Álbum: Indelibly Stamped
Artista: Supertramp
- Fecha de lanzamiento: 25 de Junio de 1971
- Sello Discográfico: A&M Records
- Compositores: Rick Davies, Roger Hodgson
- Productores: Supertramp
Indelibly Stamped, el segundo álbum de Supertramp, lanzado en 1971, representa un cambio de dirección radical con respecto a su debut progresivo. Tras el fracaso comercial de su primer disco y la disolución de la formación original, Rick Davies y Roger Hodgson reclutaron nuevos miembros y buscaron un sonido más directo, crudo y orientado al rock. El resultado es un álbum que abandona las largas suites de rock progresivo en favor de canciones más cortas y con una fuerte influencia del pub rock y el hard rock de la época. A pesar de este intento por ser más comerciales, el álbum fue otro fracaso y es quizás más famoso por su controvertida portada que por su música. Sin embargo, es un paso crucial en la evolución de la banda, donde Davies y Hodgson asumen el control total de la composición.
Contexto y Nueva Formación
Después del fracaso de su álbum debut, Supertramp se disolvió. Sin embargo, los dos compositores principales, Davies y Hodgson, decidieron continuar. Reclutaron al batería Kevin Currie, al bajista Frank Farrell y al saxofonista Dave Winthrop, una nueva sección rítmica que aportó un sonido más robusto y menos etéreo. Con esta nueva formación, la banda buscó conscientemente un sonido más accesible y comercial, alejándose del art rock que había dominado su primer trabajo.
Análisis Musical y Estilo
El sonido de "Indelibly Stamped" es notablemente diferente al de su predecesor. Es un álbum de rock más convencional, con una producción más simple y directa. Las influencias del hard rock y del R&B son mucho más evidentes, especialmente en las canciones lideradas por Rick Davies. La dualidad compositiva entre Davies y Hodgson comienza a ser mucho más clara aquí: las canciones de Davies son más terrenales y orientadas al blues, mientras que las de Hodgson mantienen una sensibilidad más melódica y espiritual, aunque en un formato más conciso. Es el primer álbum donde la banda asume plenamente el rol de producción.
Análisis de las canciones
El álbum muestra una clara división estilística. Temas como "Your Poppa Don't Mind", el único sencillo del disco, y "Potter" son ejemplos del nuevo sonido de hard rock de la banda. "Rosie Had Everything Planned" es una compleja pieza coescrita y cantada por Hodgson y el entonces road manager, Frank Farrell, que es lo más cercano al sonido progresivo de su debut.
"Remember" es una potente canción de rock liderada por el piano de Davies. La balada "Forever" muestra el lado más melódico de Hodgson. El álbum es una colección de canciones individuales más que una obra conceptual, lo que lo hace menos cohesivo que sus trabajos posteriores.
Portada
La portada de "Indelibly Stamped" es una de las más llamativas y controvertidas de su época. Muestra el torso tatuado de una mujer en topless. La modelo, Marian Hollier, fue pagada con solo 45 libras por la sesión. La imagen, aunque icónica, fue considerada chocante por muchos y probablemente perjudicó las ventas del álbum en mercados más conservadores como Estados Unidos, donde a menudo se vendía con una pegatina cubriendo los pezones.
Lanzamiento y Rendimiento Comercial
Al igual que su debut, "Indelibly Stamped" fue un fracaso comercial y no logró entrar en las listas de éxitos de ningún país importante. La falta de una gira de apoyo significativa y la controversia de su portada no ayudaron. El fracaso de este segundo álbum llevó a otra disolución de la banda y a un período de reflexión de casi tres años, tras el cual Supertramp resurgiría con una nueva formación y el álbum que finalmente los llevaría al éxito, Crime of the Century.
Recepción Crítica
La crítica de la época fue en gran medida indiferente, considerándolo un álbum de rock genérico y sin la originalidad de su debut. Hoy en día, es visto como el "álbum perdido" de Supertramp, un trabajo irregular pero que documenta un paso necesario en la búsqueda de su identidad musical y el fortalecimiento de la sociedad compositiva Davies-Hodgson.
Listado de Canciones
- Your Popps Don't Mind
- Travelled4:28
Letra
Traveled the world in million ways Catching the palm in familiar gaze Everyone lives by two hard eyes There's no one with time to laugh or cry There's no one to tell us what we're living for And though I tried to be a good man I just know that I'll be losing very soon And there are times and there are motions When I do believe I'm going out of tune, oh I've been around a long, long while Looking for sun to make me smile But still multiply their daily bread They're thinking their lives put times ahead It must be a mighty funny way to feel And though I tried to be a good man I keep finding out there's nowhere to begin And so I think I'll go on singing And in time I hope that we can all join in, oh - Rosie Had Everything Planned3:05
Letra
Acting upon information received Rosie had everything planned Stood in a garden with a shotgun in hand What a woman Whilst entertaining the headlines next day Rosie would not be released If it was found that her man was deceased Silly woman Oh but Rosie, a girl with a strange kind of humor Stupidly took in a rumor Making her think that she'd lost Double-crossed by a man who was dear Stood in the garden and shaking her head Rosie could not understand Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand Sad, sad woman Oh but Rosie, how could a few words have made her Certain that he had betrayed her Making her think that she'd lost Double-crossed by a man who was still very near to her Row upon row of angel hair Rosie had everything planned Sure that the people would not understand Sad, sad woman - Remember4:11
Letra
I think it's funny, just a sad song He likes his money, now you ain't got none So is it mighty strange Now that you are so broke Don't try to make it man You haven't got a home [Chorus] Remember when I was in trouble You put down the phone And anywhere you go, you go alone It was a crush change, the money sure flew You had a flash name, imagine you're broke But now it's breaking up there's no one near you Don't try for me to call Cause I won't hear you [Chorus: x2] Well, don't you sit around, start to move on Your life is broken down, so get a new one And if you make it by and kiss the good life Why don't you make it right Just look at this time [Chorus] - Forever4:57
Letra
I will always love you true forever Forever, I will always love you true Hope you feel the same way too, forever Forever, I hope you feel the same way too Want to spend my life with you forever Forever want to spend my life with you My life with you, my life with you, oh Life with you, my life with you, oh Love you till the day I die, yeah forever Forever love you till the day I die So I'll sing this song to you forever Forever, I will sing this song to you Song to you, song to you Song for you, song for you Song for you, song for you... I really love you, I really need you I'll always love you... I really love you, I think about you... - Potter2:23
Letra
The name is Potter, hi there I'm sure getting hotter, mind there I told her quick she could see my pricked cactus Back in the confines of my home She didn't say yes, but she didn't say no So we're just gonna go get a cactus supper at home Nigger in the woodpile, mind out Trigger as a docile, find out Roll up, roll up, come and see me, tickle me Sing me songs like you've never seen before Roll out, old town, to my place in town It's a case of a pound and a race to the bedroom door Roll up, roll up, come and see me, tickle me Sing me songs like you've never seen before Hold on, hold on, till my place in town In the case of a pound and the race till the bedroom door - Coming Home To See You4:46
Letra
Now you're very much like your mother And that's a natural fact But you couldn't look much like your brother's wife Or anyone like that And you don't look much like your sister 'Cause she's all big and fat But don't breath a word to your mean old dad 'Cause I'll be coming back I'm coming home to see you early in the morning I'll be around and on the first train today I'm coming home to see you while day's dawning All aboard, all aboard Put on some fancy clothes and meet me at the station Make sure I don't mistake you for your sister Jane Don't want to see you with your goddamn relations That's all for now, I'll see you, ciao - Times Have Changed3:50
Letra
Captain I am sorry that this ship should go a stray Letting the ocean have it's own way Lay me down to pass ?to send?, I'll pay for all my sins Pleading for mercy, my cancel begins Times have changed, and my vision ain't so strong For the battle was too long, for me to bear I don't feel the pain, for my soul is sinking fast And I know this is the last, the chance for me In and out of tumor, and in and out of mind Deeper the ocean, stronger the tide Stormy seas surround me, no sails to keep me dry I pray to you captain, but you heard not my cry Times have changed, and my vision ain't so strong For the battle was too long, for me to bear I don't feel the pain, for my soul is sinking fast And I know this is the last, the chance for me For me, for my story Let me lie in peace I want to say I'm sorry now Then I'll be on my way Then I'll be on my way Then I'll be on my way Times have changed, and my vision ain't so strong For the battle was too long, for me to bear I don't feel the pain, for my soul is sinking fast And I know this is the last, the chance for me - Friend In Need2:07
Letra
Hey buddy, I want to talk to you About (I got?) a friend in need, a friend indeed I hear you got a few friends too Living up the stairs, selling their wears And they don't care, 'cause they don't know that Oooh he's very lonely Oooh he's lost his one and only Woman that he's ever had He sure feels bad, can you make him glad? Hey mister can you help him out? Can you put him straight, before it gets to late And show what it's all about Hey mister where you got the dope? Which way will it be, to pay the fee? I guess that you can see through me So I'll be straight with you, I'll tell the truth Friend in need is just really me - Aries7:37
Letra
Right, let's get the whole thing cooking) I try to run in a different race But every time I seem to loose face Making it hard it's easy But I got to keep trying to lessen my pace I try to walk down a city-street I say hello to the people I meet They're walking their way and thinking I'm crazy But I have so much trouble just to keeping the beat Well my way of life is simple 'Cause I just do what I please Whatever I was blessing Well it worn't to laugh at me Maybe I'm just a country boy Hinging life bringing no joy Well it's bringing me down, it's making me lonely You see I'm fooling with a life and it ain't no toy Well my way of life is simple 'Cause I just do what I please And whenever I got problems I just call upon Aries Here she comes Here she comes