After
reviewing each and every recording session The Who made between the months
of May to August 1972; I do a lots of combinations. Finally I
have needed two versions to tell this new story on my website. Both
versions are equally valid and possible.So I thought,., why not both?. Ok!..,
here we go again with one more unreleased album from The Who,
Not
the last sure!.
Why two versions?. Because
there were two real possibilities to present the album.
1.- Placing a mini
opera on one side of the disc, approximately as shown in the first version,
which was to be called: “Rock is Dead” or ”Cut my hair” too; with the
rest of the tracks in the other side. songs destined to be singles hits;
but I have preferred to follow the order of the acetate always.
CD 1:(1st version):
Side A:(19:41)
1.Relay.(3:55)
2.Rock Is Dead.(11:46)
a.The
Dirty Jobs
b.Cut
My Hair
c.Dr.Jimmy
& Mr.Jim.
d.Love
Reign O´er Me.
3.
Long Live Rock!.(3:42)
Side B:
(19:31)
1.Is It In My Head?.(3:46)
2.Put The Money Down.(4:00)
3.Naked Eye.(5:19)
4.Join Together.(4:23)
5.Waspman (edit).(2:01)
2.- With no mini opera, once
again following the Pete´s acetate with new songs. something like
that: (apologies for not being more daring).
CD 2:(2nd version):
Side A:(18:37)
1.Relay.(4:01)
2.Time Waits For No Man.(3:30)
3.
Love Reign O´er Me (edit).(3:11)
4.
Let´s See Action.(3:58)
5.
Long Live Rock!.(3:55)
Side B:(18:52)
1.Is It In My Head?.(3:46)
2.Put The Money Down .(4:31)
3.Join
Together.(4:18)
4.Baby
Don´t You Do It (live).(6:16)
Two
versions with differences between the same songs (see booklet)., Let
me I'll refresh the memory.., 16 December 1971, The Who just finished their
last world tour promoting:“Who's Next”. After a prolonged vacations, in which
the creative activity is not lost, by example John Entwistle recording his
second solo album "Whistle Rymes" or Pete Townshend prepare new songs
to start the new project : “Rock is Dead-Long Live Rock ". Another
conceptual album that talks about life within a rock group, in which they
reflect themselves. even though he promised not to embark on something similar
again after the experiences of "Tommy" and the absolute failure of
"Lifehouse".
The sessions begin
at Olympic Studios on May 19 and continue until June 8, where most of the demos
recorded by during the months of April and May on the acetate will came true,
these are: "Relay"; "Love reign O'er me"; "Long Live
Rock"; "Is it in my head?"; "Put the money down" and
"join together". Others, such as "Get inside" or
"Can't you see I'm easy" remain equal, but when the project, it is
about to be completed, stops because it is very similar to the previous “Who´s
Next”.
The final decision to finish or not the album with a possible
special tv program over the group, it´s postponed until the end of European
summer tour, wich last concert will held in Rome on september 14. After this
last date: Glyn Johns talks to Pete Townshend, and say him: “there is still
time to save it with a couple of songs more and to publish it throughout
October”. Pete returns to his home studio and made new tunes with a view to
completing it, but instead, seeing that the concept once again expands, a few
days after, ends up canceling it “Rock is dead-long live Rock".
“Quadrophenia” is on the way…
Until here the
quick story.., now let's talk about the reconstruction..,Let's clarify things
about 1st version: to rebuild "Rock is dead" or ”Cut my hair” mini
opera, whatever you want to call it; I inspired, not copied, because I have
completely redone it, in the one shown on the web "albums that never
were", it has served as a reference. eliminating everything that might
sound like "Quadrophenia"; leaving the versions how they sounded in
the demos made between May and July 1972, Removing, by example: ”Is it me?”
that does not appear. With “Relay”• first and “Long Live Rock” after.
Side B continues
with the line of the acetate, therefore there´s only one change, the
demo:"Can't you see I'm easy" leaves its place to "Naked
Eye" (1st mix), because it was a candidate to appear on the disc bit.ly/Llr1W72 and in that same place, when
the album was revised in september. To complete a edit version of “Wasp-man”.
The album´s cover
is another modification over the Jon Hunt's original design "I design
albums covers"; where the boys were photographed in 1972 and not during
1976; but equally superimposed over one photo taken on St.James Cemetery, South
of the Avon. About 2nd version;I included all the songs recorded by the
group during the months of May to June at Olympic Studios.
In addition to the
two discards from "Lifehouse / Who's next": "Let's see
action" & "Time waits for no man", recorded just a year
before and published later on single on October 15, 1971. Placed by
"Get inside" & "Women's liberation" respectively,
because the lyrics have a certain similarity for example, "Time waits for
no man" talks about childhood memories of the protagonist as "Get
inside".
Finally,
"Baby don´t you do it", it´s a live version recorded in San Francisco
on December 13, 1971, bit.ly/Llr722wl was the B side of the single
"Join together". That´s all. Ok folks!.., choose the most you
like and if you choose the two better than better.
