"Breakfast in America" is the title track from English rock band Supertramp's 1979 album of the same name. Credited to Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson, it was a top-ten hit in the UK[2] and a live version of the song reached No. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1981. The lyrics tell about a person, presumably British, who dreams of visiting the United States.

"Breakfast in America"
Single by Supertramp
from the album Breakfast in America
B-side	"Gone Hollywood"
Released	June 1979
Recorded	1978
Studio	The Village Recorder/Studio B, Los Angeles, California
Genre	Progressive rock
Length	2:39
Label	A&M
Songwriter(s)	Rick Davies, Roger Hodgson[1]
Producer(s)	Supertramp, Peter Henderson
Supertramp singles chronology
"The Logical Song" (1979) "Breakfast in America" (1979) "Goodbye Stranger" (1979)
Music video
"Breakfast in America" on YouTube

"Breakfast in America"

A 26-second clip of "Breakfast in America" as performed by Roger Hodgson.

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Composition

The inner sleeve of the 1979 Breakfast in America album lists one musician – Roger Hodgson or Rick Davies – as composer for each song. For the "Breakfast in America" title track, Davies alone is listed as composer and lyricist.[3] However, the center label of the 12-inch vinyl disc credits all songs to both Hodgson and Davies.[4] Similarly, on the vinyl single, it was credited to Hodgson and Davies.[5]

Supertramp started performing the song during a reunion tour without Hodgson, the latter took credit for writing the song, telling reporters that Davies initially "hated" the song, and that he believed Davies did not play on the recording at all.[6] However, in other interviews Hodgson has credited Davies with creating the vocalized retort line, "What's she got? Not a lot."[7] According to Ultimate Classic Rock critic Nick DeRiso, Hodgson started writing the song as a teenager, and Davies later "helped sharpen the lyrics."[8] Billboard critic Gary Graff agrees with this assessment, including Davies contributing the "What's she got? Not a lot" lyric.[9]

DeRiso describes the lyrics as being about a child dreaming about visiting the United States some day.[8]

Hodgson included the song in his 2010 world tour, produced as a live album titled Classics Live.

In 2005, rap rock band Gym Class Heroes released the hit song "Cupid's Chokehold", which features the chorus from "Breakfast in America".

Reception

Billboard writer David Farrell praised John Helliwell's "Benny Goodman-flavoured clarinet solo."[10] DeRiso rated it as Supertramp's 9th greatest song.[8] Graff rated "Breakfast in America" as Supertramp's 5th best song.[9]

Personnel

• Roger Hodgson: lead vocals, piano, pump organ, electric guitar
• Rick Davies: harpsichord, synthesizers, vocals
• John Helliwell: clarinet
• Dougie Thomson: bass[11]
• Bob Siebenberg: drums and percussion
• Slyde Hyde: trombone, tuba

Charts

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[20]	Silver	200,000
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

Sources

• Melhuish, Martin (1986). The Supertramp Book (1st ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0711907874.

External links

• Supertramp website