60+ Best Yacht Rock Songs of All Time

Published April 28, 2023

Yacht rock is a subgenre of soft rock. It became prevalent in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and while it’s no longer as popular now, it still continues to be loved by fans today.

It’s best known for the jazzy arrangements, sophisticated harmonies, and lyrics that would often encapsulate the laid-back lifestyle of yacht owners. Needless to say, yacht rock targets a specific niche, and even those outside of that niche can enjoy the songs the genre offers.

If that sounds like you, then you’re in luck. In this post, we’ve compiled a list of the best yacht rock songs of all time, from deep cuts to classics that came out from 1972 to 1990.

67 Best Yacht Rock Songs List

1. “Summer Breeze” by Seals and Crofts (1972)
2. “If You Leave Me Now” by Chicago (1976)
3. “Sara Smile” by Hall & Oates (1976)
4. “What a Fool Believes” by The Doobie Brothers (1978)
5. “Peg” by Steely Dan (1978)
6. “Ride Like the Wind” by Christopher Cross (1979)
7. “Sailing” by Christopher Cross (1979)
8. “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” by Rupert Holmes (1979)
9. “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near)” by Michael McDonald (1982)
10. “Africa” by Toto (1982)
11. “Cool Change” by Little River Band (1982)
12. “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” by Hall & Oates (1982)
13. “Lonely Boy” by Andrew Gold (1982)
14. “Rock with You” by Michael Jackson (1982)
15. “Slow Dancer” by Boz Scaggs (1982)
16. “Baby Come Back” by Player (1983)
17. “Say You Love Me” by Fleetwood Mac (1983)
18. “All Out of Love” by Air Supply (1984)
19. “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)” by Christopher Cross (1984)
20. “Biggest Part of Me” by Ambrosia (1984)
21. “Can’t We Try” by Dan Hill and Vonda Shepard (1984)
22. “Dancing in the Moonlight” by King Harvest (1984)
23. “Just the Two of Us” by Grover Washington Jr. & Bill Withers (1984)
24. “Magnet and Steel” by Walter Egan (1984)
25. “One on One” by Hall & Oates (1984)
26. “Private Eyes” by Hall & Oates (1984)
27. “Ride Captain Ride” by Blues Image (1984)
28. “When You Love a Woman” by Journey (1984)
29. “When I Need You” by Leo Sayer (1985)
30. “You Belong to Me” by Carly Simon (1985)
31. “Foolish Heart” by Steve Perry (1986)
32. “More Than a Feeling” by Boston (1986)
33. “On and On” by Stephen Bishop (1986)
34. “Reminiscing” by Little River Band (1986)
35. “We’re All Alone” by Boz Scaggs (1986)
36. “Can’t Hide Love” by Earth, Wind & Fire (1987)
37. “Just You and I” by Melissa Manchester (1987)
38. “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers (1987)
39. “Sweet Baby James” by James Taylor (1987)
40. “The Air That I Breathe” by The Hollies (1987)
41. “Touch Me in the Morning” by Diana Ross (1987)
42. “Give Me the Night” by George Benson (1988)
43. “Lady Love Me (One More Time)” by George Benson (1988)
44. “Time Passages” by Al Stewart (1988)
45. “Do That to Me One More Time” by Captain & Tennille
46. “How Long” by Ace (1989)
47. “I’ll Be Over You” by Toto (1989)
48. “Kiss on My List” by Hall & Oates (1989)
49. “Making Love Out of Nothing at All” by Air Supply (1989)
50. “On My Own” by Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald (1989)
51. “Rosanna” by Toto (1989)
52. “The One You Love” by Glenn Frey (1989)
53. “Through the Fire” by Chaka Khan (1989)
54. “What You Won’t Do for Love” by Bobby Caldwell (1989)
55. “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)” by Phil Collins (1990)
56. “Baby, I Love Your Way/Freebird Medley” by Will to Power (1990)
57. “Easy” by The Commodores (1990)
58. “Higher Love” by Steve Winwood (1990)
59. “I Keep Forgettin'” by Warren G featuring Michael McDonald (1990)
60. “I’ll Be There” by The Escape Club (1990)
61. “Lido Shuffle” by Boz Scaggs (1990)
62. “Missing You” by John Waite (1990)
63. “Smooth Operator” by Sade (1990)
64. “The Way You Look Tonight” by Frank Sinatra (1990)
65. “Waiting for a Girl Like You” by Foreigner (1990)
66. “We Built This City” by Starship (1990)
67. “Your Wildest Dreams” by The Moody Blues (1990)

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