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Post by jk on Mar 16, 2021 10:46:41 GMT
I'm starting the The Who thread because I think there are some interesting topics we could discuss about the band. To begin with, I'd like to ask you guys' opinion of The Who as musicians. What do you think of Pete Townshend as a writer/composer/guitarist, Keith Moon as a drummer, The Ox as a bassist and Roger Daltrey as a singer/frontman? I tend to think of them as a unit that locked together wonderfully well, rather than as individuals. I remember hearing "I Can't Explain" and loving the vocal harmonies. But I really took notice upon seeing this stunning mid-1965 live performance on Ready Steady Go! of its successor, "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere", in which all four shine in their various ways:
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Post by kds on Mar 16, 2021 12:18:50 GMT
The Who as musicians
Roger - Powerhouse vocalist
Pete - I think Pete was more of a rhythm guitarist, but his lead work actually improved as the band went on (ie. some of their mid 70s material features some of his best playing). Great writer, great vision.
John - Arguably the greatest bass player who ever lived.
Keith - His persona has overshadowed how well he plays the drums.
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Post by jk on Mar 16, 2021 17:21:17 GMT
John - Arguably the greatest bass player who ever lived. Personally, I didn't even consider the possibility of him being the greatest before. But after I started thinking about it, there aren't many like him or as good as him. He's the perfect balance between a very melodic and a very busy bass player. And I really appreciate that You'd do well to remember that back in those days, the least proficient guitarist in the band was relegated to playing bass! And then along came John Entwistle and all the rules of engagement were turned on their head. I'm thinking specifically of the bass solo (in itself unheard of in '65) in "My Generation": en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Generation
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Post by Kapitan on Mar 16, 2021 17:44:14 GMT
To begin with, I'd like to ask you guys' opinion of The Who as musicians. What do you think of Pete Townshend as a writer/composer/guitarist, Keith Moon as a drummer, The Ox as a bassist and Roger Daltrey as a singer/frontman? Mostly I think of them as a powerful--and that's usually the word I'd use, powerful--ensemble more than as particularly virtuosic musicians. Maybe something like what jk says, as a unit. But having said that:
Daltrey - I think he fit into (or helped create?) the prototypical frontman image, with a powerful voice, great range, and of course the blonde look. (Not that we're talking looks.)
Townshend - Very good songwriter, really strong rhythm player.
Entwistle - He's probably the best player of the bunch, in a strange way that was often almost like guitar riffing and with an aggressive kind of tone to his bass.
Moon - Explosive. I don't know how technically good he is, to be honest I haven't really studied him in any detail (and I'm no drummer anyway, so some technical aspects would be lost on me, such as X being very hard to do because of Y and Z). But I hear him mostly as a crazy basher, which I say in the best possible way. Really good rock drummer. I can't say whether he's really much more than that.
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Post by kds on Mar 16, 2021 18:16:20 GMT
John - Arguably the greatest bass player who ever lived. Personally, I didn't even consider the possibility of him being the greatest before. But after I started thinking about it, there aren't many like him or as good as him. He's the perfect balance between a very melodic and a very busy bass player. And I really appreciate that I think I really came around on that idea when I saw The Who for the first time in July 2000, and John was still around. Simply incredible.
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Post by kds on Mar 16, 2021 19:11:32 GMT
I think I really came around on that idea when I saw The Who for the first time in July 2000, and John was still around. Simply incredible. No doubt it was a great concert. Even the modern version of The Who with only Townshend and Daltrey turns great performances... And it surely would be even better with John. I've seen them in person three times now. The one time with Roger, Pete, and John, and twice with just Pete and Roger. I'm surprised that they're able to still put on such a good quality show. Having Zak Starkey in drums certainly helps, as he's the best Who style drummer they've had (no offense to Kenney Jones or Simon Phillips, but they weren't good fits).
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Post by kds on Mar 16, 2021 19:54:18 GMT
Oh, definitely, Zak is a really good fit. And even though he's one of the very few drummers that are kind of Keith Moon-y, it feels natural. Like, he isn't trying to be or replace Keith. I do wish The Who used their live band more on their recent studio releases - Endless Wire (2006) and WHO (2019). I enjoy both albums, but I think Zak plays drums on a total of five songs across both albums.
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Post by B.E. on Mar 17, 2021 0:01:03 GMT
I haven't listened to the Who much since high school. I'd been meaning to revisit them. I guess I will now. Last night I listened to My Generation. I'd rate it a solid '7'. The title track is an all-timer, and, as such, overshadows the rest of the album. "The Kids Are Alright" is damn good, though. That one kinda sounds like the Byrds. I liked most of the songs. The only ones I didn't care for are "The Good's Gone", "Much Too Much", and "Instant Party (Circles)". I realize that last track wasn't on the UK version of the album, but I have the US version in my collection. Boy, the mix of "Instant Party" is horrendous. Turn up the vocals and turn down the horn! I read that this was their attempt at a follow-up single to "My Generation" . Well, things turned out OK in the end. The deluxe version of the album on Spotify had a few alternate mixes and they all sucked. I think they actually made the horn louder in the 2000 remix. Anyway, the backing vocals varied from good to haggard. For the latter, look no further than the intro to "Much Too Much". I'm touching on a few negatives here, but I really enjoyed the rest. I'd rank the tracks like this (and, remember, this is after just a listen or two): AMy Generation B+The Kids Are Alright BIt's Not True I Don't Mind La-La-La-Lies The Ox B-Out In The Street A Legal Matter CPlease Please Please I'm A Man DMuch Too Much The Good's Gone Instant Party (Circles) I really dig the instrumental, "The Ox". That's a heavy surf instrumental from another galaxy! Why am I using a grading system? I don't know. Carry on.
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Post by jk on Mar 17, 2021 9:15:40 GMT
I've seen them in person three times now. The one time with Roger, Pete, and John, and twice with just Pete and Roger. I'm surprised that they're able to still put on such a good quality show. Having Zak Starkey in drums certainly helps, as he's the best Who style drummer they've had (no offense to Kenney Jones or Simon Phillips, but they weren't good fits). I was lucky enough (read: old enough) to see the original lineup -- twice. Once in London in '73 and then in NL a few years later. On the second occasion, Pete was on the wagon (briefly, it transpired) and sang an acoustic version of "No Matter How Much I Booze". (A big thankyou to Jay at SS for correcting me there -- I'd always thought the song he sang was called "The Day I Gave Up Booze"!). Pete said something along the lines of "You'll note Mr Moon hasn't joined me in my venture." And no, judging from the expression on Mr Moon's face, it didn't look as though he had. So yes, that second concert in particular was most memorable. I believe they did most if not all of Quadrophenia. I'll look out the setlists of both concerts some time. My favourite Who song? The wonderfully anthemic "The Kids Are Alright":
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The Who
Mar 17, 2021 12:27:15 GMT
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Post by kds on Mar 17, 2021 12:27:15 GMT
I've seen them in person three times now. The one time with Roger, Pete, and John, and twice with just Pete and Roger. I'm surprised that they're able to still put on such a good quality show. Having Zak Starkey in drums certainly helps, as he's the best Who style drummer they've had (no offense to Kenney Jones or Simon Phillips, but they weren't good fits). I was lucky enough (read: old enough) to see the original lineup -- twice. Once in London in '73 and then in NL a few years later. On the second occasion, Pete was on the wagon (briefly, it transpired) and sang an acoustic version of "No Matter How Much I Booze". (A big thankyou to Jay at SS for correcting me there -- I'd always thought the song he sang was called "The Day I Gave Up Booze"!). Pete said something along the lines of "You'll note Mr Moon hasn't joined me in my venture." And no, judging from the expression on Mr Moon's face, it didn't look as though he had. So yes, that second concert in particular was most memorable. I believe they did most if not all of Quadrophenia. I'll look out the setlists of both concerts some time. My favourite Who song? The wonderfully anthemic "The Kids Are Alright": Actually, both titles are slightly incorrect, the song in question is However Much I Booze, from The Who By Numbers.
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Post by jk on Mar 17, 2021 15:18:16 GMT
Actually, both titles are slightly incorrect, the song in question is However Much I Booze, from The Who By Numbers. Thanks! That song will be my undoing.
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The Who
Mar 17, 2021 15:36:14 GMT
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Post by kds on Mar 17, 2021 15:36:14 GMT
Actually, both titles are slightly incorrect, the song in question is However Much I Booze, from The Who By Numbers. Thanks! That song will be my undoing. Oddly enough it was an autobiographical song about Pete's undoing.
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Post by jk on Mar 18, 2021 12:23:19 GMT
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The Who
Mar 18, 2021 12:29:33 GMT
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Post by kds on Mar 18, 2021 12:29:33 GMT
Very cool, especially the first one, which a good chunk of Quadrophenia. As far as I know, they either never did the album in full, or only did it a handful of times as they had constant trouble with the analog backing tapes necessary to recreate the album on stage. It wasn't until 1996 that they were finally able to present the show as Pete had envisioned. Although, at the beginning of the 1996-97 Quadrophenia Tour, they were not initially branded as "The Who." It was either "Quadrophenia" or "T.E.D." (Townshend, Entwistle, Daltrey), but eventually, the billing was changed to The Who. They took Quadrophenia on the road again in 2012-2013, and according to Roger's autobiography, he felt that they finally did the definitive version of the album live on that tour. Only took a little less than four decades.
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Post by jk on Mar 18, 2021 14:46:07 GMT
This is an online review of the second concert I saw (with thanks to Google Translate and a little tweaking from me):
Monday, 27 October 1975. Venue: Ahoy, Rotterdam.
We were sitting in the 7th row, very close to the stage. Yes there were seats in the arena. The opening band had its own equipment, including drums. These looked a little forlorn standing in front of Keith Moon's immense kit. The Who pitched in full of power and energy. When I had to leave to visit the toilet in the basement, The Who rumbled through all the walls and floors. Even the water in the toilet vibrated to the sound of The Who.
A thunderous show and a great experience.
Set list:
Substitute I Can't Explain Squeeze Box Baba O'Riley Behind Blue Eyes However Much I Booze Dreaming From The Waist Boris The Spider Amazing Journey Sparks Fiddle About Pinball Wizard I'm Free Tommy's Holiday Camp We're Not Gonna Take It Summertime Blues Bargain My Generation Join Together My Generation Blues Won't Get Fooled Again
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