I’ve been weighing up how to talk about the death of Rick Davis of Supertramp because they were unlike any other of the era. And yet none of the band could really be regarded as traditional ‘rock stars’despite their popularity. I don’t think I even know what any of them apart from Roger Hodgson look like or are called and if I don’t know, most people probably don’t.
He was a pivotal figure in the band's sound and success, sharing songwriting duties with Roger Hodgson for their most commercially successful period. While Hodgson was often the voice behind many of their biggest hits like "The Logical Song," Davies contributed equally iconic songs, including "Bloody Well Right" and "Goodbye Stranger." His distinct, raspy baritone vocals and his signature use of the Wurlitzer electric piano were central to Supertramp's sound.
Davies and Hodgson had a contrasting musical style and personality, which created a unique dynamic within the band. Davies's love for jazz and blues contrasted with Hodgson's more pop-oriented sensibilities, and the fusion of these styles defined the Supertramp sound.
And they were everywhere for most of the 70s. Initially they were defined as more progressive and they kind of were but this pop sensibility for melody meant the long songs were catchy, like ‘Goodbye Stranger.’They weren’t prog like Floyd or Genesis, they were a different hybrid which was super sophisticated and unique.
I had a prerecorded cassette of Crime Of The Century when I was 13/14 and loved it, playing it until it spooled out. It was really atmospheric and had its own space, especially on the title track and ‘School’. You always knew it was them. They had a very distinctive, almost plaintive style which was very endearing and they had a wide appeal. Breakfast in America sold 4 million in America and 3.2 million in France and 20 million worldwide. It wouldn’t last too long into the 80s but for a time Supertramp were an omnipresent force.
