Live Leeds
Overall Live Album Score: ***** My general attitude toward live albums is undoubtedly eviiiiiiiilll. I never want to put them on the same playing field as studio albums! ... because, you know, it's usually almost like reviewing a greatest hits album ... rock bands are only going to perform their good and well-known songs at a live concert, right? ...... And, so, how could they be scored on the same playing field as the regular studio albums? ... Besides which, if the band was going to perform something, it's going to be made the correct way in the studio................... Okay, well, The Who pretty much defy everything that I thought about live albums with Live at Leeds. This live concert performance isn't merely a laundry line of The Who's greatest hits (...indeed, I'm surprised at the lack of big hits...). More than that, these songs, by and large, are performed better than they were in the studio! So much so, that it's almost surprising! (Plus, there are several songs on here that I haven't heard The Who perform before. Perhaps most notably is a cover of "Young Man Blues," which is performed with so much verve that ... heck!!!!! This is freaking awesome!!!!!!!!!! Everything else on here is good, too! The performance of "A Quick One" is considerably more exciting than the original studio version, and the most recognizable song they perform on here, "My Generation," is nearly 16 minutes long and it incorporates a bunch of tunes from "Tommy" in it. (And ... wow! Every single part in here sounds more energetic than it did in their studio counterparts! ... This version of "My Generation" is my favorite bit in this album, certainly) ... Indeed, The Who were not only creative in the studio, but they were also quite innovative during their live performances! ... Yeah, and it's also really fun to hear! I'm jumping on the bandwagon by saying this (because everyone says this), but if you want to get one album that summarizes what The Who ought to be remembered for, make it Live at Leeds. Not only does it have some really super-great songs on it, but the performances are just fantastic! As an added bonus, we also get to hear dialogue from the band. Pete Townsend (especially as he outlines the plot to "A Quick One") is very grin-inducing. Also, while Pete is talking, we also occasionally hear Keith Moon babble something goofy in the background. Indeed, not only does this live album show the band at the heights of their performing realm, but it also gives us much welcome insight on the band's personality ... which is something that we never get from studio albums. So, in concussion, get this live album if you love The Who ... or want to love The Who! Hmm... Even though I should probably make an exception with Live at Leeds, I'm lazy. I don't usually do track reviews on live albums (because I'm an evillll anti-live-album-ite), so I'll just give you a track listing... and I guess I'll put asterisks next to the ones that I like the best. 01 Heaven and Hell
The Who will not crucify you if you send me a comment about their live album here. slb23@shaw.ca (Simon B.) received Sept. 6, 2004 I've got the 14-track 1995 Remastered LIVE AT LEEDS too.
Most people consider this album and the Rolling Stones' GET YER YA YA'S
OUT to be the best live albums of all time. Both those albums grew on me
ever since I first listened to them (especially GET YER YA YA'S OUT).
Although I think I might prefer the original LIVE AT LEEDS tracklist
(cause it's shorter and has the better, classic tracks), the remastered
1995 version is definitely the one to get (or even the newer remastered
2CD version with a near-complete performance of TOMMY).
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All reviews are copyrighted by Michael Lawrence ... Shakeyoass!
