THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION

If I am correct, this is only the third compilation that I have rated with five stars. The other two being "Remasters" from the mighty Led Zep and the wonderful "Catch The Spirit" from Mostly Autumn.

So : why the hell should I rate a Who compilation with five stars ? Well, for the following reasons.

Since The Who are not a progressive band for an inch, I pretty much understand that few of you are aware of their music (unless you are as old as I unfortunately am). To put things into perspective, let's imagine the following scenario...

A triple "Best Of" CD from Genesis whith the following tracklist : "Looking For Someone", "The Knife", "The Musical Box", "Hogweed", "Seven Stones", "Salmacis", "Watcher", "Can-Utility", "Supper's", "Dancing Out', "Firth Of Fifth", "The Battle", "Cinema Show", half of "The Lamb', "Dance on a Volcano", "Mad Man Moon", "Ripples", "Los Endos", "Eleventh Earl of Mar", "One For The vine", "All in a Mouse's Night" and "Afterglow". This is just an example but I could have done the same exercise with several other true prog bands.

And that's the reason of this comparison. Who would ever doubt about rating with five stars such an impossible Genesis "Best Of" ? What I mean is that for an unprepared audience of progheads, I can only bloody recommend this Who compilation.

Maybe few of you are really aware of The Who repertoire (which is normal on a prog site). So, this compilation is a PHENOMENAL introduction to one of the greatest rock band all times. Most of their anthems (if not all) are present here. Their major singles like "I Can't Explain", "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere", "My Generation" of course, "The Kids Are Alright", "Substitute", "Pictures Of Lily", "I Can See For Miles" and so on, and so on ... They are all included here.

The best of "Who's Next" as well with "Baba O'Riley", "Bargain" and one of my Who's fave all time : "Won't Get Fooled Again".

A very small bit of "Tommy" and "Quadrophenia" (which were concept albums and difficult to compile) are just there as an invitation to discover more of their giant work. At least, this is all the best I wish to you. I have reviewed all the possible albums of The Who available on PA, although some great live ("Whight"), videos ("Tommy", "Quadrophenia") or compils ("Who's Better Who's Best", "30 Years of Maximum R&B") are not YET available for reviews.

I guess that 90% of you, readers of PROG archives, would be interested in this compil. Once having discovered part of the work of one of the most influent ROCK band in the history, you might want to explore a bit further and discover "Tommy", "Who's Next" and "Quadrophenia". I would also add (but I am a convinced fan as you might have noticed) "Live At Leeds" for your experience.

From a band with so many best-of compilations, even something as casual as picking up what is considered by most music fans to be a budget alternative becomes a decision that favours an informed consumer. With 'The Ultimate Collection', The Who may have their best best-of, although it is given the automatic advantage of being a two disc set, over the majority of the others, which tend to cram all of the material onto a single disc. The first of these discs entails the bands earlier career, up to the point of 'Who's Next', but it primarily focuses on the band's period as a 60's pop rock group. The second disc here is noticeably weaker, but still has some recognizable, strong tunes such as 'Eminence Front' and 'Who Are You'. 'The Ultimate Collection' makes the right decision of expanding the best-of compilation onto a two disc venture rather than curbing itself with a single. Although it may cost a little more than others, it is certainly a more effective album, although the studio full-lengths still hold infinitely more sway than this.