Ride Like the Wind With These 13 Quintessential Yacht Rock Songs

Summer never has to end if you have access to a boat and a selection of easy-breezy yacht rock jams. These soft rock songs from the 1970s and 1980s put the wind in the sails of many fans of what was once called the West Coast sound.

Yacht rock is a loosely defined subcategory of adult-oriented rock that is best described as light music having some kind of connection to boating in Southern California. The songs have slick production values, clean vocals, and pillowy melodies that pair well with a sunny day on a boat with like-minded chill friends.

Whether you’re at a tiki bar in Ohio or literally on a boat trying to relax, the following quintessential yacht rock songs fit the mood.

‘Ride Like the Wind’ by Christopher Cross

If someone ever wants to hand out a crown for the king of yacht rock, they should take measurements of Christopher Cross’ head right now. The Grammy-winning singer may come from San Antonio, Texas, but he’s got SoCal spirit to spare.

In his debut single, “Ride Like the Wind,” Cross sings from the perspective of a convicted criminal on the lam: “And I’ve got such a long way to go/To make it to the border of Mexico/So I’ll ride like the wind.” Although most people can’t directly relate to making a run for the border to evade the law, the song’s sense of freedom and escape make it a yacht rock classic.

‘I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)’ by Hall & Oates

The duo Hall & Oates scored their fourth number-one hit with the 1981 single “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do).”

Although many assume the song is about a romantic relationship, John Oates reportedly said that “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” is actually about being pushed around by record labels and the music industry in general. Regardless, the song’s cheerful keyboards and sax interlude make it an essential yacht rock selection.

‘Escape (The Piña Colada Song)’ by Rupert Holmes

British-American singer Rupert Holmes is best known for 1979’s “Escape (The Piña Colada Song),” a yacht rock anthem for the ages.

The number-one song’s longing lyrics describe a dude bored with his relationship who reads the following in a personal ad: “If you like piña coladas/And gettin’ caught in the rain/If you’re not into yoga/If you have half a brain/If you like makin’ love at midnight/In the dunes on the cape/Then I’m the love that you’ve looked for/Write to me and escape.”

If you’re on your own yacht with a cocktail in hand, this song will make you feel unanchored.

‘Higher Love’ by Steve Winwood

The 1986 blue-eyed soul song “Higher Love” by English singer Steve Winwood checks a lot of yacht rock boxes even though it came out after the genre’s golden era. The number-one song featuring backing vocals by Chaka Khan gave aging boomers a much-needed dose of nostalgia during the MTV era.

With that snare drum, a vaguely tropical sound, and Khan’s soaring vocals, “Higher Love” would feel right at home high atop any yacht rock playlist.

‘Love Will Keep Us Together’ by Captain & Tennille

The husband-wife duo Captain & Tennille consisted of “Captain” Daryl Dragon and Toni Tennille. Dragon used to play keyboards with the Beach Boys and wore a captain’s hat, which is how he got his nickname.

It turns out Los Angeles natives Captain & Tennille are also captains of yacht rock. Their annoyingly catchy number-one, Grammy-winning hit “Love Will Keep Us Together” became the best-selling single of 1975. When Tennille sings, “Look in my heart and let love keep us together,” we’d like to think she’s talking about her love of light-as-air ’70s yacht rock.

‘Sailing’ by Christopher Cross

We’ve already established that Christopher Cross is the king of yacht rock. He did, after all, create the number-one 1980 single “Sailing,” which won Grammys for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Arrangement of the Year just before MTV debuted and yacht rock got lost at sea for a while.

VH-1 named “Sailing” as the number-one “softsational” soft rock song of all time, and it’s not open for debate — the genre is called yacht rock, the song is called “Sailing,” and the artist is Christopher “I Wrote the Captain’s Log on This” Cross.

‘I’d Really Love To See You Tonight’ By England Dan & John Ford Coley

The Texas soft-rock duo England Dan & John Ford Coley are best remembered for their 1976 breezy gem “I’d Really Love To See You Tonight.”

If these lyrics don’t beg for inclusion on a yacht rock playlist, we’re not sure what criteria you are using: “I’m not talking about moving in/And I don’t wanna change your life/But there’s a warm wind blowing the stars around/And I’d really love to see you tonight.”

‘Summer Breeze’ by Seals and Croft

When people talk about light-as-air ’70s soft rock jams, “Summer Breeze” by Seals and Croft blows into their minds first. Rolling Stone listed the 1972 song at number 13 on its list of “The Best Summer Songs” of all time, and the tune is also a top-10 contender for one of the best yacht rock songs ever.

We’re not sure exactly what “blowing through the jasmine in my mind” that makes the singer “feel fine” means, but it somehow makes sense when heard on a boat after the sun has been beating down on your head for hours.

‘Baby Come Back’ by Player

The British-American band Player formed in Los Angeles in the late 1970s, which is apparent when you hear their number-one 1977 soft rock hit “Baby Come Back.” The lyrics reportedly came together after two band members had recently broken up with their respective girlfriends.

Imagine yourself on a boat with a tiki drink or beer in hand and hearing, “All day long, wearing a mask of false bravado/Tryin’ to keep up a smile that hides a tear/But as the sun goes down, I get that empty feeling again/How I wish to God that you were here.” It fits the yacht rock vibe, right?

‘Dreams’ by Fleetwood Mac

If there is a more pillowy, hypnotic, iconic 1970s soft rock jam than Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” we can’t think of it. The number-one hit with bewitching vocals by Stevie Nicks sold more than a million copies. Nicks sings, “Thunder only happens when it’s raining/Players only love you when they’re playing/Women, they will come and they will go/When the rain washes you clean you’ll know.”

In 2020, a new generation discovered “Dreams” after a viral TikTok video dropped by Nathan Apodaca. “Dreams” reentered the music charts and sailed away with our collective imagination again.

‘Peg’ by Steely Dan

Steely Dan’s 1977 hit “Peg” uses enough wind instruments to fill any boat’s sails. Described as a sunny pop song with a fusion of jazz and rock elements, “Peg” reached number 11 on the Billboard singles chart.

According to lead singer Donald Fagen, “Peg” takes place during a seedy photo shoot in Los Angeles and is told from the perspective of a jilted boyfriend. The song also feels right at home on a yacht that docks in Mariana del Rey.

‘What a Fool Believes’ The Doobie Brothers

Soft rock gods Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins wrote “What a Fool Believes,” with McDonald singing the most recognizable version for the Doobie Brothers. The 1979 single reached number one on the Billboard singles chart and won two Grammys.

Rolling Stone included “What a Fool Believes” at number 343 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time,” but McDonald’s soulful vocals and the song’s unique harmonies rank it much higher on our list of greatest yacht rock songs in history.

‘Baker Street’ by Gerry Rafferty

Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty’s 1978 hit “Baker Street” is better known for its iconic saxophone riff than its vocals or lyrics. If yacht rock has an honorary wind instrument, it’s without a doubt the sax.

Late British musician Raphael Ravenscroft is the man responsible for the signature saxophone hook on “Baker Street,” which is featured in the video game Grand Theft Auto 5 and in the closing scene of the season nine The Simpsons episode “Lisa’s Sax.”