An essential The Who collection with some good UK non-LP tracks - compiled by Pete Townshend. Only two cuts had not been released on '45 in England : "Boris The Spider" - from "A Quick One" album, and the longer alternative version of "Magic Bus" - this vinyl was the only way to get that cut up to 2007, when it was included in a Japanese CD release of the album. Allthough it's well compiled I have mixed feelings about it. Four tracks are original mono (song list on early covers miss the mono mark on "Boris The Spider") and three true stereo, but the remaining seven are "enhanced stereo" (enhanced being a euphemism for fake). They already had the good enough mono versions, but also access to original tapes to make real stereo, and any of those would have been fine, yet they went with the the option producing worst audio. Maybe "stereo" print on cover was a selling argument back then, but they didn't want the extra work perparing proper mixes. However it's still a nice collection, but it could have been great. (I prefer the -68 UK "Direct Hits" mono - that sure sounds more on the spot even if some of the cuts are fold-downs.) US issue on Decca (DL 79184). Early UK releases with thick, matt E.J. Day f/o cover and matt label. Later issues had glossy label. (WÖH*)(TRÄC*)
Again, like Relics, this is an original UK pressing that fails to deliver the sonic goods. I couldn't be sure, but this too may have been a project that was originally created in the USA. Anybody knows?
SvaraRaderaAs stated, this is full of dreaded fake stereo, and not even the true mono tracks are anything to get excited about; they have appeared in far better SQ elsewhere. The longer Magic Bus and alternative version of I'm a boy make this worth having, I guess, but my copy hasn't been pulled out of the sleeve since years.
They may have used the US fake versions since UK only existed in mono.It wouldn't be the first time the English picked fake or true stereos from over there. I hunted the 1:st UK press for a long time and when I finally got it I gave it one listen and then put it away. It will stay with me, but only for completist reasons.
SvaraRadera