Stealin' Time

The story behind *Stealin' Time* takes us to a moment of forced pause in Gerry Rafferty's career. After his time with Stealers Wheel and a period marked by legal disputes that lasted three years, the artist found himself unable to release new material. This hiatus, which began in 1975, culminated with the release of his second solo album, City to City, on January 20, 1978. The album, which includes this six-minute piece, became a milestone, dethroning Saturday Night Fever from the number one spot on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States on July 8, 1978, and achieving platinum status. In the United Kingdom, City to City reached sixth place on the album chart, earning gold certification, and in Canada, by 1979, it already had double platinum.

The production of City to City, and therefore of *Stealin' Time*, was handled by Hugh Murphy along with Gerry Rafferty himself. The mixing was done by Declan O’Doherty. Tracks like *Baker Street*, *Right Down the Line*, and *Home and Dry* resonated strongly on the US popularity charts, demonstrating the public's connection with the sound Rafferty was exploring at this stage of his career.