders band in Wisconsin this month!  We can't wait to hit the road for our private concert in the heartland.  It's going to be our first tour there.

Increasingly, it is amazing to see this crew of soft rock sailors spread the love of yacht rock all over the country.  As always, check the schedule for more Yachtiness coming to your city soon.  We are always adding events, concerts, parties, corporates, weddings, and all kinds of fun stuff.  Get Yachty with us!

#yachtrock #nationwide #midwest #concert #yachtrockshow #yachtrockexperience #iowa #illinois #softrock #chicago

Cruise with Us !  Hit the beach for the Yachty by Nature concert at Sea Legs in Huntington Beach on September 22, 2019 at 2pm and really cruise with us. In fact, if you'd like to join the cruise, hit up Huntington Beach Bicycle Company ,.  Additionally, check their website out and even buy merch too for the occasion. Alas, it's gonna be an extra smooth cruise that day!  If you need some extra inspiration for your attire, check our blog post on what to wear in this Yacht Rock Outfits write up.

#yachtrock #yachtybynature #sealegs #cruise #crew #cruisewithus #HBBC

Yacht Rock Laguna Beach

Hope you know someone who can get you in to this awesome event!  #yachtrock #yachtband #lagunabeach #yachtybynature #imonaboat #beachplease

DJ Snoopadelic AKA Snoop Dogg headlines the music and food festival known as Nood Beach on September 1, 2019. In addition, your captains of smooth, Yachty by Nature take the stage ahead of Snoop for the best in 70's and 80's yacht rock.

Therefore, Come Sail Away on the beach with your favorite soft rock hits and California's king of hip hop. In fact, lots of musical talent top the bill for your Labor Day weekend. Additionally, epic noodles, mukbang, and eating competitions will take place alongside performances by Yachty by Nature, Coast Club, Dash Berlin, E40, Sega Genecide, and Snoop Dogg.

In addition, here's what Facebook says about the event.   Foodbeast 's ’Noods Noods Noods’ Festival is now headed to the shores of Huntington Beach, CA. Get ready for your first journey to NOOD BEACH. Headlining live music performances from DJ Snoopadelic AKA Snoop Dogg , Jeffrey Sutorius AKA Dash Berlin , E-40 , SEGA Genecide , Yachty by Nature , Coast Club and more! 20 Noodle Vendors from across the Southland will be debuting dozens of World Premiere menu items featuring Pan-Asian noodles and beyond. Current Vendors Include: LSXO : Lemongrass Beef & Curried Prawn Vermicelli Slapfish : Brown Butter Lobster Bucatini Mess Hall Canteen : Kalbi Brisket Garlic Noodles + Hamachi Crudo Soba Noodles Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine : Candied Pork Belly Ramen Bucket Ellie's long beach : Cavatelli Carbonara Sgt. Pepperoni's Pizza Store : Sheet Pan Ramen Pizza SeaLegs at the Beach : Coconut Curry Noodles w/ Giant Prawn Miss Mini Donuts : Ice Cream Noodle Topped Mini Donuts Shomi Noods: Ramen Bar : Boba Cup Style 'Jiggling Ramen' + 16 lb Ramen Challenge. Nitrolado : Savory Noodle Donuts - Balinese, Gangnam, Tokyo & Hawaiian Style. Lia’s Lumpia Popup: Pork Belly Ramen Lumpia THE GOLDEN MARROW® : Truffle, Garlic & Dessert Marrows w/ Noodles. The Coconut Truck : Black Garlic Noodles, w/ braised oxtail, crispy shallots, and black garlic confit. The Sandwich Society - Santa Ana : Ramen Grilled Cheese Laomazing Eats: Bird Nest Noodles w/ Lao Gravy Mussels and Pearls: Grilled Oysters, toped with garlic, shoyu and crispy noodles Lettuce Feast: Vegan Fried Chikn Mac n Cheese Po Boy Ten Asian Bistro Stay tuned for more vendor updates! Importantly, Early Bird GA: $40 includes stage and vendor access, with food available for purchase at each vendor. More importantly, Early Bird VIP: $80, includes Front-of-Line Pass (for food vendors), VIP Stage Viewing Area, Dedicated VIP Restrooms, Dedicated VIP Bar, Free Beer Tastings until 3 PM and Complimentary Coconut Curry Shrimp Noodles from Sealegs at the Beach. In fact, your favorite personalities from TV, YouTube and Instagram will headline our Celebrity #MUKBANG stage and eat their way through festival fare. Moreso, professional eaters from around the country will compete in the FOODBEAST Challenger League Noodle Invitational. In fact, they'll be consuming hundreds of pounds of food in front of a live audience.

#noodbeach #snoopdogg #snoop #E40 #yachtybynature #segagenecide #coastclub #mukbang #laborday

Rock the Boat with Orange County's #1 yacht rock band, Yachty by Nature. July 14, 2019 they will be docking in Rancho Santa Margarita for a concert in the park. This community loves their music and will be expecting a large crowd so get there early. Escape, Maneater, Brandy, Rosanna, Peg, Africa, Baker Street, Baby Come Back , Ride Like the Wind, Sailing, All Night Long, What a Fool Believes and many more of your 70's and 80's favorite yacht rock music. The band is on fire and been playing nationally for 3 years now. They've also become the favorite in Vegas, Arizona, Los Angeles, San Diego, and all over California.

Come for the yacht rock party and stay for the best in smooth soft rock. This band plays all live and doesn't include the fake and phony backing tracks that other bands use. #rocktheboat #brandy #yachtrock #softrock #yachtybynature #rsm #ranchosantamargarita #oc #orangecounty #losangeles #vegas

RSM website

Yacht Rock summer is happening with Yachty by Nature, California's favorite yacht rock band. Come Sail Away with 6 soft rock sailors dropping anchor at The District in Tustin. This outdoor event is FREE and features a Beer and Wine garden that will benefit Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Enjoy a tasty libation and keep it SMOOTH with Orange County's ONE AND ONLY ALL LIVE Yacht Rock band. #yachtrock #yachtrockband #yachtyrock #softrock #tustin #thedistrict

Yachty by Nature songlist

The District website

Yacht Rock Long Beach! Yachty by Nature plays all your 70's and 80's yacht rock hits at Sea Legs on July 13, 2019. The band plays at 3pm and the smooth pleasure cruise will happen all day long. Get your reservations right away and prepare to dock with Orange County's BEST yacht rock cover band.

In fact, Yachty by Nature is Southern California's #1 Yacht Rock Band and the only one doing it in the sand!  Sea Legs hosts the ultimate yacht party starting at 2pm.

Thus, Let's Get Shipfaced at the beach. Yachty by Nature is also the ONLY ALL LIVE #yachtrockband in the Southland. We proudly ignite the #softrock hits from the 70's and 80's without the benefit of backing tracks. Check out the hottest #yachtrock experience out there. SeaLegs at the Beach is one dynamite location and nothing like that California sound right on the coast. #socalsbest #imonaboat #yachtybynature

Parking is tough so try to bike down or Uber/Lyft to Beach/Warner where the Jack in the Box is located and walk south just a short distance. Or come early and get a good parking spot! It's going to rage, so don't miss the boat. Boz Scaggs, Hall and Oates, Michael McDonald, Toto, Steely Dan, and so much more. Let's drop it like it's yacht.

$5 cover charge can be paid when you arrive, don't worry about tickets. #yachtrockband

Fountain Valley Summerfest features Yachty by Nature hitting the stage at 230pm on June 23, 2019. Get your Yacht Rock on with Southern California's only ALL LIVE soft rock supergroup. The afternoon will be full of 70's and 80's smooth and then get ready for Queen Nation at 5:00pm and Styx X at 7:30pm. What a lineup! Nothing like rockin' the yacht and washing it down with Freddie Mercury vocals and a big classic rock Styx finish as well.

What an event! Plan to spend a Sunday Funday with us and wear those captains hats and deck shoes to make it complete. It'll be a sumptuous helping of Toto, Steely Dan, Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs, Hall and Oates, Lionel Richie and Christopher Cross.

Get further information here: FV Summerfest Link

And, for a full EPK of Yachty by Nature, click HERE .

Lastly, here's the SONG LIST for the band.

#fvsummerfest #yachtrock #yachtband #oc #orangecounty #socalsbest #crushingit

Rancho Fest in Rancho Santa Margarita for the win!

Rancho Fest is happening on June 9.  In addition, Yachty by Nature begins the Sunday Funday with all your favorite 70's and 80's smooth yacht rock band. YBN is the busiest smooth soft rock band in the West and currently booking shows all around the country. In fact, we play it all live and the people are responding with wild abandon! Great to see this yacht rock revolution happening and so stoked to have become the First Choice, Ultimate, Go-To, and premiere Yacht Rock band around. Nobody else plays these classic cuts and certainly no other bands play these songs LIVE like we do. Furthermore, it's really tough to sing these live and keep those harmonies fresh for our superfans, so we've been working hard!  Come see us play these jams live, sing along with us, enjoy the Eagles style harmonies and jump in on the yacht party.  Crank it up and dance like Lionel Richie, All Night Long!  #yachtrock #yachtybynature #ranchofest #softrock #rsm #festival #community #smooth #yachtrockband

As well, check our song list!   YBN Song List

Check our band bios here:   Yachty by Nature Band

Grapes for Grads Premiere Wine Tasting event in Laguna Beach at the Festival of the Arts on April 28, 2019 at 1pm. $50 tickets available and $60 on the day. Get your tickets now for the smoothest Yacht Rock band in Orange County. Smooth soft rock with Yachty by Nature and the glorious food of many amazing Laguna restaurants and the beverages of wineries worldwide. The 70's and 80's yacht rock provided by YBN for Sunday Funday afternoon of glorious libations and vibrations. Get Yachty this Sunday! #yachtrock #softrock #grapesforgrads #lagunabeach #winetasting #fundraiser   https://yachtybynature.com

Back Bay Bistro in Newport Beach is hosting Orange County's number one yacht rock band, Yachty by Nature. On April 27, 2019, YBN showcases the guilty pleasures that you hear in the dentist's chair. THat smooth soft rock that takes you away to some distant desert island and boat drinks is here for you. Just say yes to Escape from the mundane and take those two tickets to paradise and ride like the wind...to be free again. In fact, put on that captain's hat, the deck shoes, and a striped shirt, navy blazer and/or ascot and buy your ticket now. As always, Yachty by Nature hits the stage all LIVE and takes these songs to a new level. Don't miss the boat, come sail away with the SMOOTHEST yacht rock band in the West. Tickets are $15 and $20 for a dinner seat. And, make sure to get your ticket prior to reserving your dinner table.

Be sure to check our song list too.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/yachty-by-nature-tickets-57758215377 #yachtrock #softrock #backbaybistro #newportbeach #escape

Yacht Rock brunch with your favorite OC Yacht Rock band. Yachty by Nature plays all your 70's and 80's soft rock hits. Come Sail Away for a Sunday Funday to remember and wear your captain's hat and yacht attire for maximum fun potential. Your captains of smooth will Ride Like the Wind to be free again.

Band starts at 1pm, get your table reservations now!

https://www.countryclubcm.com/

https://yachtybynature.com/index.php/ybn-song-list/

#yachtrock #yachtrockbrunch #smoothoperator #captainsofsmooth #countryclubcm #yachtybynature

Scottsdale Tennis Week

March 31, 2019 Yachty by Nature takes the stage and brings the ONLY all LIVE yacht rock band in the West to this phenomenal tennis event in Scottsdale, Arizona. It'll be a smooth soft rock sunday from 130pm to 430pm and Yachty by Nature holds court and makes a racket while you enjoy that sumptuous smorgasbord of smooth. Get Yachty with the HOTTEST yacht rock experience in Southern California and the only ones to travel and bring a crowd. Advantage... Yachty. #yachrock #smooth #tennisdifferently #yachtybynature #scottsdale #asu

Check our song list here:   YBN Song List

Laughlin... ...comes alive with the smooth sounds of 70's and 80's and Southern California's BEST yacht rock band. Last time was a full on yacht party and great to bring the boat back to the friendly confines of the Tropicana Resort.  We'll play the Pavilion Theater on Saturday, March 30, 2019 so get your tickets now.  Your captains of smooth bring all those guilty pleasures to life in a fun, party atmosphere and we'll dance like Lionel Richie, All Night Long!  Tickets are $25 and lots of casino promotions for this weekend!

#yachtrock #allnightlong #lionelrichie #troplaughlin #laughlin #tropicana #captain #imonaboat

https://troplaughlin.com/events/yachty-by-nature-captains-of-smooth-70s-and-80s-soft-rock/

Check our song list too!   YBN Song List

St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day is on Sunday this year and we'll be starting up nice and early at our FAVORITE neighborhood pub and all around party central at Costello's. Last year was completely off the chart and we'll have double the fun this year! Don't miss the boat, this ship will sail at 12pm noon! #yachtrock #stpattysday #greenhats #broner #costellosmv #missionviejo #saintpatricks #shipfaced

Let's Get Shipfaced!

Southern California's number one yacht rock band kicks off Sea Leg's 4th season opening in Huntington Beach, CA on 3/16/19.  Doors open at 2pm and $5 cover gets you an all you can eat smorgasbord experience of the best in west coast yacht rock.  In fact, get onboard for a smooth cruise of the very best in 70's and 80's soft rock from Hall and Oates to Michael Mcdonald, Toto, Steely Dan, and Christopher Cross.  You'll be sailing in no time with the captains of smooth. #yachtrock #sealegs #huntingtonbeach #yachtybynature #softrock #numberone

http://www.sealegsatthebeach.com/

Top 100 Yacht Rock Songs

CAmpus Jax will host yacht rock troubadours and soft rock superstars, Yachty by Nature on March 9, 2019 at 8pm. In addition, $10 cover and we encourage yacht attire or country club garb or resort dress! Get Yachty with Southern California's #1 yacht rock band. Ahoy, get onboard and get smooth with us for an evening of smooth 70's and 80's tunes with the funnest soft rock outfit in the business. And, of course, we'll play all your Hall and Oates favorites and more, all LIVE all the time. #yachtrock #softrock #livemusic #campusjax

YBN Song List

https://www.campusjax.com/pages/entertainment#menu=events&item=march-9-yachty-by-nature

Yachty Band YBN in the house on 2/22/19 at Daily's Sports Grill in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA at 8pm. In fact, Dan Forster will start us off with an acoustic set and then Yachty will drop anchor about 830pm. Most importantly, get your table early, it's gonna be a full house. Packed crowd anticipated for our debut event at Daily's.

http://www.dailyssportsgrill.org/

Song List:   YBN Song List

Love Cruise starring Yachty by Nature

In the dry, arid plains of the Mojave Desert, Yachty by Nature will drop anchor on the last oasis of love: Topgolf Las Vegas!

For those about to dock, please don your boat shoes and climb aboard as the captains of smooth take us on a roundtrip cruise through the smooth waters of the 70s and 80s. This 6-Piece is not only finger-licking, but are committed to taking you and your honey on a Fantastic Voyage of Yacht Rock. We are all ashore for amore! Bring your first love, first mate or inflatable raft as we tour hits from Hall & Oates, Steely Dan, Toto and the Bee Gees. Maybe even check off a Kiss On My List and get some Sexy Eyes from Rosana! It’s time you got yachty for Valentine’s Day! Let’s hit the fairway together and enjoy the succulent sounds of yacht rock - all while sipping on fine wine and bubbles.

This night will be a sweet combination of Caddyshack, The Notebook, Love Actually, Step Brothers, Anchorman, and a 70’s beer commercial.  So, what do you say Old Sport? Are you ready to drop it like its yacht?

Get your hitting bay or table reservations right now!

https://topgolf.com/us/las-vegas/play/yachty-by-nature/

Here's our Song List:   https://yachtybynature.com/index.php/ybn-song-list/

Marty's on Newport offers an evening of SMOOTH with Yachty by Nature, Southern California's hottest and most prolific LIVE yacht rock experience. In fact, your captains of smooth will guide you on a smooth pleasure cruise with an all-you-can-eat smorgasbord of 70's and 80's soft rock. Michael McDonald, Toto, Steely Dan, Ambrosia, Christopher Cross, Boz Scaggs, Player, Ace, Kenny Loggins, Pablo Cruise, George Benson, Lionel Richie, and so much more will fill your K-tel and Time Life AM Gold playlist for the night.

Furthermore, doors open at 8pm and tickets are available for $15 so don't miss the boat. So, put on your Captain's Hat and your Yachty finest to maximize the fun as we kick off Super Bowl weekend with an Escape to Pleasure Town aboard the S.S. Yachty by Nature.

By the way, if you like Piña Coladas and getting caught in the rain, we will make your dreams come true. In addition, at this intimate venue, it will truly be a special evening of smooth. All aboard!

More importantly, buy your tickets here: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/yachty-by-nature-martys-on-newport-tickets/8850415?pl=martysonnewport&REFID=clientsitewp

Just as important, Marty's on Newport is an intimate entertainment venue, bar, and diner.  As well, with top notch national acts in a small setting and a classic diner menu, entertainment is now a complete experience.  Of course, they always look forward to bringing shows that even they thought were impossible to see in a venue like this.  Marty's on Newport, a new California classic and Yachty by Nature a new and old California classic...it's gonna be smooth!

#yachtrock #martysonnewport #martys #softrock #babycomeback #yachtybynature

Heather Bell's birthday party at Tiki Bar in Costa Mesa on 1/5/19 starting at 8pm.  Opening band Rodney Moon and the Little Dippers play at 8pm and Yachty at 9pm.  In fact, get there early before the place gets too outta control.  Let's start the year right with smooth soft yacht rock from these soft rock superstars.  Ambrosia, Christopher Cross, Exile, Billy Ocean, Pablo Cruise, Looking Glass, Player, Toto, Steely Dan, and Michael McDonald.  Lace up your boat shoes, strap on that captains hat and let the smooth pleasure cruise begin.

Anti New Years Eve Party in Huntington Beach

This year, get on the New Years Party early with us on December 30, 2018 near Sea Legs in Huntington Beach.  As you ma know, be playing one of Southern California's hottest dance bands, Tijuana Dogs!  In addition, we'll be setting sail about 5pm and the DJ will start spinning tunes at 3pm.  Most importantly, there will be a massive heated tent at the corner of PCH and Magnolia in Huntington Beach to keep our December dancers in from the cold.

Don't miss the boat, we play all of your 70's and 80's yacht rock favorites and Tijuana Dogs will have you dancing like Lionel Richie...All Night Long!  Moreover, we play everything from Hall and Oates, Michael McDonald, Toto, Steely Dan, Ambrosia, Looking Glass, Player, Kenny Loggins, and Christopher Cross to Wham, Lionel, and Billy Ocean.  So, put your boat shoes and captain's hats on and meet us in HB for the hottest dance party on the West Coast.  As always, Yacht Attire and 70's best is always preferred.  But, get your tickets and plan your uber or lyft and spend this Anti New Years Eve with Yachty by Nature and the Tijuana Dogs.

As you know, Yachty by Nature has been crushing the yacht rock scene the last couple of years.  Although we've played a lot of corporate and private parties, this bash will give you that great opportunity to see us live before the year is through.  And, for those of you in the South Bay Los Angeles, feel free to get us early as we play December 29 at Standing Room in Hermosa Beach.  It's going to be a Yacht-tastic finish to this amazing year of yacht rock with your captains of smooth, YBN.  From Vegas to Arizona to Laughlin to Sacramento and all over Southern California, we thank our amazing fans for making us #1 in Southern California.  As well, we are the only yacht rock band other than Yacht Rock Revue to travel so far.  Please deck the Hall and Oates this season and make sure you secure tickets and reservations to our big upcoming shows:

• 12/29/18 Standing Room, Hermosa Beach https://www.thestandingroomrestaurant.com/
• 12/30/18 on the BEACH at PCH and Magnolia, Huntington Beach (tickets will be up soon!) https://www.tijuanadogs.com/
• 1/5/19 Tiki Bar, Costa Mesa  https://tikibaroc.com/
• 1/11/19 Stillwater, Dana Point https://danapointstillwater.com/
• 2/1/19 Marty's on Newport, Tustin 

Particularly, make sure to give your loved ones the best gift in Yacht Rock, 2 tickets to paradise!  Yes, buy them a couple tickets to our debut show at Marty's on Newport in Tustin, it's going to be a hot one!

Always check back for our calendar and here's a song list too:   https://yachtybynature.com/index.php/ybn-song-list/

And, hit us up on Facebook too!   https://www.facebook.com/yachtybynature/

#yachtrock #softrock #tijuanadogs #standingroomhb #martysonnewport #stillwaterdp #tikibaroc #antinewyearseve #sealegs #yachtybynature

2018 Annual Holiday Charity Gala

The Baldy View chapter of the BIA will hold their annual charity gala with Yachty by Nature providing the smooth sailing sounds of the 1970's and 1980's a la Hall and Oates, Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross, Boz Scaggs, Wham, Kenny Loggins, Ambrosia, and so much more.

Celebrate the installation of the 2019 BIA Baldy View Chapter Board of Directors and President Phil Burum, Diversified Pacific! We will also beholding a silent auction and presenting our 2018 Industry Leadership Award Winners.

Get your tickets now and come to the Sheraton Conference Center in Pomona, CA for a very yachty holiday experience!  #yachtrock #softrock #bia #baldyview #sheraton #pomona #losangeles #holiday #charity #charitygala #southerncalifornia

Wedding Los Angeles - wish you were invited! #softrock #yachtrock #wedding #losangeles #nuptials #bride #smooth

Pre-Thanksgiving party at Costello's

Join the pre-Thanksgiving fun of Yacht Rock with Yachty by Nature and rekindling those old time friendships at Costello's in Mission Viejo before Turkey Day on November 21, 2018. The band will serve up a healthy portion of smooth 70's and 80's soft rock. In addition, you can dance like Lionel Richie...All Night Long. So, wear your captain's hat and your resort attire to fully enjoy the ambience of the Night Before Thanksgiving and rock the yacht with Orange County's favorite soft rock superstars. #yachtrock #yachtybynature #turkeyday #thanksgiving2018

https://yachtybynature.com/index.php/2018/10/12/yacht-rock-tober/

http://www.costellosmv.com/lunch/

The Summit Vegas

The Summit Vegas - Yacht Rock at the exclusive golf confines of The Summit in Summerlin. A Private affair, hope you're on the guest list, it's going to be SMOOTH! #vegas #yachtrock #softrock #smoothsailing #thesummit

what's going on:

Here's our song list:

Veterans Day 2018

Veterans Day is happening in Manhattan Beach this year with Yachty by Nature, Manhattan Beach Rotary Club, and MBR Events!  Let's raise some funds in honor of our veterans, active military, and first responders.  Proceeds will go to outreach and scholarship programs through Rotary International.  It's going to be a Sunday Funday for the ages and a beautiful tribute to our heroes out there past and present.  Please celebrate with us and get your craft brews and barbecue on November 11, 2018.  The event goes from 12pm to 5pm and we will play LIVE yacht rock like Michael McDonald, Toto, Steely Dan, Ambrosia, Christopher Cross, Kenny Loggins, Boz Scaggs, Lionel Richie, Hall and Oates and so much more!

Yachty by Nature is the critics' choice winning over the coiners of the term "yacht rock" and the fans choice of Southern California.  We play it all LIVE and from venues in San Diego in the South to Sacramento in the north and east to Vegas and Arizona and all the way to North Carolina.  Yacht Rock fans sway to these 70's and 80's grooves and dance to fun and funkier side of soft rock.

Tickets are $50 and $35 for veterans/active military and first responders.  Don't Miss the Boat!  Come Sail Away with the very best in Southern California Yacht Rock.  #yachtrock #softrock #comesailaway #veteransday #vetfest #mbrotary #manhattanbeach #southbaysmooth #losangeles

Get your tickets now and here's the event link:

https://www.downtownmanhattanbeach.com/events/vetfest

Here's our songlist:   https://yachtybynature.com/index.php/ybn-song-list/

South Orange County, let's get YACHTY!

South Orange County and Stillwater Spirits and Sounds has gone long enough without OC's favorite yacht rock band Yachty by Nature. Sorry we've been busy traveling all over California and Arizona, bringing LIVE yacht rock to places like Sacramento, San Diego, Laughlin, Phoenix, Arizona and beyond. Back by popular demand, the very FIRST...and FINEST yacht rock band in Orange County history brings back LIVE musicianship, improvisation, and soft rockin' flair to the friendly confines of Dana Point. We're not just a light show and "pretending" to play along with backing tracks. We play the notes, we take the songs in different directions, the witty banter doesn't follow cornball scripted lines, and the show is different every night.

Come Sail Away with your captains of smooth. We'll smooth out those rough seas and we'll ESCAPE to the silky shores of soft rock. How about doubling your Saxual pleasure with our one-of-a-kind sax section. Ron Burgundy would blush as we go from double sax to double jazz flute...yes, it's formidable. Don't miss the boat for this one. Drop it Like it's Yacht with the SMOOTHEST yacht rock in Southern California. When only the best will do, Yachty by Nature is both the critics' choice and the fan choice for Yacht Rock. Don't settle for less than ALL LIVE... soft rock was meant to be played LIVE and that's exactly what we do. Put on your captain's hat as your resort attire is highly encouraged. It'll be an all you can eat soft rock smorgasbord of Hall and Oates, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Ambrosia, Toto, Steely Dan, Sanford Townsend, Looking Glass, Boz Scaggs, and so much more! Let's dance like Lionel Richie...All Night Long! #yachtrock #softrock #danapoint #stillwaterdp #marinadelrey #losangeles #oc #livemusic #nobackingtracks

RESERVE your table now!

http://danapointstillwater.com/main-menu/

Here's our blog if you wanna join our mailing list!

Ronald McDonald House fundraiser

Ronald McDonald House is having a gala fundraiser at the Langham in Pasadena, CA on November 3, 2018. In addition, Yachty by Nature will play the best in groovy 70's and 80's yacht rock and smooth soft rock. Hall and Oates, Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs, Ambrosia, Christopher Cross, Toto, and Steely Dan will float the boat at the Moonlight Maritime gala. Most importantly, it will be a smooth pleasure cruise and a chance to raise lots of money for a great cause.  #yachtrock #softrock #yachtybynature #moonlightmaritime #langham #pasadena

Here's a list of our tunes:

Here's a link to the event:

https://rmhcsc.org/pasadena/events/view/272

HARP INN for Halloween 2018

COSTUME CONTEST AND CASH PRIZES! Yachty by Nature is dropping anchor at the Harp for Halloween this year on Friday, October 26. Our only public gig in Yacht Rock-tober, make sure you come to get yachty with us and dress up for all kinds of soft rock shenanigans.

$5 cover and all your favorite Yacht Rock hits on this pleasure cruise. Get Smooth with us and get on the boat for the hottest Yacht Party in the OC. Mark that calendar and get your outfit ready for Southern California's #1 Yacht Rock band, we're comin' in YACCCHHHHTTTTT! #yachtrock #softrock #halloween #yachtrocktober #theharp #harpcostamesa #newportbeach

ARIZONA STATE FAIR...

Get ready, because we're coming back to Arizona for another fun Yacht Party with you! Most importantly, Yachty by Nature is appearing at the Arizona State fair with show times at 6pm and 830pm on Sunday, October 21. Thus, finish your weekend with us and Get Yachty with Southern California's favorite Yacht Rock band and critics' choice for authentic yacht rock played all LIVE! Furthermore, we have a hot band, smooth vocals, killer harmonies, fun banter and yacht talk on stage, and a crew of captains that are second to none in the business of live yacht rock. We bring the 70's and 80's alive with epic covers of Hall and Oates, Steely Dan, Toto, Ambrosia, Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross, Kenny Loggins, Lionel Richie, and much more. In addition, get Your Captain's Hats ready and throw on some Yacht attire for maximum fun.

Lastly, we'll be on the stage at the National Indoor RV Centers' Backyard.

If you'd like to check our song list, go here --  https://yachtybynature.com/index.php/ybn-song-list/

For more information on tickets, click here:

https://azstatefair.com/event/yachty-by-nature/

Babes Ride Out! Joshua Tree is going full yacht party as Yachty by Nature plays to our bikers on October 20. 70's and 80's smooth soft rock will be flowing like the salmon of Capistrano. Gonna be a fun one, but dudes aren't allowed til the after party on Sunday at the Saguaro in Palm Springs!

https://babesrideout.com/

#yachtrock #softrock #choppers #babesrideout #joshuatree #letsride

https://yachtybynature.com/index.php/2017/01/12/yachty-by-nature/

Don't miss the boat.

Yacht-Toberfest kicks off at Black Marlin! Come see Southern California's favorite Yacht Rock band in an intimate venue with the best Seafood in OC. Always a fun time when YBN hits the stage and plays all those 70's and 80's soft rock hits. Bring your captain's hat for the fun of a Sunday Funday!!!!

Get your reservation early!

We play 2pm to 5pm and as always it'll be the hottest yacht party in Southern California :) #yachtrock #softrock #socalsbest #ocfave #blackmarlin

https://www.blackmarlinrestaurant.com/

Our song list:   https://yachtybynature.com/index.php/ybn-song-list/

Maiden Voyage at Campus Jax

Yachty by Nature is bringing the smooth pleasure cruise to Newport Beach on September 28 at 8pm! $5 cover. Come get your 70's and 80's soft rock groove on to your favorite yacht rock hits! Yacht Attire encouraged and a party attitude appreciated...drop your troubles at the door and let's ESCAPE! Southern California's soft rock superstars get smooth so join the yacht party now.

https://www.campusjax.com/menus/events/september-28-yachty-by-nature

Song List:   https://yachtybynature.com/index.php/ybn-song-list/

Sea Legs on the sand in HB!

Let's get Yachty on September 22 from 2pm to 5pm. You know we'll bring the Yacht Party to HB and have you groovin in the sand to the hottest Yacht Rock band in Southern California. Michael McDonald, Toto, Steely Dan, Ambrosia, Christopher Cross and so much more! Don't fake it til' ya make it, come get smooth with the Real Deal, Yachty by Nature. As always, Yacht attire is highly encouraged. Pop the champagne and let the smooth grooves float your boat. #yachtrock #sealegs #huntingtonbeach #softrock #socalfave

http://www.sealegsatthebeach.com/events/yachty-by-nature-1

Yacht Rock Tober

When only the best in Yacht Rock will do... Get your Yacht Rock groove on with Southern California's #1 Yacht Rock band. Smooth seas ahead as we hit the Lido Deck for libations and set sail for an epic evening of 70's and 80's soft rock. Wear that captains hat proudly and dress in your finest yacht attire for maximum fun potential. Get Smooth with Yachty by Nature. #yachtrock #softrock #smoothsailing #costellos #ocfavorite #socalsbest

Spazmatics, Yachty by Nature and Bota Bag on the Main Stage as Silver Lakes Seafood Festival gets Yachty!

Spazmatics headline this epic event and Yachty by Nature will ride those smooth seas of soft rock.  More importantly, catch some hot tail in the VIP at this epic event as YBN plays from 7pm to 8pm. In addition, come early and catch the antics of Bota Bag too at 530pm or get your seafood on all day! As you know, it's gonna be a HAUTE one, so get your grub on and enjoy the groovy 70's and 80's yacht rock with Southern California's hottest yacht rock band. In fact, smooth sailing and soft rock will float your boat as the prevailing winds have us on stage in advance of the wildest 80's show out there.

Go to the Silver Lakes website to get your early bird tickets, the price will go up!  https://www.silverlakesseafoodfestival.com/

For more info on summer dates, check this link:   https://yachtybynature.com/index.php/2018/07/26/yacht-summer-nights/

Tropicana Laughlin brings yacht rock to Laughlin!  Enjoy the sounds of the 70s and 80s smooth, soft rock performed by Yachty by Nature, Southern California’s hottest yacht rock band.

The band performs favorite hits from artists Hall and Oates, Steely Dan, Christopher Cross and many others.

Set course for a musical adventure with the talented captains of smooth yacht rock!

Date: Saturday, August 18 Time: 8 PM Pavilion Theater Tickets: $20 + tax & fees

MUCKENTHALER CULTURAL CENTER!

The Muck is getting Yachty!  You know, Orange County's one and only LIVE Yacht Rock band, Yachty by Nature sets sail for the Seas of Smooth on a beautiful August night at the Muck! In fact, come enjoy the groovy 70's and 80's soft rock hits from Michael McDonald, Hall & Oates, Steely Dan, Toto, Ambrosia, Christopher Cross and so much more! Furthermore, this hot 6 piece band will take you back to a kinder, gentler and smoother time. Indeed, the Ron Burgundy playlist will have you groovin' in your seat and ready to Come Sail Away with the smooth sounds of AM Gold.

The fact is, we bring the Yacht Party to you just like Lionel Richie...All Night Long! So, make sure and wear some boat shoes and your captains hats.  Because, it'll be a smooth pleasure cruise with those favorite hits of yesteryear and a band that loves to play it LIVE and improvise. In addition, you never know what this show will bring you, but the fun is guaranteed!

Ahoy Mateys, don't miss the boat, it'll be rockin'...softly. Moreover, Get Yachty with us and leave your troubles behind, we have Two Tickets to Paradise with your name on it. #yachtrock #smooth #themuck #fullerton #muckenthaler #yachtybynature #loveboat

http://themuck.org/programing/2018/8/9/yachty-by-nature

Get Your Captain's Hat here:   https://squareup.com/store/smooth-yacht-rock

Promo video and basic info here:   https://yachtybynature.com/index.php/2017/01/12/yachty-by-nature/

Gaslamp Quarter will go off on August 4, 2018 at Tin Roof. The Yacht Party is coming to town with Yachty by Nature supplying the tasty grooves and Ron Burgundy vibe.

There's an All You Can Eat Fish Fry with your admission of $15 and of course all you can listen delicious yacht rock tunes.

70's and 80's yacht rock will reign supreme and the captains hats will be out in force. Come Sail Away with Southern California's premiere soft rock crew of sailors. Smooth sailing from here on out as the Hall and Oates, Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs , Toto, and Steely Dan provide the backdrop to your pleasure cruise this evening.  Yacht Rock Song List #yachtrock #softrock #sandiego #gaslamp #smoothsailing #tinroofsd

Get your tickets now!

https://www.ticketweb.com/event/yacht-rock-with-all-you-tin-roof-san-tickets/8556205

Beach Please!

Yachty by Nature continues their residency at Sea Legs at the Beach in Huntington Beach this Saturday, July 28 at 2pm. Steady as she goes, this Yacht Party will feature all your favorite 70's and 80's groovy soft rock. And Yachty by Nature continues dominating the waters of the Southern California yacht rock scene. All Live All the Time and crowds are flocking to get their yacht on. Get Smooth with us 7/28/18. #yachtrock #sealegs #huntingtonbeach #captainsofsmooth #softrock

Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club Concert Series welcomes the 70's and 80's smooth sounds of Yacht Rock on July 19, 2018 at 7pm. The Yacht Party will be captained by Yachty by Nature, Southern California's hottest yacht rock band. Kick summer into overdrive with a smooth pleasure cruise with one of the funnest bands out there. It's gonna be cruizy, groovy, and the whole Ron Burgundy/Step Brothers/Caddyshack vintage retro vibe and flavor.  In fact, Arroyo Trabuco is one of the most cozy places around.  Additionally, they double your fireplace pleasure with inside and outside hearths for romantic wine drinking and more.  Moreover, it's one of the Saddleback Valley's best kept secrets so get there and don't tell anyone!   Sail On: Yacht Rock in the Pandemic

Get Yachty with us and your favorite hits from Michael McDonald, Hall and Oates, England Dan and John Ford Coley, Boz Scaggs, Ambrosia, Looking Glass, Kenny Loggins, Lionel Richie, Wham, and so much more.  As you know, Yachty by Nature exudes smooth and we'll play your favorites and then shock the boat with a few deep cuts too.  Additionally, the YBN crew is always adding new songs and creative mash ups to amuse, stupend, and satisfy.  No worries, iceberg of smooth ahead, let's crash it!

More importantly, if you want to take it to the next level, wear your Yacht Attire. Likewise, those boat shoes, captains hats, bellbottoms, ascots, butterfly collars, golf pants, popped collars, etc. are more than welcome at this yacht party. As such, Arroyo Trabuco will be in full Yachty effect!  Call now to reserve your table.

http://www.arroyotrabuco.com

Stay classy Orange County!

#yachtrock #softrock #arroyotrabuco #oc #golfclub #caddyshack

Tustin is Getting Yachty!

Black Marlin is setting sail for some new adventures on June 24. It'll be a smooth pleasure cruise on a Sunday Funday at one of our favorite restaurants ever! Amazing food, great people, and what better than your Captains of Smooth to pilot the S.S. Yachty by Nature for a true ESCAPE from our day to day worries. It's gonna get GOOOOOOD. We love our times at the Black Marlin so get your reservation early. They had to lock the doors last time. Get in on the fun and climb aboard...whatever you do, don't miss the boat. Boat Shoes and Captains Hats are always encouraged, appreciated, and truly savored! Get Yachty with OC's favorite Yachtsmen!

Get your reservation in now!!!

#yachtrock #yachtybynature #blackmarlin #foodie #tustin

Born Free 10 Motorcycle Show will have us bringing the Yacht Party smooth to one of the best and biggest motorcycle shows in the US. They bring builders from all over to display their bikes and compete in the build-off.

Raffling off a Prism built Shovelhead Chopper motorcycle right after our set so don't miss out! Climb aboard and set sail for a new adventure. Sure to be a killer summer day with Southern California's #1 Yacht Rock band. Feel free to put on your best 70's vintage shirt and Ride Like the Wind to be free again!!!!! Let's Get Yachty!

Admission is $15 per day

https://www.bornfreeshow.com/

Oak Canyon Ranch 5305 Santiago Canyon Road Silverado Ca. 92676 Behind Irvine Lake in Orange County

#yachtrock #bornfree10 #boatsnhoes #bikeshow #yachtybynature #triumph #motorcycles

Tiki Bar presents Yachty by Nature in all it's smoothness.  Get onboard and Ride Like the Wind with Southern California's captains of smooth.  These crew of yachtsmen bring all the glory of the 70's and 80's soft rock movement to the stage ALL LIVE all the time.  No backing tracks shenanigans here, just 6 bitchin' dudes serving up the tasty harmonies, big vocals, and improvisational fun of those vinyl hits.  Hall and Oates, Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs, Christopher Cross, Eagles, Ambrosia, Rupert Holmes and so much more.

Yacht Attire always encouraged and a course for adventure always demanded!  Set your sights on the smooth grooves of Yacht Rock with us, you'll be dancin' like Lionel Richie...All Night Long!

#sailing #richgirl #lowdown #escape #babycomeback #yachtrock

https://tikibaroc.com/

SUMMER KICKOFF party! Summer Kickoff is on!  We're bringin SMOOTH back to Country Club in Costa Mesa on June 3 . In fact, our first time was a serious Joyride! Don't miss the boat as it'll get sexier still this time around. Southern California's hottest Yacht Rock band will take the stage for more fun. In addition, once again we'll have the smoothest Yacht Rock DJ, Tony Trunks in the mix as well. Of course, we'll have great food, great music, and the Country Club where EVERYONE is a member! Stay SMOOTH Southern California! Most importantly, Get Yachty with us. #joyride #yachtrock #countryclubcm #sundayfunday #3hourtour

Facebook Event :   https://www.facebook.com/events/1775160442504849/

Country Club website:   https://www.countryclubcm.com/

Summer Breeze has come and Memorial Day has signaled that Yacht Rock goes full time into swing especially among the coastal cities of Southern California (as if they hadn't already!). As such, Yachty by Nature is battening down the hatches and preparing to calm your rough seas with an escape to the Lido Deck with a host of libations. You know, whether it's Rosé, a Piña Colada, champagne, a spritzer, or just a Chardonnay, you'll want to Come Sail Away with us to the friendly shores of Summer time yacht rock.  Furthermore, to some it is a guilty pleasure but to us, Yacht Rock is a way of life!

In addition, feel free to wear your boat shoes, captain's hats, and otherwise resort attire to kickoff Summer and a season of Yacht Rock in all its glory. YBN will supply the smooth grooves and you supply those smooth moves on the dance floor. Free NO COVER charge. Get Smooth with Yachty by Nature. #yachtrock #smoothgrooves #smoothmoves #hotyacht

http://danapointstillwater.com/calendar/

Birthday time :)

COSTELLO'S in Mission Viejo Gets Yachty!

Always a fun one at the cozy confines of the neighborhood pub, Costello's in Mission Viejo. Yachty by Nature, OC's favorite Yacht Rock Tribute Band will bring the fun! Of course, we'll be turning it into a Yacht Club, Yacht Party and the Smooth Cruise for sure. Come listen to your favorite 70's and 80's grooves played LIVE. You just never know where the boat will turn. Yacht Funk, Yacht Soul, Yacht Folk, Yacht Pop, Yacht Rap...no matter what it's gonna be yachty. Wear your captains hats and boat shoes and make sure not to miss the boat! We'll rock you gently, All Night Long!

#yachtrock #softrock #yachtrockband #southerncalifornia #birthday

Taste of Anaheim

Taste of Anaheim is getting yachty this year! So, come enjoy the smooth sounds of Southern California's #1 Yacht Rock Band! You know, there's nothing better than LIVE yacht rock, great food, amazing libations, and YBN rockin' the yacht. In fact, let the groovy 70's and 80's tunes float your boat and celebrate the weekend with us. In addition, Boat Attire is always encouraged.  Finally, put on the captain's hat and set sail for the Taste of Anaheim. #yachtrock #tasteofanaheim #yachtybynature #softrock

TICKETS: https://www.tasteofanaheim.com/tickets/

Check out our song list:   https://yachtybynature.com/index.php/ybn-song-list/

Sea Legs is Gettin' Yachty.

BEACH, PLEASE!

OC's hottest Yacht Rock band is moving the Yacht Party to the BEACH! Last year we did a residency at House of Blues. This year, we'll spend the summer on the sand in Huntington Beach for your listening (and sailing) pleasures. In fact, life is truly a BEACH!

Ultimately, mark your calendar now to Get Yachty on the Beach with YBN. Our first date is Saturday, Sink-Oh de Mayo (May 5) from 2pm to 5pm. Come "Sink" a drink or two with us at the Yacht Party and get Ship Shape, Shipwrecked and otherwise Shipfaced for this epic California holiday. Importantly, we'll sink your battleship with an all out Yacht Rock 21 gun salute to SMOOTH.  song list

Yes, we're dropping anchor right in Surf City and the smooth pleasure cruise continues to get smoother-er. As always, we'll play all your favorite yacht rock hits from 1976 to 1984 from Michael McDonald, Toto, Steely Dan, Hall and Oates, Wham, Lionel Richie, Ambrosia, Christopher Cross, Boz Scaggs, and so much more. And, we'll do it LIVE. Six musicians playing all the notes...none of those backing tracks shenanigans.

Really no better way to rock the yacht than with the palm trees swaying, the VIP cabana rockin', the summer breeze in your hair and Yachty by Nature on the beach stage! Ticket link will be up soon.

Stay Classy Southern California...and, Anchors Aweigh!  https://www.sealegsatthebeach.com/events #yachtrock #sealegslive #sealegs #huntingtonbeach #yachtybynature #softrock #beachplease #oc #yachtrockband #cincodemayo

May the 4th Be With You!

OC's hottest Yacht Rock band, Yachty by Nature continues to bring the power of 70's and 80's smooth grooves to you. As such, we'll  channel Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia and definitely take a few Han Solos! Along with Star Wars' debut in 1977, it's perfect timing to play such stellar smoothness like Peg from Steely Dan that came out the same year. As always, we'll take you away to a simpler, sexier, and smoother time and escape to the buttery smoothness of Michael McDonald, Hall and Oates, Steely Dan, Ambrosia, Toto, and Boz Scaggs. Realize the power of the FOURTH by wearing your sweetest Boat Attire. And, Captains Hats and Boat Shoes are always encouraged!

And, the next day, we'll be rockin' on the sand with world famous DJ, Richard Blade, at Sea Legs at the Beach in Huntington Beach, CA.  Here's the lowdown on that concert:

https://yachtybynature.com/index.php/event/sea-legs-gettin-yachty/

http://danapointstillwater.com/

https://www.starwars.com/may-the-4th#

Get Your Groove on with Yachty by Nature for 4/20. We'll be taking the smooth pleasure cruise to Holiday in Costa Mesa. Killer new venue so prepare to Ride Like the Wind with OC's favorite yacht rock band. 70's and 80's smooth soft rock just like Lionel Richie...All Night Long. Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs, Hall and Oates, Ambrosia, Toto, Steely Dan and more. Yacht Attire is always appreciated!!! Anchors Aweigh!

Free Admission before 10pm and doors open at 7pm. #yachtrock #costamesa #yachtybynature #sailing #holidaycm

The Fifth OC in Anaheim brings in Yacht Rock superstars, Yachty by Nature to play 70's and 80's groovy soft rock All Night Long. Playing the Ron Burgundy playlist with all the same vibe and swagger. Reserve your table early for a yachty good time with us. Anaheim's only rooftop restaurant and bar will be setting sail for the evening and we'll supply all the fun and delicious music for the yacht party. In addition, we'll break in time to enjoy the Disneyland fireworks.  Experience the ONLY ALL LIVE yacht rock experience in Orange County!  #nobackingtracks

$10 cover charge. Here's the link to get your tickets now:

#thefifth #yachtrock #yachtybynature #thefifthoc

St. Patty's day afternoon on 3/17/18 start the yacht party early with Orange County's #1 Yacht Rock band. It'll be an all you can eat buffet of smooth soft rock . The 70's and 80's groovy playlist of your life will be the backdrop for an epic St. Patrick's Day! We'll double your pleasure by continuing the yacht party at night over at Stillwater in Dana Point. Come get yachty with your favorite yacht rock band and set a course for adventure.

#yachtrock #yachtybynature #softrock #costellosmv #stillwaterdp #stpatricksday

Country Club CM will be serving up the Yacht Party with Yachty by Nature on 2/10/18. The very BEST in Southern California Yacht Rock, this crew of seasoned sailors drop anchor from 1pm to 5pm. The Yacht Club, the Country Club, and the Yacht Party will unite for one great Sunday Funday!

We will happily champagne toast you with some Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs, Hall and Oates, Toto, Steely Dan, Ambrosia, and much more. Come Ride Like the Wind with us and celebrate an epic and yachty Sunday Funday. DJ Skeets will be spinnin' vinyl between our sets so make sure and set sail for PleasureTown with the HOTTEST Yacht Rock band in the Southland.

Arizona Strong Beer Festival 2/10/18 is gettin' Yachty!

Yachty by Nature is hittin' the road once again and bringing the Yacht Party to Arizona!!!!! The 18th annual Arizona Strong Beer Festival will be happening February 10, 2018. Yachty by Nature plays from 1230pm to 430pm. The yacht party will be in full effect with over 130 breweries representing. Yep, Arizona, where the beer will flow like wine, and the 70's and 80's yacht rock will be flowing like the Salmon of Capistrano!

Don't miss the boat Arizona! Yachty by Nature is the hottest yacht rock in Southern California! We'll be rockin' the yacht with your favorite soft rock hits from Michael McDonald, Toto, Steely Dan, Hall and Oates, Bee Gees, Ambrosia, Boz Scaggs, Kenny Loggins, and much much more! You'll be dancin' like Lionel Richie...All Night Long!

So, put on those boat shoes and captains hats and get your craft brew on, it's gonna be SMOOTH. And if you forget your captain's hat, just know we'll have the good ones on sale at the event. We only go with the best captain's hats by BRONER, super comfy, adjustable and awesome.

Check the schedule :) https://yachtybynature.com

And, most importantly, get your ticket to the event here at: https://arizonabeerweek.com/arizona-strong-beer-festival/

Part of a weeklong celebration of Beer Week. Now, who can't get behind something as awesome as that!

Las Vegas, Golf, and Yacht Rock! FREE SHOW All Ages  at Top Golf

Hey, Las Vegas! Yachty by Nature is BAAAAAACK!!!! Now, let's get ready for an evening of SMOOTH as you prepare to usher in a Yachty New Year!  You know, following up a smooth pleasure cruise earlier this year at Brooklyn Bowl Vegas, YBN is Back and has doubled its Saxual Pleasure in preparation for a delicious return to one of our favorite cities! In addition, your yacht attire will be appreciated as you grab a wine spritzer and knock a Driver to the fences.  As you know, you're gonna cruise to the luscious sounds of 70's and 80's yacht rock. In fact, Southern California's smoothest yacht rock band can't wait to Deck the Hall and Oates with YOU! TOP GOLF is a one-of-a-kind smooth golf experience and we'll be your one-of-a-kind Yacht Party to celebrate the end of one heckuva Yachtical Year. So, bring your Ron Burgundy apparel because it's time to stay classy, Las Vegas.

#yachtrock #yachtybynature #mgmlasvegas #topgolf #smoothsailing

Hornblower Cruise - featuring Yachty by Nature playing yacht rock all night. Newport Beach parade of lights will come alive with this yachty private event.  70's and 80's soft rock a la Hall and Oates, Michael McDonald, Ambrosia, Boz Scaggs, Christopher Cross, and much more.

Yacht Party at Swallow's Inn in San Juan Capistrano 2pm to 6pm on November 12, 2017 The only ALL LIVE Yacht Party in Southern California will be going off for a Sunday Funday at Swallow's Inn on November 12 from 2pm to 6pm with Yachty by Nature. We play all your favorite yacht rock hits from the 70's and 80's and a whole lot more. Rest assured, we play those hits all the way live so you don't have to wonder if the band is playing all those notes or not. We play it live every time, no backing tracks. This weekend there will be a band invading Orange County that can't play those hits live, they rely on smoke and mirrors and backing tracks to sound like the original. They press play and do it karaoke style. We play all the notes, LIVE. Don't settle for 2nd or 3rd class make believe when you can get your first class Yacht Rock the way it was made to be played: ALL LIVE ALL THE TIME.

Put on those boat shoes, your captains hat or any boat attire and join us for a very yachty sunday funday. The S.S. Yachty by Nature will set sail on a smooth pleasure cruise and take you directly to PleasureTown. Escape with us and drop your worries at the door, it's gonna be YachtTastic!

#yachtrock #yachtparty #allliveallthetime #swallowsinn

Boat shoes, wine spritzers, fab sunglasses, yachty shirts, blazers, ascots, Bee Gees hair, mustaches, smooth grooves...and ANTHONY'S BIRTHDAY!!!!

Roscoe's will be going off Friday night 10/27 so come out and kick off Tony Trunks' epic birthday weekend at Roscoe's Famous Deli. Dress to impress with your finest Boat Attire and prepare to dance like Lionel Richie...ALL NIGHT LONG! The Fullerton Yacht Club will be in full force and we'll be supplying those smooth 70's and 80's grooves to float your boat and take you straight to the Lido Deck for the smoothest ride possible. #yachtrock #yachty #fullerton #roscoes #yachtrocktober

www.yachtybynature.com for more information

Huntington Beach St. Bonaventure Parish Festival 10/8/17 from 6pm to 9pm

Yacht Rock in Huntington Beach @ the St. Bonaventure Parish Festival on October 8 with Yachty by Nature . We'll be finishing your Sunday Funday with a smooth pleasure cruise with Yachty by Nature!  Come enjoy the Smoothest Yacht Rock band in Southern California at an awesome event. Tons of fun to be had here, so put on that captains hat and grab a wine spritzer for smooth and groovy 70's and 80's soft rock. 

#sbfallfest2017 will be the place to be next weekend from October 6 - 8.  Get on board as the Yacht Party will start at 6pm and we'll be rockin' out to Michael McDonald, Hall and Oates, Steely Dan, Toto, Ambrosia, Lionel Richie, Christopher Cross and so much more!

The St. Bonaventure Fall Festival taking place from October 6th-8th is a decades-long tradition in Huntington Beach. Admission is FREE to this "mini OC fair" that includes dozens of games and food booths. With over 20 rides including The Zipper, Kamikaze, Gravitron, Mirror Maze, and rock wall as well as three nights of SoCal's best bands, this will be a weekend event not to miss.  Friday, October 6th - 5pm to 10pm . https://www.redneckrodeooc.com/ w Redneck Rodeo 6:30-9:30 Saturday, October 7th   http://www.thereflexx.com/ w The Reflexx 6:30-9:30 Sunday, October 8th  https://www.yachtybynature.com w Yachty By Nature 6pm - 9pm Admission: Free Ticket purchases required for games, rides, food and drink

Dana Point and Stillwater Spirits & Sounds will be Yacht Rockin' this Friday night, September 29, 2017. 

Orange County's FAVORITE Yacht Rock band is returning to the friendly confines!  We'll be dropping anchor at our favorite seaside bar and bringing SMOOTH back to Dana Point. Our top notch crew of Yacht Rock skippers will float your boat with all the smooth soft rock a yacht party could ask for. Unlike many bands, we play it LIVE every time. Just watch that keyboardist next time and see if he's really "playing" the solos on Rosanna or Africa...don't settle for the fake and phony bands that play backing tracks, that's what we call Yacht Karaoke!!!! Come sing along while we play LIVE yacht rock without the pretending. It's gonna be a smooth pleasure cruise, so bring your captain's hat and prepare to launch into the groovy 70's and 80's!

#stillwaterdp #danapoint #yachtrock #yachtybynature #smooth

http://danapointstillwater.com/v2014/

Romano's Concert Lounge in Riverside brings you Southern California's favorite Yacht Rock band, Yachty by Nature on Friday, June 16.

No doubt, all those kickass yacht rock hits from the 70's and 80's will float your boat as YBN takes the stage.  In fact, they play all your Hall and Oates, Steely Dan, Toto, Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs, Ambrosia, and Christopher Cross favorites from a groovier place and time.  Yachty by Nature takes you on a smooth pleasure cruise to those carefree days of the 70's and 80's and the fun of the yacht party and those singer/songwriter tunes that have you poppin' the champagne.

Don't miss out, YBN has been playing all the top live music venues in Southern California and we'll be droppin' anchor at one of the hottest.  Romano's killer stage and venue will be an epic display of our Yachty tunes, flair, and fun.  So, come join the yacht party and enjoy the guilty pleasure of some of the hottest vintage vibe around.  You won't find every band out there tackling these tunes and let alone playing them all 100% LIVE.  Most of the competition has to play these tunes with backing tracks.  For that reason, you'll get to indulge in the party but still appreciate the expert musicality and improv of a hot yacht rock band.

Resort attire, deck shoes, ascots, captain's hats are always appreciated but not mandatory.  And, certainly, for those about to DOCK, WE SALUTE YOUUUUU!  Can't wait to see you for an epic show and a fun-filled night of epic Yacht Rock.  Come get yachty with us and by all means, stay sexy!

#yachtrock #riverside #yachty #softrock #smooth #captainsofsmooth #bakerstreet #saxappeal #forthoseabouttodock #yachtybynature #boatshoes #deckshoes #resort #resortattire #70s #80s #getyachty #captain #gettinyachty #yachton #ahoy #yachtclub

Party on the Beach with Yachty by Nature!

Yacht Rock in the capital of Yacht Rock History! Marina del Rey is throwin' it back to 1978 and Yachty by Nature will be the Time Machine bringin' only the BEST in Yacht Rock favorites from the 70's and 80's. So, get your groove on at Yacht Rock's ground zero and Get Yachty with Southern California's favorite Yacht Rock experience! Come down and bask in the beauty of a stage at Mother's Beach and live Yacht Rock sending you back to the glory days of retro Marina del Rey. Yes, we'll rock the yacht with classics from Michael McDonald, Hall and Oates, Steely Dan, Toto, Ambrosia, Christopher Cross, Kenny Loggins and so much more. In fact, it will be a smooth pleasure cruise that you won't want to miss. Los Angeles and its beaches will come alive with AM Gold. Pop the champagne and let the smooth grooves flow!

LA’s Marina is turning into a pop-up arts district on June 10, 2017, with the debut of a new community festival called ARTsea. Marina Beach will be bursting with creative activity, including art installations, mini galleries, interactive workshops, live music, KCRW DJ Anthony Valadez, dance performances, food trucks, and more. The Beach Shuttle, Free Ride, and WaterBus will be in service during this event, making it easy for festival-goers to commute from remote parking lots to Marina Beach. Stay tuned for more details as we get closer to the event. FREE ADMISSION!

Come get Yachty with us, Los Angeles!  #yachtrock #yachty #marina #yacht #marinadelrey #artsea #mothersbeach #losangeles #yachtybynature #sailing #smooth #stayyachty #captainsofsmooth

http://www.visitmarinadelrey.com/events/art-sea/

Yacht Rock Band extraordinaire, Yachty by Nature will take the stage and bring the yacht party to kick off Yucaipa's Music & Arts Festival on May 5, 2017 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. We'll set sail for groovy 70's and 80's soft rock and have you dancin' in the streets. We are the SMOOTHEST yacht rock band in Southern California and we play it all 100% LIVE. Enjoy the tunes, and put on your captain's hats and boat shoes and make it a smooth Pleasure Cruise with us!

Yacht Rock epitomizes the California sound of the 1970's and 1980's. Palm trees swaying, boat parties, Marina del Rey around 1978, Ron Burgundy, polyester, aviator glasses, mustaches, captain's hats, sweet boat shoes, hawaiian shirts, panama hats, champagne, pina coladas, Caddyshack, yacht clubs, country clubs and the beautiful sounds of singer/songwriter music provide the ambient mood for your smooth grooves.

Some of the artists we love to cover are:  Hall and Oates, Steely Dan, Christopher Cross, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Toto, Ambrosia, the Eagles, Billy Joel, Looking Glass, Rupert Holmes, Robbie Dupree, Ace, Steve Miller, Lionel Richie, and much more!

Please join us in downtown Yucaipa for a Yachty good time and the best music to have at a Yacht Party. We'll be playing all your favorites from the glorious 70's and 80's and busting out some serious sax appeal. Can't wait to see you for one groovy cruise!

The Yucaipa Music & Arts Festival will feature some amazing talent after we kick it off! Fuel, Candlebox, Dishwalla, Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers, and James Wesley will be rockin' the stage the rest of the weekend. The festival will be located at 35100 Yucaipa Blvd., Yucaipa, CA in the Historic Uptown part of town. There will be plenty of food and merchandise vendors as well as a Beer Garden, Artist Boulevard, and so much more. It's going to be a HUGE music weekend in Yucaipa! YACHT ON!

#yachtrock #yachtparty #fuel #dishwalla #candlebox #rodpiazza #concert #yucaipa #yachtconcert #yachtybynature #yachtybynature1 #yachty #softrock #yacht #sailing #cruise #pleasurecruise #smoothcruise #smoothrock

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5,286 Rock The Yacht Stock Photos & High-Res Pictures

Browse 5,286 rock the yacht photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images..