School (Live 1979)

Hey there, Zoo Freaks, it’s the Zoo Crew spinning some classic vibes for you at THE ZOO radio station, and we’ve got a real gem on the turntable: School (Live 1979) by Supertramp from their iconic live album Paris. This track, recorded during their November 29, 1979, show at the Pavillon de Paris, captures the band at their peak, fresh off the massive success of Breakfast in America. The song itself, originally from 1974’s Crime of the Century, is a progressive rock masterpiece, opening with a haunting harmonica and Roger Hodgson’s piercing vocals, railing against the rigid education system. The live version is electrified by the band’s tight interplay, especially John Helliwell’s soaring saxophone and Rick Davies’ Wurlitzer piano, making it a fan favorite that feels even more raw and urgent on stage. Fun fact: the Paris album was almost called Roadworks, but the band opted for Paris to honor the city where they played to 8,000 ecstatic fans, cementing this concert as a legendary moment in rock history.

Dive into some trivia, Zoo Freaks! Roger Hodgson, who wrote and sang School, has said the song was inspired by his own frustrations with the cookie-cutter school system, a theme that resonated with fans worldwide. In a 2018 interview, he shared that performing School live was always a highlight because it let the band stretch out musically, with the audience feeding off the energy. The Paris recording, produced by Peter Henderson and Russel Pope, was carefully crafted—most tracks came from that November 29 show, but the band cherry-picked a few from other Paris dates and added minimal studio overdubs, mainly for vocals and Helliwell’s keys, to keep the live vibe authentic. A 2025 re-release of the Paris performance, announced on X by @primarily_prog, will feature an expanded setlist on three 180-gram vinyl discs with Atmos mixing, dropping January 24, 2025, via Mercury Studio. Fans on Reddit still rave about how School’s live intensity, with its dynamic shifts and Hodgson’s emotive delivery, outshines the studio cut, making it a staple of Supertramp’s live legacy.

Let’s rewind to how Supertramp got rolling. Formed in London in 1969, the band sprouted from the ashes of Rick Davies’ earlier group, The Joint, backed by Dutch millionaire Stanley August Miesegaes. Davies, a Swindon-born drummer turned pianist, placed an ad in Melody Maker to assemble a new band. Enter Roger Hodgson, a young bassist and vocalist fresh out of boarding school, who hit it off with Davies over their shared love of music. Initially called Daddy, they renamed themselves Supertramp, inspired by W.H. Davies’ 1908 novel The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp. With early members Richard Palmer and Robert Millar, they debuted at Munich’s P.N. Club in 1970, signed with A&M Records, and dropped their self-titled debut album that year. After two prog-heavy albums flopped, Miesegaes pulled funding, but Davies and Hodgson rebuilt with Dougie Thomson, Bob Siebenberg, and John Helliwell, hitting gold with 1974’s Crime of the Century. This lineup, blending prog-rock ambition with pop hooks, propelled them to global stardom by 1979’s Breakfast in America, which sold over 20 million copies.

Zoo Freaks, you can keep up with Supertramp’s legacy at their official website, though it’s been quiet since Rick Davies’ health issues canceled their 2015 tour. Check out their Facebook for updates and fan chatter, or browse Instagram for throwback photos and clips. On X, you’ll find fans like @GianlucaCoccon1 hyping the Paris version of School. Roger Hodgson, who left in 1983, stays active at his website and posts tour dates on Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fan communities thrive on sites like ProgArchives and Reddit’s r/supertramp, where Zoo Freaks can geek out over setlists and vinyl reissues. Join the Supertramp Fans or Roger Hodgson Fans Facebook groups to swap stories and score concert tips. Keep spinning those records, and stay freaky!