"Crime of the Century" is the third studio album by English rock band Supertramp, released in October 1974 on A&M Records. The album marked a significant commercial breakthrough for the band, reaching the Top 5 in the UK, Canada, and Germany, and the Top 20 in Australia and France. Although it peaked at No. 38 in the US, it gained popularity with the hit single "Bloody Well Right" and the album rock staple "School." The album was certified Gold in the US in 1977 and Diamond in Canada for sales of one million copies. It was Supertramp's first album to feature drummer Bob Siebenberg (credited as Bob C. Benberg), saxophonist and clarinetist John Helliwell, bassist Dougie Thomson, and co-producer Ken Scott. "Crime of the Century" has received critical acclaim and is listed in Rolling Stone's "50 Greatest Prog Rock Albums of All Time." The album is dedicated to Stanley August Miesegaes, a Dutch millionaire who supported the band financially in its early years.
After the commercial disappointment of their first two albums and a failed tour, Supertramp seemed on the verge of disbanding. However, Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson revitalized the band by recruiting new members: drummer Bob C. Benberg (credited as Bob C. Benberg), woodwinds player and backing vocalist John Helliwell, and bassist Dougie Thomson. Their record label, A&M, and A&R man Dave Margereson, who would become their manager, sent the revamped lineup to a seventeenth-century farm in Dorset to rehearse and develop their next album.
"Crime of the Century" was recorded at various studios, including Trident Studios and Ramport Studios, with co-producer Ken Scott. The band recorded about 42 demo songs, from which 8 were selected for the album. Some of these tracks, such as "Asylum," "Rudy," and "Bloody Well Right," were written by Davies, while Hodgson wrote "Dreamer," "If Everyone Was Listening," and "Hide in Your Shell." The songs "School" and "Crime of the Century" were collaborations between Davies and Hodgson.
Hodgson’s song "Hide in Your Shell" reflects his feelings of insecurity and loneliness during that period. "Dreamer" was originally composed by Hodgson on a Wurlitzer piano when he was 19, and the band struggled to recreate the early demo sound during recording. "If Everyone Was Listening" was inspired by the Shakespearean adage "All the world’s a stage," with themes of control and awareness.
The album's title track, "Crime of the Century," was chosen as the title because the band felt it was the strongest song on the album. Despite Hodgson's comments about the song being impactful, he has sometimes attributed its authorship solely to Davies.
The track "School" was partly inspired by Hodgson's experiences at boarding school. The girl's scream in the song was meant to represent more than just the school environment, symbolizing broader themes. Critic Nick DeRiso praised "School" for its creativity and emotional depth.
The album, which explores themes of loneliness and mental stability, was noted for its strong internal communication and artistic peak during its production. The sound effects in "Rudy," such as the train and crowd noises, were recorded at London Paddington station and Leicester Square.
