One of the very first vinyl LP’s remastered by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab Inc. back in the late 70s was Supertramp’s Crime of the Century, and it was a perfect candidate for the MFSL treatment. Crime was superbly produced by Ken Scott, who cut his teeth as a recording engineer under George Martin for many of the classic Beatles albums and just the year before produced David Bowie’s glam rock opus The Rise And Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars.
This was already a good sounding album, but the remastering revealed so much more of the sonic complexities, enriching the listening experience for audiophile art rock fans in the days of big headphones, cabinet speakers and brushed aluminum shell receivers. Forty years after the initial 1974 release, the classic album finally gets a fitting remastering treatment for the digital age, without all the loudness and compression issues that plagued earlier CD remasters.
Crime of the Century , Deluxe Edition is more than just a remaster, offered in several formats including a 2 disc set that comes with a 24-page book of photos, essay material and interviews with most of the Crime lineup band members along with Dave Margereson, Supertramp’s manager from 1973-83.
Most of you probably already know the basic story behind one of the fabled breakthrough rock albums of the 1970s: UK’s Supertramp was founded around 1969 by vocalist/pianist Rick Davies, who recruited guitarist/vocalist Roger Hodgson and together with a shifting lineup around them, the two songwriting partners made two albums in the early 70s that gained little notice. Losing their millionaire financial backer, they floundered about for about three years before solidifying the roster by bringing on board Bob Siebenberg (drums), Dougie Thomson (bass) and John Helliwell (woodwinds). Then, armed with a strong set of songs (whittled down from 40+ to eight) and an established co-producer in Scott, they created Crime of the Century, one of the most widely acclaimed pop-prog albums of all time. “Dreamer” became a hit song in the UK while “Bloody Well Right” was popular in the U.S. Supertramp was well on its way.
The music contained is at times astonishing: beginning with the free-wheeling, dramatically crescending “School” that seamlessly tumbles into jazzy/gritty “Bloody Well Right,” this pair of songs represents the most blissful ten minutes of the entire Supertramp discography. “Dreamer,” written by a teenaged Hodgson, is as disarmingly charming a pop tune as it gets from someone not named Paul McCartney. Other tracks eschew pop constraints in favor of multi-section rock operas that dig deeper into themes of youthful confusion, loneliness and self-reflection most successfully achieved with Hodgson’s “Hide In Your Shell” and Davies’ “Rudy.” More than any of their other albums, Crime turned the competing personalities of the band’s two principal members into a strength, often trading verses within a song to play characters off each other as in a stage play.
Additional music for this Deluxe package comes in the way of Supertramp’s show at London’s Hammersmith Odeon in March 1975, the same place and year that witnessed the transformation of another emerging musical act into an international phenomenon. Circulating in bootleg form forever, these tapes are finally seeing a rightful official release, capturing a band just at the point of blossom. Every song from Crime was performed here, as were about half of what would soon become their next album later that year Crisis? What Crisis? And just for kicks, Helliwell sings the 1949 Perry Como hit “‘A’ You’re Adorable.”
By the time of the group’s first official live album Paris (1980), this was a well-polished stage performing machine. However, the revelation of the 1975 show is that they had already achieved that level of symbiosis then. Considering that the studio versions were meticulously put together, they seemed to have no problem recreating the magic in front of an audience, and without needing to contort the character of the songs, they often added even more life to them.
That’s particularly true of Davies’ songs, which in original form sometimes felt a little too tedious and disjointed. Here, they bristle with more emotion and Davies’ jazz chops come alive (this rendition of Crisis‘s “Another Man’s Woman” thoroughly kicks the studio version’s ass). Siebenberg is another performer whose star shines even brighter in concert; he plays very closely to the melody and the vocal, bolstering songs like “Asylum.” He’s the opposite of John Bonham, exactly what this band needed. Helliwell cuts loose more on tenor sax when he’s on stage; he’s frisky and funky on the “Bloody Well Right” outro, for example.
The overall musicianship invested in their concerts as captured on the Hammersmith show pointed to the band’s inclination to make records to promote their tours instead of vice-versa, opposite of the way most of the other rock acts of that era did it. And yet, from Crime of the Century on, they sweated the details inside the studio, too.
Those looking for 5.1 Surround Sound or an accompanying DVD of the live show will still be left wanting and the hard-core Supertramp fans will already have the boot of the Hammersmith Odeon date, anyway. Everyone else who wants a faithful document of an album that transformed a band from mediocre and unknown to outstanding and famous have much to relish with this well-done celebration of one of the greater rock albums from the golden era of great rock albums.
The deluxe edition of Supertramp’s ‘Crime of the Century’ goes on sale December 9, 2014 via Universal Music Enterprises in CD, digital download, and 180g vinyl varieties.
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Can’t wait for the box set of Crime, one of my all time favorite albums. Great Christmas gift to myself! Amazing how the songs sound so fresh today – 40 years later.
I couldn’t agree more, Richard! The Davies songs like “Asylum,” “Rudy” and “Crime of the Century” are underrated classics.
Man, no kidding. Supertramp leader Rick Davies’ “Rudy” could have worked as a theme song for the Occupy movement, even though it was written decades before. Talk about a visionary.
Here’s an amazing live version of the song, from 2010. What a show Supertramp puts on!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSlXH7MLhd8
Forgot how great this song is in concert. I was lucky to be able to see the group in its original lineup several times during college days (1970’s)- they played quite a bit in the Philadelphia area where I went to school. I have seen Roger Hodgson a number of times with his new band, which is excellent, and he still puts on a great show. None of Rick’s songs, of course (although Rick has chosen to play some of Roger’s in the past), but in my opinion Roger has enough classic songs to put on a very long show. Looking forward to seeing them again in 2015 when they come back to the East Coast.
Agree completely… though I’m surprised the article didn’t mention Roger Hodgson’s If Everyone Was Listening, which is on the album too.. An outstanding song.
It’s easy to forget this song, since it comes between two of Rick Davies’ brilliant opuses!
Nah, it hasn’t been forgotten by us fans who’ve listened to the album from start to finish for years and years… 😉 It has great and deep meaning — becoming aware of our “role” in life and how we have the capability to make a difference in setting the stage of life. What can we do to make life better for others.
It’s really too bad that Hodgson doesn’t have the genius of John Helliwell — as heard on Supertramp’s incredible live version of this album’s title track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fyt_oEtxUJk — not to mention Rick Davies, of course, and fellow classic-era member Bob Siebenberg to fill out the sound. The best part of Supertramp was the way they collaboratively presented the music. They truly were a great band. And that’s what makes this reissue so special, hearing everyone’s contributions to these wonderful songs.
“Hide in Your Shell” is a great song that echoes the thoughts and feelings of so many around the world. It strikes a common chord in all of us and continues to resonate with others even more so today.
Actually, Dreamer at Roger’s Snoqualmie show this past summer he dedicated the song to my kids, surreal!!! They still talk about it!
“Far out.. what a day, a year, a life it is…” So Great !!
This album does have a timeless feel. Also many a time I’ve closed my eyes and thought “If Everyone Was Listening…” And my, how it rings true. Brilliant and poignant gem, holds a special place on the album.
I remember reading somewhere that Roger Hodgson composed the song which goes back to Shakespeare’s “All the world’s a stage”, it’s interesting to think about all of us living out our “actor” roles on the intricate stage of life.
What a wonderful Christmas present!
You’re bloody well right!
It doesn’t seem possible that “Crime of the Century” is 40 years old. It is proof that great music is timeless. I love all 8 songs on the album but to me the ones that stand out are the 4 that were written by Roger Hodgson. My personal favorite, which contains a very powerful message that has help get me through some rough times over the years, is “Hide in your Shell.”
It’s true. John Helliwell’s perfectly conveyed call-and-response on saxophone just kills me everytime: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY-brP8CmPo