This is a musician's album. An album that only a songwriter/musician can truly appreciate the level of creativity involved. But even a layman like me can recognize genius. Especially the title track, which is in my list of favorite recordings of all-time.
This would be in my top 20 favourite albums of all time . I bought it when it first came out in 1974 . Because they were so popular in Canada , they played in Toronto quite often , and I saw them on this tour , and their subsequent tours throughout the 70 s and early 80s . They always put on great concerts . I”m with you on If Everyone Was Listening , and it remains one of my favourite songs by them . Thank you for the review !
A hugely underrated and under appreciated band in my opinion. They are not even inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Crime of the Century, Crisis what Crisis and Even in the Quietest Moments are all amongst the best albums released in the 1970s.
Thanks John. Yes, Supertramp was big here in Canada. A friend lent us his 8-track of COTC in the summer of '75 and we loved it and played it non-stop for months. The very peculiar re-organization of the LP to fit onto an 8-track was burned into my brain as the norm. Eventually we had to return the tape. I bought the LP and was totally thrown off by the longer songs no longer fading out halfway through and re-emerging on another track. Took many listens before my brain stopped anticipating the fade-out in the middle of Rick's organ solo in "Hide In Your Shell". Can confirm that when I bought my first decent stereo in '81, the guy in the audio salon cranked "Bloody Well Right" to demonstrate the speakers. I consider this to be a "perfect" album: all killer, no filler, everyone involved firing on all cylinders. An LP that abundantly rewards multiple listens. Right up there with DSOTM, The YES Album, Led Zep IV, Aqualung et cetera. What a golden age that turned out to be! I decided long ago that Supertramp is sui generis, it's own thing. I agree it's not really in the prog rock camp, it's not in the hard rock camp, it's not (quite) in pure pop. I think the only other band that was similar in its goals and production (though not in its sound) was Electric Light Orchestra, though ELO was trying harder for hit singles. Am I forgetting some other band that could be compared?
Love your reviews, John, and love your passion for great music. One of the greatest albums of all time. "Hide in Your Shell" is one of my favorite songs of all time. Agree with you that Supertramp fails to get the credit they deserve.
The 1999 Speakers Corner reissue ! This pressing on a nice system is a religious experience. Out of the few copies I’ve had this just blows everything else so far out of the water..
I believe Roger has said that the last song Rick and he wrote together was School. Anything after that was them writing separately. Anyway, such a fantastic album.
Thanks…yes probably true although ‘Just A Normal Day’ (written at this time and released on ‘Crisis’ ) was pretty obviously a co-write wouldn’t you say?
Nice to see this album appreciated I have always loved it and can remember them doing Dreamer on TOTP in 1974. I too have thought of the Lennon McCartney comparison to Rick and Roger.Never grouped them in with prog rock as the songs are too melodic and I would describe as pop. Not a weak track on it IMO
Hi John. I remember going to see Supertramp with you in Budapest in 1997 or 1998. Roger Hodgson was not part of the band then unfortunately, but still a great concert. However, I take issue with your comment that Genesis are pretentious :😡
I dislike the term Prog Rock. I like the term Progressive Rock, if the Music is Progressive. Prog Rock is a retrospective category that has little similarities to the Progressive Music that was happening in the late sixties through the Mid to late Seventies.
![Steve E. George Band - Full Concert [Bowlful of Blues 2024 in Newton, IA]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/9N3Vi349W9o/mqdefault.jpg)
This is a musician's album. An album that only a songwriter/musician can truly appreciate the level of creativity involved. But even a layman like me can recognize genius. Especially the title track, which is in my list of favorite recordings of all-time.
This would be in my top 20 favourite albums of all time .
I bought it when it first came out in 1974 .
Because they were so popular in Canada , they played in Toronto quite often , and I saw them on this tour , and their subsequent tours throughout the 70 s and early 80s .
They always put on great concerts .
I”m with you on If Everyone Was Listening , and it remains one of my favourite songs by them .
Thank you for the review !
A hugely underrated and under appreciated band in my opinion. They are not even inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Crime of the Century, Crisis what Crisis and Even in the Quietest Moments are all amongst the best albums released in the 1970s.
Thanks John. Yes, Supertramp was big here in Canada. A friend lent us his 8-track of COTC in the summer of '75 and we loved it and played it non-stop for months. The very peculiar re-organization of the LP to fit onto an 8-track was burned into my brain as the norm.
Eventually we had to return the tape. I bought the LP and was totally thrown off by the longer songs no longer fading out halfway through and re-emerging on another track. Took many listens before my brain stopped anticipating the fade-out in the middle of Rick's organ solo in "Hide In Your Shell".
Can confirm that when I bought my first decent stereo in '81, the guy in the audio salon cranked "Bloody Well Right" to demonstrate the speakers.
I consider this to be a "perfect" album: all killer, no filler, everyone involved firing on all cylinders. An LP that abundantly rewards multiple listens. Right up there with DSOTM, The YES Album, Led Zep IV, Aqualung et cetera. What a golden age that turned out to be!
I decided long ago that Supertramp is sui generis, it's own thing. I agree it's not really in the prog rock camp, it's not in the hard rock camp, it's not (quite) in pure pop. I think the only other band that was similar in its goals and production (though not in its sound) was Electric Light Orchestra, though ELO was trying harder for hit singles. Am I forgetting some other band that could be compared?
Love your reviews, John, and love your passion for great music. One of the greatest albums of all time. "Hide in Your Shell" is one of my favorite songs of all time. Agree with you that Supertramp fails to get the credit they deserve.
One of my all-time favourite albums. Not a bad track on it.
Well done John, a great review of a truly great album.
Its such a great album..probably their best!
One of my absolute favourites, Hide in your shell is fabulous,
The 1999 Speakers Corner reissue ! This pressing on a nice system is a religious experience. Out of the few copies I’ve had this just blows everything else so far out of the water..
A superb album
I believe Roger has said that the last song Rick and he wrote together was School. Anything after that was them writing separately. Anyway, such a fantastic album.
Thanks…yes probably true although ‘Just A Normal Day’ (written at this time and released on ‘Crisis’ ) was pretty obviously a co-write wouldn’t you say?
@@johnheaton5667 Yes sounds as it could be a co-write.
Great album, great band!
We Canadians Luv Supertramp. They have sold over 3 million here (3 Gold, 4 Platinum, 2 Diamond).
Nice to see this album appreciated I have always loved it and can remember them doing Dreamer on TOTP in 1974. I too have thought of the Lennon McCartney comparison to Rick and Roger.Never grouped them in with prog rock as the songs are too melodic and I would describe as pop. Not a weak track on it IMO
Hi John. I remember going to see Supertramp with you in Budapest in 1997 or 1998. Roger Hodgson was not part of the band then unfortunately, but still a great concert. However, I take issue with your comment that Genesis are pretentious :😡
Masterpiece is sometimes an overused term but not in this case 👍
I dislike the term Prog Rock.
I like the term Progressive Rock, if the Music is Progressive.
Prog Rock is a retrospective category that has little similarities to the Progressive Music that was happening in the late sixties through the Mid to late Seventies.