Bloody Well Right
Encyclopedia
"Bloody Well Right" is a song by the progressive rock
band Supertramp
from their 1974 album Crime of the Century. Released in April 1975, it failed to chart in the United Kingdom but became their breakthrough hit in the United States, peaking at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100
. It would remain the band's signature song
in the USA for years to come.
The insensitiveness of this reply contributes to Rudy becoming emotionally withdrawn in the next song on the album, "Hide in Your Shell".
solo, exactly fifty one seconds long, leading into the rest of the band joining in. There is then a guitar solo leading in the first spoken word at the 1:36 mark in the song. The first verse and chorus occur with a short instrumental bridge into the second verse and second, slightly modified, chorus. The rest of the song is different variations of the chorus with a saxophone solo in the background. The song slowly fades away to the sound of the saxophone.
, Live '88, It Was the Best of Times
, and Is Everybody Listening?
.
and Retrospectacle - The Supertramp Anthology
.
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Supertramp
Supertramp
Supertramp are a British rock band formed in 1969 under the name Daddy before renaming to Supertramp in early 1970. Though their music was initially categorised as progressive rock, they have since incorporated a combination of traditional rock and art rock into their music...
from their 1974 album Crime of the Century. Released in April 1975, it failed to chart in the United Kingdom but became their breakthrough hit in the United States, peaking at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. It would remain the band's signature song
Signature song
A signature song is the one song that a popular and well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best known for, even if they have had success with a variety of songs...
in the USA for years to come.
Lyrical content
"Bloody Well Right" is the second song on the concept album Crime of the Century, and is a reply to the protagonist's lament in the first song, "School". The speaker is not specifically identified, but is obviously a close friend of Rudy (the protagonist). He acknowledges that Rudy is right about the flaws in the system, but asserts in a generally flippant manner that he is wasting his time by complaining about them. He is also derisive of Rudy's dramatic exposition on the situation, stating sarcastically "Write your problems down in detail, take them to a higher place".The insensitiveness of this reply contributes to Rudy becoming emotionally withdrawn in the next song on the album, "Hide in Your Shell".
Structure
The song begins with an electric pianoElectric piano
An electric piano is an electric musical instrument.Electric pianos produce sounds mechanically and the sounds are turned into electrical signals by pickups. Unlike a synthesizer, the electric piano is not an electronic instrument, but electro-mechanical. The earliest electric pianos were invented...
solo, exactly fifty one seconds long, leading into the rest of the band joining in. There is then a guitar solo leading in the first spoken word at the 1:36 mark in the song. The first verse and chorus occur with a short instrumental bridge into the second verse and second, slightly modified, chorus. The rest of the song is different variations of the chorus with a saxophone solo in the background. The song slowly fades away to the sound of the saxophone.
Live versions
This song became a staple in Supertramp concerts after its release. The song's length is extended live often reaching over seven minutes. It appears on ParisParis (Supertramp album)
Paris is a live album by progressive rock band Supertramp, released in 1980 . The album was recorded on Supertramp's Breakfast in America tour in November 1979 in Paris, France at the Pavillon de Paris, a venue which was once a slaughterhouse...
, Live '88, It Was the Best of Times
It Was the Best of Times
It Was the Best of Times is a live album by Supertramp. The title makes use of the opening line from A Tale Of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.Recorded in London at the Royal Albert Hall during the It's About Time tour in September 1997...
, and Is Everybody Listening?
Is Everybody Listening?
Is Everybody Listening? is a live album from the Progressive Rock band Supertramp, released in 2001 . Taken from a 1975 recording during the Crime of the Century tour and credited as being a concert that took place in Cleveland, Ohio, the actual concert took place at London’s Hammersmith Odeon on 9...
.
Today
In the USA, "Bloody Well Right" is one of Supertramp's most popular and recognizable songs. The song also appears on the compilation albums The Very Best of SupertrampThe Very Best of Supertramp
The Very Best of Supertramp is a compilation album released by Supertramp in 1990. The album contains tracks from their four "prime" albums The Very Best of Supertramp is a compilation album released by Supertramp in 1990. The album contains tracks from their four "prime" albums The Very Best of...
and Retrospectacle - The Supertramp Anthology
Retrospectacle - The Supertramp Anthology
-Disc one:-Disc two:-Production:*Compilation producers: Rick Davies, Bill Levenson*Producers: Supertramp, Ken Scott, Peter Henderson, Jay Messina, Jack Douglas, David Kershenbaum and Rick Davies.*Mastering: Greg Calbi, Jay Messina...
.
Personnel
- Rick Davies: Wurlitzer electric piano, piano, Lead and Backing vocals
- Roger Hodgson: Electric guitar, backing vocals
- Bob Siebenberg: Drums and Percussion
- Dougie Thomson: Bass, backing vocals
- John Helliwell: Saxophone alto and tenor, backing vocals