Gerry Rafferty – “Baker Street” and “Right Down The Line”

In 1978 Gerry Rafferty wrote or at least released his hit song “Baker Street”, on his album “City To City” and as a single.

Some time later, can’t remember if it was at the end of that year or on another visit to the UK a few years later when I was living in Germany, I cruised down Baker Street on a National Express bus entering London from the north.

And about five and a half years ago, shortly after moving to South West Scotland with my family, on a visit to London we walked along Baker Street just before the shops shut looking for an artists supply shop to get something for my daughter.

I remember that by that time my feet hurt and I did not enjoy the experience.

In fact, on both occasions I was wondering what was so special about Baker Street to motivate Gerry Rafferty to write a song about it.

I have in the back of my mind that it had something to do with Sherlock Holmes, but now I have just read that the song relates to the author’s days as a busker on the London Underground.

Well, actually, watching the video below, turns out I was right about a Sherlock Holmes connection after all – can’t say I remember seeing the Sherlock Holmes Museum though, maybe it wasn’t there yet.

This video of “Baker Street” is an HD stereo version that shows shots of the street, the museum and the Baker Street tube station:

“Baker Street” is particularly famous for its saxophone solo, and apparently this had an influence on the use of the saxophone in other music at the time, and even on the sale of saxophones! (Reminds me of the “Saxophone Song” on Kate Bush’s “The Kick Inside” album.)

Here’s another one from the same album, “Right Down The Line”:

Gerry Rafferty earlier teamed up with Joe Egan to form Stealers Wheel, producing the well known track (well, to me at least…) “Stuck In The Middle With You”. I’ll save that for another time.

Meanwhile I might watch the “Baker Street” video again and see if I can spot any more clues…

Paul

P.S. Meanwhile Gerry Rafferty died in the first half of 2011. R.I.P. Gerry…

Tags: Back Of My Mind, Baker Street, Busker, City To City, Gerry Rafferty, Gerry Rafferty Baker Street, Half Years, Hd, Joe Egan, Kate Bush, Living In Germany, London Underground, Music, Music of the Seventies, National Express Bus, Occasions, Right Down The Line, Saxophone Solo, Saxophone Song, Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes Museum, South West Scotland, Stealers Wheel, Stereo Version, Stuck In The Middle With You, The Kick Inside, Tube Station, Wheel

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