Customer Reviews

Paris

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Supertramp's ivories were sure being tickled on a November night in 1979, just another concert in a huge tour prompted by the chart topping success of their latest album "Breakfast in America." Before an extremely excited audience at the Paris Pavilion, Supertramp delivered a colorful performance, captured here on the double live album simply titled "Paris," released in 1980. The group is in great condition, and just as enthusiastic as the appreciative audience. The magic of the album is not found in major variations or re-arrangements (because there are hardly any at all), but rather in the pure charm of a Supertramp performance. The English supergroup gives vigorous, dynamic readings of their hits such as `The Logical Song,' `Take the Long Way Home,' and `Bloody Well Right' and some of their most essential album pieces including `A Soapbox Opera,' the grand `Fool's Overture' and a dramatic version of `Crime of the Century' which contains even more feeling than the already powerful studio version. Another highlight is the lovelorn, jazzy `You Started Laughing" which features great melancholy saxophone work from John Helliwell. Bassist Dougie Thomson and drummer Bob C. Benberg shine with great musicianship, and the keyboards and vocals of songwriters Roger Hodgson and Rick Davies give the renditions their trademark Supertramp sound. The spoken banter to the audience is charming as well, though to understand most of it, one must be fluent in French.
While "Paris" may not offer a wide variety of new variations, it remains an alluring item, and after all there are few musical experiences that are as worthwhile as an evening with Supertramp. The music here is catchy, dignified, often moving, and always rich in taste. The entire group as a unit pour their respective personalities into these masterful performances to give create the unmistakable quirky-yet-sophisticated English pop that made them such an entertaining admirable band.

There's a reason why every review of this disc gives it 5 stars. Because it is truly an example of a classic live document from one of rock's more creative groups - Supertramp. The song selection as well as placement AND execution, makes this one a no-brainer. no. You know what makes this one a no-brainer? It is a great LIVE disc. So often I hear a live disc and i'm turned off because the 'magic' somehow eludes the live reproduction. This is definitely not the case with Paris. Top of the shelf walk down memory lane, when Roger Hodgson still graced the stage with supertramp.

I First heard and owned this collection when it first came out in 1980 on Cassette. I listened to it until it wore out. Now here we are 22 years later and this newly remastered CD version is here... The sound is crystal clear, as if it were just recorded recently... the performances, magical... I never did get to see Supertramp back then, but I could not even begin to imagine what it would have been like to be sitting in that adience and hearing that phenomenal version of "Fool's Overture"... Just listening to it on the CD gives me goosebumps.. The rest of the songs here are just as good, from the opening harmonica on "School" to the closing Harmonica on "Crime of the Century". Highlights along the way are "School", "Ain't Nobody But Me", "Bloody Well Right", "Hide In Your Shell", "Dreamer", "Rudy", "Soapbox Opera", "Long Way Home", "Fool's Overture" and "Crime of the Century".

It really is amazing how much each member of this band contributed to this effort... The drums and bass are rock solid, it seems like most of the band contribute backing vocals, and they are excellent at reproducing the keyboard-heavy arrangements. I'm thinking in several places, three of them are playing keyboards (including the end of "Crime of the Century" where there also is sax... so maybe Dougie is playing some keyboard too?). Anyway.. if all you've heard of Supertramp are their late 70s hits from Breakfast in America, you'll be extremely impressed at how much these guys could accomplish... if you're more of a fan, there's no reason why you don't have this already... sit back, turn down the lights and enjoy... Bon Soir Paris....

This double concert album almost runs in my blood: listening to it is reviving some great high school times! On a less personal level, every minute of it is impeccably performed and perfectly recorded, turning it into one of a handful of particularly powerful live albums: I put it up there, alongside Peter Gabriel's 'Plays Live'. To top the quality of the performance and the recording, every single song in it is a Supertramp classic in itself, with "Fool's Overture" being the one that benefits the most from the live performance. This is a must for all rock fans, and if you are new to Supertramp, this along with "Even in the quietest moments" will give you a heavy dose of what this band is capable of.

Supertramp's double live album from 1980, "Paris," is a wonderful live set, capturing the band at the peak of their popularity while they were on tour for their 1979 smash hit album, "Breakfast In America," at a time when co-leader Roger Hodgson was still with the group. When you consider that the possibility of Hodgson returning to Supertramp these days is highly unlikely, "Paris" becomes all the more an important live document of the band, indeed. Many great Tramp classics are included in this live set, such as "School," "Ain't Nobody But Me," "The Logical Song," "Dreamer," "Rudy," "Take The Long Way Home," "Fool's Overture," and "Crime Of The Century," plus one exclusive song, "You Started Laughing," not found anywhere else. Hodgson & co-leader Rick Davies sing their hearts out and play their respective keyboards with great passion, and Hodgson also serves up some incredible fretwork on the guitar. Co-horts John Halliwell on sax, drummer Bob Sibenberg & bassist Dougie Thomson have terrific interplay with Hodgson & Davies, helping to bring the band's great melodic music to life in tremendous fashion. Just like on their studio albums, the band totally cook live in concert, too. And the album's remastering treatment here is quite a blessing, giving a clarity to this live recording that wasn't heard before. It's almost like being at the concert itself, sitting alongside all of those lucky French Supertramp fans."Paris" is a fabulous Supertramp concert that you'll want to experience again & again. If you weren't lucky enough to see the band on their most successful tour ever, then listening to this album is definitely the next best thing. Supertramp live in Paris...ooh la la! :-)

This CD is a document of an almost perfect live-performance!
What I like most on this disc is the scenes between the songs: For example the introduction to "Breakfast in America" when Hodgson describes the meal on the concerts' eve (with an amusing english-french language-mix):
"We went to a petit restaurant and had langostinos, deux types of spaghetti, une type of ravioli, beaucoup de vin and deux grande espressos. Sorry, but.... it was an italian restaurant..." (barracking from the audience, because the Frenchman wouldn't accept that someone prefers foreign food in THEIR country of "haute cuisine", but then he continues: "... but it wasn't as good as BREAKFAST IN AMERICA!" (Loud cheering from the crowd as the first sound of the song begins)!
If THIS doesn't give you goose pimples, what else does???

Supertramp's seventh album entitled Paris was released in October of 1980.
The album was recorded in November of 1979 in Paris, France at the Pavillion on the final night of the band's Breakfast in America European tour. Paris is a wonderful live set, capturing the band at the peak of their popularity when co-leader/guitarist/singer/keyboard player/songwriter Roger Hodgson was still with the group. When you consider that the possibility of Hodgson returning to Supertramp these days very doubtful, Paris becomes an extremely important live document of the classic lineup of the band, indeed.
Many great Supertramp classics are included in this live two disc set, such as most of 1974's grand breakthrough Crime of the Century (the spirited opener "School", a slightly extended "Bloody Well Right", an excellent "Hide in Your Shell", a superb "Asylum', the Top 20 hit "Dreamer", a uperb "Rudy" and the closing "Crime of the Century" which closes this live album), two songs from 1975's highly underrated followup Crisis? What Crisis? ("Ain't Nobody But Me' and "A Soapbox Opera" both superior to studio versions), two from 1977's Gold selling US breakthrough Even in the Quietest Moments ("From Now On" and the best version of "Fool's Overture" ever), and three from the #1 Multi-Platinum selling Breakfast in America (the monster hit "The Logical Song", the title cut and the Top 20 smash "Take The Long Way Home") plus one exclusive song called You Started Laughing which was not found anywhere else save the B-side to a song called Lady from Crisis?.
Hodgson and co-leader/keyboardist/singer/songwriter Rick Davies sing their hearts out and play their respective keyboards with great passion, and Hodgson also serves up some incredible fretwork on the guitar. Co-horts John Helliwell on saxophones/clarinets/occasional keyboards and additional backing vocals, drummer Bob C. Benberg and bass player Dougie Thomson have terrific interplay with Hodgson and Davies, helping to bring the band's great melodic music to life in tremendous fashion. Just like on their studio albums, the band totally cook live in concert, too. The songs on here rival their studio counterparts, especially on Rudy which is sped at faster speed than the studio version on the Roger/Rick vocal duel section.
Commercially, Paris did well peaking at #8 on the album charts and is one of my Top 10 favorite live rock albums ever, especially with the remastering on this album.
Highly recommended!

This album is fantastic. It is a great live album, it is a real "very best" compilation and it is really a sound improvement to the original.

I only had expected (I don't know they are cut from the original concert) some songs like "Give a Little Bit" or "Goodbye Stranger" or something from their two first albums, which are somewhat unknown.

I think that Rick Davies' contact with the public in the very first songs might have had more presence all along the recording. Sure he spoke a little more Anglofrench! It's funny to discover that the only songs which have a "presentation" are from the "Breakfast in America" album: "The Logical Song", "Breakfast in America" and "Take the Long Way Home". But still my favourites are "From Now On" and "Bloody Well Right".

Still is one of the best live albums I've ever heard. The performance of "Fool's Ouverture" should have been incredible.

Supertramp is a group to be remembered in the story of music. It is difficult to consider them as a "rock band" but they show some elements of what pop music would become in early 80's. And this recording is a must-have in your collection.

Paris is one of the finest live albums ever produced...right behind Procol Harum's Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and ELP's Pictures at an Exhibition!!!

Supertramp's Paris is a must have in any form you can get your hands on. The remastered version is great although the packaging didn't change much from the original cd release; no new pictures or commentary from anyone. The song selection is great and the live versions are better than the studio versions. Includes a song called "You Started Laughing" which I do not believe was available on any studio album. It's a great song. If you are long time fan or are just getting into them, do not hesitate to buy this cd.Crank it up. You'll love it. Trust me.