Supertramp Vinyl Records – Breakfast in America, Crime of the Century & Essential Albums on Vinyl

Supertramp are one of the great unsung British rock bands of the 1970s — a group whose run between Crime of the Century in 1974 and Breakfast in America in 1979 produced some of the finest art-pop records of the decade. Founded in London in 1969, the classic line-up of Rick Davies (vocals, keyboards), Roger Hodgson (vocals, guitar), John Helliwell (saxophone), Dougie Thomson (bass) and Bob Siebenberg (drums) coalesced around the songwriting partnership of Davies and Hodgson — two distinct voices, two complementary songwriting registers, sharing equal billing on every record they made together.

Crime of the Century is the critical peak; Breakfast in America the commercial one (twenty million copies sold worldwide, four hit singles, the iconic Statue-of-Liberty-as-waitress cover). The records between — Crisis? What Crisis?, Even in the Quietest Moments, and the underrated Famous Last Words — are full of brilliant moments too. Hodgson left in 1983; Davies continued under the name but the magic was in the partnership. Supertramp on vinyl is consistently rewarding — Ken Scott's productions are unusually detailed for their era, the Wurlitzer electric piano, the layered harmonies and the dynamic range all wanting analogue warmth. The A&M originals and the recent 180g reissues are both excellent.

Best Supertramp Albums on Vinyl

Breakfast in America (1979)
Their commercial masterpiece and one of the best-selling rock records of the 70s. The Logical Song, Take the Long Way Home, Goodbye Stranger, the title track and Breakfast in America — four global hit singles across one album. Won two Grammys including Best Engineered Recording. The 180g picture-disc reissue is essential.

Crime of the Century (1974)
Their critical and artistic peak. School, Bloody Well Right, Dreamer, Hide in Your Shell, Rudy, the title track — produced by Ken Scott, with the saxophone-and-keyboards interplay that would define the band's sound fully in place. One of the great British rock albums.

Crisis? What Crisis? (1975)
The follow-up. Easy Does It, Sister Moonshine, A Soapbox Opera, Another Man's Woman, Lady — slightly darker and more politically engaged than its predecessor, with some of Hodgson's most beautiful writing. Often underrated.

Even in the Quietest Moments (1977)
The bridge between Crime of the Century and Breakfast in America. Give a Little Bit (their breakthrough US single), Lover Boy, Fool's Overture — a more confident, more melodically direct record than their earlier work.

...Famous Last Words... (1982)
The final Hodgson album. It's Raining Again, My Kind of Lady, Crazy, Don't Leave Me Now — softer-edged and more pop-leaning than the classic-era records, but containing some of the band's most beautifully crafted late-period writing. Underappreciated.

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