Retro Reviews: Supertramp: Famous Last Words

    I decided to launch a new series to imagine myself as a critic at the end of the 70s and start of the 80s, and to rectify certain reviews from Rolling Stone magazine and Creem. This not meant to be contrarian, but to offer a more balanced perspective. All the albums reviewed are classic albums. This is in tribute to Rick Davies, rest in peace.

Supertramp: “…Famous Last Words…” (1982)

***

Producers: Peter Henderson, Russell Pope, Supertramp

Musicians: Rick Davies, Roger Hodgson, John Helliwell, Dougie Thomson, Bob Siebenberg, Claire Diament, Ann & Nancy Wilson

Songs: Crazy, Put On Your Old Brown Shoes, It’s Raining Again, Bonnie, Know Who You Are, My Kind Of Lady, “C’est le Bon”, Waiting So Long, Don’t Leave Me Now

Reviewed by Matthew Anthony Allair

    To be honest, it was bound to happen that the follow up to Breakfast In America would face challenges. In part, the first issue with the album is the sequencing, the two strongest tracks, and likely singles, ‘It’s Raining Again’ and ‘My Kind Of Lady’, don’t open the album. ‘Last Words’ is evenly split between Rick and Roger songs, some of the stronger songs are placed often towards the middle of the album, this makes for a frustrating listen, in contrast considering how well paced “Breakfast In America’, and “Even in the Quieter Moments…” ended up being. Overall, Roger’s songs are stronger, yet many of Rick’s songs have a certain whimsy. There’s also a lot of introspection in the songs, and it feels like, at times, that the full band isn’t always utilized as well as you’d expect. 

    In fairness, both Supertramp and Rush have been the two bands from the 70s that carried the torch for Progressive Rock, and found ways to evolve it, keeping it fresh while accessible at the same time. On the other hand, for many, the cardinal sin of acts from the 70s was to go pop at the start of the decade – it’s a balance. 

    “Crazy” would have made a fine track for the middle of the album, but it almost feels like self-sabotage that this is the first statement you hear. It’s a fine instrumental, but it feels too much like a slow burn. Rick’s “Put On Your Old Brown Shoes” is playful with some nice interplay between the electric piano, piano, and a dab of harmonica, but it feels a little too understated for a second opener. Halliwell’s humor is allowed to come through on this though. There’s real life with Roger’s “It’s Raining Again, it’s catchy and direct. Halliwell is allowed to shine and there’s a fun little quote towards ‘It’s Raining, It’s Pouring’. Rick’s “Bonnie” is merely good. Aside from being more introspective, Roger’s “Know Who You Are” feels like a nod to mid-seventies acoustic Genesis.

    Rick’s “My Kind Of Lady” is his strongest track, a pastiche of 50s doo wop that is very appealing. Roger’s “C’est le Bon” as an acoustic number even feels stronger than “Know Who You Are”, Rick’s “Waiting So Long” is an improvement as a second to last track, but yet there feels an absence of the full band interplay on these tracks, when it is there. Roger’s “Don’t Leave Me Now” is a stronger album closer, and limited interplay I felt was missing on other tracks is more present on this track, and a number of players are allowed to shine. The band feels like there’s a conflict between their pop instincts and their progressive rock leanings. It’s all beautifully done as far as the musicianship, production and arrangements, it just feels like there’s a lack of focus now, and I really don’t know where the band goes from here, but “My Kind Of Lady, It’s Raining Again,” and “C’est le Bon” make this worth it.