Remembering 2024’s Music Losses: Joe Egan
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (70161)
United States
January 8, 2025 12:08pm CST
Today on the list of music obituaries from 2024 is a name that you do not know, I can almost guarantee that. However, he was responsible for a song that I can almost guarantee that you DO know. That’s how music works in our crazy world: you love the song but have no clue who wrote it. Well, now you know.
Joe Egan
No bells ringing? Try this line:
Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you
Joe Egan was co-founder of Stealers Wheel with Gerry Rafferty (1947-2011), and co-writer of a song that the “Professor of Rock and Roll Knowledge” says was written and performed to parody (or at least take a gentle jab at) Bob Dylan. If you know that, then listen to Rafferty’s vocal, you can hear it; however, I don’t think it jumps right out at you.
And YES, Stealers Wheel had another top 40 hit: “Star.”
After the band broke up, Rafferty and Egan (NO relation to American singer Walter Egan of “Magnet and Steel” fame) maintained their friendship, with Egan appearing on Rafferty’s 1992 album On a Wing and a Prayer. Egan quit performing in the mid-90s.
Joe Egan died of a heart attack. He may have been obscure in name, but that song he gave us is one for the ages.
Joe Egan
Born October 18, 1946, Paisley, Scotland
Died July 6, 2024, Melbourne, Australia (heart attack) (age 77)
That classic song “Stuck in the Middle With You”:
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9 people like this
9 responses
@luisadannointed (6858)
• Philippines
8 Jan
I feel you, most of the time I am guilty about it, I know the song, but I never knew who sang it. But in my defense, if I really like the song, and the lyrics, I really search about it the singer and writer... but mostly I search for the meaning of the song, on how it was created and what the writers really thinking when he/she wrote it... if I am fortunate enough I do found articles about it.
2 people like this
@luisadannointed (6858)
• Philippines
9 Jan
@FourWalls that's nice, did you know if there are websites dedicated solely for music backstories?
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (70161)
• United States
9 Jan
@luisadannointed — no, I don’t know. I remember a lot of stories from interviews (like Don Henley saying he wrote “Witchy Woman” while he was in bed with the flu), and I know there have been books. If there’s one site, I don’t know. If you find one, please DO let me know!!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (70161)
• United States
9 Jan
I love reading backstories of how songs were written. There are some fabulous stories behind songs.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (70161)
• United States
9 Jan
Most people do know that song, and do like it. And most people aren’t aware of the people in bands, especially not “one-hit wonders” like this.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (81713)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
8 Jan
I know that song so I know the singer, I thought it rang a bell,
2 people like this
@FourWalls (70161)
• United States
9 Jan
Technically, he only sang backup, Gerry Rafferty did the lead vocals on the song. But Joe did co-write it and he was a central part of the band!
2 people like this
@FourWalls (70161)
• United States
8 Jan
It is a pretty apt description of America right now.
1 person likes this
@aureategloom (11067)
• Bosnia And Herzegovina
10 Jan
i missed hearing new songs. this one sounds interesting. of course - i've never heard it before 
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (70161)
• United States
10 Jan
It’s a classic in America, probably because that “clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right” is so descriptive of things here. 
@FourWalls (70161)
• United States
9 Jan
It’s a great song, and so truthful with that line about the clowns and jokers.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (183932)
• United States
9 Jan
I definitely know the song; but not the group Stealers Wheel. Didn't ring a bell with me. Have a good day.
1 person likes this
