"Crisis? What Crisis?" by SUPERTRAMP – Fourth Album from November 1975 on A&M Records – featuring Roger Hodgson, Richard Davies, John Helliwell, Dougie Thomson and Bob Benberg with String Arrangements by Richard Hewson (June 2002 UK A&M Records – Part of 'The Supertramp Remasters' CD Reissue Series – Greg Calbi and Jay Messina Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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Following an all-eight-tracks-are-good winner album like September 1974's "Crime Of The Century" was always going to be a tall order and I remember the disappointment Supertramp unleashed in November 1975 with "Crisis? What Crisis?"

Having said that, there are those who would claim it's unfairly poo-pooed in favour of its more famous predecessor and the hooky genius of what was yet to come - 1979's "Breakfast In America". I don't honestly know about that. 

Re-listening to CWC now in late 2020, tracks like "Sister Moonshine", "Lady" and "Ain't Nobody But Me" are still crack-a-lacking Rock-Pop for sure, but the rest of it feels underwhelming, half-hearted and even dismissible. There was no fat on COTC, but despite the wit of its famously cynical front cover artwork, Crisis did indeed feel like a band stating how it was for them in the actual name on the LP. To the large yellow parasols and stripy deck-chairs...

UK released 11 June 2002 - "Crisis? What Crisis?" by SUPERTRAMP on A&M Records 493 347-2 (Barcode 606949334727) Is Part Of The Supertramp Remasters CD Reissue Series and plays out as follows (47:24 minutes):

1. Easy Does It [Side 1]
2. Sister Moonshine 
3. Ain't Nobody But Me 
4. A Soapbox Opera 
5. Another Man's Woman 
6. Lady [Side 2]
7. Poor Boy 
8. Just A Normal Day 
9. The Meaning 
10. Two Of Us 
Tracks 1 to 10 are their fourth studio album "Crisis? What Crisis?" - released November 1975 in the UK on A&M Records AMLH 68347 and November 1975 in the USA on A&M Records SP-4560. Produced by KEN SCOTT and SUPERTRAMP - it peaked at No. 20 in the UK and No. 44 in the US Albums charts. 

The 8-page booklet is a functional affair reproducing the lyrics that came with the original vinyl LP's inner sleeve - and they are printed against a yellow backdrop (like the 1975 original). There are no other liner notes except for reissue credits on Page 7. Roger Hodgson (Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards), Richard Davies (Vocals and Keyboards), John Helliwell (Vocals and Wind Instruments), Dougie Thomas (Bass) and Bob Benberg (Drums) was the band line-up with Orchestral Arrangements done by Richard Hewson. 

For names synonymous with audio impeccability (especially Greg Calbi who has Paul Simon and Paul McCartney as clients) - I'd also have to admit that the audio transfer here is at times a tad less spectacular than a logo like 'The Supertramp Remasters' would automatically promise. For sure the huge twelve-string chiming acoustics on "Sister Moonshine" swirl around your living room with intent, but stuff like "The Meaning" or the all washed-up Sister Washington in "A Soapbox Opera" feel weirdly muted - like they were (dare I speak sacrilege here) - hurriedly or badly produced in the first place?

A good album in places then for me - but never a great one – even though I return to its tunes often.  

"...When I was a small boy, I could see the magic in a day..." Roger Hodgson sang on the optimistic "Sister Moonshine" over 45 years ago. Well, parts of "Crisis? What Crisis?" makes me feel that way - I just wish all of it did...