AAW: City to City

(Originally posted 04 February 2022)

Gerry Rafferty’s 1978 album City to City brought with it at least two songs you’ve heard before. Baker Street gets played enough on classic rock radio that I grew up under the impression that it was a Bob Seger tune, and at this point I’m surprised Right Down The Line hasn’t made it into a Guardians of the Galaxy film already. Overall, it’s a solid album that holds up- the same cannot be said for the album art, however, which I find sort of viscerally uncomfortable to look at for too long, and which seems better suited to the side of a windowless van than the cover of an album. It exists in an airbrushed uncanny valley. My advice is to try not to look at it, and if you do, understand that it’s not altogether a good indicator of the music it presents.

Kicking off the album is The Ark’s introductory fiddle tune, which transitions into a folk-blues styled song that flows effortlessly between verse and chorus. 

Baker Street is a nice enough song if you haven’t heard it enough times already (I have.), and it’s got some exciting and clever dynamic range, with exciting if standard instrumentation. Right Down The Line is sort of beautiful- I really adore the notable bassline and the really restrained use of guitar and organ to set a mood while leaving most of the work to the lyrics. 

Other notable tunes: Stealin’ Time has some nice lyrics, organ, pedal steel (Pedal steal?), and  is, I think, pretty underrated.  Whatever’s Written in Your Heart is mostly vocals (including some background harmonies???) and a piano, and they get a lot done with that. Highly recommended. Island starts off nice, if you want to hear what it would be like if Jimmy Buffet was a saxophone, and continues nice, if you want to hear what it would be like if Jimmy Buffet were a little more romantic and a lot less wasted away in Margaritaville. 

Overall, go for it. Top Pick: Waiting for the Day, mostly for the energy. 

Next week’s album: Strange Trails by Lord Huron