Some Things Never Change is the tenth album by the British rock band Supertramp, released in March 1997.

Overview

Some Things Never Change represented a deliberate return to the band's earlier sound (before Free as a Bird), using more organic recording techniques than on their previous studio album. John Helliwell recounted that "we recorded the album in a way that Supertramp never had and that was by all going into the studio together and doing it as a much more live thing."

The album features the single "You Win, I Lose", which was a minor hit in Germany and also received considerable airplay in Canada. Two more singles were released commercially: "Listen To Me Please" and "Sooner or Later".

The song "Live to Love You" (which was also released as a promo single) features both the 'tackled' sound from the Coleco Electronic Quarterback handheld electronic game, as well as the Trouble "Pop-o-matic bubble" sounds from their 1979 hit "The Logical Song".

Cover art

Rick Davies explained the concept behind the album cover: "It's something to tie in with the title. In England people have tea at four o'clock and it doesn't matter where they are or what sort of social plane they're on, they will have that tea."

Reception

AllMusic commented that the album retains the same style and strong instrumental interplay from the band's glory years, but lacks the "ingratiatingly catchy melodies" of that era, making it of strong interest to the band's fans but much less to casual listeners.

Track listing

All songs written and sung by Rick Davies except where noted.

"Give Me a Chance" was not included on all editions of the album.

Personnel

1. Supertramp

2. Rick Davies – keyboards, vocals

3. Mark Hart – guitars, keyboards, vocals

4. John Helliwell – saxophones, woodwinds

5. Cliff Hugo – bass

6. Bob Siebenberg – drums (except on "And The Light")

7. Lee Thornburg – trombones, trumpets, background vocals

8. Carl Verheyen – guitars

9. Tom Walsh – percussion (all tracks); drums on "And The Light"

Additional personnel

• Bob Danziger – Kalimbas

• Karen Lawrence – background vocals

• Kim Nail – background vocals

• Fred Mandel – guitars on "And The Light" (uncredited as a musician on the cover)

Production

• Producers: Jack Douglas, Fred Mandel

• Executive producer: Rick Davies

• Engineers: Ian Gardiner, Jay Messina

• Assistant engineers: Ian Gardiner, Mike Scotella

• Mixing assistant: Roy Clark, Brian Hargrove

• Mastering: Bob Ludwig

• Creative director: Richard Frankel

• Cover art: Dimo Safari

• Portraits: Dennis Keeley

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications and sales

References