The Who: Live At Leeds - 1970

Originally a six track album comprising Young Man Blues, Substitute, Summertime Blues, Shakin' All Over, My Generation and Magic Bus the last four of which were the encores from the original concert set list, this has long vied for the accolade of "best live album ever". 

If not the best then it always seems to be in the top ten of such lists. I can sort of see why, it captures the full muscular power of The Who at their ramshackle, irrepressible best, driven along by Keith Moon's madcap jackhammer drumming. It is a fine example of an early seventies rock band just going with the flow and playing ad hoc, particularly on the fifteen-minute My Generation. 

Furthermore, the expanded fourteen track version that I have is even more enjoyable, rocking with a loose abandon. (The original concert actually included a whole recital of the "Tommy" rock opera in the middle of the set). The venue is also small enough to carry considerable intimacy - you even get audible interaction during Pete Townshend's introduction to Fortune Teller as an audience member tells him that The Merseybeats covered the song. The sound is also rich, warm and beautifully powerful for a 1970 live album.

However, I am not quite sure of the album's best of all time claims - I find that its very appealing looseness contributes to a certain lack of cohesion and a shambolic feel to proceedings. 

The "dirty old man" "banter" around the Ivor The Engine Driver bit in A Quick One While He's Away now sounds horribly dated and not a little embarrassing. Those are perhaps minor criticisms though - as it is certainly a complete barnstormer of a live album. More and more listens strengthens its case too.

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