1978 song performed by Gerry Rafferty
"Right Down the Line" |
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![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/90/Right_Down_the_Line_-_Gerry_Rafferty.jpg/220px-Right_Down_the_Line_-_Gerry_Rafferty.jpg) |
Single by Gerry Rafferty |
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from the album City to City |
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B-side | "Waiting for the Day" |
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Released | 27 July 1978 |
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Recorded | 1977, Chipping Norton Recording Studios, Oxfordshire, UK |
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Genre | Soft rock, reggae rock[1] |
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Length | 4:28 (album version) 3:33 (single version) |
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Label | United Artists |
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Songwriter(s) | Gerry Rafferty |
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Producer(s) | Hugh Murphy, Gerry Rafferty |
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Gerry Rafferty singles chronology |
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"Baker Street" (1978) | "Right Down the Line" (1978) | "Home and Dry" (1978) | |
"Right Down the Line" is a song written and recorded by Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty. Released as a single in July 1978, it reached #12 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100[2] and #8 on Cash Box.[3] It was the third release from Rafferty's City to City LP as the follow-up to his first major hit as a solo artist, "Baker Street".
"Right Down the Line" was a bigger adult contemporary hit, spending four nonconsecutive weeks at number one in the U.S.[4] In Canada, the song reached number five on both the pop singles and adult contemporary charts.
Personnel
- Gerry Rafferty – vocals and rhythm guitar
- Hugh Burns – lead guitar
- Tommy Eyre – organ and piano
- Gary Taylor – bass
- BJ Cole – steel guitar
- Liam Genockey – drums
- Glen Le Fleur – tambourine and clave
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1978) | Peak position | Argentina[5] | 3 | Australia (KMR)[6] | 93 | Canada Top Singles (RPM) | 5 | Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[7] | 5 | New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[8] | 33 | South Africa (Springbok Radio)[9] | 17 | US Billboard Hot 100[2] | 12 | US Billboard Adult Contemporary[4] | 1 | US Cash Box Top 100[3] | 8 | US Record World | 9 | | Year-end charts Chart (1978) | Rank | Canada[11] | 71 | US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)[12] | 91 | US Cash Box[13] | 57 | US Opus | 92 | |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
United Kingdom (BPI)[14] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Cover versions
- Ron Sexsmith covered the song on a BBC Scotland tribute to Gerry Rafferty.
- Bonnie Raitt covered the song in 2012, including it in her Slipstream album. The track reached #17 on the US Adult album alternative chart.[15]
- Lucius covered the song on their 2018 release, Nudes.
- Sam Evian covered the song in 2019.
- Local Natives covered the song in 2021.
- Brendan Benson covered the song on his 2022 release, Low Key.
- Mills covered the song in 2022.
References
- ^ Fuentes, Catherine (7 February 2012). "Exclusive Premiere: Bonnie Raitt's Reggae-Inspired 'Right Down the Line'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Billboard > Artists / Gerry Rafferty > Chart History > The Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
- ^ a b "Cash Box Top 100 10/28/78". Tropicalglen.com. 28 October 1978. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Adult Contemporary Music Chart". Billboard.
- ^ "Record World - International Best Sellers" (PDF). worldradiohistory.com. Record World. 14 July 1979. p. 61.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 245. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly". Bac-lac.gc.ca.
- ^ "Gerry Rafferty – Right Down the Line". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ "Gerry Rafferty Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
- ^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1978". Tropicalglen.com. 30 December 1978. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ^ "British single certifications – Gerry Rafferty – Right Down the Line". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
- ^ "Bonnie Raitt - Chart History - Adult Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
External links
- Gerry Rafferty - Right Down the Line on YouTube
- Bonnie Raitt - Right Down the Line on YouTube
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Studio albums | |
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Compilations | - Gerry Rafferty
- Baker Street
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Singles | - "Baker Street"
- "Right Down the Line"
- "Night Owl"
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Related articles | |
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