Right Down the Line
| "Right Down the Line" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Gerry Rafferty | ||||
| from the album City to City | ||||
| B-side | "Waiting for the Day" | |||
| Released | 27 July 1978 | |||
| Recorded | 1977, Chipping Norton Recording Studios, Oxfordshire, UK | |||
| Genre | Soft rock, reggae rock[1] | |||
| 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 | ||||
| ||||
"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 – voices 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
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[14] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Cover versions
 | This 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.[15]
- Lucius covers 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.
- 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.
- 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