SUPERTRAMP

Like I have already mentioned in other reviews, I am quite reluctant to discuss the first opus from some music's giants from the late sixties / early seventies (Floyd, Genesis, Purple ...). Most of the time, they do not represent what the band will produce later on. This one is not really an exception.

The band's name and title of the first album was taken from the "Autobiography of a Super-tramp" by W.H. Davies (no relation to Rick) a novel about a well educated Englishman who turns his back on his previous life to live as a hobo on the railroads.

The drummer (in 1969), Mark Henshall's diary from 1969 contains the following entry about the hiring of Roger : "Wednesday March 12 - Auditioned Rog somebody from Oxford - played Bass & Lead. Written some great songs. He joined." He made an audition to become the bass player for ... Bad Company. Retrospectively, I believe he made a good choice in joining the Tramp.

So, in terms of music, what do we get here ?

A thirty-one seconds opener "Surely". Apart from the wonderful "Beyond" from the Dutch band Knight Area and only lasting for twenty-seven seconds, I have never heard such short tracks that really meant something. So, what's the point of this one ? Mystery ...

In "Words Unspoken" Hodgson's voice is already there. Nice and candid little pop tune. "Maybe I'm A Beggar" is probably one of the most achived number and precursory of their later work. Very nice melody, good background keys and good bass playing. Some psyche guitar elements in the middle part and a beautiful second half will definitely make of this track a highlight.

"Nothing To Show" has nothing to offer : uninspired and jazzy. "Shadow Song" is a crappy mellow one while "Try Again" is the "epic" track of the album, but do not expect anything like "Fool's Overture" or "Brother Where You Bound". On this effort it is just one of the few average to good tracks. A bit too repetitive though.

The full track "Surely" will not change my opinion about the opener. This album ends as it has started : weakly. Two stars.