The Who - Greatest Hits & more
Review by Jack Foley
AS IS the case with any great band or solo artist – from The Rolling Stones through The Beatles to Michael Jackson – Greatest Hits packages are a necessary but overly common part of the package.
Hence, not too long after The Who fans were contemplating Then And Now, they’re now faced with Greatest Hits & More. And there’s almost always a reason to buy the newest version.
Admittedly, this latest package – timed to coincide with The Who’s halftime show during the 2010 Superbowl in America – has plenty to recommend it… and thankfully not just the back catalogue.
The Greatest Hits themselves comprise 19 belting rock songs, from I Can’t Explain through My Generation, Pinball Wizard, Pictures of Lily to It’s Not Enough.
There’s also the three signature CSI tracks, Won’t Be Fooled Again, Who Are You and Baba O’Riley (the latter of which rates as, arguably, their greatest track and my own personal favourite!)
But the 2CD package comes complete with a full album of rare live tracks chosen by the band themselves, covering performances from 1965 right up to 2007.
Sadly (for this listener at least!), there’s no live rendition of Baba O’Riley, but there’s plenty to savour – and is a major selling point that’s to be cherished by Who fans who venture out to buy it.
Aside from cracking live versions of obvious choices (and landmark hits) I Can’t Explain, Substitute, Pinball Wizard and Happy Jack (the latter of which comes from Hull City Hall in 1970), there are some surprise inclusions that succeed in really capturing the thrill of seeing The Who live.
I’m Free, recorded in Swansea in 1976, Squeeze Box from the same gig, and a three-track medley comprised of Naked Eye, Let’s See Action and My Generation, and recorded at Charlton Athletic FC in 1974, are absolutely brilliant.
The latter, in particular, features loads of guitar solos from Pete Thownsend and an almost bluesy version of My Generation that marks an interesting alternative to the more commonly associated version by the band. It also lasts for a mighty 14 minutes!
A rousing clap-along version of Magic Bus caught live from Leeds University in 1970 is also pretty special… raw, ragged and proper fun.
And a crisp recording of My Generation captured at the BBC in 1965 is also a belter.
Coming right up to date, meanwhile, there’s super versions of I Can See For Miles and Who Are You, from the Universal Amphitheatre in 1989, and – to round things off – a splendid acoustic version of A Man In A Purple Dress, recorded live at Nassau Coliseum in 2007.
To complete the package, a Greatest Hits Live eAlbum is also available exclusively from iTunes featuring 22 tracks – some of which can be found on the second CD of the physical format, and most of which feature further live performances.
For once, you might not mind forking out for another Greatest Hits collection. For this, like The Who themselves, truly rocks!
Download picks: I Can’t Explain, Happy Jack, Pictures of Lily, Magic Bus, Baba O’Riley, Won’t Get Fooled Again, A Man In A Purple Dress (Live), Squeeze Box (Live), Naked Eye/Let’s See Action/My Generation (Live), Magic Bus (Live), Who Are You (Live), Happy Jack (Live)
Track listing:
Disc One
Disc Two
- I Can’t Explain [Live at San Francisco Civic Auditorium 1971]
- Substitute [Live At San Francisco Civic Auditorium 1971]
- Happy Jack [Live at City Hall Hull 1970]
- I’m A Boy [Live At City Hall Hull 1970]
- Behind Blue Eyes [Live At San Francisco Civic Auditorium 1971]
- Pinball Wizard [Live In Swansea 1976]
- I’m Free [Live In Swansea 1976]
- Squeeze Box [Live In Swansea 1976]
- Naked Eye / Let’s See Action / My Generation [Medley] [Live At Charlton Athletic FC 1974]
- 5:15 [Live At The Capital Centre Largo 1973
- Won’t Get Fooled Again [Live At The Capital Centre Largo 1973]
- Magic Bus [Live At Leeds University 1970]
- My Generation [Live At The BBC 1965]
- A Man In A Purple Dress [Live At Nassau Coliseum 2007]
- Who Are You [Live At Universal Amphitheatre 1989]
- The Kids Are Alright [Live At Royal Albert Hall 2002]