There is a long list of amazing session musicians who have contributed to lots of classic songs over the years. Many top recording stars either started as session musicians or supplemented their income with such work. That was a feature of many great songs back in the 1970s.
In most songs, they were providing their services just for simple backing by vocals or instruments. It was often about bringing in expertise to help create and add a background or specific sounds and styles to a particular song. Occasionally, though, their part in the music became even more prominent and significant.
I was listening to a few songs from the 1970s when I realized just how significant some of those contributions actually are. Rather than just a backdrop, they became a major part of the song. A notable feature of the music and style which transformed rather than supplemented. Without that added element from the session musician, the song would be diminished.
Five 1970s stunning session musician performances
There are no doubt many more examples but the five below are absolute standouts for me on this point. In each case, the contribution of a session musician is highly significant to a superb classic song of the 1970s. I have also added a bonus by sneaking in an extra couple of songs along the way which just had to be mentioned.
“Baker Street” - Session musician Raphael Ravenscroft
Let’s start with the 1978 single “Baker Street” by Gerry Rafferty. There is often a debate over who played the memorable saxophone solo on the song. In the UK a spoof radio programme had DJ Stuart Maconie declaring that it was played by TV presenter Bob Holness. The joke stuck and often gets repeated as a fact, even though wildly incorrect.
The solo was performed by session musician Raphael Ravenscroft. The real debate, though, is perhaps over who wrote that sax piece. Ravenscroft has claimed credit for it in the past saying he was only asked to play some fill-in music and created it then.
Rafferty has disputed that, commenting that he’d sung the tune to Ravenscroft to explain what he wanted. Another session musician on the record, guitar player Hugh Burns, also backs Rafferty, noting that on an early demo, Rafferty had played what became the sax solo on his guitar.
Either way, it's a stunning solo, a great break in a classic song, and a piece of music that is easily recognizable almost instantly. Ravenscroft, though, has said he is irritated by it, that's apparently not about the writing dispute. Neither is it about the nominal £27 he received for his work. Ravenscroft says it annoys him that it sounds out of tune. Perhaps just in his ears, it sounds a perfect fit otherwise and enhances the song.
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