Free as a Bird (Album)

Occupation

See below

Studios

  • Ocean Way ( Hollywood)
  • The Backyard ( Encino )
  • Larrabee Sound (West Hollywood)
  • Master Disk (New York City )

Free as a Bird is the ninth studio album by British Pop-/Rockband Supertramp and their first with guitarist and vocalist Mark Hart and the Brass Lee Thornburg. It appeared nearly 2 ½ years after the studio album Brother Where You Bound in October 1987 and sold in Switzerland, but also in Germany, quite good - otherwise sluggish.

Description

For the recording of the album " Free as a Bird" joined the band like so: From the classic lineup, which acted as already in 1985 as a quartet, were Rick Davies (keyboards, timbales, vocals), John Helliwell ( saxophones, brass instruments ), Bob Siebenberg (drums) and Dougie Thomson (bass guitar) on it. There were several guest musicians: As a second vocalist and keyboardist acted for the first time in the band's history Mark Hart ( guitar, keyboards, vocals, and since 1993 member of the band Crowded House ), which together with Davies " Where I Stand " by singing the lead vocal. In addition, the group was, for example, by several brass instruments, including Scott Page, who supported the band on the previous album and Supertramp tours, for the first time in the band's history by Lee Thornburg (trumpet, brass instruments ), and supplemented by background singers and singers. In addition, Steve Reid acted on percussion instruments.

After the progressive success album " Brother Where You Bound" Supertramp delivered with " Free as a Bird " is a pop - jazzy studio album from where Davies ' staccato electric piano playing as the band's trademark at least partially preserved. All songs were texted, written and sung, sang out " Where I Stand ", which Davies and Hart Davies. The most famous song is the gospel -like in its final part and - like the disco -like "I'm Beggin ' You" - tapped as a single title song " Free as a Bird". Interestingly this is staged at times reminiscent former band " Thing for You".

The cover photo of the album booklet shows the French painter, printmaker and sculptor Georges Braque (1882 - 1963) while painting a white bird; this was according to the album sleeve in his studio, 1954.

With the songs on the album " Free as a Bird ", which sounds edgy - sterile in a typical 1980s sound, and many Supertramp classics in their luggage, the band went on tour, from the 1988 live album Live '88 emerged.

Song list

The album " Free as a Bird" contains 9 songs. The specified song lengths of time as LP ( " A & M 395 181 1") published the album refer to the original CD version ("A & M 395 181 2 "), which is a total of 44:16 minutes.

Occupation

The Band:

  • Rick Davies - keyboards, timbales, vocals
  • John Helliwell - saxophones, brass instruments
  • Bob Siebenberg - drums
  • Dougie Thomson - Bass Guitar

Additional staff

  • Linda Foot - backing vocals
  • Mark Hart - guitar, keyboards, vocals, background vocals
  • Nick Lane - Brass
  • Lise Miller - backing vocals
  • Scott Page - Brass
  • Lon Price - Brass
  • Steve Reid - percussion
  • Evan Rogers - background vocals
  • Lee Thornburg - trumpet solo, brass instruments
  • Marty Walsh - guitars, backing vocals
  • Karyn White - backing vocals
  • David Woodford - Brass

Recording

The album " Free as a Bird " was recorded from 1986 to 1987 in the United States in this sound recording and mixing: The sound recordings found in the Ocean Way Studios ( Hollywood, Los Angeles, California ) and The Backyard Studios ( Encino, Los Angeles, California ) instead. Was mixed at Larrabee Sound the plate ( West Hollywood, California ) and the mastering was done at Master Disk (Manhattan, New York City, New York).

Production

  • Producers: Rick Davies, Supertramp
  • Co - Producer: Tom Lord-Alge (for " It's Alright " )
  • Sound engineer: Norman Hall
  • Assistant engineer: Bob Loftus, Jeff Lorenzen
  • Mix: Tom Lord-Alge
  • Mastering: Bob Ludwig
  • Artistic Director: Richard Frankel
  • Cover design: Richard Frankel
  • Photograph of the four band members: Raul Vega
  • Photography Braque In His Studio, 1954; Cover photo: Mariette Lachaud
  • Management: Sue Davies

Charts

Album: The album " Free as a Bird" in Switzerland rose into the Top 20 in Germany and Sweden in the top 30 of the respective album charts. In the U.S., it came on the Billboard 200 at number only 101, so it became the first Supertramp album since the 1971 album Indelibly Stamped, not climbed into the Billboard Hot 100.

Singles ( Billboard Magazine ): The single "I'm Beggin ' You", with "No Inbetween " from the 1985 album as the second song was promoted in the USA club hit and the single " Free as a Bird" ( title track of the album of the same name ), with " Thing for You" as the second song, the minor hit without chart position.

Republication 2002

On 30 July 2002 was also released from the label " A & M Records " a revised edition of the album " Free as a Bird", whose picture was taken from the original tapes. The booklet contains the album artwork ( with lyrics ) the original CD.

Recording and production:

  • Remastering - Sterling Sound (Manhattan, New York City, New York) - Greg Calbi and Jay Messina
  • Remastering Supervisor - Bill Levenson
  • Artistic director - Vartan
  • Cover design - Mike Diehl
  • Production coordinator - Beth stamp
Record label Compact Disc Digital Audio Genre Gospel music Electronic keyboard Audio mastering Supertramp (Album) Crime of the Century (Album) Some Things Never Change Slow Motion (Supertramp album) Paris (Supertramp-Album) It Was the Best of Times
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