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I won't be the first to point out that GR was an unparalleled musical bard. Nor that the melancholic and even prophetic ambience and trajectory of Baker Street has never been rivalled for atmosphere and its expose of loneliness and the fig leaf of city anonymity. His style seems to strike a chord of suppressed urges and hidden knowledge tied up with the perennial search for meaning, place and identity in a world that is far less coherent and benign than creatives and just non aggressive social minded people need. You'll probably know that he was a voracious intellect and appeared to be self destructive in career and life, yet, I like to think, the soulfulness and gospel nature of "Whatever's written in the heart" is part of a lyrical tapestry, a code of the soul, a map of his search for meaning in meaningless world - that is unless you resort to that which is ordinarily hidden from us. His songs seem to me like social Haiku's - they tell stories, share sentiments, but they do it in a disciplined encoded package/s - the gloom and rare optimism hint always of the emancipation of the blues, "In order to learn, you must suffer." Highly original, living his songs to an extent, he carries the listener along into an adventure with adversity and disappointment. Aside from his good words, good musicianship and poetical bent he has at least 2 resolves to offer us, philosophy and emancipation. The latter is again not always obvious, and that's what I love about his music - he's a true blues man, a true soul-man if you will. He found magic, no doubt, in a golden sweet wrapper whipped up in the wind ... in order to learn, we must suffer - you could add, absolute suffering is absolute emancipation. Is that why his crash course of a life was punctuated with such beautiful soul-filled rhythm driven music? It seems he was in somewhat of a hurry to get somewhere and left few stones unturned even if his paths where trajedy and the unrequited - read the Sufi poets and the Cathar troubadours, they knew that world well ... at least such mavericks give us a cursory a glimpse of the journey, y'know, the one which most people deny the existence of... Full of gems, folk wisdom and soulfulness, the playback quality does not come up to the musical promise, but turn out your hi-fi filter and be rewarded with a musical gift. Either that or turn to vinyl in a good analogue system if you can find one - 9 out of 10 in my book.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Gerry Rafferty singing some of his best and beautiful hits. Lovely cd.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
In my opinion Gerry Rafferty was one of the most beautiful lyricists to do what they do,this is a great collection of most of his best work, i already have Baker street another great collection of his songs but without stuck in the middle with you which this particular selection has.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Fantastic CD at a good price
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
CD which does what it says on the tin.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
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