| Who Albums |

The Who - Who Are You:

Album: Who Are You

LPs (vinyl) Sampled: Polydor (UK), MCA (USA), MCA-Super Disc (USA), MCA-Super Disc DBX (USA), MCA (Canada-red vinyl disc), Polydor (Germany), Polydor (Israel), Polydor (Uruguay), Union (Taiwan), Sony (Japan)

CDs (original mix) Sampled: Polydor (Germany), MCA (USA), MFSL (USA), Polydor (Japan) 

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

LP Comments: The Sony (Japan) is outstanding. Surprisingly, the MCA (USA) is very good sonically, but the vinyl quality isn't great and as a result, there can be unwanted surface noise. The MCA "Super Disc" is a bit of a gimmick, as the vinyl or sound quality is no better than the standard release. The DBX version of the same requires a DBX decoder added to your stereo system, but as with the other MCA LPs and the vinyl quality has the same problems as the other MCA LPs. The Polydor (UK) and (Germany) LPs sound good, but don't reach the sound of the Sony (Japan).

CD (original mix) comments: The Polydor (Germany) sounds wonderful. The MCA (USA) is as dull as a door, drowning in artificial bass. The MFSL is "OK", but doesn't sound anywhere as near as good as the Polydor (Germany). The Polydor (Japan) has the "value added" bass that many of its Japanese counterparts have, which makes it not sound as good as the Polydor (Germany).

CD (remix) comments: The Polydor (Germany) is the CD of choice here. The MCA (USA) suffers from some harsh edges. The Polydor (Japan) has that little extra bass in the mastering that's unneeded and unwarranted.

Summary: If you're looking for the original mix, first seek out the Sony (Japan) LP, then the Polydor (Germany) CD. If you want the best sounding remixed version, get the Polydor (Germany).

Other Comments: The MCA (USA) single of "Who Are You" is a shorter version of the song and features a lyric change to, "Who the hell are you..." (versus the common lyrics). On the MCA (USA) white-label promo of the LP, the title track has the word, "fuck" censored.

The song, "Empty Glass" on the remixed "Who Are You" is one of those rare, "special" finds. Unfortunately, the song was never completely finished. I always imagined it with Roger and Pete trading vocals as in "Naked Eye" - maybe one day the band will go back in the studio and finish it!

Track Listing: Original Mix: New Song, Had Enough, 905, Sister Disco, Music Must Change, Trick Of The Light, Guitar And Pen, Love Is Coming Down, Who Are You

Remix: New Song, Had Enough, 905, Sister Disco, Music Must Change, Trick Of The Light, Guitar And Pen, Love Is Coming Down, Who Are You, No Road Romance (Pete Townshend Demo), Empty Glass, Guitar And Pen, Love Is Coming Down, Who Are You (lost verse mix)

Back