Matt Harman

Yacht Rocker. Music writer. Music lover.

[Matt Harman @MattGHarman]

Donald and Walter really fired their drummer for being "too human" and forced Michael McDonald to sing until his soul left his body. 💀

"Glamour Profession" is the peak of unhinged, dark yacht rock. 🌴

Only Steely Dan could take a 7-minute story about the LA cocaine trade and make it sound like an upscale corporate training video for a luxury dental convention. 🎷

🤖 The Inside Lore:

*The First Digital Drummer:
Fagen and Becker got so annoyed by human error that they bypassed real drummers entirely. They had their engineer build Wendel, a primitive digital sampler, to loop a mathematically flawless disco-jazz beat. Wendel actually earned a Platinum record plaque.

*The "Clone" Harmony:
Michael McDonald didn't just sing backup; he was used as a human Xerox machine. They stacked dozens of his identical vocal takes on top of each other to create that eerie, multi-tracked, robotic wall of soul.

*The Hilarious Guitar Lie: Guitarist Steve Khan asked Donald Fagen what the song was about so he could match the vibe. Fagen completely deadpanned and lied, telling him it was about a guy whose girlfriend is a prostitute and he's too embarrassed to tell his parents. Khan recorded his legendary outro solo totally believing it.

It is cynical, over-engineered, and an absolute masterpiece.

#YachtRock #SteelyDan #Gaucho #Vinyl #SmoothGrooves

https://t.co/i9FAjoHvr7

[Matt Harman @MattGHarman]

@thepropdealer Model

[MediaREDEF @MediaREDEF]

Michael McDonald Was ‘So Stoned’ While Watching ‘SCTV’ Sketch About Himself (@mwardlaw - @ultclassicrock) https://t.co/7Zrs2AbpG7

[Matt Harman @MattGHarman]

Smooth sailing but lacking in powerhouse yacht personnel, features Gary Brandt as engineer (Prince’s and Robbie Dupree’s self titled albums). Labounty in the same salty mood as ever. #yachtrock #yachtornyacht
https://t.co/2QSBlVWlBQ

[Matt Harman @MattGHarman]

Some Synth Yacht about a full grown man expressing his lonely feelings awkwardly. Tail end of the yacht scene but fuck who cares, bouncier than most crap people try to pass off as yacht. #yachtrock #yachtornyacht
https://t.co/PYcxBN60o9 via @youtube

[Matt Harman @MattGHarman]

Yachtastic intro here. Abundant with abstract “Stoner Yacht” lyrics. The tired disco beat and bridge keepin’ it from being essential Labounty yacht. Missin’ that Labounty bounce! E-piano saving it like a champ. #yachtrock #yachtornyacht
https://t.co/SSPcy7Wppv via @youtube

[Yacht Rock @Yachtrock_]

There’s some wiggle room on all of these. It’s why we have the Yachtski Scale. https://t.co/Yk5mD5w2rP

[Marcel Hernandez @KrillCounty]

I just found out there is a “record club” at the Saloon and I’m so ready to force everyone to listen to Steely Dan and Toto because I’m that guy who likes @yachtrock.

[Matt Harman @MattGHarman]

@yachtrock 10cc’s “Things We Do For Love”. 1976. I feel like the chorus is a hot tease. Like your making out with this hot chick on your massive yacht when all the sudden she pulls back with these boner kill partridge family/70’s Beach Boys (minus Brian) verses. #yachtornyacht

[Yacht Rock @Yachtrock_]

Are you nuts? We’re not going to listen to a whole Jimmy Buffet album, let alone every single one to figure out which one is closest to Yacht Rock! https://t.co/LNXJWd4lEb

[Yacht Rock @Yachtrock_]

So not Yacht Rock I feel shitty calling them Nyacht. https://t.co/3bd4mqCzKA

[Zack Kiesel @zackkiesel]

.@yachtrock Need to add some more Bill LaBounty to the Yachstki Scale! Comin' Back, Never Gonna Look Back, Nobody's Fool. Basically every song on this album. #yachtornyacht https://t.co/VgOq0Q0ta2

[Yacht Rock @Yachtrock_]

We’ve since determined that Love Will Keep Us Together is, in fact, a Yacht Rock song. https://t.co/zeX5rNjrLw

[Matt Harman @MattGHarman]

@yachtrock #yachtornyacht Yacht Rock meets Ancient Greek literature. Highly overlooked YR song and one of the few actually referencing sailing. Even mentions “Retsina”(Greek Wine) and being tied to a Mast. Hard core. https://t.co/tvsDWEtuQW via @youtube

[Matt Harman @MattGHarman]

@yachtrock True yacht rock nerd here. Most H&O ain’t yacht rock, but admit it.. “Kiss On My List” is without a doubt. Surprised it hasn’t been rated on the yachtski scale.... @yachtornyacht

[Matt Harman @MattGHarman]

They need to stop releasing new Jimi records. The man’s been dead… https://t.co/MTpiQRjkpE

[Matt Harman @MattGHarman]

The thing I love about Burbank is nothing changes. Like this sick… https://t.co/lJUMF3b2TD

[Matt Harman @MattGHarman]

@yachtrock #yachtornyacht Yacht Rock meets Ancient Greek literature. Highly overlooked YR song and one of the few actually referencing sailing. Even mentions “Retsina”(Greek Wine) and being tied to a Mast. Hard core. https://t.co/tvsDWEtuQW via @youtube