I'm listening to this, but I don't want to be.





 

Jinnistan wrote:

That's a good example of an album that needs to remix out all of that 80s commercial production process.  Some fans swear by the outtakes, but I just haven't had the strength to explore any further.

It wouldn't be surprising if we peeled all the 80's off of this, some decent songs might be there, but as it stands, about half the album is (if not unlistenable), simply isn't worth listening to.

I generally don't have a probably with a lot of 80ifying some of the already established artists of that time. It was almost never for the better, but I have an affectection for some of that gated drum, synthezied sheen crap. But, to say it doesn't work in tandem with Dylan's voice would be an understatement.

I'm trying to plug my Dylan holes though, and I was inevitably going to come across a copy of this I simply couldn't refuse.

In the same dollar bin I was also album to come across one of the biggest omissions from my collection, The Who's My Generation. Knowing it was heavily covers based, I was never super keen on paying top dollar for it, as I generally don't really like that sort of things. But I should say, unsurprisingly as it turns out, that I actually much much prefer The Who's take on covering their influences more than I ever have with The Stones or The Beatles. The weird identity of Townshend's band can't help but still shine through, making nearly all of these tracks keepers. And of course, the originals are great. Kids Are Alright has probably been in my pantheon of greatest rock and roll singles ever, right up there with I Want to Hold Your Hand and Satisfaction. Absolute perfection, and probably a song that speaks to me more directly than either of those other more well known classics.

It also hasn't hurt my appreciation of The Who these last few years that I've finally begun to appreciate Roger Daltry's voice, which in the past was always the weak link for me. There was something about that faux machismo delivery he put on that always somewhat put me off. But I am now much more able to hear the range of the guy, and how perfectly he interpreted Townshends lyrics and internal teenage combusion.

It also has come to my awareness that Pete Townshend is likely my favorite currently living rock star (not including Dylan). And is consistently the best interview in the business (including Dylan). I might be more upset over his ultimate passing when it happens than any other. I feel an affinity for him in my middle age that really has added to his already incredible legacy (the run from My Generation to By Numbers might be one of the greatest in all popular music)

crumbsroom wrote:

....come across a copy of this I simply couldn't refuse....In the same dollar bin.....

On the other hand, you could have tucked it under your shirt and enjoyed a Snickers.

crumbsroom wrote:

I was also album to come across one of the biggest omissions from my collection, The Who's My Generation. Knowing it was heavily covers based, I was never super keen on paying top dollar for it, as I generally don't really like that sort of things. But I should say, unsurprisingly as it turns out, that I actually much much prefer The Who's take on covering their influences more than I ever have with The Stones or The Beatles. The weird identity of Townshend's band can't help but still shine through, making nearly all of these tracks keepers. And of course, the originals are great. Kids Are Alright has probably been in my pantheon of greatest rock and roll singles ever, right up there with I Want to Hold Your Hand and Satisfaction. Absolute perfection, and probably a song that speaks to me more directly than either of those other more well known classics.

I have a go-to version of the record that leans even heavily on covers.  Some of my favorite early Who wasn't on the actual album - "Daddy Rolling Stone", "Shout and Shimmy", "Heatwave", "Leaving Here", "Lubie", "Anytime You Want Me" and covers of "Dancing in the Streets", "Good Loving" and "Baby Don't You Do It".  The "deluxe" 2CD edition has most of that.  And everyone hates on the James Brown covers, but "I Don't Mind" shows why they were the best British group at handling R&B (sorry, Stones).  Unfortunately, I don't think that a lot of these early Townshend originals ("La-La-Lies", "Much Too Much", "It's Not True", "Legal Matter") are very good at capturing that same early live Who energy.  But Townhend's "Out In The Street" certainly does.

Townhend's autobiography from a few years ago is worth a read.  There's a couple of embarrassments, especially from his early 80s coke period, like that time he tried to woo Theresa Russell.  It's kinda funny he bothered to include it.