Smooth Sailing: California Groove & Radio Rock

Joan Smalls (The Edit)

Enjoy this new Smooth Sailing trip! It's built around the yacht rock scene of the 1970s/1980s. DJ Supermarkt decribes the yacht rock/AOR mood best on his upcoming part of Too Slow To Disco:

“The sun’s dipping behind the mountains above the bay, and the sound pulsating from the speakers sure has a beguiling melody. There’s a definite touch of Earth, Wind and Fire about that slinky groove.”

In the recently published The Yacht Rock Book by Greg Prato, Steve Huey (Allmusic.com) gives this definition:

“Fusing softer rock with jazz and R&B, very polished production, and kind of being centered around studio musician culture in Southern California in the late 70s and early 80s.”

According to Billboard chart statistics, Chicago is second only to the Beach Boys as the most successful American rock band of all time, in terms of both albums and singles. Judged by album sales alone, as certified by the R.I.A.A., the band does not rank quite so high, but it is still among the Top Ten best-selling U.S. groups ever. If such statements of fact surprise, that's because Chicago has been singularly underrated since the beginning of its long career, both because of the fact that the members blended several musical styles instead of playing one rock type of music and because of their refusal to emphasize celebrity over the music. In 2016 they were inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. On the 1st of February, Chicago existed exactly 51 years. Street player was sampled in The bomb by Kenny Dope's Bucketheads, a massive hit in 1996.

Tracklist:

Donna Summer – On The Radio (1979)
The Bottom Line ‎– That's The Way To Go (1976)
Airplay – Nothin’ You Can Do About It (1980)
Angelo – Midnight Prowl (1978)
Full Moon Featuring Neil Larsen & Buzz Feiten – Phantom Of The Footlights (1982)
Larry John McNally – Wasn’t I Your Friend (1981)
Jakob Magnusson – From Now On (1981)
The Bee’s Knees – Winnin & Losin (1979)
Mackey Feary Band – It’s Okay (1979)
America – Young Moon (1994)
Bill Champlin – Just To Be Loved (1994)
Jay Graydon – Roxann (1993)
Bell & James ‎– Livin' It Up (Friday Night) (1978)
Chicago – Street Player [Eddy's Edit] (1979)
Patti Austin – Say You Love Me (1976)
Lil Albert – My Girl Friday (1976)
Bee Gees – Fanny (Be Tender With My Love) (1975)
Melissa Manchester – Bad Weather (1978)
Don Brown ‎– Don’t Lose Your Love (1978)
LeBlanc & Carr – Stronger Love (1977)
The Jacksons ‎– Show You The Way To Go (1976)
The O'Jays ‎– Use Ta Be My Girl (1978)
Wings – Arrow Through Me (1979)
Nohelani Cypriano – Lihue (1979)
Jerry Corbetta – Between A Rock And A Hard Place (1978)
Pablo Cruise – Love Will Find A Way (1978)
Hall & Oates – Rich Girl (1977)
Wondergap – Elise (1978)
Sunflower Bean – Twentytwo (2018)