Coast To Coast: AOR, Yacht Rock & Power Pop

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Lucas Andrade
Enjoy this ride from coast to coast! Power pop is, just like AOR and yacht rock, great music to be played loudly in your car. It can be best described as melodic guitar pop with jangling guitars, catchy hooks and banging beats.  Loud Music In Cars by Billy Bremner is a perfect example.

In 1974 Dutch band The Cats went to L.A. to record an album with the best West Coast musicians around at the time. Be My Day from the album became a massive hit in the Netherlands and reached #18 on Billboard Adult Contemporary. A year later they made an album with Jeff Porcaro (Toto), David Foster (Chicago, Airplay, Herb Alpert) and Larry Carlton as musicians. Unfortunately, both West Coast albums did not bring them the American breakthrough they were aiming for. They split a few years later. In Dutch chart history the Cats are still one of the most successful bands.

On his new seventies inspired single Sun Goes Down, Australian singer/songwriter Joel Sarakula questions his lover “will you stay with me as the world's turning upside down?, which is a great line in these uncertain times. The song was co-produced and co-written by Phil Martin (Martin & Garp / Dawn Patrol) in his studio in Dordrecht, the Netherlands.

Tracklist:

Joel Sarakula – Sun Goes Down (2022)
Mamas Gun – Good Love (2022)
Kenny Loggins – Wait A Little While (1978)
Pages – Let It Go (1978)
Herb Alpert – I Get It From You (1981)
Marlena Shaw – Without You In My Life (1982)
Bobby Bland – Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City (1974)
American Gypsy – Your Way (1974)
The Cats – Be My Day (1974)
Steely Dan – Time Out Of Mind (1980)
State Cows – Tears Of Isolation (2022)
The Outfield ‎– Your Love (1985)
The Truth – The Exception Of Love (1985)
Flyer – Good Love (1979)
Greg Phillinganes ‎– Lazy Nina (1985)
Pål Thowsen – (If It) Hurts Just A Little (1983)
Sad Café ‎– Every Day Hurts (1979)
Vapour Trails – Do The Bossa Nova (1979)
Maisonettes – Heartache Avenue (1983)
Billy Bremner – Loud Music In Cars (1981)
Dwayne Ford – Lovin' And Losin' You (1980)
Airplay – She Waits For Me (1980)

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