Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Sounding Rock Album of All-Time, September 3, 2005
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.
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26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
It's a crime this reissue has no extras, June 22, 2002
It's the little things that matter most. A&M's earlier release of Crime of the Century sounded awful. Supertramp's most ambitious prog-rock album certainly deserved better; Mobile Fidelity Sound's release of the album was a big improvement. Of all the Supertramp reissues this year, Crime sounds best; it's sound is fuller, bigger and finally matches the ambitious concept behind the album.It's a crime that A&M chose not to reissue this fine album with any audio extras or notes. Crime is as bare bones as reissues come; the original lyrics and artwork are featured but, sadly, there's no comments from any of the band members. If Rhino had reissued this album, you can be sure that the album would have been packed with extras (an example of how it should be done is the 2 disc debut album by the Cars. The original single disc is also available but the 2 disc version is available for the fans). Should you purchase this album? If you like or love Supertramp, frankly, the answer is yes. This album has never sounded quite this good before. Kudos on the sound but two thumbs down on the packaging. I'd give it 4 1/2 stars.
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
NOT Their First Album, But Their First Breakthrough, August 9, 2002
So many US fans of Supertramp still believe to this day that 1974's "Crime Of The Century" was the band's very first album. This is totally not true---it's actually their *third* album, following 1970's "Supertramp" & 1971's "Indelibly Stamped," both of which are only available on import, but they're both superb Tramp albums worth seeking out. Now that we've got THAT cleared up...."Crime Of The Century" was Supertramp's first commercial breakthrough, and it's a winner all the way. Many Tramp classics are on this one: "School," "Bloody Well Right," "Dreamer, "Rudy," and the title track. Singer/songwriter/ keyboardists Roger Hodgson & Rick Davies are in top form, as are their new recruits John Halliwell on sax, bassist Dougie Thomson & drummer Bob Siebenberg. The band's unique music is melodic, rocking, and catchy, and the production is supreme, as especially evidenced on this new remastered version.It wasn't their first album, but "Crime Of The Century" WAS Supertramp's first big splash in the music world. It's a terrific album, and a sign of things to come from this great band. :-)
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