Out of the Main

Meet the man behind the yacht rock classic “Moonlight Feels Right” (amongst MANY buried treasures!), Bruce Blackman, who lead and founded the band Starbuck with marimba player Bo Wagner. Tom and John got an earful of interesting yacht rock lore, as they examine the stories behind Bruce’s book The Road to Moonlight Feels Right. We cover everything from the days before Starbuck hit it big, all...

Part 2 of our interview with Bill Champlin and Tamara Champlin picks back up on location before a yacht rock tribute live show in Dayton Ohio — “We Will Yacht You.” We start with some Chicago history then move forward all the way to present day...literally! Listen in to clips from our continuing conversation with the always entertaining and informative Bill and Tamara westcoast power couple. We co...

Tom and John catch up with Bill Champlin and Tamara Champlin on location before a yacht rock tribute live show in Dayton Ohio — “We Will Yacht You.” Listen in to clips from their conversation: everything from singing technique to songwriting to performing live and working in the studio. We covered a lot and learned a lot, and you will two. It’s not just The Champ...it’s The Co-Champs! Keep tabs on...

Will buried treasures never cease? No, thankfully! Chris Christian has one of the most remarkable career stories you’ll ever hear—one that includes a wonderful foray into yacht rock in 1981. It seems like Chris knows everyone, has done just about everything, and recorded a yachty treasure that features just about every session cat you’ll ever want to hear. PLUS, Chris Christian himself chooses Tom...

Treat yourself to an incredible story, an important cause, and an amazing lineup of personnel, collaborating to make a beautifully written and masterfully produced modern Westcoast record to raise money for charity, Demand Impact . Vernon Porter (of Kenny Loggins and more) teams with TJ George to assemble a star-studded cast that includes Bill Champlin, Richard Page, Michael McDonald, Tris Imboden...

We flipped the record over and broke down Side B of Kenny Loggins’ High Adventure album with legendary drummer Tris Imboden himself. Who better to dissect a masterpiece with than a member of the band who performed on the record? Put the needle down, and let’s continue... “Heart to Heart”’s all-star lineup and amazing bass line More back stories and inside scoops Track-by-track analysis for the sec...

Legendary drummer Tris Imboden rejoins the podcast to help Tom and John on a special album focus, breaking down Kenny Loggins’ High Adventure album. Who better to dissect a masterpiece with than a member of the band who performed on the record? Back stories and inside scoops Track-by-track analysis Fun facts and interesting trivia An update on Tris Imboden’s Yacht Stars, going out on the road this...

If you haven’t explored the connection between yacht rock’s past and the current works of Peter Friestedt, you’re in for a treat! Peter is a modern-day artist who serves as the bridge from yesteryear to today, collaborating with the likes of Bill Champlin, Joseph Williams, the long list of yachty session players from back in the day, and many more! It’s more than keeping the fire...it’s carrying t...

John and Tom welcome back Tommy Taylor for part 2 of our interview with, most notably, the drummer for the Christopher Cross band, to the podcast for a two-part conversation that spans Tommy’s career before, during and after Christopher Cross. Tune in to hear many clarifications and embellishments as triggered by Tommy hearing our Christopher Cross album focus episode from Season 2 . You’ll also h...

We are thrilled to welcome Tommy Taylor, most notably known to the yacht rock community as the drummer for the Christopher Cross band, to the podcast for a two-part conversation that spans Tommy’s career before, during and after Christopher Cross. Tune in to hear many clarifications and embellishments as triggered by Tommy hearing our Christopher Cross album focus episode from Season 2 . You’ll al...

The third and final installment of our marathon conversation with yacht rock legend Jay Graydon—more stories, more insights, more laughs, more music... Highlights from Part 3: The story behind Jay’s album, “The Past to Present—the 70s” Working with (and without) Jeff Porcaro You’ll never guess who Jay says was the best singer he’s ever worked with More tricks of the trade The classic “After the Lo...

John and Tom continue their conversation with Jay Graydon—composer, producer, session musician, artist...the list goes on and on. Highlights from Part 2: The Rhodes’ comeback in modern music Watch Stefan Olofsson do his Al Jarreau and Steely Dan medleys on the Rhodes (scroll down once you click that link) The Jay Graydon “sonicscape” that transcended artists and eras Listen to Jay’s KILLER solo on...

John and Tom were absolutely gobsmacked to welcome 12-time Grammy nominated, 2-time Grammy winning, and all around legend of music Jay Graydon to the podcast. Undeniably one of yacht rock’s greatest talents, Jay shares his tales from yesteryear, reveals a few tricks of his trade, and dives deep into what he’s up to today. Highlights from Part 1: The Grammy he earned but never received His forthcom...

Tom and John kick off Season 3 of “Out of the Main” exploring when, why and how yacht rock went the way of the dodo (at least temporarily) in 1985. What was the day our favorite music died, and what killed it? Everything from technology advancements, to kulturkampf, MTV, the second British invasion, and changing tastes in music and pop culture more generally. The boat took on a lot of water, frien...

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...

To wrap up Season Two of “Out of the Main,” Tom and John clear the decks (ding!) of various notes and conversation topics they’ve been collecting all year but never got to. From interesting anecdotes to factoids learned but never discussed, this episode as a little bit of everything: Things Discussed: Why would it take 81 takes to record one yacht rock song? Jeff Porcaro’s perfected pursuit of imp...

Part 2 of our interview with Peter Beckett, the voice of yacht rock supergroup Player, is the subject of this week’s podcast, one of our favorites to date! Picking up where we left off last week... Things Discussed: How Peter came to join Little River Band full time Peter’s solo career, writing career, and even a cameo on General Hospital?! What’s next for Peter, and what we may have missed in the...

John and Tom are thrilled to welcome Peter Beckett, founding member and lead singer of the legendary yacht rock band Player, to the podcast. Back on the road appearing as Peter Beckett’s Player, the composer and singer of the international chart topper “Baby Come Back” covers what’s happening now, how it all began, and how he and others are “keeping the fire” to this day. Things Discussed: Peter’s...

A whole episode devoted to our Lightning Round concept of “Off the Map.” What do you miss when you’re only listening to yacht rock? What bands, genres and styles do you listen to that are way off the map, but maybe—just maybe—actually tie back to yacht rock after all? Things Discussed: What else from that same time period lights your fire? New Romantic and sophisti-pop’s surprising ties back to th...

Let’s break down one of the essential elements of yacht rock: the half-time shuffle. With roots in swing music and early rock and roll, the straight shuffle has been a staple of music for generations. But in the yacht rock era, its kissing cousin, the half-time shuffle, became ubiquitous and essential to the west-coast sound, thanks to masters of the art like Jeff Porcaro, Steve Gadd, Bernard Purd...

Join us for the finals of Nyacht Invitational Tournament (NIT), presented by August Red. How did your bracket compare? Who was crowned the yachtiest of the nyachtiest? Did the prediction of Tommy the Swami come true? Listen in to find out! Our guest judge and jurist for the Finals is the fan favorite Kyle Lavelle, our third brother from another mother and the one of the most positive yacht rockers...

Round 2 of Nyacht Invitational Tournament (NIT), brought to you by August Red, marches forward. We’re letting 68 nyacht rock songs—the perennial also-rans of yacht rock-dom—face off in a tournament of attrition to see which tune can earn the right to be reconsidered as potentially sea-worthy. Still standing at the end of today’s episode: The Smooth 16! Our guest judge and jurist for Round 2 is the...

We did our March Yachtness Tournment in the spring, now its time for its lower-card counterpart, the Nyacht Invitational Tournament (NIT), brought to you by August Red. We’re letting 68 nyacht rock songs—the perennial also-rans of yacht rock-dom—face off in a tournament of attrition to see which tune can earn the right to be reconsidered as potentially sea-worthy. Who will end up in Davy Jones’ Lo...

We did our March Yachtness Tournment in the spring, now its time for its under-card counterpart, the Nyacht Invitational Tournament (NIT), brought to you by August Red. We’re letting 68 nyacht rock songs—the perennial also-rans of yacht rock-dom—face off in a tournament of attrition to see which tune can earn the right to be reconsidered as potentially sea-worthy. Who will end up in Davy Jones’ Lo...

The story you’ve never heard about the rise, the success, and the ultimate break up of the original Climax Blues Band has way more twists and turns than you might suspect, starting with a brush with The Beatles and Pink Floyd. Tom and John are joined on the podcast by Derek Holt, founding member, bassist, guitarist and song writer of “I Love You” and many more. He brings the back story, and we lea...