Wednesday 17 February 2010

Review - The Who - Greatest Hits & More

The Who - Greatest Hits & More

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7 out of 10

Apparently, the remaining pair of the 'orrible 'Oo performed during half time at this year's Superbowl. Hence, then, the release of yet another Greatest Hits package. Obviously. Keep up at the back there - times are hard, even for multi-millionaire rock stars. Cutting-edge topiary around the boundary of your award-winning trout farm doesn't pay for itself, you know. Anyway, pointless financial sniping aside, is this worth shelling out for? Especially as there's a live, iTunes-exclusive double set to snag, as well.

There's no arguing with the studio classics on disc one, clearly. They're some of the most powerful songs ever committed to tape, all present and correct. Another plus point is the omission of Boris the Spider - a track which often scuttles its way onto these collections. We know the Ox was a great bass player - we don't need another reminder of his vocal piss-takes. The live stuff? Wonderful recording quality - no crackly bootleg rubbish, here. Superb playing. Vocally, they're all over the place. Nothing strikes as a definitive, essential addition to the canon. Collecting fans will snap them up but I don't think there's much on offer for the less-devoted. A great band, still in another universe in comparison with 99% of the hooting idiots polluting stages and studios today, but I sense the tape cupboard is getting a bit bare.

Listen: www.thewho.com

Tracklist:
Disc 1

1. I Can't Explain
2. My Generation
3. The Kids Are Alright
4. Substitute
5. Happy Jack
6. Pictures of Lily
7. I Can See For Miles
8. Magic Bus
9. Pinball Wizard
10. Behind Blue Eyes
11. Baba O'Riley
12. Won't Get Fooled Again
13. Love Reign O'er Me
14. Squeeze Box
15. Who Are You
16. You Better You Bet
17. Eminence Front
18. Real Good Looking Boy
19. It's Not Enough

Disc 2

1. I Can't Explain (live at San Francisco Civic, 1971)
2. Substitute (live at San Francisco Civic)
3. Happy Jack (live at Hull City Hall, 1970)
4. I'm A Boy (live at Hull City Hall, 1970)
5. Behind Blue Eyes (live at San Francisco Civic, 1971)
6. Pinball Wizard (live in Swansea, 1976)
7. I'm Free (live in Swansea, 1976)
8. Squeeze Box (live in Swansea, 1976)
9. Naked Eye / Let's See Action / My Generation (medley) (live at Charlton Athletic FC, 1974)
10. 5.15 (live at Largo Capital Centre, 1973)
11. Won't Get Fooled Again (live at Largo Capital Centre, 1973)
12. Magic Bus (live at Leeds University, 1970)
13. My Generation (live at the BBC, 1965)
14. I Can See For Miles (live at Universal Amphitheatre, 1989)
15. Who Are You (live at Universal Amphitheatre, 1989)
16. A Man In A Purple Dress (live at Nassau Coliseum, 2007)

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