Take Five: Standout Rick Davies Tracks by Supertramp

While Supertramp enjoyed a comparatively brief time in the spotlight – mostly around the release of their sixth album, 1979’s Breakfast in America – the group’s catalog is filled with gems. Supertramp’s progressive strengths tend to be discounted in favor of their pop smarts, but the group had much to offer in both categories. One of two primary songwriters, keyboardist Rick Davies is responsible for composing some of the band’s best songs. On the occasion of Davies’ 80th birthday this year, here are five notable tracks he wrote, played and sang with Supertramp.

“Bloody Well Right” from Crime of the Century (1974)
After a somewhat conventional rock debut, the second album from Supertramp signaled a change in style: songwriter Rick Davies took on a larger role, and the band’s sound shifted in a more progressive direction while maintaining pop appeal. An exemplar of that balance on this record – considered by many fans to be their finest effort – is “Bloody Well Right.” Davies’ tune was released as the b-side of a single, with “Dreamer” on the plug side. But many deejays ignored it, flipped the disc over and played “Bloody Well Right” instead; it eventually climbed to the #35 spot on the Billboard singles chart. In an ironic twist, “Dreamer” would be released – in a live version – on 1980’s Paris LP; a single of that track charted at #15 in the U.S.

“Ain’t Nobody But Me” from Crisis? What Crisis? (1975)
The quickly-recorded Crisis? What Crisis? is nonetheless a fine album, albeit one that’s often overlooked by today’s listeners. Per Supertramp’s standard practice, songwriting duties were fairly evenly split between Hodgson and Davis. The strongest track from the latter is “Ain’t Nobody But Me.” But strong songwriting is no guarantor of a hit: One of only two singles from the album, it charted only in Canada, at a lowly #64.

“From Now On” from Even in the Quietest Moments… (1977)
Something of a deep album track on Supertramp’s fifth long player, Rick Davies’ “From Now On” wasn’t released as a single or even as b-side. But with it’s brilliant and expressive piano work, it’s a solid tune and arguably a highlight of Even in the Quietest Moments… Bigger things were just around the corner for the group.

“Goodbye Stranger” from Breakfast in America (1979)
Songs from Supertramp’s sixth studio album were all over the airwaves in 1979. Breakfast in America spawned no less than three hit singles. Composed by Roger Hodgson, “The Logical Song” and “Take the Long Way Home” both made it into the Billboard Top Ten. A third single, Rick Davies’ “Goodbye Stranger” fared nearly as well, climbing to the #15 spot on the singles chart. To date Breakfast in America has sold well in excess of 20 million units.

“Brother Where You Bound” from Brother Where You Bound (1985)
Though 1979’s Breakfast in America was a runaway success, things began to unravel for Supertramp not long thereafter. Songwriter Roger Hodgson would leave the group after the release of 1982’s …Famous Last Words… Though that album was a hit worldwide, its creation was fraught and tension-filled. By the time of the group’s 1985 album, Rick Davies was effectively Supertramp’s sole songwriter. The album’s title track was a return to progressive form, and featured two guest musicians. Thin Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham plays rhythm guitar, and for the last two minutes of this epic track, Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour adds his distinctive lead guitar.