koko yacht rock

Sail Away: The Oral History of ‘Yacht Rock’

By Drew Toal

This story was originally published on June 26, 2015

I n the late 1970s and early 1980s, musical artists like Kenny Loggins , Michael McDonald , Steely Dan , Toto , Hall and Oates , and dozens of others regularly popped up on each other’s records, creating a golden era of smooth-music collaboration.

And on June 26th, 2005, an internet phenomenon was born. In 12 short but memorable episodes — first via the the short-film series Channel 101 and then online — JD Ryznar, Hunter Stair, Dave Lyons, Lane Farnham and their friends redefined an era and coined a term for the sultry croonings of McDonald, Fagen, et al.: “yacht rock.”

As “Hollywood” Steve might say, these guys docked a fleet of remarkable hits. This is the story of Yacht Rock, told from stem to stern — a reimagining of a bygone soft-rock renaissance, courtesy of hipsters with fake mustaches, impeccable record collections and a love of smoothness. Long may it sail.

The Michigan Connection JD Ryznar (Director, “Michael McDonald”): I moved from Ann Arbor to L.A., and ended up making friends with all these other guys from Michigan, like “Hollywood” Steve Huey, Hunter Stair, and David Lyons. Pretty much every weekend I’d have “Chinese Thanksgiving” at my apartment — we’d eat BBQ chicken and burgers, drink beer and listen to records of what I called “yacht rock.” You know, like Michael McDonald is singing background vocals and like there’s guys on boats on the covers; it feels like you’re on a yacht listening to it. And the guys were like, oh, we know this music.

Dave Lyons (“Koko”): You know how, in the Seventies, these big bands started playing arena rock? We liked the idea of these smooth bands playing “Marina Rock.” I thought it was a better name.

“Hollywood” Steve Huey (“Hollywood Steve”): What I mostly remember is JD playing Journey records all the time. He was so into Journey that he had photocopied a photo of Steve Perry and pasted it onto his liquid soap dispenser. He wrote “Steve Perry Soap: Clean as all fuck” on it.

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Lane Farnham (editor, “Jimmy Messina”): JD and I had talked about Journey for a year before we did Yacht Rock. In the third episode, that whole “you need to fly like a pilot” bit? Those are direct lines from Steve Perry in this crazy documentary we found. He’s coked to the gills, in the Eighties, just blabbering about who knows what. We got a kick out of that stuff. 

Sail Away: The Oral History of ‘Yacht Rock’ , Page 1 of 12

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Web Video / Yacht Rock

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Yacht Rock is an 12-part series following the fictionalized lives and careers of American Soft Rock stars of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Created by JD Ryznar, Hunter D Stair and Lane Farnham, it is one of the most successful projects to come out of Channel101 .

J. D. Ryznar and Hunter D. Stair devised the series after noticing the incestuous recording careers of such bands as Steely Dan , Toto , and The Doobie Brothers and the singer-songwriters Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald . For example, McDonald co-wrote Loggins' "This Is It" and Loggins co-wrote McDonald's band The Doobie Brothers ' "What a Fool Believes" and also performed backing vocals for several other 'yacht rock' artists, including Steely Dan and Christopher Cross. Yacht Rock's episodes were "hosted" by "Hollywood" Steve Huey , a legitimate music critic for Allmusic. It should be noted that the term "Yacht Rock" is never used throughout the series by any characters except for by Huey during his introductions, instead it is always referred to as "Smooth Music". The look of the series was the responsibility of the show's editor Lane Farnham.

The storyline of the series employs a non-linear chronology, jumping back and forth in various points in time. Also, Space.

After the series became a web hit, the term yacht rock was retroactively popularized as the genre name for the style of soft rock featured in the show, marked by high production values, Jazz Fusion and R&B influences, and lyrics about romantic longing and personal follies, acting as an American equivalent to the Sophisti-Pop and City Pop scenes in the UK and Japan, respectively. Ryznar and Stair further specified their definition of the term as encompassing usage of upbeat rhythms, prominent usage of electric piano, and a reliance on elite producers and musicians from Los Angeles . Owed to their discontent with what they saw as the label's dilution, the pair went on to host two podcasts — Beyond Yacht Rock and Yacht or Nyacht? — in which they debate whether individual songs count as being part of their definition of the genre.

Trope examples:

• Arc Villain : Jimmy Buffett, who functioned as an insane cult leader in his lone episode.
• Affectionate Parody : While the show makes fun of the songwriting process, it does still hold the music featured in high regard.
• Batman Gambit : Most of episodes show the "origins" of several yacht rock classics by way of this trope, from " Rosanna " to " Human Nature "
• Big Bad : Gene Balboa runs his entertainment business like a Bond villain.
• Beethoven Was an Alien Spy : Several (real life) characters are revealed to be aliens.
• The Bet : Cartoonishly downplayed in episode 7 where Loggins and McDonald bet a dollar on which one of their songs will end up number 2 on the music charts. McDonald gets the last laugh, though .
• Brainwashed and Crazy
• Carpet of Virility : John Oates, albeit made out of construction paper .
• Canon Character All Along : Hall and Oates' first manager, Gino Basareli turns out to be Gene Balboa after a drastic makeover .
• Cerebus Syndrome : Played for Laughs in the Hollywood Steve host segments for the last two episodes. While Episode 10 ends with him falling in love with the girl he saves from choking, Episode 11 opens with said girl leaving him and Episode 12 with Steve on his death bed.
• In episode 2, when Koko hears Chris Geppert plays his song.
• Happens twice to Ted Templeman, first in episode 8 involving smooth music from a singing walrus being interrupted by two ugly women and in episode 9 with visions of impalement .
• Downer Ending : Episode 2 and 12
• Easy Amnesia : McDonald after he gets run over by Warren G.
• Insistent Terminology : Only Hollywood Steve refers to it as "Yacht Rock" in his introductions. Everyone else calls it "Smooth Music"
• Jerkass : John Oates is depicted as an abusive foulmouthed control freak.
• Jerk Jock : Don Henley and Glenn Frey of the Eagles are depicted as this.
• Halloween Episode : Episode 5, complete with a Vincent Price led exorcism.
• The doo-wop section of Van Halen 's song "I'm the One" is the result of an in-studio scuffle between Koko Goldstein and Ted Templeman.
• " Human Nature " got recorded thanks to Koko's spirit harpooning Michael Jackson 's crotch .
• "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)" got sampled in "Regulate" because Nate Dogg and Warren G ran over McDonald.
• Glenn Frey and Don Henley sang background vocals for Steely Dan's song "FM" because they beat the crap out of them after as revenge.
• The title of "Yah Mo B There" came from a drunk Michael McDonald and James Ingram making fun of Kenny Loggins saying over the phone that he would be by to record some music with them later (with a mouthful of apple so it came out as "Yah Mo Be There")...they kept it up the whole time.
• Hostile Show Takeover : Happens twice in the series, with Hollywood Steve's dad in episode 6 and Drew Carey in episode 9.
• Human Aliens : Giorgio Moroder , who hails from Planet Synthos.
• Impaled with Extreme Prejudice : In episode two, Koko dies by being impaled with his lucky harpoon .
• Manchurian Agent : David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen use a magical amulet on Ted Templeman so that he'll produce their debut album when he hears Micheal McDonald's voice.
• Nobody Loves the Bassist : Provides the page quote.
• Origins Episode : Episode 8 shows how yacht rock got started, from McDonald leaving Steely Dan for The Doobie Brothers to Loggins and Messina in happier days.
• Post-Script Season : Downplayed as there were two more episodes made after the "finale" with episode 10.
• The Power of Rock : All over the place, especially the crotch laser Loggins shoots to defeat the Parrotheads .
• Record Producer : Koko Goldstein , Gene Balboa and Ted Templeman .
• The Reveal : Papa Moroder is Koko, and his body was only a vessel.
• Hollywood Steve introducing the episodes in inconvenient moments, like using the bathroom, attending a funeral, killing a homeless woman .
• Descriptors for Loggins and McDonald.
• Gene Balboa makes increasingly bizarre demands to his unseen manservant Manuel.
• Shout-Out : The final battle in episode 12 resembles the Death Star approach from Star Wars . It even has a Big Damn Heroes moment by the Millennium Falcon!
• Special Guest : Episode 11, Jason Lee as Kevin Bacon and Wyatt Cenac as James Ingram.
• Story Arc : Throughout the series, Loggins tries to move away from the smoothness of yacht rock to straight hard rockin' to make his way up to the top. This is shown to be like him sliding to "the dark side", but Rule of Funny of course.
• Storybook Episode : Episode 6 uses the plot of episode 1 to tell a fairytale version of both the historical and modern Jethro Tull .
• Take That! : Most of the parody is affectionate, but the invectives against Jimmy Buffett are particularly strong. James Ingram: "Yah mo murdered a lot of people out here tonight." Michael McDonald: "They're not people, James Ingram. They're Jimmy Buffett fans." Jimmy Buffett: "...with a cheeseburger in paradise..." Gene Balboa: "Fuck you, Jimmy Buffett!" Kevin Bacon : "Your music is shit!"
• The Unintelligible : Donald Fagen , with some exceptions. Donald Fagen: " Eat. Bat. Prick. "
• The Un-Reveal : Koko Goldstein's killer, as Hollywood Steve died while narrating it.
• Vitriolic Best Buds : Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins
• We Used to Be Friends : Loggins and Messina, especially when Loggins starts going solo and Messina ends up being a drunk.
• Youth Is Wasted on the Dumb
• QuoteSource/Web Video
• Nobody Loves the Bassist
• Wormtooth Nation
• Web Video Series
• YidLife Crisis

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J.D. Ryznar (Michael McDonald) Hunter Stair (Kenny Loggins) 'Hollywood' Steve Huey (Self) David B. Lyons (Koko Goldstein) Dan Sachoff (Gene Balboa) Drew Hancock (John Oates) Wade Randolph (Daryl Hall) Justin Roiland (Christopher Cross) Lane Farnham (Jim Messina) Jeremy Hurlburt (Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter)

Lane Farnham, Hunter Stair, J.D. Ryznar, 'Hollywood' Steve Huey

Mockumentary web series about American soft rock stars of the late 1970s and early 1980s era.

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Smoothly set sail to the early days of web video with Yacht Rock

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By Zettai on Flickr

Yacht Rock is an 12-part series following the fictionalized lives and careers of American smooth rock stars of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Created by JD Ryznar , Hunter D Stair and Lane Farnham , it is one of the most successful projects to come out of Channel 101 .

J. D. Ryznar and Hunter D. Stair devised the series after noticing the incestuous recording careers of such bands as Steely Dan , Toto , and The Doobie Brothers and the singer-songwriters Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald . For example, McDonald co-wrote Loggins' "This Is It" and Loggins co-wrote McDonald's band The Doobie Brothers' "What a Fool Believes" and also performed backing vocals for several other 'yacht rock' artists, including Steely Dan and Christopher Cross. Yacht Rock's episodes were "hosted" by "Hollywood" Steve Huey , a legitimate music critic for Allmusic. It should be noted that the term "Yacht Rock" is never used throughout the series by any characters except for by Huey during his introductions, instead it is always referred to as "Smooth Music". The look of the series was the responsibility of the show's editor Lane Farnham.

• 1 Channel101.com Summary
• 3 Music in the show
• 4 Artist Acknowledgment
• 5 Real people portrayed in Yacht Rock
• 6 Episode & Song List
• 7 Best Episode
• 8 Production
• 9 Fun Facts
• 10 See also
• 11 External links
• 12 References

Channel101.com Summary [ ]

JD and Hunter having won Channy Awards for Yacht Rock.

What can be said about Yacht Rock that hasn't been said by various magazines, newspapers and disc jockeys across the country? J.D. Ryznar and Hunter Stair's saga detailing the unknown mythical origins of a previously obscure genre of music struck the audience like a lightning bolt on its first episode, much like fellow 101 breakout House of Cosbys. Unlike HoC, however, Yacht Rock was never sued by its iconic characters' real life counterparts. In fact, it is said that at one time or another, just about every musician lovingly portrayed in the series has witnessed and enjoyed it behind closed doors. Yacht Rock enjoyed success on levels and in ways previously unattained by 101 shows, its title becoming a household phrase at radio stations, a bin at your local record store and a category on iTunes. But beneath its pop cultural triumph was an artistic one that often went undescribed: Yacht Rock's stories were always clever and sometimes downright genius in their assembly, weaving trivia, common knowledge, exaggerations and fabrications into a rope strong enough to hold it at the #1 position for an unbelievable number of non-consecutive months, setting audience share records at Channel 101 that are unlikely to be broken any time soon and sweeping the 2005 Channy Awards. Ironically, Channel 101's most memorable show came to its end quietly and unremarkably, not unlike some of the careers it saluted with a smirk. Instead of choking on its vomit in a Paris bathtub or overdosing on a Hollywood sidewalk, Yacht Rock simply told us one last story about Steely Dan, then hoisted its sails and drifted away while a satisfied crowd waved goodbye from the docks, exactly one incredible year after its historical debut. Bye, Yacht Rock. We loved you.

Synopsis [ ]

Ryznar admits to having a fascination with the music of the period. Ryznar explains, "Getting into Steely Dan really started this for me. As did the ability to buy dollar records at Amoeba and put them on tapes for my car. Kenny Loggins has made his way into all the pilots I've been involved with except one. [1] " As Ryznar told Reuters contributor Andy Sullivan, "I'm making fun of the songwriting process, but the music is generally treated pretty lovingly." [2]

The series depicts some realistic aspects of the music, but builds exaggerated storylines around them. For example, main protagonists Loggins and McDonald receive inspiration from a fictional Yacht Rock impresario named Koko Goldstein, whose death in Episode 2 ultimately leads them to go their separate ways musically. Another example is the series' presentation of several real-life characters. McDonald is an idealistic and earnest singer/songwriter, but takes both Smooth Music and himself far too seriously. Loggins is his easygoing friend and frequent collaborator who eventually abandons Smooth Music in favor of commercial rock and roll in the 80s, which strains their friendship. The portrayal of John Oates as the abusive, foulmouthed leader of Hall & Oates , exerting sometimes violent control over the milquetoast Daryl Hall , is clearly different from reality, in which Hall is the main lead vocalist and songwriter with no hint of a rivalry. Christopher Cross is depicted as a wide-eyed, timid newbie whose song "Sailing" is lauded as the "smoothest song ever". Loggins' former partner Jim Messina is a bitter wino who hates Loggins for his success and perceived betrayal. Michael Jackson is depicted as a hard-rock enthusiast who believes his partnership with guitarist Eddie Van Halen will lead to an endless parade of female sexual conquests. Jeff Baxter , the Doobie Brothers' lead guitarist, is seen threatening to kick McDonald "out of the Doobies" if he doesn't write them another hit. The real Baxter did bring McDonald into the band but, as they achieved their greatest commercial success, Baxter left the Doobie Brothers because of his displeasure with their new commercial sound and attitude. The Eagles (portrayed here as jock-like meatheads) and Steely Dan (portrayed as snarky nerds, with Donald Fagen speaking in an incoherent babble of Scat) really did insert lyrical references to each other in their music, as depicted in the show, but these were actually friendly in nature, not part of a longtime grudge involving baseball bats and lunch-money shakedowns. [3]

The series was written, directed, and produced by Ryznar, co-produced by David B Lyons and Hunter Stair, and edited by Lane Farnham. The production has a "bad-on-purpose aesthetic". [4] Ryznar credits lots of people here.

Yacht Rock 2 Behind the Smooth

Yacht Rock debuted on Channel 101 at the June 26, 2005 screening. It placed in the top five at subsequent screenings until the June 25, 2006 screening, where it placed seventh and was canceled.

However, the show remained a popular download on Channel 101, convincing the creators to make an 11th episode independently. This episode, featuring Jason Lee as Kevin Bacon , debuted during a screening at the Knitting Factory in New York City on December 27, 2007. A month later, Channel 101 themselves included it in a screening, and hosted it on their website along with the other episodes on January 28, 2008. [5]

Of the episode, Abed Gheith had this to say:

"Truly a great and wonderful episode in all ways. From the blood bath Footloose scene to the Me-L.T. There were moments in this that restored those awesome memories from what seemed like ages ago. I think Sevan said something that he heard Hunter say that was pretty crazy, about seeing the show up there was like ghosts on the screen. It was a wonderful ride down memory lane of Channel 101's best days."

A 12th and final episode premiered in April 2010.

Music in the show [ ]

"Yacht rock" is a name [6] [7] for the popular soft rock that peaked between the years of 1975 and 1984. Significant "yacht rockers" include Michael McDonald , Kenny Loggins , Christopher Cross , and Toto . In the musical sense, yacht rock refers to the highly polished brand of soft rock that emanated from Southern California] during the late 1970s and early 1980s. In part, the term relates to the stereotype of the yuppie yacht owner, enjoying cocaine and smooth music while out for a sail. Additionally, since sailing was a popular leisure activity in Southern California, many "yacht rockers" made nautical references in their lyrics, videos, and album artwork, particularly the anthemic track "Sailing" by Christopher Cross.

Yacht Rock music is commonly described as, "A little bit better than elevator music!"

The foundation of the yacht rock scene was a local pool of versatile session musicians who frequently played on each other's records. This professionalism often gave yacht rock recordings a high level of sophistication in composition, arrangement, and instrumental skill.

The most popular yacht rock artists enjoyed considerable commercial success. During its peak years, yacht rock dominated the Grammy Awards, with Christopher Cross and Toto sweeping the major awards in 1981 and 1983 respectively, feats consistently derided by Grammy prognosticators. [8] However, yacht rock was not a hit with most rock critics at the time, who dismissed it as being corporate rock that was overproduced, generic, and middle of the road, instead favoring punk and new wave acts such as The Clash , Blondie , Patti Smith , and Elvis Costello . [9]

In developing the show Yacht Rock , creator J. D. Ryznar commented that the term was intended to describe the "more elite studio artists" of the period, such as Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins. [10] David B. Lyons , who co-produced the show and played Koko Goldstein, noted that a friend of his devised the term "marina rock" in college to describe a more "working-class" group of artists that didn't achieve the same high profile, such as Seals and Crofts, Rupert Holmes, and Looking Glass. [11] However, despite the show's intentions, music journalists have begun using the term yacht rock to describe all of the similar-sounding music of the period, including bands such as Ambrosia, 10cc, Pablo Cruise, Firefall, England Dan & John Ford Coley, Orleans, Ace, and Player. [12]

While Ryznar and the show popularized the term "yacht rock," it's alleged to have existed previously, according to Wikipedia, which states its earliest-known appearance came in 1990 from Dave Larsen, popular music critic for the Dayton Daily News, describing an upcoming Jimmy Buffett concert in Cincinnati.

Artist Acknowledgment [ ]

Hunter D Stair with Steve Porcaro .

John Oates credited Yacht Rock in 2007 with rekindling interest in Hall & Oates and lowering the demographic age of the group's fans. He wrote:

I think Yacht Rock was the beginning of this whole Hall & Oates resurrection...They were the first ones to start to parody us and put us out there again, and a lot of things have happened because of Yacht Rock. [13]

Daryl Hall and John Oates with Wade Randolph and Drew Hancock .

Michael McDonald acknowledged Yacht Rock in 2008:

Have you ever owned a yacht? No, but I thought Yacht Rock was hilarious. And uncannily, you know, those things always have a little bit of truth to them. It’s kind of like when you get a letter from a stalker who’s never met you. They somehow hit on something, and you have to admit they’re pretty intuitive.

Okay. So what’s the craziest thing you ever did with Kenny Loggins? We mostly worked a lot when we would get together. Kenny, he’s one of those guys who was a more serious artist; I was just a schlub. He was like, "C’mon, let’s get this right," and I was like, "Got any beer?" [14]

Real people portrayed in Yacht Rock [ ]

• Ian Anderson
• Michael Anthony (referred to as 'the other guy' in Van Halen)
• Rosanna Arquette
• Jeff "Skunk" Baxter
• Walter Becker
• Jimmy Buffett
• Christopher Cross
• Daryl Dragon
• Donald Fagen
• David Hungate
• James Ingram
• Michael Jackson
• Steve Lukather
• Jim Messina
• Jaye P. Morgan
• David Paich
• Steve Perry
• Jeff Porcaro
• Harold Ramis
• Tanya Roberts
• David Lee Roth
• David Sanborn
• Patrick Simmons
• Ted Templeman
• Toni Tennille
• Charles, Lord Townshend
• Jethro Tull
• Alex Van Halen
• Eddie Van Halen
• Lindsey Buckingham

Episode & Song List [ ]

SPOILERS in the Episode Summaries!

1. " What a Fool Believes "

• SCREENING DATE Sunday, June 26th - 2005
• AUDIENCE SHARE 70.2% (1st at screening with 194 votes)

In the pilot episode, Kenny Loggins, under the guidance of Koko Goldstein, reaches out to a struggling Michael McDonald, who's having trouble writing a smooth hit for his band the Doobie Brothers.

• Michael McDonald-Sweet Freedom
• George Benson-Breezin'
• Loggins & Messina-Sailin the wind
• Kenny Loggins-Whenever I call You Friend
• Doobie Brothers-What a Fool Believes
• Doobie Brothers-Sweet Feelin'
• Doobie Brothers-You Never Change
• Hall and Oates-Alley Katz
• Kenny Loggins - What a fool Believes

2. " Keep the Fire "

• SCREENING DATE Sunday, July 24th - 2005
• AUDIENCE SHARE 95.0% (1st at screening with 233 votes)

Loggins and McDonald pair up against the duo Hall & Oates for a songwriting competition. Koko is accidentally impaled by his lucky harpoon during the ensuing melee, but is at peace before his death by hearing the smoothest song ever sung by a young Christopher Cross.

• Steely Dan: Peg
• Doobie Brothers - What a fool believes
• Hall and Oates-Sara Smile
• Hall and Oates-Portable Radio
• Kenny Loggins-This is It
• Kenny Loggins-Love has come of age
• Also featured in S.O.S. Fantome episode two.

3. " I'm Alright "

• SCREENING DATE Sunday, August 28th - 2005
• AUDIENCE SHARE 68.9% (2nd at screening with 234 votes)

As everyone grieves Koko's death, Loggins lashes out at McDonald and "smooth music" as a whole, causing a rift between the two. An entertainment executive behind the movie Caddyshack demands that the movie's director, Harold Ramis, obtain Loggins' talents to write the movie's theme song. Ramis takes advantage of an angry and confused Loggins and gets him to write and record the hard rock song "I'm Alright" much to McDonald's dismay.

• Bad Caddyshack Theme - Rick Johnson
• Steely Dan-King of the World
• Kenny Loggins- This is it (Live)
• Steely Dan-Time Out of Mind
• Kenny Loggins - Keep the Fire
• Doobie Brothers-How do the Fools Survive
• Journey - Lights
• Journey - Anyway you want it
• Steely Dan - Kid Charlamagne
• Kenny Loggins-I'm Alright

4. " Rosanna "

• SCREENING DATE Sunday, September 25th - 2005
• AUDIENCE SHARE 87.7% (1st at screening with 274 votes)

Steve Porcaro ( Steve Agee ), the keyboard player of the band Toto, is asked by his girlfriend, Rosanna Arquette, to write a song about her, and she wants him to have Michael McDonald sing on the track. Discouraged by McDonald's disdain for his band, Porcaro devises a three-step plan to make it happen.

• Something by Benetictine Monks
• Toto-Hold the Line
• Toto-I Won't Hold You Back
• Toto-Make Believe
• Doobie Brothers - What a Fool Believes
• Doobie Brothers - You Never Change
• Christopher Cross-Ride the Wind
• Loggins & Messina - Sailing the wind
• Kenny Loggins/Steve Perry-Don't Fight it
• Michael McDonald-Love Lies
• Toto-I'll supply the Love
• Toto-Rosanna

5. " Believe in It "

• SCREENING DATE Sunday, October 30th - 2005
• AUDIENCE SHARE 78.6% (1st at screening with 268 votes)

Toto has been commissioned to write a smooth song for Michael Jackson's Thriller, but Jackson rejects the band, believing after working with Eddie Van Halen on Beat It that such material is in his past. Fearing that Jackson will destroy "smooth music" for a decade, Porcaro turns to McDonald, Loggins, Skunk Baxter, Cross, and Vincent Price ( James Adomian ), to summon up Koko's ghost for help writing Human Nature.

• Samuel Barber- Adagio for Strings
• Michael McDonald - Believe in It
• Michael Jackson - Beat it
• Michael Jackson - Thriller
• Kenny Loggins - I Gotta Try
• Michael McDonald - I Gotta Try
• Christopher Cross - Sailing
• Kenny Loggins - This is it
• Van Halen - Eruption
• Michael Jackson - Human Nature

6. " The Seed Drill "

• SCREENING DATE Sunday, January 29th - 2006
• AUDIENCE SHARE 62.1% (2nd at screening with 315 votes)

"Hollywood" Steve's father demands that Steve stop wasting his time on Yacht Rock, and regales a historic tale of Jethro Tull, which is very similar to episode one.

• Michael McDonald - Sweet Freedom
• Jethro Tull - Velvet Green
• Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick
• Jethro Tull - Witch's Promise
• Jethro Tull - Flute Solo (Live)
• Jethro Tull - Aqualung
• Jethro Tull - Teacher
• Jethro Tull - Jack-In-The-Green
• Jethro Tull - Cold Wind to Vallhalla
• Jethro Tull - Too Old to Rock and Roll, Too Young to Die
• Jethro Tull - Living in the Past
• Jethro Tull - Reasons for Wait
• Jethro Tull - The Whistler

7. " I Keep Forgettin' "

• SCREENING DATE Sunday, February 26th - 2006
• AUDIENCE SHARE 89.1% (1st at screening with 318 votes)

McDonald and Loggins make a bet about McDonald's new song, "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)", that takes a decade to resolve. Ten years later, Long Beach-based rappers Warren G and Nate Dogg struggle with creating smooth rap (yacht rap), and only when they kidnap McDonald, is there a solution to everyone's problems.

• Michael McDonald - I Keep Forgetting
• Kenny Loggins - Swear Your Love
• Michael McDonald - Love Lies
• Dr. Dre - Nothin' but a G Thang
• Dr. Dre - Dre Day
• Snoop Doggy Dogg - G's and Hustlaz
• Dr. Dre - Let Me Ride
• Christoper Cross - Words of Wisdom
• Snoop Doggy Dogg - Who am I (What's My Name?)
• Doobie Brothers - What a Food Believes
• Warren G - Regulate

8. " Gino (the Manager) "

• SCREENING DATE Sunday, March 26th - 2006
• AUDIENCE SHARE 70.9% (2nd at screening with 251 votes)

"Hollywood" Steve returns to the very beginning, where Doobie Brothers producer Ted Templeman explains his dream about the origin of "the smoothest rock [he's] ever heard" to Skunk Baxter over lunch. Baxter suggests seeing Koko about it, and Templeman starts seeing his dream come into fruition as he meets a young McDonald, then a background singer for Steely Dan, being talked into joining the Doobie Brothers by Steely Dan and Koko, Loggins showing signs of his imminent break from Messina and solo stardom, and an effeminate Hall and Oates with a very familiar looking manager named Gino, who tries to bully McDonald and Loggins into employing him as a manager. When they refuse, he plots revenge.

• Steely Dan - Your Gold Teeth II
• Doobie Brothers - Takin It to the Streets
• Hall & Oates - Gino (The Manager)
• Captain & Tennille - Love Will Keep Us Together
• Steely Dan - Any World (That I'm Welcomed To)
• Loggins & Messina - Watching the River Run
• Loggins & Messina - Your Mama Don't Dance
• Kenny Loggins - Love Has Come of Age
• Kenny Loggins - Danger Zone

9. " Runnin' with the Devil "

• SCREENING DATE Sunday, May 28th - 2006
• AUDIENCE SHARE 66.9% (4th at screening with 216 votes)

Van Halen puts a curse on Ted Templeman to force him to produce their hard rock song. In a subplot, Loggins loses his car keys and has everyone in the studio helping him look. Comedian Drew Carey makes a cameo appearance.

• Limewire tricked JD into thinking this was a Cheap Trick song. The original version was from an Ian Hunter (Mott the Hoople) solo album. The one used in the Drew Carey Show was the Presidents of the USA version. His intention for Yacht Rock was to use the classic version, but he messed up. NEVER trust Limewire. Buy your music from the store.
• Michael McDonald "Sweet Freedom"
• Kenny Loggins "Only a Miracle"
• Van Halen "Atomic Punk"
• Van Halen "Runnin' with the Devil"
• Doobie Brothers "Echoes of Love"
• Van Halen "I'm The One"
• Michael McDonald "Playin by the Rules"
• SCREENING DATE Sunday, June 25th - 2006
• AUDIENCE SHARE 44.4% (7th at screening with 155 votes)

Steely Dan and the Eagles settle a long-time, childish feud with a hit song.

• Tori Amos - "Winter"
• Michael MacDonald - "Sweet Freedom"
• Kenny Loggins - "I Believe In Love"
• Eagles - "Life In The Fast Lane"
• Steely Dan- "Everything You Did"
• Steely Dan - "Do It Again"
• Steely Dan - "Peg"
• The Eagles - "Hotel California"
• Steely Dan - "FM"
• Kenny Loggins - "Danger Zone"

11. " Footloose "

• SCREENING DATE Sunday, January 27th - 2008

Jimmy Buffett is convinced by Kevin Bacon and Gene Balboa to trick Loggins into making yet another movie song. He is subsequently kidnapped by Buffett and psychotic "Parrot Heads" and its up to McDonald and James Ingram to rescue him. Jason Lee makes a guest appearance as Bacon.

• Cheeseburger in Paradise - Jimmy Buffet
• I Need a Hero - Bonnie Tyler
• If it's Not What You're Looking For - Kenny Loggins
• Yah Mo Be There - James Ingram & Michael McDonald
• Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffett
• Changes in Latitude - Jimmy Buffett
• I'm Free (Heaven Helps the Man) - Kenny Loggins
• There's No Easy Way to Break Someone's Heart - James Ingram
• Pencil Thin Mustache - Jimmy Buffett
• Why Don't We Get Drunk - Jimmy Buffett
• Footloose - Kenny Loggins
• Boat Drinks - Jimmy Buffett
• Danger Zone - Kenny Loggins

12. "Dangerzone"

Premiered at the Bell House in Brooklyn, New York. Screened at Channel 101 April 24th.

Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald must fight Hall and Oates to destroy a Black Hole with Smooth Music.

• Sweet Freedom - Michael McDonald * No Lookin' Back - Kenny Loggins * Chase - Giorgio Moroder * No Lookin' Back - Michael McDonald * We are the World - USA for Africa * Adult Education - Hall & Oates * Charm The Snake - Christopher Cross * Out of Touch - Hall & Oates * From Here to eternity - Giorgio Moroder * Danger Zone - Kenny Loggins * Playing With The Boys - Kenny Loggins * Method of Modern Love - Hall & Oates * Sailing - Christopher Cross

Best Episode [ ]

Production [ ].

When asked by Will Hines on the Channel 101:NY forums about how good the production and editing values were on Yacht Rock, Ryznar replied:

"Its just the blessing of living in LA. I work for a company who lets us borrow their 24p and the office itself on the weekend. My next door neighbor is an editor. In LA, EVERYONE's next door neighbor is an editor, although I'm one of the few creators that doesnt do his own editing. Plus channel 101 is just an amazing wealth of acting talent. Yet, everyone is a writer... but everyone can act. Its weird and awesome. The studio is courtesy of Ryan Elder who emailed me after the first Yacht Rock and said "I'm a fan of Yacht Rock. I work at a recording studio wink wink." Its amazing. Someone on Yacht Rock is working on a big movie (MI:3) so we used this huge HOLLYWOOD BLOCKBUSTER greenscreen that they had THROWN AWAY (it was 20 by 20 and scraped!) to shoot the Koko ghost stuff, which we set up in the DV room of my office, lit with the company's lights, etc, etc.

Everyone loves making movies here, and not everyone wants to be in front of the camera or behind a typewriter. Some people just like to work on projects that actually get finished. This town is awesome.

We shot two days on this one, each about 6 hour days. I'm not sure how long the editing took. Lane picks at it here and there while he works on other things. Then I come in after the rough cut and we tighten the shit out of it, usually about 2 4-6 hour sessions with him gets it done.

But really, the secret is the Panasonic dvx100a camera. They're coming out with new models now, so maybe the older, but still awesome, ones will get cheaper. I want to own one soon. Fingers crossed."

Fun Facts [ ]

• Became the second show to make it a year, after The 'Bu , (June to May) with 3 months off. Only to be canceled the next show.

See also [ ]

• Yacht Rock/Quotes

External links [ ]

• The AV Club looks back on Yacht Rock in 2013
• Channel 101 Show Page
• Official Website
• Wikipedia article
• Facebook Page
• Have You Heard About The Lonesome Losers?
• Really Smooth Music
• Knights of Monte Carlo
• A Yacht Rock party how-to.
• Interview with JD about series.
• Yacht Rock Myspace
• The true story of the song "What a Fool Believes"
• Mention at Panopticist.

References [ ]

• ↑ http://channel101.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=54719#54719
• ↑ http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,178467,00.html
• ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20080531045840/http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/chi-hall-oates-0527may27,0,6549277.story
• ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/02/AR2007020200358_pf.html
• ↑ http://archive.is/20120913063143/www.spinner.com/2008/05/28/yacht-rock-docks-in-sea-of-musical-spoofs/
• ↑ http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2002726917_yachtfix09.html
• ↑ http://www.observer.com/node/52629
• ↑ http://archives.cnn.com/2001/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/23/grammy.albums/index.html
• ↑ http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_popmachine/2006/02/u2_vs_kanye_rev.html
• ↑ http://www.seattleweekly.com/music/0549/051207_music_talktalk.php
• ↑ http://channel101.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=69553#69553
• ↑ http://music.ign.com/articles/710/710545p1.html
• ↑ http://www.seattleweekly.com/2007-08-22/music/hall-oats-are-living-harmonizing-proof-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as-ironic-hipster-kryptonite.php
• ↑ http://www.timeout.com/newyork/articles/hot-seat/26823/michael-mcdonald

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arts entertainment Pop Music

Where to listen to yacht rock in Dallas-Fort Worth -- because, yup, it's a thing

By Tiney Ricciardi

5:20 AM on Sep 7, 2017 CDT

As a kid, John Lefler remembers the sounds of Chuck Mangione and Little River Band. These days, the singer and guitar player is giving new life to those artists through Captain and Camille, a yacht rock tribute band focused on the smooth sounds of the 1970s and '80s.

Captain and Camille's genesis was a product of coincidence. Lefler and and longtime friend Camille Cortinas teamed up with several local musicians for what they thought would be a one-time smooth '70s night at Opening Bell Coffee shop in Dallas. Crowds packed the little venue and sang along to every song; that's when Lefler and company knew they had tapped into something special.

"I think what people respond to is, not only these are the songs that people in their 50s and 60s listened to when they were in their formative years, but a lot of the yacht rock stuff is kind of making fun of it," Lefler says. Not Captain and Camille, though, even with their Tommy Bahama-inspired shirts and captain's hats.

"We all care about this music," says Cortinas. "All of this was founded on something we had affection for."

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Yacht rock has seen a resurgence in recent years, thanks to bands and fans with equal appreciation for the genre. On any given weekend in Dallas-Fort Worth, you're likely to stumble by a bar where tunes from Kenny Loggins or Hall and Oates waft out the door.

What is yacht rock?

The term yacht rock, which generally refers to soft rock of the late 1970s and early 1980s, was coined in 2005 by a group of guys who produced a satirical television series chronicling the "incestuous recording careers" of artists like the Doobie Brothers (specifically, Michael McDonald), Kenny Loggins and Steely Dan, according to its creators . Consider yacht rock the antithesis of disco or hard rock of the era.

"You know how, in the '70s, these big bands started playing arena rock? We liked the idea of these smooth bands playing 'marina rock,'" said David Lyons, who played band manager Koko in the series, in  Rolling Stone in 2015 .

The 12-part  Yacht Rock series , with its endearingly idiosyncratic host Hollywood Steve, later became a YouTube sensation for its hilarious sketches about the genesis of hits like the Doobie Brothers' "What a Fool Believes," Kenny Loggins' "This Is It," Christopher Cross' "Sailing," and Michael Jackson's "Human Nature." It even featured cameos from actors Jason Lee and Drew Carey.

Yacht rock essentials

When it comes to bands, the aforementioned artists are staples. Captain and Camille also covers Gerry Rafferty, Ambrosia, England Dan & John Ford Coley, and a mix of one-hit wonders. There's King Harvest, which penned "Dancing in the Moonlight," for example.

And keyboard player Mike Finkel never forgets to wear his mandatory captain's hat.

"Basically what happened is we found the hat and we were like, 'We have to have a band that wears the hat,'" jokes Lefler. "It was like Cinderella."

Dallas-based band the Rich Girls cover one yacht rock group exclusively: Hall and Oates. Catch them in concert and you'll be rewarded with live versions of "Sara Smile," "You Make My Dreams Come True," and "Out of Touch," among others.

According to Justin Young, bass player for the Rich Girls, the band was born out of a dare. Seven years after its first performance, the band is still yacht rocking regularly.

"I didn't know what I was getting into," Young says with a laugh. "My love for [the music] comes through the complexity of it, which kind of took me aback because I always thought of them of as a fun, '80s sort of band."

Lefler agrees yacht rock music requires a proficiency it doesn't always get credit for.

The music is "not easy," he says. "We're not playing the Ramones."

Where to find yacht rock in D-FW

Looking for a fix of smooth, seaside tunes? Here are three local acts and one nationally known group.

• Sept. 8: Yacht Rock Revue , which has played with members of Billy Joel and Weezer, brings its acclaimed performance to Lava Cantina in The Colony.
• Sept. 15: North Texas' own the Rich Girls channel the best of Hall and Oates at the Aardvark in Fort Worth.
• Sept. 23: Dallas-based Captain and Camille bust out the smooth sounds of the '70s at Tolbert's Restaurant in Grapevine.
• Nov. 18: The Windbreakers from Dallas set sail to the tune of yacht rock classics at the Brixton in Plano.

Tiney Ricciardi . Though she was born in California, Tiney is a Texan at heart with two degrees from Dallas’ Southern Methodist University under her belt. Her passions for music and language have taken her across the world, from Peru to Switzerland and all corners of America. A self-proclaimed master of puns, she currently resides in East Dallas priming her online publishing skills and snuggling with her cats. Ask her where to find good music and good beer.

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Alum Rock is the terminus of the East Tasman/Capital Extension that opened on June 24, 2004. The station consists of an island platform in the middle of Capital Avenue starting at the intersection of Wilbur Avenue and run northwest (San Jose-bound since the line makes a giant arc) this intersection is the only entrance to the platform. The two tracks have a crossover switch just northwest the platform. This means all trains switch over to change directions before or after entering the station. The tracks still continue across Wilbur Avenue to become two tail tracks with enough room to store an extra trainset on a layover.

The Alum Rock Transit Center is across the southbound lanes of Capital Avenue on the southwest side of the street. The transit center has ten bus bays on a two-way bus loop with stops on each side a bit set back from the actual train station. The stops have standard bus shelters. Behind and around the bus loop are 180 parking spaces. In the wide plaza between the modes is a small two-story brick building with a Spanish style roof. A porch extends to the street held up by white columns. This building houses VTA crew quarters and other offices. Next to the station building is a tall mosaic triangular pillar, its Garden Verity, entrance marker by Wick Alexander.

The island platform has two tan colored canopy structures. Portions of the canopies are made of painted glass designed by Jean Whitesavage and Nick Lyle. The leaves at this stop are based on the Buckeye and Sycamore. Entry railings along the short ramps up to the platform level are blue and have floral patterns inspired by the Blue Eyed Grass. The pavers on the platform are distinctive looking and by Victor Zaballa. For waiting passengers there are benches both beneath the canopy structures and additional benches separate from them on exposed portions of the platform. These exposed benches are made out of concrete and backs of the benches have tons of little tiles by Lester Shields School. The theme of the drawings is transportation. All Photos: 28 February, 2012

Last Updated: 9 June, 2018 All photos are by Jeremiah Cox This section reflects VTA service patterns that are no longer accurate. Light Rail trains began operating on new routes and service patterns effective December 28, 2019. See the VTA Website for details This website is not allifiated with the Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority, there official website is here , or any other transit provider This Website is copyright © 2003--2024, Jeremiah Cox. Please do not remote link or copy images from this website without permission. Contact the webmaster

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Rockhounding Santa Clara County, California: 7 Places To Hunt Rocks, Crystals, and Fossils  

Do you love collecting rocks and crystals? Do you live in Santa Clara County, California?

If you answer these two questions, you come to the right place.

In the following blog post, you’ll find the seven best places to go rock hounding in Santa Clara County, California.

Rockhounding Santa Clara County, California: Let’s Go

The information provided in this article by YesDirt.com is for informational purposes and is subject to change. Laws are updated. Accessibility guidelines and restrictions change. Be sure to confirm the land status and collection rules before you travel to an unfamiliar location or collect any material .

San Jose: Alum Rock Park

In the city of San Jose, the first place to visit to collect rocks and crystals is Alum Rock Park.

At the foothills of the Diablo Range, the park is situated in the Alum Rock Canyon.

Some of the rocks and crystals people have found in the area are Albandite, Hausmannite, and Tephoroite.

There is a parking fee of $6.00 for every time you want to visit the area, but you can order hashtags and discount cards from the Leininger Community Center.

Unfortunately, the park is also undergoing reconstruction, so some areas may be off-limits for digging.

San Jose: Guadaloupe Creek, Guadaloupe Mine

The following two places on our list in San Jose are the Guadaloupe Creek and Guadalupe Mine.

The creek starts in Santa Clara County, California, east of the peak of Mount Umunhum, and runs for 10 miles.

The Guadalupe Creek Trail is part of this system and where many rock hound lovers go to collect crystals and minerals.

Some of the rocks and minerals found in this area are Agate, Dendritic, and Quartz.

The Guadaloupe Mine was once a part of the New Almaden Mining District but is now closed with no reopening plans.

The location of the mine is not precisely known, but on Google maps, you can  check the location .

Some of the rocks and minerals found in the area are Apophyllite, Bornite, Cinnabar, Chert, Gyrolite, Mercury, and Stibnite.

If you plan on digging in this area, make sure you are not on private property, so you don’t want to get into trouble with the law while having fun.

San Jose: Coyote Creek, East of Madrone

In the city of San Jose is the neighborhood of Madrone, and east of the town is Coyote Creek.

The river starts in the northern parts of California and flows through the cities of San Jose and Morgan Hill.

If you need a place to park, you can park at Live Oak Picnic Area for free.

Once you find a spot to park, you can walk two miles east of the parking area and start looking for rocks or crystals to add to your collection.

The minerals people have found in this area are Agate, Siderite, and Tourmaline.

Morgan Hill: Mahoney Meadow Trail

In Morgan Hill, there is a 3-mile biking tail known as Mahoney Meadows.

It’s a popular trail in the area that takes about 14 minutes to complete.

People can visit the trail at any time of the day and during any season of the year.

If you prefer to go when there are fewer crowds, avoid the area during the summer.

Many people enjoy going camping in Mahoney Meadows during the summer as there are camping sites here.

You’ll have to be cautious during the winter and springtime as the heavy rain makes the creeks overflow into the trail.

The best time to visit the route is during the fall season.

The area is a great spot if you are looking to add Poppy Jasper to your rock collection.

Some of the other rocks and crystals are Lepidolite, Serpentine, Tourmaline, and Turquoise.

Lexington Hills: Hooker Creek Mine

The Hooker Creek mine is a copper mine situated in the Santa Cruz Mountains range in Lexington Hills.

On  Google maps , you can find Hooker Creek Mine’s exact location.

Mining occurs underground, with mining operations currently ongoing.

Because there are currently mine operations in the area, you should be careful and aware of your surroundings when collecting rocks in this area.

Also, the mine is on private property, so you will have to dig for crystals on the outskirts of the mine.

But, don’t let that discourage you, as people have found gold, silver, and copper minerals scattered all over the area.

Pine Ridge: Pine Ridge Mine

Pine Ridge Mine can be found southeast of San Felipe Ranch.

It’s an old mine that was started in 1917 by Alfred Jackson and closed in 1974.

You can  find the location  of the mine at 2,100 feet of evaluation.

The most precious stone found at Pine Ridge Mine is a shaly brown chert with red and white colors blending together.

Other rocks and minerals people have seen at this location are Agate, Jasper, Moonstone, and Quartz. Magnesium is another mineral commonly found in the area.

Of course, since the location is in an old mine, remember to assume it’s on private property.

If you want to go digging in this area, try to ask for permission before going.

Santa Clara: Hubble Quarry and Mill

There is an old granite mine in the city of Santa Clara known as Hubble Quarry and Mill.

It was operated by the Piazza Construction Company and closed in 1974. Piazza Company, which ran Hubble Quarry and Mill, also operated a nearby sand and gravel operation.

You might have to contact a former employee or someone who worked for the company to obtain permission to dig on the land.

The local rocks of the area include marine deposits and quaternary alluvium.

Other rocks and minerals commonly found in the area are Aggregates, Calcite, Granite, Quartz, and Quartzite.

Also, remember, since this is a mine, ask for permission before you start digging for gems.

Wrapping up

The spots described above are the some interesting places for you to check out to collect rocks and crystals.

Also, if you live in Santa Clara County, consider joining  Gems & Minerals Society  to find more rock hounding locations.

California Rockhounding Resources

If you like to have a physical book in hand (like when there’s no cell service), here’s a few popular options:

Rockhounding California: A Guide To The State’s Best Rockhounding Sites

Gem Trails of Southern California

Gem Trails of Northern California

Smithsonian Rocks and Minerals Identification Guide

Disclosure: These are links to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.

You might also like the following articles if you are interested in  Rockhounding California :

• Rockhounding Near Los Angeles
• Rockhounding Options Near Sacramento
• Rock Hunting Near Palm Springs
• Get Started Hunting California Jade
• Rockhounding San Mateo County
• Rockhounding Glenn County, CA
• Rockhounding Del Norte County

Yacht Rock (2005–2010)

Full cast & crew.

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Series writing credits  , series cast  , series produced by , series music by , series cinematography by , series editing by , series makeup department , series sound department , series special effects by , series visual effects by , series camera and electrical department , series editorial department , series music department , series additional crew .

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