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Rating:
Interesting work by the Anglo-American group Supertramp. Although it was released almost five years before the highly acclaimed "Breakfast in America," it contains, necessarily in its embryonic stage, the winning factors to create a good product during the acid/progressive period of 1975 and then, in a decidedly more mature form, the masterpiece in question. The opening of the work is cleverly slow, with a fluid progression capable of revealing, with the right growth timing, the elements that characterize the peculiarities of Supertramp.
The clean sound, albeit from the striking keyboards, and the bright and clear sound of guitars entirely devoid of muddied riffs, accompany the mostly catchy songs of the album. The not-so-promising cover, merely in illustrative terms, cleverly conceals winning choruses that spring from clear choirs, (Sister Moonshine, Ain't Nobody But Me, and The Meaning) that chase each other in undefined points of each track, achieving effortlessly the desired effect of sticking to every listener's audio. Choruses that vaguely recall the simple and poignant ballads of the '50s but possess an extremely clean sound, free of both vocal and orchestral smears.
The strings in "A Soapbox Opera", the pulsating keyboard in "Lady" which accompanies a sweet and memorable choral refrain, are noteworthy. There are, in my opinion, elements also unconsciously similar to other works that do not spoil the structure of the pieces. Purely for the sake of inserting information, consider the guitar finale of "Another Man's Woman" which sincerely reminds me of something from "Monkberry Moon Delight". The wind instruments are not lacking, primarily clarinets (Just a Normal Day) and saxophones (The Meaning) that manage to add a simply valid contribution, always thanks to Supertramp's indelible trademark: the pristine sound.
As repetitive as it may seem, Hogdson and company's ace up the sleeve is the ability to produce this kind of sound that leaves the listener with the impression that they always play with pristine instruments. The elimination of probable stray notes and potential vocal smears is their inimitable trademark.
I would recommend listening to it, both for merely chronological reasons and for evaluative purposes, right before "Breakfast in America". With good probability, you will notice that from this embryo, something excellent is about to form. You will have undeniable proof of it.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Easy Does It (02:17)
And if my heart's had wings,
I'd be the bird that sings,
I'd fly where love isn't shy
And everyone is willing to try.
And if we had the time,
And time's so hard to find,
I can't believe what you say,
Start sending those shadows away,
And if you know who you are,
You are your own superstar,
And only you can shape the movie that you make,
So when the lights disappear;
And only the silence disappears,
And only the silence is near,
Watch yourself; easy does it, easy while you wait.
And if you know who you are,
You are your own superstar
And only you can shape the music that you make.
So when the crowds disappear,
And only the silence is here
Watch yourself, easy does it, easy does it, easy while you wait.
02 Sister Moonshine (05:14)
Ooo-when I was a small boy,
Well, I could see the magic in a day,
But, now I'm just a poor boy,
Well, maybe it's the price you have to pay,
If you lock your dreams away
If no-one wants to listen.
What's the story,
I wish I'd been a minstrel,
Just think of all the maidens I could call,
Oh-I wish I'd been a gypsy,
Then maybe I could read the crystal ball,
'Cause surrounded by these walls,
Just makes me feel uneasy.
I said hey, Sister Moonshine
Won't you send me a little sun
I said hey, Sister moonshine
Who's a stranger to everyone.
So, -MAKE US ALL LAUGH-
Make us all cry
-MAKE US ALL GIVE-
Make us all try
Give us a secret, show us the light,
Well, strike up the music, light up the sky.
Mmm-If I was a lion,
Well, I could be the king off all the plains,
Mmm-If is was an eagle,
Well, maybe I could fly above the rains,
Oh, fly above the pain
But, I know I'm only foolin'
I said hey, Sister Moonshine,
Won't you send me a little sun,
I said hey, Sister Moonshine,
Who's a stranger to everyone.
So, -MAKE US ALL LAUGH-
Make us all cry,
-MAKE US ALL GIVE-
Make us all cry,
I said hey, Sister Moonshine
I said hey, Sister Moonshine,
I said hey, said hey
I said hey, I said hey Sister Moonshine.
03 Ain't Nobody but Me (05:11)
Let me tell you a story that'll make a change,
Let me tell you when I'm way out of range;
It's about a man who's crueler than me,
So promise not to cause a scene,
Heaven help the one's you love,
There's no big need for stars above
Well, you can run, you, know he'll find you,
It don't matter now, just look behind you,
You had your warn, and you knew the score,
You got it wrong, and that means war;
So, why'd you have to treat me rough,
Your explanation's not enough.
-Ain't nobody but me,
Gonna lie for you, gonna die for you;
Ain't no fish in the sea,
Gonna sigh for you, gonna try for you,
Gonna lie for you, gonna die for you,
Wooh-
You see, I got a mental disposition,
Sometimes, I'm mean, sometimes I'm vicious;
I'm Dr. Jekyll, I'm Mr. Hyde,
So if you wanna stay alive,
Just give me all you've got to give,
And, then perhaps I'll let you live.
-Ain't nobody but me,
Gonna lie for you, gonna die for you,
Ain't no fish in the sea,
Gonna sigh for you, gonna try for you,
Gonna lie for you, gonna die for you;
Gonna sigh for you, gonna try for you,
Gonna lie for you, gonna die for you.-
(HUSH) Now baby, stop your crying,
(OH YES) I know that I've been lying,
(HUSH) Now baby, stop your crying
(OH YES) I know that I've been lying
(HUSH) Now baby, stop your crying
(OH YES) I know that I've been lying
(HUSH) Now baby, stop your crying
(OH YES) I know that I've been lying
AAAaaa
04 A Soapbox Opera (04:58)
I want to tell you something;
Listen to me,
I'm trying to say, I'm better than you,
I am only what I am
We must not stand still,
For the night is coming,
Every man, every woman and child,
Everybody help me
I hear, only what I want to hear,
But, I have to believe in something,
Have to believe in just one thing.
I said father washington, you're all mixed up,
Collecting sinners in an old tin cup.
Well, spare a listen for a restless fool,
There's something missing when I need your rule.
Well ,hey there;
You tell me you're a holy man, but, although I am just a
Beginner,
I don't see you as a winner.
I said, sister robinson, you're all washed up,
Collecting teardrops in a paper cup;
If I could tell you what you need to know;
If I could tell you to get on with the show.
I'd rather never leave her,
There's a storm in my head,
Makes me hear what you say;
Just was it true?
So, what have I to do?
-well, what has he to do? -
+oh, what is there to-oo do+
What oh-oh-ohoh
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful, the lord God made them all
Mary, oh tell me what I'm living for,
'cause I feel like I'm tossed in the river,
Oh� have you a son to deliver.
I said, father washington, you're all mixed up,
Collecting sinners in an old tin cup,
You tell the children what they need to know,
But, will they listen when it's time to go.
Oh, sister robinson, you're all washed up,
Collecting teardrops in a paper cup,
Can someone tell me what I need to know,
Can someone help me to get on with the show.
05 Another Man's Woman (06:16)
If there's no way of knowing where's the answer,
You should know if you need me by now, tell me how.
You saw me in the first place,
Who d'you think I am
How can you be so two-faced
And tell me where I stand
Yeah, we've been here once before,
I see you by the door,
You said you knew and all were calling,
Yeah, you know you just can't lose,
All you have to do is choose, let me in on where your heart is.
You ain't nothing but another man's woman,
Living on another man's land;
At night I hear a hound dog callin,
A callin' me a cheatin' man.
I tell you somethin', I need good lovin', but you don't understand,
At night I see you cannonball comin'
To blow me to the promised land.
If there's no-way of showing where your love lies,
Is it me?, is it him?, or no-one;
What will be done?
About the mess you made me,
Oh don't you give a damn,
You're gonna drive me crazy,
It's more than I can stand,
'Round and 'round we always go
First it's yes and then it's no,
Oh whatever keeps me sane?
I'm so helpless, can't you see?
Did you cast a spell on me,
Say you love me please, I'm praying
CHORUS
07 Poor Boy (05:07)
Can you believe me when I say, there's nothing I like better,
Than just to sit here and talk with you.
Although I'll rant and I'll rave about one thing and another
The beauty of it is so pure to me, though,
I'm a poor boy,
I can still be happy,
As long as I can feel free.
So many people I know, get old way too early
(Well are you feelin' kind of weary)
Just to impress you with the money they've made
(You better, you better change your theory)
One drop of rain, they complain, it's the same about the ways they're earning.
Well, that is not the way I'm gonna be,
Don't mind the rain, don't mind snow, don't mind nothin'
If I know,
You will be right here with me
-We'll let her stay, don't mind a point of view,
How can we all afford to live like you;
This life is simply not enough,
We have no grievances, we must be tough-
-Poor Boy-
If that's the way it's gonna be
-Poor Boy-
It's you for you and me for me
-Poor Boy-
(RD+RH)
I've tried all I can, understanding, all the fools and all threir money,
When half of what they've got, you know they never will use,
Enough to get by, suits me fine, I don't care if they think I'm funny.
I'm never gonna change my point of view,
Don't mind the rain, don't mind snow, don't mind nothing, if I know
You will be right here with me, all the way.
Na-na-na
Don't mind the rain, don't mind snow, dont' mind nothing if I know
You will be right here with me , all the way.
08 Just a Normal Day (04:02)
RD- Woke up cryin' with the break of dawn, and,
I looked up and the sky,
The air was still, yet all the leaves were falling,
Can you tell me why?
RH- Well, I just don't know the reason,
I don't know what to say,
it just seems a normal day,
and, I've got to live my own life,
I just can't spare the time,
But, you've got strange things on your mind
RD- Well, I just feel ,that every minute's wasted,
My life is unreal,
And anyway, I guess, I'm just not rated,
At least twice, that's how I feel
RH- Well, I just don't know the reason,
I don't know what to say;
It just seems a normal day
And, I've got to live my own life,
I just can't spare the time;
But, you've got strange things on your mind.
RD- Eat a lot, sleep a lot,
Passing the time away,
Maybe I'll find my way,
Who am I kidding?
Yes, it's just myself.
09 The Meaning (05:25)
Just look at the comfort that you call your home,
Just kidding yourself that you're never alone;
Well, maybe there's something, just one thing, you shouldn't have said,
So, you better beware.
And, you better get, and you better get, light in your head
And, you better get, and you better get, peace in your head.
If you wanna get, if you wanna get high.
You're watching the movie go blistering by
Just look at the sadness, I wish I could die;
Well, maybe there's something, just one thing, that I should have said.
Well, it better be said.
Has the record been, has the record been holding your heart,
It's beginning to ,it's beginning to squeeze you apart.
Don't you wanna get, don't you wanna get high.
You're holding the world in the palm of your hand,
Watch'ya tellin' your children you don't understand
If you know what the meaning is *7
Meaning is *3
Oh-oh so you better beware,
So you better get, so you better get light in your head,
So you better get, so you better get peace in your bed;
Don't you wanna get, don't you wanna get high
Just look at the madness that glows in your eyes,
Don't you frighten the children, who'll steal your disguise,
If you know what the meaning is *8
If you know what the answer is *4
If you know what the meaning is *4
10 Two of Us (03:24)
Look at me I'm a speck of sand,
And I'm building ,dreams in a strangers land
Tell me why do I care
Tell me why do I care.
Every time that I'm feeling down, oh they,
pick me up and they spin me round.
Tell me where do we go,
Tell me where do we go from here.
What are we gonna find out (find out)
What are we gonna find out (find out)
Leave the wilderness, and as long as there's dreams,
Just as long as there's two of us,
Just as long as there's two of us, I'll carry on
Won't you hold me
When is man gonna find out (find out)
When are we gonna find out (find out)
What the universe is just waiting to here,
Just as long as there's two of us
Just as long as there's two of us
Just as long as there's two of us,
We'll carry on.
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