The Yacht Rock Wedding Cocktail Hour - Volume 1

In this featured playlist, Mike Bacon, aka DJ Iron Mike, shares thirty of his favorite “yacht rock” cuts.  What is yacht rock?  According to Wikipedia,

“In the musical sense, yacht rock refers to the highly polished brand of soft rock that emanated from Southern California between 1976 and 1984. The term is meant to suggest the kind of smooth, mellow music that early yuppies likely enjoyed while sipping champagne and snorting cocaine on their yachts. Significant “yacht rockers” include Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross, and Toto.”

In other words, yacht rock doesn’t necessarily involve nautical themes – although it can – it’s more a musical aesthetic.  Disclaimer:  for the playlist that follows, even though it is for a wedding, we’ve allowed a few songs with bittersweet themes.  Our thinking is that having an authentically feeling yacht rock playlist is more important than maintaining an air of perfect romance.

For a signature drink, Mike has selected “Sex on the Beach” – a nod to the decadence of the yacht rock era.  Learn how to mix one by clicking here.

Immediately after the playlist, listen to Mike’s selected songs on a special Spotify playlist.

The Yacht Rock Wedding Cocktail Hour - by DJ Iron Mike

1. Ride Like the Wind- Christopher Cross

2. What a Food Believes - The Doobie Brothers

3. He’s So Shy – The Pointer Sisters

4. How Much I Feel – Ambrosia

5. One on One – Hall & Oates

6. Southern Cross – Crosby, Stills & Nash

7. Back in the High Life Again – Steve Winwood

8. Cool Change – Little River Band

9. Vahevala – Loggins & Messina

10. This is It – Kenny Loggins

11. I.G.Y. – Donald Fagen

12. Key Largo – Bertie Higgins

13. Waiting for Your Love – Toto

14. Chuck E’s in Love – Rickie Lee Jones

15. JoJo – Boz Scaggs

16. Love X Love – George Benson

17. You are the Woman – Firefall

18. Baby Come Back – Player

19. Everywhere – Fleetwood Mac

20. Tin Man – America

21. Moonlight Feels Right – Starbuck

22. Into the Night – Benny Mardones

23. My Flame – Bobby Caldwell

24. We’re In this Love Together – Al Jarreau

25. The Girl is Mine – Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney

26. You Can’t Change That – Ray Parker Jr.

27. I Just Wanna Stop – Gino Vanelli

28. Lotta Love – Nicolette Larson

29. If I Saw You Again – Pages

30. All Right – Christopher Cross

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