City to City is the second solo studio album by Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty, released on 20 January 1978 by United Artists Records. It was Rafferty's first solo release in six years—and first release of any kind since 1975—due to his tenure in the band Stealers Wheel and subsequent legal proceedings which prevented Rafferty from releasing any new solo recordings for the next three years. The album was well received, peaking at No. 1 in the US and going Platinum,[5] as well as reaching No. 6 in the UK Albums Chart and achieving Gold status. "Baker Street", "Right Down the Line" and "Home and Dry" were successfully released as singles.
City to City | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 20 January 1978 (1978-01-20) | |||
Recorded | 1977 | |||
Studio | Chipping Norton Recording Studios | |||
Genre |
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Length | 51:12 (outside UK) 53:00 (UK) | |||
Label | United Artists | |||
Producer | Hugh Murphy, Gerry Rafferty | |||
Gerry Rafferty chronology | ||||
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Singles from City to City | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Christgau's Record Guide | B−[2] |
Rolling Stone | (not rated)[3] |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
United Artists wanted to use "City to City" as the lead single from the album, but Rafferty felt that "Baker Street" would be a better choice and eventually the latter song became the first single in most countries. Released on 3 February 1978, "Baker Street" peaked at No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart and spent four weeks at No. 1 in Canada. It reached No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100, spending six weeks there, and two weeks at No. 1 on the US Cash Box Top 100. The B-side of "Baker Street" was "Big Change in the Weather".
"Right Down the Line" reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, peaked for two weeks at number eight on the Cash Box Top 100, and spent four non-consecutive weeks at number one on the Easy Listening chart in the US in 1978,[6] the only Rafferty song to reach number one on this chart. Bonnie Raitt covered the song in 2012, including it in her Slipstream album.
"Home and Dry" was the third single from the album in the United States, but did not have a UK release. It peaked at No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking a third consecutive Top 40 hit for Rafferty on that chart. It reached No. 23 in Canada.[7] The B-side featured the sixth track from City to City, "Mattie's Rag". It reached No. 26 on the U.S. Easy Listening chart, doing best on the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart, where it reached No. 7.[8]
In the U.S. and most countries outside the U.K., the original 1978 vinyl and cassette releases were pitched slightly higher than the actual recording speed, resulting in a total album length of around 51:12, a difference of roughly two minutes from the U.K length of 53 minutes. The three singles from the album were also released with this speed discrepancy, and the incorrect versions can still be heard on some radio stations to this day.[citation needed]
All tracks are written by Gerry Rafferty.
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "The Ark" | 5:36 |
2. | "Baker Street" | 6:06 |
3. | "Right Down the Line" | 4:28 |
4. | "City to City" | 4:51 |
5. | "Stealin' Time" | 5:39 |
6. | "Mattie's Rag" | 3:28 |
7. | "Whatever's Written in Your Heart" | 6:30 |
8. | "Home and Dry" | 4:52 |
9. | "Island" | 5:04 |
10. | "Waiting for the Day" | 5:26 |
Australian bush band the Bushwackers featured on track 1 "The Ark", playing the introductory piece on fiddle, concertina and bodhran. This piece was also used under the guitar solo in the middle of the song.[citation needed]
Chart (1978) | Peak position |
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Australia Albums (Kent Music Report)[9] | 3 |
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[10] | 9 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[11] | 5 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[12] | 3 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[13] | 6 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[14] | 9 |
UK Albums (OCC)[15] | 6 |
US Billboard 200[16] | 1 |
Chart (1978) | Position |
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Australia Albums (Kent Music Report)[17] | 8 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[18] | 3 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[19] | 14 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[20] | 14 |
US Billboard 200[21] | 38 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[22] | 2× Platinum | 100,000^ |
Netherlands (NVPI)[23] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[24] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[25] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
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Discography | |
Studio albums |
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Compilations | |
Singles | |
Related articles |
Authority control ![]() |
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