Snakes and Ladders (Gerry Rafferty album)
Encyclopedia
Snakes and Ladders is the fourth album by Gerry Rafferty
. It was released in 1980, following the success of his previous two albums, City to City
and Night Owl
. The album charted at #15 in the UK but only reached #61 in the US. The album was released on CD in 1998 [EMI 7 46609-2] but deleted soon after that. Some of the songs are available on compilation albums. One of the songs, "The Garden Of England", was recorded at Beatles producer George Martin
's AIR studio in Montserrat
. All the songs were original Rafferty compositions, though one - "Johnny's Song" - was a remake of a song which had been previously released by his former band Stealer's Wheel, and another - "Didn't I" - was a remake of a song from Rafferty's 1971 album Can I Have My Money Back
.
Single
Gerry Rafferty
Gerald "Gerry" Rafferty was a Scottish singer songwriter best known for his solo hits "Baker Street", "Right Down the Line", "Days Gone Down", "Night Owl", "Get It Right Next Time", and with the band Stealers Wheel, "Stuck in the Middle with You". Rafferty was born into a working-class family in...
. It was released in 1980, following the success of his previous two albums, City to City
City to City
City to City is an album by Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty. 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 Stealer's Wheel and subsequent legal proceedings which prevented Rafferty from releasing any new solo...
and Night Owl
Night Owl (album)
Night Owl is a 1979 album by Gerry Rafferty. It was released a year after Rafferty's Platinum-selling album City to City. While not quite performing as well as its predecessor, Night Owl still managed enough sales to achieve Gold status in North America and the United Kingdom. The title song...
. The album charted at #15 in the UK but only reached #61 in the US. The album was released on CD in 1998 [EMI 7 46609-2] but deleted soon after that. Some of the songs are available on compilation albums. One of the songs, "The Garden Of England", was recorded at Beatles producer George Martin
George Martin
Sir George Henry Martin CBE is an English record producer, arranger, composer and musician. He is sometimes referred to as "the Fifth Beatle"— a title that he often describes as "nonsense," but the fact remains that he served as producer on all but one of The Beatles' original albums...
's AIR studio in Montserrat
Montserrat
Montserrat is a British overseas territory located in the Leeward Islands, part of the chain of islands called the Lesser Antilles in the West Indies. This island measures approximately long and wide, giving of coastline...
. All the songs were original Rafferty compositions, though one - "Johnny's Song" - was a remake of a song which had been previously released by his former band Stealer's Wheel, and another - "Didn't I" - was a remake of a song from Rafferty's 1971 album Can I Have My Money Back
Can I Have My Money Back
Can I Have My Money Back is the first solo album by Gerry Rafferty. The distinctive cover design was by John Patrick Byrne and was the start of a long working relationship between Rafferty and the playwright. The LP was well received, but performed poorly in charts and sales, in part because...
.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Gerry Rafferty- "The Royal Mile (Sweet Darlin')"
- "I Was a Boy Scout"
- "Welcome to Hollywood"
- "Wastin' AwayWastin' AwayWastin' Away is a single by Gerry Rafferty from the album Snakes and Ladders. It is also on the compilation album Baker Street....
" - "Look at the Moon"
- "Bring It All Home"
- "The Garden of England"
- "Johnny's Song"
- "Didn't I"
- "Syncopatin Sandy"
- "Cafe In Cabotin"
- "Don't Close the Door"
Personnel
- Gerry Rafferty - vocals, guitar, keyboards
- Mo FosterMo FosterMo Foster is a British session musician, playing primarily jazz, jazz-fusion and rock bass guitar. He is also a music producer and songwriter/composer. In over 40 years as a musician Foster has played on and produced countless albums, singles, and film soundtracks...
- bass - Ian Lynn - keyboards
- Jerry DonahueJerry DonahueJerry Donahue is an American guitarist and producer primarily known for his work in the British folk rock scene as a member of Fotheringay and Fairport Convention as well as being a member of the rock guitar trio The Hellecasters.-Biography:Donahue was born in New York, the son of big band...
- guitar - Richard Harvey - synthesizer, penny whistle
- Bryn HaworthBryn HaworthBryn Haworth is a British Christian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and pioneer of Jesus music in mainstream rock. Born in Blackburn, Lancashire, UK, he has released some twenty-two albums and several singles since the 1970s as well as guesting as guitarist on many other albums by rock and folk...
- guitar, slide guitar - Richard Brunton - guitar
- Mel CollinsMel CollinsMel Collins is a British saxophonist and flautist and session musician.He has worked in a wide variety of contexts ranging from R&B and blues rock to jazz, but is perhaps known for his work in progressive rock, as with King Crimson, Camel and the Alan Parsons Project.-Career:Collins has worked...
- saxophone - Betsy Cook - backing vocals
- Liam GenockeyLiam GenockeyLiam Genockey is an Irish drummer.Liam Genockey was born in Dublin, Ireland. During the 1960s he lived in Plymouth, Devon, U.K, playing in local semi-pro groups, then in the early 70's playing with Torbay based rock band Adolphus Rebirth...
- drums - Billy Livsey - piano, keyboards
- Raphael RavenscroftRaphael RavenscroftRaphael Ravenscroft is a Scottish saxophonist and author on saxophone play. He now resides in Exeter, Devon, England.He is best known for his work with Gerry Rafferty, performing the saxophone solo on "Baker Street". Ravenscroft was paid £27 for the session, with a cheque that bounced...
- saxophone - Frank RicottiFrank RicottiFrank Ricotti is an English jazz vibraphonist and percussionist.Ricotti played in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra while a teenager, then attended Trinity College of Music...
- percussion - Pete WingfieldPete WingfieldPete Wingfield is an English record producer, keyboard player, songwriter, singer and music journalist.-Career:...
- organ - Pete ZornPete ZornPete Zorn is an American multi-instrumentalist who plays roots music. He is best known as a longstanding member of Richard Thompson's touring band, where he serves as backing vocalist and plays acoustic guitar, mandolin, saxophone, flute, and tin whistle.Although he frequently tours with Thompson,...
- bass - Billy Wingfield - piano, Moog synthesizer
Charts
Album| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Billboard Billboard (magazine) Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis... Pop Albums |
61 |
Single
| Year | Song | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | "The Royal Mile (Sweet Darlin')" | Billboard Pop Singles | 54 |