FM radio was in a dire state in 1985. Trust me, kids, it never was worse. There was nothing on air worthy of your attention. Most markets were ignoring the rising heavy metal movement for example (Metallica were treated by the radio the same way Edgar Hoover treated the Mafia (i.e. they didn't exist)). There was no online underground with millions of choices available to you. It was just the same old songs - ALL the time. (Exactly like radio is now - except no one actually listens to the radio anymore). And anything that was new... wasn't... new. And here comes along Supertramp - one of those bands that contributed to the dire state of the radio in the first place. It's 1985. It's Supertramp. Oh good Lord, who cares what they do anyway? Then...
...then comes Brother Where You Bound. Just one of the damnedest anomalies ever released. Opener Cannonball sounds like a swinging jazz rock track from 1968, as played by Joe Jackson. It was cool in the purest sense, when everything around was cool only in the current sense (i.e. not cool). Great staccato piano and horns drive this most memorable tune. Horns? In 1985? Better Days provided another thoughtful piano driven groover with some well placed flute. But the crowning achievement had to be the 16 minute title track, with no less of a luminary than David Gilmour providing lead guitar, with a free jazz mid section, and horn charts. In 1985? What on Earth? I remember to this day the DJ's of the time expressing genuine enthusiasm about the prospect of the return of the long form track. The thought they might be able to refill their coffee, turn off the lights and chill to the music, or talk with listeners was an exciting dream. Could progressive rock really be back?
No. Not for the mainstream anyway. Supertramp were the most unlikely champion of a scene that just died in the 1980s. This album remains undiscovered even today. I really do think historians will see this one way differently than their contemporaries did. It will stick out - not like a sore thumb - but in a good way. One that can't be ignored.
Ownership: LP: 1985 A&M. Single embossed sleeve with lyric inner. Picked this one up at the Denver Record show for $1 (2021). In shrink with the original hype sticker no less.
1985 (first listen); 4/15/14 (review / new entry)
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