Who's Next (Deluxe Edition) [Extra tracks, Original recording remastered]

The Who | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 25, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 1971
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
• Label: Mca
• ASIN: B00008LOS1
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (96 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,305 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The success of Who's Next and its slate of classic-rock tracks has often obscured its true roots--Lifehouse, the unwieldy multi-media project that Pete Townshend originally concocted as the follow-up to Tommy. Variously informed by apocalyptic visions, sci-fi notions of interconnectivity that neatly presaged the internet and, of course, an unwavering conviction that rock & roll would save the world, the core tracks of the sprawling Lifehouse were recorded, cut, re-recorded and finally boiled down into a collection that seems to represent as much alienation ("Behind Blue Eyes") and overweening cynicism ("Won't Get Fooled Again") as it does liberation and unity. Aside from Townshend's own self-released, multi-disc meditation on the project, this expanded new edition is the most rewarding attempt to place Lifehouse and the over-exposed classic it spawned in their proper context. Six tracks from the album's original, but abandoned New York sessions flesh out the familiar material, with previously unreleased outtakes of "Getting in Tune" and a revealing, early arrangement of "Won't Get Fooled Again" warranting special note. The second disc documents one of Lifehouse's most quixotic elements with the first-time release of one of the series of concerts staged at London's Young Vic theater during the project's gestation, events during which band and audience would somehow mystically become One. Core tracks from the project are interspersed with typical hard-rocking Who fare of the time, resulting in a show whose focus and dynamics belied something very different from the arena-rock clichés that would eventually overwhelm them. --Jerry McCulley

Product Description

Japanese-only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD) pressing of this classic rock album. SHM-CDs can be played on any audio player and delivers unbelievably high-quality sound. You won't believe it's the same CD! Universal. 2008. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

152 of 161 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A review of this set written by Luke Pacholski at lukpac.org, April 13, 2003

By 

Bradley Olson (Bemidji, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Who's Next (Deluxe Edition) (Audio CD)

As most people know, one of the main selling points of Who's Next: Deluxe Edition is that the original album comes from the original stereo master tapes "for the first time on CD". The story is that only copy tapes have been used all of these years. On the other hand, Steve Hoffman, former MCA engineer, has claimed for a long time that he found the master tapes in a file cabinet at the Mastering Lab in LA in the mid-80s and used them for his CD version, one variation of which is still available in Canada today.

Well, between listening to the two side by side and running the tape box pictures past Steve, it would indeed seem the Deluxe Edition is the *second* time (at the very least) the true masters have been used for CD. There's little doubt in my mind that Hoffman's version also used the tapes. Both forms of the album sound quite good, although there are some differences between the two.

The Hoffman CD has an EQ that favors the vocals, with the side effect of causing the cymbals to sound a bit "midrangy". The Deluxe Edition, on the other hand, goes for a slightly more "smooth" cymbal sound, at the expense of the vocals, causing them to be submerged slightly, if you will. The DE is a bit less "open", IMO.

There are also some minor differences beyond EQ. For his CD, Hoffman essentially played the tapes back "straight", without fading the hiss out between tracks. [side note: the Canadian version has the hiss "blacked" between some tracks. The original US and Japanese pressings don't.] The Deluxe Edition takes a different approach. As the songs come to a close, the entire track is faded out, causing the hiss to fade as well. The side effect of this is that in some cases the very last moments of some songs are lost.

Interesting note: the between song gaps for most of the album seem to be just about identical between the Hoffman CD and the DE. However, while some previous versions of the original mix (including the Hoffman) have essentially no pause between Behind Blue Eyes and Won't Get Fooled Again, the Deluxe Edition has a few seconds of silence between the two. Very strange. On the other hand, the old US MCA CD (a version not mastered by Hoffman) does have a small gap as well.

A big question on many peoples minds has been noise reduction (NR). Jon Astley (who mastered the Deluxe Edition) is notorious for using NR on just about everything. This has the effect of sucking the life out of the music and causing nasty digital artifacts. Kind of a "swirling" sound if you will. Just listen to some of Live At Leeds: Deluxe Edition for a good (or bad, I guess) example of this. Well, I've got good and bad news. The good news is that *most* of the album is NR-free. Hiss levels are usually about the same as the Hoffman CD, and in a few cases they actually seem to be every so slightly higher. That said, several intros, quiet sections, and fade-outs do have noise reduction. One key place is Won't Get Fooled Again - the intro, synth break, and fade-out all have NR. There's very little hiss during the break, and then as soon as the drums come in, the hiss level goes *way* up. Fortunately the NR isn't quite as intrusive as it was on some other Astley-mastered CDs, but it is still annoying, and there's simply no reason for it.

As far as the rest of the (bonus) cuts go, I haven't really gotten that far yet. I would note that while Baby Don't You Do It is longer than on the 1995 CD, it is still edited in a few places. What's the point?

On the other hand, some (but not all) of the backing vocals mixed out of Pure & Easy on the 1995 CD are present here. The song also comes to a formal close, rather than a fade-out.

Behind Blue Eyes still only has a single guitar solo, unlike the dual solos on the bootleg mix.

I briefly skimmed through disc 2. Rich "White Fang" Weiner has said he thought the mastering was significantly worse on this disc, but honestly, I don't hear (m)any negative effects of noise reduction. It's certainly better than I was expecting. That said, I haven't heard the mixes prior to mastering, and I believe he has. Whatever the case, the sound is *far* better than some of Jon Astley's prior work.

How would I rate this set? Well, it was certainly better than expected. A key selling point is use of the "original tape" for the original album. While I'd say it does sound *very* good, bits of noise reduction aside, I'm hesitant to say it sounds "better" than the Hoffman CD. Both versions have their own strengths and weaknesses. Casual fans will probably do fine with the DE, although I'd still suggest the Hoffman CD to those who really care about sound quality. You might still prefer the DE, but then again, you might not.

Even ignoring the original album, I'd say the set is well worth picking up. The mixes of the Record Plant material are interesting, and the Young Vic show is great from both a performance and sound standpoint.

Despite its flaws, in my opinion this is the best Who reissue to come out in a long time.

62 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Disk 2 Is The Only Thing Deluxe About This Edition, June 22, 2003

By 

Michael Behuniak (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Who's Next (Deluxe Edition) (Audio CD)

Once again, MCA re-releases "Who's Next", and once again, MCA misses the opportunity to finally put out the 'definitive' "Who's Next" compilation.

Much like the 1995 re-release, the 'bonus tracks' are a major disappointment to say the least. The accompanying booklet goes into great depth discussing the additional songs recorded during the 'Lifehouse Sessions' that were omitted, so then why aren't any of them included here? Where's "Let's See Action", "Join Together", "Put The Money Down", "Time Is Passing", "Too Much Of Anything", and the definitive take of "Pure And Easy" (from the obscure 'Odds and Sods')?

Instead the consumer is treated to mostly redundant 'alternate take' versions of songs already included on "Who's Next". They might be interesting to hear once or twice, but the 'bonus track' space would have been much better served by including the titles listed above...and would have once and for all reconstructed "Who's Next" close to the original "Lifehouse" as was originally designed.

However, if you're a fan of The Who "Live At Leeds" and "Live At The Isle Of Wight", the second disk is a real treat. The sound quality is excellent, The Who play great, and you get rare 'live' renditions of songs from "Who's Next" that don't show up anywhere else. Disk 2 is reason enough to purchase this set.

Who knows (no pun intended), perhaps there will be yet another re-release of this classic album. And maybe next time it will include the missing 'Lifehouse' songs. For now, disk 2 will have to do as compensation. lr**

June 22, 2003
Seattle,WA

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Deluxe Edition Of "Who's Next" Is Worth Every Cent!, March 25, 2003

By 

highway_star (Hallandale, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Who's Next (Deluxe Edition) (Audio CD)

Originally released in 1971, "Who's Next" was a landmark album for The Who. This album depicts some of The Who's most creative and best songwriting ever. Songs such as "Baba O'Riley", "Bargain", "Behind Blue Eyes", "The Song Is Over", "Getting In Tune" and "Won't Get Fooled Again" clearly show The Who's ability to write beautifully crafted acoustic based songs as well as straight ahead no holds barred rockers. This special Deluxe Edition of "Who's Next" has been remastered (again) and disc one includes the original album as well as songs from The New York Record Plant Sessions (all tracks have been newly remixed). Songs from this session include a fabulous version of the Marvin Gaye classic "Baby Don't You Do It", a longer and alternate version of "Getting In Tune" which is superb. A more raw sounding "Won't Get Fooled Again" is also included. Other songs from the session include "Pure And Easy", "Love Ain't For Keeping", and "Behind Blue Eyes".

Disc Two contains a "live" concert at The Young Vic Theater recorded on The Rolling Stones Live Mobile in South London on April 26, 1971. The Who's performance has to be heard to be believed and the average listener may even think he/she are listening to studio versions of the songs played. There are songs from "Who's Next" such as "Love Ain't For Keeping", "Behind Blue Eyes", "Won't Get Fooled Again", "Bargain", "Getting In Tune" as well as one of The Who's first hits "My Generation" and classics such as "(I'm A) Roadrunner" and "Young Man Blues" to name a few. Also included is a twenty seven page booklet which includes interesting information on each song as well as other tidbits and nice photos of the group. This 2-cd Deluxe Edition is clearly better than the remastered single disc version of "Who's Next" and is worth every cent and more. If there's one Who album (or cd in this case) you buy make this be it. You will not be disappointed. Highly Recommended.