Tuesday, August 18, 2009

The Who


8-18-09 The Who


Long Live Rock!


7" 5:15 / I'M ONE POLYDOR US PD 2022

1979 2 TRKS with pic sleeve, O.S.T. “Quadrophenia”

LPx2 AMAZING JOURNEY – THE STORY OF THE WHO UNIVERSAL US B0010613-01

2008 16 TRK Collection

7" ATHENA / A MAN IS A MAN POLYDOR UK WHOP 6

1982 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, pic disc

7" ATHENA / IT'S YOUR TURN WARNER US 7-29905

1982 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

CD BBC SESSIONS POLYDOR JPN POCP-7413

1999 26 TRKS (60's & 70's BBC recordings), Japanese edition

LP BEST OF POLYDOR DE 184 152

1968 12 TRK Collection, same as "Direct Hits"

LPx2 BEST OF THE LAST TEN YEARS '64 - '74 POLYDOR FR 2664 323

1974 24 TRK Collection

7" CALL ME LIGHTNING / DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE POLYDOR DE 59198

1966 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

LP DIRECT HITS TRACK UK 613 006

1968 12 TRK Collection, UK original

LP DIRECT HITS POLYDOR JPN MPX 4020

1968 12 TRK Collection, re-issue, insert

CD DIRECT HITS UNIVERSAL JPN UICP-93004

1968 12 TRK Collection, kami sleeve ('07 issue)

7" DOGS / CIRCLES POLYDOR DE 59210

1966 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

7" EMINENCE FRONT / ONE AT A TIME WARNER US 7-29814

1982 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

CD ENDLESS WIRE UNIVERSAL US B0007846-10

2006 21 TRKS CD + DVD (Live '06)

CD EXCITING (Collection) UNIVERSAL JPN UICY-93168

1968 10 TRKS ('06 issue) kami sleeve

LP FACE DANCES WARNER US 3516.1

1981 9 TRKS poster

CD FACE DANCES re MCA US MCAD 11634

1981 14 TRKS (5 x bonus tracks) '97 issue

LPx2 FILLING IN THE GAPS promo WARNER US WBMS 116

1981 promo-only interview 2LP

7" I CAN SEE FOR MILES / MARY-ANNE...SHAKY HANDS DECCA US 32206

1968? 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

CD I'M A BOY (Collection) UNIVERSAL JPN UICY-93167

1967 12 TRKS ('06 issue) kami sleeve

7" I'M A BOY / IN THE CITY REACTION UK 591 004

1966 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, original

LP IT'S HARD WARNER US 23731.1

1982 12 TRKS U.S. pressing

CD IT'S HARD re MCA US MCAD 11635

1982 16 TRKS (4 x bonus tracks) '97 issue

LP JOIN TOGETHER (RARITIES) POLYDOR NZ 2311 132

1982 10 TRK Collection, NZ only

LPx2 KIDS ARE ALRIGHT, THE MCA US MCA2-1105

1979 17 TRK Collection, booklet

CD KIDS ARE ALRIGHT, THE re MCA US 543694.2

1979 17 TRK Collection ('01 issue)

7" LET'S SEE ACTION / WHEN I WAS A BOY TRACK UK 2094 012

1971 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

LP LIVE AT LEEDS DECCA US DL 79175

1970 6 TRKS Live, inserts, poster

CDx2 LIVE AT LEEDS (Deluxe edition) MCA US 112 618.2

1970 33 TRKS ('01 issue) Live, re-mastered

7" LONG LIVE ROCK POLYDOR UK WHO 2

1979 3 TRKS with pic sleeve (2121 383)

LP MAGIC BUS DECCA US DL 75064

1968? 11 TRK U.S. Collection

7" MAGIC BUS / SOMEONE'S COMING DECCA US 32362

1968? 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

LP MEATY, BEATY, BIG & BOUNCY TRACK UK 2406 006

1972? 14 TRK Collection

CD MILLENNIUM COLLECTION MCA US MCAD-11951

1999 10 TRK Collection

LP MY GENERATION POLYDOR DE 2478 144

1965 12 TRKS mono, re-issue

LP MY GENERATION BRUNSWICK UK LAT 8616

1965 12 TRKS UK original, mono

CDx2 MY GENERATION (Deluxe edition) MCA US 112 926.2

2002 30 TRKS ('02 issue) stereo ('65 recording)

7" MY GENERATION / SHOUT AND SHIMMY BRUNSWICK UK 5944

1965 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

LP ODDS & SODS MCA US MCA-2126

1974 11 TRK Collection, poster

CD ODDS & SODS re MCA US MCAD 11718

1974 23 TRK Collection (12 x bonus tracks) '98 issue

LP OX, THE (Backtrack 14) TRACK UK 2407 014

1971? 13 TRK Collection, John Entwistle ‘Who’ songs

LPx2 PERFECT COLLECTIONS POLYDOR JPN MP 9447/8

1973 24 TRK Japan-only Collection, insert

7" PINBALL WIZARD / DOGS PART 2 MCA US MCA-60174

1969 2 TRKS no pic sleeve ('80 re-issue)

LP PORTRAIT OF THE WHO POLYDOR NL 2482 100

1966? 12 TRK Collection (80's re-issue)

7" POSTCARD (mono) / (stereo) promo TRACK US MCA-40330

1974 2 TRKS no pic sleeve, promo

LPx2 QUADROPHENIA TRACK UK 2657 013

1973 17 TRKS large booklet, U.K. original

LPx2 QUADROPHENIA TRACK JPN ECPI 1/2TR

1973 17 TRKS large booklet, insert

CDx2 QUADROPHENIA re MCA US MCAD2-11463

1973 17 TRKS ('96 issue) large booklet

CDx2 QUADROPHENIA (O.S.T.) POLYDOR JPN POCP-2346/7

1979 22 TRKS V.A. O.S.T.

LP QUICK ONE, A POLYDOR JPN MPX 4018

1966 10 TRKS '80 re-issue

CD QUICK ONE, A MCA US MCAD 31331

1967 11 TRKS (1 x bonus track) (stereo, 1st CD issue)

LP QUICK ONE, A (aka 'HAPPY JACK') DECCA US DL 4892

1967 10 TRKS mono

LP QUICK ONE, A (Backtrack 8) TRACK UK 2407 008

1970 10 TRKS re-issue, mono

LP QUICK ONE, A mono REACTION UK 593 002

1966 10 TRKS mono, UK original

CD QUICK ONE, A re MCA US MCAD 11267

1967 20 TRKS re-mastered (10 x bonus tracks)

CD RARITIES 1966 - 1972 - Vols. 1 & 2 POLYDOR UK 847670.2

1991 25 TRK Collection (60's & 70's recordings)

LP RARITIES Vol. 1 (1966 - 1968) POLYDOR UK SPELP 9

1983 15 TRK Collection (60's recordings)

7" READY STEADY WHO (EP) REACTION UK 592 001

1966 4 TRK EP; with pic sleeve, original

7" RELAY / WASPMAN TRACK UK 2094 106

1972 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

7" SEEKER, THE / HERE FOR MORE TRACK UK 604 036

1970 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

LPx2 STORY OF THE WHO, THE POLYDOR UK 2683 069

1976 26 TRK Collection

12" SUBSTITUTE POLYDOR UK 2058 803

1976? 3 TRKS no pic sleeve, re-issue

7" SUBSTITUTE / I'M A BOY / PICTURES OF LILY POLYDOR UK 2058 803

1976? 3 TRKS no pic sleeve, re-issue

7" SUBSTITUTE / WALTZ FOR A PIG REACTION UK 591 001

1966 2 TRKS no pic sleeve; Graham Bond Organization

7" SUMMERTIME BLUES / HEAVEN AND HELL DECCA US 32708

1971? 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

LPx2 TOMMY TRACK UK 613 013

1969 24 TRKS booklet (613 013 / 014)

LPx2 TOMMY POLYDOR JPN MP 9313/4

1969 24 TRKS booklet (70's issue)

LP TOMMY - Part 1 TRACK UK 2406 007

1969 10 TRKS Part 1 of 2

CD TOMMY (MFSL Gold disc) MOBILE FIDELITY UDCD 533

1969 21 TRKS MFSL Gold Disc

LPx2 TOMMY (O.S.T.) POLYDOR UK 2657 014

1975 31 TRKS O.S.T.

CDx2 TOMMY (SACD - Deluxe Edition) MCA US B0001386-36

2003 32 TRKS SACD - DSD Mastering

CD TWO'S MISSING MCA US MCAD 31222

1987 14 TRK Collection (60's & 70's recordings)

LP TWO'S MISSING MCA US MCA-5712

1987 14 TRK Collection (60's & 70's recordings)

LP WHO ARE YOU? MCA US MCA-3050

1978 9 TRKS U.S. pressing

7" WHO ARE YOU? / HAD ENOUGH POLYDOR UK WHO 1

1978 2 TRKS with pic sleeve

CD WHO ARE YOU? re MCA US MCAD 11492

1978 14 TRKS (5 x bonus tracks) '96 issue

LP WHO BY NUMBERS, THE MCA US MCA-2161

1975 10 TRKS U.S. pressing

CD WHO BY NUMBERS, THE re MCA US MCAD 11493

1975 13 TRKS (3 x bonus tracks) '96 issue

LP WHO SELL OUT, THE (Backtrack 9) TRACK UK 2407 009

1970 13 TRKS re-issue, stereo

CDx2 WHO SELL OUT, THE (Deluxe edition) POLYDOR UK 5315336

1967 53 TRKS ('09 issue) mono / stereo versions etc.

LP WHO SELL OUT, THE TRACK UK 612 002

1967 13 TRKS mono

LP WHO SELL OUT, THE DECCA US DL 4950

1967 13 TRKS mono

CD WHO SELL OUT, THE re MCA US MCAD 11268

1967 23 TRKS (10 x bonus tracks) '95 issue

LPx2 WHO'S LAST MCA US MCA2-8018

1984 16 TRKS Live '82

CD WHO'S MISSING MCA US MCAD 31221

1985 12 TRK Collection (60's & 70's recordings)

LP WHO'S MISSING MCA US MCA-5641

1985 12 TRK Collection (60's & 70's recordings)

LP WHO'S NEXT TRACK UK 2408 102

1971 9 TRKS U.K. original pressing

LP WHO'S NEXT DECCA US DL 79182

1971 9 TRKS U.S. original pressing

CDx2 WHO'S NEXT (Deluxe edition) MCA US 113 056.2

1971 29 TRKS ('03 issue)(20 x bonus tracks)

CD WHO'S NEXT re MCA US MCAD 11269

1971 16 TRKS (7 x bonus tracks) '95 issue

CD5 WIRE & GLASS - SIX SONGS FROM A MINI-OPERA POLYDOR UK 1702801

2006 1 TRK EP (6 segments)

7" WON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN (Edit) DECCA US 32846

1971? 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

7" YOU BETTER YOU BET / DON'T LET GO THE COAT WARNER US GWB 0412

1981 2 TRKS no pic sleeve

7" YOU BETTER YOU BET / QUIET ONE, THE POLYDOR UK WHO 4

1981 2 TRKS with pic sleeve


I have resisted posting large discographies for obvious reasons. But for The Who, I will make an exception. I have a lot of records by The Who. I have been a fan since the late 60’s, hearing “Magic Bus” on the AM radio etc. I have bought ‘em all at the time of release, from “Tommy” onwards. Never got to see them live, unfortunately – I did, however, get to see John Entwistle play live in a small Redondo Beach nightclub (with enough amplification for a 14,000 seat arena).


I can say that this is music that I grew up with. A lot of it is considered “classic rock”, I suppose. Some of it is “over-played” (i.e. “Who’s Next”). But I can think of a lot of different points in my life when I was discovering stuff, and being aware of The Who and what they were doing. “Dogs” is one of my all time favorite songs by any artist – ever! Did I march into young adulthood with either “Tommy” or “Live At Leeds” as my soundtrack? You bet.


As with many of my favorite artists, there is a period of music by The Who that I am less than enchanted with – notably “Quadrophenia”. I had been a Who fan for 5 years, and at the time, it seemed to me that they were try to re-do “Tommy”.


Speaking of which, the SACD of “Tommy” sounds truly amazing. Despite what some may think about “Tommy” (or SACD), I was blown away over how good it sounded. You can tell it’s not a “million dollar” recording, but The Who were definitely at the peak of their powers when they recorded it. I’ve also been reading an interesting book: “The Who and The Making of Tommy” by Nigel Cawthorne. I’ve got a lot of books about The Who, always a group that demanded illumination, as far as I am concerned.


So, have I got everything on both vinyl & CD by The Who? Probably not. I always stayed away from the assorted boxed sets, yet I do have numerous 2LP collections. I definitely feel that the re-mastered CD’s (clear trays, bonus tracks) are well worth getting – try and find an “all-stereo” “Happy Jack” MCA CD, or the re-mastered “Odds and Sods”, both really amusing.


3 of the 4 members of The Who all deserve their own blogs. Pete, John and Roger all have formidable solo albums. Ever hear the O.S.T. for “McVicar”? Amazing! “Smash Your Head Against The Wall”? Probably my favorite record in The Who canon of work. And I do think “Empty Glass” is pretty damned good – but I like nearly all of Townshend’s solo work. Yep, all three x “Scoop” CD’s!


5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Despite my antipathy for Roger Daltrey, the McVicar OST is really good! I used to have it before the great vinyl purge. I wouldn't say no to a used CD of it. I thought MCA did a great job on the single disc RMs of the late 90s. I have "The Who Sell Out" and "Who's Next." They did such a good job I'm not really enough of a Who fan to buy all of the the 2xCD RMs. The bonus material on each is stellar! The only other Who material I'd like is:

The Who Sing My Generation 2xCD RM
A Quick One + 1xCD RM
It's Hard

The rest of their canon I'm immune to.

With all of those bonus tracks everywhere, does one even need "Odds + Sods" anymore?

I've said it before, "Who's Next" is probably the one classic rock album I have no problem listening to. I guess I missed it on the radio. The 2 years I listened to "FM rock" ('78-'79) wasn't enough to burn me out on it. At that time they were too busy playing "Who Are You" on the hour, I guess.

Anonymous said...

Caveat. I've not heard "Endless Wire" so I shouldn't dismiss it out of hand. Though I prefer early Who, I'm not biased against late model material as "It's Hard" proves.

Ron Kane said...

Jim-san,

If you like later era Who, try "Face Dances" - excellent writing.

Yes, one still requires "Odds & Sods". And I recommend "A Quick One" beyond belief. I forget how one tells if the CD is all stereo or partial stereo, but...worth it!

"Who's Next" was flogged incessantly on the radio here, and, for all I know - still is. I "grew up" with that album, but... I only ever play "My Wife" from it!

Anonymous said...

I bought Face Dances when it came out and remember liking only the cover!

I was perhaps fortunate (?) that I grew up with top 40 radio, so The Who to me was (ugh) "Squeeze Box" or "My Generation" or "Magic Bus." It amazes me that so many major league rock bands rarely got top 40 singles, and from 70-77 top 40 was all I heard. So the only Zeppelin I ever heard was "D'yer Mak'er" for most of my childhood!!!

chas_m said...

I enjoy early and mid-period Who, though I haven't collected much of it. I do always keep a copy of "Empty Glass" around, I thought it was a great debut solo album. One of my favourite "hit" tracks of theirs is "Substitute" -- wasn't that on Meaty Beaty?