Customer Reviews

Who's Next (Deluxe Edition)

5 star:		(72)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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.

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

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.

Any serious music fan already has a copy of WHO'S NEXT in their collection. It is, after all, the quintessential Who album. In fact, most Who fans--myslef included--already upgraded in 1995 when MCA rereleased the Who catalog complete with bonus tracks. So why fork over good money for music you already have? For me, it was disc two. This is 75 minutes of material from an April 1971 concert at London's Young Vic Theatre, which gave the audience a sneak preview of material for the Who's new album, which wouldn't be released for another three months. While not all of these songs made it onto the final album, except for "Young Man Blues," "My Generation" and "Road Runner," a live audience was hearing these songs for the first time. The performances on this disc rivals anything on LIVE AT LEEDS and belongs in any serious Who fan's collection.

Of the bonus material on disc one, the difference between this and the 1995 edition are not as pronounced. The version of "Baby Don't You Do It" is from the same session, but this is an expanded 8:20 version as opposed to 5:13. [Incidentally, it's Leslie West on lead guitar.] The alternate version of "Getting In Tune" is previously unreleased. This version of "Pure and Easy" is identical. "Love Ain't for Keeping" was previously only available on the revamped 1998 edition of ODDS AND SODS. The versions of "Behind Blue Eyes" and Won't Get Fooled Again" are also the same as on the 1995 release.

A cynic might ask, how many times do I have to buy the same album? But any true Who fan will gladly fork over the money for this deluxe edition. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

This is the second time "Who's Next" has been remastered. It is interesting to note that this is the first time the original masters have used in the process. The sound is excellent. However, the underlaying question remains what exactly is the purpose of the 2 cd version of this set. While it is great to have commercially available versions of these alternate takes and live recordings it seems the package could have been reissued more cohesively. For example the single disk remaster of "Who's Next" contains tracks like "I Don't Even Know Myself" and "Too Much Of Anything" as bonus tracks. If the purpose of the studio disk is to give the listener an approximation of what the original "Lifehouse" project was meant to be why not add a second studio disk. The second disk could contain these songs plus released studio versions of "Pure And Easy", "Naked Eye", "Water" along with studio versions of "Join Together", "Let's See Action", "Relay", "Put The Money Down" and "Time Is Passing" from the "Lifehouse" recordings. This would have given long time fans like myself a more reasonable approximation of the "Lifehouse" project.

The live disk also presents a problem because a number of songs were deleted due to time constraints. A great cover of "Bony Moronie" from the 4 cd box set is omitted along with tracks like "Pinball Wizard", "See Me, Feel Me" and an energetic version of "Baby Don't You Do It" which are available on bootleg copies of this concert. The live concert at the Young Vic could have been issued in its complete form as a separate 2 disk set. I get the feeling that approximations of the "Lifehouse" project will be issued as many times as Jimi Hendrix' last album. A problem finally rectified with the release of "First Rays Of The New Rising Sun".

Even though I would have configured the set differently, it still contains enough essential music to warrant the purchase. "Who's Next" is one of the best rock albums period. Tracks like "Baba O'Riley" "Bargain", "Behind Blue Eyes" and "Won't Get Fooled Again" are still used on televsion, movies, and radio to this day. One of my favorites is John Entwistle's wry "My Wife". The alternate takes especially "Won't Get Fooled Again" provide an interesting veiw of Townshend's creative process. Some tracks like the great cover "Baby Don't You Do It" and "Love Ain't For Keeping" feature ace guitarist Leslie West from Mountain. The second disk features the live debuts of many songs from the "Who's Next" album and associated songs from the "Lifehouse" project. Tracks range from the more tentative "Too Much Of Anything" and "Bargain" to more energetic versions of "Roadrunner" and the underrated "Naked Eye". While this reissue is a good addition my collection of the Who, I feel it could still have been improved upon.

My 5-star rating is not based on what this could have been, or alongside the fact of the previous remaster, but on its own terms as what it IS. From this angle, I don't know what's not to love about this Deluxe Edition. We all know that Who's Next rocks, and now we get the complete (?) Record Plant Session along with the lion's share of a Young Vic performance in superb quality. Yes, the second half of this live show has made the bootleg rounds, but not in this quality--the crisp sound here restores/reveals the powerful energy the bootleg lacks. And though I do lament they didn't squeeze Bonie Maronie on here, the missing Pinball Wizard/See Me Feel Me is not essential at all (the Woodstock versions on Kids Are Alright are much more inspired). And look what we GET--live Love Ain't For Keeping, Pure and Easy, and Time Is Passing (NO ONE suspected they peformed THAT tune until this release). And Young Man Blues smokes, I'd never heard a '71 version. And Naked Eye & Water are full-length here, whereas they were edited on the previous remaster.

As for the studio Record Plant stuff, Behind Blues eyes is wonderful (as we knew from the previous release), Love Ain't For Keeping--with Pete singing--is the definitive version (as we knew from the Odds 'n Sods re-release, but it's nice to hear it here in context), and Won't Get Fooled AGain is wild...you can actually hear the band giving it shape & form as they thrash about on it; it may be missing Roger's trademark scream, but his deep growly vocal rages much closer to live intensity than on the standard version. And yeah, Leslie West plays lead axe on Baby Don't You Do It, but the band still smokes on it, and I'm certainly glad they dug it out of the vaults (if they wouldn't have, someone ELSE would've complained, I'm sure....).

The booklet claims that the studio Time Is Passing was from the Olympia session, not the Record Plant (as Odds 'n Sods asserts), so I guess that's why it's not here. I really DO wish it was, along with Let's See Action, Mary (Pete's demo is worthy enough) and the studio versions of Naked Eye, I Don't Even Know Myself, and Too Much of Anything. I would've preferred that these songs and the "standard" version of Pure and Easy were the bonus tracks to the Who's Next disc--making it closer to a complete Lifehouse studio album--and that the Record Plant session was on a separate bonus disc. But you can't have everything, and it truly would've taken 3 discs to have all of the above.

As for Relay, Join Together, and Put the Money Down, those were recorded in '72, NOT at these sessions (and studio Water wasn't recorded till '73). So they don't need to be here (though in my scenario above there'd have been room for them on the Record Plant disc, along with John's When I Was a Boy, a great non-Lifehouse track that WAS recorded in '71).

No matter how you slice it, this is a stellar two-disc set, I think alot of love was put into it and I send some of the same back to all those involved, especially Pete, Roger, and, wherever they are, John & Keith.

With the arrival of "Who's Next: The Deluxe Edition", it is almost shocking to learn that every previous CD edition of the Who's creative nadir has been taken from several-generations-removed mixdown tapes. After a discerning headphone session, it is apparent that the master tapes have suffered a little degeneration over the years (not unusual for a 32-year old magnetic oxide product). "Baba O'Reilly" is the most noticeable victim, with some subtle wow and flutter and even one very obvious tape "stretch". The majestic "Song Is Over" actually suffers a bit of oversaturated distortion. On the plus side, "Love Ain't For Keepin" has never sounded so dynamic, with Pete Towmshends's acoustic guitar sounding crisper than ever, and "Bargain" reveals new depth and power. On every track you will hear a fuller dynamic range on Keith Moon's drums as well as more delineation between Townshend's synthesizer and John Entwistle's bass. Curiously, Roger Daltrey's vocal mix (not his powerful performance itself, mind you, which still astounds) actually sounds a bit trebly and "thin", like it wasn't properly equalized. However, these are fussy audiophile quibbles only, overall the "Deluxe Edition" lives up to its hype and "Who's Next" truly sounds "better than ever". The bonus studio tracks are interesting, and the 2nd disc delivers in spades with its (mostly) previously unreleased live perfomances of the group's now-mythic "Lifehouse" project. A winner!

It's a great album. Where's the SACD version? And guys, increasing the compression to make it "louder" only means you think the listener is too stupid to turn the volume up! Increased compression equals a reduction in dynamics. This music is simply too good to be subjected to this tragedy of modern sound engineering. This album needs SACD and proper engineering to do it justice.

UPDATE 9/17/2010: This title is now available in a 2 channel only SACD Japanese release. What a huge improvement! The whole album is just cleaner and begs for higher volume but without fatigue. You'll likely notice it first in the vocals and Pete's guitar. If you think that Moon's drum kit is a little lower than before, just turn it up! Less compression here so you must crank it if you want volume. I paid a bit over $50 for this disc and while I'm not happy with the price, this album is too good not to own in high resolution. If you have the coin, get it. FYI, I have not seen this SACD on Amazon yet. Hopefully it will come and at a reduced price. Thank you Japan!

If any album ever deserved a Deluxe Edition, "Who's Next" is it. I would put very few ahead of it in a list of the greatest rock albums in history. Just about every song is a classic. Some deluxe editions like this tend to have complete track-for-track alternate versions. This expanded Who's Next" has a few alternate takes, but the primary bonus is an entire concert from that era, "Live At The Vic," from April 1971 (all previously unissued except 2 cuts). It's a good recording and the band is in excellent form throughout the 14 songs.

The many pleasures offered by the original album are still present -- Townshend's stratospheric electric guitar lines, Daltrey's impassioned vocals, Entwistle's booming, sinewy bass, and Moon's unrestrained drum bashing. Plus those magnificent tunes! For those who enjoy the brief sonic blast of "Won't Get Fooled Again" that plays with the opening credits of "C.S.I Miami," you really ought to hear the whole thing.

Who's Next" U.S. release 8/14/71- U.K. release- 8/25/71. "I do have the 1995 remastered edition of "Who's Next". I wanted to own a copy of the "Yong Vic" concert so I decided to get this deluxe edition. I believe this deluxe edition is remastered from the original "Who's Next master tapes. I hear other people tell me different stories but either way this deluxe edition is a joy to hear as the remastering is exceptional. I had to get this edition once I knew "The Young Vic" concert performed on 4/26/71 was to be on disc two. I like the fact that The Who played this concert four months before the release of of their masterpiece "Who's Next", playing five of the songs that would be on that lp. The Vic concert does sound a little sloppy and amazingly enlighting but really a great historic live rock recording and makes this deluxe edition a well worth buy. I get a real kick out of hearing "Won't Get Fooled Again" before it was actually released world wide, along with the other four "Who's Next" future releases. Cd one has the New York Record Plant Sessions on tracks 10 to 15 and are a really interesting listen as I always wanted to hear these New York versions before they were originally rejected for the albums final release. The linear notes have been updated since the 1995 edition. Fm radio has played most of the "Who's Next" song list out, but not enough to over play this masterpiece. This cd delux edition makes "Who's Next" sound brilliantly fresh and new. If you dont want to go for the extra money for this deluxe edition, just stick to the 1995 single remastered cd, either way you wont be dissapointed...........