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The Who - Live at Leeds Audio CD

A fair review of the The Who "Live at Leeds" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all The Who reviews here, or go back to the The Who tabs.

The Who Band: The Who
Title: Live at Leeds
Rating:
Release Date: 1995-02-28
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Heaven and Hell 2: I Can't Explain 3: Fortune Teller 4: Tattoo 5: Young Man Blues 6: Substitute 7: Happy Jack 8: I'm a Boy 9: Quick One, While He's Away 10: Amazing Journey/Sparks 11: Summertime Blues 12: Shakin' All Over 13: My Generation 14: Magic Bus

Why did I wait so long to buy this?
5th time I've purchased this recording, and it was worth every penny. This CD is incredible.

1st time was when the LP came out. Became an instant favorite.
2nd time was when I purchased a cassette. My brother moved out and took the worn-out LP with him.
3rd time was when the first CD version was released.
4th time was the 1995 remix. Wow, it blew me away.
5th time was this Deluxe Edition. Hearing the Tommy live-set for the first time 39 years later just about put my car into the ditch. Live at Leeds is my all-time favorite recording, so I'm a little biased.


The live Tommy CD is a plus, but...
For Who 'completists' the live performance of Tommy is of value (the second disc). For those who are looking for an improved-sound version of the 1995 remaster of Live at Leeds, I would say there is no detectable sonic improvement here (the sound is fine on the first disc). Beware, however, the playing is a bit rough. The remastered 1995 Tommy is, in contrast, all studio recordings, but magnificent in terms of sound quality. The Who was one of the greatest live acts ever (for those who missed their 1965-1973 prime). It's a shame so little (other than the original Live at Leeds set, and much of the Isle of Wight set) maintains this high quality showmanship. Also, beware of the DVD Live at Kilburn. . . the sound is excellent, and the video very good, but the band puts in a sub-par performance. .


the best live expanded CD ever
complete show at Leeds University 1970 - revelatory and impactful . . one of the reasons why The Who remains in the pantheon of rock gods forever.


The One and Only
I hadn't heard "Tommy" and was only familiar with the "Magic Bus" and "Happy Jack" singles. I bought this as vinyl when it first came out, before I had really heard much about The Who. I was not very impressed with those, but took a chance on the album.

"Young Man Blues" exploded out of the speakers, with a whirlwind of drums and cymbals careening about the intro. And, the song finally takes off with all three instrumenatlists going great guns. . . .

Listening to it today on a CD it is easier to hear everything. And what jumps out at me is not Daltry's voice (which is great), or Townshend's guitar (which is great), but John Entwhistle's bass thundering along with Keith Moon's drumming. ANYone that can glean the rhythm section from the vocal and lead guitar should buy this record to hear two masters at work.

The Ox plays fat, thundering runs up and down the neck, effortlessly, and you sit and marvel. . . he gets the perfect bass line, and he gets it right EVERY time. Listen to his bludgeon on YMB as Townshend soloes. Amazing! Thing about The OX, there are a lot of Bass players that can play fast. But, as fast and plump as Entwhistle plays, he is always playing "the bass". He never forgets that, never sounds like a lead guitar player going at it with 4 strings.

But, here we go now! Anyone that argues about who is the best Rock drummer. . . listen to how Moonie propels that song along. . . . rolls with one hand while the cymbals are beaten into submission with the other. Listen to a couple of his runs on "Happy Jack". . . . they are the fastest I have ever heard. Flamboyant? Sure. Powerful? You have no idea. Fast? Holy crap, the fastest I have ever heard, and that is no kidding. The man was a dynamo, and sure he played 'lead drums', but he also made the band GO! People go gaga over John Paul Jones' drumming on "Rock and Roll", and it is superb. But, folks, you get that same attack on EVERY song with The Who. And, as much as we all love Bonzo, Moonie was faster. Sadly, both of these superb musicians have passed on. And, as much of a tribute to Moon as anything else, listening to the Band with a different drummer is. . . . well. The Band didn't go like it used to.

OK. Besides all that, this is a perfect example of a Band at the top of their powers blazing away. They do some GREAT covers, like "YMB" and "Shaking All Over", and blister their own songs like "Substitute" and "Happy Jack".

If you like Hard Rock, and a great, great rhythm section to rival "Cream" and "Led Zeppelin", topped of by a power chording assault backing a roughed voiced vocalist, playing up tempo songs as loud as you can stand it, recorded live, this little set is at the top of the paramid. A true classic in every sense of the word, it is a moment when it all came together. Great players, doing great songs at their peak, in a great venue. .


Worst live album ever
I said that I wanted to get a live album so he said "You got to hear Live At Leeds by The Who!! It's the greatest live album ever!". I was at the CD store at the mall and the cashier asked if they could help me find anything. If you've read my previous reviews I have expressed by dislike for The Who and how I think they're generic classic rock for aging hippies, but I decided to give them a second chance. Bad idea! The singer's voice was cracking throughout the album, the drumming is sloppy and all over the place, there is WAY too much talking between songs, the guitar is below mediocre and the bass sounds ridiculously bad. All of the songs are boring, unoriginal and all sound the same. I'm returning to the mall tomorrow to trade it in and use my money on another Nickelback poster.


For some REAL great live albums you should listen to these instead:
Live at Sturgis 2006- Nickelback
Live Trucker- Kid Rock
Where The Light Is- John Mayer
The Final Riot!- Paramore
Tonight Not Again/Live at Eagles Ballroom- Jason Mraz.


You can see a complete list of all The Who discography, or go back to the The Who tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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