BREAKFAST IN AMERICA

After five albums of steady progress Supertramp finally hit paydirt with this huge-selling 1979 effort, an album that would come to define both the group and their quirky, pop-prog sound. Formed in the early-seventies by the duo of Roger Hodgson and Rick Davies, Supertramp started out as a fully-fledged five-man progressive- rock group with arty ambitions, a slight pop edge and a very generous Dutch millionaire supporting them through their formative years. A first, self-titled album appeared in 1973 to little fanfare, with Hodgson and Davies subsequently sacking the other three members and replacing them with bassist Dougie Thomson, woodwind-specialist John Helliwell and American drummer Bob Siebenberg(here credited as Bob C. Benberg). This line-up would ultimately become known as the 'classic' Supertramp line-up, producing the group's highly- acclaimed third release 'Crime Of The Century', the album that put the five-piece firmly on the major international map. Two more efforts followed in the form of 'Crisis? What Crisis?' and the superior 'Even In The Quietest Moments' before a move to California culminated in their big break. And what a break it was. Featuring a delicate, rather quirky and very catchy art-pop sound, super-slick production values and dominated throughout by the gleaming tones of the Wurlitzer piano, 'Breakfast In America' was an immediate hit, both with fans and critics alike. Every major rock group has one - a masterpiece that is - and for Supertramp this was it. By now, of course, the group's overall sound was far removed from their progressive past, though fragments remained, especially in the swirling, up-tempo odyssey 'Goodbye Stranger' and the final, lengthy cut 'Child Of Vision'. Elsewhere, sparkling pop nous decorates the seminal pop catch of the brief-but-brilliant title-track, whilst CSN-style vocals adorn the acerbic fan favourite 'The Logical Song'. Yes, it may lean very favourably towards a more simplistic, mainstream-baiting sound, yet the combination of crystal-clear pop-rock melodies and witty lyrical observations make 'Breakfast In America' a truly unique spin of the 1970's rock theme. A key album for both group and year, this is an album that oozes class and never grows tiresome. And as career peaks go, this is a mightily impressive one. STEFAN TURNER, STOKE NEWINGTON, 2012