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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.
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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City To City
Gerry Rafferty
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The Best Of Gerry Rafferty
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Shouts
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Buttsex_Rocket wrote:
This version is weird, it sounds unnaturally higher than the studio version
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sirthorty wrote:
one of the all time best and legendary songs in history!
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stringmanuk wrote:
Some records are just unique - will be winning fans in another 30 odd years as well
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eamezey2 wrote:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b01b9jp0
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Entropysucks wrote:
RIP. Thanks for the great music!
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mellymelly987 wrote:
"love it!"
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LesterTiger wrote:
Classic...but can't believe its now a year since Gerry left us. Thanks for all the great songs you have bequeathed to us, Mr R.
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tavitooo wrote:
Un verdadero clasico de clasicos quedara marcado en la historia del mundo
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coors11 wrote:
had this one on a 45! LOL i think the "warm vibe" stuff comes from people's remembrances of where they were and what was happening in their lives at that time... haha for me it was grade school... not too warm of a memory... ROFL
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23Daves wrote:
Why are people talking about this song in terms of warm glows and good vibes? The lyrics are among the bleakest I've ever heard! Not that this takes anything away from the song itself, of course, which is great. "Another year and then you'll be happy/ Just one more day and then you'll be happy/ but you're crying/ you're crying now".
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bullerrd wrote:
Knocks my socks off every time, regardless of my mood. No small feat. That's feat, not feet. Anyhow, used to live in London once and intentionally walked down Baker Street solely to hum this to myself and infuse my day with a good vibe. Still do it on the odd visit and you know, sit in a cafe on Baker Street, and there are several, and more than likely somebody will be huming away to themselves with a contended look. Da-doo-doo-do-da-dooh. Da do-da-daa-da-daaaa....
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Elodave wrote:
From the first bar to the last,this song leaves such a wonderfully warm glow.A true National Treasure.Every listen feels like the first.
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flickothewrist wrote:
Takes me back to waiting at traffic lights, when this magical sound hit my mind, pulled in and absorbed turned around back into town to buy, what a legacy you have left Gerry, this work of art is an all time great, sensational stuff
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kellmartin wrote:
Great song, great saxophone! Classic!!!!!
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srv_ wrote:
This song has some of the best guitar and sax solos ever! A true classic!
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NitaD1 wrote:
Always good to hear this classic..
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TallicLizzy wrote:
Love that sax. [3]
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Irethchan wrote:
Love that sax. [2]
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tavitooo wrote:
a classic!!!!
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RussellChap wrote:
brill song, a classic tune
Track Stats
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DigBnATigg, jmcgee0819, accidentalchoic and 11 other people loved Gerry Rafferty – Baker Street. 8 hours ago
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