LAND HO / SUMMER ROMANCE

Both songs of this single were the first to be released from the new line-up of the band which by that time included Rick Davies, Roger Hodgson, Bob C. Benberg, John A. Helliwell and Dougie Thompson, a line-up which became considered as the best and "classic" from this band until Hodgson left the band in 1983. Both songs were recorded between July and September 1973 in London, and were produced by the band. This was done several months before their "Crime of the Century" album was recorded and released in 1974. And the changes in personnel very well reflected the improvements in sound for the band which at last found the best musicians for their musical style, being the three new members very good musicians and more compatible with the sound that Davies and Hodgson were trying to achieve since the start of the band in 1969. That musical syle and sound became very successful with the passing of time, reaching the peak in 1979 with their "Breakfast in America" album.

This single was released in March 1974.

"Land Ho", sung by Hodgson, is a melodic Pop Rock song, somewhat similar in parts to "Dreamer" from their "Crime of the Century" album, but better, as I don`t like "Dreamer" very much in comparison to other songs from the band. It also includes a brief but very good sax solo. The drums pattern is also somewhat similar in parts to "Dreamer". Maybe "Dreamer" was a second attempt to write a similar song to "Land Ho". I think that "Land Ho" as the "A" side of this single could have been a Hit...but it seems that it went nowhere in the Hit Parade charts.

"Land Ho" was recorded by Hodgson again for his second solo album titled "Hai Hai" which was released in late 1987, almost at the same time as Supertramp`s "Free as a Bird" album. "Land Ho" was re-recorded with some changes in the arrangements (particulaly in the drums playing) but more in an updated 80s style. It sounds good but I prefer the original version recorded by Supertramp.

"Summer Romance", sung by Davies, is a very typical song composed by him in the Rhythm and Blues musical style that he likes very much. It s also a good song like "Land Ho".

Both songs from this single also showed improvements in the quality of the recordings from this band thanks to their new collaboration with Recording Engineer and Producer Ken Scott. Both songs were released in the CD format for the first time in Supertramp`s "Retrospectacle" compilation album in 2005, with a new mixing done by Ken Scott for "Land Ho" which was done in June 1975 and was previously unreleased unitl then, and which was even considered to be released in their "Crisis ? What Crisis?" album from 1975, a thing that did not happen.