Stealers Wheel (1974) Steamboat Row - LOST 70s GEMS

Starting off with some truly magnificent lap steel lines, multi-tracked and recorded with a penetrating clarity, the strains of the unique clean distorted slide playing of lap steel brings the track instantly to life. Gerry Rafferty taking this tune from The Humblebums (his jug band collaboration with Billy Connolly) and reworking it with a slick country rock treatment works wonders. His low rustic voice carries enough folk grit to carry the working class roots of this miners tale while Joe Egans' fantastic Dylanesque rasp adds a lot of colour and tonality to the group vocals. The highlight is still undoubtedly Rafferty's penchant for roots based melodies; the smooth vocal and lyrics unfolds with a winsome folk sense of dour delivery and a sense of despair and resignation, it's no wonder country guitar licks popped up in Rafferty work so often as he would fit right in with the Country scene and his lyricism matched the Eagles' in terms of visual storytelling. It's shame this is the only real melodic cut in a very downbeat sequel to their far more pop rock debut album, their 1972 self titled album featured far more acoustic guitar led compositions.