Stealers Wheel only existed for a short time, late 1971 until 1975, but they had a complicated history. The two main band members were Rafferty and Joe Egan, with both of them writing and singing songs. They had a bit hit from their first album released in 1972, "Stuck in the Middle with You." Unfortunately, I couldn't find any BBC version of this song. In fact, I couldn't find any decent version of the song, other than the famous studio version. I did find one live version from the time period, but the sound quality was atrocious, so I didn't include it.
After a second album, the band broke up again. For a while, Rafferty left and Egan led the band. Then the band reformed, including Rafferty again. They released a third album in 1975, only for the band to break up for good after that. That's why there are some Stealers Wheel songs here, then some Rafferty solo ones, then more Stealers Wheel songs. And it could be that some of the Stealers Wheel ones don't have Raffery on them, I don't know. Maybe someone else can clarify that.
Everything here is unreleased. The first two songs are from a Stealers Wheel appearance on the "Old Grey Whistle Test BBC" TV show, in 1972. I believe they made a second appearance on the show later, but it seems no known versions are publicly available (if any survived at all). Tracks 3 and 4 are from the "Top of the Pops" BBC radio show (not the TV show of the same name) in early 1973. Tracks 5, 6, and 7 are from the "Top Gear" BBC radio show. Strangely, that was a Rafferty solo appearance, despite taking place less than two weeks after the "Top of the Pops" appearance. Perhaps that's when they broke up for the first time? Tracks 8 through 10 are from another "Top Gear" radio show, this time in 1975, when they briefly reunited for their third and final album.
After Stealers Wheel broke up for good in 1975, Rafferty was unable to release a solo album for three years, due to lingering legal issues. When he finally released his second solo album, "City to City," in 1978, it was a massive hit, selling over five million copies. That was due to the presence of two huge hit singles from the album, "Right Down the Line," and "Baker Street."
It seems that Rafferty toured at least in 1978 and 1980, but I can't find any concert bootlegs from that era at all. (Does anyone know of any?!) However, I did find some videos of him playing five songs for an unknown European TV show in 1978. I've included those, even though they're not from the BBC, since any live recordings from him are so hard to find. Happily, that includes "Baker Street," but frustratingly, no "Right Down the Line." That's a real shame, since it's my favorite song by him.
I have one more BBC album to post from him, a 1993 concert. Look for that here soon.
This album is 56 minutes long.
01 I Get By (Stealers Wheel)
02 Late Again (Stealers Wheel)
03 Outside Looking In (Stealers Wheel)
04 You Put Something Better Inside Me (Stealers Wheel)
05 Over My Head (Gerry Rafferty)
06 Don't Get Me Wrong (Gerry Rafferty)
07 My Singing Bird (Gerry Rafferty)
08 Wishbone [Edit] (Stealers Wheel)
09 This Morning (Stealers Wheel)
10 Monday Morning (Stealers Wheel)
11 Johnny’s Song (Gerry Rafferty)
12 High Fashion Queen (Gerry Rafferty)
13 Baker Street (Gerry Rafferty)
14 The Ark (Gerry Rafferty)
https://pixeldrain.com/u/7K9CcY8r
alternate:
https://bestfile.io/IemyOxyMpOjGu7g/file
The cover photo is from a concert in Antwerp, Belgium, on June 24, 1978.
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