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The Who Sell Out:

Album: The Who Sell Out

LPs (vinyl) Sampled: Polydor-mono (UK), Polydor-stereo (UK), Decca-mono (USA), Decca-stereo (USA), Classic-mono (USA) [all versions that follow are stereo versions] MCA-reissue (USA), Polydor (France), Polydor (Holland), Polydor (Japan), Polydor-reissue (Japan), Polydor (Australia-record label says mono, but it's actually in stereo), Polydor (Germany-several reissue variations)

CDs (original mix) Sampled: Polydor (Germany), MCA (USA), Polydor (Japan), Polydor (Japan) [2007 Mono mix]

CDs (remix) Sampled: Polydor (Germany), MCA (USA), Polydor (Japan)

LP Comments:

Stereo: Possibly a tossup between the Japan and German versions. Most of the variations in sound quality between the various countries come from the vinyl quality itself.

Mono: Both the Decca USA and Polydor UK versions sound about the same, and unfortunately--not too great. The mastering on them is extremely bass heavy (varying on different parts of the album) and has to be equalized to sound proper. The 2006 Classic USA and 2007 Polydor Japan CD versions cleans up the mastering problems inherent in the original 1967 releases and offers very good sound, retaining the "grittiness" of the original mono LPs. Sadly, the Classic LP isn't without flaws. Whereas the left and right channels (volume) on any mono recording should both be 100% even at the 12 o'clock position of your balance control, the right channel has a stronger output than the left, hence causing you to correct this by moving your balance control to the 11 o'clock position. They pressed this LP on 200 gram, Quiex vinyl, and for the most part, the vinyl is without flaw. However, at the end of sides 1 & 2, immediately at the end of each track, the LP starts to crackle, vs. what should have been a nice "moment of silence". This becomes even more frustrating on side 2, where the crackles are heavy between "Rael" and the "Track Records" run-off track. My copy was slightly warped (towards the outer edge).

The mono album does feature some interesting mix variations, i.e. No lead guitar on "Odorono", a "quivering vocal" ending to "Mary Ann With The Shaky Hand" (also featured on the remixed CD version) and most notably a different (and more interesting) ending guitar track on "Our Love Is, Was".

CD (original mix) comments: Both the USA and German versions sound nearly identical. However, the way they are indexed is completely different. The USA version starts each track with the jingles in the beginning, while the German has them at the end. The other significant difference is that the USA version features the "Track Records" run off track at the end of the CD, while the German version doesn't. The Japanese CD is the same as the German, but with some extra bass in the mastering.

CD (remix) comments: Both the USA and German versions sound identical and the Japanese version has the extra bass in the mastering, which (depending on your stereo system) detracts from the sound quality.

Summary: The remixed version of this album is truly brilliant in ways that words can't express. Unless you are a collector, there's no reason to own anything other than an MCA (USA) or Polydor (Germany) copy.

Other Comments: If you are a collector, there are some interesting album cover variations to note, specifically the Australian LP with Keith Moon holding Clearasil on the tube versus "Medac".

The liner notes of the reissue incorrectly credit the 2nd version of "Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand" as being the "b" side of "I Can See For Miles" version. This version is actually a previously unreleased version. The "b" side version eventually got remixed in stereo and placed on "Odds & Sods".

The Decca (USA) <white label> LP promo copies were issued both "banded" (gaps between the songs - versus cross-faded) and unbanded - both in mono and stereo. On the banded versions, "Turn It Up" and "Beast of a Man" (commercials between the songs) are deleted. (See track listing below.)

Track Listing:

UK: Armenia City In The Sky, Heinz Baked Beans, Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand, Odorono, Tattoo, Our Love Was, Is, I Can See For Miles, I Can't Reach You, Medac, Relax, Silas Stingy, Sunrise, Rael

USA: Armenia City In The Sky, Heinz Baked Beans, Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand, Odorono, Tattoo, Our Love Was, Is, I Can See For Miles, I Can't Reach You, Spotted Henry, Relax, Silas Stingy, Sunrise, Rael

USA (Banded Promo): Armenia City In The Sky, Heinz Baked Beans, Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand, Odorono, I Can See For Miles, Our Love Was, Is, Tattoo, I Can't Reach You, Spotted Henry, Relax, Silas Stingy, Sunrise, Rael

Reissue: Armenia City In The Sky, Heinz Baked Beans, Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand, Odorono, Tattoo, Our Love Was, Is, I Can See For Miles, I Can't Reach You, Spotted Henry, Relax, Silas Stingy, Sunrise, Rael, Rael 2, <Top Gear> Glittering Girl, <Coke 2>, Melancholia, <Bag O' Nails>, Someone's Coming, <John Mason's Cars>, Jaguar, <John Mason's Cars Reprise>, Early Morning Cold Taxi, <Coke 1> Hall Of The Mountain King, <Radio 1>, Girl's Eyes, <Odorono-Final Chorus>, Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand, Glow Girl <Track Records>.

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