But it’s pronounced Throat Wobbler Mangrove
(Radar Records 45, 1978)
I first became aware of the Yachts in junior high through a copy of Gene Sculatti’s The Catalog of Cool that I found on an RTD bus coming back from Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall sometime around 1982 or ‘83. Being a 13-year-old music obsessive with an emerging sense of what was or wasn’t cool, I read the music chapter of this book fairly rigorously, and mentally filed away their one-sentence description of the Yachts as “Cole Porter punk” as something that sounded potentially interesting. I didn’t ever actually hear the Yachts until years later when I ran across a copy of their second album Without Radar at Ralph’s Records in Lubbock, and I didn’t really become a fan until the early ’90s, when this single appeared on Rhino’s sterling DIY series of punk and new wave classics. This single, along with the equally excellent “Suffice To Say,” is the pinnacle of this short-lived new wave combo’s repertoire, which has always sounded to me like what XTC would have sounded like if Barry Andrews had been in charge.
–Stewart Mason
James said,
June 11, 2007 @ 8:45 am
“Suffice To Say” and “Yachting Type” are teriffic, but I love “Look Back In Love (Not In Anger.)” Amazingly, that one (which sounds like classic new wave) was actually a cover, originally recorded by an obscure late-60’s lounge act. God knows how the Yachts discovered it.
The first Yachts LP was briefly reissued on CD in Japan. I snagged a copy for a not-low price. If their records were ever reissued on CD anywhere else, I missed it.
As far as the Rhino DIY series go, the first volume of power-pop (with Nick Lowe on the cover) was a real eye-opener for me. It was like a mega-dose of pop goodness, one terrific song after another, and I only really knew UK punk (of the Clash/Buzzcocks variety) from that era, at the time. I’ve been obsessed with the Kursaal Flyers’ “Television Generation” ever since.
jon said,
June 11, 2007 @ 9:07 am
I think the vocal harmonies on that first Yachts album were a big influence on the Futureheads.
Anonymous said,
June 11, 2007 @ 9:48 am
Yes — that music chapter in the Catalog of Cool was excellent… A few memories: it said the Byrds’ music “buzzed with beauty and wonder.” It dug The Barracudas’ classic ‘Drop Out.’ It said psychedelia “follows punk, like the seasons.”
Dean said,
June 12, 2007 @ 7:40 am
The Tourists were my revelation on those Rhino DIY things. “Good To Be Back Home Again” is sooo poptacularly awesome.
And Little Hits is the finest music blog on earth and I’m glad you cats are back at it.
JubilationTCornpone said,
June 14, 2007 @ 10:22 am
It’s time for the Kursaal Flyers to get a little play!
PapayaSF said,
June 19, 2007 @ 11:00 pm
Their song “Love You Love You” is my fave.
mark fantino said,
June 23, 2007 @ 11:52 am
I wouldn’t like an internet without littlehits. Thank you for posting The Yachts, I only have their “Suffice To Say” from the Stiff Records Box set and have been keeping my eyes peeled for more of them. Should you ever feel the urge to upload more I’d be waiting with my finger on the right-click.
Keep up the great site!
leopoldo said,
July 21, 2007 @ 12:48 pm
Yachts were a great live band. I must have seen them 25 times. They used to finish with an absurd over-the-top version of 24 Hours From Tulsa. They even sung it in French at one gig I saw.
Unfortunately the production on the first album was really poor - a very muddy sound that drowned Henry Priestman’s organ.
Cindy said,
May 24, 2008 @ 5:21 pm
I Love The Yatchts. I am looking for a reissue on CD. If anybody knows of it, please contact me. Maybe a site where i can download some of their music.
javier said,
May 10, 2009 @ 2:18 am
this song is marvellous!
and like the other readers, ‘television generation’ was my revelation on those Rhino DIY serie.
take care!