GERRY RAFFERTY Stuck In The Middle With You 2021
'Stuck In The Middle With You' was recorded some 50 years ago and yet it has continued to be a pop culture phenomenon, thanks to the brilliance of the songwriting (Gerry Rafferty & Joe Egan); the masterful production (Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller) and the musicality of its lead vocalist Gerry Rafferty and harmonies from Joe Egan. The band was Stealer's Wheel and it was a hit all around the world in 1973 being the 3rd single lifted from their self titled 1972 debut. Selling over a million copies and a big success in all the major regions of the record buying populus!
Quentin Tarantino made 'Stuck In The Middle' iconic all over again after he used it in his breakthrough movie 'Reservoir Dogs'. The song has continued to be recorded and covered as well as used in other movies and series. A new version by Grace Potter for the Netflix long running sit com 'Grace & Frankie' which was streamed from 2015-2022. Now Gerry's posthumous release 'Rest In Blue', issued in 2021 to commemorate 10 years since his death, has a new and solo version by Mr Rafferty and that recording is the subject of this post.
Gerry Rafferty is my favourite male singer and so his death at the age of just 63 was a much mourned event for me; but I have his complete discography in my collection and so have been gratefully exploring these demos and unfinished works that his only offspring, Martha Rafferty with some of her father's frequent collaborators, lovingly completed for that 2021 long player. A good song is always a good song and this one is just pop magic. I just love the laughter that they have ended the track with, as Gerry struck me as a very serious and earnest musician and human being. His music; whilst biting and sardonic at times, was also very soulful and reflective. The laughter is just so full bodied and a brilliant tribute to her dad from Martha Rafferty.