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New Fans and Recommendations
Hey all:
We should all be thankful to be
reminded of the NEW fans out there, like those who have recently posted on the
list. It's nice to know the boys still attract new listeners even nearly twenty
years on from their last new album.
It is refreshing to see listers post
about only knowing part of the Who's work when we tend to obsess on forgotten,
obscure (sometimes rightfully so) b-sides, outtakes, varying vynil releases,
bootlegs, and solo things.
For those "newbies" to the Who
catalog, here's a suggestion, one person's opinion of stuff you should own, in
order of importance (again, my opinion only, i'm sure others will post varying
opinions).
1. 30 Years of Maximum R&B (a nice overview
with some exclusive songs)
2. The Kids Are Alright soundtrack (Shocking, I
know, but it features great exclusive live cuts, and is also a nice overview of
their career through the death of Keith Moon. In fact, just get the video, it's
even better).
3. Who's Next (Arguably their finest rock record,
everybody knows half these songs).
4. Live At Leeds (Undoubtably one of the best live
recordings ever-- according to almost any critic. The remaster has triple the
material, but the original is awesome start to finish)
5. Quadrophenia (Fan favorite, including my own
personal favorite. Townshend's masterpiece. Challenging music, concept
album)
6. Tommy (Some would say their legacy. The first
real concept record. Known even outside rock circles)
7. The Who Sell Out (Excellent pop/rock early Who
record, this tribute to pirate radio in London features the boys simulating
radio by jumping from style to style with
commercials in between).
8-12. A Quick One-Happy Jack/Who Are You/Who By
Numbers/Odds and Sods/Live at the Isle of Wight
(no particular order, they're equally great. Quick
One is great early stuff, Who Are You features classics and clunkers, By Numbers
is downbeat but poetic self-reflection, Odds and Sods collects some essential
b-sides and outtakes, Isle of Wight is not as good as Leeds, but darn
good)
13-15. My Generation/Face Dances/It's Hard (I'll
get creamed for this, but the first album is very weak, the best stuff appears
elsewhere, and besides, you can't find it on CD to save your life. The last two
albums are generally considered their weakest studio efforts - although I like
them alot, maybe because they were new when I first got into the Who. It's Hard
would be my first choice of these three).
Pete's solo work:
1. "Empty Glass" (Essential. Almost
Who.)
2. "White City" (Close second)
3. "All The Best Cowboys Have... Chinese Eyes" (fan
favorite, very odd and challenging in the way "Quadrophenia" and "Who By
Numbers" are)
4. "Who Came First" (a great insight into Pete's
demo recording and spirituality; it is, at times, gushingly
pretentious)
5. "Psychoderelict" (Very cool mix of
great new music and a radio-play)
6. "Rough Mix" (Only half Pete, half Ronnie Lane,
but it contains some great stuff)
7... the rest of Pete's solo output, including the
recent live release, are all good but not essential, and check out these other
ones first. The "Scoop" albums contain many
demos and outtakes, great for hardcore fans but tedious to casual
fans.)
Honorable mentions:
"Quadrophenia" soundtrack (contains three exclusive
Who songs)
"Tommy" soundtrack (great music, some superior
performances, some garbage)
"Who's Missing" and "Two's Missing" (for hardcore
fans, rare songs and performances)
"McVicar" soundtrack (contains a couple great songs
by Kenney Jones and Townshend/Entwhistle/Daltrey, from a film Daltrey starred
in)
"Under a Raging Moon"--Roger Daltrey (contains the
Pete-penned tune "After the Fire")
"Secret Policeman's Ball: The Music" (Check out
Pete's fantastic solo acoustic renditions of "Pinball Wizard", "Won't Get Fooled
Again" and especially "Drowned")
"Who's Last" (Only if you must have more live Who.
I recommend the "Who Rocks America: Toronto 1982" video instead, if you can find
it)
"Two Sides of the Moon" (only if you REALLY love
Keith. Amusing but dissapointing)
Boots*:
Charlton Football Stadium, 1974. (Kicks
ass)
Woodstock, full set (WHY has this never been
released officially??!!??)
Pete at the Roundhouse, 1973 (Very interesting
early solo show to promote "Who Came First" i believe)
*There are many bootlegs of "rare"
recordings that have been made obsolete by the remaster bonus tracks and
the box set, as well as the forthcoming "BBC Sessions" album.
i'm SURE i forgot something in there,
and i'm SURE you guys will remind me of stuff i forgot. But this is a good wish
list for any Who fan to try and shoot for. i didn't include John and Roger solo
stuff because i'm not near enough an authority on their works to make such a
list. i'd like to see one if anyone cares to come up with one.
That's my advice, hope it helps
point somebody in the right direction. Will surely stir some debate, either
way....
Happy Thankslistening
everybody............... peace&anarchy, jeffree