SUPERTRAMP – Crime Of The Century (Remastered 2025) *HQ*

320_1 /// 320_2 /// HQ 1 /// HQ 2

SUPERTRAMP continues the 50th anniversary celebrations in their half-speed remaster reissue series and we featured some days ago the recent 2026 remastered albums. But there’s an LP from the band you can’t miss: 1974’s “Crime Of The Century“, remastered 2025 as part of the same SUPERTRAMP campaign.
If Supertramp, struggling in 1974 after two muddled albums, wondered what it would be like if everyone was listening, they were about to find out. First released that October – it took months, and the surprise success of the single ‘Dreamer’, for its unique blend of pop and prog to attract momentum – ”Crime Of The Century” still robs one of any resistance.
Its themes of youthful rebellion, insecurity, mental health, idealism and frustration at the way the world is run possess as much validity as those expectorated in more overtly aggressive music. It’s a wonderful example of songcraft and inspired arrangements dovetailing, with co-producer Ken Scott (rightfully confident on the back of his era-defining work on Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane) midwifing the melancholic mystery.

Richard Hewson’s orchestral work, especially on that epic finale, are ravishing. Roger Hodgson and the late Rick Davies, the band’s writers, were on quiet fire. They’d been sent to Dorset with an amended line-up to focus on their direction and reset their drive. While they’d later clash as personalities, here they were in sublime sync, building a loose concept for the album.
They were in the sweet spot of having reached a higher level of ability than they realised, along with trying really, really hard. They took big swings, but knew when a lighter touch fitted.

Whether it’s the shriek as ‘School’ scurries in, the dynamic drama of ‘Hide In Your Shell’ or ‘Asylum’, or the rueful road trip of ‘Rudy’ – “Crime Of The Century” endures as an artful masterpiece.
Highly Recommended

01 – School (Remastered 2025)
02 – Bloody Well Right (Remastered 2025)
03 – Hide In Your Shell (Remastered 2025)
04 – Asylum (Remastered 2025)
05 – Dreamer (Remastered 2025)
06 – Rudy (Remastered 2025)
07 – If Everyone Was Listening (Remastered 2025)
08 – Crime Of The Century (Remastered 2025)

Rick Davies – vocals, keyboards, harmonica
Roger Hodgson – vocals, guitar, pianos
John Anthony Helliwell – saxophones, clarinet, backing vocals
Dougie Thomson – bass guitar
Bob Siebenberg – drums, percussion
Christine Helliwell, Vicky Siebenberg – backing vocals

BUY
www.amazon.co.uk/Crime-Century-Half-Speed-Master-Vinyl/dp/B0F7N5VP64