Night owl - Gerry Rafferty

In 1979, Gerry Rafferty had to come up with a follow-up to his very successful debut solo album 'City to city' (1978), which featured his best known hit 'Baker Street'. The result was 'Night owl', released in June 1979.

The title track was released as a single ahead of the album. In the UK singles chart, the single reached number 5, becoming Rafferty's second and last top 10 hit. In Europe, however, the single did not chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4658
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Night owl' / 'Why won't you talk to me'

Baker street - Gerry Rafferty

'Baker street' was a track on Gerry Rafferty's second album 'City to city' (1978). It was Rafferty's first release after the legal issues surrounding the formal separation of the band Stealers Wheel in 1975. Rafferty was unable to release any material for three years after the band's break up, while resolving the disputes about the band's remaining contractual recording obligations. Although the album version is 6 minutes long, the single version was shortened by almost two minutes. The song's prominent saxophone hook was played by Raphael Ravenscroft, and the guitar solo by Hugh Burns.

When the track was released as a single, it reached number 3 in the UK singles chart, number 2 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 9 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4254
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Baker street' / 'Big chance in the weather'

Baker street (remix) - Gerry Rafferty

Someone responded on this blog a while ago, writing that I should feature Gerry Rafferty's 'Baker street' on here. Well, I would want to, but I haven't got that particular single yet. Meanwhile, I did find the next best thing: a remix of the track. It was released on the occasion of the release of 'Right down the line: the best of Gerry Rafferty' in 1990.

Fortunately the remix has been done in good taste: it brings forward certain elements of the original recording, and also adding some sounds that were not in the original recording at all if I'm not mistaken. Nothing beats the original, of course, but this is quite an interesting remix. The single reached number 53 in the UK singles chart in March 1990.

My collection: 7" single no. 3942
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Baker street (remix)' / 'Night owl'