GERRY RAFFERTY Sleepwalking 40 Years On: STANDING AT THE GATES

Welcome to the wondrous world of Gerry Rafferty and his 1982 opus 'Sleepwalking'. The great Scottish Singer/Songwriter/Producer and Musician is my favourite male singer of all time. It's no contest. There was also nobody like Gerry Rafferty in pop culture. He was no pop star and his stratospheric success did not sit well with him at all. Over the next 8 posts I will be (hopefully) paying tribute to this poet and storyteller by uploading all the songs that comprised this long player that is, this month, 40 years old. September 2022 as I post. 'Sleepwalking' was Gerry's 5th album as a solo artist and his 4th in 5 years thanks to his mega hit 'Baker Street' and the album 'City To City'. For most people, it is that epic song that Gerry is best known for, but there was so much more to the man and his music than that 1978 monster track. Selling 6 million copies of that one opus was always going to be impossible to follow up, but follow it he did, and 'Night Owl' in 1979 and 'Snakes & Ladders' in 1980 then 'Sleepwalking' was the most prolific period of Gerry's career. 'Standing At The Gates' is a pretty epic way to launch this particular album, and I have to admit to not having heard it for years, maybe decades, but it is quintessential Rafferty with its heartfelt lyrics, organic musicality and big wall of sound. Gerry surrounded himself with the very best musicians and technical personnel. Clocking in just shy of 7 minutes, a shorter version was released as a single, but as far as I know, it did not chart majorly in any region. I don't know for certain why Gerry is my favourite. Perhaps it is the boutique factor again (like Jennifer Warnes, Brenda Russell etc), I don't like worshipping the biggest celebrities in the world, unless they are ABBA! Gerry Rafferty oozed musicality and was the genuine article. He wrote, performed and played songs unlike anyone else. His voice was distinct in every sense. He never strayed too far from his style, which was also code for 'not selling out', but he didn't compromise his integrity either musically or by flogging his wares, which the record companies wanted him to do and 'ship more units'. He was all about the music. Gerry Rafferty didn't live long enough. Spoiler alert: Gerry passed away just over a decade ago in 2011 at the age of 63. His drinking essentially killed him. I am so thankful though that he lived, that he wrote and sang and recorded so many albums (11 long players - one of those posthumously), and that his music will live forever. I hope he is standing at the gates and seeing how much love and respect there has been for him and for his music in the ten years since he shuffled off the mortal coil. Gerry's daughter Martha and some of his regular collaborators toiled on demos and unfinished symphonies to release last year a new work - 'Rest In Blue' which I have only just discovered. I have lots of clips bearing the great name of Gerry Rafferty on my channel.

Category