Monday, August 30, 2010

Previously Unheard Stereo Mixes of the Gods (An Occasional Series)

Okay, if you recall our last entry in the ongoing saga (from July) -- in which we posted a to my ears astonishingly gorgeous remix/remaster of "So Sad About Us," from the Japanese deluxe box set of The Who's A Quick One -- you may also recall that not everybody was convinced that the audio restoration was worth the effort.

Specifically, faithful reader Gummo, who said in comments:
Beautiful clarity and separation, but I have the same problem with it as I have with some of the Beatles 2009 stereo remixes -- so clean & so separated that you lose some of the original sense of the whole (if that makes any sense), and therefore some of the original cacophonous excitement.
Well, I disagreed, obviously, but this one, I think, is inarguable.

From the Japanese deluxe box set of The Who's My Generation -- here's an absolutely astounding (and as far as I can tell first time ever) stereo mix of the epochal "Can't Explain."




There's a piano on this track? Who knew?

Seriously -- this is the way I always hoped "Can't Explain" sounded. And if anybody out there thinks this is in any way inferior to the (admittedly great) familiar mono version, all I can say is they're just being difficult.

This is perfection improved. IMHO.

18 comments:

FD13NYC said...

Steve, this is certainly astounding stereo sound. Clean and sharp. Where can I get a copy of this box? Does it have all their albums up to certain point? I'm really jonesin' man.

Faze said...

Ordinarily, i'd be with gummo. But this does just what stereo is supposed to do: adds depth, dimension, shape and color. Can't wait to hear the rest ...

Gummo said...

Okay, gotta agree with you on this one.

A fucking piano?? Who knew?

I. Want.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Big grin. A few points.

Been following your writing since Stereo Review. In particular, I was at that Who show in Philly you rightly gushed over. I remember this Zappa interview (I never really got him either, but I tried really hard).

If you remember some kid calling you at home to protest a piece you wrote about the end of the Beatles, that was me.

Thanks for taking the call.

Vince

steve simels said...

Vince -- alas, I don't remember your call. But I was probably gratified that anybody cared enough over something I'd written to get annoyed enough to track me down.

Anyway, I hope you're enjoying our efforts of late at least as much.

MJConroy said...

Isn't it also on this version:
http://www.amazon.com/My-Generation-Deluxe-Who/dp/B00006GF6Y
?

(BTW, I was a reader of SR back in the day, but never tracked you down!)

Elroy said...

Love it!

There was even a quick clip of Roger and Pete during one of the montages shown during the Emmys.

Speaking of which, I think I saw a brief, terrifying view of a hell: A Springsteen-themed episode of Glee!!!!!

You might laugh, but I just read that McCartney sent the creator of the show two discs of songs for his consideration.

pete said...

I was going to say something about the original's mono punch, its sense of unity and the way the guitar chords emerging from the sonic murk echoed the lyrics' expression of inchoate feelings erupting into violence.

Until I heard it.

Now I'm just in love with the guitar part, the way you would fall in love with the Rokeby Venus's bottom after the painting was restored. And are we sure that's a piano? I know it's a matter of historical record (okay, I THINK it's a matter of historical record) but isn't it also said that the lead guitar part was played by Jimmy Page? If so, then those eighth-notes could be Townsend playing Chuck Berry/Brian Jones-style rhythm guitar.

Correct me, master....

pete said...

No, they're not.

TMink said...

There is a lot of punch in this version, it sounds crisp. I need to get it home over the real speakers.

Trey

steve simels said...

I don't think I've ever heard a twelve-string electric recorded with so much oomph.

Just amazing....

Anonymous said...

this is a great song, a great recorded performance, brings tears to my eyes, makes so much other music of this period sound completely dispensable, and it just gets better with the new audio details of this mix.

Steve, I totally agree with your "oomph" assessment. It's interesting how many light years away (ahead?) Townsend was from what I would have imagined was the prevailing George Harrisonesque 12-string sound. I wish Townsend had stuck with that raw 12-string power-chord Mod thing a little longer.

AP

steve simels said...

The Who's sound changed dramatically when they stopped playing Fender and Vox amps and switched to Marshalls. Or were they Hiwatts?

In any case, they almost became a different band.

Ken J Xenozar said...

Steve, somewhere in the Marshall amp marketing organization, someone is crying, "He forgot?! He doesn't know? He's not sure?!Bloody Hell!!!"

Oh, wait, now I am confused
http://www.thewho.net/whotabs/gear/guitar/marshallstack.html

cthulhu said...

IIRC, Page did NOT play on "Can't Explain" but Shel Talmy did sneak him in on another track - don't remember which one now.

And Steve, Jim Marshall developed the first Marshall stack with the full cooperation of and primarily for the Who.

Anonymous said...

All tracks on the domestic "Deluxe Edition", including I Can't Explain, are stereo (except for two mono tracks w/guitar overdubs end of Disc 2). The Japanese version may be a bit more hi-def, but sounds much the same, the piano being audible in both. -- Jeff

Anonymous said...

FYI: The above comment references the deluxe edition of MY GENERATION released in 2002. -- Jeff

Uncle Tom said...

Page played parts on Bald Headed Woman - story is that he wouldn't let PT use his fuzz box. PT played the solo on I Can't Explain -