December 14, 2020

1979 - March: Supertramp “Breakfast In America”

42 minutes

While Supertramp had been on the rock scene for many years at this point (we already featured "Crime of the Century" on an earlier podcast), this sixth studio album would be the one that would make them superstars.

Breakfast in America was originally going to be entitled "Hello Stranger" and explore the conflicts between founders Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson, but decided to take a lighter tone instead. In addition to Davies and Hodgson, Supertramp included John Helliwell on saxophone and other woodwinds, Dougie Thomson on bass, and Bob Siebenberg on percussion. The album cover is iconic, with an image of the New York skyline, and a diner waitress in the place of the Statue of Liberty. Several songs express thoughts or critiques of life in America at the time, but Davies and Hodgson insist that there was no attempt to create an album satirizing the U.S.

There is really not a bad song on this album, and this contributed to its success both commercially and critically. The album was number one on the Billboard 200 album chart for six weeks and was Supertramp's best selling album. It also won two Grammys in 1980 and was nominated for best album of the year.

Hodgson and Davies wrote all the songs on this album, though they did not initially collaborate. Instead they wrote their songs separately and would come together to arrange the songs with the band. These founders were growing increasingly apart in their lifestyles, and Hodgson would leave the group after 1983.

The hits from this album are timeless and well known, so we're going deep on this one. We hope you enjoy it!

Gone Hollywood

The opening track to the album describes a guy who dreams of making it in Hollywood. It starts out bleak, but the protagonist actually makes it. Rick Davies takes the lead on this song which he wrote, and John Helliwell's saxophone work is prominent in this piece.

Oh Darling

This song closes out the first album side. You can see the keyboard-driven approach to this composition which is prominent in this track. Rick Davies authored this piece as well. "I'll make you mine. I'll love you come what may. I'm going to catch you lady, catch you lady."

Lord Is It Mine

Roger Hodgson takes the lead and wrote this sweet, spiritual ballad. Hodgson wrote this piece. "I never cease to wonder at the cruelty of this land, but it seems a time of sadness is a time to understand. Is it mine? Oh Lord, is it mine?"

Casual Conversations

Davies penned this one, and it takes a decidedly lighter tack than the ballad we just played. Casual conversations - how they bore me!

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Theme from the motion picture "Phantasm"

This horror flick premiered in March 1979. The tall man turns the dead into dwarf zombies, but what you remember is the killer floating ball in the mortuary.

STAFF PICKS:

“Lay It On the Line” by Triumph

Wayne's staff pick is from the Canadian power trio led by Rik Emmitt, and is off their third studio album. It demands an answer in a relationship - make up your mind, don't waste my time. "I don't ask for much, the truth'll do just fine."

“Tragedy” by the Bee Gees

Rob puts us in a conundrum with his pick. Is this a disco song? It is a bit more rocking than the typical dance song. Disco or not, it was at the top of the charts at the time. The Bee Gees were made famous from the songs they wrote for the movie "Saturday Night Fever," which they created over a weekend.

“Every Time I Think of You” by The Babys

John Waite fronts Brian's staff pick from The Baby's third studio album. This song goes through a variety of tempos and dynamics. This song went to number 8 on the Cashbox 100. Waite would repeat the title of this song in the opening lyrics to his solo hit "Missing You."

“Sultans of Swing” by Dire Straits

Bruce rounds out the staff picks this week with the first hit off Dire Strait's debut album. The lyrics were inspired by a jazz band performance playing in the corner of an almost-empty pub in South London. The name of the jazz group was the Sultans of Swing.

LAUGH TRACK:

"Rubber Biscuit" by The Blues Brothers

Saturday Night Live originated this blues band headed by Jake and Elwood Blues aka Dan Akroyd and John Belushi.

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**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

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By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks, John Lynch

4.9

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