Originally published by L.S. Media. October 10th 2010.

There has been a glut of regurgitated and repackaged albums around just recently, bands that have seemingly nothing more to add to their back catalogue getting on board a well worn bandwagon and offering their fans the opportunity to buy yet more of the same albums. In a lot of cases it is easy to see through the ploy of marketing men and the call of an easy pound but every so often there is a gem that comes through and reminds you of how good that band was in the first place.

One such re-issue/re-packaging is Supertramp’s seminal piece Breakfast in America. Released originally in 1979, the album was heralded by some critics as their best work but with the advent of Pink Floyd’s The Wall seemed to get lost in the whole concept album furore that was to some, rightly heralded as the definitive album of the genre and the decade.

It is a shame that both albums were only released within a few months of each other as it seemed to split a crowd that did cross over their affections between the two bands.

Like Floyd with The Wall, the Breakfast in America album can be traced back as being the beginning of the end of a much loved musical institution but with new fans being introduced to the work of Roger Hodgson and Rick Davies lyrics and musical styles there may be the chance for the band to take their rightful place alongside Pink Floyd.

The sound that has been captured on disc one is as exquisite as can be imagined especially with Roger’s voice nearing the peak of perfection that he would go onto enjoy for many years as a solo artist with. The rest of the band sound cleaner, with more clarity that may have been lost on the original recordings, John Helliwell‘s turns on saxophones epitomising this.

There is a incentive bonus disc for long term fans, a rare chance to hear the band live outside of the Paris C.D. A lovingly recorded live set which includes some songs not caught on the previous disc. These include the wonderful Oh Darling and the musically superior Give a Little Bit.

For fans old and new, this album is worth changing the previous release for, full of music to make your heart swell with pride that these musicians recorded it and gave it an airing and a genuine piece of 1970’s nostalgia.

Ian D. Hall