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Supertramp

Data updated on 2025-07-05 11:35:23 UTC
Supertramp followed an unusual path to commercial success in the 1970s, fusing the stylistic ambition and instrumental dexterity of progressive rock with the wit and tuneful melodies of British pop, and the results made them one of the most popular British acts of the '70s and ‘80s, topping the charts and filling arenas around the world at a time when their style of music was supposed to have fallen out of fashion.

Supertramp was formed in 1969 by pianist and vocalist Rick Davies. Davies had been a member of a group called the Joint, who had found a financial backer in Dutch millionaire Stanley August Miesegaes; Miesegaes had grown disenchanted with the Joint, but saw promise in Davies, and he offered to bankroll a new band if Davies wanted to launch a fresh project. Davies placed an ad in the British music weekly Melody Maker, and recruited guitarist Richard Palmer, percussionist Robert Millar, and vocalist/bassist Roger Hodgson. Davies initially dubbed the new band Daddy, but to avoid comparison with a number of other paternally named acts, he changed their billing to Supertramp, taking the name from a book by Welsh author William Henry Davies.

In 1970, Supertramp signed a deal with A&M Records, and their debut album was released later the same year. Dominated by extended prog-based compositions, the album didn't win a large audience, and Supertramp's lineup shifted, as Richard Palmer and Robert Millar left the group, Hodgson moved from bass to guitar, and bassist Frank Farrell, percussionist Kevin Currie, and Dave Winthrop on flue and sax joined the act. The new edition of Supertramp released the album Indelibly Stamped in 1971, but it fared little better in the marketplace than the debut, and Miesegaes cut off his funding of the group. Left to their own devices, Supertramp came close to collapse as most of the group's members moved on, but Davies and Hodgson put together a new version of the group -- Davies on piano and vocals, Hodgson on guitar, electric piano, and vocals, Dougie Thomson on bass, Bob C. Benberg on drums and percussion, and John Anthony Helliwell on sax, woodwinds, and keyboards. This edition of Supertramp boasted a more concise and pop-oriented sound than the band that recorded the first two albums, and 1974's Crime of the Century became Supertramp's commercial breakthrough, spawning the singles "Dreamer" and "Bloody Well Right." 1975's Crisis? What Crisis? didn't fare quite as well commercially, but 1977's Even in the Quietest Moments earned the band another hit single in "Give a Little Bit," and Supertramp's steady road work earned them a reputation as an impressive live act.

1979's Breakfast in America elevated Supertramp to true superstar status; three of its songs ("Goodbye Stranger," "Take the Long Way Home," and "The Logical Song") would became Top 20 hits, and the album went to number one on the Billboard charts, selling four million copies in the United States and reaching platinum status in Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Supertramp followed the success of Breakfast in America with a live album, 1980's Paris, but it wasn't until 1982 that the group released a new studio LP, Famous Last Words, and in a sense the title was prophetic -- the working relationship between Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson had become contentious, and in 1983, Hodgson, the lead vocalist on the band's biggest hits, left to pursue a solo career. With Davies taking the lead, Supertramp released Brother Where You Bound in 1985, which found the band easing back on their pop side and exploring their progressive influences; the album also featured guest appearances from Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour. 1987's Free as a Bird found Supertramp experimenting with synthesizers and electronic dance music, but after a world tour in support of the album, Davies quietly retired the band.

In 1996, Davies re-assembled Supertramp for a concert tour; the new lineup featured Davies, John Anthony Helliwell, guitarist Mark Hart (who had toured with the band in support of Free as a Bird), and percussionist Jesse Siebenberg. The new Supertramp went into the studio after the tour, and Some Things Never Change was released in 1997. More touring followed, which was documented on the album Live 1997. Another studio set, Slow Motion, appeared in 2002. In 2010, Supertramp regrouped for a world tour to celebrate their fortieth anniversary, but while rumors suggested Hodgson might rejoin the band for the occasion, both he and Davies issued statements saying they were not likely to ever work together again, and Hodgson mounted a solo tour concurrently with Supertramp's anniversary celebration. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Total plays

2.7 billion
Updated on 2025-07-05

Monthly listeners

9,217,709

Followers

3,849,470

Top Cities

  1. Australia
    131,472 listeners
  2. Brazil
    115,532 listeners
  3. Netherlands
    120,400 listeners
  4. Australia
    103,151 listeners
  5. France
    118,537 listeners

Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Give A Little Bit
Give A Little Bit
529,826,541 4:09 1977-01-01
The Logical Song
The Logical Song
487,812,934 4:09 1979-03-29
Breakfast In America
Breakfast In America
432,551,391 2:39 1979-03-29
Goodbye Stranger
Goodbye Stranger
199,355,187 5:48 1979-03-29
Take The Long Way Home
Take The Long Way Home
160,268,739 5:00 1979-03-29
School
School
106,755,998 5:35 1974-09-01
It's Raining Again
It's Raining Again
85,624,120 4:24 1982-10-06
Dreamer
Dreamer
78,798,155 3:33 1974-09-01
Bloody Well Right
Bloody Well Right
60,727,211 4:32 1974-09-01
Lord Is It Mine - 2010 Remastered
Lord Is It Mine - 2010 Remastered
28,567,360 4:10 1979-03-29
Crime Of The Century
Crime Of The Century
27,472,070 5:33 1974-09-01
Fool's Overture
Fool's Overture
27,144,392 10:53 1977-01-01
Hide In Your Shell
Hide In Your Shell
27,097,715 6:50 1974-09-01
Don't Leave Me Now
Don't Leave Me Now
23,849,215 6:21 1982-10-06
Even In The Quietest Moments
Even In The Quietest Moments
23,167,621 6:28 1977-01-01
Easy Does It
Easy Does It
22,714,568 2:19 1975-01-01
Child Of Vision - 2010 Remastered
Child Of Vision - 2010 Remastered
22,205,535 7:31 1979-03-29
From Now On
From Now On
20,353,795 6:21 1977-01-01
Oh Darling
Oh Darling
19,215,868 3:50 1979-03-29
My Kind Of Lady
My Kind Of Lady
18,397,241 5:14 1982-10-06
Rudy
Rudy
16,772,927 7:21 1974-09-01
Gone Hollywood
Gone Hollywood
14,631,856 5:21 1979-03-29
Cannonball
Cannonball
10,798,113 7:39 1985-05-14
Just Another Nervous Wreck - 2010 Remastered
Just Another Nervous Wreck - 2010 Remastered
10,288,171 4:26 1979-03-29
Ain't Nobody But Me
Ain't Nobody But Me
9,917,874 5:11 1975-01-01
Downstream
Downstream
9,825,863 4:02 1977-01-01
A Soapbox Opera
A Soapbox Opera
9,562,899 4:54 1975-01-01
Babaji
Babaji
9,260,301 4:50 1977-01-01
Another Man's Woman
Another Man's Woman
9,068,315 6:16 1975-01-01
If Everyone Was Listening
If Everyone Was Listening
8,791,979 4:06 1974-09-01
The Logical Song - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
The Logical Song - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
8,419,420 3:57 1979-03-29
Casual Conversations - 2010 Remastered
Casual Conversations - 2010 Remastered
8,209,815 2:59 1979-03-29
Asylum
Asylum
8,000,294 6:50 1974-09-01
Sister Moonshine
Sister Moonshine
7,678,524 5:18 1975-01-01
Lover Boy
Lover Boy
7,545,042 6:49 1977-01-01
Lady
Lady
6,019,471 5:24 1975-01-01
Crazy
Crazy
5,639,100 4:45 1982-10-06
Put On Your Old Brown Shoes
Put On Your Old Brown Shoes
5,617,854 4:23 1982-10-06
Free As A Bird
Free As A Bird
5,448,869 4:22 1987-01-01
School - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
School - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
4,886,113 5:42 1980-09-01
You Started Laughing - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
You Started Laughing - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
4,341,156 4:02 1980-09-01
Waiting So Long
Waiting So Long
4,264,087 6:35 1982-10-06
Know Who You Are
Know Who You Are
3,684,584 4:60 1982-10-06
Surely - Edit
Surely - Edit
3,626,903 1:04 2005-01-01
Two Of Us - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
Two Of Us - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
3,587,744 1:25 1980-09-01
Fool's Overture - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
Fool's Overture - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
3,558,665 10:58 1980-09-01
Better Days
Better Days
3,439,277 6:17 1985-05-14
Your Poppa Don't Mind
Your Poppa Don't Mind
3,300,986 2:59 2005-01-01
No Inbetween
No Inbetween
3,133,179 4:37 1985-05-14
Goodbye Stranger - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
Goodbye Stranger - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
3,071,292 6:11 1979-03-29
Two Of Us
Two Of Us
2,983,691 3:26 1975-01-01
Summer Romance - Single Version
Summer Romance - Single Version
2,896,101 2:52 2005-01-01
Land Ho - Single Version/Remix
Land Ho - Single Version/Remix
2,850,436 3:54 2005-01-01
Still In Love
Still In Love
2,843,332 4:37 1985-05-14
Breakfast In America - Live At Wembley/1979
Breakfast In America - Live At Wembley/1979
2,754,369 3:05 1979-03-29
Breakfast In America - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
Breakfast In America - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
2,713,075 2:57 1980-09-01
Brother Where You Bound
Brother Where You Bound
2,644,205 16:30 1985-05-14
Hide In Your Shell - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
Hide In Your Shell - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
2,508,673 6:55 1980-09-01
Just A Normal Day
Just A Normal Day
2,486,031 4:02 1975-01-01
Take The Long Way Home - Live At Wembley/1979
Take The Long Way Home - Live At Wembley/1979
2,447,939 4:48 1979-03-29
It's Alright
It's Alright
2,425,382 5:01 1987-01-01
I'm Beggin' You
I'm Beggin' You
2,422,677 5:29 1987-01-01
Give A Little Bit - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
Give A Little Bit - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
2,313,333 4:03 1979-03-29
Dreamer - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
Dreamer - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
2,303,724 3:45 1980-09-01
From Now On - Live At Wembley/1979
From Now On - Live At Wembley/1979
2,262,678 6:53 1979-03-29
C'est Le Bon
C'est Le Bon
2,224,962 5:32 1982-10-06
Take The Long Way Home - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
Take The Long Way Home - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
2,174,930 4:57 1980-09-01
Bloody Well Right - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
Bloody Well Right - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
2,127,094 7:23 1980-09-01
Oh Darling - Live In Miami/1979
Oh Darling - Live In Miami/1979
2,125,322 4:21 1979-03-29
Poor Boy
Poor Boy
2,113,309 5:08 1975-01-01
Ain't Nobody But Me - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
Ain't Nobody But Me - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
2,100,333 5:24 1980-09-01
Another Man's Woman - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
Another Man's Woman - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
2,095,768 7:32 1979-03-29
Bonnie
Bonnie
2,071,107 5:38 1982-10-06
A Soapbox Opera - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
A Soapbox Opera - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
2,047,023 4:51 1980-09-01
From Now On - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
From Now On - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
2,024,369 7:06 1980-09-01
Child Of Vision - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
Child Of Vision - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
1,983,982 7:32 1979-03-29
Ever Open Door
Ever Open Door
1,967,281 3:04 1985-05-14
Even In The Quietest Moments - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
Even In The Quietest Moments - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
1,910,588 5:36 1979-03-29
Crime Of The Century - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
Crime Of The Century - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
1,800,534 6:32 1980-09-01
Rudy - Live At Wembley/1979
Rudy - Live At Wembley/1979
1,711,129 7:29 1979-03-29
You Win I Lose - Live
You Win I Lose - Live
1,686,728 4:45 1999-01-01
Rudy - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
Rudy - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
1,618,848 7:09 1980-09-01
The Meaning
The Meaning
1,614,229 5:23 1975-01-01
Downstream - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
Downstream - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
1,564,104 3:29 1979-03-29
It Doesn't Matter
It Doesn't Matter
1,537,643 4:52 1987-01-01
Not The Moment
Not The Moment
1,469,741 4:37 1987-01-01
Goodbye Stranger - Live
Goodbye Stranger - Live
1,426,895 7:25 1999-01-01
Asylum - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
Asylum - Live At Pavillon de Paris/1979
1,412,702 6:51 1980-09-01
Breakfast in America - Live
Breakfast in America - Live
1,341,999 2:47 1999-01-01
The Logical Song - Live
The Logical Song - Live
1,299,735 4:05 1999-01-01
Take the Long Way Home - Live
Take the Long Way Home - Live
1,271,674 5:11 1999-01-01
Sooner or Later - Live
Sooner or Later - Live
1,120,585 7:35 1999-01-01
It's A Long Road
It's A Long Road
1,088,179 5:34 2021-01-01
Words Unspoken
Words Unspoken
1,065,069 3:60 2021-01-01
You Win, I Lose
You Win, I Lose
1,057,625 4:33 2005-01-01
Cannonbal - Live
Cannonbal - Live
1,042,983 7:53 1999-01-01
Over You
Over You
878,871 3:32 2005-01-01
School - Live
School - Live
878,439 6:33 1999-01-01
Listen to Me Please - Live
Listen to Me Please - Live
728,054 5:03 1999-01-01
From Now On - Live
From Now On - Live
726,203 7:44 1999-01-01
Free as a Bird - Live
Free as a Bird - Live
725,591 4:50 1999-01-01
Home Again
Home Again
718,585 1:15 2021-01-01
Another Man's Woman - Live At Royal Albert Hall, London/1997
Another Man's Woman - Live At Royal Albert Hall, London/1997
670,674 9:35 2005-01-01
School - Live At Hammersmith Odeon / 1975
School - Live At Hammersmith Odeon / 1975
645,587 5:54 1974-09-01
Where I Stand With You
Where I Stand With You
585,286 3:40 1987-01-01
Bloody Well Right - Live
Bloody Well Right - Live
577,222 6:58 1999-01-01
And the Light - Live
And the Light - Live
569,263 5:03 1999-01-01
An Awful Thing To Waste
An Awful Thing To Waste
535,139 7:50 1987-01-01
Bloody Well Right - Live At Hammersmith Odeon / 1975
Bloody Well Right - Live At Hammersmith Odeon / 1975
513,220 6:46 1974-09-01
Surely
Surely
506,109 0:31 2021-01-01
You Never Can Tell With Friends
You Never Can Tell With Friends
494,939 4:17 1987-01-01
Maybe I'm A Beggar
Maybe I'm A Beggar
492,544 6:45 2021-01-01
Thing For You
Thing For You
478,438 4:00 1987-01-01
Hide In Your Shell - Live At Hammersmith Odeon / 1975
Hide In Your Shell - Live At Hammersmith Odeon / 1975
459,067 6:47 1974-09-01
Aubade And I Am Not Like Other Birds Of Prey
Aubade And I Am Not Like Other Birds Of Prey
444,286 5:17 2021-01-01
Try Again
Try Again
406,302 12:03 2021-01-01
Sister Moonshine - Live At Hammersmith Odeon / 1975
Sister Moonshine - Live At Hammersmith Odeon / 1975
379,204 5:30 1974-09-01
Asylum - Live At Hammersmith Odeon / 1975
Asylum - Live At Hammersmith Odeon / 1975
377,827 7:01 1974-09-01
Another Man's Woman - Live At Hammersmith Odeon / 1975
Another Man's Woman - Live At Hammersmith Odeon / 1975
375,603 7:42 1974-09-01
Shadow Song
Shadow Song
364,960 4:24 2021-01-01
Just A Normal Day - Live At Hammersmith Odeon / 1975
Just A Normal Day - Live At Hammersmith Odeon / 1975
360,237 3:59 1974-09-01
Dreamer - Live At Hammersmith Odeon / 1975
Dreamer - Live At Hammersmith Odeon / 1975
359,412 3:28 1974-09-01
Crime Of The Century - Live At Hammersmith Odeon / 1975
Crime Of The Century - Live At Hammersmith Odeon / 1975
355,314 6:01 1974-09-01
Nothing To Show
Nothing To Show
335,891 4:54 2021-01-01
Surely
Surely
309,340 3:09 2021-01-01
Lady - Live At Hammersmith Odeon / 1975
Lady - Live At Hammersmith Odeon / 1975
306,642 5:55 1974-09-01
Rudy - Live At Hammersmith Odeon / 1975
Rudy - Live At Hammersmith Odeon / 1975
295,123 7:23 1974-09-01
If Everyone Was Listening - Live At Hammersmith Odeon / 1975
If Everyone Was Listening - Live At Hammersmith Odeon / 1975
291,933 4:33 1974-09-01
"A" - You're Adorable - Live At Hammersmith Odeon / 1975
"A" - You're Adorable - Live At Hammersmith Odeon / 1975
266,695 2:57 1974-09-01
School - Live
School - Live
67,594 5:54 2011-01-01
The Logical Song - Live
The Logical Song - Live
54,565 3:44 2011-01-01
Goodbye Stranger - Live
Goodbye Stranger - Live
52,552 6:42 2011-01-01
Ain't Nobody But Me - Live
Ain't Nobody But Me - Live
49,909 5:13 2011-01-01
Breakfast In America - Live
Breakfast In America - Live
46,732 2:51 2011-01-01
Bloody Well Right - Live
Bloody Well Right - Live
40,997 6:15 2011-01-01
Hide In Your Shell - Live
Hide In Your Shell - Live
38,947 6:58 2011-01-01
Child Of Vision - Live
Child Of Vision - Live
37,193 7:23 2011-01-01
From Now On - Live
From Now On - Live
35,348 6:57 2011-01-01
A Soapbox Opera - Live
A Soapbox Opera - Live
28,686 5:01 2011-01-01
Even In The Quietest Moments - Live
Even In The Quietest Moments - Live
28,367 4:50 2011-01-01
You Started Laughing (When I Held You In My Arms) - Live
You Started Laughing (When I Held You In My Arms) - Live
27,847 3:57 2011-01-01
Take The Long Way Home - Live
Take The Long Way Home - Live
27,804 4:38 2011-01-01
Give A Little Bit - Live
Give A Little Bit - Live
25,591 4:26 2011-01-01
Fool's Overture - Live
Fool's Overture - Live
25,428 10:54 2011-01-01
Asylum - Live
Asylum - Live
24,253 6:47 2011-01-01
Dreamer - Live
Dreamer - Live
23,925 3:23 2011-01-01
Rudy - Live
Rudy - Live
22,096 6:55 2011-01-01
Crime Of The Century
Crime Of The Century
21,761 6:02 2011-01-01
Downstream - Live
Downstream - Live
21,734 3:27 2011-01-01
Another Man's Woman - Live
Another Man's Woman - Live
21,565 7:26 2011-01-01
Two Of Us
Two Of Us
16,981 1:50 2011-01-01
Ser Urbano - En Directo
Ser Urbano - En Directo
15,130 4:44 2017-07-14
School - En Directo
School - En Directo
15,052 3:45 2017-07-14
Miedo - En Directo
Miedo - En Directo
10,050 4:33 2017-07-14
Melani - En Directo
Melani - En Directo
9,205 4:34 2017-07-14

New releases

Supertramp
Supertramp
2021-01-01
[Revolver Records]
Live In Paris '79
Live In Paris '79
2011-01-01
[Mercury Studios]
Retrospectacle - The Supertramp Anthology
Retrospectacle - The Supertramp Anthology
2005-01-01
[A&M]
Live
Live
1999-01-01
[Parlophone (France)]
The Very Best Of Supertramp 2
The Very Best Of Supertramp 2
1992-11-06
[A&M]
The Very Best Of Supertramp
The Very Best Of Supertramp
1990-01-01
[A&M]
Free As A Bird
Free As A Bird
1987-01-01
[A&M]
Brother Where You Bound (Remastered)
Brother Where You Bound (Remastered)
1985-05-14
[A&M]
"...Famous Last Words..."
"...Famous Last Words..."
1982-10-06
[A&M]
Paris
Paris
1980-09-01
[A&M]
Breakfast In America (Deluxe Edition)
Breakfast In America (Deluxe Edition)
1979-03-29
[A&M]
Breakfast In America (Remastered)
Breakfast In America (Remastered)
1979-03-29
[A&M]
Breakfast In America
Breakfast In America
1979-03-29
[A&M Records Inc.]
Even In The Quietest Moments
Even In The Quietest Moments
1977-01-01
[A&M]
Crisis? What Crisis?
Crisis? What Crisis?
1975-01-01
[A&M]
Crime Of The Century (Remastered)
Crime Of The Century (Remastered)
1974-09-01
[Universal Music Group International]
Crime Of The Century (Deluxe)
Crime Of The Century (Deluxe)
1974-09-01
[Universal Music Group International]