Stuck in the Middle with You

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"Stuck in the Middle with You"
Single by Stealers Wheel
from the album Stealers Wheel
Released 1972
Recorded Apple Studio, London.
Genre Folk rock, country rock
Length 3:23
Label Lemon Recordings
A&M Records
Writer(s) Gerry Rafferty, Joe Egan
Producer(s) Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller

"Stuck in the Middle with You"[1][2][3] (sometimes known as "Stuck in the Middle"[4]) is a song written by Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan and originally performed by their band Stealers Wheel. The song was inspired by a real occasion when the record company and producers were conducting business across Rafferty and Egan at a restaurant table.


"Stuck in the Middle" was released on Stealers Wheel's 1972 self-titled debut album.[5] Gerry Rafferty provided the lead vocals, with Joe Egan singing harmony. The song was conceived initially by the band members as a parody of Bob Dylan's distinctive lyrical style and paranoia. The band was surprised by the single's chart success.[6] The single sold over one million copies, eventually peaking in 1973 at #6 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and #8 in the UK Singles Chart. It was produced by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.[7]

Other uses[edit]

In 1992, "Stuck In the Middle With You" was used in Quentin Tarantino's debut film Reservoir Dogs. The song was described as a "Dylanesque, pop, bubble-gum favorite" in the K-Billy's Super Sounds of the Seventies voice-over by Steven Wright. It incorrectly states that the song was released in April 1974 when in fact it was released in 1972.[8] The song was played during the ear-cutting scene in which Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen) taunts and tortures a bound police officer while singing and dancing to the song.[9]

During the eighth season The Simpsons episode Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious, the song played during a parody of the ear-slashing scene from "Reservoir Dogs" in the Itchy and Scratchy cartoon "Reservoir Cats."

In 2000, the song was used in the American sitcom Malcolm In the Middle, in the first season's episode "Funeral"; in which Hal (Bryan Cranston) plays the song loudly on an old record, oblivious to the chaos unfolding around him in the house.

The song was also used in the film "Bio-Dome".

In season 2, episode 1 of Nip/Tuck, the song is played during surgery.

The song is played during a shootout scene in the second episode of the FOX TV series The Finder.

It was used during the ending credits for the movie The Guilt Trip starring Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand, which was released in theaters December 2012.

The Bob's Burgers episode "Moody Foodie", which features a scene parodying Reservoir Dogs, used "Stuck in the Middle With You" as its ending theme.

Cover versions[edit]

Country-pop singer Juice Newton remade the song on her 1985 album Old Flame. Jeff Healey recorded a cover version of "Stuck in the Middle With You" in 1995 for his album Cover to Cover. Bangles member Susanna Hoffs covered the song on her eponymous 1996 release.

English singer Louise Redknapp recorded a cover version in 2001, which reached number four in the UK in August 2001.[10]

The band Eagles of Death Metal have also released a cover version of this song on their album, Peace, Love, Death Metal titled, "Stuck in the Metal".

Michael Bublé also covered it with an upbeat brass arrangement.

Keith Urban did a country-flavored version with his short-lived The Ranch, which was omitted from their contemporaneous late 1990s release but included by the label as a bonus track on the disc's 2004 reissue.

American alternative rock band Lazlo Bane covered the song for their 1970s covers album Guilty Pleasures. Collin Raye released a version of the song on his 2009 album Never Going Back.

In 2012 The Bo-Keys recorded a Memphis Soul style version for a fundraising CD titled "Super Hits Of The Seventies" for radio station WFMU.

Singer Dick Rivers released a disco song titled "J'ai pas la côte avec toi" with the same tune as "Stuck in the Middle With You", set to French lyrics, in 1978.

It was also covered by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

The South African trio Mark Haze (from Idols South Africa season seven), Dozi and Ghapi recorded a version on their album "Rocking Buddies" in 2013. [11]


  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2003). Top Pop Singles 1955-2002 (1st ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 675. ISBN 0-89820-155-1. 
  3. ^ Stealers Wheel sleeve image
  4. ^ Stealers Wheel: Music
  5. ^ Gracenote: Album > Stealers Wheel - Stealers Wheel :[1]
  6. ^ Chilton, Martin, "Gerry Rafferty and his songs of alienation", Daily Telegraph, 5 January 2011
  7. ^ Always Magic in the Air: The Bomp and Brilliance of the Brill Building Era (ISBN 9780670034567): Ken Emerson
  8. ^ "Wright, Steven - Super Sounds (Dialogue) lyric". Retrieved 9 April 2012. 
  9. ^ Stuck in the middle with you - YouTube
  10. ^ "Louise: Artist: Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 February 2012. 
  11. ^ Retrieved 4 February 2014

External links[edit]