The story behind
The album City to City, released in January 1978, marked a turning point for Gerry Rafferty. It was his first solo work in six years, a considerable lapse that was partly due to his involvement in the band Stealers Wheel and legal complications that kept him away from new recordings for a time. Production was handled by Hugh Murphy and Rafferty himself, with mixing done by Declan O’Doherty. The album not only resonated in his native Scotland but also had a significant impact in the United States, reaching the top of the Billboard 200 chart in July 1978, displacing Saturday Night Fever. This achievement translated into platinum sales in the US and gold status in the UK, while in Canada it reached double platinum certification in 1979.
Several songs from City to City became notable hits on the American charts, including "Baker Street", "Right Down the Line", and "Home and Dry". The total duration of the album is 5:04, and its positive reception demonstrated Rafferty's ability to connect with the public after his period of recording inactivity.