Last Updated on March 16, 2026 by Black Sunshine Media
Do you have a boat with a sound system that needs a rock-oriented playlist for your next soireé at sea? Are you planning an adult pool party but don’t have time to curate a soundtrack? Having some friends over tonight to guzzle some cocktails and talk shit about each other? You’ve come to the right spot because I’ve created a list of jams that accommodate just about any situation where consenting adults are having well-educated, sophisticated fun!
Yacht Rock, Briefly
The term ‘yacht rock‘ was coined by a group of early web content creators in 2005 and has since become an umbrella term for a wide range of polished, unobtrusive yet engaging popular music that dominated FM radio airwaves from roughly 1972 to 1984-ish. The common appreciation of the term includes jazz rock, pop rock, soft rock, and occasionally hard rock, and derivative hybrids such as adult alternative and album-oriented rock (AOR).
The current “official definition” of yacht (and/or nyacht) rock is based the Yachtski Scale, as established by Steve Huey, David Lyons, JD Ryznar, and Hunter Stair, the guys who created the web series, Yacht Rock, that started the whole thing. Ryznar and friends have since developed a Yacht or Nyacht? Podcast.
The Yachtski Scale involves spreadsheet algorithm parameters ranging from perfection and importance to standard deviation divided by four, and honestly, deep in egghead territory. A lot of certified yacht rock is adult contemporary R&B, quiet storm, and smooth jazz, but the only song to receive a perfect score of 100 is “What a Fool Believes” by the Doobie Brothers.
Terms and Conditions
Many songs on this list would not qualify as yacht rock according to the Yachtski Scale; however, most would be played on the S.S. Black Sunshine Media. Our criteria are much more “vibe-based.” Can you sing along to the chorus? Do your toes start tapping gently? Would your parents listen to it? Can you see yourself holding a drink and unconsciously feeling the beat? E-T-C.
A
Adult Education – Hall & Oates
Africa – Toto
After the Love Is Gone – Airplay
Yachtski score: 78.25
The Earth, Wind & Fire version (“After the Love Has Gone” 88.25) is the one you know, but the original version was written and recorded by David Foster and Jay Graydon, and appeared on their one-off album, Airplay (1980) which, ironically didn’t get a lot of traction on the radio. [See: Nothing You Can Do About It – Airplay]
All Night Long – Lionel Richie
All Right – Christopher Cross
Any Major Dude Will Tell You – Steely Dan
Arc of a Diver – Steve Winwood
Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) – Christopher Cross
B
Baby Come Back – Player
Yachtski Score: 58.5
Player is not a one-hit-wonder. They also had a hit with “This Time I’m in It for Love”, which might be the better cut.
Baby Hold on to Me – Eddie Money
Baby I Love Your Way – Peter Frampton
Babylon Sisters – Steely Dan
Baker Street – Gerry Rafferty
Best Of My Love – Eagles
Better Love Next Time – Dr. Hook
Black Cow – Steely Dan
Black Water – The Doobie Brothers
Blood is Thicker Than Water – Andy Gibb
Yachtski Score: not rated
They don’t even rate this Andy Gibb classic, but I beseech you to watch the first 1:30 of this video and tell me you don’t feel embarrassed for the kid.
Boogie Nights – Heatwave
Break My Stride – Matthew Wilder
Breakdown – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Breezin’ – George Benson
Brother Louie – Stories
C
Can We Still Be Friends – Robert Palmer
Captain of Her Heart – Double
Yachtski Score: 22.7
I’ve done karaoke (aka videoke) twice in 18+ years of living in S.E. Asia, and two is a ridiculously low number for a long-term expat over here. I sang once in the back of a taxi in Taipei (“Teddy Bear” by Elvis Presley), and once at a birthday party under extreme peer pressure, where I chose “Captain of Her Heart” because I knew nobody in the room had ever heard it, and hence, they’d tune out immediately, which is exactly what happened. I didn’t even bother with the third chorus.
Caribbean Queen – Billy Ocean
Chuck E’s in Love – Rickie Lee Jones
Coconut – Nilsson
Come Sail Away – Styx
Yachtski Score: 7.25
I don’t care what anybody says, we’re gonna hear this song on my fuckin’ boat. Prime Dennis De Young before he cooked us with “Babe”.
Cool Change – Little River Band
Cool Love – Pablo Cruise
Cool Night – Paul Davis
Couldn’t Get It Right – Climax Blues Band
Crazy on You – Heart
D
Dance With Me – Orleans
Dancing Queen – ABBA
Danny’s Song – Loggins & Messina
Daybreak – Harry Nilsson
Deacon Blues – Steely Dan
Devil Woman – Cliff Richard
Diamond Girl – Seals & Crofts
Dirty Work – Steely Dan
Do It Again – Steely Dan
Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? – Rod Stewart
Don’t Go Breaking My Heart – Elton John & Kikki Dee
Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough – Michael Jackson
Don’t Stop – Fleetwood Mac
Don’t Talk to Strangers – Rick Springfield
Yachtski Score: 58.25
If you didn’t see him on the video, you’d never know it was the same guy who did “Jessie’s Girl”.
Dreadlock Holiday – 10cc
Dream Weaver – Gary Wright
Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
E
Easy – Commodores
Easy Lover – Philip Bailey/Phil Collins
Escape (The Piña Colada Song) – Rupert Holmes
Yachtski Score: 35.25
Here’s where I start to diverge from the yacht rock guys because I’d score this jam in the upper 80s to mid-90s. It hurts my brain to think what it would do to their algorithm, but my 87 straight-up against their 35.25 = 61.25, and still very much on the certified yacht rock scale.
One of the greatest rock videos of all time.
Every 1’s a Winner – Hot Chocolate
Every Kinda People – Robert Palmer
Every Time You Go Away – Paul Young
Eye In the Sky – Alan Parsons Project
Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
F
Feels So Good – Chuck Mangione
Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover – Paul Simon
Flashlight – Parliament
Fly Like an Eagle – Steve Miller
FM (No Static at All) – Steely Dan ft. Timothy B. Schmit
Fool If You Think It’s Over – Chris Rea
Fooled Around and Fell in Love – Elvin Bishop
Yachtski Score: not rated
I was shocked that they didn’t even give this one a look-see. Maybe it’s the lazy country rock feel, I’d give it a 75 or higher. By the way, that’s the wonderful Mickey Thomas (Jefferson Starship) on lead vocals.
G
Games People Play – Alan Parsons Project
Yachtski Score: 41.25
If you listen closely to the lyrics, it’s not a positive song by any stretch of imagination. But it’s polished, catchy, and good enough for me.
Give a Little Bit – Supertramp
Give Me The Night – George Benson
Gold – John Stewart
Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky) – Bill Conti
Gypsy – Fleetwood Mac
H
Hello It’s Me – Todd Rundgren
Hey Nineteen – Steely Dan
Hold The Line – Toto
How Deep Is Your Love? – Bee Gees
How Long – Ace
How Much I Feel – Ambrosia
Yachtski Score: 60
I despised Ambrosia at the time (1978), but I’ve slowly become a huge fan.
I
I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do) – Hall & Oates
I Can’t Tell You Why – Eagles
I Go Crazy – Paul Davis
I Just Wanna Stop – Gino Vannelli
I Just Want to Be Your Everything – Andy Gibb
I Keep Forgettin’ – Michael McDonald
I Love You – Climax Blues Band
Yachtski Score: 19.25
I totally agree with the Yachtski Score, but this is a strategic selection for spreading the good vibes on board, you know?
I Saw the Light – Todd Rundgren
I Won’t Hold You Back – Toto
I.G.Y. (What A Beautiful World) – Donald Fagen
I’d Really Love To See You Tonight – England Dan & John Ford Coley
I’ll Have to Say I Love You in a Song – Jim Croce
I’m Alright – Kenny Loggins
I’m Not in Love – 10cc
If You Leave Me Now – Chicago
Into The Night – Benny Mardones
Island Girl – Elton John
Isn’t It Time – The Babys
It Keeps You Runnin’ – Doobie Brothers
J
Jackie Blue – Ozark Mountain Daredevils
Jane – Jefferson Starship
Jive Talkin’– Bee Gees
Johnny Carson – The Beach Boys
Yachtski Score: not rated
It’s just a fun song. Not even vaguely related to yacht rock, except Johnny Carson might have owned a boat.
Just A Song Before I Go – Crosby Stills & Nash
Just Remember I Love You – Firefall
Just The Two of Us – Grover Washington Jr. & Bill Withers
K
Keep It Coming Love – KC & the Sunshine Band
Keep On Loving You – REO Speedwagon
Key Largo – Bertie Higgins
King Of the World – Steely Dan
Kiss On My List – Hall & Oates
Kiss You All Over – Exile
Yachtski Score: 21.75
Again, I implore you to watch the video.
Knowing Me, Knowing You – ABBA
L
Lady – Little River Band
Let ‘Em In – Wings
Let Me Go, Love – Nicolette Larson
Lido Shuffle – Boz Scaggs
Yachtski Score: 47.5
Lido missed the boat that day he left the shack. I mean, you hooked me right there.
Lights – Journey
Listen To the Music – Doobie Brothers
Livin’ Thing – Electric Light Orchestra
Lonely Boy – Andrew Gold
Lonesome Loser – Little River Band
Lotta Love – Nicolette Larson
Love Hangover – Diana Ross
Love Is Alive – Gary Wright
Love Is the Answer – Utopia
Love Will Find A Way – Pablo Cruise
Yachtski Score: 91
Alright! Something we agree on. I’d say 91 is right on the money.
Loves Me Like a Rock – Paul Simon
Lowdown – Boz Scaggs
Lyin’ Eyes – Eagles
M
Magic – Olivia Newton–John
Magnet & Steel – Walter Egan/Buckingham/Nicks
Margaritaville – Jimmy Buffet
Method Of Modern Love – Hall & Oates
Midnight At The Oasis – Maria Muldaur
Minute By Minute – Doobie Brothers
Moonlight Feels Right – Starbuck
More, More, More – Andrea True Connection
Yachtski Score: not rated
Haha.
Mr. Blue Sky – Electric Light Orchestra
Muskrat Love – Captain & Tennille
N
Never Be The Same – Christopher Cross
New Kid in Town – Eagles
Nice, Nice, Very Nice – Ambrosia
Easily the most progressive rock song on the list, and the first time I heard something I liked from these guys. The lyrics are based on a poem from Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle (1963).
Bokonon’s 53rd Calypso
Oh, a sleeping drunkard
Up in Central Park,
And a lion-hunter
In the jungle dark,
And a Chinese dentist,
And a British queen –
All fit together
In the same machine.
Nice, nice, very nice;
Nice, nice, very nice;
Nice, nice, very nice –
So many different people
In the same device.
Vonnegut wrote to the band after hearing the song on the radio: “I myself am crazy about our song, of course, but what do I know and why wouldn’t I be? This much I have always known, anyway: Music is the only art that’s really worth a damn. I envy you guys.”
Nights Are Forever Without You – England Dan & John Ford Coley
Night Moves – Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
No No Song – Ringo Starr
Nothing You Can Do About It – Airplay
Yachtski Score: 96.75
Airplay was a studio-only project created by session musicians David Foster and Jay Graydon in 1979 after working on many projects together. The album’s backup band is yacht rock royalty and essentially four-fifths of Toto (Jeff Porcaro on drums, David Hungate on bass, Steve Lukather on guitars, and Steve Porcaro on synthesizer).
For context, Foster is a Grammy-winning producer and songwriter associated with hits such as “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston and “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” by Chicago. He’s also appeared on television programs like The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Asia’s Got Talent. Graydon is a Grammy-winning guitarist and producer known for his work with the likes of Gino Vannelli, Alice Cooper, Christopher Cross, and Steely Dan. One of Graydon’s most notable session performances is his guitar solo on Steely Dan’s 1977 hit single “Peg”.
O
On & On – Stephen Bishop
One Of These Nights – Eagles
P
Peg – Steely Dan
Pick Up the Pieces – Average White Band
Please Don’t Go – KC & the Sunshine Band
R
Reeling In the Years – Steely Dan
Reminiscing – Little River Band
Rhiannon – Fleetwood Mac
Ride Like the Wind – Christopher Cross
Right Down the Line – Gerry Rafferty
Rikki Don’t Lose That Number – Steely Dan
Rise – Herb Alpert
Rock The Boat – Hues Corporation
Roll with the Changes – R.E.O. Speedwagon
Yachtski Score: not rated
R.E.O. Speedwagon is definitely not in the yacht rock conversation, but remember, it’s my fuckin’ boat.
Rosanna – Toto
S
Sail On – Commodores
Sail On Sailor – Beach Boys
Yachtski Score: 43.5
Sailing – Christopher Cross
Sara – Fleetwood Mac
Sara Smile – Hall & Oates
Say You Love Me – Fleetwood Mac
Saturday In the Park – Chicago
Sentimental Lady – Bob Welch
Sexual Healing – Marvin Gaye
Sexy Eyes – Dr. Hook
Shakin’ – Eddie Money
Sharing the Night Together – Dr. Hook
She’s Gone – Hall & Oates
Show Me the Way – Peter Frampton
Silly Love Songs – Paul McCartney & Wings
Sir Duke – Stevie Wonder
Sister Golden Hair – America
So In To You – Atlanta Rhythm Section
Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid – Player
Yachtski Score: 88
Not to be confused with the Hall & Oates song of the same title.
Somebody’s Baby – Jackson Browne
Somebody to Love – Queen
Something About You – Level 42
Southern Cross – Crosby Stills & Nash
Spooky – Atlanta Rhythm Section
Steal Away – Robbie Dupree
Steppin’ Out – Joe Jackson
Still The One – Orleans
Summer Breeze – Seals & Crofts
T
Take the Long Way Home – Supertramp
Take It Easy On Me – Little River Band
Takin’ It To The Streets – Doobie Brothers
The Biggest Part of Me – Ambrosia
Yachtski Score: 72
The Chain – Fleetwood Mac
The Long Run – Eagles
The Things We Do for Love – 10cc
Yachtski Score: 42
Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe it or Not) – Joey Scarbury
This Is It – Kenny Loggins
This Time I’m In It for Love – Player
Thunder Island – Jay Ferguson
Yachtski Score: 45
Time – Alan Parsons Project
Time Passages – Al Stewart
Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright) – Rod Stewart
True – Spandau Ballet
Turn Your Love Around – George Benson
Two Tickets to Paradise – Eddie Money
U–Z
Undercover Angel – Alan O’Day
Ventura Highway – America
Waiting for a Girl Like You – Foreigner
Wasted On The Way – Crosby Stills & Nash
We Don’t Talk Anymore – Cliff Richard
We Just Disagree – Dave Mason
We May Never Pass This Way Again – Seals & Crofts
Whatcha Gonna Do – Pablo Cruise
Yachtski Score: 69
When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman – Dr. Hook
Whenever I Call You Friend – Kenny Loggins/Stevie Nicks
While You See a Chance – Steve Winwood
Who’ll Be The Fool Tonight – Larsen-Feiten Band
Who’s Right, Who’s Wrong – Pages
Wild Mountain Honey – Steve Miller Band
Wildfire – Michael Martin Murphey
Winning – Santana
Yachtski Score: 26.75
WKRP In Cincinnati – Steve Carlisle
Yah Mo B There – James Ingram/Michael McDonald
Year Of The Cat – Al Stewart
You Are The Woman – Firefall
Yachtski Score: 28.5
You Belong To Me – Doobie Brothers
You Can Do Magic – America
You Make Loving Fun – Fleetwood Mac
You Make Me Feel Like Dancing – Leo Sayer
You Make My Dreams – Hall & Oates
(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher – Rita Coolidge
You’re in My Heart – Rod Stewart
You’re No Good – Linda Ronstadt
You’re So Vain – Carly Simon
You’re The Only Woman – Ambrosia
Yachtski Score: 69
