Air Supply is the debut album by British/Australian soft rock band Air Supply released on CBS Records in December 1976.Air Supply History Retrieved 8 December 2008 The lead single "Love and Other Bruises" was released in October, reaching No. 6 on the Kent Music Report Singles Chart, followed by the album's peak at No. 17 on the Kent Albums Chart. NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1974 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988. In 1992, Kent back calculated chart positions for 1970–1974. While the album reached gold status in Australia, the second single "Empty Pages" did not reach the Top 40 in February 1977. The album was issued as Strangers in Love in Japan.
The album preceded the band's international breakthrough, which came with Lost in Love in 1980. The band would later release another self-titled album in 1985.
Background Chrissie Hammond, Russell Hitchcock and Graham Russell met in May 1975 while performing in the Australian production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical, Jesus Christ Superstar. Note: Archived [on-line] copy has limited functionality. With Hammond and Hitchcock on vocals and Russell on guitar, they formed Air Supply as a harmony vocal group in Melbourne. Hammond left to form Cheetah and was replaced by Jeremy Paul (ex-Soffrok) on bass guitar and vocals in 1976. The group's first single, "Love and Other Bruises", peaked at No. 6 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart in October. It was followed by Air Supply, their debut album, in December, which reached No. 17 on the Kent Music Report Albums Chart and achieved gold in Australia. The album was produced by Peter Dawkins (Spectrum, Ross Ryan) with Air Supply line-up as Hitchcock, Paul, Russell and drummer Jeff Browne, guitarist Mark McEntee and keyboardist/arranger Adrian Scott. The second single was "Empty Pages" peaked at No. 43. A national tour followed with Hitchcock, Paul, Russell and Scott joined by Nigel Macara (ex-Tamam Shud, Ariel) on drums and Brenton White (Skintight) on guitar. Brenton White rehearsed but did not perform with Air Supply.
Critical reception Cashbox said that "their music is polished, poised and mainstream without being predictable".
Track listing All tracks are written by Graham Russell.
Personnel Musicians Graham Russell – lead vocals, backing vocals, electric and acoustic guitars Russell Hitchcock – lead vocals, backing vocals Jeremy Paul – bass guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals (on "What a Life") Adrian Scott – keyboards, additional vocals Mark McEntee – electric, rhythm, and lead guitars Jeff Browne – drums Ian Bloxsom – extra percussion William Motzing – string arrangements and conduction Graeme Pearce – drums (on "Love and Other Bruises") Peter Deacon – piano (on "Love and Other Bruises")
Production
Peter Dawkins – producer Richard Lush – engineer (at EMI Studios, Sydney) Bruce Brown – engineer on "Love and Other Bruises" (at Albert Studios) Martin Benge – additional engineering Mastering – CBS Records, Artarmon J. Peter Thoeming – art direction, design Carroll Holloway – photography
Charts Chart (1976/77)PeakpositionAustralian Albums (Kent Music Report)17
Certifications and sales
Release history
Date Region Label Format Catalog Notes 1976 Australia CBS LP SBP 234929 "Air Supply History: Chapter 3" New Zealand Canada Columbia PES 90413 1976 Australia CBS CAS PC 4929 Summit/Rainbow SUL 3002 1977 Australia CBS 2LP SBP 241031 Repackaged with The Whole Thing's Started 1980 Japan Epic/Sony LP 25•3P-232 Issued as Strangers in Love, alternate cover 1981 Australia Harmony LP HC 15070 Love and Other Bruises compilation, includes six tracks from Air Supply CAS TCHC 15070 Summit/Rainbow SC 3036 1988 Australia Columbia/Sony CD 463016 2 CBS/Disctronics 463016 2 Reissue of 1981 compilation, alternate cover"Air Supply History: Chapter 16" CBS CAS 463016 4 1991 Australia Rainbow CD RCD 1118 First appearance of full album on CD "Air Supply History: Chapter 18" 1992 Australia Rainbow 2CD 2RCD 111/112 Feel the Breeze, includes Air Supply and The Whole Thing's Started 1996 Korea Columbia/Sony CD 486553.2 Once Upon a Time, includes three tracks from Air Supply CAS 486553.4
See also Air Supply (1985 album)
References