“On 15 December, 1977, after a hiatus of over a year, The Who assembled at Gaumont State Theater in Kilburn, North London, to record a concert for Jeff Stein’s documentary film, The Kids Are Alright. Shot before a select invited audience it would turn out to be Keith Moon’s last, but one live performance. Unusual for live rock at the time, it was shot on 35mm film by six cameras and professionally recorded on a 16 track recorder. Never seen before, the film rested in The Who’s vault for 30 years.”
What young 1970’s pup, learning to play a guitar for the first time, didn’t, at one time or another, attempt to imitate Pete Townsend’s windmill power chord strum? I count myself in that group. While I was not a very dedicated Who fan, I had an appreciation for the musicianship. There were still songs like Pinball Wizard and Behind Blue Eyes that I would embrace as if they were my own anthems in those days. It would be hard to deny that The Who is one of the most successful rock bands in history. Part of the original British Invasion of the 1960’s, there are few such acts that are even still around, let alone able to fill the huge stadiums and halls of Rock’s yesteryears. Their songs have become anthems, and their antics have become legend. The band wrote the soundtrack for an entire generation, and proudly touted the fact in aptly named song, My Generation. Banned from all Holiday Inns at one time for their well publicized trashing of rooms, they weren’t any easier on their own instruments. Smashing their instruments and amps on stage became a staple, for a while, of the whole Who experience. They’ve inspired a legion of superstars, and now after more than 40 years of rocking, they soldier on. Their influence goes beyond just rock music. All three of the CSI franchise shows sport Who songs for their opening credit sequences. They’ve been lampooned on South Park and The Simpsons. They were once referred to as The Band That Wouldn’t Go Away, and that was more than 30 years ago.
Come with me now as we go back to two extraordinary chapters in the band’s life. While the 1977 Kilburn concert is the title attraction on this release you just can’t ignore the 1968 performance at Coliseum, where the timeless rock opera Tommy was performed for first time. These were milestone moments in the band’s career. The 1977 show would also be the final tour to feature original drummer and crazy man Keith Moon.
The set list was classic Who:
I Can’t Explain
Substitute
Baba O’Riley
My Wife
Behind Blue Eyes
Dreaming From The Waist
Pinball Wizard
I’m Free
Tommy’s Holiday Camp
Summertime Blues
Shakin’ All Over
My Generation
Join Together
Who Are You
Won’t Get Fooled Again
The performances are raw, to say the least. The gang cuts up a bit from time to time. It’s likely they were higher than a kite for the show, and it is apparent in Townsend’s eyes. Still, it’s the kind of organic experience that rock music used to be.
Video
I am quite impressed that this footage is presented in a 1.85:1 widescreen aspect ratio. Let’s be honest. The footage doesn’t look as good as you might have gotten used to. But, because it was originally captured in 35mm, it cleans up rather nicely. Lighting for the show wasn’t really optimal for a crystal clear image, and there’s a lot of video noise. It still looks better than you have any business expecting.
Audio
You can pick from either a dynamic Dolby Digital 5.1 track or an even more impressive DTS version of the audio. Of course, the audio is often as raw as the footage, but it is remarkably clear for the age. Separation is as natural as concerts that are now recorded in surround. You can hear everything that’s played or sung in relative clarity. Some of the banter is hard to pick up. There’s a moment that Moon is politicking to sing Tommy’s Holiday Camp that is somewhat hard to follow, but he wasn’t appropriately miced, and I’ll bet you hear it with more clarity than the audience did at the time. It’s a good sounding presentation of a 1977 recording.
Special Features
To call the included 1968 performance at The Coliseum an extra is almost an injustice. It stands up on its own as a place in Who history. You can view the concert itself, or a complete performance of Tommy, with no breaks.
The 1968 Concert Track list:
Heaven And Hell
I Can’t Explain
Fortune Teller
Tattoo
Young Man’s Blues
A Quick One While He’s Away
Happy Jack
It’s a Boy
There’s A Doctor
Go To The Mirror
I’m Free
Tommy’s Holiday Camp
See Me Feel Me
Summertime Blues
Shakin’ All Over
My Generation
Then there is the 70 minute performance of A Quick One (mini opera) and The Complete Tommy.
Final Thoughts:
This may not have been the best Who concert ever. Arguably it wouldn’t even rank. Daultry trips over some words, and there are a few mistakes, enough to go around. The value is that it is real, and it’s energetic, and it’s classic Who. At one point Townsend challenges anyone from the crowd to come and take his guitar from him. These were friends the band was playing to, and so they might never have been more themselves. Again, I was listening to mellower acts in the 1970’s. I was a huge Elton John and ELO fan, but that doesn’t stop me from appreciating everything this concert is. After all, “I’m talkin’ ‘bout my generation”.
