Record Reviews

GUESS WHO ~ WHEATFIELD SOUL / SHARE THE LAND / CANNED WHEAT IRONBIRD 0008 (Barcode: 5013929880870) ~ CANADA ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1969 - 1970 Released: 2010 Three early albums by the great Canadian Rock band The Guess WhoFind albums by this artist, which included the talents of guitarist Randy BachmanFind albums by this artist and singer Burton CummingsFind albums by this artist, who together wrote all of the band´s material. Although mostly remembered for the numerous hit singles the band produced over the years, listening to these complete albums reveals a greatly talented and inspired Rock band, which deservers – in retrospect – respect and appreciation for what they have done. Cummings´ superb vocal abilities are definitely worth a re-visit, as is Bachman´s guitar work, which was much more subtle than his future Hard Rock work. The material stands the test of time beautifully and is full of little known gems. Definitely worth investigation and a great trip down the memory lane!

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KINKS ~ ARTHUR (DELUXE EDITION) SANCTUARY 273227 (Barcode: 602527322742) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1968 - 1969 Released: 2011 This is the 7th album by The KinksFind albums by this artist, the seminal British Pop / Rock band led by brothers Ray DaviesFind albums by this artist (who wrote all their wonderful material and was definitely one of the greatest composers in British Rock) and Dave DaviesFind albums by this artist (who played the lead guitar for the band). The first lineup, which lasted for five years, included also bassist Pete QuaifeFind albums by this artist and drummer Mick AvoryFind albums by this artist. Quaife´s replacement John DaltonFind albums by this artist is heard on this album for the first time. Similar to other great British Rock bands like The HolliesFind albums by this artist, The WhoFind albums by this artist and even The Rolling StonesFind albums by this artist, The Kinks were overshadowed by The BeatlesFind albums by this artist, that in retrospect is a great injustice, as they certainly were as good if not better than the Fab Four in every respect. This album continues the new phase for the group, which developed a completely unique approach to writing music, which now included elements of Psychedelia and other influences. The lyrics were full of social commentary and concentrated on British society, history and way of life, often being quite sarcastic and critical. Although not a concept album as such, it was conceived and recorded as a soundtrack for a TV movie, which eventually was never made. Always truthful to themselves and their fans, the Kinks wonderfully mixed raw energy and melodic sophistication, which lost nothing of its intrinsic power through the years. This new edition adds a whole CD worth of bonus materials, including non-album singles, alternate takes, outtakes, mono and stereo versions and BBC sessions. Absolutely brilliant stuff!

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KINKS ~ FACE TO FACE (DELUXE EDITION) SANCTUARY 277262 (Barcode: 602527726205) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1966 Released: 2011 This is the 4th album by The KinksFind albums by this artist, the seminal British Pop / Rock band led by brothers Ray DaviesFind albums by this artist (who wrote all their wonderful material and was definitely one of the greatest composers in British Rock) and Dave DaviesFind albums by this artist (who played the lead guitar for the band). The first lineup, which lasted for five years, included also bassist Pete QuaifeFind albums by this artist and drummer Mick AvoryFind albums by this artist. Similar to other great British Rock bands like The HolliesFind albums by this artist, The WhoFind albums by this artist and even The Rolling StonesFind albums by this artist, The Kinks were overshadowed by The BeatlesFind albums by this artist, that in retrospect is a great injustice, as they certainly were as good if not better than the Fab Four in every respect. This album presents a new phase for the group, which developed a completely unique approach to writing music, which now included elements of Psychedelia and other influences. The lyrics were full of social commentary and concentrated on British society, history and way of life, often being quite sarcastic and critical. Although not a concept album as such, it points the way towards the future release, which will be concept albums. Always truthful to themselves and their fans, the Kinks wonderfully mixed raw energy and melodic sophistication, which lost nothing of its intrinsic power through the years. This new edition adds a whole CD worth of bonus materials, including non-album singles, EPs, alternate takes, outtakes, mono and stereo versions and BBC sessions. Absolutely brilliant stuff!

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KINKS ~ KINDA KINKS (DELUXE EDITION) SANCTUARY 275632 (Barcode: 602527563268) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1965 Released: 2011 This is the 2nd album by The KinksFind albums by this artist, the seminal British Pop / Rock band led by brothers Ray DaviesFind albums by this artist (who wrote all their wonderful material and was definitely one of the greatest composers in British Rock) and Dave DaviesFind albums by this artist (who played the lead guitar for the band). The first lineup, which lasted for five years, included also bassist Pete QuaifeFind albums by this artist and drummer Mick AvoryFind albums by this artist. Similar to other great British Rock bands like The HolliesFind albums by this artist, The WhoFind albums by this artist and even The Rolling StonesFind albums by this artist, The Kinks were overshadowed by The BeatlesFind albums by this artist, that in retrospect is a great injustice, as they certainly were as good if not better than the Fab Four in every respect. This album presents the group crystallizing their unique style and voicing and moving almost completely to performing original songs written by Ray. The Kinks were amongst the first British groups to perform and record self-penned songs and this album includes only two covers. Always truthful to themselves and their fans, the Kinks wonderfully mixed raw energy and melodic sophistication, which lost nothing of its intrinsic power through the years. This new edition adds a whole CD worth of bonus materials, including non-album singles, EPs, alternate takes, outtakes, mono and stereo versions and BBC sessions. Absolutely brilliant stuff!

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KINKS ~ KINKS (DELUXE EDITION) SANCTUARY 275627 (Barcode: 602527562742) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1964 Released: 2011 This is the 1st album by The KinksFind albums by this artist, the seminal British Pop / Rock band led by brothers Ray DaviesFind albums by this artist (who wrote all their wonderful material and was definitely one of the greatest composers in British Rock) and Dave DaviesFind albums by this artist (who played the lead guitar for the band). The first lineup, which lasted for five years, included also bassist Pete QuaifeFind albums by this artist and drummer Mick AvoryFind albums by this artist. Similar to other great British Rock bands like The HolliesFind albums by this artist, The WhoFind albums by this artist and even The Rolling StonesFind albums by this artist, The Kinks were overshadowed by The BeatlesFind albums by this artist, that in retrospect is a great injustice, as they certainly were as good if not better than the Fab Four in every respect. This album presents the first steps of the band, performing a mixture of covers of Rhythm And Blues material and original songs written by Ray. The Kinks were amongst the first British groups to perform and record self-penned songs. Always truthful to themselves and their fans, the Kinks wonderfully mixed raw energy and melodic sophistication, which lost nothing of its intrinsic power through the years. This new edition adds a whole CD worth of bonus materials, including non-album singles, EPs, alternate takes, outtakes, mono and stereo versions and BBC sessions. Absolutely brilliant stuff!

Updated: 08/05/2023Posted:

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KINKS ~ SOMETHING ELSE (DELUXE EDITION) SANCTUARY 273214 (Barcode: 602527321417) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1967 Released: 2011 This is the 5th album by The KinksFind albums by this artist, the seminal British Pop / Rock band led by brothers Ray DaviesFind albums by this artist (who wrote all their wonderful material and was definitely one of the greatest composers in British Rock) and Dave DaviesFind albums by this artist (who played the lead guitar for the band). The first lineup, which lasted for five years, included also bassist Pete QuaifeFind albums by this artist and drummer Mick AvoryFind albums by this artist. Similar to other great British Rock bands like The HolliesFind albums by this artist, The WhoFind albums by this artist and even The Rolling StonesFind albums by this artist, The Kinks were overshadowed by The BeatlesFind albums by this artist, that in retrospect is a great injustice, as they certainly were as good if not better than the Fab Four in every respect. This album continues the new phase for the group, which developed a completely unique approach to writing music, which now included elements of Psychedelia and other influences. The lyrics were full of social commentary and concentrated on British society, history and way of life, often being quite sarcastic and critical. Although not a concept album as such, it points the way towards the future releases, which will be concept albums. Always truthful to themselves and their fans, the Kinks wonderfully mixed raw energy and melodic sophistication, which lost nothing of its intrinsic power through the years. This new edition adds a whole CD worth of bonus materials, including non-album singles, EPs, alternate takes, outtakes, mono and stereo versions and BBC sessions. Absolutely brilliant stuff!

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KINKS ~ THE KINK KONTROVERSY (DELUXE EDITION) SANCTUARY 275628 (Barcode: 602527562858) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1965 - 1966 Released: 2011 This is the 3rd album by The KinksFind albums by this artist, the seminal British Pop / Rock band led by brothers Ray DaviesFind albums by this artist (who wrote all their wonderful material and is definitely one of the greatest composers of the British Rock) and Dave DaviesFind albums by this artist who played the lead guitar for the band. Similar to other great British Rock Bands like The HolliesFind albums by this artist, The WhoFind albums by this artist and even The Rolling StonesFind albums by this artist, The Kinks were overshadowed by The BeatlesFind albums by this artist, which in retrospect is a great injustice, as they certainly were as good if not better than the Fab Four in every respect. This album marks the transition of the band from their initial cover-performing Beat group into a bona fide Rock band, performing their self-penned material (by Ray) and embarking on an illustrious career. Always truthful to themselves and their fans, the Kinks wonderfully mixed raw energy and melodic sophistication, which lost nothing of its intrinsic power through the years. This new edition adds a whole CD worth of bonus materials, including non-album singles, alternate takes and BBC sessions. Absolutely brilliant stuff!

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KINKS ~ THE KINKS ARE THE VILLAGE GREEN PRESERVATION SOCIETY (DELUXE EDITION) SANCTUARY 602527046792 (Barcode: 602527046792) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1968 Released: 2004 This is the 6th album by The KinksFind albums by this artist, the seminal British Pop / Rock band led by brothers Ray DaviesFind albums by this artist (who wrote all their wonderful material and was definitely one of the greatest composers in British Rock) and Dave DaviesFind albums by this artist (who played the lead guitar for the band). The first lineup, which lasted for five years, included also bassist Pete QuaifeFind albums by this artist and drummer Mick AvoryFind albums by this artist. Similar to other great British Rock bands like The HolliesFind albums by this artist, The WhoFind albums by this artist and even The Rolling StonesFind albums by this artist, The Kinks were overshadowed by The BeatlesFind albums by this artist, this in retrospect is a great injustice, as they certainly were as good if not better than the Fab Four in every respect. This album presents the culmination point for the group, which developed a completely unique approach to writing music, which now included elements of Psychedelia and other influences. The lyrics were full of social commentary and concentrated on British society, history and way of life, often being quite sarcastic and critical. This is a full fledged concept album, as good as any of its revered contemporaries, but somehow was missed both by fans and critics at the time of its release and quickly forgotten. In retrospect it is an absolute milestone and an essential piece of Rock´s history. Always truthful to themselves and their fans, the Kinks wonderfully mixed raw energy and melodic sophistication, which lost nothing of its intrinsic power through the years. This new edition adds two whole CDs worth of bonus material, including both stereo and mono versions of the original album, non-album singles, EPs, alternate takes, outtakes, and other previously unreleased recordings. Absolutely brilliant stuff!

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PRETTY THINGS ~ CROSS TALK REPERTOIRE 4935 (Barcode: 4009910493526) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1980 Released: 2002 This is the 9th album by excellent British band The Pretty ThingsFind albums by this artist, which was one of the most interesting groups to emerge in the 1960s, but which failed to reach the recognition it truly deserved. Often compared to The Rolling StonesFind albums by this artist in their early days, the band would start a path towards proto-Prog with their 4th album entitled "SF SorrowFind albums with this title" (1968), which was the first Rock opera, preceding The WhoFind albums by this artist´s "TommyFind albums with this title" by several months. This amazing album marks a dramatic departure for the band from their rough and often twisted , self-torturing themes into more Pop-oriented vistas, which they do with such perfection and almost ironic determination, that the resulting album is another masterpiece, alas again a commercial failure for the band. Over 30 years later this stuff still sounds amazing!

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PRETTY THINGS ~ RAGE BEFORE BEAUTY REPERTOIRE 4936 (Barcode: 4009910493625) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1999 Released: 2002 This is the 13th album by excellent British band The Pretty ThingsFind albums by this artist, which was one of the most interesting groups to emerge in the 1960s, but which failed to reach the recognition it truly deserved. Often compared to The Rolling StonesFind albums by this artist in their early days, the band would start a path towards proto-Prog with their 4th album entitled "SF SorrowFind albums with this title" (1968), which was the first Rock opera, preceding The WhoFind albums by this artist´s "TommyFind albums with this title" by several months. This amazing album, recorded 35 years after their debut buy a bunch of dinosaurs, proves that talent simply does not go away and that true musicians can and will blow away any of the wannabe youngsters that have nothing to offer. The amazing story of this band is a symbol of determination!

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PRETTY THINGS ~ THE PRETTY THINGS REPERTOIRE 4927 (Barcode: 4009910492727) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1965 Released: 2002 This is the 1st album by excellent British band The Pretty ThingsFind albums by this artist, which was one of the most interesting groups to emerge in the 1960s, but which failed to reach the recognition it truly deserved. Often compared to The Rolling StonesFind albums by this artist in their early days, the band would start a path towards proto-Prog with their 4th album entitled "SF SorrowFind albums with this title" (1968), which was the first Rock opera, preceding The WhoFind albums by this artist´s "TommyFind albums with this title" by several months. This amazing debut already shows the incredible musical powers possessed by these young musicians, perhaps too wild and too honest for their own good, which mix the raw intensity of black American music with the British pop movement, producing a new amalgam, which would rule the world of music for many years. Almost 50 years later this stuff still sounds amazing!

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ROLLING STONES ~ ROCK AND ROLL CIRCUS (EXPANDED EDITION) ABKCO 824899 (Barcode: 602498248997) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1968 This one brings on waves of acute nostalgia! Filmed in late 1968 and intended for TV broadcast during Christmas of that year, the project was allegedly shelved and screened only years later. The entire concept looks pretty weird at first glance, but fits perfectly in the Psychedelic swinging London milieu of the time. A series of top UK rock acts perform in a circus tent, with typical circus acts filling the space between songs. It is all enormous fan and the rare opportunity to see live artists like Jethro TullFind albums by this artist, The WhoFind albums by this artist, John LennonFind albums by this artist, Eric ClaptonFind albums by this artist, Taj MahalFind albums by this artist, Marianne FaithfullFind albums by this artist and of course the Rolling StonesFind albums by this artist is something no one should miss. To make matters perfectly clear – although the entire show if full of silly little (typical British) jokes, there is more than plenty superb music here, especially the performance by The Who and the Lennon / Clapton group, as well as the Stones of course. This is a rare and exquisite document of the era and a must for all lovers of late 1960’s music. This version of the DVD includes bonus material never previously available. 5.1 Surround Sound, 63 minutes.

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VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ TOMMY REPERTOIRE 5128 (Barcode: 4009910512821) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1972 Released: 2009 A lavish production of the first Rock Opera, written and originally performed and recorded by Pete TownshendFind albums by this artist and the WhoFind albums by this artist in 1969, which was staged and recorded three years later by the London Symphony OrchestraFind albums by this artist, English Chamber ChoirFind albums by this artist and s set of soloist, which sounds like a who´s who of British Rock superstars at the time, including: Pete Townshend, Roger DaltreyFind albums by this artist, Ringo StarrFind albums by this artist, Rod StewartFind albums by this artist, Sandy DennyFind albums by this artist, Richie HavensFind albums by this artist, Richard HarrisFind albums by this artist and others. The overall production and performance are stunning and remain a symbol of what was possible at that time, with no effort and money spared in order to make great music. In many respects this is the best ever version of "TommyFind albums with this title" and an absolute must to any Classic Rock collector. This edition includes a lavish book with the original extensive graphics. A true collector´s item!

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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

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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.

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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!

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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!

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WHO ~ LIVE AT LEEDS (DELUXE EDITION) MCA 112618 (Barcode: 008811261825) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1970 Released: 2002 Recorded in 1970, this is the legendary concert of The WhoFind albums by this artist at Leeds University. Two and a half hours of unadulturated energy and genious by one of the most important and influential rock groups ever. This recording was made shortly after the rock opera Tommy was released, and on this version of the album the group performs the entire piece (no interruptions) live, which to many is a better version then the studio recording. The rest of the material includes Who`s all time favorites, performed with the usual frenzy and vitality. This is Rock And Roll at its best, no doubt about it!

Updated: 01/06/2018Posted:

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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

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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 ~ QUADROPHENIA (DELUXE EDITION) POLYDOR 2780503 (Barcode: 602527805030) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1972 - 1973 Released: 2011 This was the 6th studio album (7th including "Live At LeedsFind albums with this title") by the legendary British band The WhoFind albums by this artist and their second "Rock Opera" ("TommyFind albums with this title" was the first of course). In order to comprehend the enormity of Who´s output of that period, one must recall that the three successive studio albums: "Tommy", "Who`s NextFind albums with this title" and "QuadropheniaFind albums with this title" were all double LPs, were based on literary plot / storyline and were written and composed by one man: Pete TownshendFind albums by this artist. The story behind "Quadrophenia" talks about a teenager boy called Jimmy, the opera protagonist, who suffers from quadruple schizophrenia (hence the title), where each of his multiple personalities represents one of the band´s members. The social, psychological and moral aspects of Jimmy´s life, set in London and Brighton in the mid-1960s are the opera´s plot. In spite of the relative success of the album at the time of its release, it was severely criticized as self-indulgent and excessive, and was mostly completely misunderstood musically by the contemporary critics, which happened repeatedly with Who´s albums. Often even passing time and perspective did not make significant difference in the order of recognition of the album´s standing as one of the great masterpieces of British Rock. In 1979 the opera was transformed into a script and filmed, to be later released under the same name. The film´s soundtrack features ten remixed songs from the original album and three new songs that did not appear on the album. In retrospect the music serves as a glorious reminder of times, when music was at the epicenter of Artistic expression with unprecedented and unfortunately unrepeated power and aptitude. This Deluxe Edition, produced by Townshend, adds a set of previously unreleased demo versions of the songs, which would later on become "Quadrophenia", and of course a remastered versions of the original album. Do I need to remind everybody again how essential it is? Side Note: In addition to this Deluxe Edition there is also a Super Deluxe Edition of "Quadrophenia", a lavishly packed LP-sized Box Set, which includes 5 CDs, a beautiful book with text by Townshend and beautiful photographs and a plethora of other goodies. It is expensive, but worth every penny for a true Who fan!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks 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!

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WHO ~ TOMMY (DELUXE EDITION) GEFFEN 138636 (Barcode: 602498610114) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1969 Released: 2003 Although referenced often as the first `Rock Opera`, this 1969 masterpiece by The WhoFind albums by this artist has verry little to do with operaic characteristics and is in fact one of the first full scale concept albums. Revolutionary in scope and contents, it remains as one of the most influential albums recorded in the 20th century and an epic to generations of Rock listeners. This expanded edition gives a great glimpse as to the birth of this project with earlier demos and outtakes. Absolutely essential.

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WHO ~ WHO`S NEXT (DELUXE EDITION) MCA 113056 (Barcode: 008811305628) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1971 Released: 2003 Following a masterpiece of the magnitude of TommyFind albums with this title was not an easy task even for such masters as The WhoFind albums by this artist and the birth of their next epic involved much pain and heartbreaks. However, by the end of a turbulant period the group released Who`s NextFind albums with this title, which not only stood up tp Tommy but even surpassed it in many areas - it was more mature, the playing was much better, the instrumentation more ellaborate and the tunes were absolutely brilliant - in fact probably the best the group ever recorded. The additional material includes an extra rare recording of a live performance of the album in front of a `test` audience. A rock milestone!

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend