1979 AM Radio Gold Tearjerker Named One of Yacht Rock's Greatest Songs Ever
Long before yacht rock became a cultural phenomenon, this tearjerking 1979 AM radio ballad was already leaving listeners heartbroken with its smooth melodies, emotional lyrics, and unforgettable soft rock sound.
Robert John pushed through the disco-laden beats of the late 1970s with "Sad Eyes," a heartbreaking song that became an AM radio staple and one of yacht rock's most beloved soft rock tearjerkers. The song hit No. 1 in October 1979.
"Sad Eyes" is the kind of ballad that instantly transports listeners. John's falsetto vocals and the song's smooth melody created an emotional hit that captured the pain of letting someone go.
In a list of the Best Yacht Rock Songs of All Time, generated by the Substack Music Influence, the tune ranked at No. 11. It placed between Jefferson Starship's "Miracles" and Walter Egan's "Magnet and Steel."
Parade Daily🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬
"I look at the charts and see my name, but I still have trouble believing it's really me," John once told Rolling Stone. "I didn't think the song would be the first single from the album. It's a ballad and I thought the company was crazy to release it."
Rolling Stone reported that the moody tune took 20 weeks to hit the top spot on the charts. It eventually knocked The Knack's "My Sharona" out of the No. 1 position.
RELATED: 1981 Dreamy Yacht Rock Classic Became a Fan Favorite its Band Couldn't Stand
John was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Sad Eyes"the at the 22nd annual awards show in the category of Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male. Other nominees in the same category included winner, Billy Joel, as well as James Taylor, Kenny Rogers, and Rod Stewart.
"Sad Eyes" was John's first single on the Hot 100 since 1972, when he just missed the top spot with his huge hit remake of The Tokens' 1961 hit, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." However, the artist's career began almost 20 years prior.
RELATED: 1978 Nostalgic Yacht Rock Classic Written in 30 Minutes That John Lennon Couldn't Stop Listening To
According to Billboard, John first hit the charts at the age of 12 when he released the song "White Bucks and Saddle Shoes," which climbed as high as No. 74 in 1958. Additionally, he hit the charts with the 1968 song "If You Don't Want My Love," in 1970 with "When the Party Is Over," and in 1972 with "Hushabye."
After the success of "Sad Eyes," Robert John released "Hey There Lonely Girl" and "Sherry." His final album was Back on the Street in 1980 reported Rolling Stone.
Robert John died on February 24, 2025.
MORE: 1978 ‘Terminally Cool' Classic Named the Greatest Yacht Rock Song of All Time
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved
This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 7:00 AM.