Out of the Main

What are the best grooves out there, in yacht rock and nearby? John and Tom discuss the making of a great groove and run down each of their own top-five list (sort of) of best grooves of all time. Don’t miss the teaser in the intro/outro music: Sunrise on the Water , by Page 99 and featuring the legend himself, Dane Donohue! Now available everywhere! Lightning Round: Found at Sea Buried Treasures...

Another installment of “Where Were They Then,” Out of the Main’s answer to Where are they now?  A “special” guest co-host joins the podcast to help us examine the post-yacht-rock career and catalogue of David Sanborn, one of session-dom’s finest! How did he fare as a featured solo act? Just fine, thank you! What was the “heyday?” Marcus Miller, the partner in crime Was Sanborn a product — or the g...

Tom and John steer the helm across the pond to discover the connections and correlatives (yes, that’s a word) between the yacht-rocky west coast sound with the emergence of “sophistipop” shortly after the yacht rock heyday. What were the tie-ins. Are there comparisons to be made? Were there influences, or just coincidences. And, of course, what is there to discuss regarding personnel? More than yo...

You know that one song by your favorite artists that just doesn’t connect with you, no matter how hard you try? What are you supposed to do with that — love it or leave it?  This week, John and Tom present 10 artists to one another, sharing their favorite song by each along with one track that just doesn’t fill their sails for whatever reason. For song 2 in each pair, what are we to do...love ‘em...

Listener/Supporter Jonathan is back to walk us through Side 2 of the Donal Fagen solo album “The Nightfly.” Back to the history books, and to a finale to the sonic appreciation for what many thought to be “the next Steely Dan album.” Part 2 of 2. Lightning Round: Found at Sea Buried Treasures Off the Map References and Related: John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist Tom’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist Y...

Listener/Supporter Jonathan joins the guys for an in-depth examination of the Donal Fagen solo album “The Nightfly.” There’s a lot of history here — much of it new to John and Tom — so maybe you’ll even learn a li’l something. Jonathan brings the goods and drops the dimes. Part 1 of 2. Lightning Round: Found at Sea Buried Treasures Off the Map References and Related: John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Play...

Jock Bartley, founding member of Firefall, rejoins the podcast to discuss the making of Firefall’s latest project, “Friends and Family,” dropping in September. There are some familiar names on this homage to acts that Firefall has either shared a stage with, had members in, or recorded with over the years — Tris Imboden and Lance Hoppen among them. Plus, a host of newcomers to the band...all comin...

Self-described “second-call studio musician” Marty Walsh has chronicled his own life and times serving as a studio cat for hire during (and after) the yacht rock era. He joins Tom and John to provide an inside look at a west-coast studio session from the golden era of music production that we adore.  Rubbing shoulders with the Jay Graydons, David Fosters and Michael Omartians of the world, Marty h...

“What is a perfect album side?” was the question posited by second-rate first mate John online. Name an album for which one side is perfect, regardless of what’s on the other side. It was more difficult than expected, apparently, because answers were hard to come by. Well, we must’ve gone through the Bermuda Triangle again, because we landed on Journey’s Frontiers. From southern California to the...

Legendary engineer, producer and mix master Bill Schnee rejoins the podcast to discuss his involvement with the recent re-record of the noted Steely Dan buried treasure "The Second Arrangement." As first discussed on the Inside Musicast podcast, Scott Sheriff assembled an all-star band to resurrect the lost classic, and tapped the talents of Bill Schnee to mix it and help create the soni...

Just as we hinted we might, when we had Tris Imboden on to count down his favorite drummers of all time, we invited one of our favorite bassists (and favorite humans) onto the podcast to do the same with bass players. Here are “Vernon’s Very Vaunted and Virtuoso Viola”...eh, forget it...just roll tape! (And don’t forget what we said about bass players liking to spring surprises on unwitting drumme...

The iconic Jeff “Skunk” Baxter returns for Part II of our interview with the man we all know as Doobie Brother and founding member of Steely Dan. But we explore so much more, from the early session days, throughout the yacht rock era, a bit o’ disco, and everything else, up to the present day and the release of his solo album, “Speed of Heat.” Join us, as we begin by jumping into the Wayback Machi...

John and Tom are extremely honored to welcome the legendary “Skunk” Baxter to the podcast. Sure, you may know him from Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers and more, but do you know him as Paulinho da Costa stand-in, jingle composer, Donna Sommer influencer, and consultant to the U.S. Department of Defense? Most recently, you should have his latest album on your release radar...it’s pure 🔥! This was an in...

Cimcie Nichols, daughter of the famed Steely Dan (among others) engineer Roger Nichols, has unearthed one of the most precious of buried treasures in rock and roll: the lost Steely Dan track from the Groucho album, “Second Arrangement.” Wait until you hear the story behind one of the most intriguing stories of Steely Dan lore. How she find it, what she did next, and what might come of it in the fu...

It’s another “Trapped in Isolation” episode. You’re stranded on a deserted island, but don’t worry: you remembered to pack your various tracks of Steely Dan’s “Peg” before boarding the yacht. John and Tom dissect and parse the yacht rock classic, stripped down to its various cores. Special thanks to Russell Remixes for breaking it all down for us. Check out the videos on YouTube: Basic tracks: htt...

John and Tom finally get around to discussing and analyzing the famed “Doobie Bounce.” A little bit of music theory (not too nerdy!), a bit of dissection of the elements, a short trip around the harbor looking for examples, and a whole lot of adulation and adoration.  Lightning Round: Found at Sea Buried Treasures Off the Map References and Related: John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist Tom’s Spotify...

The fabulous Tris Imboden returns to the podcast to run his list of his favorite and most influential drummers. Tune in to see who won the side-action bet between John and Tom, and learn all about the drummers who have influenced the drum stylings and approach of one yacht rock’s favorite drummers. Prior conversations with Tris: Tris Imboden Interview the first Album Focus: Kenny Loggins’s “High A...

Jasper and Jerome — 2/9ths of the a capella supergroup Straight No Chaser — join the podcast to discuss the motivation, the inspiration, and the process they went through to explore the harbors of yacht rock on their most recent record release, dropping June 21st . DYK: The album was by Nicholas Niespodziani of Yacht Rock Revue? It’s fantastic! We ran the podcast off the clef, got into a little tr...

Listener Jorn and his son Mikael join the podcast to discuss a far-too-under-the-radar artist, Maxus. Though their discography includes just one major album release, the members represent a collection of some of the era’s most sought-after session players. Where they came from, and what they go on to do, is the stuff of legends. Let’s let Jorn and Michael take us to school! Video Companion Content...

Marc Jordan returns to the podcast to talk about his newest album release, “Waiting for the Sun to Rise,” a jazzy collection of originals and cover songs (some may surprise you!). The beautiful collaboration with Lou Pamonti shows off Marc’s jazz and songwriting chops. We, of course, explore the yacht rock era of Marc’s catalogue, and so much more, including Marc’s foray into original paintings. ...

A distant cousin to “Where Are They Now?,” John and Tom take a tour through the post-yacht-rock career of artists who once sailed in the smooth waters off the West Coast, in a convention they’ve dubbed, “Where Were They Then?” We kick it off with one Paul Carrack, who yacht rockers might know best as the lead singer of Ace (certified track, “How Long”), who would later go on to be a featured voice...

Can lightning strike twice? Well, duh! Of course it can. And that’s just what Tom and John will do this week on the podcast: a double dose of our standard lightning round. It’s just as groovy as Double Mint Gum! Tune in to find out whether this episode will also feature a lightning round! Whoa. Meta... Lightning Round x 2: Found at Sea x 2 Buried Treasures x 2 Off the Map x 2 References and Relate...

Emm Gryner, an artist with roots dating back to the mid-90s, joins the podcast to take John and Tom on a journey through a career that found its way to the harbors of modern yacht rock in 2023. Joined by lyrical collaborator Michael Holmes, Emm generously shares her storied history — which includes a long run with David Bowie — her musical approach, and her perspective on why she feels “at home” o...

What would yacht rock be without the Rhodes electric piano? Or, put another way, what would the Rhodes be without yacht rock? John and Tom examine the history, the technology, the evolution and the allure of the Fender Rhodes — a hallmark of the West Coast sound. We compare and contrast with the Wurlitzer and the Yamaha DX7 that, by all accounts, replaced the Rhodes for a bit. Recommended Listenin...

Beloved fire keepers Ole Borud and Lars-Erik Dahle (bassist for Ole) join John and Tom to discuss their musical journey and eventual foray into the West Coast waters. With influences and a catalogue that includes everything from metal to R&B and from jazz to funk, Ole’s unique blend of upbeat genres is irresistible and unmistakable. His latest single features none other than Bill Champlin, Jay...