Crime of the Century (album)
Updated: 12/20/2025, 11:24:13 AM Wikipedia source
Crime of the Century is the third studio album by the British rock band Supertramp, released in October 1974 on A&M Records. Crime of the Century was Supertramp's commercial breakthrough in many countries, most notably in the UK, Canada and Germany where it peaked in the Top 5 while also making the Top 20 in Australia and France. It was the band's first album to chart in the United States, reaching No. 38 on the Billboard 200. The single "Dreamer" reached No. 13 on the UK singles chart, but listeners in the United States preferred its B-side, "Bloody Well Right", which peaked at No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100. "School" was another popular track, particularly on album rock-oriented radio stations. The album was eventually certified Gold in the US in 1977 after the release of Even in the Quietest Moments.... In Canada, it was eventually certified Diamond (sales of one million copies). The album was Supertramp's first to feature drummer Bob Siebenberg (at the time credited as Bob C. Benberg), saxophone and clarinet player and vocalist John Helliwell, bassist Dougie Thomson, and co-producer Ken Scott. The album has received critical acclaim, including its inclusion in Rolling Stone's "50 Greatest Prog Rock Albums of All Time". The album's dedication reads "To Sam", which is a nickname for Stanley August Miesegaes, the Dutch millionaire who supported the band financially from 1969 to 1972.
Infobox
Released
25 October 1974
Recorded
February–June 1974
Studio
Trident, London Ramport, London Scorpio Sound, London
Genre
Art rock progressive rock pop
Length
44:10
Label
A&M
Producer
Ken Scott, Supertramp
Tables
Professional ratings · Reception
Review scores
Review scores
Retrospective reviews
Review scores
Source
Source
Retrospective reviews
Source
Retrospective reviews
Rating
AllMusic
AllMusic
Retrospective reviews
AllMusic
Retrospective reviews
Christgau's Record Guide
Christgau's Record Guide
Retrospective reviews
Christgau's Record Guide
Retrospective reviews
C+
Classic Rock
Classic Rock
Retrospective reviews
Classic Rock
Retrospective reviews
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Retrospective reviews
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Retrospective reviews
The Great Rock Discography
The Great Rock Discography
Retrospective reviews
The Great Rock Discography
Retrospective reviews
8/10
MusicHound
MusicHound
Retrospective reviews
MusicHound
Retrospective reviews
4/5
Record Collector
Record Collector
Retrospective reviews
Record Collector
Retrospective reviews
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Retrospective reviews
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Retrospective reviews
Sputnikmusic
Sputnikmusic
Retrospective reviews
Sputnikmusic
Retrospective reviews
4/5
| Retrospective reviews | |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Christgau's Record Guide | C+ |
| Classic Rock | |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
| The Great Rock Discography | 8/10 |
| MusicHound | 4/5 |
| Record Collector | |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
| Sputnikmusic | 4/5 |
· Charts › Weekly charts
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Chart (1974–79)
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Peakposition
15
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Chart (1974–79)
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Peakposition
4
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Chart (1974–79)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Peakposition
25
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Chart (1974–79)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Peakposition
5
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Chart (1974–79)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Peakposition
12
UK Albums (OCC)
UK Albums (OCC)
Chart (1974–79)
UK Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
4
US Billboard 200
US Billboard 200
Chart (1974–79)
US Billboard 200
Peakposition
38
| Chart (1974–79) | Peakposition |
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) | 15 |
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) | 4 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 25 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 5 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) | 12 |
| UK Albums (OCC) | 4 |
| US Billboard 200 | 38 |
· Charts › Weekly charts
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Chart (2014–16)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Peakposition
83
French Albums (SNEP)
French Albums (SNEP)
Chart (2014–16)
French Albums (SNEP)
Peakposition
120
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Chart (2014–16)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Peakposition
86
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)
Chart (2014–16)
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)
Peakposition
21
| Chart (2014–16) | Peakposition |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 83 |
| French Albums (SNEP) | 120 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 86 |
| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) | 21 |
· Charts › Weekly charts
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Chart (2020)
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
80
| Chart (2020) | Peakposition |
| Scottish Albums (OCC) | 80 |
· Charts › Year-end charts
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Chart (1975)
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Peakposition
42
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Chart (1975)
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Peakposition
29
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Chart (1975)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Peakposition
3
UK Albums (OCC)
UK Albums (OCC)
Chart (1975)
UK Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
38
| Chart (1975) | Peakposition |
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) | 42 |
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) | 29 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) | 3 |
| UK Albums (OCC) | 38 |
· Charts › Year-end charts
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Chart (1976)
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Peakposition
63
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Chart (1976)
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Peakposition
45
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Chart (1976)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Peakposition
30
| Chart (1976) | Peakposition |
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) | 63 |
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) | 45 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) | 30 |
· Charts › Year-end charts
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Chart (1977)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Peakposition
49
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Chart (1977)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Peakposition
16
| Chart (1977) | Peakposition |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 49 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) | 16 |
· Charts › Year-end charts
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Chart (1978)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Peakposition
9
| Chart (1978) | Peakposition |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 9 |
· Charts › Year-end charts
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Chart (1979)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Peakposition
25
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Chart (1979)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Peakposition
47
| Chart (1979) | Peakposition |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 25 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) | 47 |
· Certifications
Australia (ARIA)
Australia (ARIA)
Region
Australia (ARIA)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
20,000^
Canada (Music Canada)
Canada (Music Canada)
Region
Canada (Music Canada)
Certification
Diamond
Certified units/sales
1,000,000^
France (SNEP)
France (SNEP)
Region
France (SNEP)
Certification
Platinum
Certified units/sales
400,000*
Germany (BVMI)
Germany (BVMI)
Region
Germany (BVMI)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
250,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)
Netherlands (NVPI)
Region
Netherlands (NVPI)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)
New Zealand (RMNZ)
Region
New Zealand (RMNZ)
Certification
Platinum
Certified units/sales
15,000^
Portugal (AFP)
Portugal (AFP)
Region
Portugal (AFP)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
20,000^
Sweden (GLF)
Sweden (GLF)
Region
Sweden (GLF)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)
Region
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)
United Kingdom (BPI)
Region
United Kingdom (BPI)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
100,000^
United States (RIAA)
United States (RIAA)
Region
United States (RIAA)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
500,000^
Sales figures based on certification alone.^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales figures based on certification alone.^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Region
Sales figures based on certification alone.^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | Gold | 20,000^ |
| Canada (Music Canada) | Diamond | 1,000,000^ |
| France (SNEP) | Platinum | 400,000* |
| Germany (BVMI) | Gold | 250,000^ |
| Netherlands (NVPI) | Gold | 50,000^ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | Platinum | 15,000^ |
| Portugal (AFP) | Gold | 20,000^ |
| Sweden (GLF) | Gold | 50,000^ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) | Gold | 25,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Gold | 100,000^ |
| United States (RIAA) | Gold | 500,000^ |
| Sales figures based on certification alone.^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
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