THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT (ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK OF THE FILM)

This is the album of the Original Soundtrack of the Film of the same name. It is mostly a live album, with the inclusion of some studio tracks ("I Can See for Miles", "Magic Bus", "Long Live Rock", "Tommy, Can You Hear Me?"). The old L.P. version also included a booklet with photos and details about each track in the album. This album also includes two tracks which were not included in the Film ("I Can See for Miles" and a heavy live version of "My Wife", sung by John Entwistle). This is a good album, but the quality of some of the recordings is not very good, with some of them taking the audio from some T.V. programmes broadcasts and being recorded in Mono. It seems that some live tracks had some overdubs done in the studio (like the bass guitar in "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" and some drum parts in "Won`t Get Fooled Again"). Despite the sound quality of some of the tracks, this is a good compilation that it is very good because it shows the evolution of the band from the mid sixties until their last recording appearances of Keith Moon in concert with the band ("Baba O`Riley" and "Won`t Get Fooled Again", both filmed and recorded at Shepperton Studios in May 1978, specially for thier inclusion in the film and in this album). Both songs show (with also "My Wife", which was recorded and filmed in December 1977, but not included in the film) that Keith Moon`s playing had deteriorated a bit. Despite this, his playing was even better on these tracks in comparison to other live versions of these songs which were played by Kenney Jones in later years. Moon`s style was very important in the band, and other drummers, despite being very good, never played the old songs like him (the most closer to his style is Zak Starkey`s playing).

Other good live versions in this album are:

-The heavy "Young Man`s Blues" and the Medley "Join Together" / "Roadrunner" / "My Generation Blues".

-The tracks from "Tommy" recorded at the "Woodstock Festival" ("Sparks", "Pinball Wizard", "See Me Feel Me".

The tracks in this album are presented in their original lenght, in comparison to the film, on which some of them are edited or played in a higher speed.

The film is funny, with Keith Moon`s antics being shown in T.V. broadcasts, interviews and photos. It is very recommendable, like this album, as a retrospective of the band in their years with Keith Moon.

These are a collection of live songs (and a few studio ones as well) recorded by The Who throughout their incredible career. The Who were the essence of rock music and a great band on stage. They were also very funny and imprevisable (just listen to their interview as the opening sequence for "My Generation" : absolutely irresistible. It was recorded in '67 during The Smoothers Brothers Show like "I Can See for Miles" which is a kind of studio "live" recording. "My Generation" wasn't a pure live performance either. Music was pre-recorded while Daltrey effectively was singing at the show.

Most of the songs were recorded in the mid-late sixties. Some have a real bad sound (as "I Can't Explain" recorded in 1965). "Happy Jack" was recorded in Leeds (1970) and will be released on the deluxe edition of "Live At Leeds". "Magic Bus" is represented in a standard format (Beat Club, '68). "Long Live Rock" is a pure rock'n'roll song recorded in '72. One of the weakest of this album.

Very poor sound for " Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" from the legendary programme "Ready, Steady, Go !" in '65. A wild (but The Who WERE wild on stage) version of "Young Man Blues". It is truely exceptional. Recorded at the end of '69, it is one of the greatest moment of this album. It is really close to what they will perform a few weeks later in Leeds. "My Wife" from the "Who's Next" sessions was recorded in 1977 (Kilburn University). It is one of the few songs written by Entwistle. Again, this version is devastating. Dynamite, for sure.

From "Young Man Blues" through "Won't Get Fooled Again", the performances ranges from great to fabulous (except the average "Tommy, Can You Hear Me" recorded for Beat Club in '69 and the medley "Join Together-Roadrunner-My Generation Blues").

"Baba..." was recorded at the famous Shepperton studios in May '78, and it is very strong. The band achieved an exceptional rendition of this great studio track. Next one is probably one of the difficult of their repertoire to play live : "A Quick One, While He's Away". IMO, the reference for this song in terms of live performance will be the one available on the deluxe edition of "Live At Leeds". This one is good, but not exceptional. It is accepted to be their first mini-opera. It is indeed a rather complex song (remember, the original version clocked over nine minutes. It was in 1966...). This version is an excerpts of the movie "The Rolling Stones Rock'n'Roll Circus" (1968).

The next trio of song are part of MY legend. Woodstock.

I have been trying over the years to compile as much of this event as possible. I guess that so far, I must own a third of what was played during these three days (and three nights). But probably eighty percent of the most interesting moments of which the whole of the extraordinary performance of The Who (available , but not officially, which I still do not understand why).

Anyway "Sparks", "Pinball" and "See Me, Feel Me" (although they should have released the whole of "We're Not Gonna Take It" IMO). This is a very emotional moment for me. This event is probably the one which has influenced me the most. Audio quality here is very good throughout the Woodstock sequence. Their concert was scheduled on Saturday, August 15th. Due to severe weather conditions and a complete chaos, The Who will start around five AM on Sunday. For seventy-five minutes of a legendary concert.

And finally, we'll get the ultimate version of "Won't Get Fooled Again". Ultimate, because this song was recorded at Sheperton in May 1978 and Keith died in September 7th. This was the very last appearence of the great quatuor.

There won't be any second of prog here of course (but The Who are of course not a prog band). Just wiiiiiiiiiiild music. Four stars (only because sound is very poor on two tracks, and the over extended meddley is not really good).