Customer Reviews

Baker Street

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4 star:		(1)
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One of the best songs ever written, period. Baker Street is a sweeping gesture, attempting and succeeding in bringing the banal, "I'm gonna give up the booze and the one night stands," in line with a sweeping sax line that transcends all. Will he "settle down, in a quite little town and forget about everything?" One doubts it, but there is salvation in music nonetheless, and a though "he's rollin', he's the rollin' stone" we have to give credit where effort is made. There is hope for our wounded hero. Gerry Rafferty has written an beautiful, haunting song.

This song starts with some nice sustained guitar notes and bongo into which is blended a wailing, melancholy sax. At a minute the vocal enters. The vocal is well performed and I like the quality of Jerry Rafferty's voice which is a tenor with a very slight nasal quality that doesn't get irritating. The sax reenters the composition from time to time and is one of the really great aspects. There is also an orchestra that comes in along with continued persecution. Overall it is a moody yet invigorating performance.

Gerry Rafferty's song "Baker Street" introduces us to an everyman anti-hero. "And then you'll settle down, in a quiet little town and forget about everything." But not all is well and settled. "He'll always keep movin', you know he'll always keep moving, cause he's rollin', he's the rollin' stone." Despite the pedestrian-level encounter with one of ours, the saxophone lifts us and our hero higher, it transcends the bounds of these confines, and therein lies the genius of the song. A fabulous, exciting and relevant song even now...

Baker Street is a rock masterpiece. It is quite clear which generation of rock it is from, yet it has a timeless quality. The saxophone licks alone will sear themselves in your brain forever. Alas, Gerry Rafferty was a troubled musical genius who lost his battle with his personal demons. How amazing it would have been if he had been more productive. It almost feels like he bottled it all up in this one amazing, divine song. Every music lover, regardless of favorite genre, may enjoy this track.

I grew up listening to this great song, and Mr. Rafferty's death, only two days ago prompted me to download it for myself.
Rafferty's soft tenor vocals about attempting to cast off old ways, but pessimistic about it, a sorching guitar solo, and Raf Ravenscroft's towering sax.
On the surface, this song sounds like a celebration, but the lyrics reveal it to be about unhappiness over habits best left behind.
Anyone familiar with Stealers Wheel's "Stuck in the Middle" will hear another great Rafferty song, although far more upbeat.
Sadly, his later days were largely unhappy, but I thank him for his excellent music.
RIP

Amazon did a great job of encoding at 236 kbps. This is the version I remember from 1978. Heard while laying on beach at Ocean City, MD in 1978. This is the version of the song you want! If Gerry Rafferty's voice sounds familiar it's because he sang on Stealers Wheel's song "Stuck In The Middle With You". Gerry also had a hit with "Right Down The Line" in August 1978. Enjoy.

Baker Street is the only song I really have ever heard by this singer, and it is well done. It's not hard rock, but it has a nice blending of guitar and voice in a very pleasant way. Take a listen if you have been in a cave for the last numerous years; it is played on classic rock stations once in a while, and seems to have a following.