The Kids Are Alright [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered, Soundtrack]

The Who | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 17, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 1965
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered, Soundtrack
• Label: Mca
• ASIN: B000059N1T
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,040 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Having been involved in one of the most painfully overwrought rock films ever produced (Ken Russell's Tommy), it was only just that the Who should also be the subject of one of the best rockumentaries ever--Jeff Stein's The Kids Are Alright. Inveterate Who fan Stein largely eschewed interviews and critical overinterpretation, instead wisely focusing on the band's musical performances as captured on TV appearances and in concert. That sensibility makes this soundtrack a rare showcase of the Who at their performing peak, gathering many previously unreleased live performances ("My Wife," "Young Man Blues," a medley of "Join Together/Roadrunner/My Generation Blues") some key outtakes (the anthem "Long Live Rock"), and especially some great TV turns that could occasionally be literally explosive, à la their incomparable Smother Brothers appearance. Stein's only staged performances, "Baba O'Riley" and the cynically anthemic "Won't Get Fooled Again," turned out to be as historic as they were electric. Filmed just months before Keith Moon's untimely 1978 death, the performances stand as his final public performance. This is the Who at their best; it seldom gets any better. --Jerry McCulley

Product Description

Limited Japanese Version Featuring Lp Style Slipcase. Digitally Remastered --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Alternative Versions, March 24, 2003

By 

Brian D. Rubendall (Oakton, VA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Kids Are Alright (Audio CD)

The Who's "The Kids Are Alright," is the 1978 soundtrack album to what is a very good biopic of the band. The album collects mostly live performances of many of The Who's best known songs. The live versions are, for the most part, harder edged than the original studio versions. The Smothers Brothers Show version of "My Generation," for example features Keith Moon detonating his drum kit with explosives at the end of the song. He didn't tell anyone ahead of time that he was going to do it, which made it one of rock's classic moments (the expressions of the other band members in the movie is priceless).

The Who's definitive live album remains "Live at Leeds" (especially the expanded version), but "The Kids Are Alright" holds its own well enough. It also features the final public performances of Moon, recorded shortly before his death. One word of caution: If you are planning to purchase this CD used, the original release essentially had no CD booklet accompanying it. Make sure that you're getting a later version, which at least partially restored the extensive and colorful booklet that accompanied the original lp.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth it for "A Quick One" alone, December 21, 2001

By 

David Cavalier "grump-o-matic" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Kids Are Alright (Audio CD)

Although I love the whole record, the version of "A Quick One (While He's Away)" on this record is one of the greatest live performances in rock history. I know that sounds like silly fanboy hyperbole, but the finale of the song is absolutely awe-inspiring. The performance comes from the Rolling Stones Rock'n'Roll Circus, a tv special that was never aired because the Stones were not satisfied with their own performance.

This version of " A Quick One" reveals the Who before they became international maga-stars with Tommy - snarling, explosive, triumphant punks with a sound that no band could match. No wonder the Rolloing Stones buried the show in a vault for 30 years; there was no way that they could match such an incredible performance. Truly one of the 10 greatest live moments from 60's rock.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Who Will Always Be Alright, May 4, 2001

By 

John Peterson "bigtimemusiclover" (Marinette, WI USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Kids Are Alright (Audio CD)

When this title was announced that it would be reissued and that Jon Astley would remaster it I had awfully high hopes that some of the songs would be remixed. They're not. The same source tape for the double album was used, and though the sound quality is an improvement over the late '80s reissue I was disappointed. Not so much the television performances where the source tape was of poor quality to begin with, but some of the other performances, particularly "Young Man Blues" and the "Join Together" medley sounded thin and muddy.

Also, on the back of the CD where "Magic Bus" is listed it reads "remixed stereo version". It's not. It's the mono version which in my opinion sounds inferior to the stereo version (which can be found on "Magic Bus-The Who On Tour" CD and also on "Who's Better Who's Best").

That said, it's nice to have the whole double album on one CD (a few seconds of applause are shaved off here and there to get the 80 minute program to fit). And, carping aside, it's still a great CD!