[41], Rafferty released two further albums in the 1990s in what musician Tom Robinson later described as "a major return to form". Words and phrases he used years ago crop up in similar contexts on City to City. But Gerry Rafferty is wearing a button warning, Dangerous Times Ahead, and hes known bad times in the past as well. After listening to the two songs side-by-side, I have to say they are close enough that it seems almost certain that the British saxophone player [Ravenscoft] must have heard Steves record. He added that since Half a Heart came out 10 years before Baker Street, someone must have heard the record. If I have to listen to the album, Ill give you 50 thousand. [citation needed], Subsequent albums, such as Snakes and Ladders (1980), Sleepwalking (1982), and North and South (1988), fared less well, perhaps due partly to Rafferty's longstanding reluctance to perform live, with which he felt uncomfortable. Scott is the Content Director of Music at Future plc, responsible for the editorial strategy of online and print brands like Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer, Prog, Guitarist, Guitar World, Guitar Player, Total Guitar etc. [63], On 17 February 2009, The Guardian reported that Rafferty was in hiding in the south of England, being cared for by a friend. First, he [Rafferty] wrote from his experience. You never know a new generation of young musicians coming up [might bring back the sax]. The follow-up single "Get It Right Next Time" made the UK and US Top 40. 2 on the American Billboard charts behind Andy Gibbs Shadow Dancing.). In 1995, Rafferty was deeply affected by the death of his older brother Joseph, an event from which family and friends have said he never fully recovered. Listening to it now as I write this. Though it would seem to have struck America like a bolt from the blue, City to City does not depart dramatically from the music Rafferty has recorded over the past decade. Gerald Rafferty (16 April 1947 - 4 January 2011) was a Scottish singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. ever-expanding collection of primary-source full-text articles from the music and mainstream press from the 1950s to the present day, along with a collection of
The musicians present included Craig and Charlie Reid of The Proclaimers, former bandmates Joe Egan and Rab Noakes, Barbara Dickson, and Graham Lyle. In fact, most of what I played was an old blues riff. But extricating himself from his management deal took Rafferty three more years, during which he commuted unhappily to London from the town outside Glasgow where he and his family still reside. Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty has died at the age of 63 after suffering a long illness. Burns also nodded to the songs unusual structure, which he compared in its unorthodox nature, to Queens Bohemian Rhapsody., Its not just opening, verse, chorus, he said. Because one: youre boss-eyed and you dont want to let the fans see that, and two you really are not a people person, with all your opinions. Sign up below to get the latest from Classic Rock, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! Politicians in attendance were the First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond MSP, Wendy Alexander MSP, Hugh Henry MSP, and Robin Harper MSP. (Singer/songwriters were crawling out of every apartment at that time.) But two of the initial recruits deserted before they even recorded, and as musicians came and went, Stealers Wheel deteriorated into Rafferty and Egan backed by a cast of dozens. "[38] His next album, North and South, was released in 1988. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. So, it seems clear enough. Many listeners come to Baker Street (and stay) for its hypnotic saxophone line. It's not for me there are too many inherent contradictions. Louder is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 16 April 2022 When Baker Street songwriter Gerry Rafferty died of liver failure, on 4 January 2011, at the age of 63, the whole of Scotland mourned the passing of one of the nation's greatest musicians. He was one of the most talented musicians and singers I ever knew but he completely underestimated his own talent. Joel Whitburn, "The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (6th Edition)", p. 493. I just now went to the Internet and, sure enough, found out the history of Rafferty and Baker Street, and viewed a YouTube performance of it. He recalled, "My father was Irish, so growing up in Paisley I was hearing all these songs when I was two or three. "Thats how they regulated the charts. For full terms, please click here. It has been through some of my darkest moments that I have written some of my best songs. "[5] When a remastered version of City to City was released in 2011, it included the original, electric guitar version of the song, confirming Rafferty's authorship of the riff. In fact, I just spoke to a good friend of mine about doing a film in Scotland, a project weve been wanting to do for years. Jon Brewer is a director and producer. Gerry had had a tough upbringing in Glasgow and the manager sensed that he carried "tremendous resentment" about it. Gerry Rafferty Remembered is at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall as part of Celtic Connections on 22 and 23 . "Gerry Rafferty: Right Down the Line". Christopher Neil replaced Hugh Murphy, Rafferty's usual producer, introducing synthesisers and drum machines that give the album a harder, less acoustic sound, and apparently eschewing the richly detailed arrangements notable on Rafferty's three previous records. I never heard before until I just now listened, but I am sure if I had actually written the song back in the day I would have retained my copyright as I always did and would have been aware of it. "[53] Billy Connolly agrees that Rafferty had different priorities: "I wanted success and fame and I got it, to a degree. Some of these old ladies used to pass out. His next door neighbour was [Island Records owner] Chris Blackwell. And Gerry would barge into their umbrella, shout Oh my god!, and as he hit the ground hed take his glass eye out and let it roll on the pavement. The problems we had, had little to do, actually, with the results we got on the board, because they were great in terms of sound and all that. . But the song did benefit Ravenscofts career, and he went on to work with Pink Floyd, Marvin Gaye, and Daft Punk. [5][6] Heavily influenced by folk music and the music of the Beatles and Bob Dylan, Rafferty started to write his own material. Just graduated high school and was getting ready to head off to college. [17] After the disputes were resolved in 1978, he recorded his second solo album, City to City, with producer Hugh Murphy, which included the song with which he remains most identified, "Baker Street". And for good reason. The career of Gerry Rafferty from folk-roots to multi-million selling success and alcohol-fuelled demise was one of amazing highs and lows. [70][71], A requiem mass was held for Rafferty at St Mirin's Cathedral in his native town of Paisley on 21 January 2011. [7][34], Another World marked a new departure for the singer. It wasnt illegal. According to his account, Baker Street had several gaps in it when he was hired to play, and he filled them. And yet when it comes to writing tasteful pop songs songs that you remember long after they've dropped out of the Top Twenty or whatever he's just about the best and consequently the most underrated in Britain. [3] Rafferty learned both Irish and Scottish folk songs as a boy. [34], Rafferty sang the Mark Knopfler-penned song "The Way It Always Starts" (1983) on the soundtrack of the film Local Hero. Rafferty had apparently not changed his will after meeting Enzina Fuschini in 2008 and left her nothing. And theres still another wrinkle on the other side of the pond. The duo disbanded in 1975. Gerry became someone else, and it was alcohol that took him over. I dont have a manager now, nor do I want one.. CIA Director, Noam Chomsky Named in Epstein's Private Calendar: Report He also referenced the demo, explaining that it was Rafferty himself playing the line on guitar. I thought the contract had finished but it turned out it hadnt. 17 in the US. And managers cant fucking tell you whats best for you in terms of when you should do gigs, rates and so on. "[23][24], Ravenscroft, a session musician, was in the studio to record a brief soprano saxophone part and suggested that he record the now famous break using the alto saxophone he had in his car. Gordon Laurie, director of the housing association behind the project, commented: "It is a fitting tribute to a brilliant musician who lives on through his music. Brewer's offices were just across the road. Gerry had had a tough upbringing in Glasgow and the manager sensed that he carried tremendous resentment about it. Burns isnt ruling out its return. Months later, says Brewer, I get this call from Artie Mogull to say, Congratulations you have a number one album in America! I went, Are you out of your mind? He said, No, its at number one.. Singer, who would pass away in 2011, is sitting on top of the world as he gives this interview in New York City's Plaza Hotel, Gerry Raffertys Baker Street Blues: Rolling Stones 1978 Feature, You Are Grimes Now: Inside Music's Weird AI Future, Pharrells Something in the Water Fest Cancels Final Day Due to Severe Weather, Stagecoach: Kane Brown Breaks Mental Health Stigma With 'Memory,' Talks Depression, Kiss Paul Stanley Has 'Thoughts' About Parents Who Support Kids Gender Identities, Kanye West Fallout Sparks Class Action Lawsuit Against Adidas, Roy Wood Jr. ", Rafferty's next album, Night Owl, also did well. GERRY RAFFERTY rarely comes up in interviews, seldom works on the road and is in London even less often. Its important to say that in the case of that particular instrumental opening to Baker Street, it was entirely Gerrys line, said Burns. A 1970 appearance at the Royal Festival Hall, supporting Fotheringay with Nick Drake, earned a positive review from critic Karl Dallas, who noted that all three acts showed "promise rather than fulfilment", and observed that "Gerry Rafferty's songs have the sweet tenderness of Paul McCartney in his 'Yesterday' mood". The Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty, who has died aged 63 after a long illness, wrote the multimillion-selling hit Baker Street, which more than 30 years after . "He said to me, I cant stand the way you live, because you drive a Rolls Royce and you have this house and this and that He hated the music business and everything in it.. Maybe some new project would suddenly happen, but I knew he'd crossed the line as far as the record business went. Contributing artists included his friend Rab Noakes, The Proclaimers, Barbara Dickson, Ron Sexsmith, Jack Bruce, Paul Brady, Emma Pollock, James Vincent McMorrow and Betsy Cook. "[7] Monsignor John Tormey, celebrating Rafferty's funeral mass, suggested the singer's attitude to fame was an indication of his spiritual integrity: "He always searched for a more authentic way to live his life, shunning the outward trappings of celebrity so that he might live as he chose to live his life."[52]. I never intended making a career out of any of the jobs I did. By registering for free articles you will receive our weekly newsletter, you can change this preference at any time by clicking Unsubscribe in the newsletter. The sax solo did sound vaguely familiar, so perhaps I have heard this in the past on the radio somewhere along the way. "[49] Only a handful of tracks were ever released, however, and the website eventually closed down without any explanation. Stealers Wheels management company Ricochet had disappeared with the bands money and times were tough. Jerry Gilbert,
He was the third son of Irish miner and lorry driver Joseph Rafferty and Rafferty's Scottish wife Mary Skeffington. GERRY RAFFERTY rarely comes up in interviews, seldom works on the road and is in London even less often. They had Electric Light Orchestra, Kenny Rodgers, and the third artist was to become Gerry Rafferty. Joseph Rafferty died when Gerry was just sixteen, but if he bequeathed anything to his last-born son it was an affinity for songs in the Irish and Scottish folk tradition. The "80,000" figure has been widely repeated in newspaper articles ever since. The man behind the saxophone was Raphael Ravenscroft, who in addition to having the best-ever name for a session saxophonist, claims to have authored the riff. Rafferty has been a one-hit wonder before, five years ago, when Stealers Wheel topped the charts with Stuck in the Middle with You. Stealers Wheel was led by Rafferty and Joe Egan, friends since both were sixteen-year-olds playing in bands in their hometown of Paisley, a bleak industrial city near Glasgow. The disputed history behind Gerry Raffertys 1978 hit. [5] Reviews of the album were mixed. Succession Recap: Logan Roy Makes Shock Return, Shiv and Tom Get Kinky. [80], This article is about the singer. [60] According to Rafferty's ex-wife Carla: "There was no hope. "[7] On weekends he and a classmate, future Stealers Wheel collaborator Joe Egan, played in a local group named the Maverix, mainly covering chart songs by groups such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. [citation needed], During November 2009, Rafferty released what would be his final album, Life Goes On. Or why not treat yourself? [29] One of the lesser-known songs from that time is "Big Change in the Weather" (the B-side of "Baker Street"). 1 in America, and suddenly he found that as a result of his protest, he was a bigger star than ever. Stealers Wheel was a flop. The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time There was change too in the songs. Byrne was also responsible for one of Rafferty's most prized possessions: a hand-painted Martin acoustic guitar bearing his portrait and the name 'Gerry Rafferty', which features in many photographs of the singer. And yet when it comes to writing tasteful pop songs - songs that you remember long after they've dropped out of the Top Twenty or whatever - he's just about the best and consequently the most underrated in Britain. The music itselfthe orchestration, so to speak compliments the lyric in a perfect way. In the summer of 1978, Gerry Rafferty's song Baker Street became a top-five hit in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. Later I get a call from Martin Wyatt: I wouldnt sign that man if you gave me the record and I know its a number 1 album! I said, Why? He says, Hes the most unbelievably obnoxious person Ive ever met in my life., "What did he say to you? He said that he was never going to support the album, he was never going to play in a band, and he was never going to go on the road. He wandered over with Gerry and left them to talk. It included three tracks co-written with Rafferty's brother Jim, also a singer-songwriter, who had been signed to Decca Records in the 1970s. What did you do before Baker Street? theyll ask, and as he answers politely, concealing both his boredom and bemusement, through his head may well run the lines, Fools to the left of me, jokers to the right/Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.. Isnt he afraid that once again hell be a one-hit wonder? [28], "Right Down the Line" was the second single from City to City. Boys, girls, large packets of drugs that was payola.. Hugh Burns hadnt heard Half a Heart, but he was dismissive of the idea that it had been lifted from something else, at least intentionally. The Internet is a conspiracy-theory clearing house, and yet the connection between Baker Street and the opening riff of Half a Heart lives in semi-ubiquity. Burns told me that theres no question that Rafferty came up with the music that became the famous riff line on Baker Street. After Burns laid down the solo, Rafferty asked him to have a go at what obviously became very famous, which was the sax line. Burns tried it on guitar, but the two men agreed that it would be better on the saxophone. He said, Ill play you something. The issue is available now in the online archive. Shortly after news of the singer's death, Lily Allen tweeted the message "Rest in Peace Gerry x" with a video link to the song "Right Down the Line", reputedly one of her favourite music tracks. In the liner notes to the album, Rafferty's long-time friend and collaborator Rab Noakes commented: "Let's hope [the Baker Street demo] will, at last, silence all who keep on asserting that the saxophone player came up with the melody line. Theres enough evidence to be suspicious and more than enough time to enjoy them both. [34] According to Michael Gray, Rafferty's personal manager at the height of his success, he turned down many opportunities to work with other artists:[38] " he retained a healthy scepticism not just about the music industry but about society, money and politics in general. You can take the boy out of Paisley but you can't take Paisley out the boy! It was a pretty scary kind of feeling. And a whole suite of Irish traditional songs and Scots traditional songs". To Raffertys utter disbelief, his parody of Bob Dylans paranoia, tossed off as little more than a joke, struck pay dirt in the States by which time he had already said goodbye to the band. I regard it as a great good fortune that I was able to meet and contribute something to Gerrys music, he told me over the phone from England. [62] While the news stories focused on Rafferty's binges, they revealed nothing of the impact on his family and friends. So surprised and impressed was he when he first heard Gerry's music, Billy didn't believe that the songs had been written by him . Instead he quickly re-recorded it with Joe Boyd and released that version. In 2000, he told the Paisley Daily Express that the second Stealers Wheel album, released in 1974, had been named Ferguslie Park, after a deprived[56] area of Paisley, "to get as far away as possible from all the bullshit of the music industry in London. "[55] As the 1980s progressed, Rafferty's growing drinking problem placed his marriage under impossible strain;[38] his wife divorced him in 1990,[61] although they remained close. [17], Legal issues after the break-up of Stealers Wheel meant that, for three years, Rafferty was unable to release any material. After being taken off life support, Rafferty rallied for a short time, and doctors thought that he might recover. Rafferty and Fuschini rented a large home together in Upton, near Poole. Quite frankly, I loved his songs. [citation needed], Other artists continue to be inspired by Rafferty's work. A gospel -influenced love song inspired by the weary resignation of a relationship that has run its course, this moving masterpiece has all the style . We didnt share a sense of humor or much of anything., Before long, Rafferty and Egan decided it was time to stop the whole fucking farce, which they did after completing a lackluster third album, Right or Wrong, with another producer. His frustration during this period underlies Baker Street, which takes its name from the London street where he often stayed in a friends flat. It remained at the top of the adult contemporary chart for four non-consecutive weeks. If you listen to Stealers Wheel self-titled album, there was a lot to like besides Stuck in the Middle With You. It is Rock's Backpages policy never, under any circumstances, to sell on or otherwise provide any of the information contained in the above form to third parties. And the interesting thing is that that sax solo, the line itself, was also given by the singer [George Michael]. Brewer took the album to the US where he got a meeting with Artie Mogull, who had then just bought United Artists with partner Jerry Rubinstein. [30], The lyrics of "Baker Street" reflected Rafferty's disenchantment with certain elements of the music industry. And thats when the fun started, says Brewer. Gerry Rafferty. But they were old-school producers. [73], Newspapers printed lengthy obituaries for the singer; in The Guardian, Michael Gray charted Rafferty's long downward spiral into alcoholism,[38] while a full-page obituary in The Times summarised his career more positively: "As well as being a singer of considerable talent who at one time had the pop world at his feet, Gerry Rafferty was also a consummate songwriter, blessed with sensitivity and an enviable melodic flair that at its best recalled Paul McCartney. Soundtrack: 50/50. And I went, Ill fund the album. That means youre there dead on two oclock, you have a coffee break at exactly five oclock, and then you finish at eight oclock on the dot and you dont go over regardless of what youre doing. [27] But it earned him another 1.5million, selling around three million copies in Europe and America. After the completion of Another World in 2000, Rafferty planned to move back to Scotland and bought Eaglestone House,[57] "a substantial listed 1860s mansion" in the Highland village of Strathpeffer,[58] although he sold the property two years later and never actually moved in. The 50 Worst Decisions in Music History A subscription gives you access to all the articles and audio interviews in the library. [65] Subsequently, Rafferty's spokesperson Paul Charles told The Independent that he had been in touch with Rafferty a fortnight previously and that he was alive and well but had no plans to either record or tour. I probably did more music with him than any other musician. He was also friends with Ravenscroft and toured with him. Rafferty's guitarist Hugh Burns, multi-instrumentalist Graham Preskett and saxophonist Mel Collins, were also featured. Eventually, says Brewer, Ravenscroft lost his temper. Rafferty says working with the legendary authors of Hound Dog and producers of (among others) the Coasters was trying. Gerry was one of those guys that had been turned down by every record company. "They came back with a bigger offer," says Brewer, "and I said, I'll tell you what we'll do. The remaining tracks are remastered tracks from his previous three albums. Another World, almost an esoteric work, also with the assistance of Mark Knopfler and Egan, featured an album cover illustrated by John 'Patrick' Byrne, who also illustrated the covers for Can I Have My Money Back?, City to City, Night Owl, and Snakes and Ladders, and all three Stealers Wheel albums. The Times, Wednesday 5 January 2011. They got married and ran off together. GERRY RAFFERTY Filmed Interview & tribute (2003) in HD Dave Lennon 1.35K subscribers 124K views 12 years ago From the STV programme ARTERY filmed in 2003 & with cotributions from Billy. It was the days of payola and the days of sheds being filled with records and all sorts of things, says Brewer. She wont have much time to correct her ignorance, however, because Rafferty is rushing off to L.A. and another round of press interviews. For institutions, Rock's Backpages is provided as an unlimited access subscription, meaning that all staff, students and library patrons have
Gerry liked to triple track everything, wed get three pianos, it became a bit of a Phil Spector issue. [citation needed]. Given the songs ubiquity and influence, its understandable that Ravenscroft might later fib about his role. "[20], "Baker Street" featured a distinctive saxophone riff played by Raphael Ravenscroft, although the origins of the solo have been disputed. then no, he didn't. If you feel uncomfortable with it you shouldn't do it. He was a founding member of Stealers Wheel, whose biggest hit was "Stuck in the Middle with You" in 1973. Its almost identical, only a little bit different and that wouldnt happen by chance seeing as it was so close.. [citation needed], Rafferty drew a clear distinction between the artistic integrity of a musician, on the one hand, and the music industry's need to create celebrities and sell products, on the other.