Open the Door [Import]

Roger Hodgson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 9, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Sbme Import
• ASIN: B00004TKYI
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #257,735 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Along Came Mary

2. The More I Look

3. Showdown

4. Hungry

5. The Garden

6. Death And A Zoo

7. Love Is A Thousand Times

8. Say Goodbye

9. Open The Door

10. For Every Man

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth the wait!, July 30, 2000

By 

Ron Gunaka (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Open the Door (Audio CD)

Open the Door, Roger's first studio effort in over 13 L O N G years is a testament that good things are worth waiting for! This compilation contains the acoustics of Supertramp's "Even in the Quietest Moments" and the catchy pop/rock sounds of "Breakfast in America" all rolled into one. At least a third of the cd's tracks are acoustic, catchy melodies, of which "Along came Mary" and "For Every Man" are the best. Glad to see that "The More I Look", a collaboration with Yes' Trevor Rabin, made it on the cd as it's an awesome song! Ah yes, then there's masterpiece efforts to mention like "Death and a Zoo" and "Open the Door", both of which are tunes on the epic proportion of "Fool's Overture". If you're truly a Hodgson/Supertramp fan like myself, then you definitely won't be disappointed with this cd!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One half of a whole but still a terrific album for fans ST, July 1, 2004

By 

WTDK "If at first the idea is not absurd, the... (My Little Blue Window, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Open the Door (Audio CD)

Since their split up Roger Hodgson and Rick Davies of Supertramp have produced music that has ranked from marginal to exceptional but neither one has reached the heights that they did together. "Open the Door" is a terrific solo album from Roger but its no exception; there are a number of tracks that would have benefited from Davies' rolling, thundering piano or bluesy backing vocals. "Open the Door" demonstrates Roger in fine form after the so-so "Hai Hai" and solid but unspectacular live album "Rite of Passage".

I can't help feeling, however, that the 5 strongest songs here would have fit in really well with the 5 best songs from Supertramp's "Slow Motion". The best tracks from both albums would have been Supertramp's best album since "Breakfast in America". I didn't spring for the import with the bonus track and I'll probably kick myself for not doing it so I can't comment on that track.

The title track, and terrific "Along Came Mary" are among two of the strongest highlights of the album. The melodies are rich and supple but I still feel something is missing. Nevertheless, I'm happy to have a new album from Hodgson (just as I was happy to have a new Supertramp album). Unlike a lot of fans of the band, I see merit in both halves of the whole and still enjoy both as well.

"Showdown" (which originally appeared on Hodgson's fine live album)benefits from the addition of bluesy harmonica (just like the type Davies used to add to Supertramp songs)and electric violin that reminds me of Jean Luc-Ponty's magnificient playing. "Hungry" is a great pop single and if the album ever gets a proper US release, I'm sure it would get airplay as it recalls the best elements that made "Dreamer", "Breakfast in America" and "Give a Little Bit" powerful and memorable singles. A warning, it sounds nothing like those songs but has an insistent hook and melody worthy of Hodgson. The sax sounds like something John Anthony Helliwell would have played.

"Death and a Zoo" has it's moments particularly towards its climatic conclusion which recalls larger scale songs like "Even in the Quietest Moments" or ""Puppet Dance" (from "Hai Hai"). Although recorded primarily with French musicians, it does include a couple of well known guest including Trevor Rabin on guitar (Yes), the Bulgarian Choir and the Symphonic Orchestra of Prague.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hodgson Opens The Door, November 2, 2004

By 

Alan Caylow (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Open the Door (Audio CD)

"Open The Door," released in 2000, is ex-Supertramp singer Roger Hodgson's first solo album of studio material since 1987's "Hai Hai" (there was also his 1997 release, "Rites Of Passage," but that was a live album). This record is a brilliant return for Roger, filled with his same magic touch for melody, catchy hooks, and powerful, dramatic rock that made his work with Supertramp so special. Great songs from end to end, like the beautiful "Along Came Mary," the poppish "Hungry," the simple-but-memorable "The Garden," and the awesome extended pieces, "Death And A Zoo" and the title song, the latter of which reminds me of the old Supertramp favorite, "Fool's Overture." Hodgson's classic falsetto voice remains in pristine condition, his playing & songwriting simply wonderful. I'm disappointed that "Open The Door," like the latest 'Tramp album, "Slow Motion," is only available on import in North America, but it's totally worth getting. "Open The Door" is a must-buy CD for the Roger Hodgson/Supertramp faithful.