"Take the Long Way Home — Live in Montreal" is Roger Hodgson's first DVD featuring almost 30 years of his hits, including "Breakfast in America" which "Gym Class Heroes" recently remade, into "Cupid's Chokehold.
The double DVD includes a 75 minute solo concert filmed live at Place des Artes in Montreal on June 6th. In addition to the concert, the DVD contains over 90 minutes of Bonus features with previously unreleased solo and orchestra performance footage, exclusive interviews, behind the scenes footage, film from sound check, fan interviews, photo gallery, songs clips from Roger’s repertoire and a lot more. Click on the image to order this brilliant concert and enjoy the show. Track Listing
1. Take the Long Way Home
2. Give a Little Bit
3. Lovers in the Wind
4. Hide in Your Shell
5. Oh Brother (Keep the pigeons warm)
6. The Logical Song
7. Easy Does It
8. Sister Moonshine
9. Love is a Thousand Times
10. Breakfast in America
11. Don't Leave me Now"
12. Dreamer
12. It's Raining Again
13. School
14. Two of Us
15. Give a Little Bit Bonus Material
16. Even in the Quietest Moments
17. Dreamer w/Orchestra Extra Sneal Previews
18. Logical Song w/Orchestra
19. Fools Overture w/Orchestra
Roger Hodgson is recognized as one of the most gifted composers, song writers and lyricists of our time. As the legendary voice of Supertramp and composer of the band’s greatest hits, he gave us “Give a Little Bit”, “The Logical Song”, “Dreamer”, “Take the Long Way Home”, “Breakfast In America”, “It’s Raining Again”, “School”, and “Fools Overture” and so many others that have become the soundtrack of our lives. His trademark way of setting beautiful introspective lyrics to upbeat melodies resonated and found its way into the hearts and minds of cultures around the world. His songs have remarkably stood the test of time and earned Roger and Supertramp an adoring world-wide following.
During the time that Roger led the band, Supertramp sold well over 60 million albums and became a world wide rock phenomenon. In Canada alone, sales for “Crime of the Century” and “Breakfast in America” reached Diamond status; that meant one in twenty Canadians owned both albums. The wildly successful “Breakfast in America,” with 3 of its 4 top ten hits written and sung by Roger, hit number one in every country and stayed on the top of the charts for a full year and became one of the biggest selling albums of all time.
Born in Portsmouth, England, Roger spent much of his childhood at boarding school where his guitar became his best friend. Self-taught, he began writing songs at the age of twelve, eventually adding piano, bass, drums and even cello to his musical accomplishments. It wasn’t long after his final school year that he recorded his first studio record called “Mr. Boyd” with a session band that included pianist Reg Dwight, later to become known as Elton John. It was during this time that Roger met Rick Davies and the nucleus of Supertramp was born. Their initial collaborations attracted the attention of A&M Records and their first album “Supertramp” was released in 1969. Roger was 19.
Shortly after this Roger and Rick began writing separately, even though like Lennon/McCartney they maintained a joint writer’s credit throughout their Supertramp career. In 1973 the band released “Crime of the Century” with Roger’s song “Dreamer” becoming a huge hit and propelling the album to Number One in the charts worldwide for over a year. Supertramp had arrived. For the next eight years, what fans call the “Golden Years”, four stunning albums and numerous tours culminated in the huge worldwide success of “Breakfast in America.” Roger’s songwriting and producing skills resulted in three classic hits from the album - “The Logical Song”, "Take the Long Way Home” and “Breakfast In America”. Many awards followed with “Logical Song” being named best song musically and lyrically at England’s prestigious Ivor Novello Awards in 1980. It also had the distinction of becoming one of the most quoted lyrics in schools.
Roger parted company with Supertramp in 1983 after the “Famous Last Words” album and tour to follow his heart, live a simple lifestyle in nature, watch his children grow up and pursue his spiritual values.
Turning his attention to his new family, Roger built a state of the art recording studio at home so he could work and be close to his children as they grew up. His first solo album “In the Eye of the Storm”,was released in 1984 and became an international hit, selling over 2 million copies. Turning down offers to tour, Roger instead kept his focus on home and family.
In 1987, the same week that Roger's second album “Hai Hai” was released, Roger took a bad fall and shattered both his wrists. Doctors told him he would never play music again. After a long period of self-healing and physical therapy, Roger proved them wrong, his passion and natural genius once again being expressed through his music. But it was ten years before Roger’s next album — a live concert he did with his teenage son Andrew entitled “Rites of Passage” — after which, in 2000, Roger released "Open the Door", his first studio album in fourteen years. Roger has continued to compose music and write lyrics all these years and has over 60 unreleased songs, many of which he hopes to record one day.
It is only in the last few years, with kids grown and a spiritual rebirth, that Roger has felt the call to perform again. The legend is back and his signature voice is stronger than ever. Currently he performs both solo and with orchestras, playing a variety of his repertoire of Supertramp and solo hits.
Thirty-five years after writing his classic song, Roger received an award for “Give a Little Bit”, being one of the most performed works in 2005 in the ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) repertory. In the past few years Roger has donated “Give a Little Bit” to help raise funds for Tsunami Relief, Hurricane Katrina efforts and other worthy causes, welcoming the opportunity to give back for a life he is truly grateful for.
To many fans, Roger was and still is the heart and soul of Supertramp, and it is the joy and the love that audiences feel with Roger in concert that remind them of the special place in their hearts his songs have awakened. In his solo concerts Roger is celebrating a reunion with his fans and his music, bringing back the memories of the music that has touched our lives. Roger is happy to present his first ever DVD from his live solo concert in Montreal. "Take The Long Way Home" went Platinum in just 7 weeks and hit 1 across all Canada and in now multi-Platinum. It will be released worldwide in the spring of 2007.
Hello, I'am very pleased for see you in the front row in Gaia, I don't have words to describe it Thanks so much, Hope to see you more often in Portugal. Cheers, Patrícia.
hello. roger thanks so very much to so many years of amazing kind of music from a long time fan in buenos aires argentina the best luck to you and yours i will always (the live dvd is the most fantastic show amazing ......)
Hi there, Roger! Don't know if it's "really you" reading this; but, if it is.. Would you believe I still have that b&w drawing of Babaji you gave me all those years ago?? :) ox Catherine Suchitra
Hi Roger Hudgson One of my greatest songs what i listen on my tapedeck in my young years was the beautiful songs from supertramp.And many years later, germany was together now in a new land, have i see the supertramp band in my hometown. The great voice from Roger Hodgson was missing here, and i was very pleased that he is back to us. With her songs and her great voice is he ever one of my great heroes. Thanks for your phantastic songs. Many greetings from Werner
As a teenager, "Dreamer" was the inspiration behind getting on a plane bound for Hawaii to live out my dreams, and oh, what dreams they are still becoming! You introduced me to passion and it is what I live by.
thank you for the add, I've been listening to your concert cd for 2 days straight (I think my daughter thinks I've lost it) but who better to be lost with ::wink wink::: you are an insperation hopefully you'll come back and play the states, one can only hope. be safe on your travles forever yours Sue :*)
Hi Roger, First of all, thanks for the add and secondly THANKS for your music and for the great concert you offered us at Pozuelo last week. SIMPLY WONDERFUL !!!. I enjoy it very very much. Best Regards Manuel
Hi, Roger ! Will you come back to Paris soon? I can't wait to show you to my daughters on stage ! They're so used to hearing your music at home, that they call you Uncle Rog ! Would you believe it ?!!! Love to you, Pierre.
FIRST OF ALL LET ME TELL YOU THAT I'M A BIG ADMIRER OF YOU AND YOUR MUSIC. VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR CONCERT IN GIJON,SPAIN. I READ THE "MUSICIANS WANTED" BULLETIN YOU PUT UP BUT I CAN'T SEEM TO GET THROUGH (OUTLOOK EXPRESS) FOR SOME REASON. SO I'M WRITING TO YOU TO LET YOU KNOW I'M VERY INTERESTED SO HERE IS MY "MY SPACE" PAGE SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT I'M UP TO MUSICALLY. IF THER IS ANOTHER WAY OF GETTING IN TOUCH WITH YOU, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANX. ERNESTO J. ESPINOZA (COMPOSER, VIOLINIST)
hi Roger, thanks for the add. it has been a beautiful evening in Kiel ! I hope I can listen to Your music again - live! (and I hope that I can take more fotos from You). greetz Rainer