“Lowdown” (Boz Skaggs)

Today’s classic Yacht Rock song of the day is “Lowdown,” the first really big hit for singer Boz Skaggs. This one was from his 1976 album, Silk Degrees, and it peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Cash Box Top 100.

The single started life as an album track. The first official single from Silk Degrees was the ballad “It’s Over,” which stalled at #38 on the charts. DJs liked the album, however, and started playing “Lowdown” instead of “It’s Over.” That inspired the record label, Columbia Records, to release “Lowdown” as a single, and it took off from there.

“Lowdown” was written by Boz and fellow musician David Paich, the keyboardist in Boz’s band. The musicians on the track—Paich, bassist David Hungate, and drummer Jeff Porcaro—would go on to form the nucleus of the band Toto, along with David’s brother Steve on keyboards, Steve Lukather on guitar, and Bobby Kimball on vocals. Toto, of course, would have a run of hits in the ’70s and ’80s, many of which qualify as Yacht Rock classics.

In the pantheon of Yacht Rock, “Lowdown” is one of the top tunes. According to the old Yacht or Nyacht? website (no longer active, unfortunately), “Lowdown” scores a solid 89 on the Yachtski scale. Not bad for a tune that doesn’t feature Christopher Cross, Michael McDonald, or Kenny Loggins.

“Lowdown” has an infectious groove, supplied by the young (22 years old at the time) Mr. Porcaro. It took me a long time to realize that he overdubbed a 16th-note hi-hat groove on top of his normal kit track; I could never figure out how he played all those notes at once—which, of course, he didn’t. It’s a great groove, though, and makes the song cook at a low simmer.

Boz Skaggs got his start playing guitar in the Steve Miller Band. He struck out on his in 1969 but didn’t have a hit until 1976, when Silk Degrees peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Since then he has had a remarkable career, with hits like “Lido Shuffle” (#11 in 1977), “Breakdown Dead Ahead” (#15 in 1980), “Jojo” (#17 in 1980), and “Look What You’ve Done to Me” (#14 in 1980). He’s still recording and touring today, aged 79.

Here’s something fun—Boz, some of his band (including drummer Jeff Porcaro; he’s the one on the left), and some of the SNL house band (including Blue Lou Marini on flute) performing “Lowdown” live on Saturday Night Live in 1976. (That’s my pal Elliott Randall with a blistering guitar solo, too!) It’s so cool it’s hot.