| Who Albums |

The Who - 00's "Best Of" and Compilations: 

The Ultimate Collection - UK - 2002 Polydor CD (Limited Edition)	The Ultimate Collection - UK - 2002 Polydor CD (Promo)
The Who MP3 Collection - Russia - RMG CD MP3 versions of The Who Sings My Generation, A Quick One (1995 version), The Who Sell Out (remix), Tommy (remix), Live At Leeds Deluxe, Who's Next (remix). Photo gallery included	Then And Now - UK - 2004 Polydor CD
The 1st Singles Box - UK - 2004 Polydor CD (Promo) Promo compilation of the separate singles offered via the box set	Then And Now - UK - 2007 Polydor CD
The Ultimate Collection - USA - 2002 MCA CD (front cover)	The Ultimate Collection - USA - 2002 MCA CD (back cover)
The Ultimate Collection - USA - 2002 MCA CD (Bonus Disc)	Then And Now - USA - 2004 Geffen CD
The Who - USA - 2006 Universal CD (Box Set) (Promo) Includes: The Who Sings My Generation, A Quick One, The Who Sell Out, Tommy, Who's Next, Who Are You	UMe Catalog & Endless Wire Radio Sampler - USA - 2006 Geffen CD (Promo)
Amazing Journey - USA - 2008 Geffen CD Available from Best Buy stores only	Amazing Journey - USA - 2008 Geffen LP 2 LP - Available from Best Buy stores only
Then And Now - Argentina - 2004 Polydor CD (Promo)	Then And Now - China - 2005 Universal CD (Slip case cover) - 2 CD. 2nd CD is Elton John best of
Then And Now - China - 2005 Universal CD 2 CD. 2nd CD is Elton John best of	The Ultimate Collection - Germany - 2002 Universal CD
The Ultimate Collection - Germany - 2002 MCA CD (Promo)	Then And Now - Germany - 2004 Universal CD
Then And Now - Germany - 2004 Universal CD (Promo)	Box Set B-Sides - Germany - 2004 Universal CD (Promo - Front Cover)
Box Set B-Sides - Germany - 2004 Universal CD (Promo - Back Cover) "Pictures Of Lily" ???	Then And Now - Indonesia - 2004 Universal Cassette
The Ultimate Collection - Japan - 2002 Universal CD	Then And Now - Japan - 2004 Polydor CD Limited 2 CD version with 5 bonus tracks
Then And Now - Japan - 2004 Polydor Cassette (Promo)	Magic Bus - Japan - 2007 Polydor CD Mini-LP. Recreation of 1968 USA LP
Direct Hits - Japan - 2007 Polydor CD Mini-LP. Mono. Recreation of 1968 UK LP	Meaty Beaty Big And Bouncy - Japan - 2007 Polydor CD Mini-LP
The Ultimate Collection - Japan - 2008 Universal CD Super High Material (SHMCD) CD	Young Hooligans Hits - Poland - 2000 Selles CD
Rock Collection - Russia - 2001 Warner Brothers CD Same tracks as "My Generation: The Very Best Of The Who". Liner notes in Russian	Then And Now - Singapore - 2004 Virgin CD 3 bonus tracks
The Ultimate Collection - Thailand - 2002 Universal CD	The Ultimate Collection - Thailand - 2002 Universal Cassette Double cassette package
Then And Now - Thailand - 2004 Universal Cassette	The Millennium Collection - Ukraine - 2004 Universal CD (Promo)

00'S "BEST OF" AND COMPILATIONS

The Ultimate Collection:

The first of the <predictable many> "best of" collections for the new millennium... What makes this 3CD set most interesting, is the "bonus disc" of rarities, which includes:
Substitute - the alternate vocal version ("I try walking forward but my feet walk back") that was only released in the USA, Canada and South Africa
I'm A Boy - an unreleased alternate version, which is similar to the version on "Meaty Beaty Big & Bouncy"
Happy Jack - a similar, but different version to the one on the remastered "A Quick One" CD
Magic Bus - Mono version. I'm not sure why this is on this disc, as it's fairly common

In addition to the above, the UK Limited Edition adds video footage from Charlton, 1974 of "Baba O'Riley" and "Substitute"

Comments:

The _self tracks are sourced from the original mixes, including the true stereo "Magic Bus" and a very reverberated, simulated stereo, "Call Me Lightning". The latter most likely comes from a master that was used in Holland, as some of their 60's greatest hits collections were released in that style.

The overall mastering is somewhat  uneven throughout - ranging from very good to fair. For example, "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" suffers from muffled vocals, and is followed by a very clear, "My Generation". However, the volume is much louder on "My Generation" - and causes you to grab the volume control. The tracks from "Who's Next"/"Lifehouse" sound pretty good, but seem to have some unnecessary compression, which mutes the vocals a bit - except for "Behind Blue Eyes", which is a bit loud, and... might actually improve the song slightly. "Squeeze Box" sounds pretty good, but then the tracks which follow from "Who Are You" sound a little on the thin side.

Overall, most common listeners will enjoy the set, but those who are familiar with some of the better sounding reissues, might compare and ask too many questions...

Note: The UK and USA CDs feature slightly different track listings.

Then And Now:

What's unique about this CD, is that it marks the band's first new studio tracks ("Real Good Looking Boy" & "Old Red Wine") since the 1991 cover of Elton John's, "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting".

While it seems that a lot of thought went into the very nice packaging, almost no thought went into the sound quality. Unfortunately, the "greatest hits" tracks were sourced from various previously released compilations, and for the most part, they don't blend together - and overall sound terrible. The CD actually starts out with a decent sounding version of "I Can't Explain". However, shortly thereafter, the CD falls apart. Please note the tracks and comments next to them:

Track Listing/Comments:

I Can't Explain (mono) [sounds fine]
My Generation (mono) [sounds fine]
The Kids Are Alright (mono) [short version - sounds fine]
Substitute (mono) [sounds fine]
I'm A Boy (stereo) [overly bright]
Happy Jack (simulated stereo) [sounds OK, but no true mono version is available???]
(All tracks below are in true stereo)
I Can See For Miles [over-modulated]
Magic Bus [harsh/bright sounding]
Pinball Wizard [harsh/bright sounding]
See Me, Feel Me (LOUD MASTERING)
Summertime Blues (single version (?)) [Sounds OK, but compared to the 1995 remixed version on "Live At Leeds" this version is many steps backwards.]
Behind Blue Eyes (LOUD MASTERING)
Won't Get Fooled Again (LOUD MASTERING)
5:15 (LOUD MASTERING and heavy distortion)
Love, Reign O'er Me (LOUD MASTERING)
Squeeze Box (LOUD MASTERING)
Who Are You (LOUD MASTERING)
You Better You Bet (LOUD MASTERING)
Real Good Looking Boy (harsh/brittle mastering)
Old Red Wine (harsh/brittle mastering)

Bonus Tracks (from Japan CD):

Great Shakes (sounds like it was dubbed off of a bootleg - recorded at the wrong speed <too slow>)
Magic Bus (long studio version - a bit on the bright side)
Eyesight To The Blind (alt. vocal version as found on later UK LPs and MFSL CD - excellent sound quality)
Postcard (alt. mix, possible alt. vocal - excellent sound quality)
I Don't Even Know Myself (alt. version - excellent sound quality)

Bonus Tracks (from Singapore CD):

Sparks (studio version from "Tommy" - excellent sound quality)
Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere (simulated stereo studio version - very good sound quality)
Pictures Of Lily (simulated stereo studio version - very good sound quality, but with dropouts)

2007 UK CD:

Substitutes "Summertime Blues" and "Old Red Wine" (from above) with "Baba O'Riley" and "It's Not Enough"

Instead of feeling the joy and excitement associated with a new Who release - I was left shaking my head in disgust and a suffered a severe, 4-day  earache. I'd like to point out that loud volume doesn't bother me. I love loud, well produced music. However, there's no place for distorted music, especially when the original source wasn't.

Everyone who was involved with producing this CD should hang their head in shame - it's an embarrassment. Perhaps someone can explain why the band took the trouble to create brilliant new music, only to have it ruined by bad mastering? There's no excuse for ANY CD to be released this carelessly.

Because of a mistake by iTunes (www.apple.com), Who fans were able to download the new tunes about 2 weeks ahead of the CD release date. While the MP3 versions of these songs are less detailed than their CD counterparts, they lack any sort of harshness and can be played at loud volumes without hurting your ears - Which sadly, is what you might experience by listening to this carelessly compiled album. I recommend downloading the new songs via iTunes, as a viable alternative. As another alternative the UK promo CD single of the two new songs sounds better than this CD as well. However, "Real Good Looking Boy" is edited on the promo.

Note: No sound quality differences between the USA [Geffen], Polydor [UK], Polydor [Japan] and Virgin [Singapore] CDs (except for the [Japan & Singapore] CD's bonus disc as noted above).

Note #2: The Singapore disc is a bit of a quandary - the front cover art says "Polydor", the back cover says "Vigin Records" and the disc face says "Virgin Records" (bad English or bad pirate?). This disc is packaged in a standard jewel case and includes a lyric sheet to many of the songs. The other odd thing is that the disc plays for 86+ minutes! (The disc played fine on 2 different home players, but it wouldn't play on my car stereo.)

The 1st Singles Box (Promo):

This single CD is a 16 track promo sampler from the 2004 Polydor UK "Singles Box" set (issued both on CD and 7"). Unfortunately, very little of what I listened to on this CD, sounds quite like the original singles and that's not a good thing. These tracks suffer from a combination of loud mastering, simulated stereo and wrong mix and/or versions (all of which varies from track to track). For example, "I Can't Explain" is a loud mastered track, "Bald Headed Woman" is a normal mastered track. The original UK "b" side to "Substitute" was the Who produced version of "Circles", but this CD (and the box set it represents) uses the mono mix of the Shel Talmy version - which was never released with "Substitute" (but was released with "A Legal Matter", as "Instant Party"). Unfortunately, the "count down" of "1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3" is edited out of "I've Been Away" (which isn't just a countdown - it's part of the song!). So I have to ask... What is the point of releasing a "singles box set", if you don't use the original singles or something that closely represents them???

Track Listing (as listed on back cover)

I Can't Explain, Bald Headed Woman, My Generation, Shout And Shimmy, Substitute, Circles, I'm A Boy, In The City, Happy Jack, I've Been Away, I Can See For Miles, Someone's Coming, Pictures Of Lily, Doctor Doctor, Pinball Wizard, Dogs Part II, Won't Get Fooled Again, Don't Know Myself, 5:15, Water, Who Are You, Had Enough, Real Good Looking Boy, Old Red Wine

Track Listing (actual)

I Can't Explain, Bald Headed Woman, My Generation, Shout And Shimmy, Substitute, Circles, I'm A Boy, In The City, Happy Jack, I've Been Away, Pictures Of Lily, Doctor Doctor, I Can See For Miles, Someone's Coming, Pinball Wizard, Dogs Part II

UMe Catalog & Endless Wire Radio Sampler:

Interesting cover art variation of Endless Wire. Nothing particularly note worthy of the track listing. "I Can See For Miles" is the very loud mastered version (you need to turn the volume down when it plays). "Who Are You" is the original edited USA single version with the alternate, who the hell are you lyrics. "Real Good Looking Boy" is the radio edit version which has a "moment of silence" over the "F word". "Happy Jack" is the acoustic version from the A Quick One CD.

Track Listing

My Generation, Happy Jack (Acoustic), I Can See For Miles, Won't Get Fooled Again, Who Are You (Single Edit), Let My Love Open The Door, Giving It All Away, Real Good Looking Boy (Single Edit), Tea And Theatre, It's Not Enough

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