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You are here: Home / Music / Just like the ocean under the moon

Just like the ocean under the moon

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I really enjoy those Yacht Rock videos, but I very much disagree with their notion of smooth. I don’t think Christopher Cross, Kenny Loggins, or Steely Dan sound smooth at all. The singing is just too thin and nasal for true smoothness. I don’t mean that as a racial dog whistle, I think that Hall & Oates and Michael McDonald can be pretty smooth at times.

So, what in your mind, are the smoothest songs of all time? I’d like to expand the definition to include stuff beyond the obvious 70s and early 80s choices, though now that I like at my list most of the songs are 70s or early 80s.

On twitter, many people felt that Girl From Ipanema is the smoothest song of all time, and I certainly agree that Stan Getz performs the smoothest sax solo of all time in that song. I’m going to leave smooth songs in the jazz genre out of my list though because I don’t think the best jazz sounds all that smooth, in general.

Here are my smoothest songs of all time (in order):
1. Too Hot — Kool and the Gang
2. Breezin’ — George Benson
3. I Can’t Help It — Michael Jackson
4. Do For Love — Bobby Caldwell
5. Smooth Operator — Sade
6. Footsteps in the Dark — Isley Brothers
7. You Belong To Me — Carly Simon with Michael McDonald
8. I Can’t Go For That — Hall & Oates
9. Regulate — Warren G.
10. Tie: Low Down — Boz Scaggs and Way of the World — EWF

What are yours?

Update: I couldn’t decide which Lou Rawls to go with. You’ll Never Find is the one that got the most radio play but I think that Lady Love and Groovy People are actually smoother.

Reader Interactions

194Comments

  11. 11.

    MP

    It gets a little edgy once he cranks it up, but you might be able to squeeze Sunny by Bobby Hebb in the category, too.

  15. 15.

    Major Major Major Major

    On twitter, many people felt that Girl From Ipanema is the smoothest song of all time, and I certainly agree that Stan Getz performs the smoothest sax solo of all time in that song.

    Not Desafinado?

  26. 26.

    oldster

    “Baby let’s cruise…” by Smokey Robinson.

    Plus every other damn ballad by Smokey Robinson, including the ones released by his imitator John Legend (e.g. “Slow Dance”).

    In other news–DougJ, you know your “Centrist Disruptor” parody account claimed another victim today?

  30. 30.

    Doug!

    @oldster:

    In other news–DougJ, you know your “Centrist Disruptor” parody account claimed another victim today?

    Yeah, that amazed me

  32. 32.

    ruemara

    I like “Smooth” by Rob Thomas so suck it. I guess nothing really strikes me as smooth. What do I know? I think “Closer” is a great romantic song.

  35. 35.

    guachi

    “Ride like the Wind” by Christopher Cross had Michael McDonald on backing vocals. It’s the first contemporary song I remember hearing on the radio (born in 1974) that I would call “smooth”.

    Smoothest Hall & Oates song would probably be “I Can’t go for That” and I think its smoothness is a reason in was a rare #1 R&B song by white artists. You’ve got it on your list, and I’m fairly certain there is nothing else Hall & Oates has that’s close.

    Does Enya count as smooth?

  37. 37.

    Kay

    My 14 year old plays the guitar a lot- he practices a lot- one would think he would get better – but it’s fun to watch him “find” all this music. He’s like “this is Johnny Cash” then he looks at you, all smug.

    Everyone knows these songs. He’s literally the last person to find out about them. I don’t have the heart to say it to him but someone will here shortly, I’m sure.

  40. 40.

    cmorenc

    I’m not into “smooth” music at all, most especially the excruciatingly awful “smooth jazz”, which amounts to jazz stripped of all its soul and musicality. Most especially Kenny G *UGH!*

  44. 44.

    guachi

    “Smooth Operator” is definitely smooth. It’s probably the best of the sophisti-pop bunch of songs from the ’80s. What else of that subgenre might fit?

    “Steppin’ Out” by Joe Jackson?
    “The Look of Love” by ABC?

  46. 46.

    low-tech cyclist

    Gerry Rafferty, “Baker Street” and “Right Down the Line.”

    George Harrison, “I’d Have You Anytime.”

  47. 47.

    Petorado

    Classic smooth – Nat King Cole, Johnny Mathis, Bobby Darin, Etta James
    Anything Sade ever did (In Another Time, for example)
    Earth, Wind, and Fire
    Lauren Hill does some smooth
    Maxi Priest does a smooth take on reggae
    Jessie Ware
    Alison Krauss is pretty smooth on the Bluegrass side
    There’s a lot of smooth in the Chill genre, like this Digby Jones song
    Van Morrison even has some smooth tunes like Moondance and Into the Mystic

  49. 49.

    piratedan

    Les Bicyclettes de Belsize – Englebert Humperdinck
    When Will I see you again – The Three Degrees

  50. 50.

    prostratedragon

    Grant Green, “Lazy Afternoon”. Along with the rest of that Street of Dreams album. And pretty much everything else Grant Green ever recorded.

    Not to mention the rest of the ACJobim songbook, basically. Marvin Gaye, What’s Going On and, depending on the occasion, I Want You. The Dr. Buzzard album.

    I once attended a yacht-like event where the background music was extended Dionne Warwick’s Bacharach collection. It seemed to work.

    And get me a seat on the “Cruisin'” bandwagon.

  55. 55.

    Sister Machine Gun of Quiet Harmony

    Anything by Bryan Ferry in the 80s. Most stuff by Pink Martini.

  56. 56.

    Matt McIrvin

    @guachi: Ever see SCTV’s parody video for “Ride Like The Wind”? It’s all about Michael McDonald (played by Rick Moranis, I think) racing to the studio to sing his one line.

  60. 60.

    oldster

    @No Drought No More:

    Groovin–good call!

    In a slightly different vein–I’m very partial to Chris Montez’ recording of Tony Hatch’s tune “Call Me”. Not only a smooth set of chord-changes by “The British Burt Bacharach,” but also a good example of a “Party in the Studio” production number–one like Marvin Gaye’s “Got to Give it Up,” or a couple of Beatles tunes, where there’s a lot of random noise in the background that makes it sound like a party is going on back there.

  64. 64.

    Sandia Blanca

    “Moody Richard” by Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks (or if you prefer, “I Scare Myself” by the same artists).

  66. 66.

    RobertB

    I’m not a particular fan of jazz or fusion, but Aja goes to the desert island with me. There’s not a bad track on that album.

  78. 78.

    Mnemosyne

    @ruemara:

    I think “Closer” is a great romantic song.

    If by “romantic” you mean “fucking,” the sure. ?

    Back in the early internet days, I heard someone complaining that the song was about rape, because apparently any song about sex that’s not sunshine and daisies must be about rape. Also, people are morons.

  91. 91.

    TomatoQueen

    almost anything by Miss Peggy Lee, “Why Don’t You Do Right,” “Fever”, and “Is That All There Is”, in particular.

  92. 92.

    GxB

    @Doug!: Aja? – Maybe in parts but the ending is a bit off the hook (in a good way). Now “The Fez” is more SD’s style of shlock smooth. I made a reference to it a few weeks back but nobody got it :(

  106. 106.

    Butthurt Jordan Trombone (fka XTPD)

    “Careful Whisper” – WHAM!
    “Rising to the Top” – Keni Burke
    Anything by Barry White
    “Playa Hater” – Notorious B.I.G.
    “Ice Cream” – Raekwon
    “Camay” – Ghostface Killah
    “Summer Song” – John Klemmer
    “Wildlife” – Tony Williams Lifetime
    “Last Hope’s Gone” – Paul Butterfield’s Blues Band
    “I Hear Voices” – The Dells
    “Stronjay” – O.C.

  109. 109.

    NobodySpecial

    Virtual Insanity, Jamiroquai. Most of his stuff is super and smooth, though.
    Sober, Childish Gambino. The music might be a bit rougher, but the vocals are so damn smooth.
    Of course, Smooth Operator is still number one in my heart.

  110. 110.

    GxB

    @MJS: Ah! There’s a good one. I started taking it apart and found the underlying chords were actually quite sophisticated. It has me longing for the old days when musicians played instruments and understood theory. Another offering: Mazzy Star – Fade into You. Just gorgeous.

  112. 112.

    ThresherK

    @JGabriel: I’m celebrating the 30th anniversary of Skylarking, amidst all the media pieces fixated.on music in 1967.

    —

    Some of the three-part singing by Birtles, Shorrock, and Goble in LRB hits the smooth spot for me.

  115. 115.

    Suzanne

    Smooth songs? It’s cheesy to the extreme, but I occasionally get “Cool Night” by Paul Davis stuck in my head, and that is definitely very smooth. Also Sade’s “No Ordinary Love”.

  118. 118.

    Mnemosyne

    @GxB:

    Heh. That reminds me of an interview I heard with Nile Rodgers where he was talking about listening to cover bands doing songs by Chic and thinking, “Really? That’s what you hear when you listen to our songs?”

    I have his autobiography but I haven’t read it yet. His story of tricking Diana Ross into singing “I’m Coming Out” even though she was anti-gay was hilarious.

  119. 119.

    Mike in DC

    Kokomo, Beach Boys.

    Unless surf-derived music does not qualify as yacht rock. Pretty sure they owned yachts by then.

  121. 121.

    Suzanne

    “Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak. “Breathe Again” by Toni Braxton. “Bleedin’ Love” by Leona Lewis. “Just Another Day” by Jon Secada.

  123. 123.

    canuckistani

    My choice is Cole Porter’s Easy to Love, as performed by the great Ella Fitzgerald. It’s like audio silk.

  124. 124.

    DesertFriar

    My Girl – The Temptations
    Come Tomorrow – Manfred Mann
    Walk Away Renee – 4 Tops
    Boston & St. John – Great Big Sea

  125. 125.

    prostratedragon

    Heard “Bumpin’ on Sunset” this week, had forgot how good it was. One of the first jazz pieces that really clicked for me. From around the same time:
    Gene Ammons, “Jungle Soul”, and the whole album if you can find it. I like to sing along.

    One that was actually used in a yacht scene in Blake Edwards’s’ Mr. Lucky tv show:
    Henry Mancini, “Lujon”

  131. 131.

    The Moar You Know

    Heh. That reminds me of an interview I heard with Nile Rodgers where he was talking about listening to cover bands doing songs by Chic and thinking, “Really? That’s what you hear when you listen to our songs?”

    @Mnemosyne: I don’t say this lightly. I play music. Nile Rodgers is one of those very few guys who’s from another planet, musically. Such a great songwriter and musician (how dare he be good at both!). One of the all time greats and very few people even know who he is.

  133. 133.

    Nicole

    Any playlist that includes both Sade and Hall & Oates is a fine playlist. I love both “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)” and “One on One,” but I would also argue for their first big hit, “She’s Gone.”

    We went to see Hall & Oates in June. Soooooo gooooooood.

  135. 135.

    Uncle Ebeneezer

    Speaking of Smooth…Meet Gregory Porter. Saw him at Playboy Jazz Festival and he absolutely brought the house down. His stuff also gets funky and traditional jazzy, but it’s always smooth. May favorite is at 49 mins, but the whole concert is great.

  137. 137.

    Burnspbesq

    The lyrics of the smoothest song of all time consist of one word, repeared three times.

    “Mercy, mercy, mercy.”

    Ladies and gentlemen, Julian “Cannonball” Adderley.

  141. 141.

    Mai.naem.mobile

    Take My Breath Away from Top Gun. I can’t stand the song because it was so overplayed but it’s a smooth song.

  142. 142.

    Burnspbesq

    @Miki:

    Pretty much anything by Michael Franks

    Diana Krall’s cover of “Popsicle Toes” is smooth as glass and sexy as hell.

  148. 148.

    Chet

    So much good stuff in this thread. I’m upset that I’m on a bus and can’t listen along.

    Many of my favorite smooth artists have been added, though not always with their smoothest tracks. For instance, I think Sade’s best is “Sweetest Taboo'” Kool & the Gang are my pick for smoothest instrumental with “Summer Madness.”

    I didn’t notice if anyone nominated “I’ll be around” by the Spinners. That’s gotta be on the board.

  154. 154.

    Rachel in Portland

    Billy Paul, “Me and Mrs. Jones.” Frank Ocean, “Thinkin’ Bout You.” Usher, “U got it bad.” I could do this all day.

  156. 156.

    Steeplejack

    @Kay:

    LOL. I hope you are keeping these notes and present them to him in a little volume when he’s all grown up.

  160. 160.

    J R in WV

    OK, I read maybe a dozen comments and I just gotta say whut?

    No Norah Jones? No Sarah McClothlin? No Emmy Lou Harris or Linda Ronstadt? Or even Trio, cause they’re all smooth? No … I’m so bad on names… I hear that’s a diagnosis now! Lucinda Williams?

    No Sammy Davis Jr.??? That guy could sing like any singer you want to list, and sound better than they did.

    Anyway, there’s some smooth singers. I prefer instrumental music, mostly. But some of the blues singers could do it like pouring molasses.

  169. 169.

    crshark

    The Isley Brothers – It’s Your Thing
    Bill Withers & Grover Washington, Jr. – Two of Us
    Dave Brubeck – Take Five

  170. 170.

    sheila in nc

    @guachi:
    Joe Jackson’s “Steppin Out” is one of my all time favorite songs. I smile every time it comes on the radio. I wouldn’t put it in the really smooth category — the beat underneath has too much drive — but it just sails me away on a sea of possibilities. “And in a yellow taxi turns to me, and smiles, ‘We’ll be there in just a while'”…

  171. 171.

    smintheus

    One of the smoothest songs of all time, an unforgettable record, is Peggy Lee’s Where or When. It’s like she’s almost not singing at all, just inhabiting your mind.

    Another easily overlooked smooth song is Luis Bonfa’s Samba de Orfeu from Black Orpheus.

    A smooth number from Lou Rawls that isn’t well known is his recording of It’s an uphill climb to the bottom

  172. 172.

    smintheus

    @TomatoQueen: Do you know Lee’s recording of “Sweet Happy Life”? English lyrics set to “Samba de Orfeu”, very smooth recording.

  177. 177.

    Greg

    Mondo Bongo: Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros
    Killing Me Softly with HIs Song: Fugees
    Honey Whiskey: Nothing But Thieves

  179. 179.

    beth

    @smintheus: Certainly agree on the Peggy Lee tune – it was my wedding song.

    O/T – There’s a post for you Doug – best wedding songs. I really wanted “Can’t Buy Me Love” but it was too fast for the groom.

  183. 183.

    Mnemosyne

    @beth:

    I still feel slightly regretful that I didn’t go along with my groom’s preference: “You Shook Me All Night Long.” Yes, the AC/DC song. It woulda been a crowd pleaser.

  185. 185.

    Mike G

    @guachi:

    Smoothest Hall & Oates song would probably be “I Can’t go for That”

    “Sara Smile” and “She’s Gone” are pretty smooth.
    Just about anything by Enya qualifies.
    Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music have several candidates. The entire Avalon album, especially the title track.

  187. 187.

    Lee Hartmann

    good grief. Christopher Cross, Kenny Loggins, and Steely Dan in the same sentence?

    please. one of these is definitely not like the other two, whatever you like. Steely Dan was always about the lyrics with non-major chords. Please.

  188. 188.

    Lee Hartmann

    DougJ, I realize you were talking about videos, but good grief.

    When I lived in the Boston area, many Saturday (or Sunday?) mornings, the DJ for WBUR, James Isaacs, who played a wide variety of things, but a lot of soft jazz, would play (without comment) “I got the news”. A tune that XCross and Loggins would never have written in a million years, with tasty piano work by Victor Feldman. And if anyone were listening closely, it would not have been on the radio waves.

    Again, different strokes for different folks, but my goodness. I thought better of you given your quotes of Spinal Tap, but perhaps I have misjudged your sense of snark and lack of taste.

  189. 189.

    Bonnie

    From the 70’s, the one song I remember being very smooth was “I’m Not in Love” by 10cc. I thought a little known Elton John song called, “The One” was smooth. Someone mentioned Dire Straits; and, I find their song “Skateaway” to be one of the smoothest they every recorded. However, I am the only person I know who is even familiar with the song. As a very old woman, I have always found Al Martino’s “Spanish Eyes” to be really smooth listening; and, any ballad sung by Elvis was so smooth, I still melt listening to them. I also think the 40’s was the decade of smooth with all those wonderful big bands and elegant singers. One more singer I thought was smooth was Dinah Washington. You haven’t lived until you hear “What a Diff’ence a Day Makes” by Dinah. And, her version of “Unforgettable” is equal to Nat King Cole’s version–yet Nat can certainly be called the “king” of smooth.

  192. 192.

    Jay Noble

    Late as usual but;

    Johnny Mathis – Gina, What Will My Mary Say? and O Holy Night.
    Boz Scaggs – Look What You’ve Done to Me
    Johnny Rivers – Swayin’ to the Music (Slow Dancin), Do You Wanna Dance?
    Aaron Neville w/Linda Ronstadt – Don’t Know Much

  194. 194.

    J R in WV

    And now, much too late, I remember another I meant to add: most things by Patsy Cline, another master with a career cut short by a tragic airplane crash. “Crazy” just for one…..

    Imagine if she had lived long enough to learn from the Fab Four

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