Sax drugs and rock and roll?

March 4, 2007 6:12 PM

This poorly whistled sax solo is the only clue I can provide to identify this classic rock-type song stuck in my head. What's the name of the song?
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia to Media & Arts (19 answers total)

Best answer: Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street
posted by jferg at 6:17 PM on March 4, 2007

YouTube link. The scary thing is that I knew what song it was going to be before I listened to your mp3.
posted by jferg at 6:20 PM on March 4, 2007

Response by poster: I love you, Metafilter, and especially you, jferg.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 6:28 PM on March 4, 2007

I always think it's Glenn Fry when I hear that in my head, but of course jferg is right.
posted by Bookhouse at 6:39 PM on March 4, 2007

I never would have known who did that song, but I too was singing the sax solo before I listened to your MP3.
posted by etc. at 6:53 PM on March 4, 2007

I also knew it was Baker Street without listening! Scary.
posted by sweet mister at 6:55 PM on March 4, 2007

I'm another one who thought Baker Street without clicking the link. I'm psychic!
posted by Lucinda at 7:50 PM on March 4, 2007

Thanks to the poster and the answerer (decider?) - I'd heard the song a million times and knew most of the words, but the artist isn't even vaguely familiar to me. I'm off to find out what else he did..
posted by hypersloth at 8:15 PM on March 4, 2007

Oh cool, another one.. Thanks again.
posted by hypersloth at 8:25 PM on March 4, 2007

The scary thing is that I knew what song it was going to be before I listened to your mp3.
posted by Salvatorparadise at 8:26 PM on March 4, 2007

Another one chiming in who knew it was Baker Street before clicking through. Possibly the most recognizable saxaphone riff in modern music history.
posted by dantekgeek at 8:27 PM on March 4, 2007

Not me. I was thinking Roxy Music's If There is Something. I guess I'm just special.
posted by artdrectr at 11:45 PM on March 4, 2007

I was thinking of the hesitant, heartbreaking version of Yakety Sax that made Coltrane famous. Either that or Baker Street.

Then I listened to your whistled version and realized that you must mean something else.
posted by pracowity at 2:05 AM on March 5, 2007

The Foo Fighters do an awesome cover version of Baker Street.
posted by Ike_Arumba at 4:14 AM on March 5, 2007

For all of you who don't know who Gerry Rafferty is or what music he's done, be sure to check him out!!!!! He's NOT a one-hit wonder - he's a master, in my opinion. You couldn't go wrong with "Right Down the Line: The Best of Gerry Rafferty" from 1989. One great song after another that are great for just about any activity, or just lying and listening to.
posted by onemorething at 4:25 AM on March 5, 2007

Ditto knowing it must be Baker Street before listening to the mp3.
posted by limeonaire at 4:40 AM on March 5, 2007

You may also know Rafferty from Stealers Wheel, who did the signature song from Resevoir Dogs "Stuck in the Middle with You." (although the song was a hit well before it was used in that movie).
posted by thanotopsis at 8:24 AM on March 5, 2007

We must safely conclude that this is the most famous sax solo in the entire rock genre. I join the ranks of the sax psychics.
posted by BradNelson at 9:18 AM on March 5, 2007

Is this the only sax solo ever? As I thought it was this too. This should go in the FAQ, right next to "What's this font?" and "Should we break up?"
posted by Brainy at 6:44 AM on March 6, 2007 [2 favorites]