Classic Rock Bottom

ALBUM OF THE WEEK # 49 GERRY RAFFERTY - CITY TO CITY (1978)

This week we travel back in time to 1978 and revisit an album that I've only recently purchased.  Gerry Rafferty's City To City contains possibly my favorite pop song ever, that being Baker Street.  You would think with that being the case I would have bought this album many years ago, but for some reason I just never did.  This is the second solo album for Gerry after his previous band, Stealers Wheel, disbanded.  It was a big seller, going platinum and reaching Number One on the US Billboard 200 chart.  It also contained two huge hits, Baker Street (US Billboard Hot 100 # 2) and Right Down The Line (US Billboard Hot 100 # 12).  Home And Dry was also a moderate hit as it reached # 28 on the same chart.

 

All of that being said, the true strength of this album would be the incredible album cuts.  City To City has quite a country and western feel and sort of makes me think of Petticoat Junction for some reason.  Island is also a nice song, sort of a ballad, and the closing track is a fast pace/slow paced song with a cool little guitar solo.  But the big hitters on this album as far as deep cuts go are The Ark, Stealin' Time and Whatever's Written In Your Heart.  These are all ballads, but they are exceptionally beautiful in my opinion.  I really don't want to describe them, I just want you to listen to them.  The only song on the album that I don't really care for would be Mattie's Rag.

 

You can pick this album up just like I did from Amazon for 7 bucks brand new.  That's a deal right there.  Also, the cover art is very cool to me, as you can see I incorporated it into the banner above.

 

Favorite Single: Baker Street

 

Favorite Album Cut: The Ark/Stealin' Time/Whatever's Written In Your Heart (this is my overall favorite)

 

Most Likely To Skip: Mattie's Rag

 

1. The Ark

2. Baker Street

3. Right Down The Line

4. City To City

5. Stealin' Time

6. Mattie's Rag

7. Whatever's Written In Your Heart

8. Home And Dry

9. Island

10. Waiting For The Day

 

   ***click album cover to listen***

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Wow, this is an EXCELENT choice, RJ. I've allways wanted to hear it, and I allmost bought it back in '78, when I heard "Baker Street" for the first time, well actually I remember I heard that song on the radio, and the DJ said, that the album was'nt released yet, but I never got to it, for some reason, and now 33 years later, I'm going to hear the album, well when I get some time, probably on tuesday.  
This is a good album. It was one of those that, like Niels, I wanted to buy but never got around to it until a couple years ago.
Ive had this ablum and Night Owl on vinyl for years.  Cant get Night Owl on CD whic is a shame.  But City To City is classic from top to bottom.  Home and Dry is my personal favorite
Night Owl is available...you can get a 2 fer which includes City To City
I just read some of the reviews on this, and theyre not favorable with repsect to the Night Owl release.  Looks like I will take a pass and hope for a proper release sometime in the future.  In the meantime, I still have the vinyl and perfectly good stylus!
just trying to help...you Americans are just so ******* pompous!
I was actually surpirsed it was on CD, so I was excited to hurry and order, just a little disappointed that the reviews said not to.
I saw that same review, decided not to buy for the same reason.  Well, plus I already have City To City.  They'll get remastered one day.
I don't know...there's two different versions of the 2-fer, the reviews follow both which is a bit misleading. For the Collectables release there is a rather good review. Would be nice to know which review goes to exactly which release.

Strange, but I just listened to this album all the way through in the last few weeks.

Exellent album and choice RJ.

Mike

I enjoyed this very much. I wish I HAD bought it in '78, because I won't buy it now, It's not THAT good. The best track is of course "Baker Street", but "Home and Dry" is also a very good song. There's not really a bad song on the album.

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