Yacht Soul!

I recall using this phrase 'tongue in cheek' recently but it transpires that it is a genuine term that is now being used and I have just joined a facebook group called 'Yacht Soul' which has just been set up last year and already has nearly 600 members so it will be interesting to see what is turned up.

If you're interested in joining the group here the link 'Yacht Soul'

These are the 'terms of reference':

So what is 'Yacht Soul'?

Smooth, well-crafted, super-engineered with the sprinkling of perfect musicianship: Yacht Soul is where soul music from the late 70s and AOR collided to create a perfect blend which has stood the test of time - thanks in large parts to the meticulous songwriting and producing of the era.

An elite group of musicians which included members of Toto – Steve Pocaro, Jeff Pocaro, Mike Pocaro, Steve Lukather, David Paitch along with other well respected session musicians such as Paulinho DaCosta, Greg Phillinganes, Louis Johnson, members of Average White Band and finally Jerry Hey, Larry Williams & Kim Hutchcroft of Seawind Horns. Song writers included David Foster, Jay Graydon, Bill Champlin and Rod Temperton.

Yacht Soul has more synthesizer and horns with less emphasis on rock guitars. Lyrics are a little more romantic, a little more sensual. The players are rooted in R&B, jazz and soul - it’s all very smooth.

Yacht or Nyacht?

Before posting your selection ask yourself the following questions... 1) Was it recorded between 1978 - 1986? 2) Does it include more horns & synthesizers & less guitars? 3) Were West Coast musicians involved? e.g produced by Jay Graydon.

To give you (and me) a flavour of what's included in this 'new' genre here's a podcast from the group's creator Paul Clifford on Solar Radio posted on 3 Jan 2021.  He introduces it as 'the souful side of Yacht Rock' ... so could be a lot of blue-eyed stuff!

After a bit of digging around I also found a link to this SoulTracks posted on the group.