Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia

Episode: "What a Fool Believes, Part 2"

Host: Chris Molanphy
Date: August 27, 2021

Overview

In "What a Fool Believes, Part 2," Chris Molanphy continues his deep dive into the phenomenon of yacht rock—a genre defined by its smooth, meticulously crafted California pop sound of the late '70s and early '80s. The episode explores yacht rock’s biggest chart-topping hits, its impact on pop culture, and its legacy. The discussion spans the genre’s pioneers, the critical role of session musicians, how the genre provided crossover opportunities for Black artists, and yacht rock’s unexpected afterlife as both kitsch and cherished nostalgia.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Defining the Sound: The Rise of Yacht Rock

• The Doobie Brothers and the Creation of the "Doobie Bounce"
  • "What A Fool Believes" (1979) is heralded as a template for yacht rock: a song of romantic regret wrapped in jaunty melodies and syncopated chord progressions.
  • The “Doobie Bounce” becomes a widely copied song structure, showing up in hits like Robbie Dupree’s "Steal Away" and The Pointer Sisters’ "He’s So Shy."
  • Chris Molanphy: "This sprightly, syncopated chord progression, typically played on piano or synthesizer, proved a remarkably sturdy pop song template." (02:40)

Yacht Rock Gatekeeping: Where Hall & Oates Fit

• Despite their West Coast associations, Hall & Oates are mostly not considered yacht rock by the genre’s originators—even though songs like "Kiss On My List" use similar musical elements.
• Chris Molanphy: "Hall & Oates music is blue-eyed soul and it ranges all over the map... their music generally contains no West Coast personnel." (06:11)
• The "Yacht Rock" YouTube series furthered these distinctions, often for comic effect.

Session Musicians: The Heart of Yacht Rock

• Yacht rock is defined not just by sound, but by the bands of session players from LA who contributed to each other's records—creating a seamless, interconnected “Axis” of music-making.
• Notable session musicians include members of Toto, as well as frequent collaborators like Greg Phillinganes and David Foster.

Yacht Rock’s Grammys Sweep & Christopher Cross

• Christopher Cross emerges as the genre’s ultimate beneficiary, with "Sailing" (1980) becoming a yacht rock archetype and Cross sweeping the “Big Four” Grammys in 1981.
  • Quote: "Sailing is perhaps the most atypical but essential yacht rock song... It's a smooth song about smoothness." (10:45)
• This sweep would not be repeated until Billie Eilish in 2020.

Crossover Appeal: Yacht Soul and Black Artists

• As disco faded and radio programmers avoided “too Black” records, yacht rock's smooth, R&B-infused sound opened doors for Black musicians:
  • Ray Parker Jr.’s "You Can’t Change That" and Grover Washington Jr. & Bill Withers’s "Just The Two Of Us" exemplify this crossover.
  • Chris Molanphy: "Yacht soul helped launch the careers at both R&B and pop radio of both jazzy soul singer Al Jarreau and emerging R&B vocal king Luther Vandross." (13:00)
• Quincy Jones leveraged the yacht rock axis for both Michael Jackson’s "Off The Wall" and hits for George Benson and James Ingram.

Yacht Rock in Pop Culture

• Yacht rock’s influence permeated TV and movies—e.g., Joey Scarbury’s "Greatest American Hero" theme and Christopher Cross’s "Arthur’s Theme."
• Michael McDonald launched his solo career with yacht-infused hits, and Toto reached their commercial zenith with hits from "Toto IV" (notably "Rosanna" and the immortal "Africa").
  • Chris Molanphy: “’Africa,’ the most enduring yacht rock song of all, the 80s song most beloved by the millennial and Z generations, the song that would one day blanket the internet.” (23:19)
  • Jeff Porcaro’s Grammy acceptance speech hinted at the dominance and camaraderie among these session musicians.

The End of Yacht Rock’s Chart Dominance

• The transition is marked by Michael Jackson’s Thriller (1982), produced by Quincy Jones and featuring several Toto members.
  • Thriller simultaneously represents yacht rock’s apex (musically and behind the scenes) and its pivot point, as pop shifted toward newer, more kinetic sounds.
  • As pop changed, artists like Hall & Oates moved into dance rock, and even yacht stalwarts like Kenny Loggins and Toto tried to adapt (with mixed success).

Afterlife and Revival: Irony versus Sincerity

• Yacht rock’s rediscovery in the 2000s was fueled by irony, nostalgia, and eventually genuine appreciation via internet memes, the “Yacht Rock” web series, and hip-hop samples (e.g., Warren G’s use of "I Keep Forgettin’").
• Michael McDonald reflects on the renewed attention:
  • Michael McDonald: "No one's more amazed than I think myself and my contemporaries are that we're still working, you know, and we're still out there playing music... it's really remarkable to us." (35:49)
• Modern artists and platforms (from Thundercat’s collaborations to Weezer covering "Africa") underscore both the resilience and sincerity of yacht rock’s legacy.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Chris Molanphy on Hall & Oates genre confusion:
  "Hall & Oates music is blue-eyed soul and it ranges all over the map... their music generally contains no West Coast personnel." (06:11)

• On "Sailing" as an atypical yacht rock hit:
  "Sailing is perhaps the most atypical but essential yacht rock song... It's a smooth song about smoothness." (10:45)

• On diversity and crossover:
  "Yacht soul helped launch the careers at both R&B and pop radio..." (13:00)

• On Toto’s "Africa":
  “’Africa,’ the most enduring yacht rock song of all, the 80s song most beloved by millennial and Z generations, the song that would one day blanket the internet.” (23:19)

• Michael McDonald on legacy:
  "No one's more amazed than I think myself and my contemporaries are that we're still working, you know, and we're still out there playing music... it's really remarkable to us." (35:49)

Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:00–02:40] — Recap of yacht rock origins, Doobie Brothers & the "Doobie Bounce"
• [05:36–06:11] — Hall & Oates’ relationship to yacht rock explained
• [10:45–11:55] — Christopher Cross’s Grammy sweep and "Sailing" as the genre’s ballad hallmark
• [13:00–15:00] — Crossover impact for Black artists and emergence of "yacht soul"
• [18:25–24:03] — Toto’s chart dominance, the making and impact of "Africa"
• [27:02–29:55] — Michael Jackson’s Thriller as a turning point
• [35:49–36:18] — Michael McDonald on the surprising durability of yacht rock

Conclusion

"What a Fool Believes, Part 2" skillfully traces yacht rock’s journey from radio ubiquity, through media parody and internet meme culture, to its enduring revival. Molanphy’s narrative is packed with historical context, rich musical trivia, and genuine appreciation for the skilled players who made yacht rock both kitschy and timeless. The discussion demonstrates that beneath the glossy surface, yacht rock is—in the words of its practitioners and modern fans alike—music built to last, whether on a pleasure boat or a playlist.