Album review: SUPERTRAMP – Live In Paris ’79

SUPERTRAMP - Live In Paris '79

Eagle Rock [Release date 17.07.15]

This definitive Supertramp live set has been a long time coming.  Originally recorded as part of the band’s 10 month Breakfast In America tour, and released as a double LP in 1980 it included the bulk of Crime Of The Century (except for ‘If Everyone Was Listening’), three songs from Crisis? What Crisis?, two from Even In The Quietest Moments, and three from Breakfast in America -  plus ‘You Started Laughing’, a Crisis? What Crisis? B-side.

When the original tapes were unearthed a remastered CD version was released in 2002, with the tracks that never made the original cut surfacing for the first time on the Breakfast In America 2010 deluxe edition bonus disc.

So in a sense, there’s nothing new here, but this is the first release of the complete concert on CD in the original running order.  As for the accompanying DVD, that was first made available in 2012 when it was transferred from the original 16mm film with re-mixed and remastered sound.  It’s the same version included here.

SUPERTRAMP - Live In Paris '79

The original album and CD performances are compiled from recordings across the band’s 4 night residency at the Pavillon De Paris, but only the last 2 gigs were filmed.  So there are some variances between the CD and DVD audio tracks.  Plus a handful of songs – ‘Ain’t Nobody But Me’, ‘You Started Laughing’,  ‘A Soapbox Opera’, ‘From Now On’ and ‘Downstream’, weren’t filmed but have been included on the DVD as ‘bonus tracks’ using montage visuals.

Separately, both releases have scored highly with fans with the original LP reaching the Top 10 around the globe, although it should be noted that the audiophile community have been critical of Supertramp re-masterings which have – until the Crime Of The Century deluxe re-re-mastering last year – favoured volume, compression and brightness over detail and depth.

But that’s hardly critical in respect of a 35 year old live recording which has stood the test of time remarkably well.  The film may be a little grainy and faded, but it’s re-assuring to note that as the 1970′s drew to a close post the punk revolution, that long hair, beards and proggy musicianship was still the biggest seller.

Live In Paris ’79 is also a reminder – if one were needed – that live music was just so much better when performances weren’t choreographed to within an inch of their life.  Great musicians getting up there and just doing their ‘stuff’ is all that’s needed.  Bloody marvellous!   *****

Review by Pete Whalley


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Josh Taerk Sunday Sessions 2024

Latest session: Sunday 14 April

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 7 April 2024.


UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 2 April 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024

ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)


To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply