Out of the Main

Thanks to Listener Dennis, the yacht rock community has a new acronym to bandy about: CoMFY! “Commonly Mistaken for Yacht (Rock)!” are those songs that we repeatedly see being identified as yacht rock but in reality are anything but. This week the guys examine the concept of CoMFY and run through a number of songs to debate which are the good misses, which are the bad misses, and which songs are j...

John and Tom welcome back Steve Porcaro for Part 2 of our interview with the legendary synthesizer virtuoso from Toto and countless session gigs. We pick back up from our discussion of the Rosanna solo to learn some surprising details about the synth parts in Africa. Plus, the truth behind the fabled serendipity that led to Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature,” a stint with Yes, and why Steve loves wh...

John and Tom welcome the legendary Steve Porcaro to the podcast for a special two-part interview. Best known as synthesizer virtuoso from Toto and frequent session keyboards player, Steve shares what’s keeping him busy these days, some fantastic stories from yesteryear, and a few fun facts that even the biggest Toto/Porcaro fans might not know. Come back for Part 2 of our conversation with Steve P...

At long lost, the March to Madness concludes, and one Steely Dan song will be dubbed the maddest of the mad science! Count ‘em down from the Hey Sixteen to the Fan-Favorite Four...and ultimately to the “one shining moment” when we crown our winner. This week’s guest bracketologist: Tune in to hear what connection “Listener Mike” has to the podcast! Lightning Round: Found at Sea Buried Treasures Of...

Eddy Cabello and Rick Such of Inside MusiCast return to the podcast for Part 2 of the Second Round of the March to Madness tournament. Time to finalize the “_________” 16. Tune in to see if their collaboration survives a knock-down, drag-out fight over some difficult matchups in which only the maddest survive! (And tune in to hear what we ultimately dub the seminal 16 in this tournament.) Our “bro...

Eddy Cabello and Rick Such of Inside MusiCast rejoin the podcast to help us whittle the March to Madness tournament down to the “_________” 16. Tune in to see if their collaboration survives a knock-down, drag-out fight over some difficult matchups in which only the maddest survive!  (And tune in to hear what we ultimately dub the seminal 16 in this tournament.) Our “brothers from others’ mot...

Rejoin the March to Madness, as we continue busting brackets with our all Steel Dan tournament (with a dose of solo Fagan thrown in) to see which song emerges as the yacht rock community’s fan favorite. Have you filled out your own brackets yet? Is your pick still alive? This week, it’s Pete Fogel, someone with very close ties to the mad scientists themselves, helping us pick the second side of th...

The annual Out of the Main tournament is back for a third run. This year, we are busting brackets with all Steel Dan matchups (with a dose of solo Fagan thrown in) to see which song emerges as the yacht rock community’s fan favorite. Fill out your brackets, pick your favorites, and tune in to see how your picks compare against those of our guest selection committee. This week, it’s Ben Montgomery,...

Back by popular demand! A three-bout card, pitting artists against one another to determine the reigning champion — multiple artists, one song. How would you have scored these title fights? Echoes of Love Doobie Brothers vs. The Pointer Sisters Dancing Tonight Michael Johnson vs. Bill Labounty Tied Up Lee Ritenour vs. Olivia Newton John Lightning Round: Found at Sea Buried Treasures Off the Map Re...

The podcast explores the life, career and catalogue of yacht rock artist Greg Guidry. If you’re familiar with Guidry’s work, you will hopefully join us in appreciation and admiration. His was a life that took many turns, including a tragic ending. If Guidry is new to you, you’ll thank Listener Dave for suggesting we do the ole’ deep dive. Lightning Round: Found at Sea Buried Treasures Off the Map...

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the release of Christopher Cross’s second album, Another Page, Seeker Music has just released two new versions: a Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio version and another newly remastered version. What better reason to do another Album Focus episode to study the musical genius that went into the original recordings, so we can experience it all again in never-before heard...

Two yachty ladies enter, only one shall escape with the heavyweight title! It’s the title bout of GLOW! No, not the Gorgeous Ladies of Wresting from the 80s, silly...it’s the Gorgeous Ladies of Westcoast! John and Tom referee a 10-round knock-down, drag-out bout between Boz Scaggs’s Simone and Jojo to determine which is yachtier, which is better, and which should be crowned the Queen of the 1980 M...

John and Tom open Season 4 of Out of the Main where, for many, it all begins in west coast lore: the artistry and mastery of one Jeff Porcaro. Tune in to hear an analysis of what made Porcaro’s work true brilliance, beyond the mere notes put down on tape. We’ll break down some of his timeless and inimitable grooves, as well as his cerebral approach to drum-track composition. And of course, dem cho...

John and Tom take a brief hiatus from their announced longer hiatus for a Season 3 bonus episode, welcoming special guest Chuck Thompson (Executive Producer and Writer) to the show to discuss the just-released documentary “Sometimes When We Touch,” which chronicles the “Reign, Ruin and Resurrection” of soft rock, streaming now on Paramount+. Of course, no discussion of soft rock would be complete...

Our favorite convention from the late 70s and early 80s: Everything had a Christmas Special! And every year, they would rerun the same holiday special specials and we never got tired of them. It was tradition! Our yacht rock podcast should be no different! John and Tom scour music-dom for the yachtiest yuletide merriment to bring your season glad “tide”-ings, including songs from the era and moder...

As we wrap up our third season, John and Tom “clear the decks” of various and sundry they have backed up in the bilge, including Viewer Mail, Buried Treasures, clips and quips, and so much more. See you next season after the first of the year! Lightning Round: (Seasonally appropriate?) Does It Float Your Boat? Buried Treasures Off the Map References and Related: John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist...

Grant Geissman joins the podcast, fresh off his first Grammy nomination for his 2022 release "Blooz." John and Tom cover everything from the Chuck Mangione years, to his extensive work as a session guitarist, to his work on TV and even in Mad Magazine! As is so often the case, the stuff you never knew about Grant is even more interesting that the stuff you do know. Learn and hear more at grantgeis...

Lance Hoppen of the band Orleans returns to Out of the Main to pick up where we left earlier off this summer: more fun facts! “New Star Shining” is a 2021 album release that is literally chock-full of fun facts and amazing anecdotes. How this album came to be is a remarkable yarn — one that Lance relays to Tom and John next to a roaring fire as they sip hot cocoa and egg nog. Join us...for a littl...

Andy Platts (the young gun) and Shawn Lee (the silver fox) join the podcast to discuss their new album, Ticket to Shangri-La, their future plans, and their collective pasts that led the duo to become one of Modern Yacht’s most prominent fire keepers — Young Gun Silver Fox. Lightning Round: Does It Float Your Boat? Buried Treasures Off the Map References and Related: John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playl...

TJ George of Demand Impact rejoins the podcast to help spread a little holiday cheer — all for a good cause! “ Christmas Smooth: Artists and Songs Classic and New ” is a just released compilation of seasonal songs performed by some of yacht rock’s biggest stars, along with selections from contemporary artists who are following in their footsteps. Tune in to hear the history of this amazing project...

Dane Donohue rejoins the podcast to run through Side 2 of his yacht rock classic. Plus, ANOTHER sneak-peek listen to EVEN MORE NEW Dane Donohue music. PLUS, a minor “tease” of a major announcement coming this holiday season. Lots to unpack here! Check the previous episodes here: Side 1: LINK Our previous interviews with Dane: Part 1: https://anchor.fm/yachtrockpodcast/episodes/Episode-21-17-Specia...

ane Donohue himself joins the podcast to run through an album focus on the 1978 yacht rock classic, his eponymously titled debut album. Plus, a sneak-peek listen to NEW music Dane is recording with John and other members of Page99. Coming soon? We sure hope so! Want to hear our original two-part interview with Dane and Keith Barry, the man behind “The Lost Prince of Yacht Rock” piece on Narrativel...

Trying to understand the Spotify algorithm is a fool’s errand (🛎 ding!), but John and Tom take their best shots anyway! (Wait...is that no coincidence?) Anyway...in a variation of the popular Out of the Main Game Show, the buoys 🛎 have a little fun this week, trying to stump each other by asking one another to guess which song Spotify considers to be a particular artist’s “#1” song (mostly yacht r...

John and Tom veer off course again into the Bermuda Triangle and emerge in scary, spooky territory, in honor of Halloween 2022. Where will they end up? You’ll have to tune in to find out! Meanwhile, here is Tom’s Halloween on the Yacht Spotify playlist , if you’re into that sorta thing. Lightning Round: Halloween-Inspired Does It Float Your Boat? Buried Treasures Off the Map References and Related...

The people have spoken! We went deep-sea diving to discover truly hidden gems, as presented by yacht rock lovers of the world...you! These are rare finds...so rare they never even charted. You may have never even heard of them. But all the more reason to never stop diving deep for those buried treasures! Want to add to the Spotify playlist? Have at it! Keep those gems from uncharted waters coming:...