Supertramp remasters

[Paul C.]

Supertramp seem to be one of those bands which has become unfashionable, or something - perhaps not surprising, given the style of their music. I still find much to like in their mid-70s albums.

I am unclear on the status of their catalog - ie. whether it has been completely remastered and reissued in the US and/or UK/Europe. I have the couple of gold discs that Mofi did, which are really nice. Here in Australia, I did pick up a copy of "Crisis, What Crisis" in what appeared to be a remastered edition (it had a clear front spine panel which said "digitally remastered", and as I recall, a brief statement to the effect that it was mastered from the source tapes by Greg Calbi or Ted Jenson, I can't remember who). This discs sounds fine, and was pressed in Germany. I'm not sure how different it is from other previous CD versions. In Australia, a lot of the Supertramp stuff I've seen seems to be crappily produced local pressings, which I suspect are very old transfers. I have seen one copy somewhere of what appeared to be a remastered "Even in the Quietest Moments", but the price was ridiculous. Since then, I've seen lots of cheap crappy Australian copies that I refure to buy because the product looks so bad.

So I am interested to know whether the US market has remastered versions, or whatever. Or were these only released in Europe?

[YaQuin]

Hi Paul,

Nothing in the U.S. markets yet. I had to purchase the digitally remastered German imports of Crime of the Century and Breakfast in America.

Most of the official A&M remasters i.e. Supertramp and the Police can sound a bit bright and edgy, but overall are more enjoyable than the original cd relases.

[AudioGirl]

I really like SuperTramp. Breakfast in America is one of my favorite albums (music wise). One of the last albums I bought where I liked almost every song on the album. They sure don't make 'em like that any more.

Too bad the original vinyl is pretty much unlistenable sonically... I haven't heard any reissue that is much of an improvement. Totally harsh :(

Anyone have any suggestions? Besides the obvious, let S&P or DCC reissue it with Steve's magic touch... :D

[Kym]

A couple of weeks ago, according to the Pause & Play "On the CD Front" release schedule, remasters of Breakfast in America , ...famous last words... , Brother Where You Bound , and Free as a Bird were due for release in March, I believe. I just checked the website and they've disappeared! However, the Story So Far DVD is still on schedule.

You know, Universal has done a lousy job so far what with Squeeze's Greatest Hits and Supertramp's Very Best of CDs getting long-overdue domestic releases though they've been out in Europe for almost ten years! And to add insult to injury, they're not newly remastered!

I fear the worst for any Supertramp remaster release in the US. Given Universal's current track record, they'll probably be the same as the "only marginally better" European remasters!

Kym

[Sckott]

The vinyl for "Breakfast In America" does sound horrid. I liked the MFSL CD of "Breakfast" and "Crime", especially "Crime".

[Paul C.]

I never had an original vinyl of "Breakfast in America", but have the Mofi vinyl - I always thought it was absolutely splendid. Pretty similar to the Mofi gold CD, as I recall.

It's a pity that it's so hard to obtain the remastered versions. I checked a store here today, and they had the remastered "Crime of the Century" from Europe, as well as one or two of the very early albums. These all had a clear CD tray with 'digitally remastered along the spine, and stated that they were remastered from original tapes in New York by Greg Calbi and someone else (sorry can't remember the name now). As I said, I picked up "Crisis" in this series, and was quite pleased with the sound. While I couldn't do a direct A/B with the earlier CD release (which I used to have), I remember the older CD version as being very harsh on the ears.

It seems to me that the Supertramp situation is very similar to that of Joan Armatrading... her back catalog is a mess on CD. Some quite nice remasters came out in the UK (remastered by Roger Bouree, I think). I have obtained the remaster of "Show Some Emotion", and it seems an improvement over earlier issues that I've heard. But that is the only one I've seen. The rest of her limited CD catalog appears here in Australia in very piecemeal fashion, including cheaply packaged Australian pressings of old transfers.

Seems that A&M stuff is in a bit of a mess. Are they owned by Universal too now?

[Jeff H.]

"Breakfast In America" never did sound great on vinyl because it's running time is what at least 23 to 25 minutes per side? A sure way to make any album sound like sonic doo doo!!! Totally compressed to hell and back!!!!

[Dave]

Right in there with Sckott and Paul, the MFSLs of these 2 are excellent!

No one with even a half decent system would think twice about the difference between the "Remasters":p and the MFSLs:D

[Paul C.]

Agreed Dave - I doubt that the recent CD remasters of Crime and breakfast would match the Mofi CDs.

As far as Crisis and Quietest Moments are concerned, the remastered versions from Europe are I guess the best available on CD. I seem to remember that both of these came out at some point on audiophile vinyl, not Mofi. Was it A&M's own audiophile vinyl, or Nautilus? I've never heard them. I have Quietest Moments on a nice German pressing from years ago, and its a good one.

[Dave]

Yeah Paul that'd be the A&M Audiophile vinyl your talkin' about.

I used to own that one as well as the Styx library, about ten years ago when (sigh) I used to own about 1300 records.

If only I'd known then what I know now.(sigh):(

[Andrew]

Anybody try the "new" best-of A&M released a few weeks ago? Worth picking up if found cheap?

[Sckott]

Nope. To be honest, the best Supertrampy experience is as you buy the seperate albums.

Breakfast In America
Crime Of The Centrury
...Even In The Quietest Moments...


Ya gotta start with these at LEAST. Screw complilations. The 1st A&M compilation series had lots of edit versions. I mean, Styx's "Come Sail Away", and they had to edit 45 seconds for the CD (Classics)??

Check the used bins for the AM+ versions for most of the Supertramp stuff, the older issues. If you want the best, try to get the MFSLs.

[Dave]

Sckott,

In total agreement with ya.

It's just too bad that neither Steve or Stan got their hands on "Even In The Quietest Moments". (sigh)

Or did Stan do it on vinyl?:)

[Sckott]

Stan the Man I believe cut "Crime Of The Centrury" on JVC SuplerVinyl. Don't have my copy here to make sure, but I'm more sure than not. He also did "Breakfast In America" to vinyl.

Again, this was the heyday of MFSL on vinyl. Those kind of pressings and mastering to vinyl will never be seen again.

[Andrew]

Here's am interesting variation: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1503295386

[reidc]

OMG! A Supertramp 8-track. This was my first listening experience to Breakfast.. In fact- I think we listened to it MOST of the trip back from Myrtle Beach SC to Mass the year it was released. My friends wife still "needles" me on this some 22 years later.

Thankfully- the times do change for Audio and it media! I could see us all now with our 8-tracks, and talking about who had the best adhesive to keep the tapes from splitting at the seam


I still have a sealed Fleetwood Mac Tusk, and used copies of Betles Help and Hey Jude.
Chris

[Sckott]

A lot of the A&M 8-Tracks did sound specifically good...for 8 Tracks!

Joe Cocker, Cat Stevens, Supertramp....ect...

[TommyTunes]

I never did come to like Supertramp except for their first 2 albums Supertramp and Indellibly Stamped, which seemed less processed. Although I do have to admit that the MFSL UHQR is quite spectacular sounding. There is also a 12" single of Cannonball which was cut direct to disc and offers so awesome dynamics.

[Beagle]

The Canadian and US STERLING mastered "Crime" LP sounded wonderful, as did the UK. The A&M Audiophile Series LP sounded clean, quiet, but sterile, lacking in ambience. I haven't heard the CD versions. And none of my LP copies of "...Moments" sound anything better than dull. I assumed it was a dull recording, but many here seem to indicate that it is not. I will have to give the CD a try.

[Andy]

If you're talking vinyl I think the Speakers Corner reissue of Crime of the Century sounds better than the MoFi version. Obviously the MoFi goes for big bucks, its been out of print for like 20 years. I think the smart money goes for the Speakers Corner reissue. Just think of how many tweaks you could buy with the money you save.

[Sckott]

Amen to that. And there's nothing like a reissue that means business.

[Holy Zoo]

Anyone familiar with one of these?

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1504186119&r=0&t=0&showTutorial=0&ed=1012307547&indexURL=0&rd=1

[Andy]

That's a new one to me.

[Paul C.]

I have one of the LPs in this series ("Kind of Blue"). They were UK pressings done by Nimbus records, for one of the UK hifi magazines, and are very nice indeed. As I recall, they also did Weather Report's "Mysterious Traveller". Can't remember what else.

[Holy Zoo]

Well, it's at a whole whopping $1.97 right now (with one day to go) so if someone needs a good copy... :)

(I have the mofi vinyl, so I'm already happy camper).

:D

HZ