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Though Boz Scaggs emerged in the music scene at the same time as other 70s stars, he was often overshadowed by artists like Pink Floyd, Fleetwood Mac, Queen, The Rolling Stones, and Elton John. But, Scaggs’ musical talent should not have been lost in the shuffle. The “Lido Shuffle,” that is. 

After leaving school in 1963, William “Boz” Scaggs joined several bands and recorded a few albums in the late 60s and early 70s hoping for a big break. Steve Miller, a high school friend of Scaggs, formed a band and asked Scaggs to join. Scaggs sang and played guitar on the band’s first two albums. 

After leaving the Steve Miller Band, he continued his solo career with a few more unsuccessful albums. His breakthrough came on his seventh album, 1976’s “Silk Degrees.” On this album, Scaggs fuses rhythm & blues, yacht rock, ballads, and pop into one unforgettable listening experience. 

The album is certified five times platinum, peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, and spent 115 weeks on the US charts. Strangely enough, this album was even more of a hit in Australia, hitting No. 1 on the Australian Albums chart. Even today, his top three cities of listeners on Spotify are Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

When it came time to record the album, Scaggs hand-picked the musicians whom he wanted to work with. All of the session musicians were talented, but three in particular stood out: David Paich, Jeff Porcaro, and David Hungate. The pianist, drummer, and bassist later became founding members of the band Toto. Working on Scaggs’ album, the men got acquainted and decided to start their own band, churning out hits like “Africa” and “Hold the Line”.

The songs on “Silk Degrees” each have a different vibe, and there are several that stand out.

The upbeat “Jump Street” was written by Scaggs a few minutes before the track was recorded in the studio, and this is evident. It is a bit messy but has a jam band feel that makes it different from many of the other songs from the era. It sounds like an improv piece from a garage band messing around, and it is memorable in that regard. 

Track 6, “Lowdown”, is a boppy tune that could be considered borderline disco, and the repeated chorus of “I wonder, wonder, wonder, wonder, who” is catchy. The drum beat makes it easy to dance to, and it is nice to have lyrics that are not just a sappy love song. 

Track 5, “Harbor Lights”, is a slow ballad that showcases Scaggs’ voice. The first minute of the song is soft, slow piano, but then morphs into a beautiful coastal tune. This song is the perfect ending to side one of the album. 

The love song and second track “Georgia” has pretty lyrics, and is a fast rock song that is easy to dance to. With rhythmic drums, a saxophone solo, and a very yacht-rock feel, one can imagine listening to this song on a SoCal beach in the late 70s. 

“Lido Shuffle” is another yacht rock classic. The lyrics detail a young man, Lido, who had gotten into gambling and legal trouble, but the song makes Lido a likable character despite his demeanor. The lyrics are accompanied by a bass-heavy track with rocking drums. 

The title of the album, “Silk Degrees,” was a last-minute decision; Scaggs wrote it down after the album was already finished. It has no real meaning and there is no title track bearing the name. The cover art for the album features Boz Scaggs sitting on a teal and white bench on a California beach, as well as the hand and high-heeled foot of a woman. 

Rating: 9/10

Main attractors: Each track on the album is unique and has its own charm. There are a lot of groovy moments in the songs and many songs became yacht rock classics. Tracks like “Lowdown” and “Lido Shuffle” are so different from “Harbor Lights” and “We’re All Alone” that there is truly a song for anybody. Boz Scaggs’ memorable name also contributed to the uniqueness of his career. 

Main detractors: The ballads are less appealing, with generic themes of love and heartbreak. Though still decent, they lack the ability to compete for power ballad status against the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” or Elton John’s “Rocket Man”. The flow from song to song feels a bit choppy due to the musical style differences of each song, but that’s not to say the songs are not excellent by themselves and each worth a listen.