Record Reviews

WHO ~ A QUICK ONE (EXPANDED EDITION) POLYDOR 731458980025 (Barcode: 731458980025) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1966 Released: 1995 This is a reissue / remaster / remix / expanded edition of the 2nd album by the legendary British Rock group The WhoFind albums by this artist. It was released in UK in December 1966, with the US release, renamed to “Happy JackFind albums with this title”, following only in May 1967 and including the single of the same name, which replaced one off the original tracks. The original album presented ten tracks. This edition adds ten bonus tracks, four of which were live tracks released on the “Ready Steady Who!Find albums with this title” EP, three are B-sides of singles and the last three are previously unreleased. Contrary to most albums by the group, where guitarist Pete TownshendFind albums by this artist wrote all or most of the material, here all four group members contributed their songs, with vocalist Roger DaltreyFind albums by this artist contributing one song, and bassist John EntwistleFind albums by this artist and drummer Keith MoonFind albums by this artist each contributing two songs, in addition to the four songs by Townshend and one cover. The last song on the original album “A Quick One, While He`s Away”, which lasts for the unprecedented, at the time, over nine minutes, is a precursor of the Rock Opera idiom the group embraced starting with their 4th album “TommyFind albums with this title”. The almost sixty years of retrospect proves how brilliant the group was, both as performers and songwriters, with every song on this epic album being an absolute treasure of Classic Rock genius. The Who were probably the most prophetic early Rock groups, blessed by what is now called “thinking out of the box” attitude. They easily and spontaneously slaughtered all holly cows, and were completely universal, including the time scale. This music kicks ass as strongly today, as it did at the time. Overall, this is a masterpiece of the early Classic Rock, which lost nothing of its power and relevance over time and puts contemporary Rock in deep shame. It is of course a must in every decent Classic Rock collection!

Updated: 03/11/2023Posted: 03/11/2023

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

WHO ~ AT KILBURN 1977 IMAGE 739183 (Barcode: 886973918395) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1969 - 1977 Released: 2008 Looking for a piece of Classic Rock history? Look no further! This spectacular DVD set delivers everything one might hope for in that department. Professionally filmed at a special concert and intended to be included as a part of the WhoFind albums by this artist documentary "The Kids Are AlrightFind albums with this title", this footage was eventually abandoned and laid in the vault for 30 years, to be seen in its entirety for the first time now, after becoming the Holy Grail for fans after years of anticipation. With remastered sound and restored video quality, the DVD sound and looks as it was recorded yesterday, truly amazing. The band goes through a set of favorites, spanning their entire career, with dexterity, power and absolutely total dedication, as they always did. Slightly rusty as a result of not playing together for over a year, Roger DaltreyFind albums by this artist delivers the vocals as if his life depended on it, Pete TownshendFind albums by this artist is all over the stage in manic frenzy, John EntwistleFind albums by this artist lurks in the shadows delivering those unbelievable virtuosi bass lines and Keith MoonFind albums by this artist beats the hell out of his enormous drum set in a way only he could, earning him the legendary status of one of Rock´s most talented drummers. Sadly enough this was to be one of his last live performances before his tragic and untimely death. If all of this is not enough, the 2nd DVD includes a 1969 never-before-seen concert by the Who at London´s Coliseum, another Holy Grail for the band´s fans, where "Tommy" was played as the main part of the performance. Spectacular stuff! Yes, sure, I´m not objective, after all this music was the soundtrack of my youth, but hey I can still enjoy this music 30-40 years later, and it kicks ass. Essential piece of Rock history! Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and DTS, 138 minutes. Side Note: I´ve watched closely the discussions about this release on several music forums on the Net and some of the stuff people said there really pisses me off, big time. Moon looks fat, he misses beats, Daltrey looks old… for Pete´s sake, what bullshit. These were Master musicians and total professionals. On stage they gave everything they had, absolutely total dedication, so total in fact that many of them paid for it with their lives! Looking at these people on stage only proves that most of the current bands look like a bunch of amateurish wankers in comparison.

DVD 2 Slipcase Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend

WHO ~ BBC SESSIONS POLYDOR 731454772723 (Barcode: 731454772723) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1965 - 1973 Released: 2000 British Rock legends, The WhoFind albums by this artist, were undoubtedly one of the top acts of all times to arise from the golden period of Rock. They were always different from most of their contemporaries, wild, uncontrollable and immensely ambitious and talented enough to fulfill many of their dreams. They were fronted by an enigmatic vocalist Roger DaltreyFind albums by this artist, who introduced the theatrical dimension to Rock and impersonated the heroes of their songs quite literally. Behind the vocalist there was a dreamy instrumental trio, led by guitarist / composer Pete TownshendFind albums by this artist, with incredible bass virtuoso John EntwistleFind albums by this artist and drumming madman Keith MoonFind albums by this artist. Such conglomerate of talent, dedication and showmanship was pretty unique in the Rock history and is what made this band so special. Combined with Townshend´s absolutely brilliant composing abilities, they were simply unbeatable. The fact that The Who recorded material for the BBC was by far not self-understood. The band´s reputation and their stage act pictured them as pretty wild bunch of anarchist and troublemakers. The somewhat stiff BBC had a committee examining young bands before they were allowed to actually perform and record for the radio. Luckily for the sake of history The Who passed the panel´s judgment (just barely) and the material included here was in fact put on tape. The majority of the music, i.e. twenty of the twenty six tracks, originates from the period 1965-1967, four more tracks are from 1970 and the last two are from 1973. They include many of the band´s hits but also little known material. The sound of these recordings is, as usual in case of BBC recordings, clear and crisp, often better than some of the parallel studio recordings. The actual performances are simply spectacular, proving that The Who were primarily a live band and excelled on stage. Their interplay and instrumental coherence is stunning and careful listening to the individual parts reveals highly unusual approach, well advanced technique and often prophetic ahead of the time musical styling. Compared to most of their contemporaries they were simply way ahead in every respect (see my review of The BeatlesFind albums by this artist BBC sessions, who sound like a bunch of amateurish sissies compared to The Who). This is a time capsule type of album, which brings music, which was intended to be used once or twice at the time, and then discarded, and was luckily preserved for posterity. Thank God for the BBC, and The Who!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

WHO ~ LIVE AT HULL 1970 POLYDOR 602537113491 (Barcode: 602537113491) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1970 Released: 2012 The music appearing on this album was recorded by British Rock legends The WhoFind albums by this artist on February 15, 1970, following their performance on February 14, 1970 (i.e. the previous evening), which produced one of the greatest live albums of all times, the seminal and legendary "Live At LeedsFind albums with this title". The sets of both these concerts are identical (except for one song missing from the Hull set), but the dynamics, ambience and overall atmosphere are quite different. Both concerts were recorded in order to assemble material for the planned live album, but due to technical difficulties, the Hull tapes were discarded and the live album featured material recorded entirely during the Leeds concert. The rest is history… Some 40 years later it was time to take another look (or listen) at the Hull concert tapes, in order to release both concerts as the "40th Anniversary Super-Deluxe Collectors´ Edition" of "Live At Leeds". Some advanced studio wizardry and digital magic was employed, mostly involving a copy & paste surgery of the bass parts, which were not recorded on the first six songs during the Hull concert, and quite a few other problems. Thanks to the available technology and the dedication of the people involved, the result is truly stunning. At the time this music was recorded The Who were at the absolute pinnacle of their artistic path, following the success of their groundbreaking Rock Opera "TommyFind albums with this title". They were also in perfect shape as live performers, following years of touring and performing. As a musical unit they displayed a phenomenal, almost telepathic ability to communicate and cooperate. Their individual abilities and talents as musicians were also almost without competition; not only were they one of the best Rock groups at the time, but Roger DaltreyFind albums by this artist was surely one of the top vocalists, John EntwistleFind albums by this artist was one of the top bassist, Keith MoonFind albums by this artist drummers and Pete TownshendFind albums by this artist guitarists. Combined with Townshend´s ability to weave some of the most amazing music made at the time, The Who had truly very little competition. As mentioned earlier, the contents of this album is almost identical to the "Live At Leeds" album, but that should not deter anybody from listening to this particular recording, as it presents quite different experience. The group seems to be much more relaxed here, which makes the music flow more naturally and more "accurately". The overall ambience is somewhat less noisy and certainly much more intimate. There is very little audience reaction present on the tape, which makes the album sound almost as a "live in the studio" recording. This album is surely a treasure in itself, as much as being a perfect companion to the "Live At Leeds" album. In short this is a brilliant document from the past, bringing back to life some magnificent music, which is an essential component of Rock history. Thank God for the invention of sound recording!

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend

WHO ~ LIVE AT SHEA STADIUM 1982 MERCURY 602458372229 (Barcode: 602458372229) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1982 Released: 2024 This is an archival live album by the legendary British Rock group The WhoFind albums by this artist, captured live at the NY Shea Stadium on November 13, 1982. The lineup included three original members: vocalist Roger DaltreyFind albums by this artist, guitarist Pete TownshendFind albums by this artist and bassist John EntwistleFind albums by this artist and two new members: drummer Kenney JonesFind albums by this artist (ex-Small FacesFind albums by this artist / FacesFind albums by this artist) and keyboardist Tim GormanFind albums by this artist. The 2CD album presents twenty-five tracks, all but five written by Townshend, presenting a few tracks from their (then new and the last to feature Entwistle) album “It`s HardFind albums with this title” and a selection of songs spanning the entire career of the group. Following the death of the founding member / drummer Keith MoonFind albums by this artist, the group carried on for a while and recorded a couple of albums, before finally splitting in 1983s. There were several reunions and a couple of albums since, but the activity was relatively sporadic. The Who were undoubtedly one of the greatest Rock groups of all times, and this album, even if recorded closely to the last apogee of their career, proves it beyond any doubt. They had an awe-inspiring charisma on stage and recorded some of the most iconic Rock albums of all time, being Rock’s “avant-garde” for years in many fields, including their social awareness and groundbreaking musical trends. Their iconic “Live At LeedsFind albums with this title” album remains to be one of the absolutely top live Rock recordings to this very day, and they were truly mighty musicians and songwriters. Overall, this is a brilliant live Rock album by one of the best Rock groups of all time, superbly recorded and offering a review of the group’s entire recording career. The Who were true Giants, and this album clearly and proudly shows why. It is great to be able to hear this material, which was previously unreleased on CD, and which is a great piece of Rock history!

Updated: 04/08/2024Posted: 03/08/2024

CD 2 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

WHO ~ LIVE AT THE FILLMORE EAST 1968 POLYDOR 602567444855 (Barcode: 602567444855) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1968 Released: 2018 This is a sensational archival release presenting live recordings by the seminal British Rock group The WhoFind albums by this artist captured at the very end of their first grueling US tour as headliners, recorded at the NY Rock shrine: Bill GrahamFind albums by this artist´s Fillmore East, reopened recently (at the time) in its new location on the Second Avenue on the Lower East Side. With the intention of the music being released as a live album, both concerts on April 5 and 6, 1968 were recorded, but were eventually shelved, seeing the light of the day exactly half a Century later. Of course The Who released eventually their extraordinary live opus "Live At LeedsFind albums with this title" a couple of years later, which is still considered as one of the best live Rock albums of all time, but his music surely deserved to be released as well. At the time of the recording vocalist Roger DaltreyFind albums by this artist, guitarist Pete TownshendFind albums by this artist, bassist John EntwistleFind albums by this artist and drummer Keith MoonFind albums by this artist had three albums under their belt and were on the verge of stardom, which was about to explode with the release of their fourth album, the legendary Rock Opera "TommyFind albums with this title" a year after the music present here was recorded. After years of playing together they were a lean and mean Rock machine, capable of delivering raw energy of the highest degree, combined with virtuosic performances equally only by the very best of their contemporaries. Daltrey´s theatrical vocals, Townshend´s guitar pyrotechnics, Entwistle´s superb bass parts and Moon´s hyper-energetic drumming are all present here to the delight of the group´s fans and music historians. For the Rock cognoscenti hints of the group´s future direction (i.e. "Tommy") can be already heard here as well. The entire second CD of this album is dedicated to the extended version of the group´s first hit "My Generation" and their renowned anthem, which lasts for more than thirty three minutes in duration. The instrumental work on that piece puts The Who in the same category as other great Rock improvisers at the time, most notably Cream of course. In retrospect this singular piece of music should be considered a "must hear" for anybody who picks up a guitar or starts a group. Basically Rock moved ahead very little since. Considering the superb recording quality this album offers, it is very difficult to comprehend why this treasure was hidden away for so long, simply bordering on the Culturally criminal. Better late than never is a poor solace in this case. Beyond essential!

Updated: 11/09/2018Posted: 11/09/2018

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend

WHO ~ THE WHO SELL OUT (DELUXE EDITION) POLYDOR 5315336 (Barcode: 600753153369) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1967 Released: 2009 This is probably one of the most underrated and misunderstood albums in Rock history. British wild rockers, The WhoFind albums by this artist, recorded this album in the midst of the blooming Psychedelic era, with their contemporaries home (BeatlesFind albums by this artist) and across the pond (Beach BoysFind albums by this artist) producing concept albums, which are considered masterpieces to this very day. Wild as they were, and a bit mad (or even more that a bit) vocalist Roger DaltreyFind albums by this artist, guitarist Pete TownshendFind albums by this artist, bassist John EntwistleFind albums by this artist and drummer Keith MoonFind albums by this artist responded to all that psychedelic hullabaloo with their version of temporary insanity. The album was initially intended to be a concept album of sorts, about an imaginary pirate radio station, including jingles, chatter and commercials. Sadly never actually completed as such, the underlying concept of the songs is still very much there, being romance or the convoluted male / female relationships. Of course anything touched by the Who turns into mayhem, madness and above all typical British absurd humor. Even the album´s title, which is of course an oxymoron to anybody familiar with the band, serves a purpose. In fact the Who are much closer here to Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist ("We´re Only In It For The MoneyFind albums with this title" – sounds familiar?) than to their saccharine British mates. Of course there is plenty of great music here as the band rocks harder and mightier that anybody else at the time. This new edition is a goldmine for the Who fans, with dozens of bonus tracks and both the stereo and mono mixes of the album. To all the people who never got this album, this is an opportunity to wake up. Essential brilliant music!

CD 2 Digipak Slipcase Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend