Our Top 50 Yacht Rock Countdown proves that while the harbor is pretty big, a handful of artists clearly spent more time on deck than everyone else.
Of the 31 different artists represented; Boz Scaggs, Christopher Cross, Kenny Loggins, Ambrosia and Steely Dan each have three songs in the countdown.
Then there’s Michael McDonald, the undisputed 'Godfather of Yacht Rock.' He has three songs of his own, plus three Doobie Brothers classics, including the #1 song, “What a Fool Believes.” Add his collaboration with James Ingram and his backing vocals on Steely Dan’s “Peg,” and McDonald’s fingerprints are all over the countdown.
And perhaps the most surprising statistic: Hall & Oates have more songs than any other single entity—four—but none cracked the Top 5. Their highest finisher was “You Make My Dreams” at #7.
In the end, the top three tell the story pretty well:
#3 Christopher Cross – “Sailing”
#2 Toto – “Africa”
#1 The Doobie Brothers – “What a Fool Believes”
It’s hard to argue with that crew. Michael McDonald sings the #1 song, he co-wrote it with Kenny Loggins, and it went on to win both Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the Grammys.
Fifty songs, dozens of musicians, and one very smooth voyage. See the complete Top 50 below:
The Top 50 Yacht Rock Songs
50. “I Gotta Try” — Michael McDonald
49. “I.G.Y. (What A Beautiful World)” — Donald Fagen
48. “Cool Night” — Paul Davis
47. “Real Love” — The Doobie Brothers
46. “Captain of Her Heart” — Double
45. “Key Largo” — Bertie Higgins
44. “Just the Two of Us” — Grover Washington, Jr.
43. “Jojo” — Boz Scaggs
42. “All Right” — Christopher Cross
41. “I'm Alright” — Kenny Loggins
40. “Steal Away” — Robbie Dupree
39. “Still the One” — Orleans
38. “Breezin'” — George Benson
37. “Into the Night” — Benny Mardones
36. “Lido Shuffle” — Boz Scaggs
35. “Minute by Minute” — The Doobie Brothers
34. “You Can Do Magic” — America
33. “We're in This Love Together” — Al Jarreau
32. “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” — Rupert Holmes
31. “You're the Only Woman” — Ambrosia
30. “Private Eyes” — Hall & Oates
29. “Yah Mo B There” — James Ingram
28. “Time Out of Mind” — Steely Dan
27. “Cool Change” — Little River Band
26. “Whenever I Call You Friend” — Kenny Loggins & Stevie Nicks
25. “Turn Your Love Around” — George Benson
24. “What'cha Gonna Do” — Pablo Cruise
23. “Sweet Freedom” — Michael McDonald
22. “How Long” — Ace
21. “Love Will Find a Way” — Pablo Cruise
20. “Biggest Part of Me” — Ambrosia
19. “Baby Come Back” — Player
18. “Heart to Heart” — Kenny Loggins
17. “Maneater” — Hall & Oates
16. “Everywhere” — Fleetwood Mac
15. “What You Won't Do for Love” — Bobby Caldwell
14. “Peg” — Steely Dan
13. “Summer Breeze” — Seals & Crofts
12. “Ride Like the Wind” — Christopher Cross
11. “How Much I Feel” — Ambrosia
10. “Kiss on My List” — Hall & Oates
9. “Lowdown” — Boz Scaggs
8. “Hey Nineteen” — Steely Dan
7. “You Make My Dreams” — Hall & Oates
6. “Rosanna” — Toto
5. “I Keep Forgettin'” — Michael McDonald
4. “This Is It” — Kenny Loggins
3. “Sailing” — Christopher Cross
2. “Africa” — Toto
1. “What a Fool Believes” — The Doobie Brothers