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900553
1971
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 big-wigs looms in "Sign on the Dotted Line," written with future Stealers Wheel partner Walter 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, Rafferty 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 70's, and Rafferty is a consummate 70's star: This record harnesses the cosmic production presence prevalent in the latter discs of the decade when Rafferty'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.
-STONE, Cheap Trash NYC
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