Supertramp

Of all the manifold "unofficial" biographies that the DVD revolution has unleashed, Classic Rock Productions' long-running series of hour-or-so studies is by far the most dynamic. No matter that the artists under the microscope rarely have any creative input into the series; with a brief that lines the discs up as "critical reviews," the field is open for journalists, fans, and occasional musicians to put in their two cents' worth and guarantee that, even if you don't agree with everything that's said, at least it's out there for people to hear. Inside Supertramp probably doesn't sound like the most gripping title in the series -- indeed, the makers themselves acknowledge the band's innate humdrummery by confining their coverage to the so-called "classic years," and the three-album span that ran across Crime of the Century, Crisis? What Crisis?, and Even in the Quietest Moments. But there, the fun really begins, as live footage is drawn from as far afield as the 1974 BBC TV Old Grey Whistle Test performance that announced the band to the world in general; London concerts from 1975 and 1977; and finally, a Munich stadium appearance in 1983 (outside of the chronology, but the songs still fit). These are not entire performances, of course, but instead usually just a couple of minutes per song, sufficient to illustrate points being made by the speakers. Neither can one always assume that the speakers themselves are actual fans. One gentleman in particular seems to spend his entire time damning one song after another, although his greatest criticism of Supertramp appears to be that they sound like Supertramp. So we laugh at his silliness and hit fast-forward; there's room in here for all manner of opinions, and some excellent, rarely seen performances as well. ~ Dave Thompson, All Music Guide