And he also seems to have overcome what he admits was a fondness for one drink too many (as we talked, he royed with a glass of water). It doesnt do that. The 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time. [24] No such missing persons report existed. He wouldnt sit in my Rolls, he wouldnt sit in my offices, we had to meet in these pubs and it all became very strange. "[52] Reid believed Rafferty was fundamentally unsuited to the pressures of celebrity: "He struck me as a very, very sensitive man and for someone like that, fame was probably not appropriate. And the interesting thing is that that sax solo, the line itself, was also given by the singer [George Michael]. [60], In the last decade of his life, having taken pains to shun the fame and celebrity that accompanied his musical achievements, Rafferty found himself making headlines once again as he struggled with alcoholism and depression and the increasingly erratic behaviour they spawned. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Gerry Rafferty: A Brilliant Tortured Soul 29,019 views Mar 11, 2018 The late great Gerry Rafferty succumbed to alcoholism back in 2011. [3] Rafferty learned both Irish and Scottish folk songs as a boy. For full terms, please click here. The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (The song spent six weeks stuck at No. [citation needed], In 1969, Rafferty became the third member of a folk-pop group, the Humblebums, along with comedian Billy Connolly and Tam Harvey. "[20], "Baker Street" featured a distinctive saxophone riff played by Raphael Ravenscroft, although the origins of the solo have been disputed. [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. We will keep you informed of developments as they happen. In 1978, he recorded his second solo album, City to City, which included "Baker Street", his most popular song. 1 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts in the US. Politicians in attendance were the First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond MSP, Wendy Alexander MSP, Hugh Henry MSP, and Robin Harper MSP. It's much more effective than taking Prozac!" The Celtic thing is the drone, you know -its fifths, the same as in country music, a lot of which comes from Scotland and Ireland, anyway. And theyd pay the radio stations to play the record. He didn't know how good he was. 28 in the US Top 40 in early 1979. CIA Director, Noam Chomsky Named in Epstein's Private Calendar: Report Scottish singer/songwriter Gerry Rafferty, best known for his solo hit "Baker Street" and "Stuck In The . Please visit our Institutional Subscriptions page for further information and to arrange for a trial or quote. And theres still another wrinkle on the other side of the pond. It was a pretty scary kind of feeling. He may be sitting on top of the world as he gives interviews in his rumpled room at New York Citys Plaza Hotel, yet he regards that world with a Scotsmans dour distrust. A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. This article appeared in the August 24, 1978 issue of Rolling Stone. No matter the true genesis of its sax riff, the song still endures. 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. He had been signed to A&M. So he goes on David Frost, and I think it took four minutes before hed lost his audience. [citation needed], By the end of the 1990s, new technology enabled Rafferty to distance himself even further from the conventional approach of the music industry and work entirely on his own terms. Given the songs ubiquity and influence, its understandable that Ravenscroft might later fib about his role. The same report claimed that on 1 August 2008, Rafferty had disappeared, leaving his belongings behind, and that the hospital had filed a missing persons report. Brewer: He says, Heres the deal. The lyric and the melody fuse beautifully and the lyric is complemented by the melody. Ravenscroft considered his contribution to Baker Street to be substantial enough to warrant a songwriting credit or a percentage of publishing money. 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 . "[53] Barbara Dickson also paid tribute to her friend, whom she described as a "luminous, glorious Scottish musician". affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network, and [5] Reviews of the album were mixed. His career high came in the 1970s and included the anthemic Baker Street and Stuck in the Middle . He wandered over with Gerry and left them to talk. As the 1980s progressed, Rafferty's growing drinking problem placed his marriage under impossible strain and his wife divorced him in 1990, though they remained close. Heres how it works. His remains were then cremated at the Woodside Crematorium in Paisley[72] and his ashes scattered on Iona. Him and Billy used to play a game. The next album was all organised but Gerry wanted to get rid of me.". What is it going to take?, Jerry says, Jon, Ill tell you what well do: 3, 2, 1., He says, 3% on the first album, 2% on the second album and 1% on the third., I went, Oh, cmon, there must be another way., So that was the deal. There was a generation gap and a culture gap, too. Artists write the best songs when theyre hungry., "Anyway, they gave him five million and he pissed off and bought a house in the Caribbean. [63], On 17 February 2009, The Guardian reported that Rafferty was in hiding in the south of England, being cared for by a friend. The guitarist Hugh Burns has scored movies like Die Another Day and The Hobbit, and played with the likes of Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson, Jack Bruce, and George Michael throughout his storied career. I said, Youre just not the right person to do David Frost. He has the cautious fatalism of a coal miner, the trade both his father and grandfather pursued. Hell do all the painting -it will be partly animated -and Ill do the music., Raffertys outlining of his goals, which seem at once modest and ambitious, is interrupted by the entrance of members of his entourage, a magazine photographer and a newspaper reporter who confesses to me that until today she had never heard of the man shes about to interview. TV documentary produced by Neon Productions (Glasgow) for BBC Scotland, co-produced by Valerie Lyon and Robert Noakes, 2011. "[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. It wasnt illegal. Gerry Rafferty is one of the more elusive and enigmatic figures on this increasingly strange roundabout. "[66][67] The album, titled Life Goes On, was released in November 2009. [51], On 3 September 2021 Parlophone UK released "Rest In Blue" an album on which Martha Rafferty completed a project started by her father from demos left by Rafferty. [38] In the late 1980s, Rafferty had told journalist Colin Irwin: "I was always very conscious about keeping a low profile because that's the way I like to go about it. Rafferty and Ventilla divorced in 1990. Also, according to legend, he was only paid 27 for his contribution, while Rafferty was said to have made 80,000 in annual royalties until his death in 2011. "[5], In 1995, Rafferty was deeply affected by the death of his older brother Joseph, an event from which family and friends said he never fully recovered. His music is a testimony to what a great artist can. 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. [8] In the mid 1960s Rafferty earned money, for a time, busking on the London Underground. 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. The mass was streamed live over the Internet. Gerry was one of those guys that had been turned down by every record company. He wanted his songs to be respected. I probably did more music with him than any other musician. He was also friends with Ravenscroft and toured with him. And I don't plan to be in the public eye too much now either. 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. Stealers Wheel was a flop. [60] According to Rafferty's ex-wife Carla: "There was no hope. "Gerry Rafferty and his songs of alienation", "Stealers Wheel | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links", "BBC Radio 2 Sold on Song TOP 100 number 48 Baker street", "Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street" Revisited", "Gerry Rafferty Biography: 'Right Down the Line' Liner Notes", Musician Gerry Rafferty took refuge in farm at height of fame, "The Proclaimers - Letter From America (Band Version)", "Archived version of Gerry Rafferty's Website (6 December 2000)", "News section postings dated 23 February 2004 and 31 March 2004", "Tickets & Eintrittskarten online kaufen | Hypertension Music", Gerry Rafferty's funeral is held in Paisley, "Obituary: Gerry Rafferty, singer and songwriter", 'I lost my soulmate' says Gerry Rafferty's fiancee, "Gerry Rafferty, 'Baker Street' Singer, Dies at 63", "The lonely road from 'Baker Street' to skid row", "Gerry Rafferty's struggle with demons, and the Willie Whitelaw connection Telegraph Blogs", "Missing Baker Street singer Gerry Rafferty is living in hiding", "Gerry Rafferty happily stuck in the middle of Tuscany", Neighbours of Baker Street star Gerry Rafferty speak of shock at his collapse, Hope for family as Rafferty is taken off life support machine, "Gerry Rafferty's daughter sings at his funeral", "Baker Street singer Gerry Rafferty died at his daughter's home in Stroud", Mourners' Farewell To Singer Gerry Rafferty, "Gerry Rafferty's girlfriend loses battle for inheritance", "Baker Street singer Gerry Rafferty dies at age of 63", "Finbar Furey leads tributes to the late singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty", "Star tribute as Gerry Rafferty Drive opens", "Bring It All Home Gerry Rafferty Remembered", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gerry_Rafferty&oldid=1150587964, Musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, This page was last edited on 19 April 2023, at 00:00. I sang it to him. The song made No. Gerry Rafferty at home. Jon Brewer is a director and producer. 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. Harvey left shortly afterwards, and Rafferty and Connolly continued as a duo, recording two more albums for Transatlantic Records. Burns isnt ruling out its return. Isnt he afraid that once again hell be a one-hit wonder? Gerry liked to triple track everything, wed get three pianos, it became a bit of a Phil Spector issue. Joel Whitburn, "The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (6th Edition)", p. 493. [15] Twenty years later, the song was used prominently in the 1992 movie Reservoir Dogs; Rafferty refused to grant permission for its re-release. Raffertys rise to glory hadnt come about entirely by chance. Eventually, says Brewer, Ravenscroft lost his temper. According to Murphy, interviewed a decade later: "Gerry had made three albums on the trot and I think he was pretty jaded at that time and feeling the pressure and he just thought, 'Well, I'll try another tack,' which is understandable". There was change too in the songs. Chaos! Its a topic thats since been remaindered to the small music forums at the dusty edges of the Internet. Nor have the preoccupations of Raffertys lyrics changed all that much. 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. Billy Connolly on Gerry Rafferty (Conan O'Brien, 2012) russallert 5.31K subscribers 597K views 5 years ago Billy Connolly appears on the Conan O'Brien show in 2012 and tells a story about his. Four days later, my personal assistant suddenly disappeared. And I went, Ill fund the album. [39], According to his former wife Carla, who discouraged visitors: "He was just stalling for time. Alan Rafferty 1.92K subscribers 106K views 10 years ago Promo video for the "On A Wing and A Prayer" album from 1992/3. If you listen to Stealers Wheel self-titled album, there was a lot to like besides Stuck in the Middle With You. 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. "And that's when the fun started," says Brewer. 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. (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. First, he [Rafferty] wrote from his experience. In a 2011 episode of the NBC show 30 Rock, which aired the same year that Rafferty died, Tina Feys character paces the streets faced with the prospects of losing her job as a television writer. He regularly appears on Classic Rocks podcast, The 20 Million Club (opens in new tab), and was the writer/researcher on 2017s Mick Ronson documentary Beside Bowie (opens in new tab). Affiliate programs and Many of them collaborated with Rafferty (who plays rhythm guitar and rudimentary keyboards) on an excellent but little-noted 1971 solo album, Can I Have My Money Back? Its fellow honorees that yearCome Together, Candle in the Wind, and Build Me Up Buttercupdeliver some sense of the songs real reach. In 1966, Rafferty and Egan were members of the band the Fifth Column. Individuals can subscribe to Rocks Backpages for three, six and twelve months to get unlimited access to the complete Rocks Backpages archive. At eleven, he started to play. Rafferty and Joe Egan formed the group Stealers Wheel in 1972 and produced several hits, most notably "Stuck in the Middle with You" and "Star". At thirty-one, hes clearly overcome much of the anger he felt as a younger man toward both women and the music business. 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. " [Rafferty's] approach seemed claustrophobic. ), The video for Baker Street has been viewed over 5 million times. Then Capitol records made a similar offer. 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. In the same interview, he said that the entire record had been made for approximately 200,000, with half spent on travel, the recording system costing 75,000, and the website and marketing adding 25,000. 'Can I Have My Money Back?' England and Wales company registration number 2008885. From knee high, Rafferty would sing these standards, three-part harmonising with his elder siblings, Jim and Joe. Guitarist Richard Thompson helped by performing on the track "Take The Money and Run", and the title track was a UK No. He was in self-destruct mode. Night Owl Gerry Rafferty Buy album Year of Release: 1979 Appears in: 30 charts Rank Score: 122 Rank in 1979: 145 Rank in 1970s: 1,467 Overall Rank: 9,694 We want to hear it. With due respect, theres only 13 chromatic notes, he said. We may never know if one influenced the other or it was just the alchemy of two different studios coming up with something unmistakably great. From a Richard Thompson interview this spring, discussing the shelved Rafferty-produced 1980 sessions prior to the Shoot Out the Lights album. BA1 1UA. "[63][64], There were conflicting reports about what happened next. In the My Sweet Lord case, Harrison admitted he simply hadnt realized that the song so closely resembled Hes So Fine, made most famous by The Chiffons. In his interview with Colin Irwin, Rafferty disputed this and said that Ravenscroft had been his second choice to play the saxophone solo, after Pete Zorn, who was unavailable: "The only confusion at the time that I didnt enjoy too much was the fact that a lot of people believed that the line was written by Raphael Ravenscroft, the sax player, but it was my line. You never know a new generation of young musicians coming up [might bring back the sax]. Thats the price I paid for being Gerry Raffertys manager.. That wasnt a very good career move. Back in 1968, 10 years before Baker Street was recorded, Steve Marcus, a tenor sax player who toured with the jazz great Buddy Rich, released Tomorrow Never Knows, the first and only record under his own name. Stream the album here: https://lnk.to/GerryR. Gerry had a glass eye I didnt know this until Billy told me this story and theyd wait until it was really pouring and theyd go out and all the old girls would put up their umbrellas. According to Rafferty's daughter Martha, it was around this time that her father discovered, by chance, Colin Wilson's classic book The Outsider, about alienation and creativity, which became a huge influence both on his songwriting and his outlook on the world: "The ideas and references contained in that one book were to sustain and inspire him for the rest of his life. [17], Legal issues after the break-up of Stealers Wheel meant that, for three years, Rafferty was unable to release any material. He then worked in a butcher's shop, as a civil service clerk, and in a shoe shop. A heavy drinker for much of his life, Rafferty died from liver failure in January 2011 at the age of 63. Burns is responsible for the blistering guitar solo on Baker Street and considers working with Gerry Rafferty one of his lifes great honors. In the right music it sounds fantastic, its the only way to make certain kinds of music. [68] Fuschini claims she cared for the singer during 2009 and tried to help him overcome his alcoholism, and that he proposed to her at the Ritz Hotel in Paris on Christmas Eve that year. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. [4], Rafferty grew up in a council house in the town's Ferguslie Park, in Underwood Lane, and was educated at St Mirin's Academy. I thought the contract had finished but it turned out it hadnt. I thought, well, if a little bit of that rubs off on us, perhaps we'll get in the charts as well, but actually, in practice, it was kind of a claustrophobic experience. But theres something special about four or five guys in a studio and working with an artist and honing whatever it is that the song is and fine-tuning it. 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. Gerry Rafferty - Right Down the Line (Lyric Video) 'Right Down the Line' is taken from the album 'City to City'. Gerald Rafferty (16 April 1947 - 4 January 2011) was a Scottish singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. Gerry had had a tough upbringing in Glasgow and the manager sensed that he carried tremendous resentment about it. "[55], Rafferty never changed his mind about the music business; if anything, his views hardened. These were the last two records Rafferty produced with Hugh Murphy, who died in 1998. The follow-up single "Get It Right Next Time" made the UK and US Top 40. He turned that down too. [69] Rafferty died of liver failure at the home of his daughter Martha in Stroud, Gloucestershire, on 4 January 2011, at the age of 63. [2] A son of Joseph and Mary (Skeffington) Rafferty,[3] he had two brothers, Jim and Joe (died 1988). Mainly philosophy, art, religion, psychology and many a biography."). Gerry Raffertys promising partnership with Joe Egan as Stealers Wheel had ended after three albums and a US no.1 single in Stuck In The Middle With You. They had Electric Light Orchestra, Kenny Rodgers, and the third artist was to become Gerry Rafferty. Rafferty says working with the legendary authors of Hound Dog and producers of (among others) the Coasters was trying. Barry Recap: A Tragic Death Shakes Up Bill Haders Dark Satire There are lots and lots of instances where things are very similar. He added that in 30 years of playing, he never encountered anyone who asked for or wanted to specifically copy another piece of music. So I took the 75., It worked. Trending Apart from Ravenscroft, most of the musicians on City to City are old friends. "[34] It was ironic that Raffertya lover and collector of religious icons, who would later name one of his publishing companies "Icon Music"[54]was also an iconoclast. It has been through some of my darkest moments that I have written some of my best songs. Then he tried it on guitar, and that didnt sound quite right. And the final resolution of his legal and financial hassles accounts for the understated exhilaration of the songs last verse: When you wake up its a new morning/The sun is shining, its a new morning/Youre going, youre going home., Related 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". "[38], In 2008, Rafferty moved away from California and briefly rented a home in Ireland, where his drinking soon became a problem again. [9] In his own stand-up shows, Connolly has often recalled this period, telling how Rafferty made him laugh and describing the crazy things they did while on tour. Or why not treat yourself? [79], In October 2013, Peter Cameron released a biography of Rafferty entitled Stuck in the Middle with Gerry Rafferty, published by the independent publisher Linn. A subscription gives you access to all the articles and audio interviews in the library. [70][71], A requiem mass was held for Rafferty at St Mirin's Cathedral in his native town of Paisley on 21 January 2011. Enter Raphael Ravenscroft, a session saxophonist who came highly recommended, and the rest is history or at least a hit single. The music itselfthe orchestration, so to speak compliments the lyric in a perfect way. unrestricted remote and on-site access to each text and audio file in the database. Enter your email address in the field below and we'll send you a password to read all free articles on RBP. The third single from the album, "Home and Dry", reached No. One new note does creep in: a hint of gospel music -particularly on The Ark -and with this, a sense of hard-won peace. Two years after the release of Night Owl, Gerry Rafferty presented his fans with Snakes & Ladders, and although some of his former album's charm and lyrical appeal manages to resurface, the whole of the album comes up short. His background was soaked in Scottish socialism and poverty, his mind sharp and his personality acerbic, and he wasn't going to be dazzled by the glamour of success. His solo hits in the late 1970s included "Baker Street", "Right Down the Line", and "Night Owl". His abusive alcoholic father died when Gerry was only sixteen. In fact, most of what I played was an old blues riff. His solo hits in the late 1970s included "Baker Street", "Right Down the Line", and "Night Owl". If I dont, Ill give you 75. Im like, You cant sign an artist of mine and not listen to the record! He says, Thats the deal. [19] Rafferty considered this his first proper taste of success, as he told Melody Maker the following year: "all the records I've ever done before have been flops. Billboard Hot 100 [2] and #8 on Cash Box. His next door neighbour was [Island Records owner] Chris Blackwell. [5][11][38] In 1987, Rafferty and Murphy co-produced The Proclaimers first UK hit single "Letter from America". [29] One of the lesser-known songs from that time is "Big Change in the Weather" (the B-side of "Baker Street"). Succession Recap: Logan Roy Makes Shock Return, Shiv and Tom Get Kinky, After a long pause during which Raffertys eyes are downcast and the only sound to be heard is that of his chewing gum, he answers intently: I dont really think about it in those kinds of terms.