SUPERTRAMP

Crossover Prog • United Kingdom

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Supertramp biography
Formed in 1969 in London, England - Disbanded in 1988 - Reunited intermittently from 1996 to 2002 - Reformed in 2010/11 for European tour

A variant of progressive rock that some have called sophisto-rock. SUPERTRAMP is a sophisticated pop band that was able to continuously turn out very good songs. Their music has been described as whimsy, lighthearted, fluff and a million other variations on this theme. This music is the kind of thing that you will put on while you and your wife lounging around after dinner. Mellow and very good. One other thing is that they also have the ability to inject some humor into their music now and then. Althogh most of the songs on the album are rock radio staples. This is something that is hard to find.

For some of their best work you will have to look elsewhere. They had a remarkable change in fortune as "Crime of the Century" became one of the top-selling albums of 1974. The band had refined their keyboard-dominated sound and produced an album that was well-reviewed. The album "Even In The Quietest Moments..." is by far their best work. With over 18 million copies to date, "Breakfast In America" is one of the greatest melodic pop/rock albums of the seventies. After that album, SUPERTRAMP continued to develop a more R&B-flavored style; the change in direction was successful on 1982's "Famous Last Words", but they soon ran out of hits. SUPERTRAMP continued with occasional tours and infrequent albums. Their recent releases, however, have only found minor success.

See also: Roger HODGSON

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SUPERTRAMP discography

Ordered by release date | Showing ratings (top albums) | Help Progarchives.com to complete the discography and add albums

SUPERTRAMP top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.49 \| 395 ratings Supertramp 1970	2.68 \| 291 ratings Indelibly Stamped 1971	4.32 \| 1779 ratings Crime of the Century 1974	3.62 \| 550 ratings Crisis? What Crisis? 1975	4.01 \| 698 ratings Even In The Quietest Moments ... 1977
3.96 \| 842 ratings Breakfast In America 1979	3.20 \| 388 ratings Famous Last Words 1982	3.63 \| 379 ratings Brother Where You Bound 1985	1.88 \| 219 ratings Free As A Bird 1987	3.04 \| 182 ratings Some Things Never Change 1997
2.93 \| 158 ratings Slow Motion 2002

SUPERTRAMP Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.68 | 216 ratings

Paris
1980

2.35 | 31 ratings

Live '88
1988

3.42 | 45 ratings

It Was the Best of Times
1999

3.97 | 30 ratings

Is Everybody Listening?
2001

3.92 | 4 ratings

Alive in America
2014

SUPERTRAMP Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

2.61 | 24 ratings

The Story So Far...
1991

3.04 | 14 ratings

Inside Supertramp 1974-1978
2004

4.02 | 12 ratings

Gateway To New Horizons
2010

4.47 | 62 ratings

Live in Paris 1979
2012

SUPERTRAMP Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

2.64 | 30 ratings

The Autobiography of Supertramp
1987

2.35 | 15 ratings

Classics, Vol. 9
1987

3.41 | 43 ratings

The Very Best of Supertramp
1990

3.09 | 31 ratings

The Very Best of Supertramp - Volume 2
1992

3.32 | 40 ratings

Retrospectacle - The Supertramp Anthology
2005

SUPERTRAMP Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

3.67 \| 3 ratings Your Poppa Don't Mind / Rosie Had Everything Planned 1971	2.86 \| 14 ratings Dreamer / Bloody Well Right 1974	2.74 \| 13 ratings Land Ho / Summer Romance 1974	3.04 \| 6 ratings Lady / You Started Laughing When I Held You In My Arms 1975	3.92 \| 4 ratings Ain't Nobody but Me / Sister Moonshine 1975
4.33 \| 3 ratings Give a Little Bit 1977	4.67 \| 3 ratings Babaji 1977	2.93 \| 5 ratings Goodbye Stranger 1979	3.00 \| 6 ratings The Logical Song 1979	3.17 \| 10 ratings Breakfast in America / Gone Hollywood 1979
3.60 \| 5 ratings Take the Long Way Home / From Now On 1979	4.00 \| 2 ratings Take the Long Way Home 1979	3.50 \| 2 ratings Crazy 1982	3.08 \| 6 ratings It's Raining Again / Bonnie 1982	3.87 \| 4 ratings Don't Leave Me Now / Waiting So Long 1982
3.00 \| 2 ratings Still In Love / No Inbetween 1985	4.00 \| 2 ratings Better Days 1985	3.09 \| 4 ratings Cannonball 1985	3.00 \| 2 ratings Free as a Bird 1987	3.00 \| 2 ratings It's Alright 1988

SUPERTRAMP Reviews

Showing last 10 reviews only

Free As A Bird by SUPERTRAMP album cover

Studio Album, 1987
1.88 | 219 ratings
BUY

Free As A Bird
Supertramp Crossover Prog

Review by BBKron

Definitely their weakest album overall. Here the band took a decidedly wrong direction, as they tried to update their sound to be more 'modern' and incorporated liberal use of synthesized dance beats and drum machines and other slick '80's era production tricks, giving many of the songs a cheesy, superficial pop feel. Nevertheless, despite the poor arrangements and production, there are still some pretty good songs here, catchy hooks and melodies, so it is still not a bad album, just certainly not the album we want from Supertramp. Best tracks: You Never Can Tell With Friends, An Awful Thing to Waste, It Doesn't Matter, It's Alright. Weakest tracks: Free as a Bird, Where I Stand, I'm Beggin' You, Thing For You. Rating: 2.5 stars

Famous Last Words by SUPERTRAMP album cover

Studio Album, 1982
3.20 | 388 ratings
BUY

Famous Last Words
Supertramp Crossover Prog

Review by BBKron

Considering that this was the follow-up to their hugely successful album Breakfast in America, as well as the final album with Roger Hodgson, the result is greatly disappointing. At this point, Roger was focused on doing more commercial pop songs, while Rick still wanted to explore more jazz and progressive rock-influenced music, and more pop won out here. And the production is tacky and overblown throughout. The album starts weakly with the first 3 songs being vapid pop songs, catchy but irritating and pointless. However, the album improves greatly in the 2nd half, finishing strongly with the last 3 tracks, Roger's C'est Le Bon being a beautiful and heartfelt ode to his music, followed by Rick's Waiting So Long, with its more proggy tendencies, and Don't Leave Me Now, a strong and emotional closer. So, overall, it is about half of a very good album, but the weak pop songs really bring it down, so it is just pretty good, a nice album with many weaknesses. Best Tracks: C'est Le Bon, Bonnie, Waiting So Long, Don't Leave Me Now. Weakest tracks: It's Raining Again, Crazy, Put on Your Old Brown Shoes. Rating 3 stars

Indelibly Stamped by SUPERTRAMP album cover

Studio Album, 1971
2.68 | 291 ratings
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Indelibly Stamped
Supertramp Crossover Prog

Review by BBKron

Their second, and often maligned album, which is much better than its reputation, as it contains a variety of pretty good songs. Unfortunately, the only attention it received was for its controversial album cover, which didn't do it any favors. Following the lack of success of their more progressive debut, the band retreats away from progressive rock on this 2nd album. The band is searching for an identity and style on this album, and so tries a bit of everything hoping to find something that sticks. They hop around from pop to rock to folk to jazz to blues and even some country without landing on a distinctive sound or style. But the songs are pretty good, except for the misguided straight-rocker, Popper, which is one of the worst songs in their whole catalog. Overall, a nice enjoyable album. It's a bit all over the place in sound and musical direction, but you can definitely hear bits and pieces of the band they would become. Here they are still searching for their sound, but its a nice journey. Best Tracks:Your Poppa Don't Mind, Traveled, Coming Home to See You, Forever. Weakest tracks: Popper, Times Have Changed. Rating: 3.5 stars

Studio Album, 2002
2.93 | 158 ratings
BUY

Slow Motion
Supertramp Crossover Prog

Review by BBKron

Rick Davies brings the band back for one more album, and seemingly just does what he wants, without necessarily trying for hits or commercial success. A breezy, laid-back affair, as Rick settles into some bluesy jazz grooves with fun melodies and extended instrumental jams (some songs are quite reminiscent of later Steely Dan). This gives sax and woodwinds man John Helliwell more chances to shine, as well as Lee Thornburg on trumpet, Mark Hart on guitar, and of course, Rick on keyboards. The extended tracks Tenth Avenue Breakdown and Dead Man's Blues shine the brightest, but most of the rest, including Little By Little, Broken Hearted, and a revived song from early in the band's history, Goldrush, a sort of Southern Cajun Country track, are just lovely. Overall, just a very nice, pleasant album that may not have the thrills and dynamism of their most acclaimed work, but is still a wonderful album nonetheless. Best Tracks: Tenth Avenue Breakdown, Broken Hearted, Dead Man's Blues, Little By Little, Bee in Your Bonnet, Goldrush. Weak Tracks: Over You, Slow Motion. Rating: 3.5 stars

Studio Album, 1970
3.49 | 395 ratings
BUY

Supertramp
Supertramp Crossover Prog

Review by BBKron

A strong debut, but was completely ignored at the time. Probably their most 'progressive' sounding album, as it seems heavily influenced by the Prog albums of its time, especially Genesis' Trespass. It has a similar pastoral quality, with some quite nice songs and melodies. Overall, a gentle and beautiful album, however, it also never quite soars, with several pleasant but not fully memorable songs. The lengthy more freeform and meandering Try Again drags the album down a bit as it just doesn't justify it's 12 min length. This was before they had developed their dominant keyboard sound (much more guitar featured here) or their dynamic vocal style and interactions between Roger and Rick (and Roger sings in a style most certainly inspired by Peter Gabriel on most of the songs). Nonetheless, an overall quite good, but not yet great album. Best Tracks: It's a Long Road, Aubade, Words Unspoken, Shadow Song. Weak Tracks: Try Again (too long), Nothing to Show. Rating:3.5 stars

Some Things Never Change by SUPERTRAMP album cover

Studio Album, 1997
3.04 | 182 ratings
BUY

Some Things Never Change
Supertramp Crossover Prog

Review by BBKron

Coming back after a ten-year break since their last album, Rick and the band re-set and revert back to a sound and style closer to their classic days, but again, with more of an easy-going jazz and blues feel throughout blending with Rick's smooth melodies. Rick brings Mark Hart (guitar,keyboards,vocals) and Lee Thornburg (trumpet, trombone, vocals), who had played on their last tour, into the band to round out their sound. Here we get a variety of wonderful songs, ranging from the catchy pop of You Win I Lose to the Santana-like Latin Jazz of Sooner or Later, the slow swing of Get Your Act Together to the bluesy Help Me Down That Road, The rock-funk of C'est What? to what almost seems like a lost Randy Newman song in Where There's a Will. The only missteps here are the sappy love song Live to Love You, and the choice to open the album with the nearly 10-min It's a Hard World, which is not a bad song, but it takes forever to get started, goes on too long, and just doesn't work as an opening track to the album. Overall, a really good album, well worth checking out. Best tracks: You Win I Lose, Sooner or Later, C'est What?, Some Things Never Change, Get Your Act Together. Weak tracks:Live to Love You, It's A Hard World (too long, poor opener). Rating 3.5 stars

Brother Where You Bound by SUPERTRAMP album cover

Studio Album, 1985
3.63 | 379 ratings
BUY

Brother Where You Bound
Supertramp Crossover Prog

Review by BBKron

For Their first album after the departure of Roger Hodgson, Rick Davies was now able to steer the band more toward his own musical style and tastes, and thus a return to a more progressive rock style with jazz and blues influences, and it is a much stronger album than the final album with Roger. Leading off with a dynamite opening track Cannonball, which returns to the classic Supertramp sound and driving energy. Rick is also able to show his progressive leanings with the 16 minute multi-part epic Brother Where You Bound (which he had wanted to put on the last album but was thwarted by Roger). Brother also features some guest guitar soloing from the one and only David Gilmour. Overall, a very strong album that deserves a place among their best albums. Best Tracks: Cannonball, Better Days, Brother Where You Bound. Weak tracks:none (except for one relatively weak mid-section in Brother Where You Bound). Rating: 4 stars

Breakfast In America by SUPERTRAMP album cover

Studio Album, 1979
3.96 | 842 ratings
BUY

Breakfast In America
Supertramp Crossover Prog

Review by BBKron

This was their big commercial success, with multiple hit singles and awards. But when this album first came out, I was quite disappointed with it's overtly commercial pop direction and production, most prominently in Roger's singles Breakfast in America and The Logical Song. And although I did like many of the other songs on the album, I didn't listen to it for many years and generally dismissed it when others touted it. However, going back to it years later, it is clear that it is a great album, with numerous wonderful songs, and aside from those couple weak tracks, does stand among the band's best albums. Rick's contributions, starting with the great opener Gone Hollywood, and then Goodbye Stranger and Oh Darling, save side 1 from Roger's lightweight pop, and side 2 continues with strong songs from both Rick and Roger, with Roger's heartfelt Lord is it Mine and Take the Long Way Home and Rick's more edgy Just Another Nervous Wreck and Casual Conversations, culminating in the big finale of Child of Vision. Best Tracks: Gone Hollywood, Oh Darling, Goodbye Stranger, Take the Long Way Home, Child of Vision. Weak Tracks: Breakfast in America, The Logical Song. Rating:4 stars

Even In The Quietest Moments ... by SUPERTRAMP album cover

Studio Album, 1977
4.01 | 698 ratings
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Even In The Quietest Moments ...
Supertramp Crossover Prog

Review by BBKron

The band continues their hot streak with another fantastic album, with this one having a new producer (Peter Henderson) and a bit warmer and gentler sound than previous albums. Filled with great melodies and appropriately proggy instrumental flourishes, the album produces lovely soundscapes and atmosphere. Highlights include Roger's beautiful Even in the Quietest Moments followed by Rick's personal solo piano and vocal love song, Downstream, so moving and pure, and absolutely captivating. The album concludes with the sensational From Now On, with it's evocative moods and atmosphere followed by the epic production of Fool's Overture, with its multiple sections and collages of sounds and styles. Overall, a more subtle album than the previous two, but just as magnificent. The only let-down is the just OK pop opener, Give a Little Bit. Best Tracks: Downstream, From Now On, Even in the Quietest Moments, Fool's Overture, Loverboy. Weak Track: Give a Little Bit. Rating:4.5 stars

Crisis? What Crisis? by SUPERTRAMP album cover

Studio Album, 1975
3.62 | 550 ratings
BUY

Crisis? What Crisis?
Supertramp Crossover Prog

Review by BBKron

Sensational follow-up to Crime of the Century, with more great blending of Prog influences with pop sensibilities. Perhaps their most underrated album, it nearly reaches the lofty height of that previous masterpiece. Brilliant opening with the light touch of Easy Does It flowing seamlessly into the bright and breezy energy of Sister Moonshine, continuing with strong songwriting throughout and side 1 later culminating in the rousing rocker Another Man's Woman, giving the band a chance to soar through the extended instrumental sections. Then comes Lady, which starts as a bouncy pop song before morphing into a dynamic proggy middle section and ending as an acapella barbershop quartet. Both Davies and Hodgson have some wonderful tunes in the subsequent tracks before ending with Roger's compelling The Meaning and his earnest love song, Two of Us. Although this album doesn't have any unifying styles or themes, or quite the power and exhilaration of 'Crime', it still is a compelling and magnificent album from start to finish. Best Tracks: Another Man's Woman, Sister Moonshine, Lady, Ain't Nobody But Me, Just a Normal Day. Weak Tracks: none. Rating:4.5 stars

Thanks to ProgLucky for the artist addition. and to Quinino for the last updates

3.49 \| 395 ratings Supertramp 1970	2.68 \| 291 ratings Indelibly Stamped 1971	4.32 \| 1779 ratings Crime of the Century 1974	3.62 \| 550 ratings Crisis? What Crisis? 1975	4.01 \| 698 ratings Even In The Quietest Moments ... 1977
3.96 \| 842 ratings Breakfast In America 1979	3.20 \| 388 ratings Famous Last Words 1982	3.63 \| 379 ratings Brother Where You Bound 1985	1.88 \| 219 ratings Free As A Bird 1987	3.04 \| 182 ratings Some Things Never Change 1997
2.93 \| 158 ratings Slow Motion 2002

3.67 \| 3 ratings Your Poppa Don't Mind / Rosie Had Everything Planned 1971	2.86 \| 14 ratings Dreamer / Bloody Well Right 1974	2.74 \| 13 ratings Land Ho / Summer Romance 1974	3.04 \| 6 ratings Lady / You Started Laughing When I Held You In My Arms 1975	3.92 \| 4 ratings Ain't Nobody but Me / Sister Moonshine 1975
4.33 \| 3 ratings Give a Little Bit 1977	4.67 \| 3 ratings Babaji 1977	2.93 \| 5 ratings Goodbye Stranger 1979	3.00 \| 6 ratings The Logical Song 1979	3.17 \| 10 ratings Breakfast in America / Gone Hollywood 1979
3.60 \| 5 ratings Take the Long Way Home / From Now On 1979	4.00 \| 2 ratings Take the Long Way Home 1979	3.50 \| 2 ratings Crazy 1982	3.08 \| 6 ratings It's Raining Again / Bonnie 1982	3.87 \| 4 ratings Don't Leave Me Now / Waiting So Long 1982
3.00 \| 2 ratings Still In Love / No Inbetween 1985	4.00 \| 2 ratings Better Days 1985	3.09 \| 4 ratings Cannonball 1985	3.00 \| 2 ratings Free as a Bird 1987	3.00 \| 2 ratings It's Alright 1988