[ Universal Music International / 2 CD ]
Release Date: Friday 12 December 2014
Featuring the cream of Rick Davies' and Roger Hodgson's songwriting, Crime Of The Century was the first of the many peaks in Supertramp's illustrious career; an album that had everything to prove, full of tunes that effortlessly straddled the world of pure pop and progressive rock. The LP eventually peaked at Number 4 on the UK charts and saw the band for the first time on the US Top 40. It was the music and the album's cinematic sonic qualities that accounted for its impact.
Crime Of The Century is not only one of Supertramp's greatest works, but one of the most highly regarded recordings of 70s rock music. Released in 1974, it put the band on the map after three years of struggle. With the unmistakable blend of the two songwriters - Davies and Hodgson's - work, it married the sweetness of Hodgson's 'Dreamer' - the band's first big hit single - with the grit of Davies' similarly beloved 'Bloody Well Right.' In 'School,' 'Rudy' and the title track, the band - Davies, Hodgson, John Helliwell, Bob Siebenberg, and Dougie Thomson - helped define what would soon be known as 'Adult Oriented Rock.' This was - and is - not just an album that showed Supertramp's increased maturity, but a timeless gem, crammed with incredible melodies and thoughtful lyrics.
This 40th Anniversary edition contains the classic original album, remastered by Ray Staff at Air Studios, and a second disc features their 1975 Hammersmith Odeon concert, mixed from the original tapes by original on-the-night engineer Ken Scott, capturing the band on the verge of stardom, showcasing all of Crime, and also previewing tracks from the then-as-yet-unreleased follow-up, Crisis? What Crisis? The 2-CD package comes with a 24-page booklet of photographs, and a new essay written by Phil Alexander, Editor-in-Chief of Mojo Magazine, containing new interviews with Dougie Thomson, John Helliwell, Ken Scott, Bob Siebenberg, Roger Hodgson, and 1973-1983 Supertramp manager Dave Margereson
Disc 1
1. School (Remastered 2010)
2. Bloody Well Right (Remastered 2010)
3. Hide In Your Shell (Remastered 2010)
4. Asylum (Remastered 2010)
5. Dreamer (Remastered 2010)
6. Rudy (Remastered 2010)
7. If Everyone Was Listening (Remastered 2010)
8. Crime Of The Century (Remastered 2010)
Disc 2
1. School (Live At Hammersmith Odeon/1975)
2. Bloody Well Right (Live At Hammersmith Odeon/1975)
3. Hide In Your Shell (Live At Hammersmith Odeon/1975)
4. Asylum (Live At Hammersmith Odeon/1975)
5. Sister Moonshine (Live At Hammersmith Odeon/1975)
6. Just A Normal Day (Live At Hammersmith Odeon/1975)
7. Another Man's Woman (Live At Hammersmith Odeon/1975)
8. Lady (Live At Hammersmith Odeon/1975)
9. "A" - You're Adorable (Live At Hammersmith Odeon/1975)
10. Dreamer (Live At Hammersmith Odeon/1975)
11. Rudy (Live At Hammersmith Odeon/1975)
12. If Everyone Was Listening (Live At Hammersmith Odeon/1975)
13. Crime Of The Century (Live At Hammersmith Odeon/1975)