Spot on…halfway through I wondered, “what’s Bob going to make of this dreck?”<\/p>\n
I too was looking forward to this, and settled in to enjoy almost as soon as it “came online”, but what a disappointment.<\/p>\n
A subject\/genre with so much potential to enlighten and entertain.<\/p>\n
I agree that Michael Mc Donald and Christopher Cross were probably best value for money, but my favourite quote came from Steve Lukather.<\/p>\n
“Where’s my f*cking yacht?” (or something like that – not going to watch again to confirm)<\/p>\n
Cheers,<\/p>\n
David Thompson<\/p>\n
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Amen.<\/p>\n
The trope of ironic distancing boomeranging back to (in)sincere appreciation has no meat left on the bone, and the opining of some dudes from UPROXX and Blender won\u2019t convince me otherwise.<\/p>\n
I would have rather watched Luke and Jay together in a room, talking about all the records they played on, but instead\u2026well, Donald said it best at the end of the doc(k).<\/p>\n
Best, Erick Haight<\/p>\n
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Interesting comment about the Beatles documentary on Disney+.<\/p>\n
You\u2019re right. I don\u2019t have it because I don\u2019t need Star Wars or kid\u2019s TV. And I can\u2019t imagine Disney has a lot of Boomers, unless they have it for their grandkids. So I\u2019ll never see it. And strangely, even though the Beatles are my all time favorite band, I don\u2019t care. I guess that\u2019s the new world of content overload on streaming.<\/p>\n
John Parikhal<\/p>\n
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It was awful.<\/p>\n
But at least someone from Ambrosia made an appearance.<\/p>\n
And where was Little River Band?<\/p>\n
I wanted the \u201cahem” real stars of Yacht Rock, the one or one, two and three hit wonders.<\/p>\n
And Questlove telling me how great Yacht Rock was when I was listening to Chocolate City by P Funk? And dancing to Donna Summer? And then off to CBGB\u2019s for real music?<\/p>\n
Please. I’m embarrassed now to say how much I liked Orleans, because they\u2019re considered Yacht Rockers, even if Jon Hall \u00a0followed Yacht Rocking as a Congressman from NY and \u00a0prior to yachting, wrote “Half Moon” with his wife Johanna Hall, recorded \u00a0by Janis Joplin.<\/p>\n
Thank you, Bob for putting this doc into perspective. Along with the genre.<\/p>\n
Amy Krak\u00f3w<\/p>\n
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The worst!<\/p>\n
Jeff Laufer<\/p>\n
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Could tell it would be awful from the trailer<\/p>\n
Ashley Milton<\/p>\n
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Well I thought it was great and a doc that has every right to exist!<\/p>\n
Al Walser
\nGRAMMY\u00ae WINNER
\nwww.alwalser.com<\/p>\n
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Aye man, you starting to sound like the grumpy old guy<\/p>\n
Best,<\/p>\n
Bob McNeil<\/p>\n
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Right. \u00a0A heaping pantload.<\/p>\n
Paul Lanning<\/p>\n
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Mahalo Bob\u2026 I was gonna get HBO just for this but was hoping\u00a0\u00a0you\u2019d\u00a0review it first\u2026<\/p>\n
I\u2019m out\u2026.<\/p>\n
Tom Clark<\/p>\n
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The Beatles doc was disappointing but there were some prime moments: Sid Bernstein on booking them then the Stones into Carnegie\u2026<\/p>\n
And seeing Murray the K. made to look like a putz was great.<\/p>\n
Giles Martin cleaned up the Washington D.C. concert sound miraculously. Was worth watching just for that. Ringo was amazing\u2026<\/p>\n
Not great especially if you lived through it as a teen as I did \u2026<\/p>\n
Michael Fremer
\nTrackingAngle editor
\nThe Absolute Sound Editor at Large<\/p>\n
_________________________________<\/p>\n
I was born in 74, so pretty much right at the beginning of this genre of music now known as Yacht Rock. My earliest musical memories were listening to Chicago\u2019s WLS on a Sesame Street radio when I was about five years old. This music was everywhere. I distinctly recall hearing Baker Street a lot (not sure if that falls in the Yacht Rock genre or not), as well as What A Fool Believes and Ride Like The Wind.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve loved all this music before it was branded Yacht Rock. Prior to that pejorative, it was simply known as soft rock. I\u2019ll admit, I never did a deep dive into the scene, which is unusual for me. I knew the artists, but was unaware (other than McDonald) how intertwined they all were. It\u2019s not terribly surprising, I suppose, since the hair metal scene was similar. Bands swapping members. Guys who\u2019d grown up together, gone to high school together and they\u2019re now either in a band together, or in competing bands.<\/p>\n
When I fired up the Max app to watch this last night, I was initially disappointed when I saw that this was only an hour and a half, give or take. Truthfully, I was hoping for a Ken Burns style deep dive, but would have settled for four episodes. Hell, Paramont + put together three episodes on their recent doc about the aforementioned hair metal scene. I\u2019m glad I watched it, but it was definitely a brief overview and could have gone so much deeper (what was going on culturally at the time).<\/p>\n
Regardless, the songs and production were incredible.<\/p>\n
Neil Johnson<\/p>\n
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I don\u2019t understood the \u201cYacht Rock\u201d label. Back in the day it was just called \u201dsoft rock\u201d.<\/p>\n
And there\u2019s nothing wrong with soft rock. I bought a lot of those 45\u2019s: \u201cGuitar Man\u201d by Bread? Brilliant! \u201cFeel Like Making Love\u201d by Roberta Flack? Hell, that was practically audio porn for a 14 year old. Almost anything by the early Carpenters is godhead. And there\u2019s the hidden treasure of \u2018Something\u2019s Wrong With Me\u2019 by Austin Roberts. F@cking heartbreaking.<\/p>\n
But you won\u2019t hear these Yacht Rock cover bands going into those deep cuts because basically they\u2019re still moored in the shallow waters of Firefall and The Little River Band.<\/p>\n
Lame scene. Nostalgia without any sense of passion for the real pearls of the time.<\/p>\n
Lee Elliott<\/p>\n
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Agreed x ten.<\/p>\n
The doc is all prose and no poetry.\u00a0 Lest we forget that boomers dated and mated to these songs.\u00a0 Not a word here about what it was like to actually live and love in that era.<\/p>\n
Most of this was covered in other docs.\u00a0 Kind of sick of this deconstructionist stuff.\u00a0 The ‘critics’ they interviewed were barely alive back so zero cred there.\u00a0 Fred Armisen is 57.\u00a0 Still too young to get the gestalt.<\/p>\n
I was there as a young critic.\u00a0 Steely Dan made great records but didn’t tour and they paid for that distance. Kenny Loggins sold out.\u00a0 Toto’s production doesn’t hold up against Boston’s in terms of car audio firepower. Blah blah blah.<\/p>\n
Will Ferrell said more just wearing a Pablo Cruise t shirt in the legendary ‘More Cowbell’ sketch on SNL.<\/p>\n
Right on Bob,<\/p>\n
Jonathan Gross<\/p>\n
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\u201cLighten up Francis!\u201d\u2026Come\u00a0on Bob.<\/p>\n
Great Storytelling and Vulnerability from the Artists themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cLighten up Francis!\u201d – 2.0 – Bethany Cosentino is my cousin.<\/p>\n
Best Coast was formed & named when she moved back to LA from New York paying her homage to the California \u201cYacht Rock\u201d sound.<\/p>\n
Keep on Writing – I\u2019ll keep on reading.<\/p>\n
TA<\/p>\n
Terry Anzaldo<\/p>\n
TA Entertainment<\/p>\n
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Sorry about Yacht Rock docu\u2026.
\nI Recommend 2 brand new music documentaries coming from the U.K.:
\nFirst, BBC found lost film footage of the BandAid session and it\u2019s very moving and fabulous. Especially when you were so acquainted with many of the folks involved. You\u2019ll dig it, especially when ignorant, know nothing idiots like Ed Sheeran criticize BandAid these days.
\nSecond, Sky released a comprehensive history of the Yardbirds, featuring interviews with ex-band members and people like Alice Cooper.
\nYou\u2019ll enjoy both cuz you were there.
\nCheers, Keith Zimmerman<\/p>\n
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Lighten up. Whike the doc missed a lot, it was entertaining. I guess Fagan doesn’t like the moniker either. F@ck you.<\/p>\n
Ron Cori<\/p>\n
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You don\u2019t get it. \u00a0We\u2019ll take anything.<\/p>\n
Recalling when there were actual melodies and harmonies is better than the drivel they beat us over the head with today.<\/p>\n
The runway is getting short. Let us enjoy something we can still\u00a0remember.<\/p>\n
Rick Osswald<\/p>\n
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Watched new Beatles documentary last night, awful. It was mostly other people talking about the Beatles and not enough footage of them at that time. Jackson’s Get Back is officially the last word<\/p>\n
Bob Kalill<\/p>\n
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Thanks for saving me the trouble of watching this.<\/p>\n
It seems emblematic of the disrespect these musicians have endured for years, starting with the stupid name. They created some of the most sophisticated pop music that ever graced the airwaves. They may not have been the \u201ctortured artists\u201d that some people claim to love, but virtually everyone enjoyed them, even if they claimed to hate them. As is so often the case, most have found a resurgence among younger people who don\u2019t know they are not supposed to be hip, and they have gone from being loved ironically for a time to being loved admittedly.<\/p>\n
I do take issue with the assertion that Kenny Loggins did his best work with Messina, though. Forget \u201cFootloose\u201d and \u201cDanger Zone”; \u00a0\u201cHeart to Heart\u201d and \u201cThis is It\u201d are amazing songs, productions, and vocal performances. The lyrics of the latter should be taken as an anthem for these times. And speaking of lyrics, many of those on Michael McDonald\u2019s debut solo record are as deep as any singer\/songwriter\u2019s. These people were spectacular craftsmen to the point where craft becomes art.<\/p>\n
Hope someday someone will make a good doc about them.<\/p>\n
Best<\/p>\n
Michael Ross<\/p>\n
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I have a problem with the Yacht Rock moniker in general, but including Steely Dan in that group is a huge insult to the talent and output of that band. They\u2019ve never sounded like any other band that I\u2019ve heard, and it is especially true when considering the other bands that a couple of idiots roped into the Yacht Rock category.<\/p>\n
Tom Scharf<\/p>\n
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So, I spent the evening watching an excellent documentary on HBO with my wife last\u00a0night.\u00a0 I found the connections drawn between various session musicians and groups that had hits in the early 80s fascinating.<\/p>\n
I then read my email… and found your latest missive…<\/p>\n
Do you know what people dislike about critics of various times?\u00a0 They are rarely proficient\u00a0in what they are criticizing…\u00a0 Surprise.\u00a0 You’re not even a musician.<\/p>\n
Alas…\u00a0 I enjoy what you write.\u00a0 But perhaps instead\u00a0of dissecting\u00a0all the minutia\u00a0of what you didn’t like (misspelling of an obscure\u00a0name),\u00a0you could credit the documentary with the homage to Toto (did I spell that right?)\u00a0 All those session musicians and what they did for some perfect music.\u00a0 What’s the beef with Questlove, too?\u00a0 Lord man…<\/p>\n
Keep up the excellent work.<\/p>\n
Jim Anderson<\/p>\n
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I was excited for this documentary and I didn\u2019t expect much. What I got was not a deep dive but I did get fun and light. And some of us need that at this moment.<\/p>\n
Scotty Elyanow
\nNYC<\/p>\n
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I haven\u2019t see this yet, probably never will but you have to give Max credit for Stax Records. It is fantastic.<\/p>\n
Bill Gerber<\/p>\n
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I didn\u2019t expect such anger about yacht rock; you been hanging out w Donald Fagen? Completely disagree w you; this doc is an easy and entertaining watch; light fare about \u00a0light fare. Is it in the pantheon w other great rock docs, no way but who cares. \u00a0What were you hoping for, Gettysburg?<\/p>\n
This wasn\u2019t made for you; you are too in it. All I\u2019m hearing from 30 and 40 \u00a0year \u00a0olds is how great this is as it\u2019s a vibe and time they weren\u2019t familiar with and the music and pop culture references fill the gaps.<\/p>\n
Happy Thanksgiving !<\/p>\n
Mark\u00a0Burrell<\/p>\n
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I put it on thinking I\u2019d watch 10 minutes.<\/p>\n
Watched the whole thing and quite enjoyed it- including the comedy\/satire angle. \u00a0Well suited for the genre.<\/p>\n
Lighten up.<\/p>\n
Rand<\/p>\n
PS \u00a0They should edit it immediately with Mo\u2019s actual name.<\/p>\n
_________________________________<\/p>\n
I felt the same way about \u201cYacht Rock\u201d as even the title is disparaging but disagree about Kenny\u2019s work post Loggins and Messina.<\/p>\n
The Celebrate Me Home Album kicks off with \u201cLady Luck\u201d with Richard Tee, Hiram Bullock, Tommy Tedesco, Lee Ritenour, Eric Gale, Robben Ford and Steve Gadd kicking ass right from the opening notes. I recall listening to this album while on tour with Natalie Cole and even the 6 week \u201879 tour with The Stones supporting the Some Girls release<\/p>\n
Rob<\/p>\n
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Not surprised.
\nThe term \u201cYacht Rock\u201d has always been used pejoratively by people who are tone deaf.
\nCritics are typically writers so their concept of thoughtful music focuses on lyrics. And since the most sophisticated music of the rock era is influenced by R&B and Jazz (which can be, but often isn\u2019t striving for poetry) we can see where a lot tracks featuring Michael McDonald\u2019s voice go sailing over the heads of the scribbling set.
\nAlso these types tend to segregate music which is why incredibly complex music by black artists (like EW&F) are spared the put-down of being called Yacht Rock. But Blue-eyed Soul is fair game.
\nWhen it comes to your consumer, I believe many people don\u2019t like to venture beyond \u201cThree Chords and\u2026 (\u2018the Truth\u2019 or \u2018a Blues Lick\u2019 or \u2018an Attitude\u2019).
\nThey might be able to handle diminished chords in a Garth Brooks song, but only because it leads to a \u201cbig dumb chorus\u201d.
\nAnything that hints at Jazz is confusing and a little scary.
\nThat\u2019s why when someone sneers about Yacht Rock I immediately dismiss them as simpletons, in the purest sense of the word.
\nKISS isn\u2019t just a mediocre band, it\u2019s an acronym for the unadventurous.<\/p>\n
Keith Brown<\/p>\n
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BBC did a 2-parter 5 years ago that dug deeper\u2026<\/p>\n