Smooth Sailing: Jazz-Funk, Laid-Back Soul & Soft Rock

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The soft rock song by Steve Miller Band on this Smooth Sailing part is followed by four mid-seventies smooth jazz tracks. And if you merge soft rock with smooth jazz, you will get pure yacht rock, according to Kenny Loggins in a TV-interview. He referred to his work with pianist Bob James on his album Nightwatch in 1978. Three years earlier saxophone player Grover Washington, Jr. also worked with Bob James on Mister Magic. The album marked the beginning of the smooth jazz movement. All four songs on the LP are quite enjoyable, but it is the title track that really caught on as a major hit. Bob James provided the colourful arrangements.

“In the song I talk about how it is hard loving someone who won’t let you completely in. When we hurt, we can sometimes be hard to pity, because of our anger. What we don’t always remember though, is that anger often means hurt.”

(Jez_ebel) 

So let's move gently from 2020 to 2021! Next up is a New Year's episode of Mellow Mellow FM Radio.

Tracklist:

George Benson – 20/20 (1985)
Cindy Latin – Running Out Of Love (2020)
Jez_ebel – In Her Eyes (2020)
Barry White – Where Can I Turn To (1976)
Steve Miller Band – Wild Mountain Honey (1976)
Michael Franks – Popsicle Toes (1975)
Earl Klugh – I’ll See You Again (1979)
Passport – Albatros Song (1974)
Grover Washington, Jr. ‎– Mister Magic (1975)
Melissa Manchester – Your Place Or Mine (1982)
Michael Johnson – Sailing Without A Sail (1980)
Easy Wanderlings – Enjoy It While It Lasts (2016)
Richard Torrance ‎– Anything's Possible (1978)
Player – Givin' It All (1980)
David John Pratt – You Should Know By Now (1979)
Larsen-Feiten Band ‎– She’s Not In Love (1980)
Ian Matthews – Don’t Hang Up Your Dancing Shoes (1978)
Alessi – All For A Reason (1977)
Mud – How Many Times? (1976)
Martin & Garp ‎– Making Up (2020)