A Quick One (Happy Jack) [Extra tracks]

The Who | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 20, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks
• Label: Mca
• ASIN: B000002OX3
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (79 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,993 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #63 in Music > Classic Rock > Supergroups
  • #95 in Music > Classic Rock > British Invasion

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Who's second album is a mite inconsistent, not least because all four members were encouraged by a business deal to churn out songs. A Quick One nonetheless manages several Who classics, notably "A Quick One While He's Away," Pete Townshend's first longform (10 minutes) piece, and John Entwistle's licensed-to-ill "Whiskey Man" and "Boris the Spider." The band's sense of humor, however, gives way on rote pop tunes like Roger Daltrey's "See My Way." But CD bonus tracks like the great "Disguises" (included in a murkier mix than that on the 30 Years of Maximum R&B boxed set) and the Beach Boys tributes "Bucket T" and "Barbara Ann" are a distinct help. --Rickey Wright

Product Description

Reissue of the British rock icon's sophomore album, originally issued in 1966. 20 tracks available for the first in digitally remastered stereo. Polydor. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to get "A Quick One" in STEREO!, March 3, 2004

By 

"dauntless9" (Providence) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Quick One (Happy Jack) (Audio CD)

Alot of people have had problems finding "A Quick One" in stereo. Here's the deal, your best bet is to buy the Polydor UK version of the CD. The artwork on the US MCA version is unchanged so it's impossible to know if it's the correct CD without taking the shrinkwrap off. Once you do that, you can't return it if it is the incorrect CD. With the Polydor import, all of the artwork on the package is the same (including the 1995 copyright date) EXCEPT for the catalog number on the binding. This will allow you to see if you have indeed received the correct CD without tearing the shrinkwrap off.
Here are the different catalog numbers:
* Polydor 527758-2 - maily mono
* Polydor 589800-2 - mainly stereo

I hope this helps everybody!

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A classic 60's pop album made even better., January 18, 2006

By 

Somewhere in Texas (Planet Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Quick One (Happy Jack) (Audio CD)

Like so many mid-60's UK groups the Who saved their best songs for their singles. The group's first two albums are a varying inconsistent mix of great-to-weak originals and cover versions. Despite those drawbacks, "A Quick One" is a legendary British Pop album, and a necessary listen for Who fans to find out how this band quickly evolved to create their later masterpieces. Get around the weaker tracks and you'll discover the amazing title track (foreshadowing "Tommy" by 2 years) and the Power Pop classic "So Sad About Us" which was later covered by The Jam.

This CD has come out in the USA in 3 Versions - all from MCA.

1) The original "A Quick One (Happy Jack)" CD from the late 80's - with a "Compact Disc-Compact Price" ad on the insert and a generic green design back with a simple track listing. The sound quality ranges from tinny to muddy due to MCA's using of the old LP master tape (and some tracks appear in simulated stereo just like they did on the original Decca/MCA album). No bonus cuts, but it does have the original version of "Happy Jack" which SHOULD have been included in the remastered version to keep us American fans happy. If you're curious about this album you can pick this CD up dirt cheap...but I recommend the later versions.

2) The remastered CD with notes and bonus cuts from 1995. But most of this CD used the mono mixes instead, along with some cuts in stereo and simulated stereo. Producer Jon Astley told ICE magazine that he used the mono mixes because he thought they sounded better. The original master tapes were stored at former Who manager Kit Lambert's house in France and were possibly destroyed in a flood decades ago, so Astley couldn't remix them.

3) The remastered album with the same number and packaging, but now back in Stereo. My copy had a sticker that said "CLASSIC WHO remixed & remastered in STEREO for the first time". If it doesn't have that sticker don't buy it. Since 1995 copies of the master tapes have been discovered and the entire album has been remixed almost in true stereo (Almost because "See My Way" appears once again in fake stereo). The rest of the album has never sounded better. Tracks like "Heatwave" and "Don't Look Away" that were originally in distorted fake stereo now jump out of the speakers with a powerful true stereo presence. This is the version of "A Quick One" you should buy.

32 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Go find the LP, March 4, 2003

By 

methylethel - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Quick One (Happy Jack) (Audio CD)

If you like the Who's later work-- the guitar-smashing stuff-- you probably won't like this album. That said, A Quick One is my all-time favorite Who record. The songs are weird and funny and a blast to sing along with. Even though, as others have mentioned, the songs were written by various members of the band, the album has a distinct flavor of its own.

Unfortunately, when the record folks put together the CD, they BUTCHERED the album. The original recording of 'Happy Jack' was not included at all (!!), and a whole bunch of irrelevant tracks were thrown in which completely shattered the mood and sound of the original album. They did pitch in an acoustic version of 'Happy Jack' as if to make up for dropping the original track, but the extras should have been saved for a separate CD. It is jarring to hear the Who singing the Batman theme on the same CD with 'Whiskey Man.'

I love this album and you should hear it and love it too-- so crank up your record player and go find the LP.