Customer Reviews

Stuck In The Middle With You (Remastered)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a recent re-recording by some musicians ( NOT GERRY RAFFERTY & JOE EGAN ) who were featured on the first Stealers Wheel album and have made their re-recordings available to download but are now passing themselves off as Stealers Wheel
SO BEWARE - THIS RECORDING DOESNT FEATURE GERRY RAFFERTY OR JOE EGAN

This download is clearly labeled on Amazon.com as a remaster of the original song but it is actually a re-recording of the song. The vocals are obviously Gerry Rafferty but his voice sounds older and the performance and arrangement is slightly different in places. If you want the original, see this download instead. Stuck In The Middle With You

First, I must take exception to the other reviewer who claims this is not the original Stealers Wheel version of this song.
He claims this is the version re-recorded by some of the studio musicians who performed with Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan for the original recording sessions of this song.
He's wrong, I believe because he confused this REMASTERED version with a RE-RECORDED version.

My evidence is right here - Stuck In The Middle With You (Re-Recorded / Remastered)
As you can see, the above link is for a re-recording, something quite different from a simple remaster.
A REMASTER is an original recording taken from the best fully mixed master transferred to the digital medium with the best possible techniques and digital to analog converters to ensure the best sound quality to the consumer.
A RE-RECORDING, on the other hand, consists of a completely new mix and performance committed to a totally new master for the music consumer, in this case with neither Mr. Rafferty nor Mr. Egan being involved.
I don't mean to sound as if I am flaming the reviewer here, but I believe that accuracy is important, and that the Rafferty estate and the still living Joe Egan should get all the royalties they so richly deserve for this excellent song.
Reckless claims regarding the authenticity of this song would definitely jeopardize purchases, and thus those royalties.

Okay, back to my review.
This song is just so infectious, with its handclap percussion section and bit of steel guitar accents, but it's the late Gerry Rafferty's slightly nasal soft tenor voice that really carries this along.
It's just one of those songs that will get anyone's toe tapping and head bobbing along.
Anyone familiar with the movie "Reservoir Dogs" will vividly recall this song's use in a key scene that features some extremely graphic violence, and this upbeat tune only accentuates that scene.
Please don't let that particular movie ruin this magnificent song for you, though.
This song was also featured in the movie "Roadhouse," with Jeff Healy covering it and nicely executing some aggressive bottleneck work on his guitar, played with his customary style, held face up across his lap.
Another thing that should come as a real surprise to the listener is that both this song and Gerry Rafferty's song "Baker Street" are Rafferty compositions.
The contrast in styles and lyrical content between the two could not be much different, with "Baker Street" having a far more downbeat tone until the closing verse.
Sadly, Gerry Rafferty is no longer with us, as of last week.
However, his excellent music will live on, and the Scottish people (yes, Rafferty was one) should be proud of that.