The gifted
Gerry Rafferty
sometimes soared the staggering singer/songwriter heights of that unattainable deity,
Dylan
. Unfortunately, this cynical Scot also encountered a variety of corporate roadblocks (hence the title track) that continually affected his productivity. Another blatant shot at the bigwigs looms in "Sign on the Dotted Line," written with future
Stealers Wheel
partner
Joe Egan
(the duo detailed industry fatigue further in the sinister "Stuck in the Middle with You"). The limited
Rafferty
works that actually made it to wax remain potent years later. Song by song,
delineates life ("New Street Blues"), love ("Didn't I"), and fitness ("Mr Universe") with a classy professionalism that still retains an emotional impact, a trait unique to the '70s, and
is a consummate '70s star. This record harnesses the cosmic production presence prevalent in the latter discs of the decade, when
's commercial Renaissance arrived with
City to City
, but returns to earth with intrinsically fluid melodies, facile poetry, and folksy playing. Simply superlative,
Can I Have My Money Back?
is the first of too few full-lengths from a sporadic but splendid talent. [A 2017 Expanded Edition added 12 remastered tracks.] ~ Doug Stone