TS: "Right Down The Line" vs "Baker Street"

Funny this popped up... The other day while in the break room of the casino I work at, "Baker Street" was being piped in. I always heard that sax riff because, I mean... that sax riff. But for the first time I decided I would just pay my attention to the guitar and I am not a member of the guitar intelligentsia cabal but wow, that song has some subtly good guitar work and a solo that is perfect.

oh hell yeah that is some rippin guitar there. song is truly a “tour de force”

It is an absolutely perfect solo, and what's really remarkable is that because Rafferty wanted it to sound spontaneous, he didn't allow the session guitarist, Hugh Burns, to rehearse or experiment with different ideas. What you hear is a single take, played off the cuff. That's talent!

“Right Down the Line” is truly one of the best songs of the 70’s.

Is there a thread that covers a similar mood/vibe/genre to this song? I want to hear more in this vein, a few examples come to mind but they’re not close enough or they’re not as plenty as I want them to be. I just want a 1 hour+ playlist in this style to play while making a bbq.

Here’s some examples of songs which I think are close but not quite:

Steely Dan - only a fool would say that
Fleetwood Mac - Rihannon
Ned Doheny - get it up for love
Jeremy Spencer Band - travellin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUkyD7clZLw

First time I heard "Baker Street" was via The Simpsons having no idea what it was, and that sax riff sounded like a charming bit of cheese. I've heard it countless times since, and I've grown to intensely dislike it. Like right now, in this godforsaken drugstore piping it through their speakers.

I can't even remember "Right Down the Line" but I see Bonnie Raitt did a cover:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYp8lYT9Zhk

I love both songs, but "Right Down the Line" edges out "Baker Street." The Lucius cover really nails it.

The sax break is fine as part of the song, it's tiresome when removed from context as a signifier for "coked-out yacht rock corny awesomeness" etc.

I think I know what you mean. Rafferty's singing on "Baker Street" always sounded dull to me, which is unfortunate because I actually like what he's put into the song lyrically, or at least what he's trying to write about. When the sax comes in, as cheesy as it may be, it does pump a sudden burst of life into the record. I don't know, maybe it's supposed to evoke the sudden pleasure you get from taking in a drug (or a smoke or a drink)?

That actually makes hearing it in a pharmacy wrongly appropriate.

Do yourself a favor and listen to Star by Stealer's Wheel. That is the best Gerry Rafferty-related song. How that wasn't a major mega international hit is beyond me. Such a catchy song. makes Right On Down The Line sound like Faust.

Joe Egan's song!

I suddenly wondered whether "constant as a northern star" (in "Right Down The Line") originated with Joni, but it turns out Shakespeare put it in Julius Caesar.

This eccojam version of Baker St

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awAp5UGpncY