THE WHO Who Put A Better Boot In 1976 (Shagadelic
Productions, 68:04 min)
SOUND QUALITY: Good to Very Good
soundboard (7-8), little noise and very few drop-outs. The sound is a little
hollow in places but otherwise a very good recording of this old chestnut.
COVER:
Front of four-color, four-panel insert has a slightly washed out copy of the
famous photo of Keith Moon as a hotel bellhop, holding a tray with a couple of
beer bottles and a glass, a manic look on his face. The rear of the insert has a
reproduction of the original tour concert poster for this show along with
smaller photos of Roger Daltrey and Peter Townshend. Inside of insert shows
various photos of the band, including a notorious nude shot of Moonie. Back of
CD has a live shot of Townshend and Daltrey and song listing. TRACKLIST:
Amazing Journey/ Sparks/ Acid Queen/ Fiddle About/ Pinball Wizard/ I’m Free/ How
Can We Follow/ Baba O’Riley/ Squeeze Box/ Behind Blue Eyes/ Dreaming From The
Waist/ My Wife/ Summertime Blues/ My Generation Jam: Talking About It, Join
Together, My Generation, Blues Guitar Interlude/ Won’t Get Fooled Again
COMMENTS:
This isn’t the first time that this classic Who show has been bootlegged, not
even the first time on CD, but it may well be the best. Recorded live at the
Swansea Festival in England on June 12, 1976, this Shagadelic release of this
show is longer and of better sound quality than the scratchy old vinyl version
that I’ve kept all these years. One of the reasons that it’s so popular with
hard-core Who fans and music lovers in general is the overall dynamic quality of
the band’s performance. Running through an energetic set that reads like a
literal “greatest hits” compilation, the Who rip, rage and rock through
performances of such favorites as “Pinball Wizard,” “Squeeze Box,” “Behind Blue
Eyes,” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” among others.
It’s a memorable set, showcasing one of rock’s greatest bands playing at the top of their game and
performing admirably in their own backyard. The later death of Keith Moon would
change the sound and power of the band – they would become slicker and more
professional as the 1970s gave way into the ’80s, but they’d never be the same
again. Who Put A Better Boot In 1976 captures the Who in their full
glory; it’s a must-have disc for Who fans. (Shagadelic Productions, released
1999)
The Who Sell Out is, undeniably, one of the legendary rock band’s most adventuresome yet lighthearted of albums. A tribute to the notorious pirate radio stations that operated off the coast of England during the mid-‘60s, The Who Sell Out mixes Pete Townshend’s uncanny ear for melody (songs like “Glittering Girl” and the Top Ten hit “I Can See For Miles”) with made-up jingles and fake radio commercials that echo the sounds then being heard by U.K. teens from stations like Radio London.
John Dougan’s The Who Sell Out
Author John Dougan attempts to dissect and analyze this classic album with his book The Who Sell Out, part of Continuum’s rightfully acclaimed 33 1/3 series of books. The result of Dougan’s efforts is a delightful trip in the wayback machine to the swinging ‘60s of London and a British music scene dominated by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Kinks, and the Who. Dougan sets the stage for the story with a personal recollection, talking about the differences between him and his father, not only in their musical preferences, but also in their relative degree of musical fanaticism. Whereas family and obligation caused his father to put aside music as an adult, the younger Dougan – not unlike many of us children of the ‘50s – became hopelessly addicted to rock ‘n’ roll, an affliction that the author has obviously carried to the present day.
It was his unquenchable thirst for new music … a trait also shared by many collectors and critics … that led Dougan to discover the British Invasion and, subsequently, the Who. In a strange twist of fate, however, it wasn’t until he was in his 20s that this hardcore Who fan finally added a copy of The Who Sell Out to his personal library. Such are the fortunes of the music fan, and when Dougan describes living in a “cultural backwater” in Massachusetts, many of us can identify. I remember living in a rural suburb of Nashville, my lifeline to the outside world consisting of copies of Creem magazine, dog-eared by constant reading, and the irregular packages of promo albums sent for review by my editor Rick Johnson at Sunrise.
Dougan lays the groundwork for the recording of The Who Sell Out by going into the history of the UK pirate radio scene with some detail. I find this aspect quite fascinating, the thought that a handful of illegal offshore stations like Radio London and Radio Caroline could have such a cultural impact is mind-boggling. There was nothing like this phenomenon in the United States – pirate stations stateside were erratic, disappearing frequently, and were greatly limited by America’s size and geography. Dougan provides interesting details on the history of England’s state-sponsored media, the BBC’s reluctance to embrace rock ‘n’ roll an important deciding factor in the creation and popularity of the U.K. pirates.
Dougan’s discussion of ‘60s-era art and art theory is equally fascinating, his exploration of the influence of these factors on Pete Townshend’s work ties together disparate snapshots previously provided by the band’s biographers like Dave Marsh and Richard Barnes. No artist lives in a vacuum, and Townshend was certainly no exception, and the opportunities to immerse one’s self in radical and thought-provoking cultural scenes during the era were seemingly endless. There was an almost unbelievable co-mingling of art and commerce in those days, unthinkable by today’s “alternative” mindset, but much of what we think of as classic works from the ‘60s were fresh, original and unabashedly commercial.
It was from this miasma of art and commerce that Pete Townshend conceived of The Who Sell Out. Townshend’s aim was not, as the album’s title implies, to actually “sell out” but rather to offer listeners, as Dougan describes it, “a celebration of the zeitgeist, a joyous reaffirmation of the discrete cultural elements that had defined British postwar popular culture and the Who as a pop art musical experience.” Townshend correctly found British pop culture to be less cynical and more positively-oriented than that of America, and it’s true that the British have, and continue to embrace a much wider range and diversity of cultural media.
Dougan recounts the creative and technical obstacles that were overcome during the making of The Who Sell Out and, sadly, tells of the album’s immediate commercial failure. A bit too cerebral, perhaps, for mainstream audiences, the album’s fortunes waned after the last chords of “I Can See For Miles” disappeared from the charts. Undaunted, the Who would go onto greater triumphs and tragedies but, strangely enough, The Who Sell Out continues to hang around, 40 years after its initial release. An intriguing and many-layered work of art, the album continues to win converts and influence people long after its “sell by” date has expired. Just as importantly, Dougan outlines how the album was a vital work, aiding the Who’s transformation from a chart-topping pop band into a legendary rock band.
The Reverend’s Bottom Line
The Who Sell Out is a worthy addition to the 33 1/3 series. Dougan’s prose is lively and informative, his insights well-considered and crafted by spending most of a lifetime living with and considering this often overlooked album. His account of the cultural forces that helped shape Townshend’s work is immensely important in a historical context, and I can see myself referring back to this tome in the future. Unlike many of the well-written books in the 33 1/3 series, Dougan’s The Who Sell Out provides a textural framework that actually enhances the listening experience rather than merely supporting an album’s critical credentials. Dougan’s efforts made a fellow Who fanatic listen to The Who Sell Out with fresh ears, and for that I thank him! (Continuum 33 1/3 series, published September 15th, 2006)
Review originally published by the Trademark of Quality (TMQ) blog
Wilko Johnson is dying…it’s a sad but true, and an inconvenience that has seemingly done little to slow down the legendry and influential British guitarist. Diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in January 2013, Johnson was given, best case scenario, ten months to live. At six months past his expiry, he continues to rock every bit as hard as he has during his entire career. After a “farewell tour” which stretched throughout much of 2013, Johnson and his road-tested live band continue to light up stages across the United Kingdom.
Johnson made his bones as the guitarist of British pub-rock legends Dr. Feelgood, lending his talents and unique finger-picked guitar style to the band’s first four albums, from 1975’s Down By the Jetty to 1977’s Sneakin Suspicion, after which he left the band to launch a solo career that is now in its fifth decade. For those not in the know, pub-rock was a uniquely British institution that took its inspiration from 1950s-era proto-rock and rhythm and blues and 1960s bands like the Rolling Stones and the Yardbirds. It was raw, it was rootsy, and it was highly influential on the late ‘70s punk and new wave scenes that would follow. It was typically performed in pubs rather than large concert venues, and bands like Dr. Feelgood, Brinsley Schwarz (with Nick Lowe), and Ducks Deluxe paved the way for more successful artists like Elvis Costello, Graham Parker, and Joe Strummer and the Clash.
Wilko Johnson & Roger Daltrey’s Going Back Home
With a death sentence hanging over his head, Johnson knew that his date with the Reaper was coming, and he wanted to leave one last album for his long-time fans. He and Roger Daltrey of the Who had talked as early as 2010 about working together, about recording an album of the sort of old-school British R&B – like Johnny Kidd & the Pirates – that they both loved as teens. After the Who wrapped up its 2013 tour, Johnson got Daltrey into the studio for a week in November to record Going Back Home, using Johnson’s touring band for back-up.
Comprised of eleven songs, including a raucous cover of Bob Dylan’s “Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window,” Going Back Home features songs written or co-written by Johnson, drawn from across his solo career and his years with Dr. Feelgood, the material re-imagined in a raw, intimate, rockin’ British R&B style. Somebody convinced Universal Music to reactive the Chess Records imprint to release Going Back Home, and it was a good decision, as the album displays all the heart and soul of the 1950s and ‘60s era Chess records that influenced Daltrey and Johnson as young men.
Daltrey’s once-golden voice is nowhere near what it was during the Who’s mid-‘70s peak, but it’s perfectly suited to a bluesy reinterpretation of Johnson’s songs. Going Back Home kicks off with the title track, Daltrey’s growled, primal vocals reminiscent of the great Howlin’ Wolf as Mick Talbot’s tinkling piano keys add a distinctive honky-tonk vibe. Harp player Steve Weston knocks out riffs in the spirit of Little Walter while Johnson’s percussive fretwork establishes a rhythmic bottom end. Call it Chicago-styled blues with a British flavor, the arrangement dominated by piano and harmonica. By contrast, “Ice On the Motorway” is a lively romp with funky rhythms, engaging guitar licks, and an overall Southern soul vibe. Daltrey’s vocals are fierce and Johnson’s riffing is wiry and hypnotic, making for a livewire three minutes of music.
Some Kind of Hero
Wilko Johnson photo by Paul Crowther
Johnson and Daltrey do a fine job in covering Dylan’s “Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window,” the singer’s hearty vocals miles away from the Scribe’s nasal drawl, but curiously effective as they impart a deep emotion to the lyrics. Johnson leads the band through an energetic arrangement, drummer Dylan Howe adding some nice percussive fills while Weston’s harp dances spryly atop the instrumentation. Johnson’s guitar is relegated mostly to rhythmic support, but its presence is felt nonetheless. “Keep On Loving You” would have made a great Muddy Waters track, its energetic, slightly-funky feel reminiscent of the Master’s early ‘70s “electric blues” albums. Johnson’s guitar is given room to shine here, Wilko plucking imaginative notes out of the air and feeding them through his fingers as Daltrey’s anguished vocals ride low alongside a steady drumbeat and washes of keyboard.
Johnson’s “Some Kind of Hero” is a perfect example of mid-‘70s pub-rock, the song an amalgam of bluesy licks, rockin’ rhythms, and rootsy twang-bangin’ that moves like a reckless locomotive on a rhythmic bedrock of driving guitar, blasts of harp, rapid-fire drumbeats, and piano-pounding worthy of ol’ Otis Spann. “Keep It Out of Sight” is also reminiscent of the era, mixing up period soul and rock ‘n’ roll with Daltrey’s powerful vocals at the forefront, lush instrumentation behind, and Johnson’s razor-sharp fretwork throughout. Talbot’s Hammond organ plows through the mix like a mad bull, and the entire performance hits your ears like a long-forgotten dream, dredging up memories of half-remembered songs and music long past.
Going Back Home closes with two of Johnson’s best songs – “Everybody’s Carrying A Gun” and “All Through the City” – both performances showcasing the guitarist’s underrated lyrical skills. The former is a cautionary tale of fame that Daltrey knocks out of the park with his knowing vocals and Johnson spices up with rollicking, rockabilly-tinged guitar licks. Toss in Talbot’s honky-tonk ivories and a raucous rhythmic foundation created by Norman Watt-Roy’s throbbing bass line and you have an ear-tickling performance. The latter song is an insightful portrait of street life painted with vivid lyrics, an infectious melody, and some of Johnson’s rawest, most electrifying guitarwork. Daltrey’s vocals snarl and sneer like his best work with the Who, the song finishing the album with a definite edge.
The Reverend’s Bottom Line
Wilko Johnson and Roger Daltrey have delivered a minor masterpiece with Going Back Home, the two rock ‘n’ roll lifers tearing up the studio like they were both nineteen years old again. As swansongs go, Johnson couldn’t have done any better – his songs, his guitar playing, and his band leadership serving as a fitting last will and testament, creating a highly entertaining set of blues and rock music served up with energy and affection. Everybody here realizes the stakes, and their combined talents deliver a recording worthy of the Chess Records imprint.
Although not a traditional blues album by any measure, Going Back Home is Chicago and Delta blues as filtered through British rock sensibilities, and certainly Mississippi-bred bluesmen like Waters and the Wolf would recognize their influence on Daltrey and Johnson alike. Kudos to Roger Daltrey for the passion and skill he brings to these performances, and to Wilko Johnson, who continues to deliver for his fans under the most stressful of circumstances, displaying his talents with an energy and vitality of an artist half his age. (Chess Records, released March 25, 2014) Editor’s note: Thankfully, Wilko beat the cancer that threatened to kill him and he continues to perform and record, releasing most recent album, Blow Your Mind, in 2018!
We're standing on the brink of summer and the outlook is groovy! There are only four weeks in June's release schedule, but there's a lot of rock 'n' roll goodness here to kick off the season. You'll find new albums by folks like the Black Keys, Chris Stamey, Bruce Springsteen, the Raconteurs (with Jack White), the Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Santana, Peter Frampton, and Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, among many others. There are a few choice archival releases this month as well, including a long-lost live Neil Young album, a vinyl reissues of James Taylor's One Man Band and a 25th anniversary vinyl reissue of Americana legend Dave Alvin's classic King of California album (with bonus tracks).
Speaking of the archives, Krautrock and prog fans will like Universal's reissues of seven classic mid-to-late '70s albums by the legendary Tangerine Dream on CD with bonus tracks. Isaac Hayes' classic soundtrack to the movie Shaft gets a deluxe reissue, Prince is represented by a collection from his vaults, and Warren Haynes and Gov't Mule return with a red-hot live set. It's safe to say, no matter your taste in music, there's something in June to tickle your fancy!
If you’re interesting in buying an album, just hit the ‘Buy!’ link to get it from Amazon.com...it’s just that damn easy! Your purchase puts valuable ‘store credit’ in the Reverend’s pocket that he’ll use to buy more music to write about in a never-ending loop of rock ‘n’ roll ecstasy!
JUNE 7
Perry Farrell - Kind Heaven BUY!
Peter Frampton Band - All Blues [w/Sonny Landreth] BUY!
Dylan LeBlanc - Renegade BUY!
Gary Nicholson - The Great Divide BUY!
Gary Nicholson (as 'Whitey Johnson') - More Days Like This BUY!
Pelican - Nighttime Stories BUY!
Santana - Africa Speak BUY!
Silversun Pickups - Widow's Weeds BUY!
Slowness - Berths BUY!
James Taylor - One Man Band [vinyl reissue] BUY!
Neil Young & Stray Gators - Tuscaloosa [1973 concert] BUY!
JUNE 14
Chris Robinson Brotherhood - Servants of the Sun BUY!
Roger Daltrey - The Who's Tommy Orchestral BUY!
Isaac Hayes - Shaft (Music From the Soundtrack) BUY!
Iron & Wine/Calexico - Years To Burn BUY!
Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real - Turn Off the News, Build A Garden BUY!
Bruce Springsteen - Western Stars BUY!
Tangerine Dream - Cyclone [CD reissue] BUY!
Tangerine Dream - Encore [CD reissue] BUY!
Tangerine Dream - Force Majure [CD reissue] BUY!
Tangerine Dream - Phaedra [CD reissue] BUY!
Tangerine Dream - Richochet [CD reissue] BUY!
Tangerine Dream - Rubycon [CD reissue] BUY!
Tangerine Dream - Stratosfear [CD reissue] BUY!
JUNE 21
Collective Soul - Blood BUY!
Def Leppard - Def Leppard - Volume Two [box set] BUY!
Hollywood Vampires - Rise BUY!
Hot Chip - A Bath Full of Ectasty BUY!
Chuck Mead - Close To Home BUY!
Prince - Originals BUY!
The Raconteurs - Help Us Stranger BUY!
JUNE 28
The Allman Betts Band - Down To the River BUY!
Dave Alvin - King of California [vinyl reissue] BUY!
The Black Keys - Let's Rock BUY!
Generation Axe - The Guitars That Destroyed The World [Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, Zakk Wylde] BUY!
Gov't Mule - Bring On the Music [live] BUY!
Magma - Zëss
Chris Stamey - New Songs For the 20th Century BUY!
Album of the Month: The Black Keys' Let's Rock. It was another tough decision this month, with cool new music coming from talents like Chris Stamey, the Raconteurs, Bruce Springsteen, and Lukas Nelson, among many others. I'm going with the Black Keys this month, tho' as Let's Rock is the blues-rockin' duo's first new LP of studio material in five years and is said to be a return to the guitar-heavy sound of their early material. Recorded in the frontman Dan Auerbach's Nashville studio, it will be good to hear singer/guitarist Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney back in the groove again!
May was a pretty good month for new releases, but it pales in comparison to the slate of new tunes we have in store for June. Plus, the month has five release Fridays, which means more music for all of us! You'll find new albums from British rock legends Roger Daltrey (The Who) and Wilko Johnson (Dr. Feelgood) on the shelves this month, as well as new music by blues legend Buddy Guy, Pete Yorn (with actress/singer Scarlett Johansson), Ray Davies, Jim James, Howlin' Rain, and Arthur Buck (a collaboration between singer/songwriter Joseph Arthur and former R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck.
And for those of us with a "classic" orientation, how about archival releases from Mick Ronson, Junior Byles, Dennis Coffey, the Posies, and Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention or vinyl reissues of classic LPs from Liz Phair, Buddy Guy, and Junior Wells?
If we
wrote about it here on the site, there will be a link to it in the album title; if you want
an album, hit the 'Buy!' link to get it from Amazon.com...it's just
that damn easy! Your purchase puts money in the Reverend's pocket that
he'll use to buy more music to write about in a never-ending loop of
rock 'n' roll ecstasy!
JUNE 1
Neko Case - Hell-On BUY!
Roger Daltrey - As Long As I Have You BUY!
Father John Misty - God's Favorite Customer BUY!
Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson - Apart BUY!
JUNE 29
Ray Davies - Out Country: Americana Act II BUY!
Florence + the Machine - High As Hope BUY!
Buddy Guy - A Man and the Blues [vinyl reissue] BUY!
Jim James - Uniform Distortion BUY!
Junior Wells - Coming At You [vinyl reissue] BUY!
Album of the Month: It may be a controversial pick in a month that includes new LPs from Roger Daltrey, Neko Case, and Ray Davies, but Wilko Johnson's Blow Your Mind is the British rock legend's first studio album in 30 years, and the follow-up to his Daltrey collaboration Going Back Home. Read more about it here...
