Gerry Rafferty (RIP) was Scottish. Ever since high school when this song came out, it was always one of my very favorites! Another good song by Gerry Rafferty is "Right Down the Line". He was also part of the band, Stealer's Wheel, known for the song, "Stuck In the Middle with You". Please check those out!
Raphael Ravenscroft, the greatest sax player to ever grace a pop song 💯. Not to take away from all the elements , Rafferty's great lyrics and vocals, the excellent guitar solo at the end, but man the sax chorus just made this into an enduring classic.
There’s a bit of a controversy over the sax solo. Ravenscroft said it was him riffing off the chords, Hugh Burns who played the guitar solo says it’s Rafferty’s actual score (on the original demo Rafferty had Burns play the sax solo on guitar & they both agreed it sounded better with the sax). But even murkier yet is that the sax riff sounds very similar to the melodic hook in a track by American jazz saxman Steven Marcus called “Half a Heart” recorded in 1968. I’ve heard it. Unmistakable. Irony is neither Marcus nor his co-writer were even aware of “Baker Street,” despite it being a worldwide #1 hit. Rafferty, Ravenscroft and Marcus are all dead so this is all moot at this point. All that said, the song is a classic!
I was a kid delivering pizza in 1978, I got off work at that time at 1am and I remember the drive home down a busy street that was deserted at that hour and this song playing on the radio all the way home. Funny how memories like that get etched into your mind. I thought it a great song then and now, best sax riff ever and the guitar solo is incredible. A masterpiece for this band.
That sax literally sounds like it’s crying. Great cut! He was also in a group called Stealers Wheel and had a hit called Stuck in the Middle with You which I highly recommend.🤟🏻✌🏻
This sing was all over the airwaves in the summer of '78. I was more into harder rock, but this caught my attention, and everyone else's as well. It still holds up. Iconic.
I’ve heard this song periodically but routinely, since I heard it on AFN in the 70’s. In fact I’d bet more people know music from the 75’-80’ than from the past five years until now. Radio as we knew it should try a comeback.
@@dickcnormis1444 Hi Dick, I am a few years older than you, but another song I would add to a list of "bring me back to my youth" songs is Al Stewart's *Time Passages*.
@@chrisross1703 Hi cris, Another Scottish singer/songwriter worth a listen is Dougie MacLean. About Al Stewart, a couple of his lesser known, but very good songs are *Roads to Moscow* and *Trains*. (Not "radio material"; based on historical events.)
The Sax in this is heaven! I was listening to this as a kid, mom was a bartender at Volcano House overlooking the volcano on the Big Isle of Hawaii. This song was always playing on the jukebox along with Gordon Lightfoot's "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" - those two songs will be with me for my entire life now.
Definitely one of the best songs to come out of 1978! From what I've read, the sax was originally used as a bed track to remember the progression for later when it was to be replaced by guitar. Upon listening to the playback, Rafferty and his producer discovered how amazing it already sounded and kept the part for saxophone. True or not, the song is made better by that sax.
This entire album is excellent. I have played it hundreds of times. When this came out I was in the army at AIT and fell asleep every night to this listening on my boom box with headphones.
I was from NJ. I went to Tampa bay for 2 years. I lived in Winnipeg Canada for 3 years and Illinois for 3 years and now I have been in Michigan for 3.5 years. I am a free spirit! Not married, no kids. I the rolling stone.
This song is STELLAR! Rafferty was one of the best. He put himself under a lot of pressure and it killed him. What a talent! Check out his band, Stealer's Wheel, with their song "Star". It's next level music... yesterday. 😎
Harri...true story...I wake up to this as my alarm music every day....nice way to sliiiiiide into awareness...when the sax hits...my feet are on the floor!...lol
The mid to late 70’s saw a boom in the use of the Saxophone. So many great pop songs from the likes of Al Stewart, David Bowie, Billy Joel and many others. This one was so influential that they sometimes referred to the popularity of the saxophone from the late 70’s into the 80’s as “The Baker Street Effect”. I believe this song is indeed about the Baker Street in London.
I was living in the Solomon Islands when this song came out. I didn’t know. Years later i heard it for the first time, and it knocked me over!! Immediately ran out the door to buy this gem. I ❤️❤️💕 the sax 🥰
Harri, Gerry is from PAISLEY SCOTLAND, and was a wonderful singer/songwriter who has also left us sadly, he started out in a folk band called THE HUMBLEBUMS with a certain BILLY CONNOLLY then in STEALER'S WHEEL. My recommendation from him is something simple to this called NIGHT OWL. Keep up the good work kid.
Gerry started out in Stealers Wheel before embarking on a solo career. This is definitely his most popular song but I actually prefer "Right Down the Line" which I consider one of the best love songs ever written.
The Sax player was paid 27pounds and 50pence for his contribution, the going rate for a session musician, and the cheque bounced. Raphael Ravenscroft's (the sax player) father was Trevor Ravenscroft, he wrote the Spear of Destiny described as an Occult book.
Well, there goes another of the iconic songs of my generation. He's Scottish. He used to be in a band called Stealers Wheels and had to commute between Scotland and London during an ongoing dispute with the band. According to Wikipedia, he stayed in the flat of a friend on Baker Street. Another iconic song was Richard Harris's "MacArthur Park". Richard Harris was most notably an actor, but this song is a cover of a Jimmy Webb song that peaked in the charts. It's a memorable song for me.
Unbelievable! the composition, arrangement and the flow were and are great, the sax grabbed you every time. I remember the first time hearing this track.
Fantastic song Launched Raphael Ravenscroft's career because he was just a session sax player at the time. He did play on some George Michael tracks, so he could be on Careless Whisper. Gerry Rafferty famously hated the music industry, but it didn't stop him making superb albums, City to City and Night Owls being my favourites. Its sad that Raphael Ravenscroft passed away after a heart attack at only 60 years old in 2014. Gerry passed away in 2011, due to the effects of alcoholism at the age of 63. Baker Street is a wonderful thing to leave to the world, Rest in Peace.
Thank you, Harri! this song is quite evocative for me -- when it came out, I was working in a low-level office job at an insurance company - on the Milwaukee, WI lakefront.. I remember getting my paycheck on a Friday afternoon - summer - and getting "released" a half-hour early -- driving home along the lakefront... windows down - whole weekend (and my whole life - actually - I was like 18? - ahead) - this song came on my car radio, and I just turned it up - sounded like freedom to me ! -- FYI - Gerry Rafferty is a Scot -- he was also in the band: Steelers Wheel - you probably know "stuck in the middle with you" - lol
It was meant to be about the music business. Gerry was a musical perfectionist it was never about the fame but the music. This was no1 for about 5 weeks I think
Definitely is one of the best songs I ever heard and really enjoyed because is full of rithm melody amazing solos and good lyrics ! For me is a master piece of music , very well made and nicely performed ! Gerry Rafferty was very good genius musician ; RIP ON HIS RESTING FINAL PLACE !
Love this song reminds me of my dad when I was a little boy in the morning in the 70s as he cooked breakfast for me so I could go to school and this was on the radio.
5 thumbs up for this reaction😎 The guitar solo towards the end so perfectly finishes up the angst ridden lyrics. Has always been in my Top 5 since I first heard it in 1981. Check out Right Down the Line...
At the time Baker Street was recorded on United Artists Records, Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere & The Raiders (Indian Reservation) was working there as an A&R man. He signed Gerry Rafferty to UA records. A&R means artists and repertoire. During the recording of Baker Street, Mark Lindsay suggested the sax on this song.
This song makes me think of two things. One, Junior High dances, where my only concern in life was whether my sweaty palms were getting the backs of girls' dresses wet. And two, my favorite (tied with Bond) fictional hero, Sherlock Holmes, who resided at 221B Baker Street.
Gerry Rafferty made some great albums in the late seventees and early eightees for EMI; These albums deserve to be remastered again. Only "city to city" was remastered and expanded but I think this double-cd is out off print for a number of years.
This was very big when I was about 5! Gerry was eventually an alcoholic, but his dedication to his craft (attested to by former bandmate Billy Connolly) was second to none. Still (in my view) one of the most gifted songwriters of the British Isles, he got slightly overshadowed in this by the combination of Raphael Ravenscroft's sax riff (which became a legal issue) and Hugh Burn's screw-faced guitar solo. If he'd had the personal capacity to appreciate it, I think he would have celebrated the fact it went to No.2 in America - but I don't think he even toured it...
Harris I love your reactions, I believe baker street used to be like Gower ave In Hollywood in the 70's, , incredible music at the time, but no where I would even consider drive through today
RIP Gerry Rafferty We love You and We miss You and RIP you too Raphael Ravenscroft the man on the saxophone. The city desert makes you feel so cold; it's got so many people but it's got no soul.
There are a bunch of songs that I love but can't listen to that often because I've heard them SO many times. "Baker Street" is not one of those songs. It's one of those rare songs, at least for me, that never gets old. I've heard this song countless times and I still get hyped when I hear it again. The sax is great, but that guitar solo tho.
You should put this on and drive down Baker’s St. again! I have visited London a couple of times and been to Baker St. but didn’t make the connection. This song just has it all for me.
The older you get, the more heartbreaking this song becomes..........
Gerry Rafferty (RIP) was Scottish. Ever since high school when this song came out, it was always one of my very favorites! Another good song by Gerry Rafferty is "Right Down the Line". He was also part of the band, Stealer's Wheel, known for the song, "Stuck In the Middle with You". Please check those out!
Right Down The Line is one of my all time favorites too !
The lyrics are just so emotional concerning the love for your woman !
Foo Fighters actually played Baker Street live with a little editing and guitar instead of saxophone.
Paisley boy
Raphael Ravenscroft, the greatest sax player to ever grace a pop song 💯. Not to take away from all the elements , Rafferty's great lyrics and vocals, the excellent guitar solo at the end, but man the sax chorus just made this into an enduring classic.
There’s a bit of a controversy over the sax solo. Ravenscroft said it was him riffing off the chords, Hugh Burns who played the guitar solo says it’s Rafferty’s actual score (on the original demo Rafferty had Burns play the sax solo on guitar & they both agreed it sounded better with the sax). But even murkier yet is that the sax riff sounds very similar to the melodic hook in a track by American jazz saxman Steven Marcus called “Half a Heart” recorded in 1968. I’ve heard it. Unmistakable. Irony is neither Marcus nor his co-writer were even aware of “Baker Street,” despite it being a worldwide #1 hit. Rafferty, Ravenscroft and Marcus are all dead so this is all moot at this point. All that said, the song is a classic!
@@John_Chu I appreciate your research, but this was definitely Ravenscroft on the sax solo.
@@RicoBurghFan John Chu never said it wasn't, Numpty-Dumpty.
I was a kid delivering pizza in 1978, I got off work at that time at 1am and I remember the drive home down a busy street that was deserted at that hour and this song playing on the radio all the way home. Funny how memories like that get etched into your mind. I thought it a great song then and now, best sax riff ever and the guitar solo is incredible. A masterpiece for this band.
That sax literally sounds like it’s crying. Great cut! He was also in a group called Stealers Wheel and had a hit called Stuck in the Middle with You which I highly recommend.🤟🏻✌🏻
it is not LIKE the sax is crying.......the sax is REALLY crying
Amazing song, maybe the best song from the 1970s. Love the sax and that guitar solo....just WOW!
The older I get the more I respect the art of songwriting.
Anyone who can make music like this is a genius, as far as I'm concerned.
Once the sax kicks in, you know it's going to be great.
His song "Get It Right Next Time" is literally the coolest vibe ever.
super cool vibe ✔👌🙌🎵
Forgot this vibe. Yes, sooooo coooool.
This is the only song I've heard where the actual chorus is a sax. Always loved it.
That sax 'hook' is one of those thing you never forget. Ever.
9:00 that perfect timing of the saxophone kicking in on the guitar..
This sing was all over the airwaves in the summer of '78. I was more into harder rock, but this caught my attention, and everyone else's as well. It still holds up. Iconic.
This song unseeded the Bee Gees on the Top of The charts that year !
Was a big hit that was always playing in the enlisted mans club on the Navy base I was on at that time.
I heard it every day that summer, on the car radio, driving back and forth to my job in the summer heat. It became my soundtrack for summer 1978;
Gerry Rafferty was a genius!
So beautiful. So unbelievably beautiful.
I’ve heard this song periodically but routinely, since I heard it on AFN in the 70’s. In fact I’d bet more people know music from the 75’-80’ than from the past five years until now. Radio as we knew it should try a comeback.
The Sax adds everything to this song
Al Stewart's Year Of The Cat. Released in 1976, the use of sax on Year Of The Cat preceded Baker Street by a couple of years.
Year of The Cat and Baker Street came out when I was in the 8th grade. I love both songs, they bring me back to my youth.
@@dickcnormis1444 Hi Dick, I am a few years older than you, but another song I would add to a list of "bring me back to my youth" songs is Al Stewart's *Time Passages*.
It was only very recently that I discovered Al Stewart also hails from Scotland! I was introduced to him by a fellow student in the 70s.
@@chrisross1703 Hi cris, Another Scottish singer/songwriter worth a listen is Dougie MacLean. About Al Stewart, a couple of his lesser known, but very good songs are *Roads to Moscow* and *Trains*. (Not "radio material"; based on historical events.)
The Sax in this is heaven! I was listening to this as a kid, mom was a bartender at Volcano House overlooking the volcano on the Big Isle of Hawaii. This song was always playing on the jukebox along with Gordon Lightfoot's "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" - those two songs will be with me for my entire life now.
This song never grow old... :)
Right Down The Line is our song for my wife and I, and has been for over 30 years. It says everything I could never find the words to say to her.
Harry you're a star and a genuine bloke
Definitely one of the best songs to come out of 1978! From what I've read, the sax was originally used as a bed track to remember the progression for later when it was to be replaced by guitar. Upon listening to the playback, Rafferty and his producer discovered how amazing it already sounded and kept the part for saxophone. True or not, the song is made better by that sax.
Right Down the Line by Gerry is my favorite by far.
I absolutely love this song. That sax and the guitar solo. Just so good. It was huge when it first came out.
Better Memories ,Harry for The Future...✨🙏✨✌️💞✨🙏✨
This guy really hears the sax tone and loving it.
This entire album is excellent. I have played it hundreds of times. When this came out I was in the army at AIT and fell asleep every night to this listening on my boom box with headphones.
I was from NJ. I went to Tampa bay for 2 years. I lived in Winnipeg Canada for 3 years and Illinois for 3 years and now I have been in Michigan for 3.5 years.
I am a free spirit!
Not married, no kids. I the rolling stone.
This is a brilliant song, lyrically and instrumentally.
This song is STELLAR! Rafferty was one of the best. He put himself under a lot of pressure and it killed him. What a talent! Check out his band, Stealer's Wheel, with their song "Star". It's next level music... yesterday. 😎
Harri...true story...I wake up to this as my alarm music every day....nice way to sliiiiiide into awareness...when the sax hits...my feet are on the floor!...lol
The mid to late 70’s saw a boom in the use of the Saxophone. So many great pop songs from the likes of Al Stewart, David Bowie, Billy Joel and many others. This one was so influential that they sometimes referred to the popularity of the saxophone from the late 70’s into the 80’s as “The Baker Street Effect”. I believe this song is indeed about the Baker Street in London.
Fabulous! Especially Raphael Ravenscroft, playing the saxaphone. Obviously Gerry Rafferty was the lead singer/writer, brilliant too!!
I was living in the Solomon Islands when this song came out. I didn’t know.
Years later i heard it for the first time, and it knocked me over!!
Immediately ran out the door to buy this gem. I ❤️❤️💕 the sax 🥰
One of my all time Glasgow artists
Love this song. If there was a song made for a Sax. this is it!
The rollin' stone was always running from his past, as if he were trying to outdistance it, but never could.
Harri, Gerry is from PAISLEY SCOTLAND, and was a wonderful singer/songwriter who has also left us sadly, he started out in a folk band called THE HUMBLEBUMS with a certain BILLY CONNOLLY then in STEALER'S WHEEL. My recommendation from him is something simple to this called NIGHT OWL. Keep up the good work kid.
Gerry started out in Stealers Wheel before embarking on a solo career. This is definitely his most popular song but I actually prefer "Right Down the Line" which I consider one of the best love songs ever written.
Harri, I bought this album for my brothers birthday and he STILL HAS IT LOL
Wow!
We have a "Baker Street" in San Francisco and that's what I remember along with the fact that I like listening to it.
'Right Down the Line' is another classic from Jerry Rafferty!
Gerry Rafferty's Right Down The Line is a beautiful love note to the girl in his life!
Great reaction Harri
One of my all time favourites
Always loved Gerry's voice, A unique sound, smooth voice!
The Sax player was paid 27pounds and 50pence for his contribution, the going rate for a session musician, and the cheque bounced. Raphael Ravenscroft's (the sax player) father was Trevor Ravenscroft, he wrote the Spear of Destiny described as an Occult book.
Well, there goes another of the iconic songs of my generation. He's Scottish. He used to be in a band called Stealers Wheels and had to commute between Scotland and London during an ongoing dispute with the band. According to Wikipedia, he stayed in the flat of a friend on Baker Street. Another iconic song was Richard Harris's "MacArthur Park". Richard Harris was most notably an actor, but this song is a cover of a Jimmy Webb song that peaked in the charts. It's a memorable song for me.
Unbelievable! the composition, arrangement and the flow were and are great, the sax grabbed you every time. I remember the first time hearing this track.
Iconic 🎷. I'll be 53 next month, I like 10 when this song was first on the radio.
Still love this!
This song is a masterpiece!
Fantastic song
Launched Raphael Ravenscroft's career because he was just a session sax player at the time. He did play on some George Michael tracks, so he could be on Careless Whisper.
Gerry Rafferty famously hated the music industry, but it didn't stop him making superb albums, City to City and Night Owls being my favourites.
Its sad that Raphael Ravenscroft passed away after a heart attack at only 60 years old in 2014. Gerry passed away in 2011, due to the effects of alcoholism at the age of 63.
Baker Street is a wonderful thing to leave to the world, Rest in Peace.
Thank you, Harri! this song is quite evocative for me -- when it came out, I was working in a low-level office job at an insurance company - on the Milwaukee, WI lakefront.. I remember getting my paycheck on a Friday afternoon - summer - and getting "released" a half-hour early -- driving home along the lakefront... windows down - whole weekend (and my whole life - actually - I was like 18? - ahead) - this song came on my car radio, and I just turned it up - sounded like freedom to me ! -- FYI - Gerry Rafferty is a Scot -- he was also in the band: Steelers Wheel - you probably know "stuck in the middle with you" - lol
That sax is SERIOUSSSSS!!!! LUVVVV IT!!!!!
yes............greatest sax riff ever!
They say everything's about sax.
This is one of those songs, when it comes on the radio you know exactly what it is and who the artist is.
It was meant to be about the music business. Gerry was a musical perfectionist it was never about the fame but the music. This was no1 for about 5 weeks I think
I love this song, music and lyrics, it brings back many memories of my youth.- This gem is from the album "City to City" from 1978.
Now you can go cruise Baker street listening to Baker street
I swear the way you react to music you must be my brother from another country! Pure immersed in the beat and joy expressed.
They used to play this one on the radio constantly loved it every time I heard it
I love watching Harri's reaction to these songs they bring back great memories.
Gerry was simply smooth..... love his music and even his voice is calming..... I honestly could listen to his hits everyday......
One of the most iconic pop songs ever written....
Always liked this song. Smooth silky voice.
His Night Owl album is great.
Definitely is one of the best songs I ever heard and really enjoyed because is full of rithm melody amazing solos and good lyrics !
For me is a master piece of music , very well made and nicely performed !
Gerry Rafferty was very good genius musician ; RIP ON HIS RESTING FINAL PLACE !
Hazel O'connor`s Will You. is a must for Sax fan .
Many great tunes by Mr Rafferty. I enjoy Days Gone Down.
You got to love that SAX!!!
Love this song reminds me of my dad when I was a little boy in the morning in the 70s as he cooked breakfast for me so I could go to school and this was on the radio.
Thanks, Dave! I never hear Baker Street without thinking of freedom from debt!
5 thumbs up for this reaction😎 The guitar solo towards the end so perfectly finishes up the angst ridden lyrics. Has always been in my Top 5 since I first heard it in 1981. Check out Right Down the Line...
Love this song! It's timeless.
Its a wonderful song
At the time Baker Street was recorded on United Artists Records, Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere & The Raiders (Indian Reservation) was working there as an A&R man. He signed Gerry Rafferty to UA records. A&R means artists and repertoire. During the recording of Baker Street, Mark Lindsay suggested the sax on this song.
This is the BEST and classic song for raga version. 🇧🇴
I was a teenager when I first heard this song. I heard that sax, and I wanted to learn to play one!
Me too!
ME 3.
I always loved this song 🎵 ❤. Soulful.
One of my alllll x FAVORITES!!!!!!!
The sax solo is haunting. It grabs you and doesn't let go.
Such an awesome tune
THIS IS MUSIC :-))
.
I remember 1st time I hear this .. 1978 I was in US Coast Guard basic training .. it helped me get through the hard training..
.
Love it! This was a huge hit record. Bought the record and played it to death back then. ♥️🎼🎶🎵🇨🇦🇨🇦
This song makes me think of two things. One, Junior High dances, where my only concern in life was whether my sweaty palms were getting the backs of girls' dresses wet. And two, my favorite (tied with Bond) fictional hero, Sherlock Holmes, who resided at 221B Baker Street.
The sax reminds me of Kenny G’s “We’ve Saved The Best For Last”! God we had so very much great music back in our day!
Gerry Rafferty made some great albums in the late seventees and early eightees for EMI; These albums deserve to be remastered again. Only "city to city" was remastered and expanded but I think this double-cd is out off print for a number of years.
This was very big when I was about 5! Gerry was eventually an alcoholic, but his dedication to his craft (attested to by former bandmate Billy Connolly) was second to none. Still (in my view) one of the most gifted songwriters of the British Isles, he got slightly overshadowed in this by the combination of Raphael Ravenscroft's sax riff (which became a legal issue) and Hugh Burn's screw-faced guitar solo. If he'd had the personal capacity to appreciate it, I think he would have celebrated the fact it went to No.2 in America - but I don't think he even toured it...
One of my favorite guitar solos to play on guitar! Always was in my rotation of great songs!
Harris I love your reactions, I believe baker street used to be like Gower ave
In Hollywood in the 70's, , incredible music at the time, but no where I would even consider drive through today
That sax riff and the one in Bob Seeger's "Turn The Page" both killer.
YOUR REACTION IS THE BEST HARRI!!!!
RIP Gerry Rafferty We love You and We miss You and RIP you too Raphael Ravenscroft the man on the saxophone.
The city desert makes you feel so cold;
it's got so many people but it's got no soul.
I am from Philadelphia and I lived at 4535 Baker Street
I've loved this song since i heard it in high school.
There are a bunch of songs that I love but can't listen to that often because I've heard them SO many times. "Baker Street" is not one of those songs. It's one of those rare songs, at least for me, that never gets old. I've heard this song countless times and I still get hyped when I hear it again. The sax is great, but that guitar solo tho.
Another great song with a brilliant sax riff is Hazel O'Connor - Will You?
You should put this on and drive down Baker’s St. again! I have visited London a couple of times and been to Baker St. but didn’t make the connection. This song just has it all for me.