Today’s classic Yacht Rock song of the day is “Hot Rod Hearts” by Robbie Dupree. This one was released in June of 1980, prime Yacht Rock season, and got all the way to #15 on the Billboard Hot 100. It ranks a little lower on the Yachtski scale (from the old Yacht or Nyacht? website), coming in at an 83.5 rating. That makes it still Yachtski but not as much as anything featuring Christopher Cross or Michael McDonald.
“Hot Rod Hearts” is all about young lovers in the backseat of a hot vehicle, doing what young people do, “two hearts pound[ing] out a backbeat” and all that. The lyrics are a little salacious but perfect for high school kids back then:
Ten miles east of the highway
Hot sparks burnin’ the night away
Two lips touchin’ together
Cheek to cheek, sweatshirt to sweater…Schoolgirl brushes her hair back
Blue jeans can’t hide the bare facts
Bad boy knows where to find her
Runs the light, sneaks up behind her
I really like that “cheek to cheek, sweatshirt to sweater” line. Sounds like high school to me.
The song was written by a couple of older dudes, Bill LaBounty and Stephen Geyer, which makes the whole thing more than a little lecherous. Mr. LaBounty was also responsible for writing “This Night Won’t Last Forever,” a former classic song of the day by Michael Johnson; he later shifted his focus to writing for Steve Wariner and other country artists. Mr. Geyer is better known for writing themes and soundtracks for various TV shows, including “My Opinionation” for Blossom and one of my all-time TV theme favorites, “Believe It or Not” for The Greatest American Hero.
Despite the slightly lower Yachtski score, “Hot Rod Hearts” is very much ensconced in the Yacht Rock genre. It’s keyboard driven, complete with lots of shimmery synths in the background. Instead of the requisite Yacht Rock sax solo, it employs a smooth jazz-like guitar solo instead, which is okay. Some of the echoing background vocals try to emulate the Michael McDonald touch, but they’re not quite strained enough. Still good, though.
Robbie Dupree broke into the big time in 1980 with his debut hit, “Steal Away” (#6 on the Billboard Hot 100). “Hot Rod Hearts” followed shortly after, but then nothing much after that made an impact. Still and all, Mr. Dupree was nominated for the Best New Artist Grammy in 1981, losing to the king of all Yacht Rockers, Christopher Cross. He’s still performing today on the oldies and Yacht Rock circuits (yes, there’s a Yacht Rock circuit), aged 76.
