"Right Down the Line" is a song written and recorded by Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty. Released as a single in the US in July 1978, it was the follow-up to his first major hit as a solo artist, "Baker Street", and reached No. 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100,[3] No. 8 on Cash Box[4] and No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary charts.[5]
| "Right Down the Line" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Gerry Rafferty | ||||
| from the album City to City | ||||
| B-side | "Waiting for the Day" | |||
| Released | 27 July 1978 (US) 22 September 1978 (UK)[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1977, Chipping Norton Recording Studios, Oxfordshire, UK | |||
| Genre | Soft rock, reggae rock[2] | |||
| Length | 4:28 (album version) 3:33 (single version) | |||
| Label | United Artists | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Gerry Rafferty | |||
| Producer(s) | Hugh Murphy, Gerry Rafferty | |||
| Gerry Rafferty singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
In Canada, the song reached No. 5 on both the Pop singles and Adult Contemporary charts.
Personnel
edit- 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
edit
Weekly chartsedit
|
Year-end chartsedit
|
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[15] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Cover versions
editThis section needs additional citations for verification. (May 2020) |
- 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.[16]
- 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
edit- ^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 63.
- ^ 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.
