The Very Best of Supertramp [compilation]

The European compilation The Very Best of Supertramp is the closest thing to a definitive overview of the '70s pop-prog group. Certainly, there will be hardcore fans that will notice some favorite album cuts missing — after all, despite their considerable success on the pop charts, Supertramp was as much an album rock band as ELP or Genesis — but all the hits are here, from "Bloody Well Right" to "It's Raining Again," as well as a sizable portion of their blockbuster Breakfast in America. That alone will make it worthwhile for all casual fans, but what's really nice about the collection is that it flows very smoothly, even if it isn't in chronological order. There have been other Supertramp compilations, but The Very Best of Supertramp stands head and shoulders above the rest. — Stephen Thomas Erlewine.