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gerry rafferty interview

    gerry rafferty interview

    He was in self-destruct mode. He never let "Baker Street" be used for advertising, despite lucrative offers. 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. His wife had just given birth to their daughter and he told me that he didnt have any money to buy nappies, says Brewer. "[55], Rafferty never changed his mind about the music business; if anything, his views hardened. Burns also nodded to the songs unusual structure, which he compared in its unorthodox nature, to Queens Bohemian Rhapsody., Its not just opening, verse, chorus, he said. [2] A son of Joseph and Mary (Skeffington) Rafferty,[3] he had two brothers, Jim and Joe (died 1988). "[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. 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. The Internet is a conspiracy-theory clearing house, and yet the connection between Baker Street and the opening riff of Half a Heart lives in semi-ubiquity. In the same interview, he said that the entire record had been made for approximately 200,000, with half spent on travel, the recording system costing 75,000, and the website and marketing adding 25,000. [citation needed], Rafferty drew a clear distinction between the artistic integrity of a musician, on the one hand, and the music industry's need to create celebrities and sell products, on the other. 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. "[63][64], There were conflicting reports about what happened next. Joseph Rafferty died when Gerry was just sixteen, but if he bequeathed anything to his last-born son it was an affinity for songs in the Irish and Scottish folk tradition. So to hear him talk about his career with such passion, and be. His mother taught him both Irish and Scottish folk songs when he was a boy; later, he was influenced by the music of the Beatles and Bob Dylan. The singer was wary of the media and disliked being asked to analyse his songs, particularly to those outwith his creative circle. Its a topic thats since been remaindered to the small music forums at the dusty edges of the Internet. "[25], Ravenscroft went on to play on Rafferty's next two albums. 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. Inside the recording of Sabbath Bloody Sabbath: only in the new issue of Classic Rock. Still, they managed to record a brilliant second album, Ferguslie Park, which was produced, like its predecessor, by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Chaos! Burns is responsible for the blistering guitar solo on Baker Street and considers working with Gerry Rafferty one of his lifes great honors. He had been signed to A&M. Its a haunting sound that drops bread crumbs from a listeners pocket for their melancholy to follow. 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 . In 2000, he told the Paisley Daily Express that the second Stealers Wheel album, released in 1974, had been named Ferguslie Park, after a deprived[56] area of Paisley, "to get as far away as possible from all the bullshit of the music industry in London. I thought, well, if a little bit of that rubs off on us, perhaps we'll get in the charts as well, but actually, in practice, it was kind of a claustrophobic experience. We will keep you informed of developments as they happen. According to guitarist Hugh Burns, Murphy's death was "a great blow to Gerry"[42] and marked the end of a creative partnership that had lasted almost 30 years. 'Can I Have My Money Back?' "[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. "Thats how they regulated the charts. Gerry was a joker he used to joke all the time, an absolute nutter. "[75] Speaking after the funeral, Charlie Reid of The Proclaimers said: "I think Gerry Rafferty was one of the few people who really successfully straddled the worlds of both folk and popular music. Despite being credited with the song, at least across the Internet, Burton himself hadnt been familiar with Half a Heart. Moreover, he was baffled when I told him that he had been listed as the songs composer. I saw a man in despair". [70][71], A requiem mass was held for Rafferty at St Mirin's Cathedral in his native town of Paisley on 21 January 2011. Rafferty quickly denies this and points out that the destination of The Ark is extremely indefinite, though he does admit to reading such mystics as Gurdjieff and Ouspensky. It's much more effective than taking Prozac!" Bath And Gerry would barge into their umbrella, shout Oh my god!, and as he hit the ground hed take his glass eye out and let it roll on the pavement. (Both of these were popular hobbies in the year 1978. Stealers Wheels management company Ricochet had disappeared with the bands money and times were tough. ", Rafferty's next album, Night Owl, also did well. In an interview with BBC Radio 2 in September 2000, Gerry Rafferty himself explained the reasoning behind his decision not to tour. [17] After the disputes were resolved in 1978, he recorded his second solo album, City to City, with producer Hugh Murphy, which included the song with which he remains most identified, "Baker Street". Fuschini contested the will, but it was later reported that she had lost her case and 75,000 legal costs were awarded against her. It makes me think of home, nostalgia and happiness. His background was soaked in Scottish socialism and poverty, his mind sharp and his personality acerbic, and he wasn't going to be dazzled by the glamour of success. Gerry Rafferty, a Scottish singer and songwriter who combined a gift for melody, a distinctive voice and a fatalistic worldview to produce 1970s hits like "Stuck in the Middle With You" and. "[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. Gerry Rafferty. He was an artist through and though., Seemingly alone in its era, Baker Street managed to stand out at the height of punk and new wave and also shined through the summer of Grease and the twilight of discos last saccharine gleaming. [48], Rafferty maintained his enthusiasm for this new approach to recording for the next three years. Raffertys rise to glory hadnt come about entirely by chance. In 1978, he recorded his second solo album, City to City, which included "Baker Street", his most popular song. That wasnt a very good career move. He didn't know how good he was. Night Owl Gerry Rafferty Buy album Year of Release: 1979 Appears in: 30 charts Rank Score: 122 Rank in 1979: 145 Rank in 1970s: 1,467 Overall Rank: 9,694 "[38], In 2008, Rafferty moved away from California and briefly rented a home in Ireland, where his drinking soon became a problem again. [18] The album sold over 5.5million copies, toppling the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack in the US on 8 July 1978. So he goes on David Frost, and I think it took four minutes before hed lost his audience. "[35], Based at 16th-century[36] Tye Farm in Hartfield, near the Kent-Sussex border, Rafferty installed electric gates to protect his privacy, built a recording studio, and worked largely by himself[37] or with Murphy. Its important to understand that. 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 . She wont have much time to correct her ignorance, however, because Rafferty is rushing off to L.A. and another round of press interviews. January 4, 2011. I said, If you give him 5 million, youll never get another album Its the worst thing you can do. He has a flight to catch. In the liner notes to the album, Rafferty's long-time friend and collaborator Rab Noakes commented: "Let's hope [the Baker Street demo] will, at last, silence all who keep on asserting that the saxophone player came up with the melody line. And theres still another wrinkle on the other side of the pond. By registering for free articles you will receive our weekly newsletter, you can change this preference at any time by clicking Unsubscribe in the newsletter. So what you get is someones heartfelt experience and you put that into the lyric and into the song. I never intended making a career out of any of the jobs I did. So I took the 75., It worked. 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". [11] Billboard praised the album as "high-grade folk-rock", describing it as Rafferty's "finest work" to date: "His tunes are rich and memorable with an undeniable charm that will definitely see him into the album and very possibly singles charts soon". Soundtrack: 50/50. [34] According to Michael Gray, Rafferty's personal manager at the height of his success, he turned down many opportunities to work with other artists:[38] " he retained a healthy scepticism not just about the music industry but about society, money and politics in general. He was so rude about his fanbase, about the American people and going on the road, that at the end of the day, that was it it was all over. Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns/Getty. It goes through a little kind of journey, it takes you through a journey and so, in some sense, its a very complete composition, which is unusual for popular music at that time. [11] Instead of a cover painting and hand-lettering by John 'Patrick' Byrne, who had illustrated every previous Rafferty and Stealers Wheel album, Sleepwalking featured a simple, stark photograph of an empty road stretching to the sky. In conversations with both Burns and Burton, a controversy and lawsuit involving George Harrison came up. But few people know the origin story of rocks most iconic sax riff, which is complicated, to say the least. 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 Billy Connolly on Gerry Rafferty (Conan O'Brien, 2012) russallert 5.31K subscribers 597K views 5 years ago Billy Connolly appears on the Conan O'Brien show in 2012 and tells a story about his. According to Murphy, interviewed by Billboard in 1993, he and Rafferty had to beg the record label, United Artists, to release "Baker Street" as a single: "They actually said it was too good for the public. In some of his new songs there still can be heard what Rafferty, whose father was born in Ireland, describes as a sort of Celtic thing in the harmonies and chord progressions. 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. 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". 2023 Rolling Stone, LLC. this can result in this site earning a commission. In a 2011 episode of the NBC show 30 Rock, which aired the same year that Rafferty died, Tina Feys character paces the streets faced with the prospects of losing her job as a television writer. Gerry had had a tough upbringing in Glasgow and the manager sensed that he carried "tremendous resentment" about it. [citation needed], Also in 1983, Rafferty announced his intention to take a break and devote more time to his family: "It dawned on me that since Baker Street I had been touring the world, travelling everywhere and seeing nowhere. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and No. Gerry Rafferty Buy album Year of Release: 1978 Appears in: 141 charts Rank Score: 881 Rank in 1978: 35 Rank in 1970s: 375 Overall Rank: 1,918 Average Rating: 76 (159 votes) Comments: 8 2. Nice memories. (Thanks, Jack.). His next door neighbour was [Island Records owner] Chris Blackwell. Gerry Rafferty - Right Down the Line (Lyric Video) 'Right Down the Line' is taken from the album 'City to City'. The collection of blues, rock, and folk demos had been planned for a new album before his death. [15] Twenty years later, the song was used prominently in the 1992 movie Reservoir Dogs; Rafferty refused to grant permission for its re-release. [3] It was the third release from Rafferty's City to City LP as the follow-up to his first major hit as a solo artist, "Baker Street". This is a great song.. The jazz-rock fusion album was almost exclusively of cover songs such as The Beatles title track. That means youre there dead on two oclock, you have a coffee break at exactly five oclock, and then you finish at eight oclock on the dot and you dont go over regardless of what youre doing. This was again on the Hypertension music label. "[7] Monsignor John Tormey, celebrating Rafferty's funeral mass, suggested the singer's attitude to fame was an indication of his spiritual integrity: "He always searched for a more authentic way to live his life, shunning the outward trappings of celebrity so that he might live as he chose to live his life."[52]. Curiously though, the composition of Half a Heart is credited to Gary Burton, a vibraphonist and composer, who went to Berklee College of Music with Marcus in the early 1960s and lived down the block from him when the two moved from Boston to New York to start their music careers. We want to hear it. . And heres five grand, in cash, to help you.. 1 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks charts in the US. They based chart positions on what theyd shipped, not what theyd sold. Thompson's usually spontaneous, no-frills attitude toward recording was at odds with Rafferty's approach. 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'. He wanted his talent to be respected. Byrne was also responsible for one of Rafferty's most prized possessions: a hand-painted Martin acoustic guitar bearing his portrait and the name 'Gerry Rafferty', which features in many photographs of the singer. After they disbanded in 1971, he recorded his first solo album, Can I Have My Money Back? [26] In a 2003 interview with The Sun (Scotland), Rafferty commented on how profitable his biggest song had been: "Baker Street still makes me about 80,000 a year. At thirty-one, hes clearly overcome much of the anger he felt as a younger man toward both women and the music business. The follow-up single "Get It Right Next Time" made the UK and US Top 40. Mainly philosophy, art, religion, psychology and many a biography."). Enter Raphael Ravenscroft, a session saxophonist who came highly recommended, and the rest is history or at least a hit single. 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. Im going to steal something from you., Now, Id always said to my staff, You must never involve yourself in a relationship with any of my artists or else Ill be forced to fire you. Burns told me that theres no question that Rafferty came up with the music that became the famous riff line on Baker Street. After Burns laid down the solo, Rafferty asked him to have a go at what obviously became very famous, which was the sax line. Burns tried it on guitar, but the two men agreed that it would be better on the saxophone. Once Rafferty decided to look in the Berlin telephone directory to see if any Hitlers were listed.[10]. And I don't plan to be in the public eye too much now either. The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time And that all he wanted to do was write songs for his daughter., "I said, Right. Its important to say that in the case of that particular instrumental opening to Baker Street, it was entirely Gerrys line, said Burns. "And that's when the fun started," says Brewer. "Gerry Rafferty and his songs of alienation", "Stealers Wheel | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links", "BBC Radio 2 Sold on Song TOP 100 number 48 Baker street", "Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street" Revisited", "Gerry Rafferty Biography: 'Right Down the Line' Liner Notes", Musician Gerry Rafferty took refuge in farm at height of fame, "The Proclaimers - Letter From America (Band Version)", "Archived version of Gerry Rafferty's Website (6 December 2000)", "News section postings dated 23 February 2004 and 31 March 2004", "Tickets & Eintrittskarten online kaufen | Hypertension Music", Gerry Rafferty's funeral is held in Paisley, "Obituary: Gerry Rafferty, singer and songwriter", 'I lost my soulmate' says Gerry Rafferty's fiancee, "Gerry Rafferty, 'Baker Street' Singer, Dies at 63", "The lonely road from 'Baker Street' to skid row", "Gerry Rafferty's struggle with demons, and the Willie Whitelaw connection Telegraph Blogs", "Missing Baker Street singer Gerry Rafferty is living in hiding", "Gerry Rafferty happily stuck in the middle of Tuscany", Neighbours of Baker Street star Gerry Rafferty speak of shock at his collapse, Hope for family as Rafferty is taken off life support machine, "Gerry Rafferty's daughter sings at his funeral", "Baker Street singer Gerry Rafferty died at his daughter's home in Stroud", Mourners' Farewell To Singer Gerry Rafferty, "Gerry Rafferty's girlfriend loses battle for inheritance", "Baker Street singer Gerry Rafferty dies at age of 63", "Finbar Furey leads tributes to the late singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty", "Star tribute as Gerry Rafferty Drive opens", "Bring It All Home Gerry Rafferty Remembered", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gerry_Rafferty&oldid=1150587964, Musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, This page was last edited on 19 April 2023, at 00:00. Click here for academic and other group subscriptions. The Humblebums were a flop My life doesn't stand or fall by the amount of people who buy my records. Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by flyingdutchman, Aug 17, 2021. Politicians in attendance were the First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond MSP, Wendy Alexander MSP, Hugh Henry MSP, and Robin Harper MSP. tenor sax player who toured with the jazz great Buddy Rich. He joined the folk-pop group the Humblebums (of which Billy Connolly was a member) in 1969. Four days later, my personal assistant suddenly disappeared. Bonnie Raitt recorded a reggae treatment of "Right Down the Line" for her Slipstream album released 10 April 2012. The track appeared on Dickson's albums Don't Think Twice It's All Right (1992) and The Barbara Dickson Collection (2006). In fact, most of what I played was an old blues riff, he once explained. Signing up for the RBP newsletter provides access to a limited number of free articles, as well as six new free articles every week. [63], On 17 February 2009, The Guardian reported that Rafferty was in hiding in the south of England, being cared for by a friend. First, he [Rafferty] wrote from his experience. The remaining tracks are remastered tracks from his previous three albums. Guitarist Richard Thompson helped by performing on the track "Take The Money and Run", and the title track was a UK No. Rafferty had apparently not changed his will after meeting Enzina Fuschini in 2008 and left her nothing. Gerry Rafferty in Amsterdam, 1972. He was a very humble man. Scottish singer/songwriter Gerry Rafferty, best known for his solo hit "Baker Street" and "Stuck In The . Rafferty recorded his first solo album, Can I Have My Money Back?, with Hugh Murphy, a staff producer working for the label. Rafferty says working with the legendary authors of Hound Dog and producers of (among others) the Coasters was trying. I dont have a manager now, nor do I want one.. Rafferty and Fuschini rented a large home together in Upton, near Poole. ZigZag, He may be sitting on top of the world as he gives interviews in his rumpled room at New York Citys Plaza Hotel, yet he regards that world with a Scotsmans dour distrust. Its most popular comment is this: This song makes me think of the Summer of 1978. Rafferty himself said as much, during an interview taken not long before his death in 2009: "There have been periods in my life where I have experienced depression. And he also seems to have overcome what he admits was a fondness for one drink too many (as we talked, he royed with a glass of water). Brewer was a big fan of Stealers Wheel and met Rafferty in London. When he gets there, Artie Mogull is in a hurry. Released as a single in July 1978, it reached #12 on the U.S. 17 in the US. He did it really well and he was respected in both camps. Ravenscroft considered his contribution to Baker Street to be substantial enough to warrant a songwriting credit or a percentage of publishing money. All rights reserved. Two years after the release of Night Owl, Gerry Rafferty presented his fans with Snakes & Ladders, and although some of his former album's charm and lyrical appeal manages to resurface, the whole of the album comes up short. A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. But they were old-school producers. Billy said, We got 10 points if they passed out, 5 points if they screamed He was a wonderful character in those days., When City To City was finished, Brewer shopped it around record companies.

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