Metal Life review: THE WHO – My Generation 5CD Super Deluxe Edition

Terry Bunch,

In the half century since its release, The Who’s debut album My Generation hasn’t lost any of its raw, visceral power and still stands as the ultimate musical declaration of teenage rebellion. The title track alone has been covered innumerable times by the likes of Oasis, Green Day, Patti Smith, Billy Joel, Alice Cooper and Iron Maiden and many more. The Who played a similar musical style that was common for the mid sixties, but their lyrics stood separate and echoed the thoughts of the youth of the time.

In 1965 “My Generation” did just what the title says. The album became the voice of the “generation.” Fueled by an angst and rebellious attitude, The Who made a statement with “My Generation” and that statement is still true today.

This new deluxe reissue features the original mono album, a stereo version of the album and three additional CDs of various songs including new mixes, demo recordings and more. We decided there was no need to review the original album itself since it has been available for sale for 50 years. So we will focus on the stereo version and the other three CDs.

Side by side, the stereo version and mono version are like night and day. On a good sound system the stereo album sounds amazing. Fans of this album have heard the songs in stereo before, but it is an interesting musical experiment to compare the mono versions. We recommend listening to each track mono and then the stereo for the full effect.

The other two CDs offer a plethora of extras including mono versions of various songs, remixes done in 2000, alternate versions, remixes and brand new demo mixes from 2016.  It is very interesting listening to this collection of songs. Discs 3, 4 and 5 make this collection worth owning because of the variety of “bonus” material provided. From alternate takes of “The Kids Are Alright” to the instrumental version of “My Generation” to the alternate guitar break version of “Out In The Street”, this collection keeps delivering the goods from start to finish. The “My Generation 5CD Super Deluxe Edition” is a must own for all fans of The Who and fans of rock n roll in general.

Be sure to pick up your own copy of “My Generation Super Deluxe Edition” and enjoy the 50 year musical journey that is The Who.

 

MY GENERATION SUPER-DELUXE tracklist:

 

MY GENERATION SUPER-DELUXE Track listing:

Release date – 18 November 2016

CD1: Original album (mono mixes)

  1. Out In The Street
  2. I Don’t Mind
  3. The Good’s Gone
  4. La-La-La Lies
  5. Much Too Much
  6. My Generation
  7. The Kids Are Alright
  8. Please, Please, Please
  9. It’s Not True
  10. I’m A Man
  11. A Legal Matter
  12. The Ox

 

CD2: Original album (new stereo mixes)

  1. Out In The Street
  2. I Don’t Mind
  3. The Good’s Gone
  4. La-La-La Lies
  5. Much Too Much
  6. My Generation
  7. The Kids Are Alright
  8. Please, Please, Please
  9. It’s Not True
  10. I’m A Man
  11. A Legal Matter
  12. The Ox

 

CD3: Mono mixes – bonus tracks 

  1. I Can’t Explain
  2. Bald Headed Woman
  3. Daddy Rolling Stone
  4. Leaving Here
  5. Lubie, Come Back Home
  6. Shout And Shimmy
  7. (Love Is Like A) Heatwave
  8. Motoring
  9. Anytime You Want Me
  10. Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere
  11. Instant Party Mixture
  12. Circles
  13. Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere (French EP Mix)
  14. Out In the Street (Alt guitar break)
  15. Out In the Street (Alt early vocal)
  16. I Don’t Mind (Full Length)
  17. The Good’s Gone (Full Length)
  18. My Generation (Alt version)
  19. I’m A Man (V2 – Early vocal)
  20. Daddy Rolling Stone (alt. take)
  21. Lubie (Alt Mix)
  22. Shout And Shimmy (Alt mix)
  23. Circles (Alt Mix)

 

CD4: Stereo mixes – bonus tracks

  1. Out In The Street (Alt – Take 1)
  2. I Don’t Mind (Full Length Version)
  3. The Good’s Gone (Full Length Version)
  4. My Generation (Instrumental Version)
  5. The Kids Are Alright (Alt – Take 1)
  6. I Can’t Explain
  7. Bald Headed Woman
  8. Daddy Rolling Stone
  9. Daddy Rolling Stone (Alt version)
  10. Leaving Here
  11. Lubie, Come Back Home
  12. Shout And Shimmy
  13. (Love Is Like A) Heatwave
  14. Motoring
  15. Anytime You Want Me
  16. Instant Party Mixture
  17. Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere
  18. Circles (New Mix)
  19. Daddy Rolling Stone (Alt Take B – New Mix)
  20. Out In The Street (Alt Take 2)
  21. I’m A Man (Alt – New Mix)

 

CD5: Primal Scoop – The Demos

  1. My Generation (V 3)
  2. My Generation (V 2 – fragment)
  3. The Girls I Could’ve Had
  4. It’s Not True
  5. As Children We Grew
  6. Legal Matter
  7. Sunrise (V 1)
  8. Much Too Much
  9. My Own Love
  10. La-La-La- Lies
  11. The Good’s Gone

 

MY GENERATION SUPER-DELUXE Feature details:

  • Stunning 80-page colour book with many rare and unseen period photos and memorabilia.
  • Candid and insightful new notes from Pete Townshend illustrating the genesis of the demos and creative process.
  • New essay by acclaimed music writer Mark Blake with additional track annotation by Who biographer Andy Neill.
  • Six replica inserts:
  • Flyer for The Who’s Tuesday night residency at the Marquee Club 1965.
  • Admission card to the Scene Club in Ham Yard.
  • Calling card for The Who’s management, New Action Ltd. with a photo of the group
  • Admission card to the televising of The Who’s first appearance on Ready Steady Go! at Rediffusion TV Studios.
  • 20″ x 30″ poster from a 1966 gig.
  • 20″ x 30″ poster of The Who’s last ever gig at the Goldhawk Social Club.
  • Hardback 12 x 12 album size slipcase.

Of the super deluxe box set Pete Townshend commented “Gathering these demos for this collection has been enjoyable; it’s wonderful for me to have these tapes made fifty-two years ago to listen to. I hope you enjoy them. They have a naiveté and innocence, a simplicity and directness, and an ingenuousness that reveals me as a young man struggling to keep up with the more mature and developed men around me. What an incredible group of strong, talented, young and engaging men they were!”

 

MY GENERATION 3 LP SET Track listing:

Release date – 10 February 2017

Disc One: Original LP – Mono mixes


Side 1

  1. Out In The Street
  2. I Don’t Mind
  3. The Good’s Gone
  4. La-La-La Lies
  5. Much Too Much
  6. My Generation

Side 2

  1. The Kids Are Alright
  2. Please, Please, Please
  3. It’s Not True
  4. I’m A Man
  5. A Legal Matter
  6. The Ox

Disc Two: Mono Bonus Tracks

Side 1 

  1. I Can’t Explain
  2. Bald Headed Woman
  3. Daddy Rolling Stone
  4. Leaving Here
  5. Lubie, Come Back Home
  6. Shout And Shimmy

Side 2

  1. (Love Is Like A) Heatwave
  2. Motoring
  3. Anytime You Want Me
  4. Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere
  5. Instant Party Mixture
  6. Circles

Disc Three: Primal Scoop – The Demos

Side 1 

  1. My Generation (V 3)
  2. My Generation (V 2 – fragment)
  3. The Girls I Could’ve Had
  4. It’s Not True
  5. As Children We Grew
  6. Legal Matter

Side 2 

  1. Sunrise (V 1)
  2. Much Too Much
  3. My Own Love
  4. La-La-La- Lies
  5. The Good’s Gone

 

MY GENERATION 2-LP SET Track listing:

Release date – 10 February 2017

Disc One: Original LP – Stereo mixes


Side 1

  1. Out In The Street
  2. I Don’t Mind
  3. The Good’s Gone
  4. La-La-La Lies
  5. Much Too Much
  6. My Generation

Side 2

  1. The Kids Are Alright
  2. Please, Please, Please
  3. It’s Not True
  4. I’m A Man
  5. A Legal Matter
  6. The Ox

Disc Two: Stereo Bonus Tracks

Side 1 

  1. Out In The Street (Alternate Take 1)
  2. I Don’t Mind (Full length version)
  3. The Good’s Gone (Full length version)
  4. My Generation (Instrumental version)
  5. The Kids Are Alright (Alternate Take 1)
  6. I Can’t Explain
  7. Daddy Rolling Stone
  8. Leaving Here

Side 2

  1. Lubie (Come Back Home)
  2. Shout And Shimmy
  3. (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave
  4. Motoring
  5. Anytime You Want Me
  6. Instant Party Mixture
  7. Anyway Anyhow Anywhere
  8. Circles (New Mix)

 

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