One of my top favourites by Gerry, along with "Baker Street", plus all the others he wrote, and there were many. His 1978 album "City to City" was mega, it even knocked the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack off the top of the US charts, and that was massive at the time! A brilliant musician, a great talent, and sadly missed.
I was playing "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Ewan MacColl this morning, and it has a very similar chord structure (4:37). It mainly uses the chords: Dm, G, C, Am, Em, F, Bb. Finger picking helps to accentuate certain notes, and it brings out the melody, the constant G/C bass line used throughout the song, and the bass note runs. Ewan MacColl wrote the song in 1957 for Peggy Seeger. It was covered by Roberta Flack on her debut album "First Take" in 1969. Clint Eastwood heard her version on his car radio, and used the song in his directorial film debut "Play Misty for Me" in 1971. This persuaded Atlantic Records to release the song as a single, more than three years after it was recorded, and topped the charts in 1972. It's such a beautiful, delicate song, just like "Right Down the Line", it must be those chords!
Very cool song choice…this would have been awesome to have when I had to learn this song for my band about 6 months ago. Thank you and Happy New Year! 👏
City to City was full of masterful arrangements...really good rendition and reasonably simple to get down. Your're right...on the recording, The intro solo which repeats itself later is clearly played on the Pedal Steel. You can also play it an octave lower on guitar and still sound kind of cool with the recording...and then just jump into the Rhythm and fills. I've saw Gerry Rafferty live a couple times and his guitar player at the time Hugh Burns did play the solo intro on a Strat...no slide. Just hammer-ons and bends and very much like you play here...there wasn't a Pedal Steel player in the band at either gig.
I was not a fan of Gerry Rafferty BUT I love the intro chord progression - | Dm / / / | C / / / | Am / / / | F / / / | x3 - that is so sweet. Good lesson Doug. And happy 2025.
Bill Nelson of Be-Bop Deluxe was one of the most underrated English guitarist of his time, very melodic, and it would be great if you could cover one of his classics. My favourite is "Crying to the Sky" (Sunburst Finish, 1976), but you'll need a Gibson ES-335 and a 100 watt Marshall on full blast to get the feedback! It was recorded at Abbey Road Studios with Bill at one end of Studio Two (the Beatles room) and the Marshall at the other, it might explain why he's deaf in his right ear these days! He wrote so many classics: "Maid In Heaven", "Jet Silver and the Dolls of Venus", "Sleep That Burns", Fair Exchange, Ships In The Night...what a guitarist! In March 2011, with his band Bill Nelson and the Gentlemen Rocketeers, he recorded a CD/DVD "Live In Concert At Metropolis Studios" (search TH-cam). He plays a new version of "Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape" (Axe Victim, 1974), and it's unbelievable. He opens the show with "The October Man" (The Love That Whirls (Diary Of A Thinking Heart) / La Belle Et La Bête (Beauty and the Beast), 1982), and it's typical Bill, and, of course, it sounds fantastic.
One of my top favourites by Gerry, along with "Baker Street", plus all the others he wrote, and there were many. His 1978 album "City to City" was mega, it even knocked the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack off the top of the US charts, and that was massive at the time! A brilliant musician, a great talent, and sadly missed.
I remember this song so well. That solo is iconic. Great lesson.
That solo is haunting!
That's such a classic Solo that the solo starts the song which is rare... and then they play it again in the middle of the song!
That whole album is killer!!!! Great lesson for a truly great song.
I love the pickup usage. Genius
Terrific song and lesson Doug. Thank you for another great post. Happy New Year!
I recall 'City to City' coming out in 1978, I was attending college at the time, nostalgia, got to love Gerry Raffety , his story has a sad end
Class . Thank you for this, it says how I feel about my lovely wife. Best thing that ever happened to me. All the best Keith
I was playing "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Ewan MacColl this morning, and it has a very similar chord structure (4:37). It mainly uses the chords: Dm, G, C, Am, Em, F, Bb. Finger picking helps to accentuate certain notes, and it brings out the melody, the constant G/C bass line used throughout the song, and the bass note runs. Ewan MacColl wrote the song in 1957 for Peggy Seeger. It was covered by Roberta Flack on her debut album "First Take" in 1969. Clint Eastwood heard her version on his car radio, and used the song in his directorial film debut "Play Misty for Me" in 1971. This persuaded Atlantic Records to release the song as a single, more than three years after it was recorded, and topped the charts in 1972. It's such a beautiful, delicate song, just like "Right Down the Line", it must be those chords!
Thanks!
Thank you!
Gerry Rafferty was just on a different plain of existence from the rest of them!
What a great way to start the new year. Love Gerry Rafferty, Baker Street is another classic. Happy New Year 12Ft ♪♫♪♫♪♫♪
Very cool song choice…this would have been awesome to have when I had to learn this song for my band about 6 months ago. Thank you and Happy New Year! 👏
what a classic that I totally forgot about!
Great lesson thank you and happy new year
City to City was full of masterful arrangements...really good rendition and reasonably simple to get down. Your're right...on the recording, The intro solo which repeats itself later is clearly played on the Pedal Steel. You can also play it an octave lower on guitar and still sound kind of cool with the recording...and then just jump into the Rhythm and fills. I've saw Gerry Rafferty live a couple times and his guitar player at the time Hugh Burns did play the solo intro on a Strat...no slide. Just hammer-ons and bends and very much like you play here...there wasn't a Pedal Steel player in the band at either gig.
Great song choice, kind of Santana inspired. I'm actually interested in the chord progression as much as the solo. Thanks for a great lesson!
You are a genius
City to City 💯 superb album!
Fun fact: The iconic sax riff on “Baker Street” was written by Gerry Rafferty on guitar 🎸 👍😋
Proven in court no less.
Nice work, I do like this song. Good classic.
Go Doug Go ! Happy New Year Doug & everyone, from Les's hometown.
nice lesson. got a kick out of future doug...
Who knew Strats had a 25th fret! 🤔 Atta boy!! 👍👏
I was not a fan of Gerry Rafferty BUT I love the intro chord progression - | Dm / / / | C / / / | Am / / / | F / / / | x3 - that is so sweet. Good lesson Doug. And happy 2025.
And a happy new year to u buddy. Thanks again for all ur hard work! Maybe one day u could do I'm Free by the Who?
Can you do a video lesson on what you need by INXS
Great suggestion! That inxs tour was my 2nd concert ever. 85 or 86. Concord Pavillion
Fantastic Man,thanks
Such a famous solo ! all the best in 2025
Best Gerry Rafferty story is from Billy Connolly meeting him first. I think it's in the documentary.
Bill Nelson of Be-Bop Deluxe was one of the most underrated English guitarist of his time, very melodic, and it would be great if you could cover one of his classics. My favourite is "Crying to the Sky" (Sunburst Finish, 1976), but you'll need a Gibson ES-335 and a 100 watt Marshall on full blast to get the feedback! It was recorded at Abbey Road Studios with Bill at one end of Studio Two (the Beatles room) and the Marshall at the other, it might explain why he's deaf in his right ear these days! He wrote so many classics: "Maid In Heaven", "Jet Silver and the Dolls of Venus", "Sleep That Burns", Fair Exchange, Ships In The Night...what a guitarist!
In March 2011, with his band Bill Nelson and the Gentlemen Rocketeers, he recorded a CD/DVD "Live In Concert At Metropolis Studios" (search TH-cam). He plays a new version of "Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape" (Axe Victim, 1974), and it's unbelievable. He opens the show with "The October Man" (The Love That Whirls (Diary Of A Thinking Heart) / La Belle Et La Bête (Beauty and the Beast), 1982), and it's typical Bill, and, of course, it sounds fantastic.
Verrry clever! Hey if it works...!
would be class if you could do night owl or matties rag (:
I believe the solo was played on a telecaster, Baker street solo is a tasty solo as well. Still can’t play it like Hugh does however.
❤❤❤
Actually the chorus starts in D then goes to the B minor. The first "Yeah this my way" is like this - D - Yeah this is - Bm - My way ...
Isnt that in C? Minor 2, root, minor 6, 4? And then later borrowed chords/dominants (E, A)
wow! great job on the solo. don't know how you got that high F but I'll watch further to hear your secret ..
Total accident how i discovered that, but yeah I talk about hitting that note
Good Luck 🍀 in 2025 from SWFL
Thanks!
Thank you!