BBC SESSIONS
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Pete Townshend Guitar, Keyboards and Vocals
Roger Daltrey Vocals
John Entwistle Bass Guitar and Vocals
Keith Moon Drums |
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Mastered by Jon Astley at Close To The Edge
Artwork and design by Andie Airfix at Satori
BBC Sessions was released worldwide Feb. 15, 2000. In the U.K.
it was Polydor 547727-2 and reached #24 in the music charts. The U.S. issue was MCA 088111960-2 and peaked at #101
in the Billboard charts.
Liner notes compiled by Brian Cady from the wonderful book Anyway
Anyhow Anywhere: The Complete Chronicle Of The Who 1958-1978 by Matt Kent and Andy Neill.
The Who applied three times and auditioned twice before the British Broadcasting Corporation finally relented and
allowed these ruffians access to the public airwaves. Pete filled out an application for an audition on the BBC
Light Programme on 19 Dec. 1963 when the band was known as The Detours. With no response and after a name change
to The Who, Pete filled out another application 4 March 1964. This completely confused the BBC, which held up
their audition until the name change could be sorted out. The Who, with Doug Sandom on drums, auditioned at 8:10pm
9 April 1964 at Studio S2 in the sub-basement of Broadcasting House. On 28 April, the BBC sent a letter to The
Who/Detours declining their services. With a change of drummer, managers and name (twice!), Pete again applied
for a second chance for The Who 15 Jan. 1965, the same day as the release of "I Can't Explain." The
second audition was at 9am 12 Feb. 1965, again at Studio S2. On 19 Feb. the results came in. This time The Who
passed, but only by a slim 4/3 majority.
The Who's first official performance for the Beeb was on the BBC-1 television programme Top Of The Pops
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March 1965 as a last-minute replacement for the "Tip For The Top" slot. This performance has vanished
along with almost all the rest of the classic rock 'n' roll performances on BBC television in the Sixties. Also
missing is their first and second appearances on BBC radio. The first session was recorded at 10am
2 Apr. 1965
as replacements for Freddie and the Dreamers. Listeners that day to The Joe Loss Pop Show were the
only ones to hear The Who's live performances of "Heat Wave," "I Can't Explain," "Please
Please Please," and "Shout And Shimmy." The second session, recorded
24 May for Top Gear, is also
missing although two of the tracks turned up on their third session that did survive. This left missing from the
second session live performances of James Brown's "I Don't Mind" and Otis Blackwell's "Daddy Rolling
Stone." After that session, Auntie began to hold onto the tapes, yielding the album below.
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MY GENERATION (RADIO 1 JINGLE) (0'57)
(Pete Townshend) Devon Music, Inc./Fabulous Music, Ltd./Westminster
Music, Ltd., BMI
Recorded at De Lane Lea Studios, London Oct. 10, 1967. First broadcast
on Top Gear Oct. 15, 1967.
Produced by Kit Lambert.
There are five surviving jingles from this set. "My Generation"
and "Boris The Spider" are included here. "Happy Jack" can be found on the Thirty Years
Of Maximum R&B boxset. All were intended for the BBC's new pop music service, Radio One. Since pirate radio
had been outlawed less than two months before, BBC Radio One was then the only game in town for The Who. They had
no choice but to play along if they wanted their records on the air. But the pirates would not be forgotten as
The Who Sell Out, then being recorded, would show. The other two jingles recorded on this date were for
Top Gear one of which can be found between tracks 14 and 15 on the 1995 The Who Sell Out re-issue
CD. |
cover to one of the many bootleg versions of this set prior to the release of
BBC Sessions
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ANYWAY ANYHOW ANYWHERE (2'44)
(Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey) Devon Music, Inc./Suolubaf Music/ABKCO
Music, Inc., BMI
Recorded between 2pm and 6:30pm at Studio 2, Aeolian Hall, 135/137
New Bond Street, London May 24, 1965. Broadcast on May 29, 1965 on Saturday Club and June 19, 1965
on Top Gear .
Produced by Bernie Andrews.
The Who recorded their second and third BBC Radio sessions back-to-back
on May 24 and 25, 1965 for Top Gear and Saturday Club. Both featured this live-in-studio
performance (except for an overdubbed feedbacking guitar) of the single released May 21. Unlike that single, this
version does not include Nicky Hopkins' piano part. The interview between Pete and announcer Brian Matthew that
precedes the track also appears on the Who boxset Thirty Years Of Maximum R&B introducing the studio
version.
GOOD LOVIN' (1'49)
(Rudy Clark and Arthur Resnick) Alley Music Corp., Inc./Trio Music
Co. Inc., BMI
Recorded between 2pm and 6:30pm at Studio 2, Aeolian Hall, 135/137
New Bond Street, London May 24, 1965. Broadcast on May 29, 1965 on Saturday Club and June 19, 1965
on Top Gear .
Produced by Bernie Andrews.
A live-in-studio cover by The Who done very shortly after the release
of the original version by the Compton, California R&B act The Olympics that hit the Billboard charts
May 1st but only got to #81. The Young Rascals' version that went to #1 in the U.S. came out nine months after
The Who's recording. This is the only version of this song by The Who.
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another bootleg BBC cover
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JUST YOU AND ME, DARLING (2'01)
(James Brown) Fort Knox Music, Inc./Trio Music Co. Inc., BMI
Recorded between 4pm and 6:30pm at Studio Five, Delaware Road in Maida
Vale May 25, 1965. First broadcast on Saturday Club May 29, 1965.
Produced by Jimmy Grant.
Engineered by Brian Willey.
Out of four James Brown songs covered by The Who in 1965, this was
the most obscure. The original version hit the Billboard R&B charts Sept. 18, 1961. It reached #17 on
that chart but did not crossover to the pop charts. This live-in-studio recording is The Who's only released version. |
LEAVING HERE (2'34)
(Brian Holland/Lamont Dozier/Edward Holland, Jr.) Stone Agate Music,
BMI
Recorded between 4pm and 6:30pm at Studio Five, Delaware Road in Maida
Vale May 25, 1965. First broadcast on Saturday Club May 29, 1965.
Produced by Jimmy Grant.
Engineered by Brian Willey.
One of three different recordings by The Who of this 1964 Eddie Holland
hit and the only recording by them anyone heard until another version was released in 1985 on Who's Missing.
After all The Who's attempts, it was their fellow Mod band, The Birds, who had the U.K. hit with it. In addition, The Who also performed James Brown's "Please
Please Please" during the May 25, 1965 session.
MY GENERATION (3'23)
(Pete Townshend) Devon Music, Inc./Fabulous Music, Ltd./Westminster
Music, Ltd., BMI
Recorded between 7pm and 9:30pm at Studio Four, Maida Vale Nov. 22,
1965. First broadcast on Saturday Club Nov. 27, 1965.
Produced by Jimmy Grant and Brian Willey.
The fourth BBC radio session centered around The Who's new single "My
Generation" released three and a half weeks before this live-in-the-studio version was recorded. The original
BBC tape has an interview with Pete conducted by Brian Matthew in which he describes this song as "autobiographical"
and added that it was about "a kid who's not really satisfied with his life and is trying to complain, but
can't." Prior to BBC Sessions this version appeared on the soundtrack of Austin Powers - The Spy
Who Shagged Me.
THE GOOD'S GONE (2'59)
(Pete Townshend) Towser Tunes, Inc./Suolubaf Music/Songs of Windswept
Pacific/ABKCO Music, Inc., BMI
Recorded between 7pm and 9:30pm at Studio Four, Maida Vale Nov. 22,
1965. First broadcast on Saturday Club Nov. 27, 1965.
Produced by Jimmy Grant and Brian Willey.
The Who recorded this live-in-studio take as a BBC preview of their
first album, My Generation, that was to be released six days after the broadcast.
LA LA LA LIES (2'11)
(Pete Townshend) Towser Tunes, Inc./Suolubaf Music/Songs of Windswept
Pacific/ABKCO Music, Inc., BMI
Recorded between 7pm and 9:30pm at Studio Four, Maida Vale Nov. 22,
1965. First broadcast on Saturday Club Nov. 27, 1965.
Produced by Jimmy Grant and Brian Willey.
Another live-in-studio recording of a track from the My Generation
LP.
In addition to the above three tracks, The Who also performed Pete's "It's Not True" and Marvin Gaye's
"Baby Don't You Do It" during the Nov. 22, 1965 session.
SUBSTITUTE (3'30)
(Pete Townshend) Devon Music, Inc./Fabulous Music, Ltd., BMI
Recorded at Studio One, Aeolian Hall, London March 15, 1966 for Saturday
Club broadcast March 19.
Produced by Jimmy Grant and Brian Willey.
A live-in-studio version of the single that had been released two weeks
before. The U.S. issue Pete refers to in the introduction was on Atco and came out three weeks later. It was to
be The Who's only release on that label before they returned to Decca. This take is the longest live version The
Who did of this song, shortening it considerably by the time of Live At Leeds.
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MAN WITH MONEY (2'31)
(Don Everly/Phil Everly) Acuff Rose Music, Inc., BMI
Recorded at Studio One, Aeolian Hall, London March 15, 1966 for Saturday
Club broadcast March 19.
Produced by Jimmy Grant and Brian Willey.
A live-in-studio cover of the obscure 1965 Everly Brothers song. The
Who did not release a regular studio recording until the 1995 issue of A Quick One. This BBC take does not
appear on the MCA issue of BBC Sessions in the U.S.
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DANCING IN THE STREET (2'23)
(Marvin Gaye/Ivy Hunter/William Stevenson) Stone Agate Music, BMI
Recorded at Studio One, Aeolian Hall, London March 15, 1966 for Saturday
Club broadcast March 19.
Produced by Jimmy Grant and Brian Willey.
A live-in-studio cover of Martha & The Vandellas biggest hit that
entered the Billboard charts Aug. 22, 1964. The arraignment of the song, however, comes from The Everly
Brothers' cover on their album Rock 'n' Soul. The Who recorded a live-in-concert version in 1979 that was
released in 1988 on a 12" single and CD single of "Won't Get Fooled Again" and hasn't been re-released
since. In addition to the above three tracks, The Who recorded versions of
The Regent's "Barbara Ann" and an instrumental entitled "You Rang" during the March 15, 1966
session.
DISGUISES (2'57)
(Pete Townshend) Towser Tunes, Inc./Suolubaf Music/Songs of Windswept
Pacific/ABKCO Music, Inc., BMI
Recorded at The Playhouse Theatre, London Sept. 13, 1966. First broadcast
on Saturday Club Sept. 17, 1966.
Produced by Jimmy Grant and Brian Willey.
"Disguises" was probably intended as a single when the studio
version was recorded in July 31-August 1, 1966, but was rejected for "I'm A Boy." This live-in-studio
version was broadcast almost two months before the studio version was released on the EP Ready Steady Who!
I'M A BOY (2'39)
(Pete Townshend) Hampshire House Pub. Corp., ASCAP
Recorded at The Playhouse Theatre, London Sept. 13, 1966. First broadcast
on Saturday Club Sept. 17, 1966.
Produced by Jimmy Grant and Brian Willey.
A live-in-studio version of the single that came out three weeks before
the broadcast. Again the interview with Pete before the song is conducted by the only slightly flappable Brian
Matthew. In addition to the above two tracks, The Who also recorded a live-in-studio version (and first recording
of this song by The Who) of "So Sad About Us" that had them singing the words "last night"
over the final chords. They also performed the Lovin' Spoonful's "On The Road Again."
RUN RUN RUN (2'39)
(Pete Townshend) Essex Music, Inc., ASCAP
Recorded at The Playhouse Theatre Jan. 17, 1967. First broadcast on
Saturday Club Jan. 21, 1967.
Produced by Bill Bebb and Jimmy Grant.
The kick-off track to The Who's second album A Quick One that
had been released seven weeks before this broadcast.
BORIS THE SPIDER (2'13)
(John Entwistle) ASCAP
Recorded at The Playhouse Theatre Jan. 17, 1967. First broadcast on
Saturday Club Jan. 21, 1967.
Produced by Bill Bebb and Jimmy Grant.
Following along with A Quick One, this is a live-in-studio version
of the album's second track.
HAPPY JACK (2'09)
(Pete Townshend) Essex Music, Inc., ASCAP
Recorded at The Playhouse Theatre Jan. 17, 1967. First broadcast on
Saturday Club Jan. 21, 1967.
Produced by Bill Bebb and Jimmy Grant.
By the time this was broadcast, the "Happy Jack" single had
also been out for seven weeks and was then reaching its U.K. chart peak at #3. Brian Matthew conducts the interview
before this track.
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SEE MY WAY (1'50)
(Roger Daltrey)
Recorded at The Playhouse Theatre Jan. 17, 1967. First broadcast on
Saturday Club Jan. 21, 1967.
Produced by Bill Bebb and Jimmy Grant.
The Who manage to squeeze Roger's one contribution to A Quick One
into the broadcast in this version that is generally considered to be superior to the LP version. In addition to the above four tracks, The Who also performed
Pete's "Don't Look Away" during the Jan. 17, 1967 performance. |
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PICTURES OF LILY (2'34)
(Pete Townshend) Essex Music, Inc., ASCAP
Recorded at De Lane Lea Studio, London Oct. 10, 1967. First broadcast
on Top Gear Oct. 15, 1967.
Produced by Kit Lambert.
The Who's Jan. 17, 1967 session was to be their last performing live
takes in front of BBC engineers. From this point on The Who gave the BBC only studio-crafted alternate takes of
their songs. This one is a studio version with overdubs (the organ, for instance, played by Pete) but is a completely
different performance from the single release that had come out six months before.
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A QUICK ONE WHILE HE'S AWAY (7'01)
(Pete Townshend) Essex Music, Inc., ASCAP
Recorded at De Lane Lea Studio, London Oct. 10, 1967. First broadcast
on Top Gear Oct. 15, 1967.
Produced by Kit Lambert.
The album on which this song had originally appeared had been out for
10 1/2 months before this broadcast, but in the meantime the "mini-opera" had become a centerpiece of
their live act which is probably why this BBC version was recorded at such a late date. Another completely new
studio version. Also on Oct. 10, 1967, The Who recorded covers of two Eddie Cochran
songs, "Summertime Blues" and "My Way," both of which are included on the 1998 Odds and
Sods re-issue and the former on the Live At The BBC bonus disc (see below), and remixes of "Our
Love Was," "Relax," "I Can't Reach You," and "I Can See For Miles." The latter
featured a bass overdub by John and was released on the 1985 European LP The Who: The Singles. |
SUBSTITUTE (VERSION 2) (2'12)
(Pete Townshend) Devon Music, Inc./Fabulous Music, Ltd., BMI
Recorded at IBC Studios, London Apr. 13, 1970. First broadcast on The
Dave Lee Travis Show Apr. 19, 1970.
Produced by Paul Williams.
Thirty months after their last BBC session, The Who recorded these
final tracks exclusively for the BBC. These recordings were quickly produced studio run-throughs of their current
stage act that had been recorded two months before at Leeds University. That recording, Live At Leeds, was
not to be released in the U.K. for over a month after this broadcast and, as with that album, this is the short
version.
THE SEEKER (3'04)
(Pete Townshend) Suolubaf Music/Songs of Windswept Pacific/ABKCO Music,
Inc., BMI
Recorded at IBC Studios, London Apr. 13, 1970. First broadcast on The
Dave Lee Travis Show Apr. 19, 1970.
Produced by Paul Williams.
The single version of "The Seeker" had been released almost
a month before this broadcast. The song had just entered The Who's live act at the time but was dropped within
a couple of months.
I'M FREE (2'24)
(Pete Townshend) Towser Tunes, Inc./Suolubaf Music/Songs of Windswept
Pacific/ABKCO Music, Inc., BMI
Recorded at IBC Studios, London Apr. 13, 1970. First broadcast on The
Dave Lee Travis Show Apr. 19, 1970.
Produced by Paul Williams.
Another alternate studio take that reflects the more athletic reading
The Who had given this song from Tommy after eleven months of live performances.
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SHAKIN' ALL OVER (Johnny Kidd) EMI Mills Music, Inc., ASCAP/SPOONFUL (Willie Dixon)
Hoochie Coochie Music, BMI (3'41)
Recorded at IBC Studios, London Apr. 13, 1970. First broadcast on The
Dave Lee Travis Show Apr. 19, 1970.
Produced by Paul Williams.
The U.K. issue of BBC Sessions presents this track in its complete
state. However The Who could not come to what they felt was a proper royalty payment for the U.S. rights to Willie
Dixon's "Spoonful", so the U.S. MCA version of BBC Sessions has that part of the medley excised.
The edit comes at 2'34 on the U.S. version and picks up again 34 seconds later. |
RELAY (4'56)
(Pete Townshend) Towser Tunes, Inc./Suolubaf Music/Songs of Windswept
Pacific/ABKCO Music, Inc., BMI
Recorded at Presentation Studio B, Television Centre, Wood Lane, London
Jan. 29, 1973. First broadcast on The Old Grey Whistle Test (BBC2-TV) Jan. 30, 1973.
Produced by Michael Appleton.
This is not from a BBC radio show but rather from a BBC television
show. The Who made many appearances on BBC TV throughout their career although this was to be one of their last.
The performance here is the studio version of "Relay" with a live vocal. What makes it interesting is
that it carries on another 1'04 pass the end of the regular version with some more delicious Townshend guitar soloing.
Where are the original stereo tapes of this long version? The video (presently unreleased commercially) features
Pete performing energetic but wildly inaccurate air guitar.
LONG LIVE ROCK (3'52)
(Pete Townshend) Towser Tunes, Inc./Suolubaf Music/Songs of Windswept
Pacific/ABKCO Music, Inc., BMI
Recorded at Presentation Studio B, Television Centre, Wood Lane, London
Jan. 29, 1973. First broadcast on The Old Grey Whistle Test (BBC2-TV) Jan. 30, 1973.
Produced by Michael Appleton.
Another live vocal over studio track. The Who had recorded the studio
version eight months before but it would be another 21 months before it was finally released on the Odds and
Sods LP. The video of this performance shows Pete doing a better job of air guitar but not only does he get
the words wrong, he also attempts a scissors kick and falls over into Keith's cymbals!
BORIS THE SPIDER (RADIO ONE JINGLE) (0'10)
(John Entwistle) ASCAP
Recorded at De Lane Lea Studios, London Oct. 10, 1967. First broadcast
on Top Gear Oct. 15, 1967.
Produced by Kit Lambert.
On Oct. 10, 1967, in addition to this and the other tracks recorded
included here, The Who also recorded the studio versions of "Summertime Blues" and "My Way"
that appear on the 1997 Odds and Sods, and alternate versions of "I Can See For Miles," "Relax,"
"Our Love Was," "I Can't Reach You," and "Someone's Coming." Some of these tracks
were intended for the CD below but only two would make it.
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LIVE AT THE BBC
This disc, available at the time of the 2000 release and only through
the Best Buy Music chain in the United States was originally to have been fourteen tracks and Jon Astley did master
those tracks. Unfortunately, due to the insistence of The Who, it was cut at the last minute to only
eight. The original running order was to have been "Happy Jack (Radio One Jingle)"/"Pete Townshend
Interview - Townshend Talks 'Tommy'"/"Pinball Wizard"/"See Me Feel Me"/"I Don't Even
Know Myself"/"I Can See For Miles"/"Heaven and Hell"/"So Sad About Us"/"I
Can't Reach You"/"Our Love Was" (the still unreleased mono version with the slide guitar solo)/"The
Seeker (2)"/"Top Gear Jingle"/"Summertime Blues"/"My Generation (Radio 1 Jingle)".
"So Sad About Us" was mentioned as one track Pete wanted cut because he felt it was an inferior performance.
"My Generation (Radio 1 Jingle)" was moved to the general release. It was issued on the same day as the
general release as Point PNT 9019. |
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PETE TOWNSHEND INTERVIEW - TOWNSHEND TALKS "TOMMY"
(2'08)
Recorded at Studio 2, Kensington House, Richmond Way, West London Apr.
11, 1969.
Pete does the best job ever of explaining Tommy in one minute.
This was recorded for the BBC transcription service a little over a month after the release of the "Pinball
Wizard" single and six weeks before the release of the Tommy album.
PINBALL WIZARD (2'21)
(Pete Townshend) Suolubaf Music/Songs of Windswept Pacific/ABKCO Music,
Inc., BMI
Recorded at IBC Studios, London Apr. 13, 1970. First broadcast on The
Dave Lee Travis Show Apr. 19, 1970.
Produced by Paul Williams.
"Pinball Wizard" was thirteen months old when this version
was recorded but it was the last single The Who had released in the U.K. prior to "The Seeker" a month
before this. This is a different studio take from the official release.
SEE ME FEEL ME (2'49)
(Pete Townshend) Towser Tunes, Inc./Suolubaf Music/Songs of Windswept
Pacific/ABKCO Music, Inc., BMI
Recorded Early 1969.
This "live" version of "See Me Feel Me" is, of
course the familiar studio version from the Tommy album. Was anyone fooled? Probably included for Dave Lee
Travis' hilariously inappropriate closing remark.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW MYSELF (4'53)
(Pete Townshend) Towser Tunes, Inc./Suolubaf Music/Songs of Windswept
Pacific/ABKCO Music, Inc., BMI
Recorded at Olympic Studios, London May-June 1971.
Produced by Glyn Johns
A new track that The Who hadn't yet gotten around to performing live.
It would be featured during their 1970 summer concerts and a studio version partially re-recorded in 1971 would
be released as the B-side of "Won't Get Fooled Again". [It was in fact, completely re-recorded in 1971.
This version features different guitar and keyboards from the version first released on the b-side of "Won't
Get Fooled Again."]
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I CAN SEE FOR MILES (3'49)
(Pete Townshend) Essex Music, Inc., ASCAP
Recorded at De Lane Lea Studio, London Oct. 10, 1967. First broadcast
on Top Gear Oct. 15, 1967.
Produced by Kit Lambert.
A mono version of the studio single track smothered in a new bass line
by Entwistle. The album from which this song comes, The Who Sell Out, has John's bass mixed very low. He
makes up for it here. This version was previously available on the European LP The Who: The Singles. Very
telescopic? |
HEAVEN AND HELL (3'27)
(John Entwistle) Winnokie Music, BMI
Recorded at IBC Studios, London Apr. 13, 1970. First broadcast on The
Dave Lee Travis Show Apr. 19, 1970.
Produced by Paul Williams.
The studio version of "Heaven and Hell" was recorded first
during this quick session for the BBC. A slightly different mix was used for the official release on the flip side
of "Summertime Blues". It was apparently the only attempt The Who made to record a studio version of
this magnificent Entwistle composition. No wonder John was always disappointed by it.
THE SEEKER (2) (3'11)
(Pete Townshend) Suolubaf Music/Songs of Windswept Pacific/ABKCO Music,
Inc., BMI
Recorded at IBC Studios, London Apr. 13, 1970. First broadcast on The
Dave Lee Travis Show Apr. 19, 1970.
Produced by Paul Williams.
An alternate BBC version of this song that sounds as if it is just
Roger singing a new vocal over the old 45.
SUMMERTIME BLUES (3'07)
(Eddie Cochran/Jerry Capehart) Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Co., BMI
Recorded at De Lane Lea Studio, London Oct. 10, 1967. First broadcast
on Top Gear Oct. 15, 1967.
Produced by Kit Lambert.
"Summertime Blues" had been in The Who's set for a few months
by the time they recorded this, their one studio version of the song. This same recording, minus the announcer,
appears on the 1997 version of Odds and Sods.
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Audiophile comments by White Fang are now located at WhiteFang's Who Site!
You can read them by clicking here.
White Fang also has a selection of covers for this
album from all over the world that you can see by clicking here. |
If you want to contact me about something on this page, click on my
name. I want corrections!
Brian Cady
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