Who played saxophone on gerry rafferty's Baker Street?

Answer 1

Raphael Ravenscroft is a Saxophone player whose performing credits include work with ABBA, America, Kim Carnes, Marvin Gaye, Mike Oldfield, Pink Floyd, Robert Plant, Bonnie Tyler and, most famously, Gerry Rafferty, performing the iconic saxophone solo on "Baker Street". The solo has been mistakenly attributed to broadcaster and TV presenter Bob Holness, the result of a joke by DJ Stuart Maconie. The sax piece played by Ravenscroft is the major hook of the song, however this hook is not without its share of controversy.

In wide circles it is commonly believed that sax player Al Newman actually played the solo during a routine recording session but that Ravenscroft later took credit for the recording. Al Newman's sax was recently sold at auction in central London.

A similar sax line was originally played in a Larry Coryell composition on Steve Marcus' Tomorrow Never Knows album, which was released 10 years before "Baker Street". The original song is called "Half A Heart" and Steve Marcus, who was a well known and respected saxophone player played a similar line in it. In 1976, the Larry Coryell Basics album was released and "Half A Heart" was recorded with the same hook, only this time using guitar.

Answer 2

Raphael Ravenscroft played the sax solo. Rafferty wrote the song with an instrumental break, but didn't have a specific instrument in mind. Hugh Murphy, who produced the track, suggested a saxophone, so they brought in Ravenscroft to play it. Ravenscroft has played on records by Pink Floyd, Marvin Gaye, ABBA, Alvin Lee and many others

Answer 3

Hugh Burns performed the solo on Baker Street.

He was a great session player from England. You can hear him on the song, "Careless Whisper" by Wham as well.

Answer 4

Alto Sax..