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To paraphrase legendary rock critic ‘Hollywood’ Steve Huey, in the mid to late 70s a group of (mostly) Californian artists docked a remarkable fleet of hits. This fascinating oral history – the result of a resurgence in interest inspired by the cult YouTube series Yacht Rock – tells their story.

Of course, not everyone will be interested in the making of Rupert Holmes’ Escape or the Captain & Tenille’s marital woes. But an impressive raft of interviewees – Walter Becker, John Oates, Christopher Cross – and clever editing ensures that Prato skillfully charts yacht rock’s voyage through pop, prior to being spectacularly capsized by the punk tidal wave.

Paul Moody is a writer whose work has appeared in the Classic Rock, NME, Time Out, Uncut, Arena and the Guardian. He is the co-author of The Search for the Perfect Pub and The Rough Pub Guide.