lunes, 17 de diciembre de 2018

The Who: "Rock is dead-long live Rock!". (2nd part).



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.