Roger Hodgson

Roger Hodgson - Live in Montreal - 2006 - Eagle Rock

Roger Hodgson is one of the most recognizable voices in rock history. Supertramp¹s legendary co-founder and singer-songwriter of the classic hits "Dreamer," "Breakfast in America," "Give a Little Bit," "The Logical Song," "Take the Long Way Home" and many more is reuniting live with his fans, playing the songs that have become the soundtrack of our lives. ROGER HODGSON: TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME LIVE IN MONTREAL finds the distinctive lead singer of Supertramp reviving the group’s classic singles which have become a staple of FM and rock radio. Joined by Aaron McDonald on sax and vocals, the stripped down arrangements, propelled by Hodgson on guitar or piano, take on a new charm and vibrancy. Energetically singing along and showing their appreciation, the crowd clearly loves every minute. © 2009 APT

The tracks on this album are from the 2006 DVD "Take the Long Way Home - Live in Montreal". This album excludes the following bonus tracks and features found on the DVD issue - 1) Even In The Quietest Moments 2) Dreamer (with orchestra) 3) The Logical Song (excerpt with orchestra) 4) Fool's Overture (excerpts with orchestra), Behind The Scenes Film, A Conversation With Roger Hodgson, Montreal Interview, and Roger's Repertoire (full discography with audio clips).

Roger Hodgson is quoted as saying, "There's a certain amount of amazement. To tell you the truth, I think it's more gratitude now. I'm just amazed how much I'm enjoying these songs that I wrote so long ago, on stage. I'm enjoying singing (the songs) more today than I did with Supertramp," said Hodgson. "I am doing these solo shows . . . and there's something about the solo shows, people keep saying how intimate they are. Because I don't have a band around me, I can get inside them." Roger and the great Canadian saxophonist, Aaron MacDonnald really bring out the quality of these beautifully written songs. Buy Roger's brilliant "Open the Door" album, and listen to Supertramps great "Famous Last Words" album, after which Roger left the popular band.

TRACK DETAILS

"Take the Long Way Home"—from the 1979 Supertramp album Breakfast in America
"Give a Little Bit"—from the 1977 Supertramp album Even in the Quietest Moments
"Lovers in the Wind"—from the 1984 solo album In The Eye of the Storm
"Hide in Your Shell"—from the 1974 Supertramp album Crime of the Century
"Oh Brother" (aka "Keep The Pigeons Warm") —an original song exclusive to the Live in Montreal Concert
"The Logical Song"—from the 1979 Supertramp album Breakfast in America
"Easy Does It"—from the 1975 Supertramp album Crisis? What Crisis?
"Sister Moonshine"—from the 1975 Supertramp album Crisis? What Crisis?
"Love is a Thousand Times"—from the 2000 solo album Open the Door
"Breakfast in America"—from the 1979 Supertramp album Breakfast in America
"Don't Leave Me Now"—an original song exclusive to the Live in Montreal Concert
"Dreamer"—from the 1974 Supertramp album Crime of the Century
"It's Raining Again"—from the 1982 Supertramp album Famous Last Words
"School"—from the 1974 Supertramp album Crime of the Century
"Two of Us"—from the 1975 Supertramp album Crisis? What Crisis?
"Give a Little Bit"—from the 1977 Supertramp album Even in the Quietest Moments

Nearly all Supertramp songs were credited to Davies and Hodgson, but, usually, the person you hear singing the song is the person who wrote it. Roger Hodgson is the main writer of well known hits such as "The Logical Song", "Dreamer", "Give A Little Bit", "Breakfast in America", "It's Raining Again", "and Take the Long Way Home"

MUSICIANS

Roger Hodgson - Lead Vocals, Piano, Keyboards, Acoustic Guitar
Aaron MacDonnald - , Keyboards, Harmonica, Backing Vocals

BIO

Best known for his stint fronting art pop hitmakers Supertramp, Roger Hodgson was born in Portsmouth, England, on March 21, 1950. He co-founded Supertramp in 1969, serving as their primary singer and songwriter for 13 years. Originally funded by Dutch millionaire Stanley August Mieseages, the group lost his patronages after their first two albums failed to generate much interest. However, 1974's Crime of the Century was a major hit, launching the radio favorites "Dreamer" and "Bloody Well Right." After scoring an international hit in 1977 with "Give a Little Bit" from the album Even in the Quietest Moments..., Supertramp reached their commercial peak with 1979's chart-topping Breakfast in America, which yielded the smashes "Take the Long Way Home," "The Logical Song," and "Goodbye, Stranger" on its way to selling close to 20 million copies. In the wake of 1982's ...Famous Last Words..., Hodgson left Supertramp to mount a solo career, issuing his debut effort, In the Eye of the Storm, in 1984. Within days of issuing the follow-up, 1987's Hai Hai, Hodgson fell and broke both of his wrists; the accident kept him out of action for several years, and he did not resurface until co-writing several songs on Yes' 1994 album Talk. A live solo album, Rites of Passage, followed three years later and featured Hodgson collaborating with son Andrew. Open the Door, his first new studio effort in 13 years, appeared in the spring of 2000. The album received positive responses from critics and fans alike, and Hodgson was subsequently recruited to tour with Ringo Starr as a member of the All-Starr Band. He continued to play solo shows as well, releasing a DVD of one such performance (Take The Long Way Home -- Live in Montreal) in summer 2006. The DVD would go platinum in Canada by that October. © Jason Ankeny & Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide