Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary

Most rock documentaries are about adulation; this one is about adulation via ridicule. The genre label now known as 'yacht rock' derives from an obscure, low-budget web comedy series from 2005 of the same name, in which some of the stars of the late 1970s and early 1980s soft rock scene in Los Angeles - people like Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross, Steely Dan, and the Toto guys - are parodied and ridiculed. However, the basis for it all was the web series creators' love of the music these guys made, and this is the phenomenon explored so brilliantly in this new HBO documentary made by Garret Price. Many of the most famous 'yacht rockers' of that era, such as McDonald, Loggins, Cross, Steve Lukather, Steve Porcaro, and David Paich, appear and talk willingly about the scene they once were a part of and helped form, while others refuse to take part, telling director Price to "go f*ck himself" when he calls them up (Donald Fagen of Steely Dan). The inclusion of this sound clip is just one of the many gems that make Yacht Rock: A Documentary into one of the most enjoyable and enlightening music documentaries I have seen in a while.

As "Yacht Rock: A Documentary" (2024 release; 96 min) opens, we are in "1982, Santa Barbara, California", and the Doobie Brothers are on stage doing "Taking It To the Streets". A number of talking heads, including Questlove, talk about the LA music scene in the 70s and early 80s. We then go to "1976" and examine the unlikely influence of Steely Dan on what would become Yacht Rock, a term not invented until decades after the facts. At this point we are 10 minutes into the documentary.

Couple of comments: this is the latest from director Garrett Price ("Daisy Jones & the Six"). Here he examines the phenom that has become a musical subgenre called Yacht Rock. If you are a certain age and familiar with/grew up with SoCal music from the mid-70s and early 80s, much of this music is quite familiar, but you probably had never thought of this music as being its own genre. The Doobie Brothers (led by Michael McDonald), Toto, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross, and other such acts are among the big names in Yacht Rock. "It rocks, but not too hard, but it rocks!" claims one talking head. I will not spoil how exactly Steely Dan fits in all this, you'll just have to see for yourself. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised how insightful and entertaining this all was. (At the very end of the documentary, the director ends up speaking with Steely Dan's Donald Fagen. Just watch!)

"Yacht Rock: A Documentary" started streaming on Max a week or so ago and I just watched it the other night. If you are a music fan, young or old, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

Omg did I love this. I am not into the music so much, but as a person born in 1974 - it was the backing track to my entire childhood. It was so interesting to learn about all of the studio musicians but most of all ...what a group of sweethearts. Really. I was dying of cuteness. It's not that often that you see a bunch of men just full of joy. It was interesting to revisit that time and learn how the sausage was made. Everyone was just a bunch of goofy looking nerds! But SUPER TALENTED NERDS. Even if you hate the music, definitely give it a watch. I promise you - you will be full of smiles at the end.

This almost meme-ish like of a title, "Yacht Rock", 😆 docking-rockumentary 🤣 (or vice-versa) in music, albeit, jazzy-rock from the 70's-80's really struck chords in me reliving the years & just brings it home for those who lived the times in this epic retrospective; literally playing on almost every emotion... a true muse of Americana, bringing it all together. The sounds are... literally, exemplary & smooth! Time to bust out the caviar, cheese & crackers... oh, and don't forget the wine Buffy! Avast as we set sail and enjoy the sounds of the artists who brought them to us and celebrate in this epic journey! I love it & I hope you do too. If this music is before your time, download Yacht Rock the next time you have a pool side barbecue or what have you and enjoy the sounds baby! And if you have a yacht, crank it up & party on! Fair winds and following seas ye landlubbers! 😉 To the folks who brought us this "dockumentary", you all rock! Thank you! 💪😎

Fantastic explanation of how this phenomenon came to be. Great recap of some unique moments in entertainment with amazing characters from our very own music world.

Not seen a rockumentary done so well in a long time using old fashioned storytelling and a retrospective that wasn't used before.

And if you are a fan of this genre you will relish in the scores used and hopefully discover new ones.

Questlove dives deep with the audience to bridge many gaps that we did not even know existed and that is what makes this doc so special. I hope it wins that Emmy if just to maybe see all those musicians in one place together again.