According to Rafferty's daughter Martha, it was around this time that her father discovered, by chance, Colin Wilson's classic book The Outsider, about alienation and creativity, which became a huge influence both on his songwriting and his outlook on the world: "The ideas and references contained in that one book were to sustain and inspire him for the rest of his life." Rafferty later confirmed that alienation was the "persistent theme" of his songs "To Each and Everyone", from Can I Have My Money Back?, was an early example. Yet although the album was a critical success, it did not enjoy commercial success. Billboard praised the album as "high-grade folk-rock", describing it as Rafferty's "finest work" to date: "His tunes are rich and memorable with an undeniable charm that will definitely see him into the album and very possibly singles charts soon". Rafferty recorded his first solo album, Can I Have My Money Back?, with Hugh Murphy, a staff producer working for the label. Īfter the duo separated in 1971, Transatlantic owner Nathan Joseph signed Rafferty as a solo performer. Once Rafferty decided to look in the Berlin telephone directory to see if any Hitlers were listed. In his own stand-up shows, Connolly has often recalled this period, telling how Rafferty made him laugh and describing the crazy things they did while on tour. A 1970 appearance at the Royal Festival Hall, supporting Fotheringay with Nick Drake, earned a positive review from critic Karl Dallas, who noted that all three acts showed "promise rather than fulfilment", and observed that "Gerry Rafferty's songs have the sweet tenderness of Paul McCartney in his 'Yesterday' mood". Harvey left shortly afterwards, and Rafferty and Connolly continued as a duo, recording two more albums for Transatlantic Records. In 1969 Rafferty became the third member of a folk-pop group, the Humblebums, along with comedian Billy Connolly and Tam Harvey. The group released the single "Benjamin Day"/"There's Nobody Here" (Columbia 8068), but it was not a commercial success. In 1966, Rafferty and Egan were members of the band the Fifth Column. In the mid 1960s Rafferty earned money, for a time, busking on the London Underground. I never intended making a career out of any of the jobs I did." On weekends he and a classmate, future Stealers Wheel collaborator Joe Egan, played in a local group named the Maverix, mainly covering chart songs by groups such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. However, he explained in an interview, "But there was never anything else for me but music.
He then worked in a butcher's shop, as a civil service clerk, and in a shoe shop. Rafferty left St Mirin's Academy in 1963. Heavily influenced by folk music and the music of the Beatles and Bob Dylan, Rafferty started to write his own material. And a whole suite of Irish traditional songs and Scots traditional songs". Songs like 'She Moves Through the Fair', which my mother sings beautifully. He recalled, "My father was Irish, so growing up in Paisley I was hearing all these songs when I was two or three. Rafferty learned both Irish and Scottish folk songs as a boy.
#Clear day rab noakes driver#
His Irish-born father, an alcoholic, was a miner and lorry driver who died when Rafferty was 16. Rafferty grew up in a council house in the town's Ferguslie Park, in Underwood Lane, and was educated at St Mirin's Academy. A son of Joseph and Mary (Skeffington) Rafferty, he had two brothers, Jim and Joe (died 1988). Rafferty was born on 16 April 1947 into a working-class family of Irish Catholic origin in Underwood Lane in Paisley, a son and grandson of coal miners. On 4 January 2011, at the age of 63, Rafferty died of liver failure.įoxbar in Paisley, Renfrewshire, where Rafferty grew up In 1978, he recorded his second solo album, City to City, which included "Baker Street", his most popular song. Rafferty and Joe Egan formed the group Stealers Wheel in 1972 and produced several hits, most notably "Stuck in the Middle with You" and " Star". After they disbanded in 1971, he recorded his first solo album, Can I Have My Money Back?. He joined the folk-pop group the Humblebums (of which Billy Connolly was a member) in 1969. His mother taught him both Irish and Scottish folk songs when he was a boy later, he was influenced by the music of the Beatles and Bob Dylan. Rafferty was born into a working-class family in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. His solo hits in the late 1970s included " Baker Street", " Right Down the Line" and " Night Owl". He was a founding member of Stealers Wheel, whose biggest hit was " Stuck in the Middle with You" in 1973.
Gerald Rafferty (16 April 1947 – 4 January 2011) was a Scottish singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer.
0 kommentar(er)
