I hope that Santa brings me a new boombox this Christmas so I can spread yuletide cheer by playing this Christmas yacht rock mixtape for all to hear. I don’t know if the salt air is finally getting to me but I’ve been on a bit of a yacht rock kick lately. At first, I was skeptical of this genre, maybe even tossing around words like “corny”. The more I listened though, the more I legitimately appreciated it. With the holiday season upon us, it’s time for A Very Merry Yacht Rock Christmas mixtape.
Another shout out to Mike Landolfi who has helped me mastermind this mixtape, the original yacht rock playlist, and the hip hop playlist. A word of warning, even if you enjoy yacht rock, the schmaltz factor here may make you a bit ill.
The Music
The mix is bookended by Michael McDonald who does fine renditions of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “This Christmas”. As a bonus, halfway through, McDonald, the ultimate voice in yacht rock makes a surprise appearance with a live version of “Go Tell It On The Mountain”. Kenny Loggins also makes two appearances, one solo with “White Christmas” and then as a featured guest of smooth jazz maestro, Dave Koz.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band brings a bit of Colorado to us. Ray Parker’s “Christmastime is Here” was one of the corniest songs on the first yacht rock playlist but one of the better ones here ironically. The Fruit Bats and My Morning Jacket personify modern yacht rock with a track apiece, including MMJ’s take on The Band’s wonderful, “Christmas Must Be Tonight.” America sings Hark! and Hall and Oates do a fun take on “Jingle Bell Rock.”
Rupert Holmes escapes the Pina Colada song to sing “The Perfect Tree” from a British cartoon Christmas special. Bertie Higgins sounds like a professional wrestler cutting a promo on “Deck the Halls”. Dan Fogelberg’s instrumental “Yule Dance” mixes the 1980s with the 1380s. Christopher Cross’s “The Best Christmas” is pretty sappy.
Gerry Rafferty sings an original tune. David Pack from Ambrosia takes a religious turn. Steve Perry oversings on “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”. Chicago sounds like Chicago doing “O Come All Ye Faithful.” George Benson does a typical rendition of the Christmas Song and Captain and Tenille bring us to California for the holiday.
A Very Merry Yacht Rock Christmas
This Very Merry Yacht Rock Christmas mixtape’s tracks can be found on Youtube but many of these are deeper cuts than are available on streaming services. And of course can be found on compact disc, cassette tape, and vinyl.
- Michael McDonald – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
- Kenny Loggins – White Christmas
- The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – Colorado Christmas
- Ray Parker Jr. – Christmas Time is Here
- Fruit Bats – It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas
- America – Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
- Rupert Holmes – The Perfect Tree
- Daryl Hall and John Oates – Jingle Bell Rock
- Bertie Higgins – Deck the Halls
- Michael McDonald – Go Tell It On the Mountain
- Dan Fogelberg – Yule Dance
- Christopher Cross – The Best Christmas
- Gerry Rafferty – Winter’s Come
- David Pack (of Ambrosia) and Billy Dean – Mary Did You Know?
- Steve Perry (of Journey) – Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
- Chicago – O Come All Ye Faithful
- Dave Koz and Kenny Loggins – December Makes Me Feel This Way
- My Morning Jacket – Christmas Must Be Tonight
- George Benson – The Christmas Song
- Captain and Tenille – Christmas in California
- Michael McDonald – This Christmas
You can thank me later for making this year’s Christmas the best one yet due to the sweet sounds of a Very Merry Yacht Rock Christmas!
