The 1st Singles Box [Box set, Import]

The Who | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 25, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 12
• Format: Box set, Import
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Universal Int'l
• ASIN: B0001O2E22
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #244,584 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. I Can't Explain (Original Mono Version)

2. Bald Headed Woman

3. My Generation

4. Shout & Shimmy

5. Substitute (Single Version)

6. Circles (Revisited Second Mono Version)

7. I'm A Boy (Mono Version)

8. In The City (Original Stereo Version)

9. Happy Jack (Single Version)

10. I've Been Away

11. Pictures Of Lily

12. Doctor, Doctor

13. I Can See For Miles

14. Someone's Calling

15. Pinball Wizard (Original Album Version)

16. Dogs Part Two (2003 Stereo Version)

17. Won't Get Fooled Again (Single Edit)

18. I Don't Even Know Myself

19. 5:15 (Single Mix)

20. Water (Studio Version)

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

UK box-set includes 11 classics singles, 'I Can't Explain' (1965), 'My Generation' (1965), 'Substitute' (1966), 'I'm A Boy' (1966), 'Happy Jack' (1967), 'Pictures Of Lily' (1967), 'I Can See For Miles' (1967), 'Pinball Wizard' (1967), 'Won't Get Fooled' (

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Ick. Extortionist package misses all of the bases, May 29, 2004

By 

David Goodwin (Westchester, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The 1st Singles Box (Audio CD)

Someone, *please* answer this question: to whom is this set supposed to be attractive? Collectors have these songs. Neophytes can get them elsewhere. The Stones' singles box was at least somewhat moderately priced, and have a wealth of fetishistic packaging; this is hilariously expensive, and...and...

Oh, I don't know.

That the Who's reissue campaign started wonderfully and quickly descended into a misguided, poor-quality ego-fest (Live at Leeds Deluxe, anyone?) is almost canon by this point. This set shows that it's VERY possible to indeed sink farther into the hole. It's a singles collection, alright, of one of the principal 60s' singles bands, yet it manages to steadfastly *avoid* singles that include songs the reissue campaign missed (where's The Relay? When I Was a Boy? Here For More?). And rarities? Pah. We don't get any. *Everything* here, if I've got this right, has been released on CD previously; we don't even get the original single mixes of I Can See for Miles (stereo!) or Happy Jack (fake stereo!) tossed our way. The sound quality is generally fairly abysmal.

Verdict? If done right, this set could've filled a niche. It doesn't. It sounds awful, contains nothing of even remote interest to collectors, and is just another entry in the Who's endless, misguided compilation-athon. Oh well. Avoid like the plague.

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One for the fans, May 30, 2004

By 

Anthony Guagliardo (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The 1st Singles Box (Audio CD)

I bought this box set for $60 at Tower and I'm very happy with it. It's not meant to be a greatest hits package or to fill in any holes in your collection. All of the material here is available elsewhere. No, this box is strictly for collectors.

Each disc comes in an exact, cd-sized replica sleeve of the original 45. And not just sleeves from UK and US. Pictures of Lily comes in the French sleeve, Happy Jack the Norwegian sleeve, I Can See For Miles - Japanese, etc. The Who did right by fans with this box set. It's a thing of beauty.

As for the new songs, they're very good. It's great to hear Daltrey giving voice to Townshend's lyrics again. For the first time in decades their hearts are in it and it's palpable. If you're expecting Who's Next 2004 though you're in for a disappointment. These guys are 60. They've matured and so has their music. Old Red Wine and Real Good Looking Boy is where they are now. Dig it.

6 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Bottom of the barrel and going for bottom of the wallet, May 19, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The 1st Singles Box (Audio CD)

Yet another compilation. This time wastefully spread over a dozen discs when a single CD would have sufficed.They could have even have simply included a booklet with the various picture sleeve single covers. Fun for a while to hear some classics in the context of their B-sides, but - and let's be honest - how often did anyone ever listen to the B-sides of their original singles collection?

Despite Roger Daltrey saying in a recent interview that he thought The Who's best work was yet to come, the new recordings are very poor (and available elsewhere). As per the previous review, there is only one rarity on offer to interest the collector.

If you are contemplating buying this set then make better use of the money. Buy a singles compilation and donate the rest to charity. The Who has siphoned enough money from its audience and whatever integrity it used to have, in terms of the way it gave its fans value for money, has long since been dissipated.

This band used to provide superb entertainment and it is sad to see it so washed up, but determined to cash in. It's a bit like seeing a much loved family pet with a terminal illness. There comes a point when it is kindest to put the animal out of its suffering and remember the good times.