The S.S. Smooth: 20 Yacht Rock Essentials with Yacht Rock Revue
My Weekly Mixtape: Music Discovery & Nostalgia · Brian Colburn
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Show Notes
Ahoy — we’re pushing off into sun-soaked harmonies, impossibly smooth grooves, and songs that sound best with a drink sweating in your hand. This week, I’m joined by Nick Niespodziani and Peter Olson of Yacht Rock Revue, the band that’s helped turn yacht rock from a punchline into a full-on revival, to chart a course through 20 essential yacht rock tracks that define the sound.
From timeless AM gold to deep-cut smooth rock, we’re curating what one of the amazing Patreon Mixtapers called “the yachtiest rock to ever rock a yacht.” We dig into what actually qualifies as yacht rock — pristine studio craftsmanship, blue-eyed soul, West Coast soft rock, and hooks polished to a high gloss — while celebrating the artists who perfected it. Think Steely Dan, Michael McDonald, Hall & Oates, Toto, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross, and other architects of that effortlessly cool late-’70s / early-’80s sweet spot where rock, pop, R&B, and jazz quietly shook hands.
Along the way, Yacht Rock Revue brings insider perspective on why these songs have endured, how they’ve found new life with younger audiences, and what makes a track truly seaworthy versus merely smooth-adjacent.
We also take a deep album dive into Yacht Rock Revue’s 21-track concept record Escape Artist—which blends nostalgia with fresh new Yacht Rock sounds.
Whether you’re a longtime yacht rock devotee or just discovering why these songs refuse to fade with the sunset, this playlist is built for open water, open roads, and maximum mellow.
Climb aboard — the vibes are immaculate, and the captain’s got excellent taste.
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