The Who ‘Live at Leeds’

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#909 in the Series) is The Who, Live at Leeds. 

The Who, Live at Leeds. Is this the motherload of all live albums? I do believe this, when you talk about the best live albums of all time, this is in the team picture.  And I’m just referring to the six song, original release of 1970.

That’s it, six raw powerful wonderful rock and roll songs. It was The Who during a great period. This was the tour for Tommy.  They had finished their poppy earlier era and had entered into a rock and roll era with the original band that would last for about eight more years.

The six songs on the original release contained three cover songs and three songs written by Pete Townshend.  The cover’s were Mose Allison’s “Young Man’s Blues,” Jerry Capehart and Eddie Cochran’s “Summertime Blues” and Johnny Kidd’s “Shakin’ All Over.”  The originals were “Substitute,” “My Generation” and “Magic Bus.”

This was what we knew about Live At Leeds up until 1995. Then we were treated to a great re-release housing 14 songs. This wouldn’t be good enough still, in 2001 there was the  full concert from University of Leeds. That six song original release would now be expanded to become two lengthy compact discs with the second disc containing the complete presentation of Tommy.  33 songs now in all. It makes you wonder how they could have even discussed starting with only a six song album.  Dig that.

When the band performed this show, they also planned to do another at Hull.  The band has always claimed that they were much better the next night at Hull. They also felt that the acoustics were better at that venue to record a live album but unfortunately, the audio got screwed up that night and only Leeds was used (yes, they would also be eventually released in that super-duper extra-special let it all hang out version that would be released in 2010). So there!

I’ve included track listings for the original and the 2001 releases below.

— Larry Carta

 Track listing

1970 Original LP

Side one

1. “Young Man Blues” (Mose Allison)  – 4:45
2. “Substitute” (Pete Townshend)  – 2:05
3. “Summertime Blues” (Jerry Capehart, Eddie Cochran)  – 3:22
4. “Shakin’ All Over” (Johnny Kidd)  – 4:15

Side two

1. “My Generation” (Townshend)  – 14:27
2. “Magic Bus” (Townshend)  – 7:30

2001 Deluxe Edition (complete “Leeds” performance)

Disc one

1. “Heaven and Hell” (Entwistle)  – 5:07
2. “I Can’t Explain” (Townshend)  – 3:13
3. “Fortune Teller” (Neville and Spellman)  – 2:35
4. “Tattoo” (Townshend)  – 3:42
5. “Young Man Blues” (Allison)  – 6:12
6. “Substitute” (Townshend)  – 2:07
7. “Happy Jack” (Townshend)  – 2:14
8. “I’m a Boy” (Townshend)  – 7:47
9. “A Quick One, While He’s Away” (Townshend)  – 8:52
10. “Summertime Blues” (Capehart and Cochran)  – 3:22
11. “Shakin’ All Over” (Kidd)  – 4:35
12. “My Generation” (Townshend)  – 15:49
13. “Magic Bus” (Townshend)  – 7:56

Disc two

Tommy

1. “Overture” (Townshend)  – 6:53
2. “It’s a Boy” (Townshend)  – 0:31
3. “1921” (Townshend)  – 2:26
4. “Amazing Journey” (Townshend)  – 3:18
5. “Sparks” (Townshend)  – 4:23
6. “Eyesight to the Blind” a.k.a. “Born Blind” (Sonny Boy Williamson)  – 1:58
7. “Christmas” (Townshend)  – 3:19
8. “The Acid Queen” (Townshend)  – 3:35
9. “Pinball Wizard” (Townshend)  – 2:52
10. “Do You Think It’s Alright?” (Townshend)  – 0:22
11. “Fiddle About” (Entwistle)  – 1:13
12. “Tommy, Can You Hear Me?” (Townshend)  – 0:55
13. “There’s a Doctor” (Townshend)  – 0:23
14. “Go to the Mirror!” (Townshend)  – 3:24
15. “Smash The Mirror” (Townshend)  – 1:19
16. “Miracle Cure” (Townshend)  – 0:13
17. “Sally Simpson” (Townshend)  – 4:01
18. “I’m Free” (Townshend)  – 2:39
19. “Tommy’s Holiday Camp” (Keith Moon)  – 1:00
20. “We’re Not Gonna Take It” (Townshend)  – 8:48

Personnel

• Roger Daltrey – lead vocals, harmonica, tambourine
• John Entwistle – bass guitar, vocals
• Keith Moon – drums, vocals
• Pete Townshend – guitar, vocals

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