"Rosanna" Toto (1982) One of the most identifiable hits of 1982 was written by Toto co-founder David Paich – but wasn't about Rosanna Arquette, as some people have claimed, even though keyboardist Steve Porcaro was dating the actress at the time. The backbeat laid down by drummer Jeff Porcaro – a "half-time shuffle" similar to what John Bonham played on "Fool in the Rain" – propels the track, while vocal harmonies and emphatic brass sections add further layers. The result is an infectious and uplifting groove – yacht rock at its finest.

"Dreams" Fleetwood Mac (1977) Stevie Nicks was trying to channel the heartbreak she endured after separating with Lindsey Buckingham into a song, but couldn't concentrate among the bustle of Fleetwood Mac's sessions for Rumours. "I was kind of wandering around the studio," she later told Yahoo!, "looking for somewhere I could curl up with my Fender Rhodes and my lyrics and a little cassette tape recorder." That's when she ran into a studio assistant who led her to a quieter, previously unseen area at Sausalito's Record Plant. The circular space was surrounded by keyboards and recording equipment, with a half-moon bed in black-and-red velvet to one side. She settled in, completing "Dreams" in less than half an hour, but not before asking the helpful aide one pressing question: "I said, 'What is this?' And he said, 'This is Sly Stone's studio.'" Oh, and they were all doing a TON of drugs. One could say it was an era of “peak Fleetwood.”

"What a Fool Believes" the Doobie Brothers (1978) Michael McDonald not only steered the Doobie Brothers in a new direction when he joined in 1975, but he also made them a commercial powerhouse with the 1978 album Minute by Minute. McDonald co-wrote "What a Fool Believes" – a No. 1 single; the album topped the chart, too – with Kenny Loggins and sang lead, effectively launching a genre in the process. The song's style was copied for the next couple of years (most shamelessly in Robbie Dupree's 1980 Top 10 "Steal Away"), and McDonald became the bearded face of yacht rock. Michael Jackson once claimed he contributed at least one backing track to the original recording, but was not credited for having done so. This was later denied by the band.

"Ride Like the Wind," Christopher Cross (1979) “Ride Like the Wind” is ostensibly a song about a tough-as-nails outlaw racing for the border of Mexico under cover of night, but there’s nothing remotely dangerous about Christopher Cross’ lithe tenor or the peppy piano riffs and horns propelling the tune. Those contradictions aren’t a detriment. This is cinematic, high-gloss pop-rock at its finest, bursting at the seams with hooks and elevated by Michael McDonald’s silky backing vocals. Cross nods to his Texas roots with a fiery guitar solo, blending hard rock and pop in a way that countless artists would replicate in the next decade.

"Lonely Boy" Andrew Gold (1976) Andrew Gold’s only Top 10 U.S. hit is a story of parental neglect and simmering resentment, but those pitch-black details are easy to miss when couched inside such a deliciously upbeat melody. Gold chronicles the childhood of the titular lonely boy over a propulsive, syncopated piano figure, detailing the betrayal he felt when his parents presented him with a sister two years his junior. When he turns 18, the lonely boy ships off to college and leaves his family behind, while his sister gets married and has a son of her own — oblivious to the fact that she’s repeating the mistakes of her parents. Gold insisted “Lonely Boy” wasn’t autobiographical, despite the details in the song matching up with his own life. In any case, you can’t help but wonder what kind of imagination produces such dark, compelling fiction. My ‘Tiny Rick’ moment – “I’m dying in a vat in the garage”.

"How Long" Ace (1974) How long does it take to top the charts? For the Paul Carrack-fronted Ace: 45 years. "I wrote the lyric on the bus going to my future mother-in-law's," he later told Gary James. "I wrote it on the back of that bus ticket. That's my excuse for there only being one verse." Ace released "How Long" in 1975, reaching No. 3, then Carrack moved on to stints with Squeeze and Mike and the Mechanics.

Nice journey to the back in time...nice,chill vibes 💯

My monthly 'across the board' radio show on www.sohoradiolondon.com

All 45s multi genre show this month

For upcoming gigs check out - https://djandysmith.com/events

DJ Andy Smith multi genre Soho radio Show - All 45s - 7.2.22

Preview of Soft Tempo Lounge June 12 show with Margo Lee on luxuriamusic.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/SoftTempoLounge
Support: https://www.patreon.com/softtempolounge
Follow: https://www.facebook.com/groups/169436403111143/

STL preview of June 12 show with Margo Lee

“So what is Yacht Rock?”

Yacht Rock is that smooth, mellow music that emanated from Southern California in the late 1970s and early 80s. It has long served as the anthem for the “yuppies” of the 80s, since they LOVE to listen to Yacht Rock as they cruise through the harbor on the way to meet their cocaine dealer. If you’ve ever visited the dentist or been in an elevator you’ve definitely heard some Yacht Rock.

Yacht rock was one of the most commercially successful genres to emerge from the '70s and yet has managed to evade concise definition since its inception. Originally known as the West Coast sound or ‘Adult-Oriented soft rock’, it is a broad music style with a strong aesthetic drawing on sources such as smooth soul & jazz, R&B and disco. Common stylistic traits include high-quality production fluidity, clean high-pitched vocals and a focus on light, catchy melodies. Its name was coined in 2005 due to its association with the popular Southern Californian leisure activity of sailing. Officially, to be considered Yacht Rock, the song must have been released between 1975 and 1985.

The joy of Yacht Rock is just that...its joyousness. This is bubblegum music for the jet set or the wannabe Richie Rich's. It’s delightfully shallow, and part of its vibrancy is that it doesn't have a bad thought in its head. (Some of the songs obviously don't have any thoughts in their head, but if you want to have an intellectually stimulating conversation about, say, Toto's "Rosanna," then have at it.) But never forget that part of its charm lies in its inability for deeper analysis. Part of yacht rock’s charm is being many things but only to a small degree. Songs can be jazzy, but not experimental. Brass sections are great but don’t get too funky. And the songs should rock, but not rock.

Songs usually feature a signature solo cut from amaestro, builds the sleek jazz-funk into a more digital-sounding landscape, with our heroes stacking precise vocal harmonies over synth buzz and bent-note guitar leads.

Some agreed-upon elements are crucial to yacht rock: One is its fluidity, with more emphasis on a catchy, easy-feeling melody than on beat or rhythm. Another is a generally lighthearted attitude in the lyrics. Think Seals & Crofts "Summer Breeze," Christopher Cross' "Ride Like the Wind" or Bill Withers' "Just the Two of Us." Yes, as its label suggests, music that would fit perfectly being played from the deck of a luxurious boat on the high seas.

For many listeners, it boils down to a feeling or mood that cannot be found in other kinds of music: Simply put, you know it when you hear it.


1 How Long – Ace
2 Lonely Boy – Andrew Gold
3 Ride Like The Wind – Christopher Cross
4 What A Fool Believes – The Doobie Brothers
5 Dreams – Fleetwood Mac
6 Rosanna – Toto
7 Lowdown – Boz Scaggs
8 Peg – Steely Dan
9 Year Of The Cat – Al Stewart
10 The Space Between – Roxy Music
11 Eye In The Sky – The Alan Parsons Project
12 The Logical Song – Supertramp
13 Sweet Freedom – Michael McDonald
14 Miami Vice Theme – Jan Hammer
15 Valerie – Steve Winwood
16 Steppin’ Out – Joe Jackson
17 Baker Street – Gerry Rafferty

Recorded: 5th Sept 2022 at Classified Records, Dundalk, Ireland.
Equipment: Technics 1210MK2 vinyl turntables & Pioneer DJM-450 mixer
Concept: It's not lounge music, but it's music to lounge to
Vibe: Like my blood type always says, B positive!
Running time: 67.42

Untitled Yacht Rock Project

This year's mix launches on the 50th anniversary of Carole King's central park concert on May 26, 1973. Named after her masterpiece from the Fantasy album it features an exclusive introduction from Carole herself. (Yes, that is not a typo!) And there's more. So much more. Look out for Nile Rodgers reflecting on finding a second life with Anderson .Paak; a Reflex exclusive where the Boogie's Gonna Get Ya; and this is the only place on the planet where you'll get to hear Greg Wilson's boogie down remix of the Gabriels seminal Love And Hate. A musical treat, you can feel it already. All inside an hour - listen and share.

2023 Believe In Humanity

Funky Nu Jazz mini Mix

my 2nd mix for WeFunk Radio show out of Montreal. www.wefunkradio.com 

*shoutout to Professor Groove & DJ Static for going 20 years strong baby!!!



WeFunk Radio Mix March 2016

With Depeche Mode releasing a brilliant new LP and just heading off around the world on tour, it's time for the next installment in my own DM series of mixes. This is #4. Made with vinyl on a set of Technics 1200s. All songs are from 1990-2017 and none of them have been used on any of my three previous mixes...

Tracklisting:
01 GOING BACKWARDS
02 CORRUPT
03 THE DEAD OF NIGHT
04 I LIKE THE WAY YOU MOVE
05 THE SINNER IN ME
06 BARREL OF A GUN
07 MERCY IN YOU
08 POISON HEART
09 USELINK
10 GOODNIGHT LOVERS
11 WAITING FOR THE NIGHT
12 COVER ME
13 SISTER OF NIGHT
14 WHERE'S THE REVOLUTION
15 MARTYR
16 SO MUCH LOVE

Depeche Mode 90>17 [Vinyl Mix]

The Monthly 'Reach Up - Disco Wonderland' radio show on www.sohoradiolondon.com -May 2017

Reach Up Radio show on Soho Radio - May 2017

LOVESPACE: a musical journey through love songs in the soulful rhythms of boogie, discofunk, and house provided by DJs Shred One + Roza.

LOVESPACE by Shred One & DJ Roza

The Sunburst Band, Leroy Burgess, DJ Spinna, Ian Friday, Joey Negro, DJ Meme, Idjut Boys, Henrik Schwarz, Dennis Ferrer, Yam Who?

1   We Can Live Forever by The Sunburst Band 6:01																																																											
2  He Is (Ian Friday Tea Party Mix)by The Sunburst Band 6:45																																																											
3  Fly Away (Joey Negro Club Mix) by The Sunburst Band 8:06																																																											
4  New York City Woman by The Sunburst Band 5:35																																																											
5  Moving With The Shakers (Joey Negro Extended Mix)by The Sunburst Band 5:06																																																											
6  After Dusk (Joey Negro Extended Mix) by The Sunburst Band 6:55																																																											
7  Just Do It (Joey Negro Club mix) by The Sunburst Band 6:36																																																											
8  Sitting On Top of The World (DJ Meme Mix) by The Sunburst Band 6:53																																																											
9  Atlantic Forest by The Sunburst Band 4:25																																																											
10 Turn It Out by The Sunburst Band 5:38																																																											
11   Every Day by The Sunburst Band 7:21																																																											
12  Survivin (Joey Negro Club Mix) by The Sunburst Band 7:30																																																											
13  Thin Air (Joey Negro Club Mix) by The Sunburst Band 7:05																																																											
14  Strollin' by Joey Negro and the Sunburst Band 4:40																																																											
15  Far Beyond by The Sunburst Band 6:17																																																											
16  Twinkle (Idjut Boys Mix) by The Sunburst Band 6:23																																																											
17  Man of War (Henrik Schwarz Remix) by The Sunburst Band 6:31																																																											
18  Journey To The Sun (Dennis Ferrer Mix) by Joey Negro and the Sunburst Band 6:21																																																											
19  Delicious by The Sunburst Band 6:09																																																											
20 Days Gone By (Joey Negro Northern Disco Mix) by The Sunburst Band 7:40																																																											
21   Until The End Of Time by The Sunburst Band 5:42																																																											
22  Do U Really Love Me? by Joey Negro and the Sunburst Band 2:41																																																											
23  Fashion (Joey Negro Club Mix) by The Sunburst Band 6:31																																																											
24  U Make Me So Hot (Yam Who Mix) by The Sunburst Band 5:07																																																											
25  What's Your Sign? by Joey Negro and the Sunburst Band 5:39																																																																																																													

Z Records (2010)

10 Years Of The Sunburst Band Mixed By DJ Spinna (2010)

This is a mix of Mostly 1980's New Wave Hits remixed by Various producers such a Roger Sanchez, Shep Pettibone, Ben Liebrand, and Joey Negro etc... Mixed and re-edited by DJ Moonpup. 

Featured artists include Depeche Mode, New Order, Blondie, Thompson Twins, INXS, The Clash, Devo, Yaz, Gary Numan, The Specials, U2, Men Down Under etc....  if You Loved K R O Q 106.7 (Los Angeles), you will enjoy this mix.

PURE ENERGY (SiDE ONE) 1980's Remixed NEW WAVE Mashups - PT 1 - Dec 2018

There seems to be a little confusion on the distinction between 'art' and 'craft'. 
Is DJing something that almost anyone can learn to execute, relatively easily, from a technical standpoint? 
Absolutely. 
Can anyone then translate that into creating a strong emotional response among their audience, or pushing forward a culture? 
Nope. 
Some djs are tradespeople, some are craftsmen, some part-entertainer-part-jukebox and one in every two million people are artists. 
Us? We just love music. 


The Ramp Show mix series is for an internet/radio show based in London: 
Ramp Show Blog:
http://ramp-shows.blogspot.co.uk/
Ramp Show DJ Profiles:
ramp-shows.blogspot.co.uk/p/dj-profiles_29.html

Untitled Yacht Rock Project

Evil Presidentes

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