Another Look: The Who Live at Leeds
By Guest Writer 
I’d like to try something kind of special. Years ago there was a show on VH1 called Classic Albums. The focus of this show was to take “classic” rock albums from throughout the ages and break them down creatively. Although CA was able to cover many great albums and artists, there were tons that fell by the wayside. So in the tradition of Classic Albums I would like to present Another Look, a by weekly series that will take CD’s throughout rock history, that perhaps haven’t been able to have their day in the sun.
If a CD exists in history that not enough people know about it would have to be The Who’s, Live at Leeds. To give you a bit of background on this album it was originally released on vinyl in 1970 with only six tracks, considered too damaged to release fully, the whole set became a kind of Myth, in that, the word of mouth had been that this was “the Who show to end all Who shows.” So, when the album was released with so few tracks, in contrast to the two and a half hour long show, it created suspicions and anger amongst music guru’s.
A more complete version of Leeds was put out in 1995 but only included the first half of the concert; it was well known that the band had played nearly the entire rock opera Tommy for the second half of the show. It wasn’t until 2001 with the Deluxe Edition of the album that the masses were finally able to get the full sermon.
I know your wondering, how is this album relevant now? I guess you’d have to hear it to really know, but I’d like to try and give ya a little taste.
Lets start with the first disc. You’ve just downloaded the album on iTunes and pressed play, the first song is “Heaven & Hell,” you’ll be immediately struck by how loud this music is. You might even check the volume to see if somehow you’d blasted it up by accident. You’ll next be kicked over the head by the progressive style of The Who’s sound.
Several of the songs are a collection of early singles by the band such as, “I Can’t Explain” and “Happy Jack.” Others are mini operas like, “A Quick One While He’s Away,” which must be heard to be believed. The power of the disc is almost too much to handle all at once; one might listen a little, take a break of sorts, and then hit it again.
The version of, “My Generation,” is in a word, breathtaking. Coming in at a cool 17 minutes and filled with montages of Tommy songs and other little gems, it really is a momentous jam, ripe for the annals of rock history. The last track on Disc 1 is “Magic Bus,” it’s also a stretched out rendition, at over 7 minutes and opening with a kind of jazzy, Keith Mooned out drum arrangement, and ending with a Townsend, electric, demolishing of his guitar. The first disc will be for most people the easiest to digest, although it has some very long songs, it will blow away all takers.
The second disc is as stated above, “nearly” the entire Tommy rock opera. It’s only four songs short and feels fulfilled. A person could just get the Tommy album itself, or get the Tommy the Movie soundtrack, or even get the Tommy stage performance album. So why get the Leeds version? The power of that evenings show takes the Tommy thing and puts it on Steroids. I can’t go on and on about Tommy because that has been done to death. All I will say is that it is more enticing and listen-able than any other version I’ve ever been exposed to. I suggest, if anyone thinks themselves a person of trend or hipness, this album is absolutely required listening. I hope you’ll all do your homework. Live at Leeds Ya’ll.
