AOR classic. A timeless, highly recommended hit.
Adult-oriented rock (AOR) began as an expression of youthful, primal impulse in rock music, and as it grew through encounters with various genres, it evolved into a mellow, urbane, and sophisticated sound.
AOR gently embraces the joys, sorrows, and loneliness you encounter in everyday life—it’s truly a soundtrack for grown-ups.
Here, we’ve selected some classic tracks in that vein.
As you listen, let the rich sound and lyrics resonate with your own feelings.
Surely, even a heart that’s felt a bit parched will be filled with new moisture.
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AOR classics: Timeless, highly recommended popular tracks (11–20)
I.G.Y.Donald Fagen
“I.G.Y.” is a song by Donald Fagen, an American songwriter and core member of Steely Dan.
It appears as the opening track on his solo album The Nightfly.
The song charted on the Billboard Hot 100.
Just the Way You AreBilly Joel
This is one of Billy Joel’s signature songs, gently embracing a mature, compassionate kind of love.
Its deep message—loving someone just as they are—reaches the heart through his warm vocals and mellow sound.
Included on the 1977 album The Stranger, this track became Joel’s first U.S.
Top 10 hit, won gold certification, and has been cherished around the world.
It’s the perfect song for moments when you want to renew your feelings for someone special—whether a partner or family.
Why not let the comforting melody wash over you and think of the person who means the most to you?
Baby, Come BackPlayer
A classic that instantly brings to mind the U.S.
West Coast: blue skies, the ocean, the beach.
While it evokes a dry, breezy atmosphere, the lyrics portray a man calling out to the lover who left him, asking her to come back.
Released in 1978, it reached No.
1 on the U.S.
Billboard chart.
You Are My LadyFreddie Jackson
This is the R&B ballad that brought Freddie Jackson widespread recognition.
With its smooth, memorable vocals, it passionately conveys deep feelings for a loved one.
Exuding an adult contemporary vibe, the song was released in January 1985 and became a major hit as the second single from his debut album, Rock Me Tonight.
It spent two consecutive weeks at No.
1 on the R&B chart and rose to No.
12 on the pop chart.
Set against an urbane sound that evokes the atmosphere of New York, the track showcases the full allure of Freddie’s voice.
It’s perfect for savoring sweet moments with a partner or for reaffirming your feelings for someone special.
Through the FireChaka Khan
A moving slow ballad from the classic album “I Feel for You.” The soulful vocals proclaim a resolve to overcome anything for a loved one, stirring the listener’s heart.
Chaka Khan’s soaring, powerhouse delivery brings out the full allure of the song.
Released in 1984, it reached No.
15 on Billboard’s R&B chart.
Perfect as a soundtrack for a mature love drama, it was also used as the theme song for the film “My Amanda.” Recommended for healing the pain of heartbreak or reaffirming your feelings for someone special.
Chuo FreewayMatsutōya Yumi
Chuo Freeway is a track included on 14th Moon, the fourth original album by Yumi Arai (Yuming), one of Japan’s premier singer-songwriters.
It was Yuming’s last original album before marriage, features little acoustic piano, and boasts a lavish overall sound.
Starting with this work, Masataka Matsutoya took on the role of producer.
AOR classics: Timeless recommended popular numbers (21–30)
Silhouette of the WindBobby Caldwell
As an AOR artist, Bobby Caldwell is by far the most well-known in Japan.
This piece is his debut song and is also widely known as one of his signature works.
His smooth vocals have a charm that makes the Japanese title “Silhouette of the Wind” feel like a perfect fit.
Released in 1978.