School - Supertramp

Five years ago, School already appeared on this blog, but this single predates that one, and it's now part of my collection as well. The song was never officially released as a single when it was released on the album 'Crime of the century' in 1974.

It turns out that it was released as a single almost a decade later: this single was made in 1983, after the success of their album 'Famous last words' and the single 'It's raining again'. This was while the band was - probably - still under contract with A&M Records, and as such, this was released on the A&M label.

My collection: 7" single no. 5411
Found: unknown
Tracks: 'School' / 'Oh darling'

Better days - Supertramp

'Better days' was a single taken from Supertramp's 1985 album 'Brother where you bound'. It was their first album without Roger Hodgson. After the first single 'Cannonball' was a reasonable success, this second extract fared less well commercially.

The B-side featured an edited version of the title track of the album. It still clocked in at 7'44 minutes, but less than the original length, since on the album the track lasted for a whopping 16'30 minutes. Rick Davies from the band recalled: 'I remember saying to the guys, 'We need to find somebody that can play a bit like Gilmour' for the guitar stuff, and I think it was someone at A&M - it might have been Jordan Harris or somebody, one of those guys - and he said, 'Well, I know David - maybe he would like to come over and do it,' and he sent him a demo and he decided he'd like to do it and he was very reasonable. Came over, brought all his gear and straight to the studio. It was a home studio, my studio, and we did it.'

My collection: 7" single no. 5119
Found: Backtrack, Antwerpen, June 9, 2011
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Better days (edit)' / 'Brother where you bound (edit)'

My kind of lady - Supertramp

In 1982, Supertramp released their final album of the 'classic line-up' including Roger Hodgson, '...Famous Last Words...'. While the first single 'It's raining again' was a hit in several countries, its followup 'My kind of lady' disappeared without a trace in most territories.

A worldwide tour followed in 1983. After the tour, Hodgson left the band. There was much speculation behind the reasons why Roger Hodgson left Supertramp. In an interview, Hodgson stated that the reason he left the band was to spend time with his two small children. He has stated that there were never any real personal or professional problems between him and Rick Davies as some people thought.

My collection: 7" single no. 5021
Found: Record fair, Amsterdam, January 29, 2011
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'My kind of lady' / 'Know who you are'

Free as a bird - Supertramp

Sometimes the reactions I get on this blog really amuse me. A recent entry on 'Cannonball' by Supertramp was reason enough for someone to start promoting Roger Hodgson, writing, 'If you want to see a REAL Supertramp concert, see Roger's show. (...) See the original voice of Supertramp and not an imitation.' True enough, Roger Hodgson co-founded Supertramp, but he also left the group prematurely. Rick Davies was there when the group was founded as well. So when he sings 'Free as a bird' in 1988, after Hodgson's leaving the group, is that an imitation? I would think not.

This is one of my favourite Supertramp tracks because of its widescreen sound and optimistic lyric. The single was not a commercial success, unfortunately.

My collection: 7" single no. 853
Found: Den Haag, May 27, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Free as a bird' / 'Thing for you'

Cannonball - Supertramp

The lyric of the song 'Cannonball' by Supertramp may have been seen as a veiled message to former member Roger Hodgson - who left Supertramp a year before - but writer Rick Davies revealed in a French radio interview that the lyric to 'Cannonball' was inspired by a less than perfect concert promoter whom he refused to name but added that the guy knew who he was.

The track was written and sung by keyboardist Rick Davies all in the chord of G. Davies stated in an interview 'I did it simply to see if it could be done'. The single reached number 28 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in the spring of 1985. In the Dutch Top 40, the single only got as far as number 35.

My collection: 7" single no. 468
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, October 20, 1986
Cost: 2 guilders
Track: 'Cannonball' / 'Ever open door'

Dreamer - Supertramp

'Dreamer' was originally recorded in 1974 by Supertramp on their album 'Crime of the century'. Released as a single, it peaked at number 13 in the UK singles chart.

A live version, taken from the album 'Paris', was released in 1980. That live version reached number 15 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart ad number 36 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4694
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Dreamer' / 'Bloody well right'

Take the long way home (live) - Supertramp

Roger Hodgson commented in 1990: ''Take The Long Way Home' has a quality about it that just makes me feel warm inside. I don't know if it's the harmonies or the melodies, or whatever, but I never get sick of it. I always saw the song a little ambiguous. It's on two levels. I see 'home' as being internal and external. It's kind of a play on words. Definitely part of the song is about the shallowness of success and getting caught up in a world and success and chasing, being popular, or whatever, is taking 'the long way home'. Because I think 'home' in its deepest sense is inside, is being at peace with oneself.'

Originally released on the album 'Breakfast in America' in 1979, a live version was recorded on the album 'Paris' a year later and released as a single. This single was not a commercial success, but it's a good version nonetheless.

My collection: 7" single no. 2794
Found: Record fair, Rotterdam, December 14, 1996
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'Take the long way home (live)' / 'From now on (live)'

Breakfast in America - Supertramp

'Breakfast in America' was the title track of Supertramp's 1979 album. During the recording of this album, tensions between band members and main songwriters Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson were rising. Hodgson later commented: 'Rick didn't like the song 'Breakfast in America' and didn't want it on the album. He also didn't want the album to be titled 'Breakfast in America' either and I guess I won out on both accounts'.

When released as a single, 'Breakfast in America' became a big hit in various countries. It reached number 9 in the UK singles chart and number 16 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 851
Found: Den Haag, May 27, 1989
Cost: 2 guilders
Tracks: 'Breakfast in America' / 'Gone Hollywood'

It's raining again - Supertramp

'It's raining again' was released as the first single from Supertramp's 1982 album 'Famous last words', an album that marked the end of an era. As relations between Roger Hodgson and Rick Davies, the main songwriters of the band, became more strained, they fought over just about everything. Not long after this album's release, Roger Hodgson decided to leave the band.

The single, meanwhile, was a good success for Supertramp, reaching number 26 in the UK singles chart and number 6 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 334
Found: Oldies Unlimited, UK, received September 1985
Cost: 2 pounds
Tracks: 'It's raining again' / 'Bonnie'

The logical song - Supertramp

'The logical song' by Supertramp is a 'story of innocence and idealism lost' with Hodgson condemning an education system not focused on knowledge and sensitivity. It was recorded as a track on Supertramp's 1979 album 'Breakfast in America'.

When the song was released as a single it reached number 7 in the UK singles chart and number 6 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the Dutch Top 40, 'The logical song' reached number 20.

My collection: 7" single no. 401
Found: Disco Market, Den Haag, 1986
Cost: 1 guilder
Tracks: 'The logical song' / 'Just another nervous wreck'

Give a little bit - Supertramp

Supertramp released one of their best albums in 1977 with 'Even in the quietest moments'. 'Give a little bit' was the opening track on the album, and also released as the first single from the album. Writing credits for the song were given to Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson, members of the band, although it really is a Hodgson composition.

The single reached number 29 in the UK singles chart and number 2 in the Dutch Top 40.

My collection: 7" single no. 4237
Found: Record fair, Utrecht, November 21, 2009
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Give a little bit' / 'Downstream'

School - Supertramp

For some strange reason, the track 'School' from Supertramp's 1974 album 'Crime of the century' was never released as a single. It achieved a cult status in the Netherlands, as it appeared in Radio Veronica's Top 100 of all times every year.

When the Dutch record company Arcade released a compilation album of Supertramp tracks in 1989, they decided to release 'School' as a single. It proved to be a good idea: the single reached number 33 in the Dutch Top 40. At the time, I only bought the cd-single. Now I've found the 7" single that was released back then as well.

My collection: 7" single no. 4141
Found: Backtrack, Antwerpen, November 7, 2009
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'School' / 'School (live)'

Cannonball - Supertramp

Without Roger Hodgson, but with a reputation that was very good, Supertramp soldiered on after 1983. Rick Davies took over lead vocals, and the 1985 album 'Brother where you bound' was promoted with the first single 'Cannonball'.

On the album and on thie 12" single, the track lasted for well over 7 minutes, whereas the 7" single contained an edit. Impressive also is the 10 minute instrumental version on the B-side of this 12" single.

My collection: 12" single no. 285
Found: Record Exchange, London, 1996
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Cannonball (Direct to disc version)' / 'Cannonball (instrumental)'

Goodbye stranger - Supertramp

'Goodbye stranger' is a single taken from Supertramp's 1979 album 'Breakfast in America'. The single reached number 57 in the UK singles chart. The B-side of the single is the title track of Supertramp's previous album, 'Even in the quietest moments'.

It's always a bit of a shock when you buy a single and it turns out to be so faulty you can't even play it. This single is so crooked that frankly I'm amazed the shop dared to ask 50p for it. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.

My collection: 7" single no. 3958
Found: Record Exchange, London, August 5, 2009
Cost: 50p
Tracks: 'Goodbye stranger' / 'Even in the quietest moments'