"Baker Street" Appreciation Thread

What is it about this song that makes it so inftectious? I used to hate this song when they played it at my job, but after learning the how to play the instrumental chorus on piano I've fallen in love with it. The way the song is pieced together is just so perfect, and it's got some of the most professional session musicians I've heard on any recording. Listening to this song on a great pair of headphones is one of the most pleasant experiences ever.

The way it's structured is so unique. It's one of the only songs I've heard that features an instrumental chorus (the part where the saxophone comes in). And it might be one of the catchiest choruses ever as well.

I haven't been able to get into any other Gerry Rafferty songs, but it's hard to when he put together a song as great as this one.

So is anyone else here a Baker Street fan?

Doesn't Al Stewart's Year Of The Cat echo this with itssax solo?  Also like Babe Ruth's Wells Fargo with a quite different approach with a faux Junior Walker sax breaker - and the real Junior Walker  certainly puts some guts into the Foreigner hit Urgent.

It's a great song. It makes me think of my childhood, as it always seemed to be on the radio, at about the same time as Forever Autumn by Justin Hayward.

Oddly, everyone I know outside PA absolutely hates Baker Street with a vengeance.

Yeah, I never understood all the hate. I used to hate it myself, but only because I didn't really "get it" at first. But once I learned how to play it I was hooked.

One time the song came on and one of my coworkers was like "Oh god, it's the Theme From Baker Street! I can't stand this song." I guess he thought the song was the theme song for something, or maybe he was just talking about part of the song.

Either way, Aaron and I were inspired by that and are currently working on an instrumental version titled "Theme From Baker Street".


Edited by Harry Hood - June 30 2008 at 08:41

Tony R wrote: Unfortunately it is one of those perfectly decent songs that has suffered from over-exposure over the years. I like the song a lot and it joins these songs that have similar problems with over-exposure: Hotel California Stairway To Heaven Smoke On The Water Bohemian Rhapsody Imagine probably loads of others.

I fully agree with an appreciation thread for the incredibly underrated Backstreet Boys man... at last! Everybody! Yeah! Rock your Body!Yeah! Everybody! Backstreet 's back! All righ.................

chopper wrote: Isn't it Baker Street that has an urban myth about Bob Holness (as in "can I have a P please Bob?") playing the sax solo?

Never heard that one (that would be so cool if it were true ) - my problem is that people always go on about the sax line (iconic as it is), but nobody ever mentions the superb guitar solo. Absolute blinder

[edit]

Wikipedia specifically states the sax was not played by Bob Holness, but by Raphael Ravenscroft; now if that's not a made up nom-de-sax I don't know what is - come on Bob - admit it & give us a blow!



Oo-er, sounds a bit rude (etc)


Edited by Jim Garten - July 07 2008 at 07:44

You're doubting Wikipedia???

Jim Garten wrote: You're doubting Wikipedia???

Jim Garten wrote: Wikipedia specifically states the sax was not played by Bob Holness, but by Raphael Ravenscroft; now if that's not a made up nom-de-sax I don't know what is

Edited by Dean - July 09 2008 at 18:36