Highball Ballroom, November 20, 11:00 PM, Free admission
We’ve been big fans of the Channel 101 show Yacht Rock for years now, and watching all of those episodes reignited our long-dormant, often-closeted love affair with smooth music. Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross, Captain & Tennille, Chicago, Toto; they all came flooding back into my heart. Now that we have our own karaoke stage, we feel the need to let these songs pour from our hearts and wash onto an audience of like-minded beach-combers.
We cordially invite you to the first in a monthly series called Birth of the Smooth: An Evening of Yacht Rock Karaoke. The Highball karaoke book has been stripped of anything heavy or dissonant and purged of old-fashioned standards as well as the cacophony “music” that has been invading our airwaves since the 90s. At “Birth of the Smooth,” you can choose from only the most melodic of harmonies as we invite you to invoke with us a Caribbean sailing adventure inside the Highball ballroom. Henri Mazza and I will be captaining this adventure and will serve as your guides through the gently rippling waters of America’s most important contribution to music history: smooth music.
We’ll have fruity rum and coconut cocktails on special, and dare I say, EVERY cocktail and island cerveza will be served with little paper umbrellas. Halfway through the night, expect a giant, twisting conga line through the entirety of the Highball and we’ll finish the night with a teary-eyed group sing-along to the Beach Boys Kokomo.
The maiden voyage of Birth of the Smooth will be on Friday, November 20, singing begins at 11:00 PM sharp and admission is absolutely free. Look for more themed karaoke nights on Fridays only at the Highball (Tim League, founder, the Highball).
We will be adding to this, but this is our current smooth karaoke track list (requests welcome!):
| 10Cc | Im Mandy |
| 10Cc | Im Not In Love |
| 10Cc | Things We Do For Love |
| 5 Stairsteps | O-O-H Child |
| Ace | How Long |
| Andy Kim | Rock Me Gently |
| Beach Boys | Don’t Worry Baby |
| Beach Boys | Sail On Sailor |
| Beach Boys | Surfer Girl |
| Beach Boys | Kokomo |
| Beach Boys | Wouldn’t It Be Nice |
| Billy Ocean | Carribean Queen |
| Billy Ocean | Suddenly |
| Boz Scaggs | Jojo |
| Captain & Tenille | Do That To Me One More Time |
| Captain & Tennille | Lonely Night |
| Captain & Tennille | Love Will Keep Us Together |
| Captain & Tennille | Muskrat Love |
| Captain & Tennille | Shop Around |
| Captain & Tennille | Way I Want To Touch You, The |
| Captain & Tennille, The | Love Will Keep Us Together |
| Carly Simon | Anticipation |
| Carly Simon | Nobody Does It Better |
| Carly Simon | You Belong To Me |
| Carly Simon | Youre So Vain |
| Chicago | Baby What A Big Surprise |
| Chicago | Beginnings |
| Chicago | Call On Me |
| Chicago | Feeling Stronger Everyday |
| Chicago | Hard Habit To Break |
| Chicago | Just You n Me |
| Chicago | Old Days |
| Chicago | Saturday In The Park |
| Chicago | Wishing You Were Here |
| Chicago | Youre The Inspiration |
| Chicago | If You Leave Me Now |
| Christopher Cross | Arthurs Theme |
| Christopher Cross | Sailing |
| Christopher Cross | Ride Like the Wind |
| Dan England & John Ford Coley | Its Sad To Belong |
| Dan England And J Ford Coley | Id Really Love To See You Tonight |
| Dan Hill | Sometimes When We Touch |
| Dan Seals | Bop |
| Darryl Hall | Method Of Modern Love |
| Darryl Hall | You Make My Dreams |
| David Soul | Dont Give Up On Us |
| Don Ho | Tiny Bubbles |
| Doobie Brothers | What a Fool Believes |
| Doobie Brothers, The | Real Love |
| Doobie Brothers, The | Black Water |
| Doobie Brothers, The | China Grove |
| Doobie Brothers, The | Jesus Is Just Alright |
| Doobie Brothers, The | Listen To The Music |
| Doobie Brothers, The | Long Train Running |
| Doobie Brothers, The | Takin It To The Streets |
| E Dan and Coley | Love to See You Tonight |
| Elton John | Dont Go Breaking My Hea |
| Firefall | You Are The Woman |
| Freddie Jackson | You Are My Lady |
| Gary Wright | Dream Weaver |
| Gerry Rafferty | Baker Street |
| Gilbert Osullivan | Alone Again |
| Gilbert Osullivan | Clair |
| Gilbert Osullivan | Get Down |
| Glen Campbell | Southern Nights |
| Glen Campbell | Rhinestone Cowboy |
| Glen Campbell | Wichita Lineman |
| Greatest American Hero (Believe it Or Not) | Joey Scarbury |
| Hall & Oates | Me And Mrs Jones |
| Hall & Oates | Sara Smile |
| Hall & Oates | Shes Gone |
| Hall & Oates | You Make My Dreams Come True |
| Hall & Oates | Youve Lost That Lovin Feeling |
| Hall & Oates | Method Of Modern Love |
| Hall & Oates | Sara Smile |
| Hall & Oates | Shes Gone |
| Hall & Oates | You Make My Dreams |
| Harry Belafonte | Coconut Woman |
| Harry Belafonte | Day-O (Banana Boat Song) |
| Harry Belafonte | Hole In My Bucket |
| Harry Belafonte | I Can See Clearly Now |
| Harry Belafonte | Island In The Sun |
| Harry Belafonte | Jamaica Farewell |
| Harry Belafonte | Jump In Line |
| Harry Belafonte | Mama Look At Bubu |
| Harry Chapin | Cats In The Cradle |
| Honeydrippers, The | Sea Of Love |
| Jefferson Starship | Miracles |
| Jimmy Buffet | Volcano |
| Jimmy Buffett | Pirate Looks At Forty, A |
| Jimmy Buffett | Fins |
| Jimmy Buffett | Son Of A Sailor |
| Jimmy Buffett | Why Dont We Get Drunk And Screw |
| Jimmy Buffett | Cheeseburger In Paradise |
| Jimmy Buffett | Come Monday |
| Jimmy Buffett | Margaritaville |
| Jimmy Buffett | Why Dont We Get Drunk |
| Jimmy Buffett | Mele Kalikimaka |
| Jimmy Buffett | Ho Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum |
| Jimmy Buffett | Changes in Latitude |
| John Denver | Annies Song |
| John Denver | Calypso |
| John Denver | Fly Away |
| John Denver | Im Sorry |
| John Denver | Sunshine On My Shoulders |
| John Denver | My Sweet Lady |
| Jr Grover Washington | Just The Two Of Us |
| Kenny Loggins | Im Alright |
| Kenny Loggins | Footloose |
| Kenny Loggins | Danger Zone |
| Kenny Loggins | I am not Hiding |
| Kenny Loggins | Nobody’s Fool |
| Kenny Loggins | The Real Thing |
| King Harvest | Dancing In The Moonlight |
| Lionel Richie | All Night Long |
| Lionel Richie | Ballerina Girl |
| Lionel Richie | Destiny |
| Lionel Richie | Easy |
| Lionel Richie | Endless Love |
| Lionel Richie | Hello |
| Lionel Richie | Lady |
| Lionel Richie | Night Shift |
| Lionel Richie | Oh No |
| Lionel Richie | Sail On |
| Lionel Richie | Stuck On You |
| Lionel Richie | Three Times A Lady |
| Lionel Richie | Truly |
| Lionel Richie | Say You Say Me |
| Lionel Richie | Penny Lover |
| Loggins | Angry Eyes |
| Loggins & Messina | Dannys Song |
| Loggins & Messina | House At Pooh Corner |
| Loggins & Messina | Peace Of Mind |
| Loggins & Messina | Run River Run |
| Loggins & Messina | Va Hev Ala |
| Loggins & Messina | Your Mama Dont Dance |
| Loggins, Kenny & Stevie Nicks | Whenever I Call You Friend |
| Looking Glass | Brandy |
| Lou Rawls Duet | At Last |
| Maria Muldaur | Midnight At The Oasis |
| Maxine Nightingale | Right Back Where We Started |
| Michael Jackson | Human Nature |
| Michael Mcdonald | I Keep Forgettin |
| Michael Mcdonald | On My Own |
| Neil Sedaka | Bad Blood |
| Orleans | Still the One |
| Ozark Mountain Daredevils | Jackie Blue |
| Peabo Bryson | If Ever Youre In My Arms Again |
| Peabo Bryson | Show And Tell |
| Peabo Bryson & Roberta Flack | Tonight I Celebrate My Love |
| Pilot | January |
| Pilot | Magic |
| Reo Speedwagon | Cant Fight The Feeling |
| Rod Stewart | Sailing |
| Rupert Holmes | Escape |
| Sammy Johns | Chevy Van |
| Spinners | I’ll be Around |
| Starland Vocal Band | Afternoon Delight |
| Steely Dan | Haitian Divorce |
| Steely Dan | Rikki Dont Lose That Number |
| Steely Dan | Do It Again |
| Steely Dan | Rikki Dont Lose That Number |
| Steely Dan | Reelin’ in the Years |
| Stephen Bishop | On and On |
| Styx | Babe |
| Styx | Dont Let It End |
| Styx | Come Sail Away |
| Styx | Light Up |
| Styx | Best of Times |
| The Little River Band | Happy Anniversary |
| The Little River Band | Lady |
| The Little River Band | Lonesome Loser |
| The Little River Band | Reminiscing |
| The Little River Band | Take It Easy On Me |
| The Little River Band | Other Guy, The |
| Three Dog Night | Black & White |
| Three Dog Night | Easy To Be Hard |
| Three Dog Night | Just An Old Fashioned Love Song |
| Three Dog Night | One |
| Three Dog Night | Sure As Im Sitting Here |
| Three Dog Night | An Old Fashioned Love Song |
| Three Dog Night | Never Been to Spain |
| Three Dog Night | Shambala |
| Todd Rundgren | I Saw The Light |
| Todd Rundgren | We Gotta Get You A Woman |
| Todd Rundgren | Hello Its Me |
| Toto | Africa |
| Toto | Hold The Line |
| Toto | I Wont Hold You Back |
| Toto | 99 |
| Toto | I Wont Hold You Back |
| Toto | Rosana |
Menu
You need to add more Hall & Oates: Rich Girl, I can’t go for that, Private Eyes, Maneater. They may not be the softest Hall & Oates songs but necessary none the less.
Posted by Wayne on November 13, 2009
These are some of my favorites:
Oh, Sherrie, Sussudio, Daniel, Year of the cat, Devotion, anything by Peter Cetera.
Looking forward to the big night!
Posted by Sean on November 13, 2009
What about Bertie Higgins’ “Key Largo”?
Posted by Bret on November 15, 2009
We’re working on the list. Keep the suggestions coming. Got more Hall & Oates already, working on more smoothness! See you all Friday!
Posted by Tim League on November 16, 2009
Gotta have some Pablo Cruise!!
And the other England Dan and John Ford Coley hit “You are the woman that i always dreamed of…”
Posted by Andy on November 17, 2009
More Styx, specifically: Too Much Time on My Hands, Lady, Renegade, possibly Mr. Roboto although that may not qualify. But especially Too Much Time on My Hands. Pretty please.
Posted by Meredith on November 17, 2009
Add Supertramp,’Goodbye Stranger’.
Also, a MUST ADD is ‘Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)’ by The Looking Glass.
Posted by Hutcht on November 17, 2009
Just saw looking glass on the list. Now punching myself in the face.
Posted by Hutch on November 17, 2009
just heard a good one that you should add: ‘Train In Vain (Stand By Me)’ by The Clash
Posted by Hutch on November 19, 2009
Magnet and Steel by Walter Egan and Southern Cross by Crosby Stills and Nash. I’ve been waiting so long for someone to host a yacht rock karaoke night. Really looking forward to it!
Posted by Russell on November 19, 2009
http://www.yachtrock.com/
Reference and revel.
Posted by Jasmine on November 19, 2009
[...] with some fresh coconuts and all manner of island rum. Come by tomorrow night (November 20) for Birth of the Smooth: an Evening of Yacht Rock Karaoke tomorrow night at 11:00 PM and find out if this final experiment bears [...]
Posted by Smooth Cocktails for Tomorrow’s Smooth Karaoke « The Highball on November 20, 2009
there is a startling lack of Gino Vannelli on here.
Posted by erino on November 20, 2009
Need to add some Fleetwood Mac to this karaoke list, possibly the songs Rhiannon and Little Lies, among others.
Also The Eagles – One Of These Nights, and their song Life In The Fast Lane.
Posted by hutch on November 25, 2009