Gerry Rafferty, singer of 'Baker Street' and 'Stuck in the Middle With You,' dead.

[onehandle]

Source: AP, Chicago Tribune

LONDON (AP) — Gerry Rafferty, the Scottish singer-songwriter behind hit songs "Baker Street" and "Stuck in the Middle With You," has died. He was 63.

Rafferty's agent Paul Charles confirmed Tuesday that his client had passed away following a long illness, but said he had no additional information on how or where he had died.

Rafferty's classic record "Baker Street" — renowned worldwide for its distinctive haunting saxophone solo — climbed to No. 3 in the U.K. and No. 2 in the U.S. music charts in 1978. It still achieves considerable airplay on radio stations.

The singer also recorded "Stuck in the Middle With You" in 1972 while performing as part of the Scottish folk-rock band Stealers Wheel. The ode — or mocking tribute— to Bob Dylan's raspy voice grew new wings in film maker Quentin Tarantino's movie "Reservoir Dogs," and has sold more than a million copies worldwide.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/sns-ap-eu-obit-gerry-rafferty,0,6844968.story

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I love both of those songs. RIP.

FYI, his signature album 'City to City' is only $4.49 on iTunes and $3.68 on Amazon. Both electronic downloads, of course (the iTunes version will sound better, IMO).

If you want 'Stuck in the Middle With You' by Stealers Wheel, get the version off of the 'Reservoir Dogs' soundtrack.

.

[givemebackmycountry]

1. Aw man, shit....

"Clowns to the right of me, jokers to the left, here I am stuck in the middle with you"
Boy, is that line appropriate right about now or what?

I can still here that sax wailing as Baker Street opens...

I got the CD, time to break it out.

[jberryhill]

7. The clowns are to the left and jokers to the right

But it depends on which way you are facing

[PDJane]

2. Baker street is one of my favourite songs.........

Damn.

[hlthe2b]

5. Mine too... Ironically a tune I'd downloaded over Christmas...

I always liked the sax in it and it was on my list of songs I write down whenever I hear them and realize they aren't in my collection (or if they are, I can't find them)!

RIP, Mr. Rafferty

[Zoeisright]

9. Mine too. I remember packing to go home in college while it was on the stereo.

[IDemo]

3. "Baker Street" - one of my all-time favorites

RIP, Gerry.

[Tempest]

14. Stealin' time, I've been stealin' time

But I don't feel guilty 'cause the time was mine.


RIP.

[PfcHammer]

4. Right Down The Line another good one

[thecrow]

10. Gerry Rafferty was part of our soundtrack

when the boys were young.
Ahhh..... memories :)
RIP, friend

[Strelnikov_]

6. ..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkS169P_Eeo

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. Jesus...

First Pete Postlethwaite and now Rafferty, with Joe Bageant down with bad cancer...

hell of a start to the year.

[thelordofhell]

12. Don't forget Anne Francis

[dixiegrrrrl]

30. What???? did not know. ok...there's the 3.

[rocktivity]

11. "Clowns the left of me, jokers to the right, here I am stuck in the middle with DU"

How prophetic.

And here's Baker Street.

Rock in peace, Gerry!

:headbang:
rocktivity

[Kolesar]

22. We prefer to be called: "the professional left" ... eom

[Tempest]

13. Snakes and Ladders is one of my favorite albums

Album, now that really dates me.

RIP, Gerry.

[thelordofhell]

15. Liver Failure

I guess he didn't give up the booze and the one-night stands

[ocd liberal]

16. There went my childhood

[delightfulstar]

17. Sad news indeed...

I'd heard somewhere he was suffering from liver disease (cirrhosis?) or liver failure. LOVE Stuck In The Middle With You in particular --that song brings back a lot of good road trip memories. Peace to you, Mr. Rafferty.

[Systematic Chaos]

18. "Baker Street", "Right Down the Line", and "Home and Dry"

Three of the coolest fucking songs of the late 70s.

Loved them when I was 9 in '78, love them today.

This sucks. Rest in peace, you awesome songwriter, you.

:cry:

[Doctor_J]

28. Right Down The Line

One of the first songs I Napstered 10 years ago. Beautiful tune, especially for a lover of guitar music like me.

RIP

[man4allcats]

19. Sorry to learn of this.

I listened to a lot of music back in the day. I rated artists but rarely if ever referred to a particular song as a favorite. I could make an exception for Baker Street. That was a fantastic piece of music. RIP Gerry, and thanks for a truly great song I can still effortlessly play back in my mind even now these many years hence.

[Citizen Worker]

20. City To City goes with me on all road trips.

[Le Taz Hot]

21. Go with the muses dear man.

My FAVORITE Gerry Rafferty song: "Get it Right"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBWempsaMto

[Duppers]

23. Ck. this one...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vGMgov_S5s

I like the scenes in the studio in this version better.

[onehandle]

26. 'Get it Right Next Time' I totally forgot that one. Good find. nt

[mac56]

24. "Days Gone Down" one of my all time faves.

He also had a song on the "Local Hero" soundtrack called "The Way It Always Starts." Worth seeking out.

RIP Gerry.

[Pale Blue Dot]

25. My favorite was a song called "The Right Moment"

It spoke to me deeply at a very particular moment in my life.

[Roland99]

27. Damn... :-(

[southpaw]

29. I loved Gerry Rafferty

I had the "Night Owl" album when I was in middle school. Days Gone Down, Get It Right Next Time, Night Owl...

Baker Street, Mattie's Rag, Home and Dry, The Royal Mile, Right Down the Line...

Smooth vocals and even smoother guitar. What a talent.

[musiclawyer]

31. He's Home and Dry now

RIP GR

[sarcasmo]

32. RIP Gerry. Dave Grohl and the Foo's do a great cover of that song.