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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