Supertramp - Crime of the Century
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Free Music Notes for Crime of the Century
Free Music Review: Super Supertramp
Hit: 5 Stars
I purchased the three remastered albums, Breakfast in America, Crime of the Century and Crisis,what crisis?.
Each one a classic. Some of the most ingenious songs of that decade, and still fresh today. I already owned the Master recordings on Vinyl, but wanted the CDs to save the vinyl albums for the future. these are stars in my collection.
Free Music Review: Mott Of The Century
Hit: 5 Stars
"Crime of the Century" is the name of the album , but in hindsight " Surprise Of The Century " would of been a more apt title . Supertramp were formed in 1969 around Richard Davies , with the financial backing of Stanley August Miesegaes
(Known to his friends as Sam) .In the first auditions Richard met Roger Hodgson , who were to become the nucleus of the band we now know from legend as Supertramp. After various name changes the band decided to be called Supertramp after Sam suggested it from the W. H. Davies book published in 1910, 'History of a Supertramp.'
The first self titled Supertramp album is released in 1970 , to no public or critical acclaim , the rest of the band are either fired , have a nervous breakdown ,or jump ship. A second album is recorded 'Indelibly Stamped' ( 1971) which if anything fared even worse than it's predecessor. ( Both of these albums feature rather aimless songs featuring meandering solo's and indifferent lyrics instantly forgettable .) after the tour to promote, Indelibly Stamped, the three new recruits to the band are all fired leaving just the duo of Davies and Hodgson again, at this point Sam separates from the band paying off the 60,000 pound debts already incurred , wishing them all the best for the future , but severing any further ties .
Davies and Hodgson bravely keep going recruiting new musicians in the shape of magical saxophonist John Anthony Helliwell ( Ex 'Alan Bown Sound' )The rock solid jazzy drumming of Bob.C. Benberg ( Ex 'Bees Make Honey ', and 'Ilford Subway' with American Scott Gorman before he became famous with 'Thin Lizzy'.)Perhaps most importantly of all Dougie Thomson came in on Bass guitar and also took over the business management of the band .At this point the band are gigging day to day to survive whilst writing new material for the proposed new album . But A&M Records had no future plans for the band, in fact they thought Supertramp had imploded . Roger Hodgson, Richard Davies under the watchful eye of new partner Dougie Thomson went back to A&M Records to plead their case for another bite at the cherry. For once somebody at the record company got it right .
In November 1973 the band are moved lock stock and if you want smokin' barrel to a farm in Somerset ,England to work on the new material for the next album , from there in February 1974 they are moved onto Trident Recording Studio's in London with the excellent Ken Scott holding down production duties , in June the band finish off recordings in the famous Ramport Studio's .The third album under the Supertramp banner is released in September 1973, and with the full weight of the A&M publicity machine behind them, coupled with some ground breaking and prestigious live concerts, the band become overnight sensations . The first single off the album " Dreamer" ( Which was to be the template for the Supertramp sound from here on,hammering piano, searing guitar licks , beautifully contrasting harmonised vocals, with catchy amusing lyrics , combustible saxophone and clarinets ,with a jazz influenced rhythm section.) was to peak at Number 13 in the British charts followed by the album itself which was in the Top Five by Christmas of that year .
All the songs on the album have a conceptual theme to them in this case insanity . All sorts of insanity whether it be brought on by ,Education( School), Dreaming( The first single), Love (Rudy),Shyness ( Hide In Your Shell) or authority ( The title track). Every track is instantly recognisable as Supertramp , and the album as a whole runs together perfectly , starting with the haunting harmonica opening of School to the final rousing crescendo of the title track . In-between there are some splendid melodies ranging from many of the bands influences ,Folk, Progressive/Rock, Pop, Jazz and the Classics ,combining the vocal talents of both Hodgson and Davies in there contrasting manner, giving Supertramp that essential variety,which is used in quite devastating effect on the albums centrepiece song Asylum ,where they both sound as if they are completely going off the planet , quite a blend you may think , but it all gels to stirring effect .
Supertramp were to go on to conquer the Adult oriented world of Rock music ,even the advent of Punk Rock did not dent their mercurial rise to Stardom . Three more smash hit albums were to follow, " Crisis What Crisis?" (1975) , " Even In The Quietest Moments" ( 1977) and culminating in the Worldwide Number One album "Breakfast in America"( 1979) which was to spawn four Hit singles on it's own ( In those days Hit singles used to mean something .) The band toured Internationally on the strength of these records and would fill Stadiums where ever they went .
As in many marriages ,something that started out as blissfully perfect ruptured into bitterness and in family fighting, after one more not so successful album and world tour ,Roger Hodgson left the family taking with him John Anthony Helliwell, leaving Richard Davies to carry on with the name Supertramp . Of course by this time none of them needed to work for the money , and really did not care, nor to be quite honest did the public, enough was enough . Both carried on their careers in a very lack lustre manner , but were never to find that original spark again . All good things must come to an end.The Tramp was super for a long time and made enough to retire to it's mansion , I do like a story with a happy( If not perfect) ending .I wonder if Stanley August Miesegaes " Sam" ever got repaid for his original funding of the dream?
Mott The Dog.
Free Music Review: Supertramp Is Progressive
Hit: 4 Stars
Before the blockbuster pop album "Breakfast in America" Supertramp was considered to be a progressive rock group. The group's first two albums were very progressive, and given the general lack of salability of progressive rock in any era neither album was very successful. The group retooled their sound and tried again with "Crime of the Century," which many people consider one of Supertramp's best albums. The music was still progressive, but with a distinctive pop flavor that would become increasingly evident in the next several albums. Fans of Supertramp and early progressive rock will need this album for their collection.
Richard Davies introduces the song "School" with a haunting harmonica solo. This melancholy song has progressive elements as it ponders the conflict between tradition and conformity and the reality of life.
In a pop style with a hard edge is "Bloody Well Right." The lyrics are relatively simple and ironic, more so because of the placement after "School." The song appears to be about the accuracy of complaints, but then you realize that the singer is agreeing without agreeing. In one portion of the song the singer says that he agrees that you can complain about school and you must be right, but there is right from one person's point of view and then there is a more universal accuracy. I sense this song makes fun of complainers.
The song "Hide in Your Shell" is an excellent mix of progressive and pop. This song contains complex lyrics and wonderfully constructed music. At nearly seven minutes in length this song is the second longest on this CD, and is one of the most artistic songs in Supertramp's repertoire. Almost as long, "Asylum" follows and is another complex and artistic song, though it is also more progressive than "Hide in Your Shell." There are sufficient vocal elements to complement the theme of insanity, and the final part of the lyrics in the accompanying booklet trail off with the end of the lyrics; quite a nice touch. This song also acquires harder elements as the song progresses, with wailing guitars, yells, and layered instruments.
"Dreamer" moves back into progressive pop territory. However, the theme stays in the range of "Asylum" by implying that there is a borderline area between dreaming and insanity. Even the vocals have an edge that implies a bit of craziness.
"Rudy" is the longest song on this CD. This progressive song is sad. Rudy leads a humdrum life looking for something and not finding it. This song reminds me of Supertramp's early music rather than the pop direction they were heading. The music is complex and follows the story of the lyrics, which are neither catchy nor easy to remember. However, progressive fans may prefer this kind of music over the songs with pop features.
The song "If Everyone Is Listening" retains a few progressive elements, but there are pop features as well. This song has a very catchy hook and the lyrics are quite listenable. I think this song could have been a single. This song continues the theme of the previous song in that the previous song is about how a life can be mundane and meaningless, while this song implies that we are actors in our own play, and things happen that can be changed if only people were listening. The lyrics are good and the music is very good.
Staying progressive and with social consciousness is "Crime of the Century." The song asks not-so-subtly who is responsible for the problems we see in the world today. Rip off the mask and you see you and me; sobering for anyone who still pays attention to the ills in the world in this supposedly enlightened era.
I prefer progressive rock over most forms of music. It goes without saying that good progressive rock is preferred. Because of my preference I enjoy Supertramp's progressive and progressive pop music more than their pop music. Conversely, others like the pop and dislike the progressive, sometimes calling it noise. "Crime of the Century" contains both styles, and may be a difficult purchase for some listeners. However, some believe that "Crime of the Century" was an artistic peak for Supertramp, including at least one member of Supertramp, though their commercial peak was yet to come. As usual, it comes down to taste. I have a preference for this music because it is different and requires you to pay attention to the lyrics and the music to enjoy the more challenging works. If music is something you hum along to you may want to move on to something a bit lighter than this album.
Free Music Review: Best Sounding Rock Album of All-Time
Hit: 5 Stars
If you are in your late 30's or 40 something, then you grew up in the 70's, when people actually bought 12' round vinyl discs and played them on a turntable! If, by chance, you were really into high quality audio sound (refered to as an audiophile), then you should be well acquainted with this musical offering.
A company known as Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MFSL), out of California, pioneered the "Original Master Recording" album. Also referred to as a "half-speed master". This company would seek out and only accept a first generation master tape to re-issue a popular music album. They made the choices based on popularity and sonic quality. The first few offerings were records of recorded "nature sounds" such as lightening, wind, streams, birds, etc. I think one was called The Power and the Majesty. The very first musical selection (catalog #1-005) was Supertramp's Crime of the Century. That's one of the reason's I bought this album. As a young music buyer of the day (late '78) I had not heard of Supertramp. I did know who Pink Floyd was and of course, the Beatles. I was surprised that Crime of the Century kept showing up in the MFSL offerings along with Dark Side of the Moon, Steely Dan's Aja, Fleetwood Mac I, and The Beatles Abbey Road. MFSL's Original Master Recordings were limited editions of 25,000 pressings.
In the early '80's, they began offering Ultra High Quality Records. Limited to only 5,000 pressings. These were the most incredibly high-quality analog phonograph records ever produced by anyone. Heavy, 200 gram records, pressed on virgin vinyl, so clean you could see light through it.
Again, Supertramp's Crime of the Century was one of the first five offerings, along with Floyd's Dark Side. I'm talking about a record that cost $50! Only the ultimate in sound quality music was considered for these very special discs. Even a regular Original Master Recording record cost more that a compact disc does now! About $17.
All this history lesson in sound recording media, that I have presented here, is simply to justify the fact that Crime of the Century is quite possibly the finest sounding achievment in all of recorded rock music. A "masterpiece" as another reviewer put it (pety brawl). Asking the question as to why it didn't stand in the same ranks as Pink Floyd's "The Wall" or "Dark Side of the Moon"? Well...it Does! And it always has. MFSL did not release Dark Side (#1-017) until after Crime of the Century. And way before other greats such as Steely Dan's Aja (#1-033) and Neil Diamond's fantastic sounding Hot August Night 'Live' (#2-024).
In the mid-80's, when compact discs first began to emerge in audio stores, the musical selections were very limited. Just like so many older people remember the first album or record they bought with their own money, everyone also remembers the first compact disc they purchased. I was working in the electronics section of a retail store and needed a compact disc to demo the new machines that were arriving. I went to a local high-end audio store that had a small bin of these mysterious new things called "cd's" for short. And what did I find among the half-dozen classical selections, but Supertramp - Crime of the Century (along with Rush's Moving Pictures). Paid my $18 and walked out. That was our only Demo disc for almost a year, and became quite of few people's favorite after hearing the great music that was within that plastic jewel case.
Free Music Review: Perfect marriage of progressive rock and accessible pop
Hit: 5 Stars
OK, I love this album; I first heard it as a 15-year-old in 1975, and played it endlessly - it's THAT album for me.
Those of you who only know the band from Breakfast In America are missing something important. This is one of the most perfectly constructed, played and produced albums of the 70's. It bears comparison with Dark Side of the Moon without question: and it is a great deal less angst-ridden.
Get this, and listen to it. "Breakfast" is light, sugary-sweet by comparison. From the opening, unforgettable harmonica solo, to the fading chords of the last track, this is proper music, played for intelligent listeners, and not with the radio or the charts in mind. All the songs are through-composed, all impeccably arranged and played, and that production is astonishing. Listen to the drums on 'If Everyone Was Listening'. Or the Wurlitzer solo on 'School'. Or... I could go on and on. For the perfect blend of musicianship, accessibility and adherence to exacting standards, it is very, very hard to find anything that could compete with this record.