The world’s politest rock band hit it big in 1979 with Breakfast In America, and the best of the album rivaled the band’s best work to date.
While Supertramp’s strongest album remains Crime Of The Century, this one is their most accessible and pop-friendly, and a few of the songs remain in play on classic rock radio today. The band never had a better guitar solo than on the catchy “Goodbye Stranger;” whistles, snaps, and a jaunty air carry a song about one-night stands. It’s the best moment here.
Other hits included the wistful “The Logical Song,” the brief, sarcastic title track (“Not much of a girlfriend / I never seem to get a lot”), and the moody “Take The Long Way Home,” which opens with a mournful harmonica solo before Roger Hodgson’s insistent piano pounding rolls in, followed by a standard tale of life on the road (“There are times you feel you’re part of the furniture…Then your wife seems to think you’re losing your sanity”). All very good songs, although the title track hasn't aged as well.
The opening and closing songs also are strong. “Gone Hollywood” is a jaded look at becoming American and/or general ennui with life, while “Child Of Vision” is even better than most of the songs here. It clocks in at an indulgent seven minutes, sure, but features some of Hodgson’s best piano solos over an insistent beat and a wailing sax solo during the ending jam session. The trade-off lyrics between Hodgson and Rick Davies take a view of a dimming relationship while a two-chord riff and some low-end keyboard solos play in the background.
The rest of the songs are the usual polite, cloying Supertramp fare: harmless and safe, but unfortunately cluttering up the rest of the work. This keeps it from being a wall-to-wall classic like Crime Of The Century, but the best songs here have aged well and remain guilty pleasures from a band with a truly original sound.
| Agreed- the guitar solo on Goodbye Stranger by Roger Hodgson is extraordinary! His musical talents on electric guitar are frequently overlooked. However, I prefer the more inspiring songs on the album, like Breakfast in America, Logical Song, Take the Long Way Home, Lord is it Mine and Child of Vision. I saw Roger perform these songs earlier this summer and simply can't forget the experience I had- I was immersed in mesmerizing, energizing and captivating music the whole night through. Roger's warm, friendly and open demeanor made me feel like he was a close friend, not a platinum record-selling superstar as you'd think. You can see Roger enjoying himself all the while- he obviously has a deep bond with his talented 4-piece band. Everyone around me seemed to be having a whale of a time, singing their hearts out, clapping along and dancing the blues away.. it might as well have been 1979 all over again!! I'm always looking out for new tour date announcements, he lists them all on his official Facebook page- http://www.facebook.com/RogerHodgsonOfficial Maybe I'll see you at a show? :) |
| I love, love, love this album and give it an A++++. There are not many records that have stood the test of time for over 30 years. I still hear Roger Hodgson's Breakfast in America, The Logical Song, and Take the Long Way Home on the radio all the time. The songs are just as fresh today as when they were released. I saw Roger last year in Montreal and by far that was the best concert I have ever been to. What a performance and what a voice. He sounds even better today than he does on my Supertramp vinyls, if that's possible. He is currently on his largest US tour in 30 years. Don't miss him! I can't wait to see him in NY in November. Check out Roger's YouTube Channel at http://www.YouTube.com/MrRogerHodgson. You won't be able to pull yourself away. |