THE WHO - Who Are You (Deluxe Edition) - 2CD [OCT 31]

2CD - Digipack with 28-page booklet. Includes the original album newly remastered plus a CD of tracks taken from the studio sessions, demo recordings and live material.

Initially released in August 1978, Who Are You marked a significant chapter in The Who’s career. While it was a commercial triumph, peaking at No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and achieving double platinum status and No. 6 on the U.K. Albums Chart, it was also tragically the last album to feature legendary drummer Keith Moon, who died a week after its release.

The album saw the band pushing boundaries once more, with the songs referencing the incoming influence of punk music. In fact, the title track was written after a night out with Steve Jones and Paul Cook of The Sex Pistols. Nonetheless, Pete Townshend also delivered some of his most ambitious and intricate arrangements, incorporating layers of synthesisers and strings into The Who’s powerful backing tracks.

The title track “Who Are You” preceded the album in early July 1978, becoming an instant anthem that has remained in the band’s set list to this day. Aided by its appearance in the CSI TV franchise in the early 2000s, it’s one of The Who’s most-streamed tracks.

The initial sessions for the album took place at the band’s Ramport Studios, produced by Glyn Johns and Jon Astley. However, the recording process was fraught with challenges and creative tensions. The Who Are You Super Deluxe Edition finally tells the whole story, featuring, for the first time, the rejected original Glyn Johns mix of the album, a newly remastered version of the released Jon Astley mix and fly on the wall rehearsal sessions from Shepperton Studios, which the band owned at the time. It will also feature a wealth of unreleased material including demos, alternate takes and in the case of standout track “Sister Disco,” a previously ‘lost’ guitar solo rescued from the multi-track tapes by Steven Wilson.

In 1978, the album was seen as a return to form for The Who, and anticipation for a tour to support the album was high. Sadly, the death of Keith Moon on the 23rd August put paid to any such plans. The band introduced their new drummer, Kenney Jones, formerly of the Faces and The Small Faces, in May 1979, along with new keyboard player John’ Rabbit’ Bundrick. One of the many highlights of the super deluxe edition is the newly mixed live tapes from the US leg of the 1979 tour, capturing The Who’s explosive new lineup in full flight with tracks from the album coming to life onstage.

The band sustained that momentum into the new decade with the epic film project The Kids Are Alright, the Quadrophenia movie, and the multi-platinum Face Dances album in 1981.

The Deluxe 2CD set pairs the original album newly remastered plus a CD of tracks taken from the studio sessions, demo recordings and live material. The two discs are presented in an 8-panel digi-pack with a 28-page booklet.

Tracklist: 

DISC ONE:     
1.    New Song    
2.    Had Enough    
3.    905    
4.    Sister Disco    
5.    Music Must Change    
6.    Trick Of the Light    
7.    Guitar And Pen    
8.    Love Is Coming Down    
9.    Who Are You

DISC TWO:
1.    Who Are You – Glyn Johns Mix
2.    New Song – Pete Vocal
3.    Had Enough – No Orchestra
4.    Empty Glass – Session Outtake
5.    Love Is Coming down – Early Run Through
6.    Trick of The Light – Unused Olympic Edit
7.    Guitar and Pen – Early Run Through Pete Vox 
8.    905 – Entwistle Demo
9.    Good Time Coming – Entwistle Demo
10.    Sister Disco – Live Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, MI, USA  7/12/79                
11.    Music Must Change – Live Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, MI, USA  7/12/79                
12.    Who Are You – Live Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, MI, USA  7/12/79