Out of the Main

Tom and John are joined by John Zaika, a documentary film maker and music producer who is in the middle of telling Bobby Kimball’s (Toto) life story. Slated for release in 2023, “Kite on a String" will feature found footage, interviews with the music icons who knew him best, and certainly some great stories, outstanding music, touching moments and captivating storytelling. Watch the original trail...

We know that yacht rock perfectly straddles the equator between the 70s and 80s (1976-1984), but does it define either decade? This week’s challenge, which we invite listeners to partake in, is this: Name three songs that define the 70s. Name three songs that define the 80s. Tune in to hear the guys’ selections, and see if you agree or diverge. Was there any overlap between their total of 12 songs...

There’s much more to George Benson’s “Turn Your Love Around” than initially meets the ear. John and Tom do a deep-dive study on the history, theory, production and performances that made the George Benson classic. If you don’t know the story of how this song was written, there are a few details that add to the song’s lore, which you might not wanna miss. Courtesy of a listener suggestion submitted...

Bertie Higgins, master of Marina Rock — or what he has dubbed “Trop Rock” — joins the podcast to talk about his road to success, 27 albums in the making of a career, and his unique brand of storytelling. From “Key Largo” to “Just Another Day In Paradise,” Higgins’ music stands the test of time, bringing yacht rock fans to a tropical paradise of sonic bliss. More fun facts and historical anecdotes...

Part 2 of our interview with Kenny Loggins picks up where we left off last week: talking about the process of collaborating to write your own memoir. There’s more yacht rock talk, more soundtrack discussion, more music-making behind-the-scenes, and looking back on Kenny’s entire career, up to present-day. Kenny even turns the microphone back on Tom and John, with a question of his own. Will be the...

Fresh off the release of his autobiography, “Still Alright: A Memoir,” Kenny Loggins joins the podcast to discuss his life story, along with contributing writer Jason Turbow. John and Tom, over the course of two episodes, examine Kenny’s career, the personal life he so generously shares in his memoir, and of course, the music that transcends both time and genre. The book is fantastic, so pick it u...

Tom and John analyze and celebrate their newest favorite term of art, “wire choir.” What seems to be a fixture in the vocabulary of yacht rock legends keeps popping up more and more, the moment you first acknowledge it and hear it. What is “wire choir?” How is it done? Guest insights: What are Peter Friestedt’s three favorite examples of wire choir? Who were the masters of the art? Let’s go the ta...

John and Tom go off sonar. Where will they end up? Nobody knows! Until of course, you tune in to find out... The guys debut a recurring episode format. We hope you like it, because we can never be sure if it’ll ever come back! Welcome...to the Bermuda Triangle... Lightning Round: Does It Float Your Boat? Buried Treasures Off the Map References and Related: John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist Tom’s...

Perhaps the world’s biggest Pages fan, Mikael Engström joins Tom and John to recall the events that led to a major tribute to the legendary yacht rock band Pages. From the initial germination of the idea, all the way through to the live show, which included Richard Page and Steve George, among other connections to the original group, it was one stroke of luck (and hard work!) after anoth...

John and Tom go “in the trenches” with the founder and producer of “America’s Favorite Yacht Rock Band,” The Docksiders, Kevin Sucher and his bandmate and life-mate Erin. From three Grammys and multiple gigs and sessions with yacht rock royalty, culminating in a 40-week run in Las Vegas, the Docksiders got and brought the goods! Listen in to hear what caught the approving ear of our co-hosts as th...

In an all-new “Song Focus” episode, John and Tom examine and analyze Toto’s “Rosanna” using isolated recordings of each instrument, track by glorious track. Starting with the Porcaro Shuffle, through the P-bass stylings of David Hungate, onto the Steve Lukather masterclass, and finally the lush, smooth sounds of the masterful vocals. They don’t make ‘em like this anymore, so let’s take the time to...

As requested by a listener, Tom and John provide their analysis on how vocals were recorded, arranged, performed and mixed during the era we commonly associate as the yacht rock years, including that of artists off of the boat as well. Lush harmonies were a staple of music making during the golden age, and we couldn’t have a podcast about yacht rock without diving in to melody and harmony! Lightni...

We asked the people, and the people responded! “What are your ‘Perfect 10’ yacht rock albums? Does this mean perfectly yachty or yachty albums that are perfect top-to-bottom? You decide! Tune in to hear what we heard from the #yachtrock community! Lightning Round: Does It Float Your Boat? Buried Treasures Off the Map References and Related: John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist Tom’s Spotify Yacht Ro...

Taking a quick breather from Orleans’s current national tour, current frontman and long-time bassist Lance Hoppen joins Tom and John to talk past, present and future of an iconic fixture of West Coast AOR. Fun facts abound! Things discussed: Touring with fellow legends of yacht rock in the modern era The bass lines of Orleans, especially “Dance with Me” The personnel shuffle The amazing turn of ev...

Tom and John reach into the Viewer Mailbag to field questions from the listening audience. Thanks for sending us your suggestions for this #AskUsAnything episode, and keep the mail coming! Listen in to see if they manage to avoid some potentially dangerous naval mines! Of Note: Listener Jono's and Listener Richard's collaborative playlists: - One-Bar Wonder Cruise - Joint Cumulative Playlist Light...

John and Tom are joined by DJ Van Paugam, a subject matter expert on yacht rock’s distant cousin known as City Pop. Contemporary to our favorite genre, City Pop was born in Japan in the mid-70s, with a heyday that lasted about as long as yacht rock did. We learn about the genre’s origin, the crossover with yacht rock artists, and why the soundscape of City Pop is so close to that of the L.A. sound...

An in-depth look at the origin, history and definition of what has come to be known as “proto-yacht” in the yacht rock circles, as originally defined by the creators of Yacht Rock. John and Tom try to identify the “Big Bang” that launched it all, dating all the way back to the prehistoric times prior to 1976. Lightning Round: Does It Float Your Boat? Buried Treasures Off the Map References and Rel...

Nearly three years after embarking on a journey to explore, discover and celebrate yacht rock, John and Tom pause to reflect on what they’ve learned, how they’ve grown, and where they currently stand on “Yacht Rock”...as well as on, er...yacht rock. A look back in time produces some cringe-worthy moments, but if you can’t laugh at yourself...somebody else will! Lightning Round: Does It Float Your...

Alternatively dubbed “Brothers from Others’ Mothers,” this week’s episode welcomes fellow lovers of Westcoast music (and more!) to the podcast to hear the fascinating history behind Inside MusiCast. If you love music (whether yacht rock or not) as much as we do, you owe it to yourself to discover Inside MusiCast’s multimedia, omni-channel approach to celebrating the golden era of musical productio...

Tune in for the dramatic conclusion of the Out of the Main Game Show with Part 2! Tom and John battle it out for maritime supremacy...who will be left standing? Play along and test your knowledge of #yachtrock, the yachtski scale and more, and see who will take the helm in the captain’s deck! All new games will be premiered, so don’t miss it! ...all to see who gets to play in the... The Lightning...

The “Out of the Main” Game Show returns for a second season! John and Tom return to their late-70s-themed game show concept, complete with guessing games and yachtski scale face-offs, with the winner earning the right to play in the Lightning Round. Come on down, and play along with your version of the home game...without going over(board)! Rounds: Guess My Top Five Higher or Lower Who Scored High...

Tom and John welcome founding member and all-time drummer of one our favorite bands, Ambrosia, Burleigh Drummond to the podcast! They’re out on the road this summer and throughout 2022, which his where we start. Then, the guys hop in the wayback machine to the early 70s and the formation of the group, all the way through to present day...and into the near future! Lightning Round: Does It Float You...

A session cat’s session cat, Jerry Hey’s imprint and impact on yacht rock is undeniable. John and Tom guide you on a pleasure tour through the era-relevant history and vast catalogue of one of the most talented and prolific horn-section arrangers of all time. We take an ear to some of the tastiest horn stingers and singable brass melodies in all of music. Stay tuned to hear Jerry Hey go Beastmode!...

In what will be the first of a new series, Tom and John launch their first-ever “Song Focus” episode, dissecting and discussing Ambrosia’s masterpiece “Biggest Part of Me.” We take a high-level look at the song contextually, then go through it measure-by-measure, from stem to stern. Pure bliss. But first: A quick examination of the Richard Marx catalogue? On a yacht rock podcast? You’d better beli...

John and Tom were so taken with the making of “We Are the World” documentary, they just had to cover it on the podcast. Though the song itself is not yachty, there are a surprising amount of tie-ins to yacht rock, which makes it sea-worthy of exploration. Things Discussed: Yachty personnel (naturally) The history, the context and how it all came together The amazing writing, arranging and recordin...