The Who - Endless Wire

CD(s) Sampled: Polydor (UK), Universal (USA), Polydor (Japan), , Polydor (Argentina), Polydor (Australia)

CD Comments: I've compared the Polydor (UK), the Universal (USA), the Polydor (Japan), the Polydor (Australia) and the Polydor (Argentina). The first 4 sound excellent, but slightly different from each other. I had been listening to the USA pressing for several weeks and feel the mastering is pretty close to perfect. Using the USA CD as the standard reference, I compared the UK, Japan and Australia CDs. The UK copy, is slightly different - as if the treble was ever slightly turned up and the bass, equally lessened - as if an entire frequency shift took place from one CD (USA) to another (UK). In comparing the two, the USA sounds slightly smoother and more full-ranged, while the UK sounds slightly more detailed. The Japan CD has that "value added" bass to it, which ads a bit more bass to the lower end. One one stereo system this made for an immediate improvement and the subwoofer was getting a nice workout. "Fragments" really sounded unbelievable. On the other system, the extra bass was a bit too much and I preferred the USA version. The Australia CD is closest to the Japan CD in sound characteristics. The Argentina CD sounds a bit "thinner" than the others. While it sounds "clean", it's missing the richness of the other CD versions and therefore - not as good.

CD Summary: As stated above, the UK, USA, Japan & Australia CDs sound excellent. However, based on your own listening preferences, you may prefer one style over the other. If I had to chose one over the others, it would be the USA disc, as I would imagine that it is closest to what the master tape sounds like. It seems to be right in-between the UK and Japan versions.

Other Comments: Great to have The Who back after 24 years! The version of Mirror Door on this CD features a different vocal performance and mix than the version on the Wire & Glass EP. The 2 extended version bonus tracks (see track listing below) seem to be different performance versions. Also note, all song versions on this album were mixed by Pete Townshend. However, the CD singles of It's Tea & Theatre, Black Widow's Eyes and It's Not Enough were remixed by Chris Lord-Alge and the UK single which contains It's Not Enough has an extended version of it. (Note: at this moment these CD singles are promo releases only. I am unsure which versions are being offered on the various internet download sites.)

Limited Edition CD versions issued with additional disc bonus live performances from Lyon, France, July 17, 2006:

USA Bonus Disc (DVD): I Can't Explain, Behind Blue Eyes, Mike Post Theme, Baba O'Riley, Won't Get Fooled Again

USA Best Buy (CD- In addition to the DVD above): The Seeker, Who Are You, Mike Post Theme, Relay, Greyhound Girl, Naked Eye, Won't Get Fooled Again (with ~1 minute of "Old Red Wine" at the end)

UK, Canada & Japan Bonus Disc (CD): The Seeker, Who Are You, Mike Post Theme, Relay, Greyhound Girl, Naked Eye, Won't Get Fooled Again (with ~1 minute of "Old Red Wine" at the end)

Track Listing: Fragments, Man In A Purple Dress, Mike Post Theme, In The Ether, Black Widow's Eyes, Two Thousand Years, God Speaks To Marty Robbins, You Stand By Me, Sound Round, Pick Up The Peace, Unholy Trinity, Trilby's Piano, Out On The Endless Wire, Fragments Of Fragments, We Got A Hit, They Made My Dreams Come True, Mirror Door, Tea & Theatre
Bonus Tracks: We Got A Hit (Extended Version)*, Endless Wire (Extended Version)*

* Note: Not all versions (i.e. Germany (Deluxe Edition)) have the 2 extended version tracks (above). Check <actual> CD for track listings.

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