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Supertramp was an English rock band formed in London in 1969. Though their music was initially categorised as progressive rock, they later incorporated a combination of pop and art rock into their music. The band's work is marked by the songwriting of founders Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson and the prominent use of Wurlitzer piano and saxophone. However, this collaboration only lasted until 1983. Still, Rick Davies continued to make albums under the name Supertramp until 2002.


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Everyone's Listening, All Supertramp songs, ranked - Lady (#81)

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From Crisis? What Crisis?, 1975

Listen to it here

{1}

Due to shortage of material, production had to be halted at one point so that Davies and Hodgson could write two new songs, one of which was "Ain't Nobody But Me".

Now, I not sure what's the other new song, but why with Lady appearing on concerts before the album's release, it's probably a hold-over from the Crime sessions.

Released as a single to promote the album with You Started Laughing as the B-side, it left very little impact on the charts, but apart from filming a (nowadays very hard to find) music video for it, the band probably wanted to leave the song behind for a bit, as it didn't make it onto Paris nor the first Greatest Hits album (it would appear on Vol.2 & Retrospectacle though).

Lyrically it's a love song, about their ex girlfriend leaving the protagonist and travelling far from them, all they while they plead her to stay.

No, the real star here is the music: it's been said that it is a very similiar song to Dreamer, but a bit funkier; the wurlitzer line is even more prominent, the "little bid sad" part with its horn section and just Roger's delivery in general (I especially like the "Mr, you'd better get a move on" part), and I really, really love the little intro (I think that's a Marimba?): really, it's another very catchy song in the vein of Dreamer, what's not to love? I'll tell you: the outro.

Taking up roughly two minutes, it's the first example of what I like to call The Roger Hodgson extended outro problem™, where literally nothing of interest happens in the song. To be fair, I appreciate those synth lines and the acappella ending, and it's not as bad as what he did on In The Eye Of The Storm (and we'll get there when we get there), but this is a good 1/3 of a song I could do without.

Where that section not present, I'd probably bump this higher: even I feel ashamed at putting Lady at #81, the first three minutes being that strong, but the outro just really sours it for me. I'm sure it has its fans though.

{1} Wikipedia

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That is a marimba! I'll be even more impressed if you can name the instruments at the end of dreamer and during the chorus of casual conversations

u/ButterFingerzMCPE avatar

Glock and vibes, right?

Bingo

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i agree the outro is weirdly long, but it is soo fun to sing ‘you’re takin the long way, she’s turning about’

u/Professional_Peak824 avatar

LOVE THE BASSLINE

u/Professional_Peak824 avatar

why is it so low???????? It should be at least top 25?????

u/ElKellyKuk avatar

The other new song recorded for Crisis was The Meaning and I do enjoy that ending!

I didn’t know that, where did you see it? Wow, this is probably my favorite song on the album along with 2 of Us

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u/karinds1 avatar

No Joke, but I've put this song in the list of music my children can choose from for my funeral. The music is cheerful and sometimes complex and I find it very catchy as a whole. I agree with the outro, at home I simply do 'next song' and then another song for my funeral appears.

Love the song. That Wurlitzer playing style that Roger has gets me every time. The ending... Well never thought about it but yeah it's a little long but it's the idea they crafted and I can appreciate the value it holds.

Also, love ‘Sister Moon…’ song. shine? Light? I getting old…

u/frozgmr avatar

sister moonshine is a wonderful song

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LOVE this song AND entire album. My fav Supertramp album. (Aside: a ‘tribute band’ called ‘Classic Albums Live’ (I believe is their name) is doing the whole ‘CRIME’ album, “start to finish, note for note”. Pretty interesting, esp. where I live 3 hrs. North of Philly, PA. I should go. Think Sept. Maybe they’ll do CRISES some day?! Thnx for ur postings.

u/ButterFingerzMCPE avatar

you’re taking the long way

she’s turnin’ about