Arthur Conan Doyle may have put Baker Street in London on the international map, but Gerry Rafferty kept it there from 1978.

Gerry Rafferty will be forever associated with the home of Sherlock Holmes because of his 1978 No3 UK hit “Baker Street”, but arguably it would not be the omniscient song that it has become without session saxophonist Raphael Ravenscroft, who has sadly just died.

Raphael Ravenscroft was the musician behind one of the most recognisable saxophone solos of all time, to be found on Gerry Rafferty’s hit “Baker Street”. Without that great saxophone introduction and break in the middle of “Baker Street”, the Record Press author very much doubts that it would be the international hit it became. Strip the saxophone accompaniment out of the song and what you are left with is a mediocre song at best.

Raphael Ravenscroft who found himself in the spotlight almost overnight following the release of Gerry Rafferty’s hit “Baker Street” , was reportedly paid only £27 for the session with a cheque that bounced while the song is said to have earned Rafferty £80,000 a year in royalties. In a radio interview in 2011, Raphael Ravenscroft said the song annoyed him: “I’m irritated because it’s out of tune. Yeah, it’s flat. By enough of a degree that it irritates me at best.” I guess all geniuses are perfectionists, striving for the ultimate output!!

The “Baker Street” sax break was for many years wrongly attributed to the late Bob Holness, host of TV quiz show Blockbusters, with radio presenters Stuart Maconie and Tommy Boyd, as well as Raphael  Ravenscroft himself, claiming responsibility for creating and perpetuating the myth.

Raphael Ravenscroft also collaborated with Pink Floyd, Abba and Marvin Gaye, and more recently worked as a session musician for pop artists Daft Punk and Duffy. But in terms of his lasting legacy, it will be “Baker Street” that he will be best remembered for. In terms of pop songs, I would put it in this Record Press Top 3 Best Pop / Rock Song Saxophone Breaks –

Top 3 Best Pop / Rock Song Saxophone Breaks

1) Hazel O’Connor “Will You?” 1981 ( Saxophonist – Wesley McGoogan )

2 )  Ian Dury & Blockheads “Reasons to be Cheerful Part 3”  1979 ( Sax – Davey Payne )

3 ) Gerry Rafferty  “Baker Street”  1978 ( Saxophonist – Raphael Ravenscroft )

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