Crime Of The Century

by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Supertramp came into their own on their third album, 1974's Crime of the Century, as their lineup gelled but, more importantly, so did their sound. The group still betrayed a heavy Pink Floyd influence, particularly in its expansive art rock arrangements graced by saxophones, but Supertramp isn't nearly as spooky as Floyd -- they're snarky collegiate elitists, an art rock variation on Steely Dan or perhaps a less difficult 10cc, filled with cutting jokes and allusions, best heard on "Bloody Well Right." This streak would later flourish on Breakfast in America, but it's present enough to give them their own character. Also present is a slight sentimental streak and a heavy fondness for pop, heard on "Dreamer," a soaring piece of art pop that became their first big hit. That and "Bloody Well Right" are the concise pop moments on the record; the rest of Crime of the Century is atmospheric like Dark Side of the Moon, but with a lighter feel and a Beatles bent. At times the album floats off into its own world, with an effect more tedious than hypnotic, but it's still a huge leap forward for the group and their most consistent album outside of that 1979 masterwork, Breakfast in America.

By Richard Thompson "Music Fanatic"
If you are in your late 30's or 40 something, then you grew up in the 70's, when people actually bought 12' round vinyl discs and played them on a turntable! If, by chance, you were really into high quality audio sound (refered to as an audiophile), then you should be well acquainted with this musical offering.
A company known as Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MFSL), out of California, pioneered the "Original Master Recording" album. Also referred to as a "half-speed master". This company would seek out and only accept a first generation master tape to re-issue a popular music album. They made the choices based on popularity and sonic quality. The first few offerings were records of recorded "nature sounds" such as lightening, wind, streams, birds, etc. I think one was called The Power and the Majesty. The very first musical selection (catalog #1-005) was Supertramp's Crime of the Century. That's one of the reason's I bought this album. As a young music buyer of the day (late '78) I had not heard of Supertramp. I did know who Pink Floyd was and of course, the Beatles. I was surprised that Crime of the Century kept showing up in the MFSL offerings along with Dark Side of the Moon, Steely Dan's Aja, Fleetwood Mac I, and The Beatles Abbey Road. MFSL's Original Master Recordings were limited editions of 25,000 pressings.
In the early '80's, they began offering Ultra High Quality Records. Limited to only 5,000 pressings. These were the most incredibly high-quality analog phonograph records ever produced by anyone. Heavy, 200 gram records, pressed on virgin vinyl, so clean you could see light through it.
Again, Supertramp's Crime of the Century was one of the first five offerings, along with Floyd's Dark Side. I'm talking about a record that cost $50! Only the ultimate in sound quality music was considered for these very special discs. Even a regular Original Master Recording record cost more that a compact disc does now! About $17.
All this history lesson in sound recording media, that I have presented here, is simply to justify the fact that Crime of the Century is quite possibly the finest sounding achievment in all of recorded rock music. A "masterpiece" as another reviewer put it (pety brawl). Asking the question as to why it didn't stand in the same ranks as Pink Floyd's "The Wall" or "Dark Side of the Moon"? Well...it Does! And it always has. MFSL did not release Dark Side (#1-017) until after Crime of the Century. And way before other greats such as Steely Dan's Aja (#1-033) and Neil Diamond's fantastic sounding Hot August Night 'Live' (#2-024).
In the mid-80's, when compact discs first began to emerge in audio stores, the musical selections were very limited. Just like so many older people remember the first album or record they bought with their own money, everyone also remembers the first compact disc they purchased. I was working in the electronics section of a retail store and needed a compact disc to demo the new machines that were arriving. I went to a local high-end audio store that had a small bin of these mysterious new things called "cd's" for short. And what did I find among the half-dozen classical selections, but Supertramp - Crime of the Century (along with Rush's Moving Pictures). Paid my $18 and walked out. That was our only Demo disc for almost a year, and became quite of few people's favorite after hearing the great music that was within that plastic jewel case.