This year, Every Sunday Evening, Album Rock WXYG, The GOAT will feature a full album at 8:00 PM from the halcyon musical days of 1975. 1975 was one of the top Years in Album Rock history. Another year of tough choices every week. So many great ones to choose from.
We hope you’ll tune in the evening of September 14th for “Crisis? What Crisis?”, the fourth album by Supertramp, released in 1975.
It was recorded in Los Angeles and London – Supertramp's first album to have recording done in the US.
Record Mirror included Crisis? What Crisis? on its end-of-year list for 1975, recognizing the best albums of the year.
Nestled between the accomplished Crime of the Century album and 1977's Even in the Quietest Moments, “Crisis? What Crisis?” Helped them capture a fan base that had no concern for Supertramp's commercial sound. With Rick Davies showing off his talent on the keyboards, and Roger Hodgson's vocals soaring on almost every track, they managed to win back their earlier progressive audience while gaining new fans at the same time. Crisis received extensive air play on FM stations from coast to coast.
"Ain't Nobody But Me," "Easy Does It," and the beautiful "Sister Moonshine" highlight Supertramp's buoyant and brisk instrumental and vocal alliance, while John Helliwell's saxophone gives the album even greater width. The songwriting is sharp, attentive, and passionate, and the lyrics showcase Supertramp's ease at invoking emotion into their music, which would be taken to even greater heights in albums to come. Even simple tracks like "Lady" and "Just a Normal Day" blend in nicely with the album's warm personality and charmingly subtle mood.
Crisis? What Crisis? is one of those brilliant albums that leaves you asking for more.
As is evident from the rousing rendition of Another Man's Woman on the Paris live album, that song alone should have been a chart topper. It's lyrically sharp and original, with a punchy rock rhythm that positively snaps with dynamic energy. The vocal interplay of Sister Moonshine is equally dynamic and catchy and once again on Ain't Nobody But Me Supertramp makes great use of vocal harmonies and counterpoint. Lady features the band's signature bouncy electric piano rhythm with distinct echoes of some of Crime of the Century. In fact, there isn't a weak song on this album.
Most critics rate this album as superior—and far more consistent—than Breakfast in America and has stood the test of time well.
The band's most interesting and musically sophisticated album; also its most underrated. Time to check it out again. It’s a winner.
Tune In and Turn On the evening of September 14th, and every Sunday evening at 8:00 PM for The GOAT'S "The Long Play with Al Neff”.
