Tag: Soft Rock
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Bruce Hornsby and The Range ‘Scenes From The Southside’ (1988)
Unlike many folks who identify New Years Eve as the beginning of the year, for me that process starts during Thanksgiving. It’s a day of identifying the things you’re thankful for certainly, but it’s also a moment for reflecting on the journey you took over the past year and a reminder that another year awaits…
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Lana Del Rey ‘Norman Fucking Rockwell’ (2019)
I’ve always understood how Lana Del Rey could be beloved by so many but never understood why she was so beloved if that makes sense. The cinematic qualities of her music, classic Americana nostalgic undertones, and romantic sentimentality of her music felt incredibly compelling at face value. But there was always something that felt sort…
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Three Dog Night ‘Harmony’ (1971)
Three Dog Night rose to prominence in the late 1960s and dominated the charts throughout the early ’70s with a string of polished radio-friendly hits. The band’s had a pretty unique identity in that they had a three-lead-singer format which gave their sound a versatility few groups outside of the Eagles could match. At their…
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Steely Dan ‘Gaucho’ (1980)
For all intents and purposes Walter Becker and Donald Fagen from Steely Dan were psychopaths. These dudes completely redefined what the word meticulous means during their grueling studio sessions, displaying an obsession with perfectionism that basically dragged everyone involved along with them down into a never-ending rabbit hole. The recording of Gaucho is probably the…
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Kenny Loggins ‘Keep The Fire’ (1979)
Kenny Loggins’ Keep The Fire is a prime example of the smooth, radio-friendly sound that defined the yacht rock genre, blending polished production, breezy melodies, and Loggins’ signature sweet vocals. It was an album that solidified Loggins as one of the era’s defining artists, effortlessly straddling pop and soft rock with a touch of funk.…
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Saturday Night Fever ‘Original Soundtrack’ (1977)
Few acts have navigated pop music’s shifting tides with the chameleonic brilliance of the Bee Gees, a trio whose harmonies could cut through the thickest disco fog or glide over baroque balladry with equal finesse. Rising from the shadow of the Beatles in the ’60s to become the glittering architects of the ’70s dancefloor, their…
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Steely Dan ‘Can’t Buy A Thrill’ (1972)
Steely Dan’s lead singer Donald Fagen’s obsession with songwriting is the stuff of legend, a tireless pursuit of the perfect chord progression and lyric that helped define the sound of 70s rock. Known for his meticulous perfectionism in the studio, Fagen approached music like an alchemist, blending elements from jazz, rock, and pop to create…
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Elton John ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ (1973)
By the early 1970s Elton John was already a cultural phenomenon. His self-titled debut and Honky Chateau had already accelerated his rise from London’s pub scene to international superstardom. All of the elements that made him one of the defining artists of the past 50 years were beginning to truly bloom– his flamboyant stage presence,…
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Savage Garden ‘Savage Garden’ (1997)
Savage Garden’s “Truly Madly Deeply” is up there for me as one of the better pop love songs of all-time for the sole reason that it came at a pretty formative point in my life. Whether you want to call it my band boy phase or something else a little less accusatory (although boy band…
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Gordon Lightfoot ‘If You Could Read My Mind’ (1970)
Gordon Lightfoot’s has an enduring appeal that stems from a rather extraordinary gift for melody and his captivating storytelling. With a career spanning over six decades he carved a unique space in folk and pop music, seamlessly blending poetic lyrics with an accessibility that gave him an everyman type feel. He was considerate and not…
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Eagles ‘One of These Nights’ (1975)
Eagles’ One of These Nights is a masterclass example of studio alchemy, a pivotal moment that reshaped the band’s trajectory and left an indelible mark on 70s rock. Recorded at Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles, the album emerges from a tumultuous period for the band, who were grappling with internal friction and the pressures…
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Player ‘Player’ (1977)
Player’s self-titled debut album introduced listeners to the band’s smooth blend of soft rock that would be featured on yacht rock playlists for years to come. Featuring a polished sound and sophisticated production, the album is best known for its hit single “Baby Come Back” which effectively defines yacht rock for me– catchy melodies, harmonies…
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Bertie Higgins ‘Just Another Day In Paradise’ (1982)
I was legitimately obsessed for Bertie Higgins song “Key Largo” about five years ago, around the time my first child was born. And when I say obsessed I mean obsessed– I played it about three times a day for an entire calendar month and it ended up on my Spotify Wrapped at the end of…
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Looking Glass ‘Looking Glass’ (1972)
When my wife and I were first seriously dating she played me Looking Glass’ hit single “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)”. I don’t remember if I had ever heard the song before, either on a yacht rock radio station or otherwise, but what I do remember is that I’ll never forget that moment. The way…
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Chris Isaak ‘Heart Shaped World’ (1989)
Chris Isaak’s blend of moody rockabilly drenched in reverb and magic dust is a haunting blend. Heart Shaped World features a sort of expertise for uncanny world-building that is immediately gripping the moment you first hear it. It sounds like a live concert put on by a 50’s rock and roll band taking place in…
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Steve Winwood ‘Arc of a Diver’ (1980)
As a member of some of my favorite classic rock bands from the late 60’s (Blind Faith and Traffic), I’ve always been a massive stan for Steve Winwood. His gloriously high and rich tenor voice, his ability to play multiple instruments, and his emphasis on writing songs that prioritize the groove above all else have…
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HAIM ‘Days Are Gone’ (2013)
HAIM’s brand of pop rock that harkens back to the days of Fleetwood Mac and the Doobie Brothers was somewhat of a revelation in 2013. The trio of sisters, who grew up together in a music-loving family and formed a family band that played at local county fairs alongside their parents, made R&B infused soft…
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Simply Red ‘Picture Book’ (1985)
As far as debut albums go, Picture Book is an absolute beauty. Fusing the classic sounds of 1960’s Motown with the reverb and synth-driven hooks of 80’s soft rock, Simply Red turned in a soulful take on R&B that has stood the test of time as an 80’s classic. Lead singer Mick Hucknall’s vocal lines…
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Boz Scaggs ‘Silk Degrees’ (1976)
Silk Degrees remains one of my personal soft rock powerhouse albums, one of those old go-to’s when you’re looking for an emotional pick me up. It has all the elements that comprise a timeless album– immaculately crafted pop hooks, dynamics you can only get with a live band studio recording, sultry saxophone solos, gallant grooves…
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The Alan Parsons Project ‘Eye In The Sky’ (1982)
For those unfamiliar with The Alan Parsons Project you’ll immediately recognize the first song off Eye In The Sky entitled “Sirius”. It’s ubiquitous with American sporting events, first becoming popular during the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls dynasty in the 1990’s and later as any introduction during an entrance to any big sporting event, and it…
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Journey ‘Frontiers’ (1983)
Not to be a contrarian, but Journey’s best song isn’t “Don’t Stop Believin’”. It’s a total banger and an iconic late night closing down the bar song, but the distinct honor of best Journey song undoubtedly goes to “Separate Ways (Worlds Away)” which kicks off their 1983 album Frontiers. It features all the best Journey…
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Don Henley ‘The End of The Innocence’ (1989)
When I was young Don Henley’s song “The End of The Innocence” played a pivotal role in establishing my love for music. The thematic subject matter about getting older and losing the carefree life of being at home with your parents spoke to me in a visceral way, serving as sort of a reminder that…
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Glen Campbell ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’ (1975)
Rhinestone Cowboy sounds like a cowboy from Arkansas moved to Beverley Hills in the 70’s and wrote a bunch of theme songs for sitcoms and game shows during his time in Los Angeles. I can literally see the introduction credits in my head– character in various locations going about their day, noticing the camera, and…
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Ambrosia ‘One Eighty’ (1980)
When you have an album that features a grand total of four vocalists carrying lead vocal duties throughout the entire album you know you’re in for a soft rock treat. Ambrosia’s 1980 effort One Eighty celebrates those soft rock bonafides in a tight and concise package, deftly incorporating elements of yacht rock and anthemic 80’s…
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Carole King ‘Tapestry’ (1971)
No list of the greatest songwriters of all-time is complete (or even worth reading) without a mention of Carole King. She is one of the most successful female songwriters in history, writing 118 hits that cracked the Billboard Hot 100 over her sixty-year career, earning her two separate inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall…
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Christopher Cross ‘Christopher Cross’ (1979)
Yacht rock holds an incredibly special place in my heart. The smooth production style, the gorgeous three-part vocal harmonies, the sultry smooth rhythm sections, the saxaphones and synths– it’s all just so wonderfully easy to listen to. This is a sub-genre of music I’ve loved forever, became relatively obsessed with when I got Sirius XM…
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Phil Collins ‘…But Seriously’ (1989)
For a lot of people Phil Collins is known for two things— being the “Lion King guy” and for his absolutely thunderously epic drum fill on his most popular song “In The Air Tonight.” For others, it’s the duet “Easy Lover” that he did with Philip Bailey of Earth Wind and Fire (a song that…
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Barbra Streisand ‘Guilty’ (1980)
If you had to make a list of top entertainment icons of all-time there’s no doubt Barbra Streisand is somewhere at the top of that list. Over her six decade career Streisand has cemented herself in history as a rare winner of the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony), sold over 150 million records (!!!), and…
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Bruce Hornsby and The Range ‘The Way It Is’ (1986)
Bruce Hornsby is one of my favorite piano players of all-time. Everything he plays has this undeniable quality of sentimentality. It’s in his melancholic chord choices, his delicate phrasing, and the glistening tone of his piano. It’s perfect. Hearing Hornsby play I always get a feeling of homesick longing. It’s a feeling of missing something…
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Michael Bolton ‘Time, Love & Tenderness’ (1991)
It’s not necessarily en vogue to love the music of Michael Bolton but I seriously can’t get enough of the guy. Every other vocal line he delivers is completely over the top and it’s absolutely great. The dude has tone for days and a gritty high end to his voice that makes every song he…
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Orleans ‘Waking and Dreaming’ (1976)
Orleans is one of those “your favorite band’s, band” kinda, well, band. Their eclectic blend of pop, yacht rock, blues, and Dixieland jazz led to some pretty massive hits in the 1970’s, the most prominent being “Still The One” which is featured on this record and at one point was actual the damn theme song…
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