Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. I can't explain
2. Anyway anyhow anywhere
3. My generation
4. Kids are alright
5. Legal matter
6. Substitute
7. I'm a boy
8. Boris the spider
9. Happy Jack
10. Pictures of Lily
11. I can see for miles
12. Call me lightning
13. Magic bus
14. Pinball wizard
15. I'm free
16. See me feel me
17. Seeker
18. Summertime blues (live)
19. My wife
20. Baba O'Riley
21. Bargain
22. Behind blue eyes
23. Won't get fooled again

Disc 2:

1. Let's see action
2. Pure and easy
3. Join together
4. Long live rock
5. Real me
6. 5.15
7. Love reign o'er me
8. Squeeze box
9. Who are you
10. Had enough
11. Sister disco
12. You better you bet
13. Don't let go the coat
14. Quiet one
15. Another tricky day
16. Athena
17. Eminence front

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #346 in Music
• Released on: 2002-10-21
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Box set
• Dimensions: .29 pounds
• Running time: 156 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The Ultimate Who Collection kicks off with the three-minute pop gems of their early days such as "I Can't Explain", "Substitute" and the definitive anthem of the time "My Generation". "I Can See For Miles" heralds the band's coming of age preceding songs like "Magic Bus" and the classics from Tommy including "See Me, Feel Me" and of course "Pinball Wizard". Further highlights on disc one are "Summertime Blues" from the Live at Leeds album where Roger has never sounded in finer voice, and perhaps one of the best rock moments ever "Won't Get Fooled Again".

Disc two includes less well known hits but does boast the best bits from their film Quadrophenia. Still as powerful without the visuals, they attack "Love Reign O'er Me" like they really mean every single note and word. During the 70s they toned down the raw rock they captured at the turn of the decade and embraced the pop sensibility of their youth, settling for a handsome blend of very British guitar pop and solid power chords best defined by "You Better You Bet". Unlike the Beatles or Rolling Stones, The Who's image has remained anti-establishment despite being no less gentrified than their wrinkly peers, probably due to their music sounding as angsty and passionate now as it did over 30 years ago. --David Trueman

CD Description
'The Ultimate Collection' supersedes previous Universal Whocollections - 'Who's Better Who's Best' and 'My Generation'- as it traces their career from 1964's 'I Can't Explain' right through to 1982's 'Eminence Front'. Twenty of the fortytracks featured here were UK top 40 hits. Although the bandnever had a no.1 hit their two no.2 hits, 'My Generation' and 'I'm A Boy', are included.

Customer Reviews

Flawless - A Masterpiece
The Who were undoubtedly the greatest live rock band of all time, their live performance etched in the memories of all those fortunate enough to see them in their prime. This collection is a timely reminder, to those convinced that modern rock is brilliant, that modern rock has a long way to do before it returns to the classic days of the 60's and 70s. Tracks from every Who album are present here, as well as selected singles, and rarities (actually, most of these are available on the CD reissues of five or six years ago). The first two of the three CDs contains all the hits while the last appears to have videos or 'extra footage' of some of the bands big hits. The first CD is essentially flawless, containing all the singles up to 'Who's Next'. Songs like 'I Can't Explain', 'The Kids are Alright', 'Substitute' and of course 'My Generation' defined an era in the mid sixties. 'I Can See For Miles', often cited as Pete Townshend's favourite Who record, was the tour de force of the magnificent 'Who Sell Out'. 'Magic Bus', with its unusual rhythm, became a Who classic in performance. However, it was with 'Tommy' that the Who became an institution, led by the brilliant single 'Pinball Wizard'. I feel that more songs from Tommy should have been placed on the album, but I admit that it is difficult to pick out five or six from the album. The presence of only three songs from 'Who's Next', probably the Who's finest achievement, is also surprising, but you can't argue with 'Baba O Riley', 'Behind Blue Eyes' (amazingly omitted from The Best of The Who - 1996), and of course 'Won't Get Fooled Again', which ends CD1 on a suitably emphatic note. CD2 begins a little tamely, with some of the songs which formed part of the Lifehouse project. 'Pure and Easy', already available on the reissue of 'Who's Next' is the pick of these songs. Three songs from 'Quadrophenia' are also present: '5:15','The Real Me' and 'Love Reign O'er Me', all terrific songs. Unfortunately, 'Squeeze Box' is the only song present from 'The Who by Numbers'. I would have liked the presence of 'Dreaming from the Waist' or even 'They are all in Love' but I guess you can't have everything. Three songs from 'Who Are You', notably the title track, complete the Keith Moon era, and if the album stopped there, you couldn't complain. There are a few numbers from the final two albums including the excellent 'You Better You Bet', their last hit, and 'Athena'.
All in all, a superb compilation, with a few odd choices here and there, but an essential first album for anyone new to the magic of the Who. Long Live Rock!!!

The ULTIMATE Collection!
This is the collection all "Who" fans have been waiting for and it's just in time for their Summer Tour. The two CD's contain 35 tracks from 1964's, "I Can't Explain" classic to the show-stopping 1982 cut, "Eminence Front". All the best cuts are represented here including, "My Generation", "I Can See For Miles", "Magic Bus", four cuts from "Tommy", five cuts from the fantastic "Who's Next" and all the under-rated hits from the late seventies and early, early eighties. It's not just good, it is all remastered and even the older remastered cuts sound better.

To beat it all, a bonus CD of four tracks is included with "Substitute" (rare U.S. version), "I'm A Boy" (early version), "Happy Jack" (previously unreleased "acoustic" version) and a U.K. single version of "Magic Bus"! All remastered. It sounds like it was just recorded!

The booklet is great as well. Twenty seven pages of photos, history, album covers and trivia - it satisfies everything. Grab it and go see them this summer.

AGAIN IGNORING THE WHO BY NUMBERS
This contains a lot of the Who's best stuff but like one of the other reviewers I would question why stuff like 'Had Enough' and Sister Disco are included while brilliant tracks from The Who By Numbers' such as 'Imagine a Man' or 'Dreaming From the Waist are left out.Its a great collection but if you like this then also get the Who's most underrated album 'Who By Numbers'.