One week it’s basketball, the next it’s rock music. What can you do? I can’t narrow down a particular focus that I want to take with this blog, so I guess my focus will be me writing about things that I like, as it was when I started this blog.

I’ve already written in previous posts about how I have a love-hate relationship with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They do a nice job of honoring deserving artists, but the way they decide to do it is just infuriating sometimes. There’s no clear rules or system for deciding who gets in; the whole thing is really just a mystery.

I do have to applaud the Hall for getting in four very deserving rock acts this year in Bon Jovi, The Moody Blues, Dire Straits, and The Cars. But, of course, there are always going to be some pretty big omissions. Def Leppard was one of the biggest hair metal bands of the ’80s and an argument could be made that they deserved to be inducted before Bon Jovi. Foreigner was an always original and entertaining rock band that gained a large following, and they should really be in there too. However, my biggest Rock Hall snub of all happens to be one of my favorite bands ever: Supertramp.

So who is Supertramp? Supertramp, a progressive rock band from London, England, was founded in 1969 under the original name of Daddy by primary songwriters Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson. In 1970, the band name was changed to Supertramp to avoid confusion with another band by the name of Daddy Longlegs.

The band released its first album in 1970, the self titled Supertramp. This album and its successor Indelibly Stamped, released in 1971, were both commercial failures. All the original band members, save for Hodgson and Davies, would quit Supertramp.

In 1973, Hodgson and Davies would to recreate the band, bringing in bassist Dougie Thomson, drummer Bob Siebenberg, and saxophonist John Helliwell. These five men would make up the classic Supertramp lineup, as the band would go on an incredible four-album run in the 1970s.

The first of the classic albums was 1974’s Crime of the Century, a masterpiece that perfectly displayed both Davies’ and Hodgson’s songwriting talents, as the duo each wrote four pieces for the eight-track album. The album includes many of the band’s signature songs, including “School,” “Bloody Well Right,” and “Dreamer.”

In 1975, Supertramp would follow up with Crisis? What Crisis? The album wouldn’t receive the same critical and commercial success as its predecessor, but it was still a fine album in its own right.

1977 saw Even in the Quietest Moments…, an album which features what many believe to be Supertramp’s signature tune, the oh-so lovable “Give a Little Bit.”

1979 is when things began to change drastically for the band. Roger Hodgson was growing weary of constantly being in the studio recording music, and he wanted to spend some time with his family. As such, the band became separated, and recording for their new album was difficult to do. Eventually, they came through and released the pop-rock favorite Breakfast in America, which features another handful of Supertramp’s signature tunes, such as “Goodbye Stranger,” “Take the Long Way Home,” and “The Logical Song.”

After the release of 1982’s …Famous Last Words…, Roger Hodgson left Supertramp to pursue his own interests. Rick Davies kept running the show with later albums such as Brother Where You Bound and Free As a Bird, but it was clear that Supertramp was a spent force creatively with Hodgson gone.

Supertramp’s success may have only been for a short time, but in the span of six years, they released four of the best albums of the 1970s. Their influence on progressive and pop rock cannot be denied, and the fact that they’re a fan favorite of many to this day should be enough to put them in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Of course, words aren’t going to be enough to persuade. Take a listen for yourself! Here’s a brief list of five of my favorite Supertramp songs. Give them a try and let me know from your listens what your thoughts are about this band.

1. “Crime of the Century”
2. “Bloody Well Right”
3. “Goodbye Stranger”
4. “The Logical Song”
5. “From Now On”

Are there any bands or artists that you love that you think don’t get enough attention? Please let me know in the comments below, and I’ll be sure to take a listen!