Gerry Rafferty's Double Edged Sword

Probably best known for his hit single Baker Street off of his 1978 album City to City, Rafferty's life was said to be marked by depression and alcoholism; two conditions that ultimately may have cost him the opportunity to move into upper echelon in terms of songwriting fame.

As one of the earliest artists who had the ability to seamlessly blend rock, pop, jazz and folk into his songs, Rafferty invoked a soft weariness through his lyrics while still accommodating a deceptively hard edged tempo and baseline.

Despite its enduring popularity, Baker Street is underrated as a rock masterpiece. It seems, even on first listen, to tell an autobiographical tale that gathers itself upon the listener's reflection rather than an overt narrative.

Without self pity, Baker Street tells the tale of a struggling alcoholic who seeks solace in another desperate soul, the local bartender, and continues to tell himself that next year will be better. His pleading voice and take on the lyrics fit perfectly.

Rafferty through his career was presented with the opportunity to tour with stars bigger than he; Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney both reportedly requested his presence on their tours. While nobody can say with certainty what exactly held Rafferty back from advancing his career, one wonders whether Baker Street as a song would even have been possible had he not been dealing with the issues he seemed to have been.

Rafferty was not a one hit wonder. As part of the band Stealers Wheel, he had a hit in the Dylanesque Stuck in the Middle With You, which, in and of itself, seemed to display an unhappiness with the world around him as he lampooned the music industry, which he detested throughout his life.

Rafferty also had a hit with Right Down the Line, which was probably his most overtly sentimental love song. It could be argued without direct proof that it at least inspired John Lennon's later hit Woman.

Sadly, the memory of Gerry Rafferty's impact seems largely lost in the modern age. He likely will be remembered best, if distortedly, for middle of the road soft rock even though he wrote some of the most poignant and influential music of an era in rock that bridged the early 1970's with the early 1980's.

Gerry Rafferty's personal demons very likely prevented him from reaching the commercial success that was in his grasp; but then, perhaps his internal struggles paved the way for his most memorable output.

Source:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/arts/music/05rafferty.html?src=twrhp