Some Things Never Change
Encyclopedia
Some Things Never Change is the eleventh album by progressive rock
band Supertramp
, released in 1997 (see 1997 in music
). It represented a deliberate return to the band's earlier sound (before Free as a Bird
), using more organic recording techniques than on their previous studio album.
The song "Live to Love You" features both the 'tackled' sound from the Coleco Electronic Quarterback
handheld electronic game, as well as the Trouble
"Pop-o-matic bubble" sounds from their 1979 hit "The Logical Song
".
Lead vocals by Rick Davies, except where noted.
† Hidden track not listed on the track listing on the album's jewel case.
Additional personnel
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Supertramp
Supertramp
Supertramp are a British rock band formed in 1969 under the name Daddy before renaming to Supertramp in early 1970. Though their music was initially categorised as progressive rock, they have since incorporated a combination of traditional rock and art rock into their music...
, released in 1997 (see 1997 in music
1997 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1997.-January:*January 9 – David Bowie performs his 50th Birthday Bash concert at Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA with guests Frank Black, The Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith of The Cure, Lou Reed, and Billy...
). It represented a deliberate return to the band's earlier sound (before Free as a Bird
Free as a Bird (album)
Allmusic's brief retrospective review dismissed the album as "a colorless and tuneless collection of prog rock meandering".-Track listing:All songs written by Rick Davies, except where noted.Lead vocals by Rick Davies, except where noted.#"It's Alright" – 5:01...
), using more organic recording techniques than on their previous studio album.
The song "Live to Love You" features both the 'tackled' sound from the Coleco Electronic Quarterback
Electronic Quarterback
Electronic Quarterback was a handheld electronic game made by Coleco in 1978. It was powered by a 9 volt battery or an AC adaptor, and it differentiated itself from the other similar handheld electronic football games of the era, notably Mattel Electronic's version, by having two blockers and...
handheld electronic game, as well as the Trouble
Trouble (board game)
Trouble is a board game in which players compete to be the first to send four pieces all the way around a board. Pieces are moved according to the roll of a die. Trouble was developed by the Kohner Brothers and initially manufactured by Irwin Toy Ltd., later by Milton Bradley...
"Pop-o-matic bubble" sounds from their 1979 hit "The Logical Song
The Logical Song
"The Logical Song" is a hit single on Supertramp's 1979 album Breakfast in America, sung by band member Roger Hodgson. It is the band's biggest chart hit in both the United States and their native United Kingdom, and is among their most widely recognized radio hits.-Composition and Lyrics:"The...
".
Cover art
Rick Davies explained the concept behind the album cover: "It's something to tie in with the title. In England people have tea at four o'clock and it doesn't matter where they are or what sort of social plane they're on, they will have that tea."Reception
Allmusic commented that the album retains the same style and strong instrumental interplay from the band's glory years, but lacks the "ingratiatingly catchy melodies" of that era, making it of strong interest to the band's fans but much less to casual listeners.Track listing
All songs written by Rick Davies, except where noted.Lead vocals by Rick Davies, except where noted.
- "It's a Hard World" – 9:46
- "You Win, I Lose" – 4:31
- "Get Your Act Together" – 4:49
- "Live to Love You" – 5:18
- "Some Things Never Change" – 6:26
- "Listen to Me Please" – 4:46
- Lead vocals: Rick Davies and Mark Hart
- "Sooner or Later" (Davies, Hart) – 6:50
- Lead vocals: Mark Hart
- "Help Me Down That Road" – 4:36
- "And the Light" – 4:40
- Drums: Tom Walsh
- "Give Me a Chance" (Davies, Hart) – 4:24†
- Lead vocals: Mark Hart
- "C'est What?" – 8:17
- "Where There's a Will" – 5:36
† Hidden track not listed on the track listing on the album's jewel case.
Personnel
- Rick DaviesRick DaviesRick Davies is an English musician, best known as the founder and keyboardist of progressive rock band Supertramp...
– keyboards, vocals - Mark HartMark HartMark Hart , is a multi-instrumentalist best known for his participation as a member of Supertramp and Crowded House....
– guitars, keyboards, vocals - John HelliwellJohn HelliwellJohn Helliwell is an English musician and the saxophonist and occasional keyboardist and woodwind player for the rock band Supertramp...
– saxophones, woodwinds - Cliff HugoCliff HugoCliff Hugo was born in the USA, April 23rd 1951, in Southern California, where he also spent his early days. He plays bass guitar for the art-rock band Supertramp, but also has another joint venture with Supertramp's guitarist Carl Verheyen and plays in his project - Carl Verheyen Band...
– bass - Bob SiebenbergBob SiebenbergBob Siebenberg, also known as Bob C. Benberg, is an American musician, best known as a member of British progressive rock band Supertramp, playing drums and percussion...
– drums - Lee ThornburgLee ThornburgLee Thornburg is a trumpeter who has played with many artists, and also has been a member of Supertramp and Tower of Power. Thornburg also played with Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Riders in the 1970s.-Biography:...
– trombones, trumpets, background vocals - Carl VerheyenCarl Verheyen-History:Verheyen has authored many instructional books, including Improvising Without Scales, as well as Studio City, a collection of articles written for the magazine Guitar for the Practicing Musician from 1996-1999...
– guitars - Tom Walsh – percussion, drums
Additional personnel
- Bob Danziger – Kalimbas
- Karen LawrenceKaren LawrenceKaren Lawrence is an American singer and songwriter who has worked with The LA Jets, 1994:, Karen Lawrence and the Pinz and Blue by Nature. She sang backup vocals on "Get it up" from Draw the Line by Aerosmith....
– background vocals - Kim Nail – background vocals
Production
- Producers: Jack Douglas, Fred Mandel
- Executive producer: Rick Davies
- Engineers: Ian Gardiner, Jay Messina
- Assistant engineers: Ian Gardiner, Mike Scotella
- Mixing assistant: Roy Clark, Brian Hargrove
- Mastering: Bob Ludwig
- Creative director: Richard Frankel
- Cover art: Dimo Safari
- Portraits: Dennis Keeley
Album
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | German Albums Chart | 3 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
74 | |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | "You Win, I Lose" | German Singles Chart | 63 |