I can't hear this song without remembering my best friend of many years, Will. He introduced me to Supertramp when I was about 14 and it changed my life. I went into a care home in the UK when I was 14 where I met Will. Being in care, I thought I’d had it bad, and I was going to meet some really messed up lads. I knew nothing about ‘bad’ until I knew Will’s story. I was from a one parent struggling family. I had had some hard times but, as we all learn, life is about perspective. Will had been fostered since the age of 5 and never knew his biological mother or father until later life. He had had some bad experiences, and many let downs, far too many for a child. He wasn't a back stabber or a bully, who I had the unfortunate experience of meeting time and time again. He was the first person I spoke to in the home so, he could see I was green, and he took me under his wing and showed me the ropes. He was positive, incredibly funny, sensitive and a genuinely nice likeable guy. How ironic that I should meet and become best friends with such a person in a place I was told were bad, bad children that are best avoided. He was the realest and truest friend I ever had. I was a diehard Queen fan at the time, but Will, who was the same age as me, had such a broader view of music which I had never heard at the time. From Zappa & Floyd to Supertramp, through to 10cc and Marley and many more, he introduced me to it all. It was this album (Breakfast In America) and this song being the first track on the album that really resonates as it seems to capture such an array of emotions, the like of which so many of us go through at such a young age. The hope, the dreams, the anguish, the heartbreak, the hope. When I first heard it, my reaction was literally WOW… WHAT is this!? It’s such a brilliant piece of music. I sat there spellbound and listened to the entire album. Unfortunately, Will left this earth in 2003 due to reoccurring demons in his life. It seems that which doesn’t get you when you are young, really does come to get you when you get a little older and have more time to think. I miss him dearly and think of him often as I’m sure many others do. He had a lasting positive effect on the people he met. Thank you for then memories mate, you were the best friend I ever had, and I’ll never forget you and the times we had together. I am forever grateful for knowing you and being able to call you my best friend. X
A lovely tribute to your true friend Will. I'm also from the UK and have had friends over the years who sadly are no longer on earth but you never forget them do you. I often think of them and realise how lucky I have been. Here's to Alf, Dave, Rob and of course...Will. RIP to you all.
Thank you for sharing about your and Will’s meaningful friendship along with his lasting effects within your life. Music is the ultimate time stamp, one note catapults.
"I'm in this dumb motel near the TACO BELL. Without a hope in hell. I can't believe that I'm still around." A LOT of people trying to make it in Hollywood and L.A. in general can identify with those lyrics.
One of the top songs of all times! The drum fills accompaining the raging "ain't nothing new" sequence is the most poignant of all times!!! No other drummer in the history as done so!!! Bob Siebenberg is the most underrated drummer of the world!
Well observed point that you make here. Bob is the sort of drummer with a musical sensibility that is rare to find and I'd love to find one to play with. He stops and starts so much within Supetramp's songs, knowing when his own silence is more important than his playing and punctuating the songs so well, bringing in the power when necessary. To me he is sublime. Interestingly I was reading an interview with one of their producers, Peter Henderson, who said that Bob played a very light amount of kick drum and this left lots of space for them to really focus on a greater level of Dougie's bass guitar. It's something I noticed long ago as a teenager. I used to love to just listen to and follow the bass line. Very distinctive.
It is right. In facts, Dougie Thompson is one of my favorite bassists! I've been a drummer for 40 years, and I always do so when bass is more meaningful than the drum!
@UCyDcimosezIorgVg_57QO8w Glad to find a Dougie fan! Dougie seems a lovely guy. He has said in the past that he was often given a great deal of guidance as to what to play by Roger who, of course, was also a bass player. I love his style though and put him along with my two other favourites who are always a joy to listen to (McCartney being too obvious to list!): Queen's John Deacon and Elvis Costello's Attractions' Bruce Thomas. In the days when I had time for this sort of thing I would listen to those bass players' lines for hours. My attempts to emulate them often result in me playing far too busily like some kind of lead bass player. It's not so easy to get it just right! These days I will often hang on the things that Colin Greenwood is playing with Radiohead. One of their aborted attempts at True Love Waits has some bass playing that brings a tear to my eye!
Literally makes my head tingle following that line, just speaking through that sax. Incredible performance and an real easter egg moment for musicians looking for these kinds of moments on albums. ❤
I love The Beatles...but got to say some of Supertramp's stuff is in a completely different league in terms of composition / orchestration / musical virtuousity etc. There !! I said it !!
I love how he ends some ofthe words on a high note snd. And then he goes" feel so goo000d". And so many CREEEEPS in hollywood. Love the interesting way he sings.❤❤
The end gives me goosebumps every time, the lyrics are genius, “keep your chin up boy, forget the pain, I know you’ll make it if you try again, there’s no use in quitting when the world is waiting for you” This band is so underrated
SO MANY CREEPS IN HOLLYWOOD. This song has just taken hold of my mind, and yes, I would say this song in particular is so influential on all that came after it, TYPE O NEGATIVE any one????!!!! soundgarden too. I find it odd how this band is not named dropped more, they were so weird too.
This song's lyric is full of British irony, which most people here in the United States cannot fully grasp. I have British acquaintances, they always surprise me with ironies I cannot understand even though like the British I do have a literary mind.
I can't hear this song without remembering my best friend of many years, Will. He introduced me to Supertramp when I was about 14 and it changed my life. I went into a care home in the UK when I was 14 where I met Will. Being in care, I thought I’d had it bad, and I was going to meet some really messed up lads. I knew nothing about ‘bad’ until I knew Will’s story. I was from a one parent struggling family. I had had some hard times but, as we all learn, life is about perspective. Will had been fostered since the age of 5 and never knew his biological mother or father until later life. He had had some bad experiences, and many let downs, far too many for a child. He wasn't a back stabber or a bully, who I had the unfortunate experience of meeting time and time again. He was the first person I spoke to in the home so, he could see I was green, and he took me under his wing and showed me the ropes. He was positive, incredibly funny, sensitive and a genuinely nice likeable guy. How ironic that I should meet and become best friends with such a person in a place I was told were bad, bad children that are best avoided. He was the realest and truest friend I ever had.
I was a diehard Queen fan at the time, but Will, who was the same age as me, had such a broader view of music which I had never heard at the time. From Zappa & Floyd to Supertramp, through to 10cc and Marley and many more, he introduced me to it all.
It was this album (Breakfast In America) and this song being the first track on the album that really resonates as it seems to capture such an array of emotions, the like of which so many of us go through at such a young age. The hope, the dreams, the anguish, the heartbreak, the hope. When I first heard it, my reaction was literally WOW… WHAT is this!? It’s such a brilliant piece of music. I sat there spellbound and listened to the entire album.
Unfortunately, Will left this earth in 2003 due to reoccurring demons in his life. It seems that which doesn’t get you when you are young, really does come to get you when you get a little older and have more time to think. I miss him dearly and think of him often as I’m sure many others do. He had a lasting positive effect on the people he met. Thank you for then memories mate, you were the best friend I ever had, and I’ll never forget you and the times we had together. I am forever grateful for knowing you and being able to call you my best friend. X
A lovely tribute to your true friend Will. I'm also from the UK and have had friends over the years who sadly are no longer on earth but you never forget them do you. I often think of them and realise how lucky I have been. Here's to Alf, Dave, Rob and of course...Will. RIP to you all.
Thank you for sharing about your and Will’s meaningful friendship along with his lasting effects within your life. Music is the ultimate time stamp, one note catapults.
"I'm in this dumb motel near the TACO BELL. Without a hope in hell. I can't believe that I'm still around." A LOT of people trying to make it in Hollywood and L.A. in general can identify with those lyrics.
"So many Creeps in Hollywood". Indeed.This song is really ahead of its time in calling that out.
Oh yeah, scary how a lot of 1970s music is now becoming relevant again
You got that right!
very true although I always thought he sang 'so many queens in Hollywood' !
It was known in general for decades. It's only certain recent stories that have been uncovered that we didn't know.
Actually not that’s always been the case unfortunately
One of the top songs of all times!
The drum fills accompaining the raging "ain't nothing new" sequence is the most poignant of all times!!! No other drummer in the history as done so!!! Bob Siebenberg is the most underrated drummer of the world!
Well observed point that you make here. Bob is the sort of drummer with a musical sensibility that is rare to find and I'd love to find one to play with. He stops and starts so much within Supetramp's songs, knowing when his own silence is more important than his playing and punctuating the songs so well, bringing in the power when necessary. To me he is sublime.
Interestingly I was reading an interview with one of their producers, Peter Henderson, who said that Bob played a very light amount of kick drum and this left lots of space for them to really focus on a greater level of Dougie's bass guitar. It's something I noticed long ago as a teenager. I used to love to just listen to and follow the bass line. Very distinctive.
It is right. In facts, Dougie Thompson is one of my favorite bassists! I've been a drummer for 40 years, and I always do so when bass is more meaningful than the drum!
@UCyDcimosezIorgVg_57QO8w Glad to find a Dougie fan! Dougie seems a lovely guy. He has said in the past that he was often given a great deal of guidance as to what to play by Roger who, of course, was also a bass player.
I love his style though and put him along with my two other favourites who are always a joy to listen to (McCartney being too obvious to list!): Queen's John Deacon and Elvis Costello's Attractions' Bruce Thomas. In the days when I had time for this sort of thing I would listen to those bass players' lines for hours. My attempts to emulate them often result in me playing far too busily like some kind of lead bass player. It's not so easy to get it just right!
These days I will often hang on the things that Colin Greenwood is playing with Radiohead. One of their aborted attempts at True Love Waits has some bass playing that brings a tear to my eye!
just thinking the exact same thing about Bob Siebenberg's drumming over the entire album, how right you are!
I became a drummer because of him! And I always try to express something more than just be giving a beat, like the way he taught me...
This photo was taken close to where I used to live and it gives me flashbacks
This song is so powerful.
My all time favorite Supertramp song!
Mine as well.
Supertramp masterpiece 💥
I dunno …. Take the long way home !
Amazing album and amazing band
That sax solo at the end is one of my favorite moments in any song ever.
Literally makes my head tingle following that line, just speaking through that sax. Incredible performance and an real easter egg moment for musicians looking for these kinds of moments on albums. ❤
Class, some songs are better heard at FULL VOLUME and this is one of them.
Meravigliosi, Rick and Roger in duetto, due voci agli antipodi, tutt' è due stupende. ST assolutamente attuali per sempre❤
True instrumental musical genius. My favorite band since childhood.
I love The Beatles...but got to say some of
Supertramp's stuff is in a completely different league
in terms of composition / orchestration /
musical virtuousity etc. There !! I said it !!
Cinematic. I can clearly see everything that's happening to him.
I love how tense and glorious the music feel at the same time.
Good description!
Last part of the song is very positive
21-10-2022 Still absolutely amazing for ever !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The artful rodger
Amazing song ❤
Love the saxophone in this awesome song..
If we only had time, only had time for you...
I love how he ends some ofthe words on a high note snd. And then he goes" feel so goo000d". And so many CREEEEPS in hollywood. Love the interesting way he sings.❤❤
Excellent album. This is a good song, but my favorite is oh darling. Every tune is great. Loved jammin to it in high school.
The end gives me goosebumps every time, the lyrics are genius, “keep your chin up boy, forget the pain, I know you’ll make it if you try again, there’s no use in quitting when the world is waiting for you” This band is so underrated
“I can’t believe that I’m still around” : that’s Hollywood
To Live and Die in L.A. - Wang Chung
Transports me back to my teens
They're always perfect, always!
One of the best groups ever
3:50 another awesome part of this song
3:23 that guitar wowwwww
Sounds very much like New York City where I grew up !
Great song.. Nice video.. A little soft on audio.. But I'm still reposting it.. Thanks..
..if we only had time for you...
you are where you need to be
Love this song thank you 👍
*Fear & Loathing in L.A. & London...*
What does this have to do with London?
i wasn't expecting the twist in the story at the end lol
I still find the end ambiguous and sarcastic enough to doubt if he actually made it.
Keep your chin up boy
This song speaks to my depression 3:12
SO MANY CREEPS IN HOLLYWOOD. This song has just taken hold of my mind, and yes, I would say this song in particular is so influential on all that came after it, TYPE O NEGATIVE any one????!!!! soundgarden too. I find it odd how this band is not named dropped more, they were so weird too.
Most of us don't live charmed sheltered lives and the real world can be a very CRUEL place !
I have just recently played this on my Siri.
Sounds very much like New York City where I grew up in a town full of scumbags !
Please get the video clip
It sends a powerful message that when life knocks you on your ass you have to get back up !
This song's lyric is full of British irony, which most people here in the United States cannot fully grasp. I have British acquaintances, they always surprise me with ironies I cannot understand even though like the British I do have a literary mind.
The end lyrics are a goof on you. The rest is truth.