Is there anyone who lived through the seventies who couldn't name "Baker Street" after hearing the first one or two notes? I never get tired of hearing that song, no matter how many times it gets played.
It appears Gerry Rafferty sought obscurity on some level - with me, he succeeded - I knew both songs instantly, but not the artist. (Hadn't heard them in years).
The late seventies did offer up some amazing music... Fleetwood Mac would mix nicely with Rafferty... any ideas for other groups / songs for a mix?
So, I will just move it here, as a comment, and delete the video portion:
I remember the first time I heard 'Baker Street'.
A winter afternoon in Anchorage, and cold!
I was moving a car from the parking lot which was located down the hill from our office, because walking conditions were poor, and Myrtle was getting older.
She was an interesting lady, the first I'd ever met with 'decorative' teeth. Especially the front one done in silver with a tiny gold heart inlay. She was also the first woman I ever knew with multiple ear-ring piercings.
Not sure what she had done in her life prior to working for the State Of Alaska, but at this time she was a 50-something secretary, and good at that job despite the clashing visuals.
In any case, I was bringing up her full-sized Oldsmobile while my Mazda warmed in the lot, when this song came on.
The opening distracted me enough that I was too slow to react to the man who pulled in front of me from a parking spot. It was his fault, but I've always felt guilty.
After hearing this, I bought his 'City To City' album on vinyl, but somehow it never made the jump to CD after I had a couple hundred albums stolen.
Inside my mind, the incredible, soaring saxophone opening to Baker Street will always be underlaid by the crunch of bending sheetmetal and the tinkle of broken headlight glass.
Lewy - Steely Dan was slick, but it was not due to overproduction.
Watch some the their live performances on YouTube, and you will be able to see that they simply possess an incredible level of musicianship, plus obviously practice a very long time.
Oops, forgot to thank the delightful lady red for adding Baker Street. Thank you.
I just heard that one of the two Mega Millions jackpot lottery tickets was purchased at the Safeway store in the WA town where my brother and sister in law live :)
I played Baker Street on the radio when it was a hit. There is something about listening to that sax on the wide-band air-monitor with the heterodyne noise. It is what I call a "time machine"song.
lewy, Kamakiriad. Take a listen! It's exquisite. I'm not sure why Donald Fagan released it as a solo since Walter Becker played on most (if not all) of it.
florrie, I'll take a listen to Kamakiriad - sounds interesting...
I have a vivid recollection of walking near my fraternity house, which I'd just moved into - 1982 - perfect fall day, I had a freshly taped Avalon on my Walkman, I was hopelessly in love (and lust) with my new girlfriend, and I was high as a m*****f**king kite...
Yes, indeed, RIP Mr. Rafferty.
ReplyDeleteIs there anyone who lived through the seventies who couldn't name "Baker Street" after hearing the first one or two notes? I never get tired of hearing that song, no matter how many times it gets played.
Fay, I just love the sax on "Baker Street".
ReplyDeleteWhat a sad story.
ReplyDeleteIt appears Gerry Rafferty sought obscurity on some level - with me, he succeeded - I knew both songs instantly, but not the artist. (Hadn't heard them in years).
The late seventies did offer up some amazing music... Fleetwood Mac would mix nicely with Rafferty... any ideas for other groups / songs for a mix?
Hmm..how about "Sultans of Swing"?
ReplyDeleteSeveral Heart songs come to mind..."Crazy On You", "Magic Man".
ReplyDeletelady red - thanks for the ideas. I'm going to go seed a Pandora channel or three...
ReplyDelete"any ideas for other groups / songs for a mix? "
ReplyDeleteSqueeze
Roxy Music
Joan Armatrading
David Bowie
Police
Squeeze. Yes. And I must listen to some Joan Armatrading, I never did much back in the day. (Roxy Music / David Bowie / Police were big favorites).
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking Steely Dan, but there's something just a tad too slick about them.
Somehow I did not see this before doing my own little tribute to Gerry Rafferty.
ReplyDeleteAh, well.
So, I will just move it here, as a comment, and delete the video portion:
ReplyDeleteI remember the first time I heard 'Baker Street'.
A winter afternoon in Anchorage, and cold!
I was moving a car from the parking lot which was located down the hill from our office, because walking conditions were poor, and Myrtle was getting older.
She was an interesting lady, the first I'd ever met with 'decorative' teeth. Especially the front one done in silver with a tiny gold heart inlay. She was also the first woman I ever knew with multiple ear-ring piercings.
Not sure what she had done in her life prior to working for the State Of Alaska, but at this time she was a 50-something secretary, and good at that job despite the clashing visuals.
In any case, I was bringing up her full-sized Oldsmobile while my Mazda warmed in the lot, when this song came on.
The opening distracted me enough that I was too slow to react to the man who pulled in front of me from a parking spot. It was his fault, but I've always felt guilty.
After hearing this, I bought his 'City To City' album on vinyl, but somehow it never made the jump to CD after I had a couple hundred albums stolen.
Inside my mind, the incredible, soaring saxophone opening to Baker Street will always be underlaid by the crunch of bending sheetmetal and the tinkle of broken headlight glass.
RIP, Gerry.
Lewy - Steely Dan was slick, but it was not due to overproduction.
ReplyDeleteWatch some the their live performances on YouTube, and you will be able to see that they simply possess an incredible level of musicianship, plus obviously practice a very long time.
"Somehow I did not see this before doing my own little tribute to Gerry Rafferty"
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your story Dances, it made me chuckle.
Oops, forgot to thank the delightful lady red for adding Baker Street. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI just heard that one of the two Mega Millions jackpot lottery tickets was purchased at the Safeway store in the WA town where my brother and sister in law live :)
They were not the purchasers :(
I played Baker Street on the radio when it was a hit. There is something about listening to that sax on the wide-band air-monitor with the heterodyne noise. It is what I call a "time machine"song.
ReplyDeleteDances, #11, I think you're absolutely right. Although, as the saying goes, de gustibus non est disputandum.
ReplyDeleteimg:"http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y117/floranista/dancingrwcimage.gif"
I loved Gerry Rafferty's music. Gosh, the artists of my generation seem to be dropping like flies.
ReplyDeleteRIP, Gerry.
IIRC, didn't Billy Connolly used to jam with him?
ReplyDeleteYay florrie's here!
ReplyDeleteYes, Gerry played in the same band as Billy. Billy left when his comedy grew bigger than his music.
As, you're so nice to say that, Fay :-)
ReplyDeleteI think it might have been you who recommended a biography of Billy Connollly? I thoroughly enjoyed it, I LOVE Mrs. Brown.
Shyte, I meant to say Aw!
ReplyDeleteimg:"http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y117/floranista/concentrate.gif"
Now I know how RWC felt when he got his new laptop...my typing is worse than ever, if possible.
Probably was me florrie, it was written by his wife Pamela Stevenson and documented his less than illustrious upbringing in Glasgow.
ReplyDeleteGreat book.
And now I have to go to bed...
ReplyDeleteSweet dreams florrie.
You're right and it was a wonderful book (and very honest one as well). He overcame so much.
ReplyDeleteSweet dreams, dear Fay.
lewy, Kamakiriad. Take a listen! It's exquisite. I'm not sure why Donald Fagan released it as a solo since Walter Becker played on most (if not all) of it.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, Roxie Music is great too.
More than this...you know there's nothing...
*sigh*
florrie, I'll take a listen to Kamakiriad - sounds interesting...
ReplyDeleteI have a vivid recollection of walking near my fraternity house, which I'd just moved into - 1982 - perfect fall day, I had a freshly taped Avalon on my Walkman, I was hopelessly in love (and lust) with my new girlfriend, and I was high as a m*****f**king kite...
More than this...you know there's nothing...
Exactly.
That's one of the great things about music, how a song can evoke a certain memory as if it was yesterday.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you shared that, lewy :-)
flo and everyone - thanks for the suggestions - here's another blast from the past...
ReplyDeleteThe Year of the Cat
That is a very nice live version, lewy. Thanks for the trip down memory lane, I hadn't heard that in years.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it has been a long time since I heard any Al Stewart, used to be one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteAs a trivia question, can anyone name the comic book that Stewart's 'Past, Present & Future' album cover was based on?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media/product-gallery/B0000032V0/ref=cm_ciu_pdp_images_0?ie=UTF8&index=0
No, it's not a link, but it will let you see the album that I think was his best.