gerry rafferty interview

The liner notes to the compilation album Right Down the Line, written by Jerry Gilbert with Rafferty's close co-operation, note his consistent refusal to tour the United States and "generally 'play the industry game'. Contributing artists included his friend Rab Noakes, The Proclaimers, Barbara Dickson, Ron Sexsmith, Jack Bruce, Paul Brady, Emma Pollock, James Vincent McMorrow and Betsy Cook. I said, If you go on David Frost, Im finished. Burns was performing on the road with Jack Bruce in 1978 when he made arrangements to visit the London studio where Raffertys album City to City was being recorded. And for good reason. Barbara Dickson released a tribute album of 13 Rafferty songs, To Each and Everyone: The Songs of Gerry Rafferty, in September 2013, including cover versions of "Baker Street", "The Ark", and "Steamboat Row". Gerry Rafferty Biography, Songs, & Albums | AllMusic Things came to a head when the star told Brewer that he was planning to go on the David Frost TV show. [27] But it earned him another 1.5million, selling around three million copies in Europe and America. For once, Brewer and Rafferty agreed on something they refused to credit the sax player (demos of Baker Street show that Rafferty already had the melody of what would become the sax part, played on guitar). "[76], The reaction of younger artists suggests Rafferty's music has also inspired a new generation of fans. Click here for academic and other group subscriptions. Even more so than most people who work in this business, he saw it as not a good thing. He was the third son of Irish miner and lorry driver Joseph Rafferty and Rafferty's Scottish wife Mary Skeffington. TV documentary produced by Neon Productions (Glasgow) for BBC Scotland, co-produced by Valerie Lyon and Robert Noakes, 2011. These were the last two records Rafferty produced with Hugh Murphy, who died in 1998. 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". (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. In fact, most of what I played was an old blues riff. After being taken off life support, Rafferty rallied for a short time, and doctors thought that he might recover. Stay up to date with in depth music reviews, exclusive interviews and widespread coverage of whats happening from your favourite music genre. People werent quite used to that., Of course, theres also something about the saxophone. "[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. Barry Recap: A Tragic Death Shakes Up Bill Haders Dark Satire From knee high, Rafferty would sing these standards, three-part harmonising with his elder siblings, Jim and Joe. A lot of great music was made that way. Isnt that interesting because I definitely did not compose it. Stuck In The Middle With You had Joe Egan miming Gerrys lead vocal as he had left the band by the time they shot it. 1 in America, and suddenly he found that as a result of his protest, he was a bigger star than ever. A Scotsman bred on traditional music, he was never a proper folkie - not really - and his alliance with Billy Connolly in The Humblebums at the end of the '60s always seemed a bizarre blend of opposites, though Gerry maintains it was . To Raffertys utter disbelief, his parody of Bob Dylans paranoia, tossed off as little more than a joke, struck pay dirt in the States by which time he had already said goodbye to the band. Right Down The Line by Gerry Rafferty - Songfacts His abusive alcoholic father died when Gerry was only sixteen. [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. Brewer took the album to the US where he got a meeting with Artie Mogull, who had then just bought United Artists with partner Jerry Rubinstein. Michael Gray, Rafferty's former manager, agreed: "The audible proof is there from the demos that Rafferty himself created the riff and placed it within the song's structure exactly where it ended up. Signing up for the RBP newsletter provides access to a limited number of free articles, as well as six new free articles every week. [43][44] Through his company Icon Music, Rafferty promoted and sold the album independently on a website created specifically for the purpose. In conversations with both Burns and Burton, a controversy and lawsuit involving George Harrison came up. In 1965, 18-year-old Rafferty met 15-year-old Carla Ventilla, an apprentice hairdresser from an Italian family in Clydebank, at a dancehalla story he later recounted in the song "Shipyard Town" on North and South. Three acoustic guitars, layers and layers of backing vocals, very lush, very evened out sound., (You must log in or sign up to reply here. (Both of these were popular hobbies in the year 1978. Jon Brewer now a successful documentary maker (opens in new tab) managed Rafferty through his most successful period before their relationship ended in acrimony. It remained at the top of the adult contemporary chart for four non-consecutive weeks. Gerry Rafferty. GERRY RAFFERTY Filmed Interview & tribute (2003) in HD First, he [Rafferty] wrote from his experience. And he married her! Songs like 'She Moves Through the Fair', which my mother sings beautifully. [7][34], Another World marked a new departure for the singer. The deeply introspective lyrics of Sleepwalking suggest Rafferty found success far from glamorous: tracks like "Standing at the Gates", "Change of Heart", and "The Right Moment" suggest the singer was exhausted, burnt-out, and desperately seeking a new direction and continued his long-running theme of alienation. In 2012, Cuillin Recordings issued Paisley Spin, a remix of three tracks from Can I Have My Money Back? Rafferty married his fellow Scot, hairdresser Carla Ventilla, in 1970, and here he pays tribute to how she stuck by him through thick and thin. [Rafferty's] approach seemed claustrophobic. We use cookies to help provide you with the best possible online experience. Rafferty had apparently not changed his will after meeting Enzina Fuschini in 2008 and left her nothing. "[40], In the early 1990s, Rafferty recorded a cover version of the Bob Dylan song "The Times They Are a-Changin'" with Barbara Dickson, who had contributed backing vocals to both City to City and Night Owl. He was in self-destruct mode. In 1978, he recorded his second solo album, City to City, which included "Baker Street", his most popular song. Rafferty confirms the contrast between then and now. Gerry Rafferty obituary | Gerry Rafferty | The Guardian Rafferty continues to ponder and juxtapose the differences between urban and pastoral life, and many of his new songs (especially, and most eloquently, Whatevers Written in Your Heart) still seem attempts to bridge the communication chasm between a man and a woman. the Amazon Associates Program via amazon.com. After they disbanded in 1971, he recorded his first solo album, Can I Have My Money Back? So surprised and impressed was he when he first heard Gerry's music, Billy didn't believe that the songs had been written by him . Hows that for capitalism?. Rafferty was born into a working-class family in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. In The Times, critic David Sinclair was particularly scathing: "On North and South, it sounds as if he has thumbed a lift up the road to a mock-Texan bar somewhere in his native Scotland. Its Springfields failure to make a glam-rock version song compelling in particular that helps in deciphering the extremely unconventional allure of Baker Street, a song ultimately about depression, transition, and weary aspiration. Success, says Brewer, was the end of Rafferty. But the song did benefit Ravenscofts career, and he went on to work with Pink Floyd, Marvin Gaye, and Daft Punk. Breaks Down His Killer White House Correspondents Dinner Set 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 It's been a huge earner for me. Honestly, until receiving your email, I had never heard of Gerry Rafferty, or the song Baker Street, so Im pretty sure I dont have any meaningful insight to offer specifically about the song. He died many years later in a terrible state. ", Rafferty's next album, Night Owl, also did well. But extricating himself from his management deal took Rafferty three more years, during which he commuted unhappily to London from the town outside Glasgow where he and his family still reside. Stream the album here: https://lnk.to/GerryR. He was a founding member of Stealers Wheel, whose biggest hit was "Stuck in the Middle with You" in 1973. She wont have much time to correct her ignorance, however, because Rafferty is rushing off to L.A. and another round of press interviews. 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". From what shes said, I believe Linda was quite happy to have Gerrys hands on her, for a time. Becoming a member is easy. Theres no question about that either. Gerry Rafferty - Right Down the Line (Lyric Video) 'Right Down the Line' is taken from the album 'City to City'. Gerry Rafferty : Best Ever Albums The singer was wary of the media and disliked being asked to analyse his songs, particularly to those outwith his creative circle. was a flop. Gerry Rafferty Remembered is at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall as part of Celtic Connections on 22 and 23 . The remaining tracks are remastered tracks from his previous three albums. All content on the site is the property of Rock's Backpages and protected by copyright laws. Gerry Rafferty at home. - YouTube It disappeared., But when we spoke on the phone later, hed changed his mind. If you are interested in the syndication of this Rock's Backpages article, please email us. His wife had just given birth to their daughter and he told me that he didnt have any money to buy nappies, says Brewer. Rafferty came up with the hook. Gerry Rafferty's 'Baker Street' Blues: Rolling Stone's 1978 Feature He recalled, "My father was Irish, so growing up in Paisley I was hearing all these songs when I was two or three. I did six albums with him. He was a very humble man. They had Electric Light Orchestra, Kenny Rodgers, and the third artist was to become Gerry Rafferty. Gordon Laurie, director of the housing association behind the project, commented: "It is a fitting tribute to a brilliant musician who lives on through his music. All rights reserved. The problems we had, had little to do, actually, with the results we got on the board, because they were great in terms of sound and all that. December 17, 2015. Billy Connolly recalls his first meeting with Gerry Rafferty - BBC Its a topic thats since been remaindered to the small music forums at the dusty edges of the Internet. Many listeners come to Baker Street (and stay) for its hypnotic saxophone line. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Gerry Rafferty: The Man Who Hated the Music Business | Louder - loudersound [8] In the mid 1960s Rafferty earned money, for a time, busking on the London Underground. The group was beset by legal wranglings, but had a huge hit with "Stuck in the Middle with You", which earned critical acclaim as well as commercial success: a 1975 article in Sounds described it as "a sort of cross between white label Beatles and punk Dylan yet with a unique Celtic flavour that has marked all their work". Thompson's usually spontaneous, no-frills attitude toward recording was at odds with Rafferty's approach. [2] A son of Joseph and Mary (Skeffington) Rafferty,[3] he had two brothers, Jim and Joe (died 1988). ever-expanding collection of primary-source full-text articles from the music and mainstream press from the 1950s to the present day, along with a collection of Louder is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Words and phrases he used years ago crop up in similar contexts on City to City. affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network, and 16 April 2022 When Baker Street songwriter Gerry Rafferty died of liver failure, on 4 January 2011, at the age of 63, the whole of Scotland mourned the passing of one of the nation's greatest musicians. What I want is just to develop in terms of my songs and also to work in other areas. I went to the studio after I played the gig and I think one of the first songs we played was Baker Street. And I said, This is fantastic. 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. . [63], On 17 February 2009, The Guardian reported that Rafferty was in hiding in the south of England, being cared for by a friend. Rafferty has been a one-hit wonder before, five years ago, when Stealers Wheel topped the charts with Stuck in the Middle with You. Stealers Wheel was led by Rafferty and Joe Egan, friends since both were sixteen-year-olds playing in bands in their hometown of Paisley, a bleak industrial city near Glasgow. "[74], Other entertainers also paid tribute to Rafferty, with comedian and ex-bandmate Billy Connolly calling him "a hugely talented songwriter and singer who will be greatly missed" and musician Tom Robinson saying, "His early work with Stealers Wheel was an inspiration to a whole generation of songwriters in the 70s, including me. Heres how it works. Cherishing the Gerry Rafferty album "City to City" We tried electric guitar but it sounded weak, and we tried other things and I think it was Hugh Murphy's suggestion that we tried saxophone."[5]. Subscriptions to Rocks Backpages are available for institutional or personal use. I just had to get away, away from groups, managers, record companies, the whole thing. Let's Talk About Night Owl - Rock and Roll Globe Thats why I especially liked the Everly Brothers.. 2023 Rolling Stone, LLC. Baker Street singer Gerry Rafferty dies at age of 63 - BBC News [5] Reviews of the album were mixed. You can take the boy out of Paisley but you can't take Paisley out the boy! Gerry was a joker he used to joke all the time, an absolute nutter. Gerry liked to triple track everything, wed get three pianos, it became a bit of a Phil Spector issue. In a blog posting dated 31 March 2004 he wrote: "Let's get back to music: after all that's the only reason that this website has been set up." To be a star in inverted commas -that is probably the last thing I want. If you listen to Stealers Wheel self-titled album, there was a lot to like besides Stuck in the Middle With You. [41], Rafferty released two further albums in the 1990s in what musician Tom Robinson later described as "a major return to form". Scottish singer/songwriter Gerry Rafferty, best known for his solo hit "Baker Street" and "Stuck In The . In the summer of 1978, Gerry Rafferty's song "Baker Street" became a top-five hit in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. I saw a man in despair". [5][11][38] In 1987, Rafferty and Murphy co-produced The Proclaimers first UK hit single "Letter from America". Letters: Supernova Sleuth; Gerry Rafferty : NPR He has the cautious fatalism of a coal miner, the trade both his father and grandfather pursued. tenor sax player who toured with the jazz great Buddy Rich. He was one of the most talented musicians and singers I ever knew but he completely underestimated his own talent. I probably did more music with him than any other musician. He was also friends with Ravenscroft and toured with him. "[20], "Baker Street" featured a distinctive saxophone riff played by Raphael Ravenscroft, although the origins of the solo have been disputed. They never toured America because the band, according to Rafferty, when it existed at all, was a fucking shambles, and they wrangled angrily with their managers. The Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty, who has died aged 63 after a long illness, wrote the multimillion-selling hit Baker Street, which more than 30 years after . exclusive audio interviews. The disputed history behind Gerry Raffertys 1978 hit. Gerry Rafferty: A Brilliant Tortured Soul - YouTube He joined the folk-pop group the Humblebums (of which Billy Connolly was a member) in 1969. So I took the 75., It worked. What was it with Gerry Rafferty that made it so hard to record with him His career high came in the 1970s and included the anthemic Baker Street and Stuck in the Middle . "It was something I was fiercely protective of in myself. In an interview that year with Colin Irwin to promote the album, Rafferty mentioned that he was interested in doing more production work and writing film soundtracks, and even floated the idea of writing a musical about the life of Robert Louis Stevenson. And the interesting thing is that that sax solo, the line itself, was also given by the singer [George Michael]. By using this site, you agree that we may store and access cookies on your device. For full terms, please click here. The next album was all organised but Gerry wanted to get rid of me.". Featuring 18 tracks, the album contains six new recordings, covers of Christmas carols, plus also some traditional songs that had previously been available on the Gerry Rafferty website. Here is the song sung by Gerry with Joe providing the second lead vocal: Theres a 1 hour BBC4 documentary about him here. I said, Youre just not the right person to do David Frost. It is Rock's Backpages policy never, under any circumstances, to sell on or otherwise provide any of the information contained in the above form to third parties. Guitarist Richard Thompson helped by performing on the track "Take The Money and Run", and the title track was a UK No. [3][4] Rafferty loathed the 1992 dance music cover version of "Baker Street" by Undercover, describing it as "dreadful, totally banalit's a sad sign of the times". And theres still another wrinkle on the other side of the pond. The mass was streamed live over the Internet. Affiliate programs and "[49] Only a handful of tracks were ever released, however, and the website eventually closed down without any explanation. "[5] When a remastered version of City to City was released in 2011, it included the original, electric guitar version of the song, confirming Rafferty's authorship of the riff. Billy Connolly on Gerry Rafferty (Conan O'Brien, 2012) - YouTube Liner notes for the compilation album Right Down the Line (prepared with Rafferty's close co-operation[33]) confirmed this several years later, noting the singer was now "finding himself at the crossroads and looking to replace the treadmill with a new dimension in his life". All his friends were kind of wishing him well.. "[5] Two decades later, speaking to the press after Rafferty's funeral, Charlie Reid of The Proclaimers confirmed Rafferty's dislike of celebrity: "He was not entirely comfortable with fame. Then Capitol records made a similar offer. During this time, he met Enzina Fuschini, an Italian artist living in Dorset. It wasnt illegal. In 1966, Rafferty and Egan were members of the band the Fifth Column. For his self-titled album, see, Undated "Prank call" video of Billy Connolly on YouTube, uploaded 25 November 2007, Connolly remembers Rafferty as a prank call "expert he used to make me scream. We were looking for. Bath One new note does creep in: a hint of gospel music -particularly on The Ark -and with this, a sense of hard-won peace. The man behind the saxophone was Raphael Ravenscroft, who in addition to having the best-ever name for a session saxophonist, claims to have authored the riff. 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. The eulogy was given by Rafferty's longtime friend John Byrne. The song made No. I sang it to him. Rafferty offered to buy himself out of his contract and Brewer turned him down. He didn't know how good he was. He did it really well and he was respected in both camps. Then, in the most offhand, glory-belying way, Burns dropped in this aside: Strangely enough, another record that I played on, which was a massive hit, certainly in this country and I think in America as well, was called Careless Whisper, that also had a massive opening solo. Baker Street and Half a Heart are songs that were made that way. [34], Rafferty sang the Mark Knopfler-penned song "The Way It Always Starts" (1983) on the soundtrack of the film Local Hero. Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. [15] Twenty years later, the song was used prominently in the 1992 movie Reservoir Dogs; Rafferty refused to grant permission for its re-release. ZigZag, Listeners weigh in on our interview with 10-year-old Kathryn Aurora Gray, the youngest person ever to discover a Supernova; and our remembrance of singer and songwriter Gerry Rafferty, who died . Gerry became someone else, and it was alcohol that took him over.