Re: Who's Next/New Live CD

[svante@df.lth.se (Svante Boerjesson)]

Hi all,

Just continuing discussions on some interesting topics...

>From: mick.mclaughlin@nashville.com
>Subject: Who's Next/Leslie West

>I just bought the boot CD "From Lifehouse to Leeds".
>I have heard much about it and bought it mainly for the studio version of
>"Baby Don't Ya Do It".  However, on first listening I was stunned to
>realize that three (maybe four) of the "live in the studio" tracks from the
>Who's Next sessions feature Leslie West, the guitarist for Mountain.  There
>is no doubt that this is Leslie.  His style to too distinctive to miss.
>Also, I had recently read his claim to have been involved in the Who's Next
>sessions.  I didn't know whether to believe it or not until now.
>
>These are rehearsed songs he is playing on, not just a jam session.  They
>are Love Ain't For Keeping, WGFA, Behind Blue Eyes (maybe), and BDYDI.  My
>questions are, was anyone else aware that this CD included those Leslie
>West sessions, and why do you think Pete had him in the studio working on
>songs from their new album?

I've had this CD for quite a while. I think it's the best sounding boot around.

It does raise a few questions. What tracks does West play on? And I find it
interesting to speculate in who really released this CD?

Many of these tracks are interesting to hear as they are so different to the
ones released on Who's Next (btw would this be "Who's West" ? :-)

The tracks I like the most are "Baby Don't You Do It" and the electric "Love
Ain't for Keeping". On "Pure&Easy" especially Keith seems to be having an off
day. I like the official version better, even if it is slower.

WGFA also sounds a bit sloppy and unfinished. It is very different to
the official version though.

Also the New York version of "Baby.." is on the CD "Life with the Moons".
This seems to be mixed differently, as if Glyn Johns had mixed it. Did he?

The lead guitar on WGFA and Baby sounds very un-Townshend, but what about the
others. "Love Ain't for Keeping" - Is this West?

>From: amck@eden.com (Alan McKendree)
>Subject: Re: Who's Next/Leslie West

>Since you ast, yes, I knew West was on the CD.  I always presumed it was
>because Pete considered him a better technical guitarist and wanted him to
>execute some of the phrases/solos Pete had in mind.  But that's is nothing
>more than MHO.

Yes, I tend to agree. Pete was always a fan of other musicians and guitarists,
like Clapton, Hendrix, Walsh, Bolton etc. for the same reason. Don't know why he
picked West for this. Maybe mostly because they were in New York at the time.

>From: WFang01@aol.com
>Subject: New "live" out!!!
>
>"Live" from Scorpio (or one of its "other labels"--from the same folks that
>brought us "Lifehouse To Leeds"), something called (or similar) "Decca
>Acetates '68-'69". It's supposed to be a LIVE CD of ??? with outstanding
>sound quality ???

I wonder where Scorpio gets its material from? I've noticed that on "Lifehouse
To Leeds", the pictures are from the same photo sessions as pictures that have
cropped up in the fanzine Generations and more recently in Chris Charlesworth's
"The Complete [Huh?] Guide to the Music of the Who". Is this perhaps
Charlesworth's photos?

I know the "story" behind "Lifehouse To Leeds" about some "birdman" buying
the master tapes at a swap meet. I don't really buy it. Isn't it possible
that Pete Townshend was in possession of the tapes and decided to "release" it?
And, isn't "birdman" just a synonym for Pete Townshend?

This may also explain the bootleg "The Tommy Demos" and similar bootlegs.

Well, just some thoughts. Lots of IMHOs in here.

- Svante

PS I'll be in London 13th - 17th September. For those of you going to
the convention, I hope I'll see you all there. My ticket btw is #335! DS

---------------------------------------------------------------
  Svante Boerjesson <svante@df.lth.se>, phone (+46) 40 916403
                     homepage at: http://www.df.lth.se/~svante
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