yacht rock one hit wonders

Feature: The 101 GREATEST YACHT ROCK SONGS OF ALL TIME for Your Summer Playlist - featuring Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross and Steely Dan

What Yacht Rock Classic Hit #1?

Yacht Rock is not for everyone. If you like your rock Cannibal Corpse intense or your hip hop extra Onyx edgy, then Yacht Rock will indubitably be your Kryptonite.

Some people consider this genre akin to musical wallpaper, marshmallow fluff, whiter-than-white bread snore-tunes or sax-heavy Sominex-inducing elevator muzak. They consider it slick, soulless pablum, even though true Yacht Rock vibrates with liveliness. Yes, it can be slow but it should never be sleepy; it should be relaxed and chill but never boring. Unfortunately, it's oft mistaken for any East Listening or Adult Contemporary tune (although, to be fair, many of the songs on this list do fall in these categories). But true Yacht Rock will not cause you to yawn; so don't worry, you won't find Air Supply, Barry Manilow or Dan Fogelberg anywhere near one of these rockin' yachts.

But what exactly is "Yacht Rock"? For those who don't know, it includes pop-rock songs from the late 1970's/early 1980's that would sound great on a yacht as you sip your pina coladas and get caught in the rain. Yacht Rock was not designed as thus; forty years ago, these songs that joyously filled the airwaves were called "soft rock" or "blue-eyed soul." It wasn't until the early 2000's when the term "Yacht Rock" was coined and the genre's guidelines were determined by the great J. D. Ryznar, Steve Huey, Hunter Stair, and David Lyons. Now it's everywhere, including on your SiriusXM radio app where a really bad Thurston Howell III soundalike introduces these Doobie-bounced ditties.

How can you identify a potential Yacht Rock classic? You can use Justice Potter Stewart's famous "I know it when I see it" (or, in this case, "hear it") dictum. To my ears, Yacht Rock is slick as an oil spill, part smooth pop, part light rock, both funky and jazzy. Most of the songs have tight harmonies, strong background singers (oftentimes sounding like Michael McDonald lost in an echo chamber), with added horns or strings. It's not lounge music, but it's music to lounge to. It's not disco, so you don't dance to it, but it's music where you can't help but tap your feet.

The joy of Yacht Rock is just that...its joyousness. This is bubblegum music for the jet set or the wannabe Richie Rich's. Its delightfully shallow, and part of its vibrancy is that it doesn't have a bad thought in its head. (Some of the songs obviously don't have any thoughts in their head, but if you want to have an intellectually stimulating conversation about, say, Toto's "Georgy Porgy," then have at it.) But never forget that part of its charm lies in its inability for deeper analysis; it's quite a stretch to compare some of these songs to a Winslow Homer painting or a Thomas Pynchon novel, but I'll try.

Officially, to be considered Yacht Rock, the song must have been released between 1976 and 1984, and I adhere to this rule for the 101. That means no songs that are proto-Yacht Rock, such as Seals & Crofts' "Summer Breeze," Ace's "How Long," or Steely Dan's "Dirty Work," are included. Neither did post-yacht rock favorites ("fire keepers") like Michael McDonald's "Sweet Freedom" (1986) get a chance. Some singers or groups, who are nowhere near Yacht Rock when looking at their oeuvre, may have a single YR classic in their midst; artists like Michael Jackson, Andy Gibb, the Eagles, and Earth, Wind and Fire have at least one Yacht Rock goodie on the list. And then there are those tunes that are not Yacht Rock: Nyacht Rock, which I tried but failed to avoid, but debates will happen nonetheless. For example, is "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" true Yacht Rock? Purists may say no, but I think there are few songs more yachty than the Rupert Holmes earworm.

Who would be on the Yacht Rock Mount Rushmore? Certainly Michael McDonald, whose presence is everywhere on this list with the Doobie Brothers, solos, duets, and as a backing vocalist on many of these tunes; he has 8 entries (not counting his prolific background singing). Kenny Loggins also epitomizes the genre (with 4 songs on the list, plus he co-wrote the #1 tune), as does Christopher Cross (with 5 songs on the list). But who gets that final position? Steely Dan (6 songs), Toto (6 songs), or Boz Scaggs (5 songs)? I'll let you try to settle on the filling of the fourth Rushmore slot.

And shouldn't there be a Yacht Rock Broadway musical? There are Yacht Rock tours, online series, books, websites, radio stations, podcasts, Spotify playlists; why not an official jukebox musical?

Lastly, you may ask: What makes me, a theatre reviewer, a Yacht Rock expert? For starters, I lived through these songs during my teenage years; they are the soundtrack of my younger self, especially when listening to Casey Kasem every Sunday morning on American Top-40 on CK-101. No matter how cheesy, I have a place in my heart for them. And on my 60 th birthday, I hope to rent a yacht, invite friends, don an ascot and captain's hat, and while enjoying mounds of caviar, listen to the soothing sounds of my youth. I'll use this list, my YACHT ROCK 101, as our guide, and hopefully you will too. (And hopefully if a song is unfamiliar to you, then you'll seek it out on You Tube or Spotify.) So, without further ado, counting down Kasem-style from #101 to #1, let's climb aboard...

THE 101 GREATEST YACHT ROCK SONGS!

101. NOTHIN' YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT [Airplay; 1980; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: N/A]

We start our three-hour tour here, Mr. Howell, with Airplay's little-known yachter, "Nothin' You Can Do About It," featuring David Foster, who peppers much of the following 101, and Jay Graydon, who played guitar on the Yacht Rock classic, "Peg." And as you'll find in so many songs here, the session musicians from Toto play the instruments and lift this horn-pocked One-Off into the stratosphere. It's poppy and breezy and everything that a YR hit should be. And its lyrics could be the Yacht Rock credo: "Relax; enjoy the ride!"

100. GEORGY PORGY [Toto; 1978; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #48]

This sounds like an outtake from a lost Boz Scaggs album. I have a place deep (very deep) in my heart for this. Yes, it's annoying, and Cheryl "Got to Be Real" Lynn's "Georgy Porgy, pudding pie/Kissed the girls and made them cry" refrain will get horrifically stuck in your head, but my oh my, how I love its glorious badness. (Some might claim that this isn't Yacht Rock, it's Yuck Rock.) No other chart would dare unearth this lost remnant that many think should remain lost, but it's too late baby, yes, it's too late. And if you want a sign of the coming Apocalypse: The endearingly ridiculous "Georgy Porgy" is more popular and beloved now than when it was first released.

99. THE THEME FROM "THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO" (BELIEVE IT OR NOT) [Joey Scarbury; 1981; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #2]

Yacht Rock songs are usually called "likable," which is sort of a masked insult. When you can't think of something nice to say, you usually fall back on "likable," which doesn't mean you like it; it just means someone out there may like it. And "The Theme from 'The Greatest American Hero'" is certainly likable; it's maybe the only thing we remember from the otherwise forgotten William Katt TV series, which lasted three seasons. For "Seinfeld" fans, George's use of it on his answering machine in "The Susie" episode put the song on a level way above its pay grade. Just last year, it also showed up (with "Seinfeld's" Jason Alexander) in a Tide commercial. So, this song has planted its flag in our more current pop culture landscape; perhaps it and the roaches will be the only things to survive the end of the world. Believe it or not.

98. INTO THE NIGHT [Benny Mardones; 1980; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #11]

97. WE JUST DISAGREE [Dave Mason; 1977; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #12]

96. KEY LARGO [Bertie Higgins; 1982; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #8]

95. ESCAPE (THE PINA COLADA SONG) [Rupert Holmes; 1979; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #1]

These four songs, including one #1 hit, will cause arguments from purists; they score them low on the official Yacht Rock scale and label them the dreaded Nyacht Rock. But I think each of them deserve to be on the list, even if this low. Benny Mardones was a key part of one of my high school experiences as the special musical guest for 1981's Grad Night at Disney World; I remember hearing "Into the Night" into the nighttime distance and knowing that I was in the right place at the right time. (And I take the song's narrator as a teenager crooning about a girl-because with lines like "she's just sixteen years old/Leave her alone, they say," it's just too creepily cringy to contend with otherwise.) "We Just Disagree" builds as the best Yacht Rock songs do, even if it may be too gloomy in subject matter (the breaking up of a relationship). "Key Largo" by Tampa Bay area native Bertie Higgins may be more Tropical Rock than Yacht Rock, but it's yachty enough to make the cut; besides, who can resist the Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall allusions? And Rupert Holmes's "Escape," the last word in 70's pop, is what many people think of when they read the term "Yacht Rock." And yes, it may be excessively wordy for the genre, complete with a twist ending, but to leave it off the list entirely would be a pop culture misdemeanor if not a crime. For the purists who will not escape the strict Yacht Rock guidelines and unnecessarily nix great and yachty songs like these, then we just disagree.

94. YAH-MO BE THERE [James Ingram with Michael McDonald; 1983; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #19]

A Yacht Rock staple and the first appearance of the ubiquitous Mr. McDonald on our list. I'm sure more than one person agrees with Paul Rudd from the move The 40-Year-Old Virgin when he, having McDonald's songs on a continuous loop at his work place, exclaims, "...If I hear 'Yah-Mo Be There' one more time, I'm gonna 'yah mo' burn this place to the ground!"

93. BREEZIN' [George Benson; 1976; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #63]

The first of two instrumentals on the list and the initial Yacht Rock sighting of George Benson. I mentioned earlier that none of these songs should be compared to paintings by Winslow Homer, but if any comes close, it's this one, especially Homer's "Breezin' Up." Try looking at the painting and hearing the Benson hook at the same time, and I'll see you in the morning.

92. FOOLISH HEART [Steve Perry; 1984; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #8]

Although Steve Perry is more famous as the onetime front man for Journey, and for making "Don't Stop Believin'" the most overplayed track from the Eighties, this is his sole entry into my Yacht Rock 101. His smooth voice haunts this with an uber-emotional yearning that seldom finds its way onto the feel-good vibes found elsewhere on this list.

91. 99 [Toto; 1979; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #26]

Chalk up another inspiration from a George Lucas film, although not the film you may think it is. Star Wars may be Lucas' biggest achievement, but this song takes its idea from the seldom-seen Lucas cult hit, THX 1138 , which is dystopian cold in feeling. That such a stark story (losing your identity and only being known as numbers) gets the smooth pop-light Toto treatment can only be construed as ironic.

90. ONE STEP CLOSER [The Doobie Brothers; 1980; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #24]

The Doobie Brothers' last gasp of the Michael McDonald era before our bearded musical Michelangelo would meander into a solo career.

89. HARD HABIT TO BREAK [Chicago; 1984; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #3]

Love is an addictive drug that lasts years in this beautiful if not overwrought ballad produced by David Foster.

88. DO RIGHT [Paul Davis; 1979; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #23]

A rare example of RYR: Religious Yacht Rock. Certainly the most unabashedly Christian song on the list, its opening lines like something out of an old Jim and Tammy Bakker telecast from the early 1980's: " I know that he gave his life for me/Set all our spirits free/So I want to do right, want to do right/All of my life ..." Musically it has a total yacht quality, a toe-tapping buoyant drive, that didn't stop it from being the 10 th biggest Adult Contemporary Christian hit of 1980.

87. DON'T TALK TO STRANGERS [Rick Springfield; 1982; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #2]

A year after "Jessie's Girl," Rick Springfield nearly hit the top of the charts with this Yacht Rock plea of jealous rage (though Springfield's demeanor doesn't come across as "rage"; he seems disdainful but laid back, which is why this perfectly fits the YR mold). It's too much fun to rival "Every Breath You Take" in the paranoid Top-10 hit department. Make sure not to miss the lyrics in French near the song's end which are there because...well, I don't know exactly why they're there, but I appreciate the nod to Francophiles.

86. WAITING FOR YOUR LOVE [Toto; 1982; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #73]

This is Toto's third song in the 101, paving way for claims that they should be the final slot on the Yacht Rock Mount Rushmore. "Waiting for Your Love" may not have hit big, stalling at a disappointing #73 on the charts, but has since been cited as one of Toto's greatest songs.

85. IT KEEPS YOU RUNNIN' [The Doobie Brothers; 1976; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #37]

Michael McDonald's soulful vocals and the band's mesmerizingly funky rhythm catapult this entry into the stratosphere. Yes, it was shoved onto the soundtrack of Forrest Gump , but its Yacht Rock status comes from it being featured in another film (and soundtrack that is a Yacht Rock purist's dream): the forgotten film FM (which spawned an even higher entry on this list...Steely Dan's infectious title cut).

84. LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ME [Boz Scaggs; 1980; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #14]

Boz Scaggs wasn't born with the name "Boz." Actually born William Royce Scaggs, he got the nickname "Boz" after someone kept wrongly referring to him as "Bosley" at St. Marks Academy. And with a name like "Boz," Yacht Rock elite status was certainly destined. In the 1970's, Scaggs would perfect that laid back soft rock sound with a slight funky beat, the quintessence of Yacht Rock. This song, slower than most on this list, would become his big reaching-for-the-stars power pop ballad, and it didn't hurt that it was featured in a John Travolta film (Urban Cowboy).

83. KISS YOU ALL OVER [Exile; 1978; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #1]

It's hard to imagine that learned people that I deeply admire have a difficult time including this as a Yacht Rock staple. With synthesized strings and inspired by the grizzly growling org*smic sound of Barry White in "It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me," "Kiss You All Over" was voted ninth in Billboard's 2010 list of "The 50 Sexiest Songs of All Time" (for the record, "Physical" was #1).

82. BABYLON SISTERS [Steely Dan; 1980; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: N/A]

Dante-esque tour of California, with the jaded Yacht Kings, Steely Dan, playing the part of Virgil as your guide. Singing backup on this track, crooning those haunting words "Here comes those Santa Ana winds again," is none other than Patti Austin, who will be even more involved with another Yacht Rock classic that you'll find further down the list [see "Baby, Come to Me"]. A delicious downer.

81. SMOKE FROM A DISTANT FIRE [Sanford Townsend Band; 1977; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #9]

One of the great One Hit Wonders of the 1970's.

80. HOLD THE LINE [Toto; 1978; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #5]

The song that put the session musicians of Toto on the map and the fourth of their hits to make our 101.

79. TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS [The Doobie Brothers; 1976; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #13]

The world was introduced to Michael McDonald as a Doobie right here, their first song written by him for the Doobie's and with him on lead vocals. And thus, the King of Yacht Rock started his reign. Also, who can forget the 1978 episode of "What's Happening" with Rerun illegally recording the Doobie's singing this very song?

78. KEEP THE FIRE [Kenny Loggins; 1979; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #36]

Mr. and Mrs. Howell, let me introduce you to our next entry...Kenny Loggins with his very own Herbie Hancock-inspired vocoder long before it was in vogue.

77. ISN'T IT TIME [The Babys; 1977; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #13]

Michael Corby's opening piano, backed with syrupy violins, leads way to John Waite's oxymoronic soft bombastic vocals and Tony Brock's pulsating drum work. Lisa Freeman-Roberts, Myrna Matthews and Pat Henderson get their gospel groove on while backing Waite's hearty screech in this scrumptious pop treat.

76. YOU CAN'T CHANGE THAT [Raydio; 1979; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #9]

A cool breeze of a song by Ray Parker Jr. & Co., one of the few Yacht Rock light-soul classics that you can dance to, though it's way too laid back to be considered disco. A song that immediately puts you in a good mood no matter how bad your day had been previously.

75. LIDO SHUFFLE [Boz Scaggs; 1976; Chart Position on the Billboard 100: #11]

Boz again, with this ode to a drifter looking for some luck. The galvanizing music would be created by none other than David Paich (keyboards), David Hungate (bass), and Jeff Porcaro (drums), all of them future members of Toto. Whoa-oh-oh-oh!

74. WHAT'CHA GONNA DO? [Pablo Cruise; 1977; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #6]

Is there a more apt band name for Yacht Rock greatness than "Pablo Cruise"? And this tune, a key part of that summer of 1977, was where they first introduced themselves to us in all their infectious pop-light glory. The group hit #6 in the U.S., which isn't bad, but Canada got it right when they elevated this tasty morsel to #1 on their charts.

73. SENTIMENTAL LADY [Bob Welch; 1977; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #8]

Bob Welch, a former member of Fleetwood Mac, originally recorded this for their 1972 album Bare Trees . After leaving the band, he recorded it again, giving it the lush Yacht Rock treatment. Fleetwood Mac may not be considered official Yacht Rock gurus, but this song comes closest, with the majority of their members performing on it: Mick Fleetwood on drums, John McVie on bass, Christine McVie on piano as well as joining Lindsey Buckingham in background vocals. All that's missing is Stevie.

72. MISS SUN [Boz Scaggs; 1980; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #14]

We can thank this record for giving us our beloved Toto. Originally recorded by them in 1977, and due to their tight musicianship, Toto made a deal with Columbia Records solely based on their performance of this song. Ironically, it didn't make Toto's first LP, but Boz and the Toto gang recorded it for his Hits! compilation and the rest is Yacht Rock history.

71. JOSIE [Steely Dan; 1977; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #26]

One of Steely Dan's very best, especially Chuck Rainey's hypnotic bass. And those lyrics: " When Josie comes home/So bad/She's the best friend we ever had/She's the raw flame/The live wire/She prays like a Roman/With her eyes on fire." Question: Where is Josie coming home from? College? War? Prison? With Steely Dan's don't-care-if-listeners-understand-them obtuse lyrics, we'll never know.

70. YOU ARE THE WOMAN [Firefall; 1976; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #9]

69. STILL THE ONE [Orleans; 1976; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #5]

Two light-rock classics from Year One of Yacht Rock. "You Are the Woman" would become a quasi-staple of yachty wedding reception playlists, especially if a flautist happened to be on board; "Still the One" would be the commercial jingle for both ABC-TV in the 1970's and Applebee's restaurants just a couple of years ago.

68. YEAR OF THE CAT [Al Stewart; 1976; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #8]

Perhaps the most haunting song on the list; it's what you get when you mix Casablanca with the Vietnamese Zodiac.

67. THUNDER ISLAND [Jay Ferguson; 1977; ; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #9]

This passionate ode to island lovin' can be heard in Anchorman 2 , the hockey movie Miracle , and the great "To'Hajiilee" episode of Breaking Bad .

66. RICH GIRL [Hall & Oates; 1977; ; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #1]

Hall & Oates first chart-topper and perhaps the first #1 single to use the word "bitch" in it. Interestingly, the song was written about a guy initially-the spoiled heir to a Chicago-based entrepreneur who owned Walker Bros. Original Pancake House and ran fifteen KFC restaurants; the gender of the person was changed and the song suddenly became destined for pop culture immortality. And yes, it entered skin-crawling notoriety when Son of Sam himself, David Berkowitz, claimed the song inspired him to continue his serial killing rampage that paralyzed New York City that summer of '77.

65. MORNIN' [Al Jarreau; 1983; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #21]

64. LOVELY DAY [Bill Withers; 1977; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #30]

Two of the peppiest songs imaginable, both about splendid sunshine days, perfect for relaxing while you count your money on your very own yacht. Jarreau's "Mornin'" sounds like the feel-good opening of a Broadway show, while Withers hit the motherlode with "Lovely Day," ubiquitous in ads and movies for the past 45 years, complete with an impressive 18-second note that Withers sings that may be the longest ever in a Top-40 hit

63. ARTHUR'S THEME (BEST THAT YOU CAN DO) [Christopher Cross; 1981; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #1]

Christopher Cross is up there with Michael McDonald as the face of Yacht Rock, and this Academy Award winner for Best Song from the movie Arthur put Cross at the pinnacle of his success. He never came close to those heights again, but Yacht Rock gave his cannon (and career) a whole new life.

62. LONELY BOY [Andrew Gold; 1976; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #7]

Teenage psychopathy never sounded so good.

61. BEING WITH YOU [Smokey Robinson; 1981; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #2]

Smokey's "Being with You" was kept out of the #1 position because Kim Carnes' owned the top of the '81 charts with the behemoth "Bette Davis Eyes." So the story goes, Smokey loved Carnes' version of his own "More Love" from the year before that he wrote a song specifically for her...and that song was "Being with You." But it was such a strong tune that he opted to record it himself and eventually had to settle with it at #2, behind the person who the song was originally intended for.

60. HOW MUCH I FEEL [Ambrosia; 1978; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #3]

Ambrosia is another Yacht Rock giant whose slick soft pop sound and lush harmonies would epitomize the genre.

59. LIVING INSIDE MYSELF [Gino Vannelli; 1981; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #6]

Is this too intense for Yacht Rock? Maybe at times with Vannelli's head-bursting vocals. But it's a musical treasure trove, at times as dramatic as any Hamlet soliloquy, and Vannelli sings it like an overemotive Johnnie Ray resurrected with big hair.

58. JOJO [Boz Scaggs; 1980; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #17]

Smoothly soulful as it is , "Jojo" deals with the darker side of Yacht Rock. The title character is quite obviously a pimp, especially with lines like "fifty dollars, he'll get you all you want" or "His baby stays high...he keeps her on the street." As rough as the thematic waters may seem, the music is smooth sailing, the perfect fusion of pop, jazz and funk. All this and Toto, too.

57. WHAT YOU WON'T DO FOR LOVE [Bobby Caldwell; 1978; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #9]

Of course this made the list. A heart-shaped pressing of the song was released just in time for Valentine's Day, 1979, and cost a whopping $7.98 from consumers (which was the price of most LP's back then) . So many artists from Boys II Men, Michael Bolton and even Tupac Shakur either covered it or sampled its contagious mellowness.

56. LOVE TAKES TIME [Orleans; 1979; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #11]

At the time, here's how Cash Box described the music of this winner: "...synthesizer coloration, firm pounding beat, piano, searing guitar fills, tambourine and dynamic singing." In other words, 100% pure Yacht Rock!

55. KISS ON MY LIST [Hall & Oates; 1980; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #1]

Certainly on my list of the best things in life.

54. SO INTO YOU [Atlanta Rhythm Section; 1977; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #7]

The lightest of Southern Rockers, Atlanta Rhythm Section's laid back brand of guitar rock suited the late 70's perfectly, a nice alternate to the disco pandemic but not quite in Lynryd Skynyrd territory either. Also, is the title "So Into You" a double entendre? And were the lyrics more sexually explicit than we ever imagined? " It's gonna be good, don't you know/From your head to your toe/Me into you, you into me, me into you..."

53. YOU'RE THE ONLY WOMAN [Ambrosia; 1980; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #13]

In sone ways Ambrosia may be the most Yacht Rocky of all groups (don't worry, Toto and Steely Dan will always give them a run for the money). But this song underscores the carefree feel of the genre, like reclining on a yacht with these words on the breeze in the background: "You and I've been in love too long/To worry about tomorrow/Here's a place where we both belong/I know you're the only woman I'm dreaming of..." Not worrying about tomorrow, just floating without a care in tthe world. Is there anything more yachty than that?

52. I'D REALLY LOVE TO SEE YOU TONIGHT [England Dan & John Ford Coley; 1976; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #2]

Ingenious opening, the listener privy to a one-way phone conversation: " 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 ..." It's up to the listener to decide whether the caller is pathetic or sweet. "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" may be the perfect easy listening song of all time, better than anything by Barry Manilow (who would cover it decades later); it's its sing-along boisterousness that saves it from being unceremoniously tossed into the Nyacht Rock bin.

51. EVERY TIME I THINK OF YOU [The Babys; 1978; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #13]

Another feel-good Babys bombast, pounding the power pop vibes in a song that's both intense and full of positive feelies.

50. ALL NIGHT LONG (ALL NIGHT) [Lionel Richie; 1983; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #1]

This massive hit has a bit of everything, a sort of melting pot of styles--adult contemporary, pop, R&B, Richie's soothing easy listening vocals, all to a Caribbean beat. The song was everywhere in 1984, in the popular music video (directed by Five East Pieces' Bob Rafelson and produced by Mike Nesmith of the Monkees), heard in the premiere of "Miami Vice," and sung by Richie at the closing ceremonies of the '84 Olympics. And what is the translation of the lines, " Tom bo li de say de moi ya/Yeah jambo jumbo"? Don't even bothering going to Google Translate; turns out they're just gibberish with no deeper meaning. No deeper meaning, i.e. the way we like our Yacht Rock.

49. IF YOU LEAVE ME NOW [Chicago; 1976; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #1]

So popular that it's featured in works as diverse as "The Modern Family," "South Park," Shaun of the Dead and even the video game, Grand Theft Auto V . It's perhaps the most soaring, lush, heartfelt and yearning ballad on the list, with Peter Cetera's lead vocals drowning listeners in waves of pure reverie.

48. JUST REMEMBER I LOVE YOU [Firefall; 1977; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #11]

Such a sober, serious song in such a vibrantly feel-good genre, and yet it's uplifting and filled with hope. I think of someone on the verge of suicide, maybe wanting to jump off a building or maybe seeking help calling a hotline, and the singer, perhaps a close friend, talking him or her down: " When there's so much trouble that you want to cry/When your love has crumbled and you don't know why/When your hopes are fading and they can't be found/Dreams have left you waiting, friends let you down..." But then the friend reminds the sorrowful soul, "just remember I love you and it will be all right" and that "maybe all your blues will wash away..." And that's really what Yacht Rock does, doesn't it? It washes those blues away.

47. BABY, COME TO ME [Patti Austin & James Ingram; 1982; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #1]

As with so many songs on this list, Michael McDonald adds superb backing vocals here, in this enchanting ballad made famous by its appearance on "General Hospital" as Luke and Holly's love song.

46. HEY NINETEEN [Steely Dan; 1980; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #10]

An aging boomer can't connect with his young lover; not quite Nabokovian but close, especially when the leering singer exclaims to his youngling in the perviest way possible, "Skate a little lower now!" The 19-year-old girl in question doesn't even know who Aretha Franklin is; I was 18 when the song was released and I sure knew the Queen of Soul as did most of my peers. Who, I wondered way back when, is this ditsy girl? Perhaps the most startling thing about the work is the singer's unblinking dive into cocaine and alcohol in order to be able to deal with a world that is slowly leaving him behind: " The Cuervo Gold / The fine Colombian / Make tonight a wonderful thing..."

45. YOU BELONG TO ME [Carly Simon; 1978; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #6]

44. HE'S SO SHY [The Pointer Sisters; 1980; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #3]

43. THROUGH THE FIRE [Chaka Khan; 1984; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #60]

Yacht Rock is not known for its diversity. Of course there are several songs by people of color, and there are definitely strong women on the chart, but we would be remiss if we did not mention that overall the genre is mostly male and white. But the women who do appear on the list have created some of the finest tunes of them all. Carly Simon's wondrous "You Belong to Me," written by Simon and Michael McDonald with backing vocals by James Taylor, started as a Doobie ballad, but Simon's more poignant version actually bests the "Brothers." The Pointer Sisters are not Yacht Rock, but their hit, "He's So Shy," certainly is; that they sang it with Isaac on an infamous episode of "The Love Boat" is about the highest order of Yachtdom there is. And Chaka Khan's "Through the Fire," produced by David Foster, is one her all-time greatest songs, even though it didn't score big in the Land of the Hot-100; still, Khan's vocals are breathtaking in this scorching torchy ballad that is nothing short of Yacht Rock gold bullion.

42. TIME OUT OF MIND [Steely Dan; 1980; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #22]

One of the funkiest songs about heroin ("chasing the dragon") ever written.

41. AN EVERLASTING LOVE [Andy Gibb; 1978; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #5]

40. AFTER THE LOVE HAS GONE [Earth, Wind & Fire; 1979; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #2]

39. I CAN'T TELL YOU WHY [The Eagles; 1979; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #8]

38. HUMAN NATURE [Michael Jackson; 1982; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #7]

Not all Yacht Rock hits are by Yacht Rock artists, as is the case with these four songs. The Bee Gees are definitely not Yacht Rock, especially their disco hits, and neither is brother Andy Gibb...with one exception. Gibb's "An Everlasting Love" with its nonstop overlapping vocals (combined with Barry Gibb's falsetto and the string arrangement) make this irresistible. Earth, Wind & Fire's "After the Love Has Gone," another David Foster masterpiece, with its rousing vocals and brilliant use of horns, is EWF's most gorgeous tune. The Eagles, certainly not a Yacht Rock group (though often mistaken as such), has one hit in their oeuvre that's unadulterated YR: "I Can't Tell You Why," with Timothy B. Schmidt, pulling out his inner Smokey Robinson and Al Green, providing its stirring lead vocals. And Michael Jackson's Yacht Rock entry, "Human Nature" from the Thriller album , was backed by members of Toto, with some of Jackson's most lush vocals, and is the dictionary definition of the word "euphoric."

37. HOT ROD HEARTS [Robbie Dupree; 1980; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #15] There are so many hits in the rock era about two teenagers making love in a parked car, from "Night Movies" to "Paradise By the Dashboard Lights," but "Heart Rod Hearts" may be the most daring of them all in its own way: " Ten miles east of the highway/Hot sparks burnin' the night away/Two lips touchin' together/Cheek to cheek, sweatshirt to sweater/Young love born in a back seat/Two hearts pound out a back beat / Headlights, somebody's comin'..." And obviously that last lyric just quoted has a rather sordid double meaning.

36. JUST THE TWO OF US [Grover Washington, Jr. with Bill Withers; 1981; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #2]

This jazzy ballad, with Withers' heart full o' soul vocals, is a soft-jazz saxfest, later spawning Will Smith's cover (about fathers and sons), Bill Cosby's unlistenable "Just the Slew of Us," and, most hilariously, Dr. Evil's duet with Mini Me in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me .

35. MAGNET AND STEEL [Walter Egan; 1978; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #8]

Inspired by Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks, who sings backup in it, "Magnet and Steel" is totally yachtriffic, with inspiring heavenly harmonies. A sort of musical snapshot of 1978, this light-rock masterwork is featured in the phenomenal Boogie Nights and the phlegmatic Deuce Bigalow: American Gigolo .

34. WHENEVER I CALL YOU FRIEND [Kenny Loggins with Stevie Nicks; 1978; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #5]

One of the great duet tracks on the list, written by Loggins and Melissa Manchester. When first released, because Stevie Nicks is not credited on the original 45 single, this was officially considered Loggins first solo Top-40 hit.

33. GIVE ME THE NIGHT [George Benson; 1980; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #4]

Yacht Rock was created for George Benson's jazzy-guitar, cool-funk sensibilities. Although "Give Me the Night" may border on disco, it's not quite there and rests firmly in our beloved Yacht Rock territory.

32. NEVER BE THE SAME [Christopher Cross; 1980; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #15]

Love never dies, not even after a break up, not even after you've found someone else; that's what this Christopher Cross song teaches us: " The years go by, there's always someone new/To try and help me forget about you/Time and again it does me no good/Love never feels the way that it should..."

31. TIME PASSAGES [Al Stewart; 1978; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #7]

There's a floating, drifting quality to the song, as '70's mellow as they come. The top single of the year on the Easy Listening charts, "Time Passages" has Al Stewart's thin voice singing, " Drifting into time passages / Years go falling in the fading light / Time passages/Buy me a ticket on the last train home tonight..." If he had sung about a "yacht" rather than a "train," then this classic might rest even higher on the YR list.

30. REAL LOVE [The Doobie Brothers; 1980; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #5]

29. LOTTA LOVE [Nicolette Larson; 1978; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #7]

Nicolette Larson sings backup on the Doobie's third biggest hit, "Real Love," and lead on her sweet cover of Neil Young's "Lotta Love." Take the lyric, "It's gonna take a lotta love/To change the way things are..." In Young's version, he comes across as rather somber, yearning, on the verge of melancholia, like it's a wish that he knows can never be fulfilled; Larson sings with a Melanie-like playfulness to a disco-light beat, and in her hands the song becomes life-affirming, vivacious, with a somewhat positive can-do attitude that's not found in the original.

28. I'M NOT GONNA LET IT BOTHER ME TONIGHT [Atlanta Rhythm Section; 1978; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #14]

This song's sensibility is all Yacht Rock...that the world is in upheaval, and there are terrors out there waiting to destroy us, but who cares when we can save the worry for another day? This outlook stands as the true philosophy of procrastination found in Yacht Rock: " About all the pain and injustice / About all of the sorrow / We're living in a danger zone / The world could end tomorrow/But I'm not gonna let it bother me tonight..."

27. FEELS SO GOOD [Chuck Mangione; 1978; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #4]

The title of this flugelhorn-driven instrumental says it all.

26. ALL RIGHT [Christopher Cross; 1983; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #12]

If you're ever down and troubled, then do yourself a favor: Put on Christopher Cross' "All Right," with MM's patented backing vocals, and watch as the bad times wash away and a smile creeps upon your face. This stands as perhaps the most optimistic song ever written: "'Cause it's all right, think we're gonna make it/Think it might just work out this time..."

25. TURN YOUR LOVE AROUND [George Benson; 1981; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #5]

George Benson + Toto + David Foster + Jay Graydon on guitar + an early use of the Linn LM-1 Drum machine = Yacht Rock platinum status.

24. MINUTE BY MINUTE [The Doobie Brothers; 1978; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #14]

Listening to this Michael McDonald marvel of mellowness beats Xanax any day.

23. ONE HUNDRED WAYS [Quincy Jones and James Ingram; 1981; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #14]

What a perfect example of scrumptiously soft soul music with the velvet voice of Mr. Ingram leading the way, singing a litany of 100 things to romance his lady. He's never been better than a moment in this Grammy-winner, when he hits outrageous notes while singing, "Sacrifice if you care/Buy her some moonlight to wear..." To quote Robert Palmer: Simply irresistible.

22. I LOVE YOU [The Climax Blues Band; 1981; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #12]

This surely plays on rotation in heaven.

21. BAKER STREET [Gerry Rafferty; 1978; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #2]

Is this the coolest Top-5 hit of the 1970's? With Raphael Ravencroft's searing saxophone riff rivaling anything by Clarence Clemons, the answer must be a resounding YES!

20. FM (NO STATIC AT ALL) [Steely Dan; 1978; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #22]

Perhaps the only Top-40 hit where the songwriters dare to rhyme "Elvis" with "yells his" and sing about "grapefruit wine." Recorded as the title song for a little-known 1978 film, FM, the significance of this Grammy-winning Steely Dan song cannot go unnoticed. The year it was released was the first time FM radio (clearer sound, no static at all) superseded AM radio (too much static) in listening popularity. So, if you ran an AM station and had to play a song called "FM" in rotation-a song about your competitor, a radio format that was making you obsolete-then what would you do? In the case of some stations, they edited the Steely Dan track and put the "A" sound from the group's song "Aja" where the "F" in "FM" should be. Their newly fine-tuned tune would be called "AM," even though the repeated phrase of "no static at all" would now make no sense whatsoever.

19. COOL NIGHT [Paul Davis; 1981; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #11]

Paul Davis' ultimate love song, even stronger than his iconic "I Go Crazy." Its boppin' bliss shields the fact that the lead singer is lost: " I sometimes wonder why /All the flowers have to die / I dream about you /And now, Summer's come and gone / And the nights they seem so long ..." But this is Paul Davis, and nothing can bring him down, not when there's a cool night comin' and he invites his love to join him by the fire so that they can bring "back memories of a good life when this love was not so old..." The singer's optimism is so heartfelt, and this being Yacht Rock, we know that these two will ultimately get back together.

18. REMINISCING [Little River Band; 1978; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #3]

This slick throwback to a black-and-white Cole Porter world should be on any indispensable wedding reception playlist, starting with a young couple falling in love and ending when they're older, spending their hours looking back at their good times. You would think this melodic pop treasure would be a Paul McCartney fave, but in an interesting twist, it was John Lennon who claimed "Reminiscing" as one of his favorite songs.

17. DEACON BLUES [Steely Dan; 1978; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #19]

This slick, sprawling mega-work about a midlife crisis is the most epic of Yacht Rock songs, its jazzy War and Peace , a veritable A la Recherche du Tremps Perdu . If you want to hear a fan of the University of Alabama cheer, then play them this line: "They call Alabama the Crimson Tide/Call me Deacon Blues." Still, the song is so seriously sober in tone that few people, even the most ardent of Alabama fanatics, will be yelling "Roll Tide!" after hearing it.

16. BABY COME BACK [Player; 1977; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #1]

Tranquil and comforting even though it was written after two of the Player members suffered recent break-ups. Pop culture has had a heyday with its infectious hook, with "Baby Come Back" popping up in the Transformers, "The Simpsons," "King of the Hill" and even a "General Hospital" ep featuring the band themselves playing this classic live.

15. AFRICA [Toto; 1982; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #1]

The Gods of Yacht Rock blessed the reign of this "Africa," Toto's sole #1 single that has been hailed by Rolling Stone magazine as "The New 'Don't Stop Believin'." It's been utilized in such works as Stranger Things, South Park and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City . During the funeral of Nelson Mandela, CBS accompanied the footage with this song, raising more than one eyebrow. But if you haven't heard the song in awhile, or have never heard it (who are you?), then please heed the song's advice: "Hurry, boy, it's waiting there for you!"

14. MOONLIGHT FEELS RIGHT [Starbuck; 1976; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #3]

"The wind blew some luck in my direction/I caught it in my hands today..." One of the earliest Yacht Rock ventures on the list, with nods to French Connections, Ole Miss, the Chesapeake Bay, Southern Belles ("hell at night") and 1974 graduates ("a class of '74 gold ring"). According to Casey Kasem on AT-40, it was also the first song to chart that featured a marimba. Wafts along so joyfully, complete with suggestive giggles at the end of a particularly evocative verse.

13. COOL CHANGE [Little River Band; 1979; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #10]

In its own way, perhaps the yachtiest song on the list, a plea for escape, to come to terms with nature, to sail away on the "cool and bright clear water." It's not unlike Thoreau's "Walden Pond" set to music: "Well, I was born in the sign of water/And it's there that I feel my best/The albatross and the whales, they are my brothers/It's kind of a special feeling/When you're out on the sea alone/Staring at the full moon like a lover..." With "Cool Change," we don't need to journey outdoors to escape by emracing nature, to climb mountains or to sail the seas; we have the song itself which, to this listener, becomes the perfect escape without ever having to leave the house.

12. THIS IS IT [Kenny Loggins; 1979; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #11]

"It's not a love song," Loggins once said. "It's a life song." If you want proof of American exceptionalism, go no further than here, because this is it . Although written for personal reasons, the song was needed when America was a bit down and out, "our backs to the corner" so to speak: Long gas lines, the Three Miles Island nuclear catastrophe, the cold war in its iciest state in years, and American hostages in Iran. And this song said it best: "Sometimes I believe/We'll always survive/Now I'm not so sure..." But then he stands tall and proclaims: "For once in your life/Here's your miracle/Stand up and fight!" I look at today, when America and the world once again are down and out (with soaring gas prices, gun violence, Russia invading the Ukraine and extreme tribalism); it's not a bad idea to play "This Is It" at full volume in order to lift our spirits, to help us stand up and fight through these dark days.

11. RIDE LIKE THE WIND [Christopher Cross; 1980; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #2]

It's like something you'd find in a Sam Peckinpah film: A murderer of ten people is on the run, escaping inevitable execution (by hanging), chased by a posse all the way "to the border of Mexico." And yes, in "Ride Like the Wind," the bad guy gets away with it in this thrilling ride of a song, both driving and jazzy, with the trumpeting death horns and Michael McDonald's background vocals seemingly chasing the outlaw lead singer. Only recently I discovered that the line in the song is "gunned down ten," not "Gunga Din"; am I the only one who misunderstood these lyrics for most of my life?

10. LOWDOWN [Boz Scaggs; 1976; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #3]

Here's the "dirty lowdown" (the honest truth) about "Lowdown." Boz Scaggs reinvented himself as the sunglasses-at-night bastion of cool with this soft-funk, discofied killer of a track. It was written by Scaggs and David Paich, their first collaboration; Paich, as you may know, would later go on to form the group Toto. Their creation would be honored with a Grammy win for best R&B song, and Scaggs would become the first white artist to win the award in that particular category. It could have also been one of the great additions to the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, which the filmmakers wanted, but Boz's manager nixed the idea. They lost tons of money and popularity by settling for the soundtrack of the trauma-drama, Looking for Mr. Goodbar , where incidentally I first heard the song and wound up playing it over and over again long after it was a Top-10 hit.

9. LOVE WILL FIND A WAY [Pablo Cruise; 1978; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #6]

"Shadow Dancing" may have been the #1 song of '78, but it's this Pablo Cruise rollicking heap of pop brilliance that overfilled the radio airwaves that summer the way ivy covers the walls of Harvard. It was everywhere, and you couldn't escape it: "Once you get past the pain/You'll learn to find your love again." Such optimism, such hope, "Love Will Find a Way" became the signature hit of that fun-filled summer. It wasn't deep, but don't worry, it was happy. Pablo Cruise actually exemplifies the YR genre, the positive vibes perfect for summertime paradise by a band long forgotten, now remembered endearingly and, due to the recent adoration of Yacht Rock, justifiably immortalized.

8. ROSANNA [Toto; 1982; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #2]

The ultimate Toto tune and, thus, one of the Ultimate Yacht Rock entries. Named after Rosanna Arquette, the song became the summer anthem of '82, nesting at #2 for five weeks. The song's West Side Story -inspired music video featured Patrick Swayze, a year before The Outsiders, in a small part and Cynthia Rhodes as the title girl. Sylvester Stallone, who was directing Stayin' Alive at the time, saw Rhodes in the video and immediately cast her as a lead in his film. Stayin' Alive turned out to be a bad film, but it's a great story.

7. PEG [Steely Dan; 1977; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #11]

Welcome to L.A. where we're at a questionable photoshoot for an actress/model of perhaps ill-repute named Peg; narrating it is a disgruntle, sarcastic boyfriend who keeps her pictures with him and loves her even more due to her fame or infamy. The mention of foreign movies in the lyrics brings to mind seedier fair for our Pag, perhaps pornography. But any Steely Dan darkness that shrouds "Peg" is eclipsed by the jubilant music, so springy, so animated, so full of verve. Add Michael McDonald's patented backing vocals and Jay Graydon's guitar work, and you have nothing less than a fist-in-the-air triumph .

6. I KEEP FORGETTIN' (EVERY TIME YOU'RE NEAR) [Michael McDonald; 1982; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #4]

The captain of our Yacht Rock, Michael McDonald is everywhere in this 101. If you take only the top 12 songs, his voiceprints can be found somewhere in following: #12, #11, #7, #6, #3 and #1. And this song, his first big solo scribed by both McDonald and Ed Sanford (of the Sanford Townsend Band, famous for "Smoke from a Distant Fire"), obviously typifies the genre as strong as Coca Cola typifies soda. It even boasts the title of an episode of the online video series, "Yacht Rock," which after you've seen it is something you'll never forget.

5. STEAL AWAY [Robbie Dupree; 1980; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #6]

Yes, it sounds a little too close to the bubbly beat of "What a Fool Believes." And yes, it's the only time you will ever see Robbie Dupree in a Top-10 list during the modern era. But this is a wonder of Yacht Rocky delight, so shallow, so sweetly stupid, and so infectious to the ear. Listening to it might zap a few IQ points away from you, but the song is so agreeable, so toe-tappingly charming, who cares?

4. BIGGEST PART OF ME [Ambrosia; 1980; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #3]

Michael McDonald did not sing lead or backing vocals in "Biggest Part of Me," and he didn't write it, but he does have a footnote in its creation. When Ambrosia's David Pack scribed the song, the lead singer questioned his own lyrics: " There's a new sun arisin' /I can see a new horizon /That will keep me realizin'/You're the biggest part of me..." He wondered if it was too saccharine sweet for what he wanted, so he called the authority of such things, Michael McDonald. McDonald gave the thumbs up and the rest is Yacht Rock history.

3. HEART TO HEART [Kenny Loggins; 1982; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #15]

QUESTION: What do you get when your so-good-it-makes-you-wanna-cuss song features the Holy Trinity of Yacht Rock: Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald and David Foster? ANSWER: A masterpiece.

2. SAILING [Christopher Cross; 1980; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #1]

Yacht Rock used to be known as the West Coast style, and "Sailing" is its finest example. Hearing it is akin to being on that yacht, wearing that silly captain's hat, and just chilling as the boat gently rocks with the breeze. Its accolades are many: Grammy Awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Arrangemt of the Year and Best New Artist of the Year. Wow. And time has never erased it from our lives. Over the years you could hear the song on "WKRP in Cincinnati," "Family Guy," "Cobra Kai" and Hyundai TV commercials. I don't care who you are or where you are, "Sailing" automatically takes the listener "not far down from paradise." And, like me, you can find tranquility, just you wait and see.

And now for the #1 Yacht Rock song of all time...

1. WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES [The Doobie Brothers; 1978; Chart Position on the Billboard Hot 100: #1]

All right, Mr. and Mrs. Howell, our journey ends here, with this obvious Yacht Rock classic, a song written by our popes of YR, Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald, where the stars were aligned upon its creation and everything went right. It hit Number One on the charts as well as winning Song of the Year and Record of the Year Grammy Awards. But it's the delectable beat fusing light-jazz and lighter-funk combined with McDonald's smooth velvet vocals that takes "What a Fool Believes" into the coveted top spot. No one can argue that this is the genre's finest three minutes and forty-one seconds. When it pops up on the radio or on your playlist, the world doesn't seem to be such a bad place, not with sophisticated keen pop like this. You have to turn up the volume. And It rightfully stands tall at the Number One position, the bouncy Citizen Kane of Yacht Rock.

And that's that. Have a great summer!

Tampa/St. Petersburg SHOWS

Recommended For You

Dan Sharp "Between The Brave, Bold and Given Up" - Review

Built To Spill "Keep It Like a Secret" - Retrospective Review

Wolf Parade "Apologies to the Queen Mary" - Retrospective Review

The Housemartins "London 0 Hull 4" - Retrospective Review

The Libertines "All Quiet On the Eastern Esplanade" - Review

Franz Ferdinand "Franz Ferdinand" - Twentieth Anniversary Review

Cage the Elephant "Out Loud & Neon Pill" - Single Review

The Decemberists "The King Is Dead" - Retrospective Review

Modest Mouse "Good News For People Who Love Bad News" - Twentieth Anniversary Review

The Vaccines "Pick-Up Full of Pink Carnations" - Review

• John Robinson

Top 100 Greatest Yacht Rock Songs of All Time

Yacht Rock, a term that has steadily grown in popularity, refers to the smooth, groovy rock music of the '70s and '80s that has been popularized over the recent years. Initially categorized as soft rock or adult contemporary, Yacht Rock places a stronger emphasis on the groove rather than the lyrics, making it some of the easiest and catchiest easy listening music for many rock fans. Interestingly, nearly all Yacht Rock songs were created 35-40 years before the genre was officially recognized as its own distinct style, leaving room for interpretation about what exactly qualifies as Yacht Rock. For our criteria, we analyzed the entire catalog of Sirius XM Yacht Rock Radio alongside Spotify and Apple Music’s Yacht Rock playlists and ranked the songs accordingly. Each song included has been deemed Yacht Rock by at least one of these sources and was scored against all other entries. Some songs may rank higher in a broader rock or soft rock sphere, but here are what we have deemed to be the 100 Greatest Yacht Rock Songs of All Time complete with a playlist of all 100 Songs . For a broader list across at songs across the rock realm, be sure to check out the Top 200 Greatest Rock Songs of All Time .

1. What a Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers

Deemed almost unanimously as the quintessential Yacht Rock tune by the few publications that have taken the time to dive into this same endeavor , What a Fool Believes  stands out as one of the grooviest rock tunes to ever achieve mainstream success. Featuring the quintessential Yacht Rock vocalist, Michael McDonald, the song topped charts across North America and became one of the most recognizable and frequently played songs of the '70s. Michael McDonald, who joined The Doobie Brothers in 1975, had become the band's primary vocalist by the release of Minute by Minute  in 1978, which houses What a Fool Believes . With this album marking a new sound for the band, especially following the temporary health-related departure of Tom Johnston, the band's new sound was polished to perfection, a dramatic shift from the Toulouse Street  sound of the early part of the decade. Nevertheless, What a Fool Believes  is a serious earworm, a critically "perfect" pop-rock song, if you will, and a song that reinvented The Doobie Brothers.

2. Peg   - Steely Dan

One of the most talented groups on our list, if not the most talented, Steely Dan transcended the typical confines of Yacht Rock during their initial ten-year run. Covering genres from Yacht Rock to jazz rock, progressive rock, and funk rock, Steely Dan captivated audiences uniquely throughout the '70s and early '80s. Walter Becker and Donald Fagen consistently collaborated with the world's finest studio musicians, producing albums of perfectionist caliber. Within the realm of Yacht Rock, Peg  takes their top spot, ranking just behind What a Fool Believes  in the genre. Once again, Michael McDonald provides backing vocals, harmonizing behind Donald Fagen and Paul Griffin. The silky smooth vocals paired with top-notch instrumentals make Peg  a standout track. Furthermore, Aja , the album that houses Peg , is one of the most impressive American albums of all time , beyond its Yacht Rock appeal.

3. Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)   - Looking Glass

Released in 1972, the one-hit wonder by Looking Glass, Brandy , established a much bigger name for itself than the band ever managed to achieve on its own. As one of the smoothest and catchiest songs of the ‘70s, Brandy  consistently appears on nearly every Yacht Rock, adult contemporary, or easy listening playlist available. The song tells a melancholic tale that is open to interpretation, though it is generally understood to describe an attractive bartender based in Northern New Jersey. Featuring catchy harmonies, clean soft guitar, and subtle horn use, what's not to love about this song?

4. Sailing   - Christopher Cross

If it were up to us at Melophobe, the "Yacht Rock Crown" would go to San Antonio’s own Christopher Cross. Although Cross really shined with just his first two studio albums before his later releases (post-1983) fell into obscurity, his early work still grabs all the attention. From his self-titled debut album, Sailing  stands out as a top ten hit that's the epitome of Yacht Rock. Interestingly, the term "yacht rock" itself is often linked right back to this song. His debut album is loaded with iconic tunes in this style, with Sailing  rightfully taking its place at the forefront.

5. Escape (The Pi ñ a Colada Song)  - Rupert Holmes

The second tune in our top ten that found its way onto one of the three Guardians of the Galaxy  soundtracks—as well as its original LP release—comes from yacht rock icon Rupert Holmes. Escape (The Piña Colada Song)  tells a story that feels more comical today than it might have in the ‘70s, describing a personal ad in search of a like-minded, carefree, fun-loving companion. Beyond the quirky lyrics, the sounds of crashing waves and clean guitars have turned the tune into a timeless earworm, cementing its status as a yacht rock masterpiece long before the term even existed. Guardians of the Galaxy  wasn't just a great series for action lovers; who would've guessed its soundtrack would become almost as iconic as the movies themselves?

6. Lowdown  - Boz Scaggs

Part of the same studio musician collective that worked with Steely Dan, Boz Scaggs hit major commercial success in 1976 with the release of his richly decorated album Silk Degrees . Boz Scaggs found success as one of the few artists to achieve substantial mainstream success in the jazz rock world aside from Steely Dan, with both artists utilizing many of the same studio musicians. Released from Silk Degrees , the standout yacht rock tune is Lowdown , a tightly produced masterpiece. Similar to Christopher Cross, Boz's peak in the mainstream was relatively brief, with his fame primarily anchored to Silk Degrees  and sporadic airplay of his other songs over about a decade.

7. Come and Get Your Love  - Redbone

Yet another tune from the Guardians of the Galaxy  soundtracks to make our top ten is Come and Get Your Love , released in 1975 by the swamp rock band Redbone. While often labeled as a one-hit-wonder, Redbone actually scored another American top 40 hit in 1971 and enjoyed scattered success in the R&B scene throughout the '70s. Come and Get Your Love  has since been celebrated as one of the greatest pop songs of the '70s and also managed to somewhat subtly tap into the disco craze of the era.

8. Margaritaville  - Jimmy Buffett

The question of whether Jimmy Buffett fits into the yacht rock category has stirred some debate lately, with the answer remaining somewhat unclear since the term itself is still relatively new. Most agree that Buffett's music is in a category of its own, but there are still those who argue that his unique sound has a place within yacht rock. Regardless, Margaritaville  and a few other Buffett tunes are staples on yacht rock radio stations, so we've deemed them eligible. Buffett's music embodies a carefree lifestyle that mirrors the feel and attitude of yacht rock. His iconic song Margaritaville  instantly puts listeners in a vacation mindset, a unique characteristic that has garnered it extensive praise and airplay over the years. The passing of Jimmy Buffett, an American legend, touched the hearts of many.

9. Africa  - Toto

The first track from the 1980s to make our top ten is Africa  from Toto's fourth album, aptly named Toto IV , released in 1982. Africa  topped the charts across North America and performed exceptionally well worldwide with its powerful chorus, extensive keyboard usage, and subtle guitar playing. Alongside Rosanna , also from Toto IV , Africa  has become a yacht rock staple, but it didn’t stop there—it transcended the genre to become one of the most iconic songs of the '80s. Today, it's still adored, nearing two billion streams on Spotify. The song has also become a favorite for covers, from bar bands to top-notch acts like Weezer.

10. Baby Come Back  - Player

Player carved out a slice of mainstream success in the late '70s, as soft rock began to resonate with those not taken by styles like punk rock and disco. Their biggest hit by far was the North American chart-topper Baby Come Back . Aside from being a soft rock staple, the song has also gained a new life as a meme across the internet. While yacht rock songs typically shy away from overly heartfelt or emotional lyrics, focusing more on the groove, Baby Come Back  manages to do both masterfully. The song blends notable emotional depth with an undeniably groovy beat, making it incredibly memorable—so much so that it's recognized by just about every American

11. Just the Two of Us  - Grover Washington Jr, Bill Withers

12. Southern Cross  - Crosby, Stills & Nash

13. Take it Easy  - Eagles

14. Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)  - Christopher Cross

15. Year of the Cat  - Al Stewart

16. Hey Nineteen  - Steely Dan

17. Still the One  - Orleans

18. Sharing the Night Together  - Dr. Hook

19. Sister Golden Hair  - America

20. Dreams  - Fleetwood Mac

21. Summer Breeze  - Seals & Croft

22. Guitar Man  - Bread

23. Thunder Island  - Jay Ferguson

24. Lido Shuffle  - Boz Scaggs

25. Give Me the Night  - George Benson

26. How Much I Feel  - Ambrosia

27. Reminiscing  - Little River Band

28. Doctor My Eyes  - Jackson Browne

29. Sara Smile  - Hall & Oates

30. Rosanna  - Toto

31. All Night Long (All Night)  - Lionel Richie

32. I.G.Y.  - Donald Fagan

33. Minute By Minute  - The Doobie Brothers

34. If You Leave Me Now  - Chicago

35. Time Out of Mind  - Steely Dan

36. Kokomo  - The Beach Boys

37. Eye in the Sky  - Alan Parsons Project

38. Sentimental Lady  - Bob Welch

39. Rich Girl  - Hall & Oates

40. What You Won't Do for Love  - Bobby Caldwell

41. Ride Like the Wind  - Christopher Cross

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

43. Lovely Day  - Bill Withers

44. Graceland  - Paul Simon

45. Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes - Jimmy Buffett

46. Time Passages  - Al Stewart

47. One of These Nights  - Eagles

48. She's Gone  - Hall & Oates

49. Silly Love Songs  - Wings

50. Hold On  - Santana

51. Steal Away  - Robbie Dupree

52. Dance With Me  - Orleans

53. Listen to the Music  - The Doobie Brothers

54. How Long  - Ace

55. So Into You  - Atlanta Rhythm Section

56. Diamond Girl  - Seals & Croft

57. Lotta Love  - Nicolette Larson

58. We Just Disagree  - Dave Mason

59. Mexico  - James Taylor

60. Keep on Loving You  - REO Speedwagon

61. Baker Street  - Gerry Rafferty

62. Tender is the Night  - Jackson Browne

63. Love Will Find a Way  - Pablo Cruise

64. You Can Do Magic  - America

65. Key Largo  - Bertie Higgins

66. When You're In Love With a Beautiful Woman  - Dr. Hook

67. Dirty Work  - Steely Dan

68. All Out of Love  - Air Supply

69. I Saw the Light  - Todd Rundgren

70. Let Me Love You Tonight  - Pure Prairie League

71. I Love You  - Climax Blues Band

72. I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)  - Michael McDonald

73. This is It  - Kenny Loggins

74. The Things We Do For Love  - 10cc

75. Say You Love Me  - Fleetwood Mac

76. Biggest Part of Me  - Ambrosia

77. You're the Inspiration  - Chicago

78. Dream Weaver  - Gary Wright

79. Longer  - Dan Fogelberg

80. You Are  - Lionel Richie

81. Just a Song Before I Go  - Crosby, Stills & Nash

82. Right Down the Line  - Gerry Rafferty

83. New Frontier  - Donald Fagan

84. I Love a Rainy Night  - Eddie Rabbitt

85. Cool Night  - Paul Davis

86. Get Down On It  - Kool & The Gang

87. It's Raining Again - Supertramp

88. Vincent  - Don McLean

89. Crazy Love  - Poco

90. Spooky  - Atlanta Rhythm Section

91. Vienna  - Billy Joel

92. Cool Cat  - Queen

93. Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You  - George Benson

94. Hypnotized  - Bob Welch (Also Released by Fleetwood Mac)

95. Casablanca  - Bertie Higgins

96. Think of Laura  - Christopher Cross

97. Fooled Around and Fell in Love  - Elvin Bishop

98. Private Eyes  - Hall & Oates

99. Lonesome Loser  - Little River Band

100. Moonlight Feels Right - Starbuck

All of the picks from this list have been compiled into a streamable Spotify Playlist below entitled Yacht Rock Top 100 .

Recent Posts

Top 200 Greatest Rock Songs Post 1960

Top 50 Greatest Singer-Songwriter Albums of All Time

Top 100 Greatest American Rock Artists of All Time

Listen Now on Spotify

50 Fantastic Long-form Rock Songs

Top 100 Greatest Pop-Punk Songs of All Time

Top 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time

Top 100 Greatest Alternative Rock Albums of the '90s

Top 15 Songs by Vampire Weekend

Top 100 Greatest Indie Rock Albums of 2000-2009

Top 100 Greatest American Albums of All Time

100 Underrated Indie Rock Songs

Top 100 Greatest Rock Vocalists of All Time

100 Greatest Alternative Albums

100 Gre atest Alternative Artists

100 Greatest Debut Alternative Albums

100 Greatest Indie Rock Albums

100 Greatest Indie Rock Artists

100 Greatest Indie Rock Songs

100 Greates t Indie Rock Songs Post 2000

100 Fantastic Indie Rock DEEP CUTS Post 2000

100 Greatest Alternative Rock Songs of the '90s

100 Greatest Rock Artists

100 Greatest Rock Albums

100 Greatest Rock Albums of the '70s

100 Most Influential Rock Albums

10 Iconic Ea rly Alternative Rock Songs

ANOTHER 10 Iconic Early Alternative Rock Songs

10 Fantastic Song Titles

Five Underrated Albums of the 2000's 

• My Quiz Activity
• Newsletters
• Sports Betting
• MY FAVORITES
• Add Sports/Teams
• Arizona Cardinals
• Atlanta Falcons
• Baltimore Ravens
• Buffalo Bills
• Carolina Panthers
• Chicago Bears
• Cincinnati Bengals
• Cleveland Browns
• Dallas Cowboys
• Denver Broncos
• Detroit Lions
• Green Bay Packers
• Houston Texans
• Indianapolis Colts
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Kansas City Chiefs
• Las Vegas Raiders
• Los Angeles Chargers
• Los Angeles Rams
• Miami Dolphins
• Minnesota Vikings
• New England Patriots
• New Orleans Saints
• New York Jets
• New York Giants
• Philadelphia Eagles
• Pittsburgh Steelers
• San Francisco 49ers
• Seattle Seahawks
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Tennessee Titans
• Washington Commanders
• Arizona Diamondbacks
• Atlanta Braves
• Baltimore Orioles
• Boston Red Sox
• Chicago White Sox
• Chicago Cubs
• Cincinnati Reds
• Cleveland Guardians
• Colorado Rockies
• Detroit Tigers
• Houston Astros
• Kansas City Royals
• Los Angeles Angels
• Los Angeles Dodgers
• Miami Marlins
• Milwaukee Brewers
• Minnesota Twins
• New York Yankees
• New York Mets
• Oakland Athletics
• Philadelphia Phillies
• Pittsburgh Pirates
• San Diego Padres
• San Francisco Giants
• Seattle Mariners
• St. Louis Cardinals
• Tampa Bay Rays
• Texas Rangers
• Toronto Blue Jays
• Washington Nationals
• Atlanta Hawks
• Boston Celtics
• Brooklyn Nets
• Charlotte Hornets
• Chicago Bulls
• Cleveland Cavaliers
• Dallas Mavericks
• Denver Nuggets
• Detroit Pistons
• Golden State Warriors
• Houston Rockets
• Indiana Pacers
• Los Angeles Clippers
• Los Angeles Lakers
• Memphis Grizzlies
• Milwaukee Bucks
• Minnesota Timberwolves
• New Orleans Pelicans
• New York Knicks
• Oklahoma City Thunder
• Orlando Magic
• Philadelphia 76ers
• Phoenix Suns
• Portland Trail Blazers
• Sacramento Kings
• San Antonio Spurs
• Toronto Raptors
• Washington Wizards
• Anaheim Ducks
• Boston Bruins
• Buffalo Sabres
• Calgary Flames
• Carolina Hurricanes
• Chicago Blackhawks
• Colorado Avalanche
• Columbus Blue Jackets
• Dallas Stars
• Detroit Red Wings
• Edmonton Oilers
• Florida Panthers
• Los Angeles Kings
• Minnesota Wild
• Montreal Canadiens
• Nashville Predators
• New Jersey Devils
• New York Islanders
• New York Rangers
• Ottawa Senators
• Philadelphia Flyers
• Pittsburgh Penguins
• San Jose Sharks
• Seattle Kraken
• St. Louis Blues
• Tampa Bay Lightning
• Toronto Maple Leafs
• Utah Hockey Club
• Vancouver Canucks
• Vegas Golden Knights
• Washington Capitals
• Winnipeg Jets
• Entertainment Home
• Lifestyle Home
• More Sports
• YB on Facebook
• YB on Twitter
• YB on Flipboard
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service
• College Basketball
• College Football
• Entertainment
• Formula One
• Horse Racing
• Motor Sports
• Premier League
• Sports Business
• Track and Field
• More Sports ▸

Entertainment News

The greatest Yacht Rock songs of all time

How does one describe yacht rock? The folks at MasterClass did a pretty good job. Essentially, it's a component of soft rock, adult contemporary, and Album-oriented rock (AOR) all rolled into one. Popular in the late 1970s and into the '80s, there are some notable tunes of the ilk (smooth rhythms, light or "breezy" vocals, well-polished and produced) from earlier in the '70s that fall into this category.

In the spirit of easy listening fare, here is our ranking of 22 great yacht rock tunes.

20. "Lonely Boy" (1977), Andrew Gold

The Southern Californian's biggest hit, reaching No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. Yacht rock tracks often tell stories, and "Lonely Boy" is one of the great story songs. Whether it's autobiographical in nature has always been ripe for a casual argument. Though Gold, who passed away in 2011 at age 59, repeatedly claimed this song about a boy who felt left out following the birth of his sister was not depicting his life. The 1970s were ripe for one-hit wonders in the United States, and Gold is not still forgotten. 

19. "I Love You" (1981), Climax Blues Band

"I Love You"  is a sweet, endearing ballad. The kind of song that probably sounded great via that portable 8-track cassette player on a catamaran during an early '80s' summer. From England, Climax Blues Band scored a top-15 hit with "I Love You." Love was a dependable and generally successful topic for artists within the soft/yacht rock genre. In fact, the song is still quite popular on lite rock and adult contemporary radio stations on your FM dial for those who still like to hear their music that way. 

18. "Rosanna" (1982), Toto

Toto rightfully has a place in the yacht rock world, but the band also broke into the top-40, FM radio, and MTV mainstream with the release of 1982's Toto IV . "Rosanna" was a big reason for the album's success, peaking at No. 2 on Billboard 's Hot 100 and winning the Record of the Year Grammy Award. Sure, it's not typical yacht rock fare, per se. It's certainly heavier than other popular tracks on this list, but it's certainly a product of AOR and still routinely played in dentist offices throughout America. 

17. "Love Will Keep Us Together" (1975), Captain & Tennille

There are those historians who believe the first true example of yacht rock came with this popular '70s staple from the "Captain"   Daryl Dragon  and his wife Toni Tennille. Now, Neil Sedaka  wrote "Love Will Keep Us Together" and originally recorded the song two years earlier. Still, the duo's version was  more poppy, with a carefree vibe  that's ideal for FM radio. While Captain & Tennille's cover won a Record of the Year Grammy Award, Sedaka has noted that the Beach Boys were one of the inspirations for the tune. This makes sense since many music critics, professionals, historians, etc.. have credited the yacht rock genre as somewhat of an offshoot from the Beach Boys' collective sound. 

16. "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" (1979), Rupert Holmes

This No.1 Billboard Hot 100 hit for England's Rupert Holmes has achieved a steady cult following over the years. Perhaps, because of the unique title and conjured images of some warm, beach-laden paradise. Yacht rock's association with summer, water, and care-free living, as a backdrop to a romantic story, is one of its appealing aspects. This song is about a couple who ultimately patch up a rough relationship through personal ads . Any time somebody of a certain age sips one of these drinks, ideally at some Caribbean resort with the warm winds off the ocean blowing, "The Pina Colada Song" should come to mind.

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

Formed in Australia, the soft/pop rock and often yacht rock stylings of LRB were a hit in the United States. " Reminiscing " was the band's biggest hit in America, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Like many songs of this genre, "Reminiscing" is paced by the electric piano. Which also happened to be a staple of the Little River Band. Sure, it's not "breezy" like other yacht rock tunes, but Will Ferrell's Det. Allen Gamble is a big fan in The Other Guys (2010).

14. "Africa" (1982), Toto

Yes, more from Toto. If there's one popular Toto hit that whole-heartedly falls under the yacht rock moniker, it's " Africa ." The group's only song to top the Billboard Hot 100, and made a resurgence with Weezer's popular cover in recent years , "Africa," is the proper combination of mellow and poppy. It continues the Toto tradition of shared vocals, while the consistent synthesizer and keyboard presence, though more pronounced than the typical soft rock/adult contemporary vibe. 

13. "How Much I Feel" (1978), Ambrosia

L.A.'s Ambrosia, co-founded by vocalist/guitarist/songwriter David Pack and bassist Joe Puerta was all about the soft rock sound that surfaced in Southern California during the early 1970s. "How Much I Feel," from the group's third album Life Beyond L.A. , might have more of an adult contemporary vibe but certainly falls into the yacht rock category. It was one of the band's biggest hits, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. It's remained popular over the years, even being sampled by Kanye West.

12. "Peg" (1977), Steely Dan

Steely Dan was, in its prime, under the direction of celebrated songwriters Donald Fagan and Walter Becker, many things regarding a collective sound. Rock, pop, jazz, blues. Usually melodic, well within the soft-rock category. Songs like "Peg," from the 1977 masterpiece Aja , certainly has a yacht rock vibe, too. Perhaps most notably is that the great Michael McDonald, longtime frontman of the Doobie Brothers and driving singer-songwriter in the soft/yacht rock circles, provides backing vocals on the track. 

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

It really does get more yacht rock than this—smooth , with a flowing rhythm, precise, but not overbearing, harmonies . Not to mention the subtly stellar keyboard work from David C. Lewis. Throw in sessionist Ernie Watts' sax solo, and we have one great soft/yacht offering. It was the second of Ambrosia's two top-5 hits, reaching No. 3 on Billboard 's Hot 100. The version from the 1980s One Eighty  album runs about 5 1/2 minutes long. Talk about pure easy-listening joy.

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

Long considered one of the great "summer songs" ever recorded. And summer-themed tunes from the 1970s tend to lend themselves to the yacht rock moniker. That said, Seals & Crofts were definitely a soft rock outfit, but with elements of folk and pop. "Summer Breeze" peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the 1970s and, again, is notable for being one of the earliest yacht rock offerings. Several other prominent artists, such as Ray Conniff, the Isley Brothers, and a stellar metal version from Type O Negative. 

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

It's safe to say that Christopher Cross is the king of yacht rock. A brilliant songwriter and above-average guitar player, Cross could rock, but it's his definitive soft rock numbers that made him a star with lite-FM, adult contemporary and yacht rock fans. "Ride Like the Wind"  is the first single from Cross' stellar five-time Grammy-Award-winning self-titled debut from 1979. A more upbeat number about an outlaw running from the authorities, the track is less uplifting than other yacht rock tunes, but the vibe is the same. Of note, Michael McDonald provided backing vocals.

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

From John Friesen's steady drum intro to that durably underlaid bass line via Ron Moss to J.C. Crowley's keyboard presence begins the soft-rock brilliance of "Baby Come Back." With lyrics describing the yearning to reacquire a lost love and full-band harmonies, "Baby Come Back" just might be the quintessential offering of the yacht rock genre. It was the biggest hit for Player , the L.A.-based group that featured vocalist and song co-writer Peter Beckett, who was born in England. The tune topped the Billboard Hot 100 and still has a presence with its inclusion in films such as Transformers and  Black Adam.  Plus, various versions in popular TV shows like The Simpsons. American Dad  and King of the Hill.

7. "What a Fool Believes" (1979), The Doobie Brothers

The Doobie Brothers were a rather hard-rocking outfit before Michael McDonald joined up in the mid-1970s. The band was in need of an established songwriter, and McDonald delivered. However, with a more mellow, synthesizer/electric piano-driven sound that produced soft-rock gems like this one. Co-written by Kenny Loggins, who put out a version for himself, "What a Fool Believes" hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 in April 1979. Several critics have cited this as the best song in the vast Doobie Brothers catalog. 

6. "Steal Away" (1980), Robbie Dupree

If you're going to be a one-hit wonder, why not make it count? More than 30 years since its release, " Steal Away " can still be heard in elevators and office buildings throughout the United States -- or in the third season of Better Call Saul . Undeniably yacht rock, Dupree, born in Brooklyn, enjoyed success with the song during the summer of 1980 -- always a perfect time to enjoy the smooth, soothing sounds of a piece within this genre that peaked at No. 6 on Billboar d's Hot 100.

5. "Moonlight Feels Right" (1975), Starbuck

Here's a case where middle-aged and baby-boomer music fans probably remember the song but perhaps not the group who performed the track. That's OK. Atlanta's Starbuck is essentially a one-hit wonder thanks to "Moonlight Feels Right," which topped out at No. 3 on Billboard 's Hot 100. For those who remember this track for its lite-flowing beat, with lyrical references to the ocean, "Baltimore," and 'Ole Miss," and band member Bo Wagner marimba   solo, it might take them back to a simpler, more laidback time in their lives.

4. "Heart to Heart" (1982), Kenny Loggins

Perhaps more so than the previously mentioned "This Is It," "Heart to Heart" truly has all the requirements of a great yacht rock/soft rock tune. It was co-written by Michael McDonald, who also played the electric piano and provided backing vocals. David Foster, of Chicago songwriting and '80s ballad fame, also helped compose the tune, which features David Sanborn on saxophone. The track is one of Loggins' best-known hits, cracking the top 20 of the Hot 100.

3. "Lowdown" (1976), Boz Scaggs

Co-written by David Paich and featuring Jeff Porcaro on drums -- both of whom who go on to form the aforementioned Toto. One of Scaggs most well-known hits, "Lowdown"  has a bluesy and almost disco vibe. And a number we can imagine being played at some swanky yacht club party where the dance floor is filled, and more than a few people are sporting captain's hats. The song reached No. 3 on Billboard 's Hot 100 and also topped the Billboard Cash Box chart in the United States.

2. "Key Largo" (1981), Bertie Higgins

Yacht rock and one-hit wonders seem to go hand-in-hand. Higgins scored one in the early 1980s with this number that reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. The Florida native was inspired to write this song about trying to avoid a romantic breakup by the 1948 movie of the same name, starring Humphrey Bogart   and Lauren Bacall, who are referenced in the tune. Though Higgins never enjoyed the same individual success as a musician, the song has had a solid shelf life and remains a definitive moment in the yacht rock genre.

1. "Sailing" (1979), Christopher Cross

Sure, "Ride Like the Wind" is a gem, but the undisputed star of Cross' aforementioned debut album is the Hot 100-chart-topper "Sailing." It might be the definitive yacht rock song, capturing what Cross described, at the time, the "West Coast sound," which was long being composed, produced and performed, but maybe didn't have an appropriate moniker. The song won Grammys for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Arrangement of the Year, and was a big reason Cross earned the same award for Best New Artist.

A Chicago native, Jeff Mezydlo has professionally written about sports, entertainment and pop culture for parts of four decades. He was an integral member of award-winning sports sections at The Times of Northwest Indiana (Munster, Ind.) and Champaign (Ill.) News-Gazette, where he covered the NFL, PGA, LPGA, NCAA basketball, football and golf, Olympics and high school athletics. Jeff most recently spent 12 years in the editorial department at STATSPerform, where he also oversaw coverage of the English Premier League. A graduate of Northern Illinois University, Jeff's work has also appeared on such sites at Yahoo!, ESPN, Fox Sports, Sports Illustrated and NBA.com. However, if Jeff could do it again, he'd attend Degrassi Junior High, Ampipe High School and Grand Lakes University

More must-reads:

• Family films: The most entertaining gangster movies
• Media insider previews how Tom Brady will perform as broadcaster
• Piques of the industry: 20 best songs about the music biz

Trending in Entertainment

Customize your newsletter.

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

Spotify is currently not available in your country.

Follow us online to find out when we launch., spotify gives you instant access to millions of songs – from old favorites to the latest hits. just hit play to stream anything you like..

Listen everywhere

Spotify works on your computer, mobile, tablet and TV.

Unlimited, ad-free music

No ads. No interruptions. Just music.

Download music & listen offline

Keep playing, even when you don't have a connection.

Premium sounds better

Get ready for incredible sound quality.

• Top 15 Fleetwood Mac Solo Songs
• When Will Heart Tour Again?
• No. 1 Rock Albums Since 2000
• Schon & Cain Legal Request
• Top 20 Rolling Stones Solo Songs
• Win a Chris Jericho Cruise

40 Biggest One-Hit Wonders

Just because an artist gets labeled a one-hit wonder, that doesn’t mean their impact on music is so easily forgotten. Many timeless and classic songs have been written and recorded by artists who enjoyed only one mainstream hit.

In the below list of 40 Biggest One-Hit Wonders, we consider a song’s commercial success as well as how it's endured. The ‘80s are well-represented. The decade seemed to breed a large amount of one-hit wonders, many of whom rode the emerging new wave genre. Nine of our Top 10 one-hit wonders come from that decade, but the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘90s still landed songs elsewhere on the list.

40. Cutting Crew, "I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight" This chart-topping 1986 hit wasn't inspired by a near-death experience but a sexual one. Cutting Crew singer Nick Van Eede came up with the song’s chorus after a one-night tryst with a former girlfriend. “We got back together for one night after a year apart, and I guess there were some fireworks but all the time tinged with a feeling of, 'Should I really be doing this?''” the singer later recalled . The power ballad struck a chord with music fans and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. As a debut single, Cutting Crew couldn’t have asked for a bigger introduction to the world, but with success came pressure. Cracks began to surface when none of their follow-up singles met commercial expectations. A battle with management kept the band’s sophomore album from coming out until 1989. It bombed, and by 1993 the group had disbanded.

39. Toni Basil, "Mickey" The song as infectious as a pep rally – so much so that its music video was cheerleader-themed – “Mickey” burrowed its way into listeners’ ears in January 1982. The track had originally been released by the British band Racey, but that version used the name “Kitty” instead of “Mickey” and didn't include the song's catchy “You’re so fine, you blow my mind” chant. Singer Toni Basil, who started her career as a choreographer after being a, yes, cheerleader in her youth, brought “Mickey” to life. The song hit No. 1 in the U.S. and was certified platinum, but Basil never came close to that success with any of her other songs.

38. The Knack, "My Sharona" Should the Knack be considered a two-hit wonder? An argument can be made. After all, their single “Good Girls Don’t” reached No. 11 on the Billboard chart, meaning they qualify for this list by the slimmest of margins. Still, ask the average music fan to sing a line from “Good Girls Don’t” and they’ll likely stare back with a blank face. Ask them for a part from “My Sharona” and you’ll likely get a rousing,  “My, my, my, I, yi, woo!” The 1979 single was an instant classic, Capitol Records' fastest single to be certified gold since the Beatles’ “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” The Knack’s frontman, Doug Fieger, wrote “My Sharona” after falling for a woman named Sharona, who appeared on the single’s cover. While their relationship didn’t last, the two reportedly remained close friends up until Fieger died in 2010.

37. After the Fire, "Der Kommissar" Austrian singer Falco deserves an honorable mention. His 1985 hit “Rock Me Amadeus” didn’t get enough votes from our writers to crack our Top 40, but he has a part in “Der Kommissar”: He released the original version of the hit song. His single, released in 1981, was sung in German and received just a little attention in the U.S. A year later the U.K. band After the Fire covered the song in English, scoring the only hit of their career. Success arrived too late for the band. After the Fire, which had been together since 1982, was crumbling as “Der Kommissar” was climbing the charts. The group had already broken up by the time the song peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.

36. Gary Numan, "Cars" Gary Numan had enjoyed success with the new wave group Tubeway Army, which scored a U.K. hit with their 1979 single “Are 'Friends' Electric?” That same year, Numan broke out as a solo act, scoring a worldwide hit with his debut single, “Cars.” The song, inspired by a bout of road rage, found Numan embracing a poppier approach to songwriting. "This was the first time I had written a song with the intention of, 'Maybe it could be a hit single,’” the singer admitted. “Cars” hit No. 9 in the U.S. and No. 1 in the U.K. While Numan has enjoyed a respected career ever since, he’s never again had a hit single.

35. Mungo Jerry, "In the Summertime" When you think “sound of summer” you don’t usually think “jug band.” But that's exactly the style of music Mungo Jerry used in their 1970 hit. Reportedly written by singer Ray Dorset in just 10 minutes, the breezy track perfectly captures that time of year when “the weather is high.” It reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the only Mungo Jerry song to earn mainstream attention in the States.

34. Kajagoogoo, "Too Shy" English new wave group Kajagoogoo had been together for roughly five years – under the name Art Nouveau at first – before signing their first record deal in 1982. They struck gold with their debut single, “Too Shy,” which was produced by Duran Duran’s Nick Rhodes. The band’s label had pushed against the track, claiming it was too dark. “They wanted to release what they considered to be a brighter, poppier track,” bassist Nick Beggs later recalled . Kajagoogoo looked poised for a bright career when, in 1983, “Too Shy” went Top 5 in 12 countries, including the U.S. While follow-up singles "Ooh to Be Aah" and "Hang on Now" did well in the U.K., neither registered in the U.S. The band broke up at the end of 1985, but “Too Shy” has remained a time capsule of the era, included in everything from the soundtrack to The Wedding Singer to the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories .

33. Peter Schilling, "Major Tom" Here's a rare occurrence where an artist created a sequel to someone else's song. Singer Peter Schilling based “Major Tom” on a character first created by David Bowie for the 1969 single “Space Oddity.” Schilling’s song kept up the interplanetary theme, with its chorus: “Earth below us / Drifting, falling / Floating weightless / Calling, calling home.” Released in 1983, “Major Tom” reached No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, the only song of Schilling’s career to chart in the U.S.

32. The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, "Fire" With a demonic spoken word opening in which frontman Arthur Brown declared himself the "god of Hellfire,” “Fire” hardly seemed like the type of song that would find mainstream success. But the psychedelic rock track managed to ignite something in fans. The 1968 single hit No. 1 in the U.K. and No. 2 in the U.S., making it the Crazy World of Arthur Brown’s most successful single. The group broke up in 1970 but returned in 2000, with material arriving sporadically ever since.

31. Georgia Satellites, "Keep Your Hands to Yourself" They may be a one-hit wonder, but Georgia Satellites sure made an impact with their only mainstream single. When “Keep Your Hands to Yourself” reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1987 – held out of the top spot by Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” – the heavy-hitting song proved that southern rock could still thrive, while also inspiring heavier guitars in country songs. “Somebody made the comment that it was the song that saved rock 'n' roll and ruined country music at the same time,” singer Dan Baird once admitted to Rolling Stone . “It meant it brought rock 'n' roll back to its roots for a few minutes, but it turned the corner on country being afraid of dumb loud guitars.”

30. Shocking Blue, "Venus" Dutch rock group Shocking Blue had a few hits in their homeland in the late ‘60s, but it was 1969’s “Venus” that brought international attention. The song, with its strummy guitar and groovy organ, climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Even though the band never came close to such heights again, “Venus” sold more than 5 million copies around the world and continues to be popular, appearing in everything from The Queen’s Gambit  to a long-running advertising campaign for Gillette, whose women’s line of razors is called Venus.

29. The Vapors, "Turning Japanese" During the new wave boom of the late '70s and early ‘80s, it seemed like another new wave act was arriving from the U.K. each week. Among them was the Vapors, a quartet from Surrey that released their debut album, New Clear Days , in 1980. The lead single, “Turning Japanese,” was built on a Japanese-sounding motif, but the catchy song’s narrative was often misinterpreted. “It was intended purely as a love song,” singer Dave Fenton later explained . “The protagonist is sitting in his bedroom, which has become like a prison cell, pining over a photograph of his ex-girlfriend.” “Turning Japanese” became the Vapors' only hit, and by 1982 the band was over. “When people ask if the song’s become an albatross, I say no,” Fenton admitted. “I’m pleased it happened to us. I’d rather be a one-hit wonder than a no-hit wonder.”

28. Wild Cherry, "Play That Funky Music" Wild Cherry began life as a hard rock cover band in the Pittsburgh area. As the ‘70s rolled on, the group found it more difficult to book gigs, as disco and dance tunes had overtaken rock in popularity. “One night, I got the band in the dressing room and I told them, 'We've got to play more of this disco stuff,'” singer Rob Parissi  recalled . "They went nuts: 'We don't want to be a disco band.'” At one of Wild Cherry’s shows, a Black audience member asked, “Are you white boys going to play some funky music?” An idea was spawned. “Play That Funky Music” became a No. 1 single in 1976, reaching multiplatinum sales and earning Wild Cherry a pair of Grammy nominations. After failing to follow up “Play That Funky Music” with another hit, they broke up in 1979.

27. The Ides of March, "Vehicle" It’s hard to deny the gravitational pull of “Vehicle” when those horns kick in. The 1970 single was a breakout hit for the Ides of March, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. After years of touring around their native Illinois, “Vehicle” elevated the Ides of March to national touring act. The band shared the stage with such luminaries as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Led Zeppelin, but they were never able to score another hit. Even after ditching the brass section and trying to move in a new stylistic direction, nothing seemed to click. The Ides of March broke up in 1973, but the band’s singer and co-founder, Jim Peterik, had a more successful second act when he founded Survivor in 1978 and scored several big hits in the ‘80s.

26. The Proclaimers, "I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)" With their pasty, clean-cut and spectacled look, twin brothers Charlie and Craig Reid hardly looked the part of chart-topping rock stars. Still, the Irish duo had a songwriting gift, including a knack for pop hooks. In 1988 their group the Proclaimers released the album Sunshine on Leith , featuring "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles).” The song hit first in the U.K., where it reached No. 11. Five years later it caught on in the U.S. thanks to its inclusion in the romantic comedy Benny & Joon . Rereleased as a single, “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

25. The Contours, "Do You Love Me" “Do You Love Me” was written by Motown Records founder Berry Gordy Jr., who had intended to give it to the Temptations to record. But the Temptations weren't in the studio when Gordy went there, so he offered it to another Motown vocal group, the Contours. The group cemented its place in music history with "Do You Love Me." The song remains a favorite at weddings, birthdays and bar mitzvahs.

24. Iron Butterfly, "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vidda" It’s messy, there are mistakes in the recording and it's words are difficult to understand - it was supposed to be "In the Garden of Eden." But there's something gloriously indulgent about “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.” Running more than 17 minutes, the song is a long and winding psychedelic trip, complete with drums, guitar and soaring organ parts. Even though Iron Butterfly would never score another hit following this 1968 single, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” remains a cultural tentpole, appearing everywhere from The Simpsons to a popular sample in rap songs.

23. Buckner & Garcia, "Pac-Man Fever" History is filled with novelty hits but few enjoyed more of a cultural impact than Buckner & Garcia’s “Pac-Man Fever.” The 1981 single was recorded in response to the popular video game, which became a phenomenon across the globe in 1980. Jerry Buckner and Gary Garcia were jingle writers from Akron and witnessed the excitement surrounding Pac-Man firsthand. “Pac-Man” fever reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and inspired the duo to record an entire album of video game-inspired songs, including “Do the Donkey Kong,” “Ode to Centipede” and “Froggy's Lament.” Lightning didn’t strike twice, and “Pac-Man Fever” remained their only hit.

22. Men Without Hats, "The Safety Dance" “The Safety Dance” was written by Men Without Hats singer Ivan Doroschuk after he’d been thrown out of a club for “pogoing,” the bouncing new wave dance not always accepted by concerned staff. “I was kind of mad that they wouldn’t let me dance if I wanted to, so I took matters in my own hands and wrote an anthem for it,” he later recalled . Doroschuk never expected “The Safety Dance” to become a hit, but something about the song clicked with audiences. “I think people can relate to the empowering kind of message of 'The Safety Dance': ' You can dance if you want to ,'” Doroschuk explained in a later  interview . “And when the song first came out, it was the beginning of rap, and it was one of the only songs that had a spoken thing to it.”

21. The Church, "Under the Milky Way" “Under the Milky Way” proved to be both a blessing and a curse for the Australian band the Church. The 1988 single became the group’s biggest international hit, introducing them to a larger audience and taking them on tours around the world. But there were plenty of drawbacks. "The guys in the band all hated each other, and they all hated me,” singer Steve Kilbey explained in 2018. “Instead of being grateful that I'd written this song which had dragged them into the spotlight they were sort of envious and miserable about it as well." Even though the Church has enjoyed a career spanning more than four decades, “Under the Milky Way” remains its only U.S. hit.

20. Carl Douglas, "Kung Fu Fighting" Carl Douglas was born in Jamaica and raised in England. Neither nation, it should be noted, is known for its contributions to martial arts. Still, that didn’t stop Douglas from tapping into the popularity of Kung Fu movies in the ‘70s with his song “Kung Fu Fighting.” The track was recorded in just 10 minutes and was meant to be the B-side of a single. “I went over the top on the 'huhs' and the 'hahs' and the chopping sounds,” producer Biddu recalled . “It was a B-side; who was going to listen?” As it turned out, lots of people. “Kung Fu Fighting” topped charts across the globe in 1974, selling more than 11 million copies worldwide. Douglas tried to capitalize on the track’s popularity by recording a similar song, “Dance the Kung Fu,” but it didn’t receive the same excitement. He never scored another hit, but "Kung Fu Fighting" has remained omnipresent, used in TV shows and movies such as Dancing With the Stars , Scrubs , Beverly Hills Ninja , Rush Hour and Kung Fu Panda .

19. Dead or Alive, "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" Liverpool group Dead or Alive had already made some noise in the U.K.’s dance scene when they released their 1984 single "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record).” The track catapulted them onto the world’s stage, going Top 10 in 15 countries, including a No. 11 peak in the States. Although it would be their only hit, the catchy song would later be covered by a variety of artists, including Jessica Simpson and nu metal band Dope. Rapper Flo Rida also interpolated the song’s chorus for his 2009 hit single with Kesha, “Right Round.”

18. The Penguins, "Earth Angel"

The only thing better than having a hit song is having one on your first try. "Earth Angel" - penned by Curtis Williams, Jesse Belvin and Gaynel Hodge - was released by the Penguins in 1954 as their debut single and became an enormous hit. "Earth Angel" was a demo; vocal group the Penguins had recorded the song in the garage of a cousin to the song's producer, Dootsie Williams. No overdubs were needed. "Earth Angel" was the Penguin's only hit, but it sold millions of copies and has been called one of the cornerstone songs of doo-wop.

17. Lipps Inc, "Funkytown" Anyone complaining about modern music stars being “fabricated” or “industry plants” should take a look back in history. Record producer Steve Greenberg formed Lipps Inc. in 1979 as a vehicle for former beauty queen Cynthia Johnson, who was looking to transition into music. Greenberg loaded a group with session musicians and then wrote a song to break them. “Funkytown” became a massive worldwide hit. Lipps Inc. was never able to replicate the success, and Johnson eventually enjoyed a career second act in gospel music.

16. Steam, "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" Studio musicians Gary DeCarlo, Dale Frashuer and Paul Leka had worked together on various projects for a few years. In 1969, DeCarlo was recording songs with Leka producing when they decided to revisit an old idea. "I started writing while I was sitting at the piano going 'Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na.' ... Everything was 'na na' when you didn't have a lyric,” Leka recalled. The result was "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye," which they planned to use as a B-side to DeCarlo’s next single, but the record label loved it so much they wanted to make it the favored track. Due to contractual obligations, the single was released under the band name Steam, even though there wasn't a real group at the time. "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has endured as a timeless kiss-off.

15. Chumbawamba, "Tubthumping" There isn't anything inherently interesting about Chumbawamba’s “Tubthumping.” The song repeats the same lyrical phrase – “I get knocked down, but I get up again / You’re never gonna keep me down" – a whopping 29 times. The only other lyrics generally cover a list of beverages – whiskey drink, vodka drink, lager drink, cider drink – and the act of “pissing the night away.” But the song was a massive international hit in 1997. It made the Top 10 in 17 different countries, including a peak of No. 6 in the U.S. Critics raved about the song, while its video was plastered all over MTV. But Chumbawamba was a political rock collective whose music sounded little like their one hit. Mainstream success wasn’t their goal, so “Tubthumping” was their only song to chart in the States.

14. Ram Jam, "Black Betty" That riff, that thumping beat, that “Bam-ba-lam” - there’s no escaping the infectious excitement of Ram Jam’s “Black Betty.” The song began life as a 20th-century African-American work song. Exactly what “Black Betty” is a nickname for has been debated, though the most common theory is a bottle of whiskey. Blues and folk legend Lead Belly recorded a popular a cappella version in 1939. More than 35 years later, New York rock band Ram Jam got their hands on it, turning "Black Betty" into a hard rocking hit. Ram Jam wasn’t able to keep the momentum rolling, as band turmoil quickly brought the group to an end. They broke up in 1978, roughly a year after “Black Betty” was released.

13. Blind Melon, "No Rain" Blind Melon was on top of the musical mountain in 1993 when their single “No Rain” became a massive hit. The song's popularity, further enhanced by its beloved “Bee Girl” music video, helped push Blind Melon’s self-titled debut album to multiplatinum sales. With performances opening for the Rolling Stones and a set at Woodstock ‘94, Blind Melon were enjoying the fruits of their success. But their sophomore album, Soup , sold poorly, and just months after its release, frontman Shannon Hoon died of a cocaine overdose at the age of 28. His death brought Blind Melon to a close.

12. Big Country, "In a Big Country" The ‘80s were all about being big: big hair, big cars and big songs. The Scottish band Big Country scored a massive hit in 1983 with “In a Big Country,” a soaring song about harnessing hope and optimism. With guitar parts engineered to sound like bagpipes, the track sounded unlike anything else on the radio. It reached No. 3 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart and No. 17 on the Hot 100, and its video earned heavy rotation on MTV. It marked a career highwater mark for Big Country, who never again came close to such commercial success.

11. Autograph, "Turn Up the Radio" Autograph got a head start when they were selected by drummer Keni Richards' friend David Lee Roth to open 48 shows on Van Halen 's 1984 tour before releasing an album or even signing a record contract. The attention scored them a deal, and "Turn Up the Radio," the first single from their debut album Sign In Please , cracked the Top 30. The song's profile was further boosted by appearances in Miami Vice and several movies. But even after releasing two more albums in the '80s, the band never broke through to the next level.

10. Norman Greenbaum, "Spirit in the Sky" After bouncing around bands, Norman Greenbaum became a solo artist in the late ‘60s. He penned “Spirit in the Sky” as a folk song, but producer Erik Jacobsen helped build it into a psychedelic rocker, a song instantly recognizable from its first notes. "I'm just some Jewish musician who really dug gospel music,” Greenbaum explained to Rolling Stone . “I decided there was a larger Jesus gospel market out there than a Jehovah one." In 1970, “Spirit in the Sky” hit No. 1 in the U.K. and No. 3 in the U.S. Sixteen years later, British glam rock band Doctor and the Medics topped the U.K. chart with a cover. It happened again in 2003 when Gareth Gates reached No. 1 in the U.K. with his rendition. As such, the track has the distinct honor of having been No. 1 in the U.K. three different times by three different artists.

9. Eddy Grant, "Electric Avenue" After two decades of success in the U.K., both with his band the Equals and as a solo act, Eddy Grant finally invaded the U.S. in 1983, thanks to “Electric Avenue.” The track’s subject matter, race riots in the Brixton area of London, was likely lost on American listeners, but its reggae rhythm and catchy chorus connected all the same. The single reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum. Even though Grant has remained a popular presence in music, another hit has eluded him.

8. Tommy Tutone, "867-5309/Jenny" Not only was there never a real Jenny, there was never even a Tommy Tutone. The band scored their only hit in 1981 with "867-5309/Jenny,” which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is about a girl’s phone number written on the bathroom wall, a story the group initially claimed was true. But in 2004 co-writer Alex Call set the record straight. “Despite all the mythology to the contrary, I actually just came up with the 'Jenny' and the telephone number and the music and all that just sitting in my backyard. There was no Jenny," he explained . “Tommy Tutone's been using the story for years that there was a Jenny and she ran a recording studio and so forth. It makes a better story, but it's not true.”

7. Modern English, "I Melt With You"

When Modern English wrote "I Melt With You" in the early '80s, England was in a pretty bleak place economically: A deep recession was taking place as the government attempted to deal with inflation. Everyone felt the effects. "There was no money. There'd be no power — you'd be at home with candles," Modern English singer Robbie Grey later explained. It was the ideal time for a lucrative hit song, which Modern English landed with "I Melt With You" in 1982. Ironically, the song was bigger in the U.S., reaching No. 78 on the Hot 100. Modern English never had another hit.

6. Dexys Midnight Runners, "Come On Eileen" In 1982, English band Dexys Midnight Runners delivered one of the ‘80s most memorable songs. With a distinctive Celtic fiddle, “Come On Eileen” didn't sound like any other song at the time. Part of its charm was its simplicity. Anyone at any age could sing along, especially the track's climatic  “Too-ra-loo-ra Too-ra-loo-rye-ay” section. “Come On Eileen” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983, the only U.S. hit for Dexys Midnight Runners.

5. Nena, "99 Luftballons" It takes guts, talent and a bit of luck to turn nuclear war into a timeless song. Gabriele Susanne Kerner – better known by her stage name Nena – had all of that in 1983. “99 Luftballons” was originally released in Nena’s native German. The language barrier didn’t stop it from climbing the charts all over the world, including a peak of No. 2 in the U.S., where an English version called "99 Red Balloons" was released. Nena never scored another hit and had broken up by the end of the ‘80s, but Kerner continued having success in Germany for years as a solo act.

4. Soft Cell, "Tainted Love" British soul singer Gloria Jones originally released “Tainted Love” in 1965. The song wasn't a hit and was largely forgotten until Soft Cell got their hands on it. By adding a male perspective, along with a sinister vocal delivery, the synth-pop duo turned their icy track into a worldwide hit. Their version of “Tainted Love” became a chart-topper in 1981, reaching No. 1 in 17 countries and peaking at No. 8 in the U.S. Its 43 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 set a then-record for the longest consecutive stay on the chart. It was the band’s only hit in the U.S., but they remained popular in the U.K.

3. Frankie Goes to Hollywood, "Relax" Decades after its 1983 release, kids in their teens and 20s are still buying T-shirts that read "Frankie Say Relax." “Relax” was quite controversial when it was released because of its overtly sexual subject matter ( “Relax, don’t do it / When you want to come” ). The track was banned by the BBC, which unintentionally gave the Liverpool-based Frankie Goes to Hollywood more attention than they ever imagined. “Relax” hit No. 1 in the U.K. and No. 10 in the U.S. While Frankie Goes to Hollywood had a few more hits in Europe, they never again clicked with American listeners.

2. A-ha, "Take On Me"

Oddly enough, when a-ha released "Take On Me" as a single in the U.K. in 1984, it flopped, reaching only No. 137. (For what it's worth, it did make it to No. 3 in the band's home country of Norway.) They tried releasing the song two more times in 1985, and finally, it took off, making it to No. 2 and No. 1 on the U.K. and U.S. charts, respectively. This was helped by an innovative, animated pencil-sketch video that was played often on MTV and won multiple awards. Pretty impressive for a song that band members Pal Waaktaar and Magne Furuholmen first started fleshing out as teenagers.

1. The Buggles, "Video Killed the Radio Star" English new wave group the Buggles was active for only five years, from 1977 to 1982. Made up of singer and bassist Trevor Horn and keyboardist Geoff Downes, the duo experimented with rapidly changing studio technology. They released their synth-heavy debut album The Age of Plastic in 1980, which included the single “Video Killed the Radio Star.” While the song became a hit all over the world, the U.S. was slow to catch on. The track peaked at No. 40 and then started to fade. Then MTV premiered in August 1981, and “Video Killed the Radio Star” was the first video to air on the fledgling network. It became a symbolic change of the guards for the way audiences consumed music. Both members of the Buggles have gone on to other successful endeavors (as producers and members of Yes and Asia), but “Video Killed the Radio Star” remains a pivotal snapshot in history.

20 Greatest Comeback Albums

Gallery Credit: UCR Staff

More From Ultimate Classic Rock

15 Greatest One Hit Wonders of All Time

Music history is sprinkled with fleeting gems—unforgettable hits that left a long-lasting mark on the charts but never quite reclaimed their initial success. These songs become timeless anthems, transcending their brief moment in the spotlight to become cultural touchstones. Click through and see the 15 that hit the charts once.

Mercy: Love (Can Make You Happy) 

This record has an unusual charm, with its slow tempo and eerie harmonies contrasting the upbeat lyrics. It’s a beautiful yet otherworldly fit, but the group faded away (though the leader was drafted). This blend of the haunting and the delightful makes the album uniquely captivating.

Aqua: Barbie Girl

Aqua’s “Barbie Girl” stands out in pop history, blending playful critique of beauty standards with a catchy Europop sound. Peaking at #7, the song’s quirky lyrics and Lene Nystrøm’s vocals create a catchy yet subversive vibe. This duality was recently highlighted in a collaboration with Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice for the Barbie movie.

Deep Blue Something: Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Deep Blue Something, a Texas rock band, shot to fame in 1995 with their sole Top 40 hit, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” Though its title references the wrong Audrey Hepburn film, the song hit #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Its nostalgic portrayal of a failing relationship and catchy power-pop captures the essence of 90s alternative rock.

The Floaters: Float On 

This Detroit smooth-soul group made the most of their time in the spotlight with their 12-minute-long album version of “Float On.” By the time they vanished, everyone knew their names, zodiac signs, and favorite types of ladies. Their moment of glory was unforgettable, and if you search for them, you’ll still be amazed at the magic they created.

Matthews Southern Comfort: Woodstock 

Covering an iconic song is challenging, but Matthews Southern Comfort turned Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s original into a nostalgic one. With his golden voice, Ian Matthews became the only Fairport Convention member to feature on a U.S. hit, though drummer Dave Mattacks later played on Elton John’s “Mikita.”

Minnie Riperton: Lovin’ You

In 1975, Minnie Riperton achieved a chart-topping hit with “Lovin’ You,” a song she co-wrote with her husband after their daughter was born. Produced by Stevie Wonder, the track is highlighted by Riperton’s stunning five-octave voice. Though it was her only major hit, this ballad of love and devotion showcases her remarkable talent.

Patrick Hernandez: Born to Be Alive

As the disco era waned in 1979-80, Patrick Hernandez’s “Born to Be Alive” and Lipps Inc.’s “Funkytown” highlighted its final days. Hernandez’s upbeat anthem gained popularity in Europe before reaching the U.S. in late ’79. By the time Hernandez released “Disco Queen,” the musical landscape had changed, and he struggled to match his previous success.

Norman Greenbaum: Spirit in the Sky 

Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit in the Sky,” a major hit from the early 1970s, peaked at #3 on the Hot 100 but never reached #1. Blending garage-rock with a psychedelic solo, the song combined boogie and blues into a mainstream church tune inspired by Porter Wagoner’s gospel performance on T.V. Although Greenbaum, a Jewish artist, never had another hit, “Spirit in the Sky” briefly made him famous.

The Archies: Sugar, Sugar

The fictional cartoon band Archies struck gold in 1969 with their perennial hit “Sugar, Sugar.” Billboard even crowned it the #1 song of the year, thanks to Ron Dante’s smooth, pillow-soft vocals. This bubblegum pop classic, dripping with sweetness, is a feel-good ballad that people can dance to anywhere.

Friend & Lover: Reach Out of the Darkness

The song “Reach Out of the Darkness” perfectly captured the spirit of the flower power era with its charming male-female vocal exchanges, steering clear of being overly sentimental. Even though the duo, Jim and Cathy Post, parted ways not long after, the positive energy of their music remains timeless.

Bruce Channel: Hey! Baby

This song is notable in rock history due to Delbert McClinton’s unexpected appearance rather than Bruce Channel. On their U.K. tour, a starstruck John Lennon requested harmonica lessons from McClinton, leaving a lasting impact. This collaboration’s influence is evident in Lennon’s “Love Me Do,” which resembles McClinton’s sound.

Lou Bega: Mambo No. 5 (1999)

No great wedding, BBQ, or dance party was complete without this hit for at least five years after it came out, and Perez Prado would have been thrilled, as his Latin band had recorded the original version 50 years earlier. Despite some changes, Bega’s version stays true to the spirit of the original.

The Plimsouls: A Million Miles Away

The Plimsouls stand out in the power pop scene, ranking alongside the Raspberries and Dwight Twilley, who both scored multiple hits. Emerging from the punk era, their sound was sharper and brimming with soul-influenced swagger. Plus, with Peter Case’s mysterious and underappreciated songwriting, they remain a gem in American music.

Ace: How Long

Ace’s 1975 debut single, “How Long,” was a hit then and recently gained TikTok fame. Reaching #3 on the Hot 100, this tune exemplifies early yacht rock, a genre popularized by groups like Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers. Despite Ace never replicating that success, “How Long” is a timeless playlist favorite.

King Harvest: Dancing in the Moonlight

King Harvest’s 1972 hit “Dancing in the Moonlight” is a delightful, upbeat anthem that’s hard to resist. Featuring jazzy piano, cheerful harmonies, and punchy guitar, it hit #13 on the charts and exemplifies easygoing pop-rock. Sherman Kelly wrote the song after a traumatic gang attack, providing a whimsical escape to a nostalgic, dreamy place.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Loading…

• Board of Directors
• Upcoming Events
• Seating Chart
• Group Rates
• Partner Program
• About Our Gallery
• Call To Artists
• Adult Classes
• Youth Summer Camp
• CALL TO ACTION!
• Become A Member
• Sponsor an Event
• Band of Angels
• Annual Members
• Performance Submissions
• Art Submissions
• Get in touch
• Facility Rental
• Subscribe to Our Mailing List
• 94 NE 2nd Ave Delray Beach, FL 33444
• 561-450-6357
• [email protected]

« All Events

• This event has passed.

One Hit Wonders: A Tribute to Those Great Songs from the 60s and 70s

April 26 @ 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm.

A tribute to those great 1-hit wonder pop songs from the 60s and 70s that you’ll never forget….by bands you’ll never remember!

ONE HIT WONDERS is a 7-piece band with 4-5 part vocal harmonies which faithfully presents those wonderful and memorable pop songs from the 60s/70s known as 1-hit wonders. They are songs you forgot you love, but somehow will know every word to, by musical artists who no one can name and are known to the public only because of this one song, a song which overshadowed the rest of their career. These are songs which resonate with all of us…bring back memories of a time, a place, a person…and just make us feel good and nostalgic.

PERFORMER BIOS: This talented group of musicians and vocalists have been performing since 2018 not only as ONE HIT WONDERS but also YACHT ROCK and several other concert-level tribute bands. While based in South Florida they perform all over Florida (and beyond) and are among the busiest, most successful musicians and bands in the state with shows booked as far as 2 years in advance.

BAND MEMBERS: Fred Ferrese: Vocals, acoustic and electric guitar Fred Moore: Vocals, Keys Valerie White: Vocals, Keys, Sax, Flute Cory Bickford: Vocals, Keys, Guitar, Banjo Lou Piccinetti: Lead Guitar Tom Porter: Bass Guitar Ed Mejia: Drums

Decade-Defining Jams: The Greatest One-Hit Wonders of All Time

I n the music business, there are many talented musicians that put in a lot of effort to create success after hit song. However, there are also cases where fans only get one incredible hit and never get to see the performers make a successful follow-up. Here's a list of the greatest one-hit wonders.

Take On Me by A-ha (1985)

This group is mainly popular in Norway. In 1994, the group performed at the Lillehammer Olympics. Their song, Take On Me, has greatly enhanced the status of the ban. The good thing is the video is also great. The brand’s cool animated videos and the musician with the insane high range make it well known. Unfortunately, the whole world no longer gets the band’s hits after the release of Take on Me.

Mambo No. 5 by Lou Bega (1999)

The original Mambo No. 5 was composed and recorded by a Cuban musician, Damaso Prado, in 1949. The Instrumental mambo and jazz dance song was later released in 1950. Later, in April 1999, a German Singer, Lou Bega, released a cover of the original song. This version by Lou Bega was a major summer hit in most parts of Europe. The latter parts of 1999 saw the cover’s success in Oceania, North America, and the United Kingdom, where it topped for five months. Moreover, it was number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Unfortunately, this was Bega’s only hit. 

Tainted Love by Soft Cell (1981)

This song was launched in 1965 when Gloria James recorded it. However, it did not make it big in the airwaves until 1981, after Soft Cell transformed and revamped it. The masterpiece was a great success. It has a catchy chorus you would want to join in easily. Unfortunately, the duo would not serve their fans another great hit. However, one of the singers, Marc Almond, took a solo path in his music career. He killed his duet with Gene Pitney,  Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart,  in 1989.

Macarena by Los Del Rio (1995)

The Spanish pop duo, Los del Rio, sang this dance song about a woman, Macarena. The song initially appeared in a 1993 album,  A mi me gusta.  However, the remix became an international hit. It later birthed the dance craze in the mid-1996 and part of 1997. The cover reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and the Cash Box Top 100. In 2002, VH 1 ranked Macarena number 1 Greatest One-Hit Wonder of All Time. The group saw more success with their hit as it also ranked top on Billboard’s All-Time Latin Songs.

867-5309/Jenny by Tommy Tutone (1982)

Tommy Tutone released this song on his Tommy Tutone 2 album. In May 1982, the song was number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Also, in April 1982, it topped the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The song birthed the fad where people dialed 867-5309 asking for “Jenny.” 

Some artists release hits, making it big on the airwaves; fans can’t get enough of it. Unfortunately, some of them never experienced such success a second time. We have listed the top 5 of some of the top one-hit wonders.

More from My Money Chronicles

10 of the Best Yacht Rock Songs of All Time

50 Songs About Money

YACHT ROCK, SOFT ROCK & ONE-HIT WONDERS

In the world of MARINA, there are no "guilty pleasures." Just pleasures. We play and celebrate the Yacht Rock, Soft Rock and One-Hit Wonder songs of the 70's and 80's that saturated the radio airwaves, and our childhoods. Enjoy them because they're kitschy — enjoy them because they sound great — but whatever you do, enjoy them.

MANAGEMENT AND BOOKING: CORY HANCE - [email protected]

Rock's Biggest One Hit Wonders

The list of top one hit wonders for rock comes from the Playback.fm charts. A rock one hit wonder on this list is qualified as a recording from an artist who had only one charted song and that song was a top 10 hit. Chart appearances and counts span from 1955-2021 only, so artists who charted from 2021-2023 may appear as one hit wonders if they've had another hit song after 2021. One hit wonders only account for the first billed artist. It may include writing credits and featured credits in the near future. This list is for entertainment purposes only.

Without You by The Kid LAROI

3 Nights by Dominic Fike

Happier by Marshmello

Something Just Like This by The Chainsmokers

Human by Rag’n’Bone Man

Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye

Too Close by Alex Clare

Porn Star Dancing by My Darkest Days

Hero by Chad Kroeger

The Way by Fastball

Sex and Candy by Marcy Playground

Tubthumping by Chumbawamba

Cumbersome by Seven Mary Three

Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand by Primitive Radio Gods

I'm Too Sexy by Right Said Fred

Cuts You Up by Peter Murphy

Black Velvet by Alannah Myles

Easy Lover by Philip Bailey

867‐5309/Jenny by Tommy Tutone

Tainted Love by Soft Cell

Funkytown by Lipps, Inc.

Reunited by Peaches & Herb

Ring My Bell by Anita Ward

Grease by Frankie Valli

Whispering / Cherchez La Femme / Se Si Bon by Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band

Shame, Shame, Shame by Shirley & Company

Lady Marmalade by LaBelle

Third Rate Romance by The Amazing Rhythm Aces

Rock Your Baby by George McCrae

I Can Help by Billy Swan

Drift Away by Dobie Gray

Give Me Just a Little More Time by Chairmen of the Board

Something in the Air by Thunderclap Newman

The Thrill Is Gone by B.B. King

My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me) by David Ruffin

Sweet Soul Music by Arthur Conley

When a Man Loves a Woman by Percy Sledge

Gimme Some Lovin' by The Spencer Davis Group

Wild Thing by The Troggs

You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' by The Righteous Brothers

Louie, Louie by The Kingsmen

Surfin' Bird by The Trashmen

The Loco-Motion by Little Eva

Duke of Earl by Gene Chandler

Party Lights by Claudine Clark

Do You Love Me by The Contours

Stay by Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs

Money (That's What I Want) by Barrett Strong

A Thousand Stars by Kathy Young

Sea Cruise by Frankie Ford

Say Man by Bo Diddley

Little Star by The Elegants

Maybe by The Chantels

Blue Suede Shoes by Carl Perkins

Love Is Strange by Mickey & Sylvia

In the Still of the Nite by The Five Satins

Speedo by The Cadillacs

When You Dance by The Turbans

Black Denim Trousers by The Cheers

I Hear You Knocking by Smiley Lewis

At My Front Door by The El Dorados

One Hit Wonders by Decade

• Playback.fm Blog

playback.fm was created by j3ff.net

80's One Hit Wonders

March 3, 2022 57 Songs, 3 hours, 49 minutes ℗ 2022 UMG Recordings, Inc. FP

Music Videos

Mary Jane Girls

Edie Brickell

Featured On

Apple Music

Apple Music ’80s

Apple Music Feel Good

Apple Music Classic Rock

Apple Music Dance

Africa, Middle East, and India

• Côte d’Ivoire
• Congo, The Democratic Republic Of The
• Guinea-Bissau
• Niger (English)
• Congo, Republic of
• Saudi Arabia
• Sierra Leone
• South Africa
• Tanzania, United Republic Of
• Turkmenistan
• United Arab Emirates

Asia Pacific

• Indonesia (English)
• Lao People's Democratic Republic
• Malaysia (English)
• Micronesia, Federated States of
• New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Solomon Islands
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• France (Français)
• Deutschland
• Luxembourg (English)
• Moldova, Republic Of
• North Macedonia
• Portugal (Português)
• Türkiye (English)
• United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina (Español)
• Bolivia (Español)
• Virgin Islands, British
• Cayman Islands
• Chile (Español)
• Colombia (Español)
• Costa Rica (Español)
• República Dominicana
• Ecuador (Español)
• El Salvador (Español)
• Guatemala (Español)
• Honduras (Español)
• Nicaragua (Español)
• Paraguay (Español)
• St. Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• St. Vincent and The Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turks and Caicos
• Uruguay (English)
• Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

• Canada (English)
• Canada (Français)
• United States
• Estados Unidos (Español México)
• الولايات المتحدة
• États-Unis (Français France)
• Estados Unidos (Português Brasil)
• 美國 (繁體中文台灣)