Anyone into this type of music? You know, artists like Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross, Toto, etc. and their output in the late 70s, early 80s.

This was sparked after the "'Lite' music you actually like" thread.

I notice that I really enjoyed Christopher Cross' "Sailing" and The Doobie Brothers' "What A Fool Believes" and I even come to find that Michael Jackson's "Human Nature" is considered yacht rock [performers in that track included Toto and was co-written by Steve Porcaro].

That led to the discovery of a TV series called Yacht Rock -- which pays homage to this style of music popular from 1976 - 1984. Anyone one ever watch or heard of this show?




Episode Guide

1. "What a Fool Believes"

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

2. "Keep the Fire"

Loggins and McDonald pair up against the duo Hall & Oates for a songwriting competition. Koko Goldsteis accidentally killed during the ensuing brawl.

3. "I'm Alright"

An entertainment executive behind the movie Caddyshack demands that the movie's director, Harold Ramis, obtain Kenny Loggins' talents to write the movie's theme song. The rift between Loggins and McDonald widens with Loggins' acceptance of harder rock elements to his musical style.

4. "Rosanna"

Steve Porcaro, the keyboard player of the band Toto, is encouraged by his girlfriend, Rosanna Arquette, to write a song about her, and she wants him to have Michael McDonald sing on the track. Porcaro devises a three-step plan to make it happen. They fail to enlist McDonald, but the song is such a hit that it nonetheless allows Porcaro to seduce Rosanna, and McDonald finally legitimates Toto as blending smooth music with hard rock.

5. "Believe in It"

Toto has been commissioned to write a smooth song for Michael Jackson's Thriller, but Jackson rejects the band, believing that such material is in his past. Fearing that Jackson will destroy "smooth music" for a decade, Porcaro turns to McDonald for help. McDonald and Loggins reconcile in time to perform a ritual with the help of Skunk Baxter, Christopher Cross and Vincent Price, culminating in summoning to ghost of Koko to influence Jackson.

6. "The Seed Drill"

"Hollywood" Steve's father demands that Steve stop wasting his time on Yacht Rock, and regales a historic tale of Jethro Tull. Most scenes mirror the first episode in a mediavel setting.

7. "I Keep Forgettin'"

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

8. "Gino (the Manager)"

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

9. "Runnin' with the Devil"

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

10. "FM"

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

I've seen some of the Yacht Rock clips.
I stumbled into them some time ago when searching for some SD info.
They're hilarious.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

Ya, it's wild. The creator of the series had this to say about his inspiration for the series:

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

I was prepared to call this music 70s AM Lite Music, but this TV series changes everything.

If indeed you are not putting us all on (in which case, kudos), when/where the hell did this show air?!?!

What's with all the Mellow Gold threads lately?

Anx said:

Could be wrong, but I got the impression that this was just an internet show.

http://www.yachtrock.com/


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

Didn't elaborate on this aspect enough.

Yacht Rock is a series of short films that were first hosted in the Channel 101 film fest in Los Angeles. Channel 101 bills itself as "the unavoidable future of entertainment" and it lets "programmers" (basically those who show up to the event) pick the shows and episodes they want to watch. It's held @ Cinespace on Sunset and in nightclubs sometimes.

Each episode of the "series" is about 5 minutes in length and filmmakers return for the next screening much in the same way TV programs are rated and managed.

So it's DIY "television." And, yep, the episodes all available at the YachtRock.com website for your pleasure.

I've posted this before but this is my favorite one.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=M6MAoDEKJdM

Mara said:

I love it!

carlcranshaw said:

That episode is funny as hell.

That was like one huge extended "more cowbell" episode. frickin' hilarious!