Supertramp (album)
Supertramp is the debut album by the British rock band Supertramp, released in July 1970. At the time of its release, the band featured a lineup of Rick Davies, Roger Hodgson, Richard Palmer, Robert Millar and Keith Baker.
Overview
The album is notable for its art rock and progressive rock influences, a sound that would evolve significantly in their later work. While it showcased early songwriting efforts from Davies and Hodgson, the album failed to achieve commercial success and is generally considered a departure from the band's more commercially successful albums of the mid-1970s and beyond. Musically, the album is characterized by its extended instrumental passages, complex arrangements, and eclectic instrumentation, including prominent use of the Wurlitzer electric piano.
Track Listing
The original album's track listing is as follows:
- Surely (Davies, Hodgson)
- It's a Long Road (Davies, Hodgson)
- Aubade / And I Am Not Like Other Birds of Prey (Palmer)
- Words Unspoken (Davies, Hodgson)
- Maybe I'm a Beggar (Davies, Hodgson)
- Home Again (Davies, Hodgson)
- Nothing to Show (Davies, Hodgson)
- Shadow Song (Crime of the Century) (Palmer)
- Try Again (Davies, Hodgson)
- Rosie Had Everything Planned (Davies, Hodgson)
Personnel
- Rick Davies – organ, electric piano, piano, vocals
- Roger Hodgson – bass guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals
- Richard Palmer – guitar, balalaika, vocals
- Robert Millar – drums, percussion
- Keith Baker – percussion
Reception
Despite the band's future success, Supertramp received limited critical acclaim upon release. It failed to chart, and the band's subsequent lineup changes and shift towards a more accessible pop-rock sound largely overshadowed the album in their discography. It remains primarily of interest to dedicated fans seeking to explore the origins of the band's sound.