Supertramp – Crime Of The Century (MFSL)

A company known as Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab (MFSL), out of California, pioneered the “Original Master Recording” album. Also referred to as a “half-speed master”. This company would seek out and only accept a first generation master tape to re-issue a popular music album. They made the choices based on popularity and sonic quality. The first few offerings were records of recorded “nature sounds” such as lightening, wind, streams, birds, etc. I think one was called The Power and the Majesty. The very first musical selection (catalog #1-005) was Supertramp’s Crime of the Century. That’s one of the reason’s I bought this album. As a young music buyer of the day (late ’78) I had not heard of Supertramp. I did know who Pink Floyd was and of course, the Beatles. I was surprised that Crime of the Century kept showing up in the MFSL offerings along with Dark Side of the Moon, Steely Dan’s Aja, Fleetwood Mac I, and The Beatles Abbey Road. MFSL’s Original Master Recordings were limited editions of 25,000 pressings.

(exerpt from review by Richard Thompson)