Gerry Rafferty » Tracks » Baker Street

Gerry Rafferty – Baker Street (4:09)

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About This Track

“Baker Street” (1978), by Gerry Rafferty, is his first released song after the lawsuits about the formal separation of the band Stealers Wheel in 1975. Rafferty supposedly was barred from the recording studio for 3 years after the band’s breakup, while disputes about the band’s remaining contractual recording obligations were being resolved. Named for a famous London thoroughfare, “Baker Street” was featured on City to City, Rafferty’s second solo album, and was published as the first of three singles, marketed primarily to Adult Contemporary radio listeners. As a single, “Baker Street” reached #3 in the United Kingdom; it was an even greater success in the United States, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.

The melody’s saxophone hook (in the original version) was played by Raphael Ravenscroft, and the guitar solo was by Hugh Burns.According to the Baker Street Songfacts, Rafferty wrote the song with an instrumental break, but didn’t have a specific instrument in mind. Hugh Murphy, who produced the track, suggested a saxophone, so they brought in Ravenscroft to play it.

The original album version (in City to City) was 6:01 minutes long. The single version released in the USA lasted 4:08 minutes, with its tempo accelerated for commercial-radio time allotments. An alternative, uncut mix of “Baker Street” (in Right Down The Line: The Very Best of Gerry Rafferty) contains 30 seconds of end-material not in the original, 1978 version—with reverb emphasized and Rafferty’s singing electronically double-tracked.
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Albums featuring this track

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  • Monade2010

    timeLESS fantastic !!!!!!!!!!!! ° ƸӜƷ °...♥¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) .•` *♥.•*¨*•♫♪...° ƸӜƷ °

    Saturday afternoon

  • Unkn0wnumb3rs

    Everytime I listen to this, it's like having unprotected sax

    Tuesday afternoon

  • nick_honest

    R.I.P. Gerry, and thank you for all your great songs, specially for Baker Street

    13 days ago

  • kellmartin

    Favourite!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    14 days ago

  • Bronny777

    My first Last FM song. When my dad first played it to me it made the hairs on the back of my neck tingle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great Song!

    19 days ago

  • mgsstp5150

    :D got laid to this song lol

    21 days ago

  • crimson-phantom

    Dat sax.

    25 days ago

  • escarabat94

    (:-)

    last month

  • Ukashq

    GREAT song (sax, words) can't stop listening

    last month

  • catwithasax

    yes, been waiting for the baker street alto to pop up on FM for ages

    last month

  • adriansinbox

    :)

    last month

  • BlueOclock

    What a song....enough to make you a sax fiend!

    last month

  • justinmcgonigle

    great song. so many memories!

    last month

  • JimiVonMicrodot

    love the guitar in this song, just brilliant. RIP my shorts

    March 2012

  • sirthorty

    perfect song!!! love RIP Gerry

    March 2012

  • marcinradek

    Genialny kawałek

    March 2012

  • ivandereteria

    Sabian que el 221B Baker Street era la dirección de la ciudad de Londres donde se localizaba, en la ficción, la residencia del detective Sherlock Holmes, creado por el escritor británico Arthur Conan Doyle. Baker Street estaba localizada en la West End, en la zona pitucona de Londres. JOSE HERRERA. LIma Perú.

    March 2012

  • Nintendoman64

    That Sax....DAYUM

    March 2012

  • StratisFTW

    You should check out this cover of this classic song. http://soundcloud.com/thescarydoor/baker-street :)

    March 2012

  • supermediadave

    Great song with great memories. Yep I had the 8-track and loved it.

    March 2012
See all 723 shouts

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