Vocal Coach reacts to Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street

[@jeffsamuels3557]

I was fortunate to have edited Baker Street for American radio. He was a pleasure to work with. To this day I still love the song. I think it's timeless

[@kustomized4886]

That's awesome. It is a great song. My daughter is 15 and it's in her playlist.

[@langdonbiggs1596]

Cooool!

[@purportedly]

In which way did it need editing?

[@lordfuckwad]

Stop the cap

[@LiamGervaise]

@@lordfuckwadyou are so embarrassing 😭

[@kf8575]

Such a rich, smooth voice. Is such a great song, one of my faves👍

[@terryjohinke8065]

One of the 20th. century's great songs. It shows how balanced songs were written, shared and played in that era.

[@marshallgeorge3819]

The studio version has some AMAZING production. You can really pick it up with good headphones on - percussion, brass - the song is just LOADED!

[@christopherwinkler4451]

i've only just recently have come to appreciate this. I assume it's true of the whole album since It's also true of the other two singles from City To City, Home And Dry and Right Down The Line (I just discovered the claves in the left and right ear doing a sort of call and response thing, thanks to listening through just a $10 pair of headphones). I wish I could afford a good pair. It really is the best way to fully appreciate great music and great production.

[@Vocalzone_covers]

Such a great musician with a beautiful voice. So sad how his life ended up.

[@davidcochran6291]

He had a gorgeous voice. It's a shame he proved to be so self-destructive. A massive talent.

[@osovagabundo1]

Timeless classic, one can always stop, listen, and become mesmerized. Every instrument has its spot and the lyrics speak to the listener as they age. Perspective of humanity . Excellent Beth! 🤩😍✨

[@leehackett1614]

One half of the Humblebums! Love Gerry Rafferty For me this and Careless Whisper stand out for iconic saxophone usage. They’re very underrated as a music instrument

[@Chris-NE]

Not only a beautiful singer and writer, but a great arranger too. I love that sort of swirl of sound at the begining before the sax kicks in. And regarding the sax solo, If you take a listen to the Demo version of the song you'll hear the solo played note for note on guitar. He had a clear idea of how the finished piece would sound. It's here on KZbin. I agree with you Beth about the lack of instrumental solos in pop songs as they are today. Apparently the record companies like everything you'll hear in the song to be present within the first 30 seconds. It's an attention span thing i'm told?!? If Gerry was still with us now he'd be told to ditch the sax!

[@jamesdignanmusic2765]

Yup, he got the night train - hence the title of the album this is from, "City to City". This performance is quite clearly mimed to camera, but it's still lovely. Such a great songwriter, with a wonderful voice. RIP Gerry.

[@dishmanw]

That's so sad. When did he pass away?

[@jamesdignanmusic2765]

@@dishmanw 2011. Unfortunately, he had the poet's curse - he couldn't resist alcohol. Eventually his liver gave out.

[@dishmanw]

@@jamesdignanmusic2765 Yep, a lot of creatives self-medicate, sometimes to their detrment . Possibly because their mind can't stop thinking?

[@jamesdignanmusic2765]

@@dishmanw That would make a lot of sense. The mind can be a big pain sometimes.

[@christopherwinkler4451]

Actually this vid is from a live performance, but someone has laid the studio audio over it. If you want to see an analysis of the actual live performance, Fil from Wings Of Pegasus did it on his channel about 5 years ago.

[@MrHws5mp]

I have a weird personal association with this song. Star Wars had just come out, and I'd pestered my mum to take me to see it for weeks. Then on the evening we were going out to the cinema, Baker Street was on Top Of The Pops. It was the first time I'd heard it, so I was saying, "no, hang on a minute, just let me hear this finish!" and mum was like, "we're going to be late and you've been mithering for this for ages!" 😄 So I watched Star Wars with Baker Street fresh in my ears, and even now, 40-odd years later, every time I hear that sax solo I see, in my mind's eye, Luke Skywalker driving (flying?) across the deserts of Tatooine in his landspeeder...

[@aronp7097]

I have a similar memory..... but with Christopher Cross's ride like the wind, and Star Wars

[@feedingravens]

Yeah, I can imagine the sax solo and the Star Destroyer in the opening scene made a perfect fit.

[@MrHws5mp]

@@feedingravens For some reason I always associate it with the Tatooine scenes. Put the sax solo over Luke watching the double sunset...👍

[@lostinpa-dadenduro7555]

I feel you man.

[@kustomized4886]

I like your story. Music associations from childhood are the best. I actually associated it with Good will hunting. It was in the beginning of the movie and it was very familiar. When I heard it again recently it stands out to me as one of the greats.

[@Van1973Auken]

It's so true! I see these younger kids doing reactions to older songs, and they marvel at techniques and instruments (and rightly so). They seem like it's lost on them how people can play guitar without sampling, or play drums without layering tracks together. It seems that artistry itself is becoming a lost art, and that is sad.

[@jeffmorse645]

One of my favorite songs of all time and I think one of the best pop/rock songs ever. It was popular the spring I was graduating high school in the US. Every time I hear it for a short moment I'm transported back to 1978!

[@sriramkalaga9300]

That sax solo by Raphael Ravenscroft was the most recognizable solo in music ever. Pity that he was paid just 25 quid for the work! I listened to it in the early 1980's and did so a million times in between: I get the same warm feeling even now! Oh Beth, I remember watching a tribute video filmed in Paisley where 100s of sax players played this solo simultaneously! ❤❤

[@dieselbourbon3728]

One of those songs you melt into.

[@markgallagher1621]

Love this song. Doesn't she realize its the actual recording and all these musicians are miming like they do n shows like 'top of the pops'

[@chetstevens4583]

One of the best sax parts ever (along with Scenes from an Italian restaurant) to ever grace a stereo speaker.

[@FionaEm]

This song was huge in Australia, and it's my favourite track of all time. The complex instrumentation contrasts with simple lyrics about a guy struggling to make it. Perfectly executed from start to finish 😍 I agree about the lack of middle eights in music today. They used to give a structure and sense of drama that's missing from today's songs.

[@SilvanoA]

A song with a great key for relaxing moments, the instrumental composition is perfect. Well done Beth, listening to you is always a pleasure 👍

[@derrickshultz6800]

Every time I hear this song I have flashbacks to my childhood at the public pool of a small town in the summer. They were always playing music but this song is the only one that triggers that memory. So vivid that I can remember every detail of the pool, the snack bar, the diving boards, life guards, everything. Others have mentioned the Foo Fighter’s version. Definitely worth checking out. They did the song justice.

[@3275Dan]

First time I discovered this song was as a kid watching the famous Simpsons episode with Lisa and that Saxaphone guy who taught her to play this song. Been years since I watched Simpsons, but I do remember that was a great episode, and great ending to episode to.

[@jeffk1482]

This song is absolutely timeless, and that sax solo is *immortal*, ICONIC, the stuff of legends. It's the saxophone equivalent of that drum hit in "In The Air Tonight". (Edit: 2 seconds after I sent the comment, you said iconic. We're agreed!!!)

[@mp4-27d3]

I will never forget the first time I heard this song, it was 1978 and I was 11 years old. The beginning of the song was different and then the saxophone started and it just got better, then Gerry started singing and I was hooked. I loved this song and the thing I loved most is it was so long…like 6 minutes. That was the best. For years I had no idea who sang it, because the radio guys never said his name. It was probably another 5 years before I found out and it’s been burned into my memory. One of my favorite songs of all time. Great, great song.

[@BethRoars]

📖 Get your signed copy of my album Fable here: www.bethroars.com/shop ☀ Pre-save my first single "Power Of The Wolf" on Spotify (it really helps me out!): distrokid.com/hyperfollow/bethroars/power-of-the-wolf 🥁 Become a Patreon Supporter: www.patreon.com/bethroars

[@andreascala2663]

can i suggest you to react to Elisa O forse sei tu?

[@simonmultiverse6349]

I'd rather hear the music on its own and then the commentary on its own. It's harder to hear when there's talking and music at the same time.

[@davidcochran6291]

@@simonmultiverse6349 blame that on the music label, and distributors and any of the half dozen people and companies that have their fingers in those pies. Plus, youtube turned into the media gestapo a while ago with their 3 Strikes and you're out policy. It's tough doing what they have to do. Plus Beth is a vocal instructor so she assumes that is why you're there. To learn how to sing. I have let go of a dozen or more other vocal instructors that are way, way, way worse than she ever thought of being. I know how you feel. But, there are lots more that are way worse.

[@tomfabozzi5353]

A lovely story about Gerry Rafferty: a couple of years after this, Richard (once of Fairport Convention) and Linda Thompson- who were about to go through an acrimonious divorce, but were still playing as an act- were broke after issuing a number of critically acclaimed but poorly selling albums. Gerry offered to pay for their studio time, and even though he fell out quite badly with Richard Thompson, he kept his promise. He paid for their album, they got a deal, and got the album released.

[@shuggiemcg1]

he sings with such little effort, but so clear and such a relaxing voice!

[@kamroc1]

Love hearing about some of the history behind the song and the band. Totally agree with your comments about the saxophone, always love when it appears in a song. Pink Floyd and Supertramp used the sax brilliantly.

[@deeanddude]

Gerry was also in a duo that had the name of The HumbleBums, the other half of which was one Billy Connolly!

[@capcompass9298]

@@deeanddude 'ken right.

[@jamesdignanmusic2765]

Pink Floyd used the same saxophone player for some of their songs - the sax part on "The Gunner's Dream" (on The Final Cut) was also by Raphael Ravenscroft, the player on "Baker Street". I think Dick Parry did most of their sax playing though.

[@capcompass9298]

@@jamesdignanmusic2765 Hi James. Just found out Skye has a flag.

[@uncleheavy6819]

This sax solo IS truly iconic, as is the sax solo from Hazel O'Connor"s "Will you". That sax solo is so sultry and suggestive.

[@MartinMcMartin]

That saxophone riff ❤

[@Nomah1979]

The reason you don't hear long instrumentals in modern pop is because modern pop is more based around what some businessman has for a vision when he sees a girl or a boy with a certain look. The talent is secondary so a solo would expose them as they take actual talent. Take a look at Gerry Rafferty there. He doesn't look like Hollywood, some of the young people would say he even looks sketchy but back then Talent actually meant something it was the great equalizer

[@RalphWigg1]

The sax riff was first invented by Gerry himself on guitar during a rehearsal, well before they brought Raphael in. Gerry was a member of 'The Humblebums, which included Billy Connelly. I know because they played my club. By the way, the most important note from the sax is the very first note which bursts forth from nowhere, climbing to its apex & them seeming to hang in the air! The musicality has never been bettered.

[@55montypython]

This song brought me to a stand still. How can you not stopped and listened

[@davidober1199]

Gerry wrote the entire song. Every note, including the sax solo.

[@Defmusicman1]

As much as I love the sax solos on this song, the guitar solo, however brief, is the best part. I still get goosebumps listening to it after 40 years.

[@FionaEm]

I agree that the guitar solo gets short shrift in commentary about the song. It's absolutely masterful!

[@longagoandfaraway7868]

From the first time I heard the song on the radio in 1978 I was of course mesmerized by the sax, but have been overtaken by the guitar solo, it comes at you like multiple cannon fire and goes right through you. And yes the goosebumps are there. I'm 60 now and I still feel it when I hear the song played. Also really liked his follow-up single "Right Down The Line"

[@slobodanmasic1263]

I will never forget this beautiful song. I had my first dance at 13 with a girl on the Adriatic coast long ago.

[@jemogan]

I'm tickled that you noticed the wonderful effect the slightly imperfect sax solo added to the song. This bit of imperfection adds to the spontaneous feel of the music and definitely makes the whole thing feel more personal and less rote, which is unlike much of today's music which oftentimes feels sterile. Computer generated music seems to be holding sway now and it's a shame. We need more instrument solos in our pop music, as you mentioned. Most excellent observations all round

[@Altanon]

The entire album that included Baker Street (City To City) is amazing.

[@sephirothii13]

This song hold a very special place in my heart. My Mother loved this song. It was popular when we were living in West Germany as my father was station there. I was only 3 at the time but everytime the song came on my mother would start talking about our time there. When I hear it now I think of those time with my mother.

[@johnhmaloney]

I'm so glad to see you reacting to this song. I was just thinking about suggesting it, mostly to see your reaction to the sax tiff. I was surprised to see Rafferty on bass in the video. It was clearly lip-synced and he didn't even try to mime the more melodic part in the chorus, but it always surprises me to see a singer playing bass when they're not also known as a bassist.

[@ratbert69uk]

Rafferty and Billy Connolly, The Humblebums.

[@willieboy3011]

'He's got this dream about buying some land He's gonna give up the booze and the one night stands." That line stuck with me all these years.

[@rook7777ify]

Beth, i could literally just sit and listen to you talk all day long! Love the channel. I would love for you to do Van Halen’s not enough. Beautiful piano, vocals, as well as the backup vocals. Hope you have a great day!!

[@magnemodi1599]

I was a high school junior spending my summer on a university campus a hundred miles from home when this song became popular. Living in a dormitory away from home for a month, this song became my anthem. It somehow helped my homesickness.

[@willtopper]

The hand drums iare excellent, and the most underlooked part of this.

[@johannbulant6857]

Hi Beth,thank you for this, brings back so much Memorys ! Greetings from Austria!

[@capcompass9298]

Check out the sax on Hazal O'Conner's "Stay Now".

[@OrthodoxPole81]

I use to use this song as my intro for the radio show I had years ago. I'm a huge sax fanatic.

[@citizenkane4831]

Wow! Haven´t heard this one since. God knows when. Thank you Beth. Really do like it. Love your comments

[@simongodfrey3765]

The sax solo also reminds me of the one in "Will You" by Hazel O'Connor. That song might be worth a reaction as well Beth.

[@GamingBear_Q_E_D]

What else can anyone say! A fun review, great revisiting this classic. Thank you.

[@johnrobinson3905]

The Billy Connolly and Gerry Rafferty collaboration you mentioned were called 'The Humblebums'. Thanks for your reaction, I really enjoyed it.

[@susancelotto122]

His voice was so smooth ... light and clean. Beautiful and soulful

[@lappesjl1]

Wow! This song is almost as old as I am. Remember it from my childhood. I am 60 today.

[@osovagabundo1]

Before Syd Barette left Pink Floyd he told Roger Waters to write in a saxophone line with female backup singers and itll all work. And it did. The stones also made good use of sax in rock too.

[@kenaustinardenol1338]

Its been a while I listened to Gerry Rafferty, though I have his full discography somewhere stashed on a hard drive. Time to look it up, because he its just good listening

[@HalSchirmer]

I SOOO wanted the BBC 'Sherlock' to find some way to sneak this into the show. I mean, REALLY, this could (should) have been the ringtone for Dr. John Watson's cellphone: (the phone that was a hand-me-down from his sister Harriet 'Harry' Watson) which could have been the "Dr. Watson" theme for the show. PostScript- and I'm still disappointed that BBC 'Sherlock' never found a way to sneak a 'Gerry Rafferty' reference into the dialog, or background (AFAIK) Could have been as simple as a background show-poster on a cabaret "TONIGHT- Gerry Rafferty"

[@chicken2jail545]

Great song Beth! One of my all-time favorites.

[@debbiepower3844]

This is my all time FAVOURITE song! LOVE it!

[@SirPrizeMF]

Fun fact: the saxophone solo was originally a guitar part, but the guitarist overslept. They had limited studio time, so they had the saxophone player play it instead. We owe what is arguably the most iconic saxophone lick in history to tardiness.

[@rsmith9094]

sounds like an urban myth ... you're in the studio for weeks or months even, so oversleeping is a non-issue

[@technopsychobedlam]

City to City is one of my all time favourite albums. Love this :-)

[@adam872]

This song is absolute perfection and I agree on the point that middle sections have disappeared to a large degree. Many of my favourite tracks ever have great solos and instrumental sections in the middle of a composition. It's a great way to break up a section and give the other sections more impact.

[@brentonl2631]

Thanks for you take on this iconic song, feel very privileged to have grown up with this music.

[@mckayuk]

You would never think him Scottish when singing here but a Scottish Bassist who most certainly was of that era was James Dewar the Bassist & Vocalist of Robin Trower Band. What a voice he had - check out Bridge Of Sighs Live on OGWT. BTW - There are several Bridge of Sighs also one in Cambridge England and is a short bridge between two building that Prisoners crossed to be sentenced.

[@eddunn4121]

Gerry just sings beautifully-no flourish, no great ornamentation, but not without skill. Story-telling music. A great Scot and a favorite of mine.

[@johnf-americanreacts1287]

I love this song and really enjoyed watching you take joy in it too.

[@jimbeckettplay]

One of the most gorgeous songs I've heard in my lifetime... Thanks for doing it. I've always wondered who did it.

[@alanaltimont9007]

I agree whole-heartedly with what you you say about the dearth of instrumental solos in pop today, though you might look into HER and Larkiin Poe for some women artists who are doing just that, though Larkin Poe isn't exactly mainstream pop.

[@douggregoryHOTMotorsports]

Baker street is literally the #1 tune first time saxophonists try to play.

[@no2all]

On my personal rankings of pop songs, this is second only to Al Stewart's Year of the Cat. Both have such instrumental focus/greatness.

[@DrummerGrrrl]

I love this song so much, but it came out around the time my mom was really becoming a raging alcoholic. This song was playing on the radio, and I was too young to understand the lyrics... I just loved the saxophone and guitar solos. It was only when I got older that I realized how significant the lyrics were...sigh. I was twelve when my mom died of lung/brain cancer in 1979. Still love this song...and the entire album... but listening to it brings sadness.

[@Cybrludite]

Brings back memories of going to the skating rink. We'd try to hit the curves as the sax solos began.

[@jonathanwetherell3609]

My era! If you like Folk, my go too, every time, is "The Corries", big in Scotland in and around the 70s. Multi talented singers, arrangers and composers. Roy's best known hit "Flower of Scotland". Yes, it is modern, first performed circa 1965.

[@A.B-studio-mixagemmasterizacao]

Amo essa música, cada vez que escuto sinto que continua atual.

[@ivnaqcaldas]

Sim, é exatamente isso!

[@poohbear5007]

You're taking me back a couple of years with this song.

[@tetsuoishiki4677]

The sax part was used in The Simpsons episode about Lisa's Idol, Bleeding Gums Murphy.

[@squarewheel1587]

One of my all time favorite songs. Checkout the Foo Fighters version, it's a pretty good cover.

[@G60syncro]

There was this place here in town that was kind of a dive but they always had karaoke with a guy and his wife doing the music. He would play a Tele and his beats on the computer and his wife would sing or do back vocals if someone would get on stage... If you wanted to make that guy's night, all you had to do is ask for Baker Street and he would break out the sax and go nuts!! A timeless classic!!

[@ttaylor758]

Probably a top 20 for me. Great story telling song and so relatable.

[@sylviam6535]

Possibly my favorite pop song if all time.

[@adenauerlemos7926]

This song has many versions which is amazing. The version I listened to the most in my life was the 1992 Undercover version. The sax riff doesn't leave anyone's head.

[@chrislegner4816]

Very 1970's in the best of ways. Good stuff.

[@terryjohinke8065]

I was trained as a brass player before being a professional guitarist (recording etc, ) in John Farnham's hometown. we here in Oz will use sax, bagpipes (AC/DC), anything, even basoon to help a song. I think you need to recognise musiciannship Beth- It's bloody hard to remember 70+ songs to play, and their solos , for a gig. We charge BIG money as our equipment alone goes into the tens of thousands of $$$$$$.

[@gibbopg]

One of the top 5 great songs of the 70's.

[@terryjohinke8065]

A good Cathlolic family, many brothers md sisters, great vocals from all. I used to listen to him on the 500 mile drive home to see my girl in 1979. Played Stuck in the middle with you- which me sang saucy.

[@brentonl2631]

When iconic musicians and singers didn't have to look like iconic musicians and singers.

[@ronaldderooij1774]

Normally (as an ex trumpet player) I don't like the sound of a saxophone. But in this song, it shines!

[@johnbender4476]

Nobody will ever top this sax solo!

[@BeastrealDT]

I never tire of hearing this song. 👍❤️🌹

[@dougmann66]

feels like a magic riff that never ends ! 🌀🌟🌀🌟

[@gregrosendahl7362]

I think that the lack of musicality (solos, modulations, syncopation etc..) in modern music has come about because the major record labels have determined that the most profit can be made from songs that are under four minutes and follow an almost universal format and chord progression. Sadly, that is what gets produced and played on the airwaves and has become the norm. If there is one positive thing to say about KZbin and other similar platforms, it is that an entire generation who has never been exposed to the creativity in music that people like me grew up with, is now being exposed to it and from what I've seen - really loving it. This gives me a glimmer of hope.

[@jmuraidajr]

That Sax is the best!!!

[@peterdonald8022]

Another song with a signature saxophone solo is Never Tear Us Apart by lnXs. ln this case Micheal Hutchence,the singer, wanted raw anger in it. So he pushed Kirk Pengilly's buttons until the rage came through, while recording!

[@TrashWerewolf]

I love Gerry Rafferty and nearly wore the grooves off of this album in high school!!! If you want to here a more folksy side of him, check out Why Won't You Talk To Me off the album Night Owl. It definitely has a Scottish/Irish folk feel!

[@michaeldezego340]

Think is not a live version. This is the album version. I've heard this song a hundred times and it's definitely the album version.

[@gonecoastal4]

I heard somewhere that the sax part was originally designed to be a guitar part. The player didn't show and the rest is history.

[@wordreet]

Definitely an all time favourite of soooo many people. And yes, four sax solos in one song! I can't play anything except the fool.

[@chrishahn3834]

One of my absolute favorite songs of all time. Thanks, Beth. :D

[@chrishahn3834]

The guitar solo sends me into space every time. :)

[@ivnaqcaldas]

Adore this song!

[@charcolew]

Rafael Ravenscroft was apparently paid £55 for his studio work on the song... with a cheque that bounced! He said in an interview that he had it framed and mounted on his wall. Connolly and Rafferty were the Humblebums, and Billy's patter between the songs got longer and longer until the music was more of an interlude... hence the solo comedy career (although he kept the banjo for many years as part of his act).

[@pdcrmr]

A superior “live” version for me was filmed in studio. Lovely reaction as always!

[@russb24]

Funny, this is the studio audio version but filmed live.

[@OriginalLictre]

You may want to examine some of the music of Bob Seger, since a number of his songs made extensive and effective use of the saxophone. The first song that comes immediately to mind, starting with very prominent and passionate sax is "Turn The Page". The saxophonist for "The Silver Bullet Band" had what has to be one of the best possible names for a sax player, Alto Reed.