SUPERTRAMP Debut Album

 

Original released on LP A&M AMLS 981

(UK 1970, July 14)

Progressive in texture for the most part, Supertramp's debut album became increasingly disregarded as they blossomed commercially through the '70s. The album was the only one on which drummer Bob Miller and guitarist Richard Palmer appeared, replaced by Kevin Currie and Frank Farrell for the "Indelibly Stamped" release which surfaced a year later. Quite a bit different than their radio and AOR material, "Supertramp" is inundated with pretentious instrumental meandering, with greater emphasis and attention granted to the keyboards and guitars than to the writing and to the overall effluence of the music. There are some attractive moments, such as the mixture of ardor and subtlety that arises in "Words Unspoken," "Surely," and "Nothing to Show," and some of the fusion that erupts throughout the 12 minutes of "Try Again" is impressive even though the whole of the track results in one of the most extravagant and overblown pieces the band has ever produced. Hodgson's use of cello, flageolet, and acoustic guitar is endearing in spots, and while both he and Davies had just recently formed their alliance, it was evident that their songwriting was going to be one of the band's strengths. Ultimately dissatisfied with the results of the album, they retorted with "Indelibly Stamped", which disappointingly followed suit. It wasn't until 1974's "Crime of the Century" that things began to improve for Supertramp, when they replaced Farrell and Currie with saxman John Helliwell, bass player Dougie Thompson, and drummer Bob Benberg. (Mike DeGagne in AllMusic)

On the debut album from Supertramp, although much of the material is seemingly a million miles away from the style of music the group would produce during its 1974-1979 "glory period," the band showed great promise nevertheless. Additionally, since the line-up at the time of this release included only two members - Roger Hodgson and Rick Davies - who would continue on with Supertramp into its "glory period," that explains much of the difference in style from subsequent albums. One initial caveat... for those unfamiliar with this period in the band's history, don't be fooled by the cover art, which always brought the group Genesis to mind. But the music on offer here, although more Progressive than later Supertramp releases, mostly some of the folksier, pastoral atmospheres the groups occasionally shared in the beginning of their respective careers. Therefore, despite the cover art, don't expect anything along the lines of "Supper's Ready" or "Cinema Show." Instead, other than the song "Maybe I'm a Beggar," where original guitarist Richard Palmer sings a portion of the lead (and has a voice not associated with the band's popular sound), the music, for the most part, is still undeniably Supertramp. Tunes such as "It's a Long Road," "Words Unspoken," "Shadow Song," "Aubade and I Am Not Like Other Birds of Prey," and "Surely" are probably the closest in style to the band's heyday period, whereas "Nothing to Show" and sections of the lengthy "Try Again," especially with the heavier guitar leads and Hammond organ, are completely different than what fans are used to hearing from the most popular version of the group. So basically, what we have here is a promising band still struggling to find its trademarked sound/style, but producing some enjoyable music in the process. (in RateYourMusic)