Seafaring Strangers: Yacht Rock

The Numero Group's dive into the deep end of America's private press continues. Having battled the witches and wizards of Darkscorch, the outlaws of Cosmic Americana, and traveled alongside Ladies From the Canyon and their Lonesome Heroes, it's time to take it easy.

With pop music's volume knob adjusted for deflation in the early '70s, softness begat smoothness. Crewmen arrived from the worlds of jazz, folk, rock, and soul, all peddling a product that was sincere, leisurely, and lofty. A sound that was buoyant, crisp, defined. Sometimes classified as West Coast - and, later, Yacht Rock - the compass points of our Private Yacht expedition are the blue-eyed harmonies of Hall and Oates, the cocaine-dusted Fender Rhodes of Michael McDonald, and the combover strums of James Taylor. Here, at the glassy apex of rock's softer side, 20 strong swimmers are gathered together. An album for both relaxation and reflection, where listeners can enjoy the present, a cool breeze, and a taste of the good life.

Tracklisting

1. Jim Spencer - Wrap Myself Up in Your Love 
2. Michael Miglio - Never Gonna Let You Go 
3. Ned Doheny - Before I Thrill Again 
4. Johnny Gamboa - That Good Old Feeling Back Again 
5. Solenoid - Acquaintances 
6. Steps - Your Burning Love 
7. Jeff Harrington - Kristi 
8. Paul Skyland - Give Me Your Love 
9. Rob Galbraith - Tell Me with Your Eyes (Just Be You) 
10. Calvin Johnson - Dance of Love 
11. Salty Miller - One More Time 
12. Canyon - Country Lovin 
13. AJ Loria - Please Analyze 
14. Gary Marks - Sailing 
15. Country Comfort - To Be Lonely 
16. Madness - Madam Operator 
17. Chuck Senrick - Don't Be so Nice 
18. The Breathers - Don't It Make You Feel 
19. Damon Danielson - How Long Has It Been 
20. Rudy Norman - Back to the Streets