Stealers Wheel
Stuck In The Middle With You

THE REVIEW

Stealers Wheel: Stuck in the middle with you.

Although Greatest Hits have never really excited me, with this CD bought for a few euros, I had to change my mind.

It is one of those very few albums in my collection that never ages; it manages to remain constantly light but not superficial, catchy but never trivial; rather, it flows fresh and genuine and is suitable for every season and every age. I have always been reluctant towards those albums or genres that are "a bit for everyone," but here we have a work that, in my opinion, would satisfy and unite the most diverse tastes and preferences.

The Stealers Wheel were formed in Scotland in 1973 from the ashes of a trio of entertainers, more than musicians, the Humblebums. The members were Billy Connolly, Gerry Rafferty, and Tam Harver, who were skilled in entertaining the pub audience with acoustic shows performed with guitars and banjos. Their "best" is worth more than one listen for lovers of the genre.

The group disbanded in 1970, and two years later, Rafferty tried his luck as a solo artist with the little-known yet beautiful "Can I have my money back," where the style of the future Stealers Wheel began to take shape. But luck in terms of both success and sales was not on his side, so he reunited with an old schoolmate, Joe Egan, to form a true group. In 1972, they released their first album, "Stealers Wheel." From '72 to '75, three albums were released, each more beautiful than the last, which, among other things, were the only three of the group before disbandment, after which the band fell into total oblivion. A pity because those three albums are remarkable works. Among all the songs, their only one that achieved some success cannot help but stand out, the hit "Stuck in the middle with you," a delightful folk/rock/blues tune known by many, though few know its authors.

In this greatest hits collection, I'd highlight three more gems that should not be missing in any discography of every lover of good music: the wonderful "Star," the ironic and sleepy "Late Again," and especially the jewel "Nothing's gonna change my mind," a true anthem to always thinking for oneself and not wanting to be conditioned by others. All are present in the collection, of course.

The Stealers Wheel thus managed to create an original style by combining country pop and rock with folk and blues influences without ever falling into banality; on the contrary, showcasing a side that is intimate at times ironic and somewhat raucous, at times delicate and alluring. Even today, more than 35 years later, their arrangements and harmonies remain valid and up-to-date, and their albums, unfortunately, are still undeservedly ignored. In my opinion, Egan and Rafferty's voices are among the most beautiful the seventies ever produced, something that could make many more famous and acclaimed groups envious. A true shame, the constant disinterest of the public and critics. But as we know, in music as in life, the worst are often celebrated, and as long as the hegemony of the most famous and well-recommended continues, we will have to suffer in silence, seeking snippets of genius and originality elsewhere.