"Free as a Bird" is the ninth studio album by the English rock band Supertramp, released in October 1987. This album marked a significant shift in their musical style, moving away from their traditional progressive rock sound toward more synthesized dance beats and rhythms. Chief songwriter Rick Davies described the album as an experiment with modern technology, involving computers and drum machines, which altered the band's dynamic by reducing the collaborative spirit typical of their earlier work.
This album is notable for featuring contributions from guitarist/vocalist Mark Hart, who later became a full member of the band, along with trumpet player Lee Thornburg. Despite the track "I'm Beggin' You" achieving club chart success and the title track being a minor hit, "Free as a Bird" did not perform well commercially, peaking at No. 101 on the Billboard charts. This made it the first Supertramp album since 1971's *Indelibly Stamped* not to reach the Top 100.
Following the tour for the album, Supertramp disbanded, not reuniting until 1997, and notably without bassist Dougie Thomson. A remastered CD version was released on July 30, 2002, which included the original artwork, lyrics, and credits.
The album cover features a photograph of artist Georges Braque in his studio, painting a stylized bird, and the vinyl release included four color variants—blue, green, yellow, and pink—highlighting the artistic theme of the album.
