Coke Classic Rock
December 26, 2014 8:07 AM

Help me build a playlist of coked-out, airless rock songs from the 70s and 80s, in the vein of Jackie Blue, Sentimental Lady, Hey Nineteen, and Only Over You.

There's a genre of airtight, A.M., soft- or jazz-rock from the 70s and 80s that I've spent most of my life avoiding. For whatever reason (maybe something I ate), I suddenly find it appealing, but I've done such a good job barring it from my consciousness that I'm unable to put a playlist together now that I want to.

An episode of the podcast Roderick on the Line whetted my appetite, but I don't know where to go from here. The songs I'm looking for have an airless, cold clarity to them, but also a kind of syrupy smarm. They sound like a hangover.

Here's my playlist so far:

"Jackie Blue," The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
"Sentimental Lady," Bob Welch
"Hey Nineteen," Steely Dan
"Only Over You," Fleetwood Mac

What songs should I add to this playlist? Some variety within this sound is great, as long as it falls into the general category. Assume that huge hits and obscure B-sides will be equally unfamiliar to me, and will therefore be equally welcome.
posted by scarylarry to Media & Arts (37 answers total) 39 users marked this as a favorite
Brandy by Looking Glass.

Pablo Cruise - Love Will Find A Way

Dr Hook, Sharing The Night Together

Boz Scaggs - Lowdown


Toto - Hold The Line
posted by bobdow at 8:25 AM on December 26, 2014


"Cold as Ice," Foreigner
posted by mosk at 8:31 AM on December 26, 2014


Love is like Oxygen, Sweet
I'm Not in Love, 10cc
Brother Louis, Stories
The World is a Ghetto, War
Air that I Breathe, Hollies
Hello It's Me, Todd Rundgren
One of These Nights, Eagles
Sister Golden Hair, America
You're No Good, Linda Ronstadt
Bungle in the Jungle, Jethro Tull
Lowdown, Boz Scaggs

Kind of my wheel house.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 8:33 AM on December 26, 2014


Easy by The Commodores
posted by Ike_Arumba at 8:37 AM on December 26, 2014


Dream Weaver, Gary Wright
posted by SuperSquirrel at 8:59 AM on December 26, 2014


These are exactly what I'm looking for. More, please! Thanks so much!
posted by scarylarry at 9:13 AM on December 26, 2014


A significant number of the tracks on the Awesome Mix from Guardians of the Galaxy fit your criteria, as well--and the ones that don't are still excellent listening.
posted by rhiannonstone at 9:18 AM on December 26, 2014


Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street
posted by Huffy Puffy at 9:39 AM on December 26, 2014


I was going to suggest the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack as well.
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 9:54 AM on December 26, 2014


I Missed Again - Phil Collins
Chuck E's In Love - Rickie Lee Jones
Owner of a Lonely Heart - Yes
Steppin Out - Joe Jackson
After the Fall - Journey
posted by fuse theorem at 10:01 AM on December 26, 2014


Timmy Thomas - Why Can't We Live Together?
posted by hydrophonic at 10:26 AM on December 26, 2014


I'd Really Love to See You Tonight - England Dan
posted by dawkins_7 at 11:14 AM on December 26, 2014


Seals and Crofts - Summer Breeze
posted by davebush at 11:14 AM on December 26, 2014


We Just Disagree - Dave Mason

(jinx, seymour!)
posted by dawkins_7 at 11:16 AM on December 26, 2014


I should add that I know about 5% of these songs. They're perfect. I feel fuzzy-edged and greasy.
posted by scarylarry at 11:49 AM on December 26, 2014


Isn't this genre now referred to as Yacht Rock?

Here's a badly formatted list of 100 top Yacht Rock classics (but apparently goes on a coke bender and quits at #41).

Most above are mentioned here, there might be a few more gems to mine out of the list.
posted by JoeZydeco at 12:05 PM on December 26, 2014


You Are The Woman - Firefall
Couldn't Get It Right - Climax Blues Band
Chevy Van - Sammy Johns
My Maria - B. W. Stevenson

If you're feeling very brave, you can try the long version of the Floaters' Float On (over 11 minutes!).
posted by tallmiddleagedgeek at 12:35 PM on December 26, 2014


And one more:
Right Time Of The Night - Jennifer Warnes
posted by tallmiddleagedgeek at 12:38 PM on December 26, 2014


Player, Baby Come Back

Thank you so much for asking this question. Every Day after Christmas -- from now til Armageddon -- should be "Coked-out, Airless Rock Songs from the 70s and 80s Day"
posted by ferdydurke at 1:46 PM on December 26, 2014


Whenever I call you FriendKenny Loggins and Stevie Nicks.

Wildfire - Michael Martin Murphey (a song I always confused with Horse with No Name by America for some reason.) The link is to a very yacht rock-y playlist on youtube, you may discover more gems there.
posted by vespabelle at 1:59 PM on December 26, 2014


I would add "Amie" by Pure Prairie League, "If You Want To Get To Heaven" by The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, "Love Is Alive" by Gary Wright, and "So Into You" by Atlanta Rhythm Section.
posted by rfs at 5:15 PM on December 26, 2014


Lotsa great stuff here. More in general, you are probably interested in what was known at the time as AOR (album oriented rock). Mostly from years 75-79.
posted by telstar at 7:17 PM on December 26, 2014


A yacht-rock thread and no one has mentioned the Doobie Brothers? Check out Minute By Minute or What A Fool Believes. Also Michael McDonald's cover of "I Keep Forgettin'" is a classic of the genre. And I'll also throw in I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You by Alan Parsons Project. I could do this all day.
posted by Clustercuss at 9:53 PM on December 26, 2014




Diamond Girl, Seals and Crofts

Not Gonna Let It Bother Me Tonight, Atlanta Rhythm Section
posted by Cocodrillo at 8:45 AM on December 27, 2014


Needs some Hall & Oates...
posted by ovvl at 11:26 AM on December 27, 2014


Also Michael McDonald's cover of "I Keep Forgettin'"

Cover?
posted by kenko at 2:23 PM on December 27, 2014


I Keep Forgettin' page on Wiki. Originally by Lieber & Stoller.
posted by Ike_Arumba at 2:25 PM on December 27, 2014


Don't know if this counts specifically, but too fun not to post: George Michael/Wham, Careless Whisper.

Bonus silly video featuring the sax solo.
posted by Huffy Puffy at 2:46 PM on December 27, 2014


Shannon, Henry Gross
Lonely Boy, Andrew Gold
That Pina Colada Song or Whatever it's called.
A Free and Gentle Flower, Skylark
Precious and Few, Climax
Love is Thicker Than Water, Andy Gibb
All By Myself, Eric Carmen (based on a Rachmaninoff piano concerto, of course)
Could This Be The Magic?, Barry Manilow (based on a Chopin prelude)

(I'm feelin' lazy tonite, so please feel free to fill in the YT links for me... Man, I love this genre;)
posted by ovvl at 3:38 PM on December 27, 2014


"If You Leave Me Now", Chicago
posted by litlnemo at 4:36 PM on December 27, 2014


there's been a hoot owl howling by my window now
for six nights in a row
posted by mookieproof at 6:51 PM on December 28, 2014


Cocaine, by Jackson Browne
posted by at at 10:10 PM on December 28, 2014


Paul Davis "I Go Crazy"

+10 points: Youtube imagery starts with silhouette of a jazz band

Oh it gets worse look away look away
posted by user92371 at 10:56 PM on December 28, 2014


My wife loves this kind of music. Growing up it was also my mom's favorite genre, so I heard it a lot and consequently, my wife is always asking me to make her little playlists from this era. A lot of really good suggestions in here already, so I'll just add some that I don't see.

Eric Clapton - Cocaine
Don Felder - All of You
Three Dog Night - Mama Told Me Not to Come
Gerry Rafferty - Right Down the Line
Blues Image - Ride Captain Ride
April Wine - Sign of the Gypsy Queen

Also, I find that it really helps if you sprinkle a disco hit or two in there to liven it up a bit. It gives a mix that really authentic 70s coke feel.

Earth, Wind, & Fire - September
ELO - Livin' Thing
Bee Gees - You Should Be Dancing

...and so on.
posted by Demogorgon at 11:41 AM on December 29, 2014




Give Me The Night by George Benson
posted by dgeiser13 at 10:28 PM on January 28, 2015


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