''The Very Best of Supertramp'' is a greatest hits album by the English

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

band

Supertramp Supertramp were an English rock band that formed in London in 1969. Marked by the individual songwriting of founders Roger Hodgson (vocals, keyboards, and guitars) and Rick Davies (vocals and keyboards), they are distinguished for blending pro ...

, originally released by

A&M Records A&M Records was an American record label founded as an independent company by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss in 1962. Due to the success of the discography A&M released, the label garnered interest and was acquired by PolyGram in 1989 and began distr ...

in June 1990.

Overview

The compilation is basically a new version of the '' Autobiography/Classics Vol. 9 CD'' with the additional song "School" inserted as track 1. Furthermore, all songs are featured in their full-length album versions. The cover depicts the grate from the cover of ''

Crime of the Century "Crime of the century" is an idiomatic phrase used to describe particularly sensational or notorious criminal cases. Chua-Eoan, Howard (n.d.)"Crimes of the Century: The Top 25" ''Time''. Retrieved September 10, 2021. In the United States, it is of ...

'', the hand carrying the glass from the cover of ''

Breakfast in America ''Breakfast in America'' is the sixth studio album by the English rock band Supertramp, released by A&M Records on 29 March 1979. It was recorded in 1978 at The Village Recorder in Los Angeles. It spawned four US ''Billboard'' hit singles: "The ...

'' and the orange umbrella from ''

Crisis? What Crisis? ''Crisis? What Crisis?'' is the fourth album by the English rock band Supertramp, released in 1975. It was recorded in Los Angeles and London – Supertramp's first album to have recording done in the US. A remastered CD version of the album ...

''. Tracks from their self-titled album ''

'' and ''

Indelibly Stamped ''Indelibly Stamped'' is the second album by the English rock band Supertramp, released in 1971. It marked a dramatic change in direction to a more straightforward rock sound, and by admission of the band's own liner notes, "Travelled" is the on ...

'' were not included.

Reception

In their retrospective review,

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

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

The cassette version also included "Even in the Quietest Moments", "Sister Moonshine" and "

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Personnel

Supertramp

Rick Davies Richard Davies (born 22 July 1944) is an English musician, singer and songwriter best known as founder, vocalist and keyboardist of the rock band Supertramp. Davies was its only constant member, and composed some of the band's best known songs ...

– vocals, keyboard, harmonica, melodica *

Roger Hodgson Charles Roger Pomfret Hodgson (born 21 March 1950) is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the former co-frontman and founding member of progressive rock band Supertramp. Hodgson composed and sang the majority of the band’ ...

– vocals, keyboard, guitar (except on "Cannonball") *

Dougie Thomson Douglas 'Doogie' Campbell Thomson (born 24 March 1951) is a Scottish musician, born in Glasgow and raised in the Rutherglen area of the city. He was the bass guitarist of progressive rock band Supertramp during much of the seventies and eight ...

– bass guitar * John Anthony Helliwell – saxophone, clarinets, vocals *

Bob Siebenberg Robert Layne Siebenberg (born October 31, 1949) also known as Bob C. Benberg, is an American musician, best known as a member of British progressive rock band Supertramp, playing drums and percussion. He was the sole American in Supertramp's ...

– drums, percussion

Other performers

*Christine Helliwell – backing vocals on "Hide in Your Shell" *Vicky Siebenberg – backing vocals on "Hide in Your Shell" *

Scott Gorham William Scott Gorham (born March 17, 1951) is an American guitarist and songwriter who is one of the "twin lead guitarists" for the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy. Although not a founding member of Thin Lizzy, he served a continuous membership after ...

– backing vocals on "Hide in Your Shell" *Jake Beddoe –

saw A saw is a tool consisting of a tough blade, wire, or chain with a hard toothed edge. It is used to cut through material, very often wood, though sometimes metal or stone. The cut is made by placing the toothed edge against the material and mo ...

on "Hide in Your Shell" *Ken Scott –

water gong Water (chemical formula ) is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as a ...

on "Crime of the Century" *

Slyde Hyde Richard John Hyde (July 4, 1936 – July 15, 2019), sometimes credited as Slyde Hyde, was an American trombonist who played several brass and woodwind instruments. He was a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) Hall ...

– trombone, tuba on "Breakfast in America" *Marty Walsh – guitar on "Cannonball" *Doug Wintz – trombone on "Cannonball"

Production

Original release: *Producers:

Ken Scott Ken Scott (born 20 April 1947) is a British record producer and engineer known for being one of the five main engineers for the Beatles, as well as engineering Elton John, Pink Floyd, Procol Harum, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Duran Duran, the Jef ...

and Supertramp *Engineers: Ken Scott, John Jansen, Peter Henderson, Russel Pope, Norman Hall *String arrangements: Richard Hewson *Cover Illustration: Greg Wray *Art direction and design: Norman Moore

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications and sales

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Very Best of Supertramp, The 1990 greatest hits albums Supertramp compilation albums A&M Records compilation albums Albums produced by David Kershenbaum Albums recorded at Trident Studios Albums recorded at A&M Studios