Playlist of the Week: Top 100 Songs of Yacht Rock

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Playlist of the Week: Top 100 Songs of Yacht Rock

Each week we’re featuring a playlist to get your mind going and help you assemble your favorites. This week we take a deep dive into the soft rock hits of the late ’70s and early ’80s, which have come to be known in some circles as Yacht Rock. The term Yacht Rock generally refers to music in the era where yuppies enjoyed sipping champaign on their yachts — a concept explored in the original web series Yacht Rock, which debuted in 2005 and has developed a cult following. Artists most commonly thought of in the Yacht Rock era include Michael McDonald, Ambrosia, 10cc, Toto, Kenny Loggins, Boz Scaggs, and Christopher Cross. Yacht Rock has become the muse of a great number of tribute bands, and is the current subject of a short-run channel on Sirius XM.

Here is a stab at the Top 100 Songs of Yacht Rock — not necessarily in rank order, with a few more added for honorable mention. We welcome your comments. What songs are ranked too high? What songs are ranked too low? What songs are missing? Make your case. Also, please let us know concepts for playlists you’d like to see — or share a favorite list of your own.

ArtistTitle
1Steely DanHey Nineteen
2Herb AlpertRoute 101
3Robbie DupreeSteal Away
4Jan Hammer GroupDon't You Know
5Blues ImageRide Captain Ride
6Toto/Cheryl LynnGeorgy Porgy
7Gerry RaffertyRight Down The Line
8Paul YoungEvery Time You Go Away
9Boz ScaggsJojo
10Johnny NashI Can See Clearly Now
11Daryl Hall/John OatesSara Smile
12OrleansDance With Me
13Olivia Newton JohnMagic
14Seals & CroftsSummer Breeze
15Lionel RichieAll Night Long
16Fleetwood MacYou Make Loving Fun
17Steely DanDeacon Blues
18Christopher CrossRide Like The Wind
19Little River BandCool Change
20Jackson BrowneSomebody's Baby
2110ccDreadlock Holiday
22Dr. HookWhen You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman
23Boz ScaggsLowdown
24PlayerThis Time I'm In It For Love
25Fleetwood MacEverywhere
26Steely DanPeg
27Todd RundgrenI Saw The Light
28Gerry RaffertyBaker Street
29EaglesOne Of These Nights
30James IngramYah-Mo Be There
3110ccI'm Not In Love
32AmbrosiaBiggest Part Of Me
33Terri GibbsSomebody's Knockin'
34Atlanta Rhythm SectionSo In To You
35Boz ScaggsLido Shuffle
36Steve Miller BandWild Mountain Honey
37Michael McDonaldI Gotta Try
38Matthew WilderBreak My Stride
39England Dan & John Ford ColeyI'd Really Love To See You Tonight
40PlayerBaby Come Back
41Kenny LogginsThis Is It
42Michael McDonaldI Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)
43TotoRosanna
44Daryl Hall/John OatesKiss On My List
45The Doobie BrothersWhat A Fool Believes
46Christopher CrossSailing
47Loggins & MessinaWatching The River Run
48EaglesThe Long Run
49Looking GlassBrandy (You're A Fine Girl)
50BreadEverything I Own
51Steely DanReelin' in the Years
52Joe JacksonSteppin' Out
53Jackson BrowneDoctor My Eyes
54Sanford & TownsendSmoke from a Distant Fire
55Bobby CaldwellWhat You Won't Do For Love
56Fleetwood MacRhiannon
57AceHow Long
58Daryl Hall/John OatesRich Girl
59TotoAfrica
60Steely DanDo It Again
61Bertie HigginsKey Largo
62Rupert HolmesEscape (The Pina Colada Song)
63Little River BandReminiscing
64Jimmy BuffettMargaritaville
65Fleetwood MacDreams
66FirefallJust Remember I Love You
67EaglesI Can't Tell You Why
68EaglesThe Best Of My Love
69EaglesTake It To The Limit
70EaglesTequila Sunrise
71ChicagoSaturday In The Park
72Bob WelchSentimental Lady
73AmericaSister Golden Hair
74AmericaA Horse With No Name
75AmbrosiaHow Much I Feel
76Alan ParsonsEye In The Sky
77Air SupplyLost In Love
78Steely DanDirty Work
79Steely DanOnly A Fool Would Say That
80OrleansStill The One
81Stephen BishopSinking In An Ocean Of Tears
8210ccThe Things We Do For Love
83AmericaVentura Highway
84Al StewartYear Of The Cat
85BreadBaby I'm A Want You
86FirefallYou Are The Woman
87George BensonGimme The Night
88Barbara Streisand/Barry GibbGuilty
89Christopher CrossArthur's Theme
90Marty BalinHearts
91PocoBarbados
92Daryl Hall/John OatesI Can't Go For That (No Can Do)
93Al StewartTime Passages
94Jay FergusonThunder Island
95Dr. HookSexy Eyes
96Donald FagenI.G.Y.
97Michael McDonaldGotta Try
98BreadMake It With You
99Pablo CruiseWhatcha Gonna Do
100Doobie BrothersDependin' On You
101Ozark Mountain DaredevilsJackie Blue
102Pablo CruiseLove Will Find A Way
103StarbuckMoonlight Feels Right
104Billy OceanCaribbean Queen
105Linda RonstadtOoh Baby Baby
106Hues CorporationRock The Boat
107Loggins & MessinaDanny's Song
108Rupert HolmesAnswering Machine
109Stephen BishopOn And On
110BreadThe Guitar Man
111Seals & CroftsDiamond Girl
112Air SupplyEven The Nights Are Better
113AmbrosiaYou're The Only Woman
114George BensonBreezin'
115Daryl Hall/John OatesShe's Gone
116Dave LogginsPlease Come To Boston
117Rickie Lee JonesChuck E.'s In Love
118Captain/TennilleLove Will Keep Us Together
119Dr. HookBetter Love Next Time
120ChilliwackI Believe
121Crosby, Stills & NashSouthern Cross
122Climax Blues BandCouldn't Get It Right
123Gilbert O'SullivanAlone Again (Naturally)
124AmericaDaisy Jane
125Beach BoysSail On, Sailor

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