Sunset Drivers: Smooth Jazz, Sophisti-Pop & Yacht Rock

Tolga Aslantürk

Driving away from home
Thirty miles or more
And we'll go moving away from home
Without a care in the world

(Driving Away From Home / It's Immaterial)

Steely Dan’s core members Donald Fagen and Walter Becker played on Rosie Vela's 1986 first and only album Zazu.It was produced by Gary Katz who had previously worked with Steely Dan. Though the album was critically acclaimed and had some success in Europe, it stayed under the radar in the United States. Following Zazu, Vela did not release any further material, but has since become a backing vocalist for other musicians, including Electric Light Orchestra on their 2001 album Zoom.

Bryan Ferry's song about gossiping, Kiss And Tell, peaked at number 41 on the UK Singles Chart and at number 31 on the US Billboard 100 in early 1988. It was one of the tracks to the soundtrack of the movie Bright Lights, Big City, which featured Michael J. Fox (Back To The Future) as the main character. In the song's promotional video appeared Mandy Smith (who had an affair as a minor with Rolling Stones bass player Bill Wyman) and model Denice Lewis. The latter was pictured on the single's cover sleeve.

Next up is a new part of the series the disco years!

Tracklist:

Coastal Elite – Shorebreak (From Now On) (2019)
Say She She – Wrap Myself Up In Your Love (2022)
Culture Club – Time (Clock of The Heart) (1982)
Bryan Ferry – Kiss And Tell (1987)
ABC – Valentine’s Day (1982)
The Blow Monkeys – Digging Your Scene [Eddy’s Efficient Edit] (1986)
Lee Ritenour Feat. Eric Tagg – Sunset Drivers (1984)
Fra Lippo Lippi ‎– Shouldn't Have To Be Like That (1986)
Rosie Vela – Interlude (1986)
Double – The Captain Of Her Heart (1985)
William Pitt – City Lights (1987)
Mezzoforte – Midnight Sun (1984)
Arlana ‎– When You Call My Name (1983)
Lonnie Liston Smith ‎– Never Too Late (1984)
James Ingram & Michael McDonald ‎– Yah Mo B There (1983)
Erik Tagg – Got To Be Lovin’ You (1977)
Cynthia Schloss – Nightfall (1976)
Ray Parker Jr. – It's Our Own Affair (1982)
V.I.P. Connection – West Coast Drive (1976)
It’s Immaterial – Driving Away From Home (1986)