Ten Favorite Yacht Rock Albums
(It’s a contested term—yacht rock—with few clear exemplars, but these ten albums are all products of the style, according to Rate Your Music. I’ve listed them in order of preference.)
Airplay by Airplay
Cool Night by Paul Davis
Daylight Again by Crosby, Stills & Nash
IV by Toto
Rhythm of the Night by DeBarge *
Christopher Cross by Christopher Cross
Warmer by Randy Vanwarmer
Sleeper Catcher by Little River Band
Bossa Nova Hotel by Michael Sembello
Dan Hill (1987) by Dan Hill
* Their earlier albums (particularly In a Special Way) are better, but not “yacht rocky” enough to qualify.
— January 19, 2026