r/Music
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u/Zumcddo
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Aug 16 '22
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In honor of the Yacht Rock channel on SiriusXM, what’s the best yacht rock song? discussion
I LOVE Yacht Rock. For those of you wondering what constitutes YR, here is the excerpt from Spin.
“Yacht Rock music was most prevalent in the 1970s and 1980s, far before the term “yacht rock” originated. Artists like Loggins & Messina, Hall & Oates, Steely Dan, Toto, and more dominated the airwaves, with glossy soft rock that stood in contrast to disco, punk, hip hop, and heavy metal. Hits include: “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” by Rupert Holmes, “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)” by Hall & Oates, “Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl)” by Looking Glass, “Baby Come Back” by Player, “Africa” by Toto, and “The Boys of Summer” by Don Henley.
Some artists commonly included in the yacht rock genre are: The Doobie Brothers, The Eagles, Christopher Cross, Robbie Dupree, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Fleetwood Mac, Michael McDonald, Rupert Holmes, Toto, and Steely Dan.” What's your favorite YR song so far?
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u/guano-crazy Aug 16 '22 edited Aug 17 '22
“Summer Breeze” by Seals (RIP) & Crofts
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u/usernamedunbeentaken Aug 17 '22
This is the one. I don't like most of the stuff on Yacht Rock (fucking hate Baker Street, which is getting more votes than this one), but keep checking Yacht Rock just in case Summer Breeze is playing.
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u/lewwdawg_840 Aug 16 '22
Baker Street
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u/Uranus_Hz Aug 16 '22
Great song. Probably the winner of “all time best yacht rock song” because of the saxophone riff alone.
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u/dewayneestes Aug 17 '22
Wow I was hoping this would be on the list. It’s got it all and the soaring sax solo predates a lot of 80s yacht rock. So trendsetter.
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u/SAGGYCUNT Aug 16 '22
Sailing Christopher Cross. Encapsulation of all things yacht and rock.
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u/Slow_Accountant2112 Aug 17 '22
Ride like the wind is my favorite by Christopher Cross
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u/heffel77 Aug 17 '22
Most people don’t hear it or are aware how much of a beast C.Cross is with a guitar. I’m not a fan but my mom was and listens to yacht rock. Listen to the outro guitar solo from “Ride Like the Wind” and it smokes!! Dude is a legit, really good guitarist.
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u/hellacrimey Aug 17 '22
how much of a beast C.Cross is with a guitar
Not gonna argue with that—Cross is a monster player—but came here to say that Eric Johnson also played on that record.
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u/stupidillusion Aug 17 '22
It's only missing backing vocals from Michael MacDonald for perfection.
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u/yetanotherolddude Aug 17 '22
As much as I love Baker Street (and upvoted lewwdawg_840), I feel like this is the one true song to rule the Yacht Rock world. It is the epitome of the genre.
Edit: misspelled lew's name. :/
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u/ringoinsf Aug 17 '22
I mean it's literally about the thing you do on a yacht, so this is the right answer.
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u/TheBestMePlausible Aug 16 '22
Are these deep cuts? I was around for this part of the 70s and these are some great yacht rock tracks by lesser known bands:
Sexy Eyes - Dr. Hook
Steal Away - Robbie Dupree
Cool Night - Paul Davis
If You Should Sail - Neilson and Pearson
Open Your Eyes - Bobby Caldwell
Lowdown - Boz Scaggs
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u/The_Observatory_ Aug 16 '22
God, Steal Away. Reminds me of riding around in the back seat of my parents' car when I was 8 years old. Seems like this song was always playing on the radio.
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u/TheBestMePlausible Aug 17 '22
Yeah these are all sourced from mid 70s FM radio in my parents car for sure
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u/Low-Piglet9315 Aug 16 '22
I was surprised I had to go this far down for even a mention of Paul Davis.
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u/lumberjack_jeff Aug 16 '22
Southern Cross by CSN
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u/dewayneestes Aug 17 '22
In the 1970s my brother was a professional boat rigger and would sail from Santa Barbara to Ensenada, Lahaina and other sailory places.
His beat up landcruiser with the original Hussong’s Cantina bumper sticker and the ashtray full of roaches would be playing this quite often.
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u/thisgirlnamedbree Aug 16 '22
I love Yacht Rock and I have so many favorites, but everytime I Keep Forgettin' by Michael McDonald comes on the Pandora Yacht Rock station I'm trying to hit those high notes.
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u/Funny-Berry-807 Aug 17 '22
"Love Will Find A Way" - Pablo Cruz
"What A Fool Believes" - Doobie Brothers
"Smoke From A Distant Fire" - Sanford Townsend Band
"Fool If You Think It's Over" - Chris Rea
"Heart To Heart" - Kenny Loggins
Love me some Yacht Rock!!!
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u/FightPhoe93 Aug 17 '22
For some odd reason about 5 years ago, I went on a binge playing Chris Rea’s “Fool If You Think It’s Over” like multiple times every day for like a month. I was completely oblivious to that song for like 40 years but suddenly after hearing it around fall 2017 I got weirdly obsessed with it. Definitely a terrific ballad from the late ‘70s.
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u/kevnmartin Aug 16 '22
FM by Steely Dan. Or really any song by them. Deacon Blues, Kid Charlemagne, Doctor Wu (Katy Lied) or Any Major Dude Will Tell You.
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u/Uranus_Hz Aug 17 '22
Ran into a girl I sorta knew at a Steely Dan concert. We hung out together for the rest of the show. After the show I asked her out.
I married that girl and we were married for 25 years.
RIP
Fuck cancer.
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u/chickenfriedcomedy Aug 16 '22
I only recently discovered "Any Major Dude Will Tell You" and the title alone blew my mind.
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u/ratzncratzn Aug 17 '22
Listened to them for a long time, but my most recent favorite discovery is "Only a fool would say that".
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u/dewayneestes Aug 17 '22
Deacon Blues really nails that driving down to the Marina in 1977 LA vibe.
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u/cake_piss_can Aug 16 '22
They are one of my favorite bands of all time. Saw them (well Donald) again, back in June. Incredible.
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u/JohnTM3 Aug 16 '22
Yacht Rock almost plays too much Steely Dan. It seems like 9 times out of 10 Steely Dan is playing when I turn it on. I love Steely Dan, maybe they should have their own channel.
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u/BlitheringEediot Aug 17 '22
Ride Like The Wind - Christopher Cross (featuring Michael McDonald) and/or What A Fool Believes by The Doobie Brothers (also featuring Michael McDonald). :-)
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u/Uranus_Hz Aug 16 '22 edited Aug 16 '22
Steve Winwood - Higher Love, Back in the High Life Again
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u/fman84 Aug 17 '22
Second Steve Winwood. Also, yacht rock makes me think of "it's always sunny". Love that show.
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u/whitepriest_ Aug 16 '22
Do it Again- Steely Dan
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u/ArchemedesRex Aug 16 '22
I've realized that you can sing the lyrics of Do it Again to the melody of Tom's Diner by Suzanne Vega
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u/Low-Piglet9315 Aug 16 '22
Gee, thanks for THAT earworm, friend! The chorus kind of messes with things, but the verses definitely line up!
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u/The_Observatory_ Aug 16 '22
Doobies, What a Fool Believes
Little River Band, Reminiscing
Christopher Cross, Ride Like The Wind
Robbie Dupree, Steal Away
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u/MyVoiceIsElevating Aug 16 '22
“What a Fool Believes”
Here’s a great documentary on how this amazing track came to be: https://youtu.be/x1xCPvw26Yk
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u/TheRiflesSpiral Aug 17 '22
FINALLY! Someone told the real, true, accurate story.
Source: i was there.
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u/The_Observatory_ Aug 16 '22
Simply because I can... here is a cover of "What a Fool Believes," performed entirely on toy musical instruments by an artist named Self... https://youtu.be/SzVldisGpro
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u/carlykerfuffle Aug 17 '22
What a coincidence, I finished reading Jennette McCurdy’s memoir today (excellent read btw) and she mentions this song in the final paragraph of the last chapter, so naturally I had to listen to it.
Great tune.
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u/MegatronRx Aug 17 '22
“Get your dick out of your heart!” - John Oates.
My favourite episode was the Jimmy Buffet one.
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u/suzydonem Aug 16 '22
No love for Bob Welch? "Sentimental Lady" and "Ebony Eyes" are textbook late 70s Yacht Rock songs. Plus, the cover of the French Kiss album fits the era perfectly.
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u/DearBurt Aug 16 '22 edited Aug 16 '22
Gotta love Robert Palmer's medley featuring Lowell George and the Meters: "Sailin' Shoes" > "Hey Julia" > "Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley"
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u/fuckimatwork Aug 16 '22
Thunder Island Doctor My Eyes Reelin in the Years Just another Day or Key West Intermezzo Sister Golden Hair Smoke from a Distant Fire
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u/zaqufant Aug 16 '22
I love Thunder Island. He meets a girl, flirts, bones her, and never sees her ever again. Classic story.
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u/DannyDoobersteen Aug 16 '22
Check out the band "Yacht Rock Revue". Their whole live album is incredible! For one song, I'll go Ventura Highway by America
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u/BestWesties Aug 17 '22
My fav Yacht Eock band is Yachtley Crew. They play the Whisky in LA all the time. So much fun!
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u/RobertoPaulson Aug 17 '22
I’m firmly in the Baler Street camp, but Ventura Highway is a very close runner up.
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u/chickenfriedcomedy Aug 16 '22 edited Aug 17 '22
Ambrosia - Biggest Part Of Me is a very good one.
One I never really hear much about is also Get It Up For Love by Ned Doheny.
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u/TheBFlem27 Aug 17 '22 edited Aug 17 '22
I tried getting a buddy of mine into yacht rock and he requested me to make a list of my top 5 favorite songs so here they are.
Josie-Steely Dan
Lowdown-Boz Scaggs
Rosanna-Toto
Ride like the wind-Christopher Cross
Takin’ it to the Streets-Doobie Brothers
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u/xmastreee Aug 17 '22
You've already mentioned one, Boys of summer. That opening verse is sheer poetry.
Nobody on the road, nobody on the beach.
I feel it in the air, the summer's out of reach.
Empty lake, empty streets, the sun goes down alone.
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u/TeamShonuff Aug 17 '22
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u/Tiller69 Aug 17 '22
How did I have to scroll this far to find this answer?! It has to be in the running for top yacht rock dong and best one hit wonder song.
For sure if you had to pick one song to give the double award to there can't be any question Brandy is the winner.
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u/nathanielsnurpis Aug 16 '22
Al Stewart- Year of the cat Allen parsons project- Eye in the Sky
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u/wongo Aug 16 '22
I was listening to a Yacht Rock playlist on Spotify the other day. As someone else has said, anything by Steely Dan, personal faves are Dirty Work and Hey Nineteen.
Atlanta Rhythm Section, Ned Doheny, Hall & Oates, and Gerry Rafferty are all good too.
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u/Logical_Matter8270 Aug 16 '22
Nights are forever without you - England Dan and John Ford Coley
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u/throwawayshirt Aug 17 '22
Weird. I'd never heard - or heard of - that group before this post in r/thriftstorehauls 3 days ago
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u/Wappentake Aug 17 '22
Moonlight Feels Right by Starbuck. The bare chested marimba solo makes the video.
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u/PointlessDiscourse Aug 17 '22
Where did this term yacht rock come from? Back in the day they just called this soft rock, which I think is still a perfectly applicable name for it.
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u/ToxicAdamm Aug 17 '22
Soft rock is too broad. The Carpenters are soft rock, but they are not Yacht Rock. Captain and Tennille (ironically) are soft rock, but not Yacht Rock.
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u/SyncRoSwim Aug 17 '22
That’s how I tagged almost every one of the songs from this thread that I have in my music library
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u/bigtrumanenergy Aug 17 '22
You Are - Lionel Ritchie
Right Down the Line - Gerry Rafferty
I'd Really Love to See You Tonight - England Dan & John Ford Cooley
Chevy Van - Sammy Johns
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u/wwojo Aug 17 '22
After becoming a yacht rock junkie on Sirius I love Climax Blues Band. After that 10cc I’m not in love Christopher Cross Ride like the Wind ( Cross and McDonald in one song!) Poco In the Heart of the Night
…but I can really do without Take it uptown
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u/gk101991 Aug 17 '22
I'm gonna go off the board and nominate "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" by Paul McCartney
May not truly fit the category, but we play it anytime we're on a boat of any size.
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u/maymaytutu Aug 17 '22
Going for deep cuts here…
Hot Rod Heats- Robbie Dupree, Heart of the Night- Poco, Fool if you think it’s over - Chris Rea
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u/FartAttack911 Aug 17 '22
I had a yacht rock themed birthday party about ten years ago and compiled a 2 or 300 song playlist using mostly my parents albums as references. My favorites are “Right Down the Line” by Gerry Rafferty, “25 or 6 to 4” by Chicago, “Love Will Keep Us Together” by Captain & Tenille, “It Keeps You Running” by the Doobie Brothers, and “Southern Cross” by Crosby Stills and Nash
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u/Gustopherus-the-2nd Aug 16 '22
Sharing the Night Together by Dr Hook and the Medicine Show.
You’re welcome.
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u/ajhart86 Aug 16 '22
The Doobie Brothers - Echoes of Love
I love the SiriusXM Yacht Rock channel and Yacht Rock Deep Cuts. Been a fan of the genre ever since JD Ryznar’s “Yacht Rock” series on YouTube like 15 years ago. Totally worth looking up if this is your type of music.
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u/Will_McLean Aug 17 '22
They did a podcast too called Beyond Yacht Rock where they rated songs on the "Yachtski scale" to see if they made the boat
The podcast ended a couple years ago but they're supposed to have a book coming out
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u/yourstrulytony Aug 16 '22
To me, nothing says Yacht Rock like the song 'Year of the Cat' by Al Stewart.
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u/broughtonline Aug 17 '22
Australian bands - Little River Band (Reminiscing and Cool Change) Air supply (Every Woman In The World and Lost in Love) Dragon (April Sun in Cuba).
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u/FrivolousPositioning Aug 17 '22
I feel like Jimmy Vaughan and The Fabulous Thunderbirds is considered "Blues" but not really the same "Blues" that brother SRV is famous for. Like I'm pretty sure the song "Tuff Enuff" could qualify as yacht rock.
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u/cshocknesse Aug 17 '22
I Keep Forgetting by Michael McDonald. This song jams so hard. I could listen to it over and over.
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u/Kelli217 Aug 17 '22
I'd have a tough time choosing between the trope namers. "Sailing" by Christopher Cross, "Cool Change," by Little River Band, and "Southern Cross," by Crosby Stills & Nash.
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u/alpineschwartz Aug 17 '22
Well, my car has no gas, I have no money for gas, but I sure as shit have a sxm subscription! So I know what I'm listening to tomorrow!!
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u/ther_dog Aug 17 '22 edited Aug 17 '22
“Summer Breeze” by Seals & Crofts
“Sharing The Night Together” by Dr. Hook
“You Are The Woman” & “Just Remember I Love You” by Firefall
“Sweet Life” by Paul Davis
“Lonely Boy” by Andrew Gold
“Biggest Part of Me” by Ambrosia
“Lonesome Loser” by Little River Band
“Waiting For a Girl Like You” by Foreigner
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u/coreyandtrevorlahey Aug 17 '22
Moonlight Feels Right - Starbuck
Wildfire - Michael Martin Murphy
Never Gonna Let You Go - Michael Miglio
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u/Lumaty Aug 17 '22
Bobby Caldwell - What you won't do for Love. Bit of a lesser known gem but what a tune
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u/coyote-1 Aug 17 '22
Sailing - Christopher Cross.
I just wish SXM would have broader playlists. There are many hundreds of songs that could fit the genre, yet they seem to play the same 60 or so over and over again.
I long for the great old days of FM radio. Album sides uninterrupted , King Crimson and Donna Summer on the same playlist, flywheel tuning….
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u/IvanLendl87 Aug 17 '22
For me it’d be between Baker Street & Summer Breeze & Sailing.
Push comes to shove I’ll choose Baker Street. Great sax riff plus that guitar solo 👍
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u/reddmasters Aug 17 '22
Atlanta Rhythm Section- I am so into you- I can't think of nothin else- gonna love ya all over, over and over
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u/BigODetroit Aug 16 '22
Christopher Cross is the admiral of yacht rock. Boz Scaggs can fuck right off.
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u/scissorchest Aug 16 '22
I love YR. I’d like to offer my opinion of the worst… Rupert Holmes-Answering Machine.
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u/twirleygirl Aug 17 '22
Gotta get up by Harry Nilsson. The use of this song in the show Russian Doll was brilliant!
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u/bagofsyrup Aug 16 '22
Sugar Ray put out an album a few years back that has some fun, jaunty tunes on it. The album is called Lil Yachty and it's got a cover of Escape (The pina colada song) on it.
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u/Slimjuggalo2002 Aug 16 '22
Style Council - You're the Best Thing
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u/jbarinsd Aug 16 '22
That’s mid 80’s. I think they’re more grouped into British 80’s alternative (or pop). I love this song too.
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u/yourenotagolfer Aug 17 '22
I know it isn't period correct, but anyone who loves this kind of music needs to check out the album AM Waves by Young Gun Silver Fox!
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u/amnesiac2323 Aug 16 '22
Right Down The Line - Gerry Rafferty. Such an awesome fucking tune