Yacht Rock Friday, Week 2

More classics that are perfect for summertime

Welcome to the second week of our series exploring some of the best songs that Yacht Rock has to offer for your smooth and easy summer listening.

“What You Won’t Do For Love,” Bobby Caldwell

One-hit wonders don’t generally have staying power, but Bobby Caldwell, who passed away this past March, did. And all you have to do is listen to “What You Won’t Do for Love” to see why.

The song hit the top 10 and did even better on the R&B charts, and it also established his career in Japan, where he had much more success than he did in the U.S. (He also went on to co-write Peter Cetera & Amy Grant’s #1 duet “Next Time I Fall.”)

The song still sounds amazing today, and it’s hard to understand why he couldn’t turn it into more success in the U.S. But he does live on in the hearts of Yacht Rock lovers.

“How Much I Feel,” Ambrosia

I had the pleasure of meeting Ambrosia’s David Pack when he visited my church as a guest of Kerry Livgren years ago. I only wish I could have heard him sing that weekend.

Ambrosia had one of the smoothest sounds in the music industry in its heyday, due to incredible vocals and top-notch songwriting. Witness Pack’s range on this track, and you’ll see why it’s such an enduring song.

“Feels So Good,” Chuck Mangione

We’ll end this week with an instrumental. Jazz flugelhorn player Chuck Mangione had an unlikely pop hit in 1978 with “Feels So Good.” As a kid, I can remember how catchy the tune was, but as an adult, when I hear it, I can appreciate how tight the band is (Bonus: Mangione plays electric piano on the track as well) and what an intricate composition it is.

It’s smooth without devolving into cheesy smooth jazz, and it holds up surprisingly well all these years later. The song even led Mangione into a unique second act as a recurring guest on the animated sitcom King of the Hill.

Photo by Elvis Bekmanis on Unsplash