**** Rating
"...Join Together With The Band..."
When the unholy triumvirate of "Tommy" (May 1969), "Live At Leeds" (May 1970) and "Who's Next" (August 1971) hammered my squishy Irish noggin with riffage and anarchic lyrics a go-go – I was like most early Seventies teens – gone baby gone. I still have originals of them all on UK vinyl and in best nick possible (I even have the Headhunters Advert inner bag that came with first pressings of "Who's Next" in 1971 – serious nerdsville). In fact, I only have to look at the front sleeve of Next and I will always see wee-weeing on a concrete structure as a thing of unparalleled joy. "Quadrophenia" took our breath away in 1973 (another stunning themed double-album on Track Records) and thereafter (like so many others I suspect) all the Jules and Jims and Slip Kids have held a candle aloft for The Who most of our adult lives...
So back in the heady Nineties days of CD Box Set wonder-loads – like many a drooling dolly dimplecheeks, I awaited the July 1994 Box Set "Thirty Years Of Maximum R&B" by The Who with a frankly unnerving amount of physical excitement. And while it made great efforts in prep and sounded great and looked the presentation part too, I honestly found that the need for balancing desired studio tracks with Previously Unreleased live versions of them instead (to satiate fans like me) actually did for the Box (CD4 especially) and not necessarily in a good way.
Don't get me wrong - I love this guitar-jumping Moon-Loon gigglefest thing to death (and in July 2024 it will itself celebrate a 30th Anniversary). But if I am properly honest, it's a 4-star listen with 5-star presentation. Let's see action...
UK released 5 July 1995 - "Thirty Years Of Maximum R&B" by THE WHO on Polydor 521 751-2 (Barcode 731452175120) is a 79-Track 4CD Cardboard Long Box Set (including 14 Previously Unreleased) with New Remasters and Remixes that play out as follows:
CD1 (75:49 minutes):
1. Pete Townshend Dialogue (Live At Long Beach Arena, 1971, Previously Unreleased)
2. I'm The Face (July 1964 UK Debut 45-single as The High Numbers, Fontana TF 480, A-side – Newly Remixed, B-side is Track 4 on CD1)
3. Here 'Tis (Recorded 1964 in London as The High Numbers, Previously Unreleased, Bo Diddley cover version)
4. Zoot Suit (see Track 2 on CD1)
5. Leaving Here (Recorded 1964 in London as The High Numbers, First Issued on the November 1985 LP compilation "Who's Missing" on MCA Records, Remixed for the Box Set)
6. I Can't Explain (January 1965 UK 45-single on Brunswick 05926, A-side – their debut single as The Who and first song-writing credit on a 45 for PT – also their first 45 to chart as The Who in the USA on Decca 31725, released there in February 1965 and peaked at No. 93 on Billboard)
7. Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere (May 1965 UK 2nd 45-single on Brunswick 05935, A-side – also used as the theme to the BBC Pop Music Programme 'Ready Steady Go!' – features unannounced BBC Interview Intro with PT)
8. Daddy Rolling Stone (B-side of "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" – see Track 7 – an Otis Blackwell song)
9. My Generation (October 1965 UK third 45-single on Brunswick 05944, A-side)
10. The Kids Are Alright (from the debut UK LP "My Generation" released December 1965 in the UK on Brunswick LAT 8616, April 1966 in the USA as "The Who Sing My Generation" on Decca DL 4664 – both in Mono)
11. The Ox (as per Track 10, Instrumental with Nicky Hopkins guesting on Piano)
12. A Legal Matter (as per Track 10)
13. Pete Dialogue recorded Live At Leeds University, 14 February 1970 – Previously Unreleased - see Track 14)
14. Substitute (Track 14 from the "Live At Leeds" LP, May 1970, UK on Track Records 2406 001, USA on Decca DL 79175 – for further LAL songs see Track 27 and 28 on CD2)
15. I'm A Boy (August 1966 UK 45-single, Reaction 591004, A-side)
16. Disguises (November 1966 UK 5-Track Extended Play EP "Ready Steady Who" on Reaction 592001, Track 1, Side 1)
17. Happy Jack Jingle (0:31 seconds of studio dialogue)
18. Happy Jack (December 1966 UK 45-single, Reaction 591010, A-side)
19. Boris The Spider (from the second studio album "A Quick One", December 1966 in the UK on Reaction 593 002, issued May 1967 in the USA as "Happy Jack" on Decca DL 4892 (Mono) and Decca DL 74892 (Stereo). Same LP as the UK variant but with the song "Heat Wave" replaced by "Happy Jack" that was only a single in the UK)
20. So Sad About Us (as per Track 19)
21. A Quick One, While He's Away (9:39 minutes, a combination mix of the original LP version with a live version recorded for The Rolling Stones Rock And Roll Circus in December 1968)
22. Pictures Of Lily (April 1967, UK 45-single, Track 604002, A-side)
23. Early Morning Cold Taxi (Recorded October 1967 – Previously Unreleased)
24. Coke 2 (0:48 seconds of guitar-riffage singing Coca Cola)
25. The Last Time (June 1967, UK 45-single, Track 604006, A-side – a Rolling Stones cover done in support of Jagger and Richards being arrested on Drug Charges – the B-side is "Under My Thumb")
26. I Can't Reach You (from their third studio album "The Who Sell Out", December 1967 on Track 612 002 (Mono) and 613 002 (Stereo) – January 1968 USA on Decca DL 4950 (Mono) and DL 74950 (Stereo) – see also Tracks 1 to 10 on CD for more)
27. Girl's Eyes (Recorded in 1967 – Previously Unreleased)
28. Bag O'Nails (0:05 seconds)
29. Call Me Lightning (June 1968, UK 45-single, Track 604023, B-side of "Dogs")
NOTES on CD1:
Tracks 3, 23 and 27 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED Songs; other tracks are versions as noted
CD2 (75:45 minutes):
1. Rotosound Strings (0:06 seconds)
2. I Can See For Miles (October 1967, UK 45-single, Track 604011, A-side, also on "The Who Sell Out" LP)
3. Mary-Anne With The Shakey Hand (from their third studio album "The Who Sell Out", December 1967 on Track 612 002 (Mono) and 613 002 (Stereo) – January 1968 USA on Decca DL 4950 (Mono) and DL 74950 (Stereo))
4. Armenia City In The Sky (as per Track 3 on CD2)
5. Tattoo (as per Track 3 on CD2)
6. Our Love Was (as per Track 3 on CD2)
7. Rael 1 (as per Track 3 on CD2)
8. Rael 2 (Recorded 5 July 1967 in New York, 0:52 seconds, Previously Unreleased)
9. Track Records/Premier Drums (0:31 seconds)
10. Sunrise (as per Track 3 on CD2)
11. Russell Harty Dialogue (0:21 seconds)
12. Jaguar (Recorded November 1967 in London, Edited Version of a Previously Unreleased Recording)
13. Melancholia (Recorded May 1968 in London – Previously Unreleased)
14. Fortune Teller (Recorded May 1968 in London – Previously Unreleased)
15. Magic Bus (October 1968, UK 45-single, Track 604024, A-side)
16. Little Billy (first appeared on the September 1974 LP compilation "Odds And Sods" on Track Records 2406 116 (UK) and October 1974 in the USA on MCA Records MCA 2126)
17. Dogs (June 1968, 45-single, Track 604023, A-side – for B-side see Track 29 on CD1)
18. Overture (from the 2LP studio set "Tommy", May 1969 UK on Track 613 013/4, May 1969 USA on Decca DXSW 7205)
19. Acid Queen (see Track 18 on CD2)
20. Abbie Hoffman Incident (0:16 seconds, Live At Woodstock, see Track 21)
21. Underture (Version Recorded Live At Woodstock, 17 Aug 1969 and Finally Issued on the 2LP Soundtrack set "The Kids Are Alright" in June 1979 (UK Polydor 2675 179, USA on MCA Records MCA2-11005)
22. Pinball Wizard (see Track 18 on CD2)
23. I'm Free (see Track 18 on CD2)
24. See Me, Feel Me – Live (Tommy track recorded Live At Leeds University, 14 February 1970 – Previously Unreleased)
25. Heaven And Hell – Live (July 1970, UK 45-single, Track 2094 002, a John Entwistle song and B-side to "Summertime Blues")
26. Pete Dialogue (0:36 seconds)
27. Young Man Blues – Live (from the "Live At Leeds" LP, May 1970, UK on Track Records 2406 001, USA on Decca DL 79175 – a Mose Allison cover version - for more LAL songs see also Track 14 on CD1)
28. Summertime Blues – Live (see Track 27 on CD2 – an Eddie Cochran cover version – LP cut)
NOTES on CD2:
Tracks 8, 12, 13, 14 and 24 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
CD3 (75:01 minutes):
1. Shakin' All Over – Live (see Track 27 on CD2)
2. Baba O'Riley (from the LP "Who's Next", August 1971 UK on Track 2408 102, August 1971 USA on Decca 79182)
3. Bargain (original studio song on the "Who's Next" LP – this version recorded Live at San Francisco Civic Auditorium, 12 December 1971 and first released on the November 1985 US LP compilation "Who's Missing" on MCA Records MCA-5641)
4. Pure And Easy (first appeared on the September 1974 LP compilation "Odds And Sods" on Track Records 2406 116 (UK) and October 1974 in the USA on MCA Records MCA 2126)
5. The Song Is Over (as per Track 2 on CD3)
6. Studio Dialogue (0:47 seconds)
7. Behind Blue Eyes (as per Track 2 on CD3)
8. Won't Get Fooled Again (as per Track 2 on CD3, for another variant of a "Who's Next" LP song see also "My Wife", Track 11 on CD4)
9. The Seeker (Edit) (March 1970, UK 45-single, Track 604036, A-side)
10. Bony Maronie (Recorded at the Young Vic Theatre, London, 26 April 1971 and first issued on the June 1988 UK 4-Track CD Single for the reissue of "Won't Get Fooled Again" on Polydor POCD 917 – also 12" Single on Polydor POSPX 917)
11. Let's See Action (October 1971, UK 45-single, Track 2094 012, A-side)
12. Join Together (June 1972, UK 45-single, Track 2094 102, A-side)
13. Relay (January 1973, UK 45-single, Track 2094 106, A-side)
14. The Real Me (original version on the double-album "Quadrophenia" – released October 1973 – This Version recorded January 1979 during auditions for Kenney Jones to become the new drummer with The Who – Previously Unreleased)
15. 5:15 (Single Mix) (Full Version on "Quadrophenia" – This Edit released October 1973, UK 45-single, Track 2094 115, A-side)
16. Bell Boy (as per Track 14 on CD3)
17. Love Reign O'er Me (as per Track 14 on CD3)
NOTES on CD3:
Track 14 is PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
CD4 (76:17 minutes):
1. Long Live Rock (first appeared on the September 1974 LP compilation "Odds And Sods" on Track Records 2406 116 (UK) and October 1974 in the USA on MCA Records MCA 2126 – also released April 1979 in the UK on a 3-Track Retro Compilation 45-Single on Polydor WHO 2)
2. Life With The Moons (1:43 minutes)
3. University Challenge (0:30 seconds)
4. Slip Kid (from the October 1975 LP "The Who By Numbers" on Polydor 2490 129 in the UK, USA on MCA Records MCA 2161)
5. Poetry Cornered (0:39 seconds)
6. Dreaming From The Waist (studio version on the 1975 LP "The Who By Numbers" – this version recorded live at Swansea Football Grounds, 12 June 1976 – Previously Unreleased)
8. Blue Red And Grey (as per Track 4 on CD4)
9. Life With The Moons 2 (0:46 seconds)
10. Squeeze Box (as per Track 4 on CD 4, also UK 45-single, January 1976, Polydor 2121 275, A-side)
11. My Wife (original studio version on the "Who's Next" – this version recorded live at Swansea Football Grounds, 12 June 1976 – Previously Unreleased)
12. Who Are You (Single Edit, 5:00 minutes, July 1978, Polydor WHO 1, A-side – Full Version on the August 1978 LP "Who Are You" – see Track 13 on CD4)
13. Music Must Change (from the August 1978 "Who Are You", UK on Polydor WHOD 5002 and USA on MCA Records MCA 3050)
14. Sister Disco (see Track 13 on CD4)
15. Guitar And Pen (see Track 13 on CD4)
16. You Better You Bet (from the March 1981 LP "Face Dances", UK on Polydor WHOD 5003, US On Warner Brothers WB HS 3516 – also February 1981 UK 45-single on Polydor WHO 4)
17. Eminence Front (from the September 1982 LP "It's Hard" on Polydor WHOD 5066)
18. Twist And Shout – Previously Unreleased
19. I'm A Man – Previously Unreleased
20. Pete Dialogue (0:37 seconds)
21. Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting) (from 1991 tribute album to Elton John called "Two Rooms")
NOTES on CD4:
Tracks 6, 11, 18 and 19 are PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
The 72-page long-format colour booklet is comprehensive and pleasingly detailed. Principal songwriter and founder of The Who Pete Townshend starts his 3-page March 1994 notes on Page 5 with a typically self-deprecating analysis of his four-man brawling brat. PT is also unrepentant and rightly so – literally telling his and Keith Moon's detractors to f-off in the last few sentences. But also – deep amidst the post hurt and rancor is a pride that his band broke down so many doors and are beloved for a reason. Following that is a series of essays – Keith Altham on The Who in Britain (fabulous photos, gig flyers, reviews, Moon in a dress) that in turn is followed by a fabulous Chris Charlesworth piece on their broader reach that includes a month-by-month and year-by-year timeline.
But my fave piece of scripture is the Dave Marsh piece on The Who in America. Marsh wrote the first book on Springsteen, did loads of Rolling Stone Magazine stuff and a book on The 1001 Great Singles of All Time etc. Marsh explains how the band didn't really mean much there until well into 1966, after the release of their second album (entitled "Happy Jack" in the USA after the single). The live aspect of The Who too is also (not surprisingly) given serious verbiage. They blew people's heads off and still do with only Daltrey and Townshend left of the original four. Last is a track-by-track breakdown (where, when, which album, 45-single etc) that is followed by a full singles and LP discography wisely providing both UK and US releases (debut was 1965 in the UK, 1966 in the USA – the second album had a different title and slightly altered track list and so on). Explanations too – compilers Chris Charlesworth and Jon Astley talk about tapes (or lack of them) for the Previously Unreleased stuff for a whole page - in many cases justifying decisions and putting to bed rumors about better versions. In short (forgive the pun), the long booklet is a visual feast and even now in 2023 as I write this, a seriously great deep dive into every aspect of this fab band. The color photos and endless memorabilia shots, picture sleeves, press hoopla – is fantastic to look at – especially of course the Sixties and Seventies stuff when they along with other huge British exports like Jethro Tull, Humble Pie, Pink Floyd, Yes and The Stones – became among the biggest and most popular bands in the World. Even the title of the Box Set is followed with the moniker 'The Best Rock 'n' Roll Band In The World'.
The 1994 Box Set was Remixed, Remastered and Sequenced by ANDY MacPHEARSON and JON ASTLEY with CD Mastering done by JON ASTLEY and TIM YOUNG. You can hear not just the Volume - but Care. They knew this was a prestige release and due diligence has been done. To the music...
CD1 opens with anger (of course), Pete giving the crowd some shut up - this is a Rock & Roll concert not a f-in tea-party diatribe before we launch into a truly fantastic sounding "I'm The Face" by The High Numbers. Fans are then treated to a Previously Unreleased Bo Diddley cover "Here Tis" – an all night long shuffler with Harmonica driven R&B rhythms (good but not nearly as exciting as the debut single). The snappiest dresser B-side "Zoot Face" could really have been any British R&B act of 1964 aping the American scene – but what it does have is lovely clarity in the audio – drums, Bass, strummed guitar and picked out notes. Better is "Leaving Here" where The Who shows their love of Motown – an Eddie Holland cover version that had only been released in the USA in early December 1963 (Motown M-1052, A-side). Already that drum and guitar sound they mastered is already there – even if the recording is compromised in its obvious weedy nature.
Things return to Who brilliance with "I Can't Explain" – a single that sounded old and new at the same time – a fantastic urgency to it. Without any warning, "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" is preceded by dialogue where Pete is being grilled by a particularly plummy sounding DJ as he introduces their new bash-and-trash sound. The instrumental "The Ox" exemplifies their truly wild side – a thrasher from the My Generation debut album that features Nicky Hopkins equalling the squealing guitar mayhem with his piano playing. You could argue that the Box should have used the original 45-single mix for "Substitute" but here they set up the live single with unheard Pete dialogue from the Live At Leeds concert on 14 Feb 1970 and it so works. In August 1966 there were few bands saying I'm A Boy - I'm a head case - I'm A Boy – And My Ma Won't admit it. Kinda cool too to hear the lesser-appreciated grunge guitar of "Disguises" from the "Ready Steady Who" EP – more thematic cross-dressing references. The audio on "Happy Jack" is fabulously clear – Bass and Drums given clarity. The unreleased "Early Morning Cold Taxi" is OK but far better is the "Dogs" deep dive B-side "Call Me Lightning" which ends CD1 perfectly.
The first ten tracks on CD2 are essentially "The Who Sell Out" sessions and album (new in 1994). There is good and superfluous. While "Sunrise" is a gem (Pete on Acoustic) – the supposed Previously Unreleased Rael 2 is a 52-second nonsense – the Russell Harty jokey dialogue is witty for twenty seconds. Both the edited "Jaguar" and "Melancholia" are excellent unreleased outtakes as is the cover version of "Fortune Teller". But if I want real Who magic I go to Track 15 for "Magic Bus" – a piece of 45-single genius that combines Cochran acoustic with riffage towards the end. Do I need Pete telling a political activist to f-off at Woodstock while they launch into a wobbly recording of "Underdog" (eventually issued on the 1979 Kids Are Alright Movie Soundtrack) – not really. At least "Pinball Wizard" sounds amazing as the Tommy tracks begin to kick in. It rollicks home with the excellence of "Dogs" and the emergence of them as a Seventies powerhouse with "Live At Leeds" beginning to make its presence known. I never really liked the flipside "Heaven And Hell" if I am honest but I love that Previously Unreleased Pete Dialogue intro that sets up the Mose Allison and Eddie Cochran covers from "Live At Leeds" – the band tight and on fire even when trashing it.
CD3 is the one I play more than all others (and CD4 the one I ignore). The sheer power of The Who doing their version of the Johnny Kidd & The Pirates classic "Shakin' All Over" (even if it still has that cackle) is liable to punish your speakers (listen to Pete soloing, Entwistle hammering the Bass while Moon anchors it all on his kit). But then another kind of magic starts with Dave Arbus of East of Eden guesting on Violin for the magnificent "Baba O'Riley" – the keyboards and out there in the fields Side 1 opener from the August 1971 "Who's Next" album. I admit to tears on this – I go to mush over it. Daltrey suddenly sounds like the best vocalist ever – and then that riff just sees the song take off. This is a sophisticated-sounding Who – a band finding a sound and a zone where it all meshes into something huge. Teenage wasteland had never sounded like this. I would have much preferred the studio version of "Bargain" – instead we get the December 1971 live version finally issued in 1985 on the "Who's Missing" album. It is powerful, but it does not flow as well as the LP cut would have.
The March 1973 recording of "Pure And Easy" follows that is followed by the 1971 Side 1 finisher "The Song Is Over" from "Who's Next" – but despite the date difference – the placing works (sing my heart to the Infinite Sea). The witty studio dialogue ahead of "Behind Blue Eyes" works too – setting up the pain with a laugh. And what can you say about the 8:30 minutes of "Won't Get Fooled Again" – the full LP version given to fans in Remastered Riffage Monster Wallop and not the edited single version (15 June 1971) - Wow! There is a rare Apple Label Acetate of the 45-single displayed as the centrepiece of the credits page ("Won't Get Fooled Again" as an Acetate – yummy). We then get a huge fave of mine and one of their forgotten gems "The Seeker" (1970) – the first of four stand-alone 45s they did in the Seventies. The others are here too - "Let's See Action" (October 1971), "Join Together" (June 1972, Acetate pictured too) and "Relay" (December 1973). CD3 then romps home with an unreleased and a trio from "Quadrophenia" including two fab winners in "5:15" and the majestic "Love Reign O'er Me".
CD4 is a bummer for me. I like the singles "Squeeze Box", "Who Are You", "You Better You Bet" and the magnificent "Eminence Front" from the swansong of sorts LP "It's Hard" which was prepped for single release but withdrawn. "Eminence Front" is featured in many Who Live Shows nowadays precisely because (like "The Seeker") - it's one of those songs that deserves reappraisal and thrills the crowd. But the replacement of live tracks for studio versions and the backwards retro of "Twist And Shout" (even if it is previously unreleased) do not come across great. For sure deep LP cuts like "Guitar And Pen" and "Slip Kid" will get any fan-vote, but somehow the sequencing all feels like a let down.
In the end, I cannot be rational about The Who nor this "Thirty Years Of Maximum R&B" 4CD Box Set. It rocks like a stone mason with a demonically possessed chisel and a leery look in his one good eye.
Speaking of which - U2, The Rolling Stones, The Who and AC/DC have all laid claim at one point in time to being 'The Best Rock 'n' Roll Band In The World'.
Truth be told – they all are – but The
Who in their voluminous prime – Yippie Ki-Yay Mo-Fo's!
