Smooth but powerful vocals over groovy tunes ruled the 1970s, with Yacht Rock musicians living on top of the world. Though the music was hyper-popular, that genre title didn’t take hold until a reference in a 2005 comedy show. Even before this early aughts recall, the love for these jams was always present.
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A new HBO documentary set to stream on Max next week shares the details of this journey. From artists getting their big breaks to transitioning into obscurity and then being celebrated once again with an air of comedy–Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary covers it all.
Christopher Cross, one of the most widely known Yacht Rock artists, is heavily featured in the “dockumentary” and he shared some high-flying details. The movie premiered at the DOC NYC Festival last week, and 97x reports that Cross touched on LSD, dealing weed, and so much more.
Cross charted on the Top 40 eight times from 1979 to 1984. He sang a song for the hit film Arthur, and two songs hit the top of the charts. “Ride Like The Wind” only charted at number two, but Cross shared something far more interesting in his featured interviews.
“The original demos I did, all the songs ended up on the record,” said Cross in the film. “I financed my original songs by selling weed. I had a very successful weed business, and I bought a tape machine and some consoles and stuff and invested in a studio in Austin.”
Christopher Cross talks weed, LSD, and Yacht Rock
Even after his dealing days were behind him, mind-altering compounds continued inspiring Cross’s work. In the documentary, Cross explains that the beginnings of “Ride Like The Wind” first came as a riff he would add in a cover of “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five” by Paul McCartney and Wings during live jam fests.
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The artist recalls adding the song’s future hook to the cover as he performed in Houston. Cross and his bandmates noticed that people danced and vibed out to that riff. So, on the way home, he wrote the lyrics. The twist? He was high on LSD.
As the band rolled along the highway from Houston to Austin, Cross harnessed the creative power of acid to write the lyrics of “Ride Like The Wind.” The song is now cemented as Yacht Rock canon.
These and more fresh facts will be revealed to viewers across the country. The documentary debuts as part of the streaming platform’s Music Box Series on Friday, November 29th on Max, and the people are excited. Tune in to learn of the raucous adventures behind the catchy, well-produced jams still loved today. And for those who have yet to explore the genre, get ready for smooth sailing.
