Supertramp: Crime of the Century: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition

Ryan Reed on January 8, 2015

With their third album, 1974’s Crime of the Century, Supertramp solidified their trademark prog-pop sound: thumping Wurlitzers, ethereal saxophones, and the respective grit and whine of frontmen Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson. They also wrote the best songs of their distinctive career—from the caffeinated sing-along jolt of “Dreamer” to the widescreen textural bliss of the title track. This 40th edition remaster doesn’t drastically renovate the sonic landscap—after all, the original ranks alongside Steely Dan’s Aja and Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon as one of the best engineered LPs in rock history. But it does zoom in on the splendor, adding a subtle shimmer to the instrumentation (the trebly guitar shards on “School,” the snaking keyboard intro on “Bloody Well Right”). What makes this set essential is the second disc, a 13-track 1975 live recording from London’s Hammersmith Odeon. Onstage, the band injects their lavishly constructed tunes with verve and silliness, making up for occasional tape hiss with unbridled passion. The sharpest cuts are drawn from that year’s underrated Crisis? What Crisis?—“Sister Moonshine” is rendered as an organ-heavy romp, climaxing with John Helliwell’s fusion sax solo; a manic “Lady” ends a goofy four-part vocal harmony. Essential listening for devoted fans.

Artist: Supertramp
Album: Crime of the Century: 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
Label: Universal