Classic pop songs of all time (an occasional series)

GERRY RAFFERTY - BAKER STREET

Rafferty was an interesting if somewhat sad figure and at his peak he was busy and much respected songwriter and doing some great stuff not least producing a Richard & Linda Thompson album 'Shoot Out The Lights' recorded largely in Oxfordshire that remained unreleased and re-arranged for years until we got to know about it as 'Raffertys Folly' Arguments rage as to which is the better but for me the Rafferty version wins it hands down . . . . . 

Formally a member of the Humblebums alongside comedian Billy Connelly, Rafferty joined Stealer's Wheel after the Humblebums went their separate ways in '71 (although he and Bill remained lifelong friends up to Rafferty's death) and went on to have hits with them [Stuck In The Middle With You] and Baker Street was an album track initially before it became almost legendary in it's own right. Sadly Rafferty suffered undiagnosed alcoholism all his life and aligned with his notorious mistrust and dislike of the limelight several diappserances and erratic drunken behaviour the life style caught up with him as it will eventually and he passed away from the affects of alcohol poisoning, multiple organ failure, liver damage etc. He was 63