The Very Best of Supertramp

Overview

The compilation features 15 studio recordings from 1974's Crime of the Century to 1985's Brother Where You Bound. The cover depicts the grate from the cover of Crime of the Century, the hand carrying the glass from the cover of Breakfast in America and the orange umbrella from Crisis? What Crisis?.

Reception

In their retrospective review, AllMusic noted that effectively compiling Supertramp's work is impossible since the group is so album-oriented. However, they offered a relative recommendation for The Very Best of Supertramp, saying that "it flows very smoothly" and is "the closest thing to a definitive overview of the '70s pop-prog group."

Alternative version

A Dutch release, also titled The Very Best of Supertramp, was issued in late 1989, featuring the same tracks but in a different order and a different sleeve. It was compiled by Dutch compilation label Arcade, although it was later re-issued on the A&M label. The album was a major success in the Dutch chart, spending nine weeks at number one and 70 weeks in total. Given its success, A&M did not officially release the alternative The Very Best of Supertramp in the Netherlands, although it has now replaced the Arcade version.

Track listing

All songs written by Roger Hodgson & Rick Davies, except where noted.

1. "School" – 5:36
2. Lead vocals: Roger Hodgson & Rick Davies. Producer: Ken Scott & Supertramp
3. "Goodbye Stranger" – 5:48
4. Lead vocals: Rick Davies. Producer: Supertramp & Peter Henderson
5. "The Logical Song" – 4:10
6. Lead vocals: Roger Hodgson. Producer: Supertramp & Peter Henderson
7. "Bloody Well Right" – 4:33
8. Lead vocals: Rick Davies. Producer: Ken Scott & Supertramp
9. "Breakfast in America" – 2:40
10. Lead vocals: Roger Hodgson. Producer: Supertramp & Peter Henderson
11. "Rudy" – 7:19
12. Lead vocals: Rick Davies & Roger Hodgson. Producer: Ken Scott & Supertramp
13. "Take the Long Way Home" – 5:08
14. Lead vocals: Roger Hodgson. Producer: Supertramp & Peter Henderson
15. "Crime of the Century" – 5:32
16. Lead vocals: Rick Davies. Producer: Ken Scott & Supertramp
17. "Dreamer" – 3:31
18. Lead vocals: Roger Hodgson & Rick Davies. Producer: Ken Scott & Supertramp
19. "Ain't Nobody But Me" – 5:10
20. Lead vocals: Rick Davies. Producer: Ken Scott & Supertramp
21. "Hide in Your Shell" – 6:50
22. Lead vocals: Roger Hodgson. Producer: Ken Scott & Supertramp
23. "From Now On" – 6:19
24. Lead vocals: Rick Davies. Producer: Supertramp
25. "Give a Little Bit" – 4:09
26. Lead vocals: Roger Hodgson. Producer: Supertramp
27. "It's Raining Again" – 4:27
28. Lead vocals: Roger Hodgson. Producer: Supertramp, Russel Pope & Peter Henderson
29. "Cannonball" (Rick Davies) – 7:38
30. Lead vocals: Rick Davies. Producer: David Kershenbaum & Supertramp

The cassette version also included "Even in the Quietest Moments", "Sister Moonshine" and "Free as a Bird".

Track origins

Tracks 1, 4, 6, 8, 9 and 11 from Crime of the Century (1974)

Track 10 from Crisis? What Crisis? (1975)

Tracks 12 and 13 from Even in the Quietest Moments... (1977)

Tracks 2, 3, 5 and 7 from Breakfast in America (1979)

Track 14 from ...Famous Last Words... (1982)

Track 15 from Brother Where You Bound (1985)

Supertramp

Other performers

Production

Original release: