Can't explain (The Who) (LP 4621 - 4624)

The Who  Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy (CD, MCA Records, 1971) *****  

The Who  Then and Now (CD, MCA Records, 2004) ***** 

The Who  My Generation - The Very Best of The Who (CD, Polydor Records, 1996) ***** 

The Who  The Kids are Alright (CD, Polydor Records, 1979) ****  

Genre: Rock

Places I remember: JB Hi Fi, Kings Recording (Abu Dhabi),

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Pictures of Lily

Gear costume: Magic Bus

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7

Active compensatory factors: Compiled by Pete, Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy is a peerless collection of smash hits. Most were released as singles, so this is a genuinely interesting alternative view of the band outside of the, at times, grandiose concepts that Pete was working on for albums. BTW the title refers to the four band members, but I prefer to consider how it describes the songs on the album. A five-star classic!

Then and Now's title refers to a couple of new (post Entwistle) tracks added to the 18 older songs - value for money at 20 tracks. The only problem is that the 18 'Then' songs are ones already included on plenty of other compilations.

My Generation - The Very Best of The Who is the pick of the comprehensive compilations. It also has 20 tracks but these are chosen to represent the best they would release from 1964 to 1981. Not a duff track to be found amongst the 20 - this is the best place to start if you are new to the joys of Pete, Roger, Keith and John.

And finally, the soundtrack to the film The Kids Are Alright. This also makes for an awesome alternative Who as all the songs are live versions of their big moments. Plus, it has the hilarious introduction of the band on The Smothers Brothers Show. 

All up, the DVD version of the film captures all the songs amid their contexts, but the album provides another view which is also valuable.

Where do they all belong? That's it for The Who. They do crop up on various Woodstock compilations but I don't think they've released their entire performance there on album yet - something I need to investigate.