Baker Street

When recording Baker Street, Gerry Rafferty was coming off a period of forced silence. After the dissolution of his band Stealers Wheel in 1975, he became involved in legal disputes that prevented him from releasing new material for three years. This track, included in his second solo album, City to City, was his first record comeback. The main melody, so recognizable, is supported by a saxophone hook performed by Raphael Ravenscroft. Curiously, Rafferty's original idea was an instrumental solo, but producer Hugh Murphy suggested the sax, and thus Ravenscroft contributed that iconic line. The final mix was handled by Declan O’Doherty.

City to City was released on January 20, 1978, and Baker Street was one of the lead singles, targeting Adult Contemporary audiences. The album received excellent reception, reaching number 1 on the US Billboard 200, displacing Saturday Night Fever, and earning platinum certification. In the United Kingdom, it reached number 6 on the Albums Chart. As a single, Baker Street climbed to third place in the United Kingdom and surprisingly reached second place on the US Billboard Hot 100, in addition to reaching fourth place on the Billboard Adult Contemporary. The original album version lasts 6:01, although a shorter 4:08 edition was prepared for radio.