Out of the Main

Tom Nixon and John Nixon
  • 4.5 (42)
  • MUSIC COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

“Out of the Main” is a podcast celebrating one of the most proficient and accomplished eras of musicianship and studio production, including yacht rock, west coast AOR, and related sophisticated music from the 1970s and 80s. “Out of the Main” was launched by two of the era's biggest fans—both musicians themselves—who, like a growing wave of aficionados all around the world, have been exploring the history, the enjoyment, and now the future potential of the West Coast sound, even as it continues to this day. Join the revelry. Partake in the nostalgia. Tune in to artist interviews. Discover

  1. 12/22/2025 · BONUS

    From the Archives: The Original Christmas Special (Rerun)

    Bonus content for those who may have missed our very first holiday special, "A Very Yachty Christmas." From the original show notes: Our favorite convention from the late 70s and early 80s: Everything had a Christmas Special! And every year, they would rerun the same holiday special specials and we never got tired of them. It was tradition! Our yacht rock podcast should be no different! John and Tom scour music-dom for the yachtiest yuletide merriment to bring your season glad “tide”-ings, including songs from the era and modern buried treasures from classic yacht rock artists. Who’s on your yachty list? Tell us tunes, albums and compilations we missed on our Facebook page! ⁠⁠facebook.com/yachtrockpodcast⁠⁠ Also, you thought Tom was kidding about the ⁠⁠Fat Albert Christmas Specia⁠⁠l and the ⁠⁠Star Wars Holiday Special⁠⁠? Think again! The Lightning Round (Christmas Edition): Is it Yacht, or Is It Not?Buried TreasuresOff the Map References and Related: Tom’s ⁠⁠“A Very Yachty Christmas” playlist⁠⁠ on SpotifyThe ⁠⁠Yacht Rock Christmas YouTube playlist⁠⁠ (210 videos and counting!)⁠⁠John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist⁠⁠⁠⁠Tom’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist⁠⁠Yacht or Nyacht? ⁠⁠The Official Yachtski Scale⁠⁠⁠⁠Playlist of songs featured on Out of the Main⁠⁠Intro/outro music: “⁠⁠Wonderful Christmastime” by The Overnighters⁠ Find and Follow: The Mainland: ⁠OutoftheMain.com⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/yachtrockpodcast⁠Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/outofthemain⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@outofthemain⁠Support the Podcast: patreon.com/OutoftheMain“Born at Sea. Raised on Radio.”

    34 min

  2. 12/16/2025

    S6.E26: The All New Christmas Special!

    The season finale to year six of Out of the Main features an all-new Christmas Special! We’ve done yacht rock Christmas, smooth Christmas, charity Christmas, CCM Christmas…what’s left? How about a trip down memory lane celebrating some of our favorite Christmas music — all genres — from the era we love? N.B.: Here’s Tom’s herein mentioned new “Totally 80s Christmas” playlist.And here’s that incredible live version of “Celebrate Me Home,” featuring Steve George and Marc Russo, among others. Listen and Subscribe: ⁠Find the podcast platform of your choice here⁠. Referenced and Related: ⁠⁠Playlist of songs featured on Out of the Main⁠⁠⁠John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist⁠⁠⁠⁠Tom’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist⁠⁠⁠⁠Intro/outro: Stock Music “We’re Here” composed by John H. Nixon (BMI) Find and Follow: The Mainland: ⁠OutoftheMain.com⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/yachtrockpodcast⁠Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/outofthemain⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@outofthemain⁠Support the Podcast: patreon.com/OutoftheMain “Born at Sea. Raised on Radio.”

    49 min

  3. 12/04/2025

    S6.E25: Perfect Album Side? - Duran Duran, Side 1

    Back with another “Perfect Album Sides” episode, John and Tom discuss and dissect Duran Duran’s debut record, but wait—this gets confusing. We’ll look at the 1983 American reissue of the band’s 1981 premiere, which has difference mixes, different tracks, different track names, and different, well…just about everything. As a matter of fact, the very reissue is a different reissue than the FIRST U.S reissue of the same album! All of that said, can it truly be a “perfect” album side? Let the debate begin! Listen and Subscribe: ⁠Find the podcast platform of your choice here⁠. Referenced and Related: ⁠⁠Playlist of songs featured on Out of the Main⁠⁠⁠John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist⁠⁠⁠⁠Tom’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist⁠⁠⁠⁠Intro/outro: Stock Music “We’re Here” composed by John H. Nixon (BMI)Find and Follow: The Mainland: ⁠OutoftheMain.com⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/yachtrockpodcast⁠Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/outofthemain⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@outofthemain⁠Support the Podcast: patreon.com/OutoftheMain “Born at Sea. Raised on Radio.”

    50 min

  4. 11/20/2025

    S6.E24: Strings Attached

    What role did strings play in pop rock music (and the like) in the 70s and 80s, and how did that differ from what came before and what was to come after? Like most things, strings took on a new art form and played a new role during the slice of recorded music history we celebrate around here. By listener suggestion, Tom and John walk through the nerdy details and share some of their favorite applications of strings in music from the heyday—yes…even in yacht rock! Listen and Subscribe: ⁠Find the podcast platform of your choice here⁠. Referenced and Related: ⁠⁠Playlist of songs featured on Out of the Main⁠⁠⁠John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist⁠⁠⁠⁠Tom’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist⁠⁠⁠⁠Intro/outro: Stock Music “We’re Here” composed by John H. Nixon (BMI)Find and Follow: The Mainland: ⁠OutoftheMain.com⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/yachtrockpodcast⁠Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/outofthemain⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@outofthemain⁠Support the Podcast: patreon.com/OutoftheMain “Born at Sea. Raised on Radio.”

    43 min

  5. 11/06/2025

    S6.E23: Deeper Dive: Paul Davis

    How much do you really know about the artist Paul Davis? Did you know, for example, that he once held the Guinness Record for most consecutive weeks in the top 40? Well, that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Join us this week for a deeper dive into Paul Davis, and see if you don’t just come away surprised by a “fun fact” or two! N.B.: Read the article in Mix Online about the making of Paul’s hit song “I Go Crazy. Listen and Subscribe: ⁠Find the podcast platform of your choice here⁠. Referenced and Related: ⁠⁠Playlist of songs featured on Out of the Main⁠⁠⁠John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist⁠⁠⁠⁠Tom’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist⁠⁠⁠⁠Intro/outro: Stock Music “We’re Here” composed by John H. Nixon (BMI)Find and Follow: The Mainland: ⁠OutoftheMain.com⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/yachtrockpodcast⁠Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/outofthemain⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@outofthemain⁠Support the Podcast: patreon.com/OutoftheMain “Born at Sea. Raised on Radio.”

    38 min

  6. 10/23/2025

    S6.E22: This Is How You Duet

    Did our favorite era of music also include the peak of the duet as well? When you think of all-time great duets, which songs come to mind?  John and Tom discuss what makes for a great duet, in their view, and explore why the 70s and 80s were perhaps the Golden Age of the Duet (as was the case with so many other things!).  👉 The guys count down each of their 10 favorite duets from the day. Which did we miss? Let us know on our Facebook page and post for this episode! Listen and Subscribe: ⁠Find the podcast platform of your choice here⁠. Referenced and Related: ⁠⁠Playlist of songs featured on Out of the Main⁠⁠⁠John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist⁠⁠⁠⁠Tom’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist⁠⁠⁠⁠Intro/outro: Stock Music “We’re Here” composed by John H. Nixon (BMI)Find and Follow: The Mainland: ⁠OutoftheMain.com⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/yachtrockpodcast⁠Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/outofthemain⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@outofthemain⁠Support the Podcast: patreon.com/OutoftheMain “Born at Sea. Raised on Radio.”

    42 min

  7. 10/09/2025

    S6.E21: Three-Album Runs

    The Rule of Three. Does it apply to albums from the golden era of rock and roll? Let’s explore!  Sure to generate some discussion and debate, help us identify the Rise, Peak, and Fall in three-album runs from the 70s and 80s! N.B.: Give us your thoughts (and a follow!) on our Facebook page when we post about this episode! Listen and Subscribe: ⁠Find the podcast platform of your choice here⁠. Referenced and Related: ⁠⁠Playlist of songs featured on Out of the Main⁠⁠⁠John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist⁠⁠⁠⁠Tom’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist⁠⁠⁠⁠Intro/outro: Stock Music “We’re Here” composed by John H. Nixon (BMI)Find and Follow: The Mainland: ⁠OutoftheMain.com⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/yachtrockpodcast⁠Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/outofthemain⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@outofthemain⁠Support the Podcast: patreon.com/OutoftheMain “Born at Sea. Raised on Radio.”

    42 min

  8. 09/25/2025

    S6.E20: Sleepwalking Again, with Ole Børud

    Ole Børud rejoins the podcast, this time to give Tom, John and listeners of Out of the Main a sneak peek at Ole’s new record, dropping September 26th. “Sleepwalking Again” drops everywhere, and you should drop everything to give it a spin, stream, download…and pick up the physical format! Tune in this week to hear the stories behind the record, including a collab with yacht rock legends you all know and love! N.B.: Here’s our first interview with Ole. Listen and Subscribe: ⁠Find the podcast platform of your choice here⁠. Referenced and Related: ⁠⁠Playlist of songs featured on Out of the Main⁠⁠⁠John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist⁠⁠⁠⁠Tom’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist⁠⁠⁠⁠Intro/outro: Stock Music “We’re Here” composed by John H. Nixon (BMI) Find and Follow: The Mainland: ⁠OutoftheMain.com⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/yachtrockpodcast⁠Twitter: ⁠https://twitter.com/outofthemain⁠YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@outofthemain⁠Support the Podcast: patreon.com/OutoftheMain “Born at Sea. Raised on Radio.”

    47 min
See All (245)

4.5
out of 5
42 Ratings

About

“Out of the Main” is a podcast celebrating one of the most proficient and accomplished eras of musicianship and studio production, including yacht rock, west coast AOR, and related sophisticated music from the 1970s and 80s. “Out of the Main” was launched by two of the era's biggest fans—both musicians themselves—who, like a growing wave of aficionados all around the world, have been exploring the history, the enjoyment, and now the future potential of the West Coast sound, even as it continues to this day. Join the revelry. Partake in the nostalgia. Tune in to artist interviews. Discover

Information

  • Creator
    Tom Nixon and John Nixon
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    245
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Tom Nixon and John Nixon
  • Show Website
    Out of the Main