Story of Soft Rock 70s Hit Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty | #1 in our hearts | Professor of Rock
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“Winding your way down Baker Street- light in your head and dead on your feet.” It was just another crazy day in 1977, when the late Gerry Rafferty wrote that opening line of his seminal soft rock classic “Baker Street.”
Gerry’s career was in a holding pattern following the breakup of Stealers Wheel, a band that he co-founded with his childhood chum Joe Egan. Gerry & Joe released a couple of singles as Stealers Wheel that stiffed before striking gold with “Stuck in the Middle With You” that was a #6 hit in America, and #8 hit in the UK in ’73. They had a mild follow-up hit with “Star” that stalled at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #25 in the UK.By 1975, Stealers Wheel had split up, and Rafferty & Egan wanted to move forward with their respective solo careers. However, the contract that they had signed with A&M Records prohibited them from releasing any music for three years. The dispute went to litigation, and was finally resolved in 1978, which cleared the path for City to City, Gerry Rafferty’s debut solo album that ended up selling over 6 million copies around the world.It was a painfully stressful 3 years for Gerry Rafferty, but amidst the adversity, he wrote one of the most epic songs of the Rock Era. “Baker Street” was all about the frustration that Rafferty was feeling from the legal battles to free himself from the Stealers Wheel contract. He spent a lot of time going back and forth from Glasgow, Scotland to London, England to meet with his lawyers, and while he was in London, he stayed at a friend’s flat on Baker Street. It was in that apartment on Baker Street that Gerry wrote a deeply emotive and introspective narrative about a man that “drinks all night” to “forget about everything”, and dreams “about buying some land, giving up the booze & the one night stands- to settle down in a quiet little town.” A thought I’ve had too many times to mention and I”m sure we all have felt at one time or another. It’s a depressing ending, but the most worthy and fitting finale for the character and the show. The song is the key. Baker Street in just a few notes can convey so many emotions, Fear, loathing, regret, desolation, as well as hope and faith for a better tomorrow.Considering the challenges that Gerry Rafferty overcame to release his solo material, and write this song and gift it to the masses, it would’ve been poetic for“Baker Street” to not only hit #1 but also win every award given that year.Thank you Gerry for this uncompromising and legendary compositions. Leave us a comment about Gerry Rafferty and this wonderful song. Tell us about any experiences or memories that you’ve had that are tied to this song. To hear the song click on our our playlist below To get the record see our amazon links. If you like our content join our community be subscribing below to this channel Help us keep the music alive until next time, three chords and the truth my friends.