Gerry Rafferty - Snakes and Ladders
#250
by Chris Roberts
Gerry Rafferty
Snakes and Ladders
Genre: Rock
Allen’s Rating: 3 out of 5
Chris’s Rating: 2.9999999 out of 5
Chris’s Highlights:
Look At The Moon
Didn’t I
Syncopatin’ Sandy
The Royal Mile - Hmm. The voice is familiar. This is some kind of Scottish thing. There’s an annoying little pied piper flute thing, but a sweet melody. A small amount of 94.7 The Wave elevator jazz production. It’s nice enough, but I am approaching this album cautiously... 3.0
I Was A Boy Scout Hey.... I just realized—this is the “Baker Street” guy! Awesome. This sounds like something my dad would have listened to. Very inoffensive, highly polished and slightly pleasant, reminds me some last gasp 80’s records by aging rockers, like a less expensive Cloud Nine or maybe Building The Perfect Beast without the viagra. 3
Welcome To Hollywood Yuck. I dislike how the worst sell-out artists try to hide behind Hollywood “dissing” songs. There’s a “phony dude” skit that bookends this song, straight out of a Roger McGuinn 90’s solo LP. 1.
Wastin’ Away Gerry clearly thinks he used to be a person of character, a Boy Scout, who’s ended up climbing a ladder to reach snake-filled Hollywood. I wonder who Mr. Baker Street thought he was supposed to be in 1980, if not signed to a big deal with Parlophone Records? Sorry. I don’t buy it, or I’m not listening carefully enough. 2
Look At the Moon* Now we’re talking. Much more interesting. I like the piano and strings of the beginning. This kinda reminds me of early Rufus Wainwright.... wait... there’s a weird shriek or bird call at the end? A monster? Scary!!! I like it. 3.5
Bring It All Home. A decent, bluesy number with some prominent sax. Apparently Gerry’s house is on a street that intersects with Baker Street. And I think the sax player deserves all the credit on that song, and this song. Gerry’s voice is kinda whatever. 3
The Garden of England This seems to be a political song where I don’t understand the issue. Sorry, it’s 2020 in America. Plenty of problems to go around right now. Skip. 2
Johnny’s Song This was forgettable when it was a Stealer’s Wheel song... it’s a cover. Wait, it’s not, really. Gerry Rafferty is ALSO the singer from Stealer’s Wheel! What? He ALSO SINGS “Stuck In The Middle With You!?” I never made that connection! But it’s so clear! Gerry Rafferty is a super deluxe two-hit wonder! I would so much rather listen to those songs, than Johnny’s song. Sorry, Johnny. 2 Didn’t I* It’s a country number, and not half bad. Did Gerry write this? Totally OK song, absolutely no worse than Don Henley or Sting. 3.25
Syncopatin’ Sandy* Starts off like we got some ABBA coming, and even has some Jeff Lynne touches. The song never quite arrives, but is one of my more favorite songs here. 3.25
Cafe Le Cabotin My attention is waning. Starts with a sample and a French-style accordion, has a nice guitar riff, and ends on a nice, slightly moody note. Reminds me of when Sting found country music, maybe not quite as annoying. 2.5
Don’t Close The Door An acceptable album closer. A just OK song to close out a just OK album! 2.99999
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