I just finished my first course of _Nature's PVC_ and wow, now my surface noise has completely cleared up! Thank you Nature's PVC! (loved IT Mr Fremer)
Man, 1995 was a great year to be a young record collector. There were three mom & pop record shops within reasonable driving distance from me in the NYC suburbs and I helped clean them all out when they switched their inventory over to CDs. I probably picked up over 300 albums at huge discounts that summer.
When I bought my copy of the ‘74 Bilbo cut 7 years ago, the owner of the shop mentioned the Headhunters sleeve; he said it was inexpensive as it wasn’t a “1st press with HH inner” as he initially hoped from the Marketed By Polydor (must be a leftover sleeve or possibly swapped at some point) on the back. I had heard other sellers state that first U.K. pressings have this inner before and after this, but according to Discogs it’s actually untrue. The records on the inner were “released 1 month later than this LP. And secondly this LP is already listed as 'available' on the inner - which means that this LP was already released when this Headhunters inner sleeve was conceived.” Again, according to Discogs , standard white inners with “0771" or "0871" date codes are the first press.
I've tried the 2003, 2016, and new 2023 Half Speed pressings and none of them can hold a candle to my 1974 UK repress (2408 102 DELUXE). Even though it has some clicks and pops, it still kills all the others.
Thank you. For the deep dive and example at the end AND for taking the time to clarify/correct yourself with the text overlay. Appreciated. I have an MCA copy from the early ‘80s when The Who became my high school favorite band just as their original output was ceasing. Later I bought a second ”special” copy but cannot remember what it is. I want to say it’s the Heavy Vinyl but honestly do not recall getting it anywhere near 1995. No matter, because I’ve never owned a system worthy of the vinyl now boxed up. The less said about that the better.
Thank you Michael I bought the 95 version around 2005 off eBay I think I paid $20 for the record in the shrink. I was so stunned at how great the record sounded! thank you very much for your involvement in making that great record. When are those Britain's going to wake up and start using DSD files to make their records if they're not going to make analog records? Can't wait to start getting Chad's 75th anniversary records.😊❤.
Hi there. Always love your videos. I feel i am attending a class in audio and vinyl. This is a masterpiece with no bad note on it. An album i would bring in a desert island. Great band. Thanks for this immense education.
I once met Paul Rodgers from Bad Company in the group’s hotel suite. Back in the ‘70s when I had really long hair and his was starting to thin. He asked same question! I said if I can have your voice you can have my hair!
This was a great video. I have a few of those: my first copy was an old Track records version that still sounds great. In the meantime i got the UK and usa first presses. The UK and my European presses are great. I have the Classic records one, Which is good also. I do not have the 1995 one that you helped with and i am sure it would be great to hear. Anyway, Thanks a lot I Will try to listen to then in a row soon.
Thankyou so much @trackingangle929 and Michael Fremer! I just received and listened to my newest acquisition of "Who's Next". Wow! After watching this video I pulled out my old, original (and crappy ) USA first pressing. Back in the 70's I was a 'Who Freak" and own nearly all of their albums. I'd never noticed prior, that that version is a terrible recording! I guess that's because The Who was just music I cranked-up! So, I found a Music On Vinyl - remaster of the Polydor UK 1977 first pressing. Wow, it's just awesome - a whole new experience! Thanks!
Thanks so much Michael as always for the in depth breakdown. I bought the 50th anniversary Abbey Road box with the live set, that was my first introduction to the album, I know, tragedy, it was actually the tv series CSI that got me into them in the last 10 years. I want a Bilbo cut, any Bilbo I’ve heard has been incredible, but if Chad can get this licensed again, I’ll hold out for that.
WHEN I heard it on the radio in the seventies......I instantly run out to buy the album, it's on Polydor and it sounds good..............many years later I bought the CD and that was a disaster ! Happy to have kept all my records from before the era of digital , ....and when people got rid of their vinyl.....and shop sold at give away pricing , I bought all what I could with my budget , even lots of Jazz ( Blue note and many other great labels ).... Thank you for sharing .
Hehe, me too. When the fools gave away their vinyl, I bought them all up for pennies on the dollar back in the early-mid 90s. Impulse, Blue Note, early Columbia, DG, all of 'em. Livin' in L.A. at the time, with my LP-12.
Loved rocking out to this album back in the day, a couple of Times with delysid in the body, which you wink and nod at, LOL. Talk about intensity. I was at Lasalle's Music Store, in CT, attending a Keyboard, Moog synthesizer, lecture when someone came in and announced Keith Moon had just died.
Moonie.. Best heard ever in this album and the Live at Leeds releases, love all pressings, CD and cassettes. Must have all experiences depending on the mood...
Really enjoyed this Michael. Have loved this record since 1971. I have the 1995 KG, and the Classic cB and the 2023 Half Speed and an original Decca W2 my grandmother gave me for Christmas 1971. I’d love a UHQR too. Hope you feel better soon.
Great review-I bought the MCA Heavy when it first came out, a great sounding record, unfortunately my copy is off center on side 1 (intolerable on The Song is Over). I was lucky enough to find a nice copy of the Classic at local shop a couple of years for $70 and it’s been my go to ever since. I heard Won’t Get Fooled Again from your Classic 45rpm at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in the PS Audio suite (along with LZ’s Stairway) and it was stunning. Make it happen, Chad!
Thank you for the wonderful review and the easter egg is killer! Read a while back that Chad had Bernie cut a lacquer at 45RPM for a new release but there was perhaps a licensing issue/change, hopefully it does come to fruition as a UHQR would be a dream come true! Any idea of the CBS 1/2 speed is an analog cut? I have that one and it is very bright but I thought much better than the MusicOnVinyl which I returned. Wish I had the Classic or the MCA Heavy Vinyl you were involved with!
None of the 1/2 speed mastersounds are analog. They all have a digital step. Alot of them people dont like, however, some are really good, like many rate the Japanese wish you were here as one of if not the best sounding pressings of it. So maybe who's next is one of their good pressings if you enjoy it
My God, the MCA Heavy Vinyl washes away all of the bad TV use of this song and lets us hear it new again. Those synthesizer beats! I'm pulling out a couple of pressings of this tomorrow (including my Classic 200) after my wife leaves the house and do a deep dive of them myself.
You express very well what happens when you listen to digitalized vinyl ! Going from living raw milk to the creamed sterilized milk ........I hate it and never bought digital remasterd reissues any more .....only when 100% analog garanteed and they are very rare . EVEN....When they mention the original tapes were used .............(but the cutting is digital, and they can't hide the digital glassy, liveless fingerprint that strips the original music form a big part of it's soul . )
I wasn't born when this music come out but does anyone find that the use of this song so much in tv series either hurts or helps it's popularity ? Just curious. Probobly couldn't hurt as makes new generations aware of this music with more reruns of the tv series. Thanks Michael for your work!
Back in the day the worst thing you could do is hear your favorite music in an ad or on a show. It wasn't special anymore. Now it seems to be the only way kids discover music. Like Kate Bush in Stranger Things and Depeche Mode in The Last of Us. The music has been available to the entire planet for decades, but the kids won't hear it until it's on a show they like.
Yeah I hate hearing songs I care about on TV shows. I was born and old enough (11) to buy this in 71, when licensing your songs to TV was a very unhip move. A thoughtful placement in a film was a different story. But hearing a song I like on a commercial or series just overplays it for me.
Interesting video Mike. I met you in the 70’s when you were at WBCN. I never thought the 71 Decca was that great sounding along with my 66 Pet Sounds on Capitol! Hope you feel better!
Notting Hill record exchange LOL I think there is one left in London now funny enough in Notting Hill. Used to go there and came out with bags of vinyl Oh the good old day - Saluti from London
That was fun, what a treat. Baba O’Reilly-I heard that ARP sequencer riff was originated from Meher Baba’s birth date "put into the ARP". A good story anyway. Who’s Next was the 1st CD I bought-I did not even have a player. lol.
I agree with you on that, a decent Audiophile version by AP should be out. This album is one of my Desert Island albums. I have the 1st pressing Decca and a 2010s reissue... and they are not that satisfying. I was hoping this half-speed is a definitive one... but it doesn't. I trust your ears, Michael.
Great review, thank you ! I sold my early 80s blue MCA for a first pressing Decca and I thought it was better. My 81 German Phases box set sounds great. I’m now on the hunt for the 95 gatefold with your liner notes and hype sticker !
Huh, somehow my comment got deleted about the headhunter sleeve. Just pointed out that it was included in the 1st UKs. Forever people said they were from the very first ones, while now some argue that they were put in 1st UKs a month or two later, or were from a specific batch. Since supposedly a record included on the sleeve came out a month or two after whos next, or the sleeve wasnt produced until a month or two after. I forgot the exact argument, but either way, theyre in some of the first UKs whether theyre the very first or a specific batch of them. Theyre definitely early copies, but may not be the very first like rumors said, or atleast not all the 1sts are headhunters since many have their day 1 copies and never had that sleeve. So yours not having the sleeve doesnt mean its not a day 1 copy. Its kind of like the abbey road white sleeve vs black sleeve dilemma, how some pushed the idea black sleeves were the very first pressings, that white sleeves were later, when it was really a mix due to how the factories were run and using up old stock, and white sleeves were available on day 1 copies. All copies with the headhunter sleeves are 1st pressings but not all 1st pressings have the headhunter sleeve. If you go on discogs and search headhunter on whos next youll see a few listings and the discussion about it, and theres conjecture on hoffman forums if you look up whos next headhunter. For a long time through ebay people would value the headhunter sleaves insanely high as due to the rumor they were the very first, like the black sleeved abbey roads. But many discount it as a myth now, that it only ensures your copy is an early one. I made a statement at the end of my deleted comment on how i was genuinely suprised that i knew a record fact mr. fremer didnt know. I didnt mean it in an insulting way, just that its cool i was finally able to give a tiny sliver of vinyl knowledge to someone whos given me tons of knowledge, and that every collector knows something interesting to add to discussions. It was just so cool to tell someone i consider a vinyl idol of mine a record fact, after all hes told me! And as a journalist myself hes been one of my professional inspirations! Hell, one of my favorite records is my limited wonderful sounds of female vocals since its signed by mr fremer and chad, and a certain store owner banned me from his comments due to defending michael from trolls and attacks. So i love michael fremer and was just happy to tell him a fact! Id never come here to insult mr fremer. So sorry if my comment somehow came off as offensive if thats why it was deleted, since i meant it as a positive. It was a pleasant suprise that i was able to give mr fremer one piece of record knowledge as hes given me hundreds, so id hate him to think i meant it negatively. So I was dissapointed to see the comment gone and hope my comments arent banned now since i just wanted to help! Maybe there was a glitch or it got deleted in my pocket somehow, i just wanted to explain myself if my comment was intentionally deleted, that my suprise at knowing a fact you didnt know is meant to be a compliment to all the knowledge you have, not an insult. Angway enough rambling, hope you feel better with the covid, and id love to see more vinyl videos like this of either shootouts or like AAA recommendations, since its awesome to hear all your stories and knowledge about the records, and i trust your ear over anyones.
Loved the playback Michael. I've got the GEFFEN B0022612-01released in 2015. It reminds me of that first American pressing you mentioned. Low dynamics and transients and flat as a pancake. I'll be looking out for the MCA version, that's for sure.
Well done Mr. Fremer! I was spinning my copy for the first time a couple of hours ago and I was expecting more, *WAY more* - specially after such a glowing review of your colleague Mr. Mark Smotroff at Analog Planet. What was he thinking? His system must be utterly thin and/or bright where this flat (boring) presentation could sound semi passable.
I don't want to get into this fight and I do not read reviews there or anything there other than when looking up my old stuff, but wondering if he ever gives a negative review?
Your comment piqued my curiosity so i went over to the site I started and wow, I think he's afraid of ever giving a negative review to anything. He' steering readers so wrong...on "Who's Next" and "Rough Mix"....oh well..
Excellent encapsulation. Love my 95 press, preferring it over original UK. Btw-I am not a chicken plucker.. I am, however, a fig plucker's son, So I will pluck the figs 'til the fig pluckers come.
probably someone has mentioned it already but the MOV is good i have a UK 1974 bilbo on track that sounds great .. just checked discogs and they are going for more already 😂
Great video as usual. Michael. 👍👍👍👍👍👍 I have a quick question for you.... When you did your system review a while back and you were describing your new OMA turntable. If I'm not mistaken, you said in that video your OMA turntable would not take a 9-in tonearm. In this video it looks like you're using your SAT 9-in tonearm. Is that a 9-in SAT tonearm? Keep the great videos coming. Michael. PS. I loved the funny intro. 😂😂😂😂😂
I was lucky enough to buy the 200G Classic Records version when it came out in 2005, in 5/05. After buying direct for years, CR moved it's retail sales over to their The Music store. My copy cost me $41.96, delivered. $400. now? That's amazing. As I remember, Classic Records had a hard time getting the mastering and pressing to be acceptable for release. It delayed the release for quite some time. They also pressed it in 140G and 150G. I remember that they had quite a few returns because something was wrong with the pressings they sent out, to get replacement copies. Luckily, I didn't have to exchange my copy. Probably because of all the problems, this seemed like CR's swan song as their output slowed down until Chad bought CR in 2010.
Thanks Michael, does anyone know if the 1995 KG cut uses a different master - some song timings are quite different, and from hazy memory sound subtly different. History : There was also ½ spm from Canada c 1983 that I jettisoned a long while ago.
Great review but I think we all knew the results beforehand! When will they learn what the market wants? How they can miss the mark so badly and that the Artists don't demand the best for their musical legacy!
Herr Fremer hat die grössten Kopfhörer der Welt...auf die Idee zu kommen ...sich die Wilson XVX direkt über die Ohren zu stülpen muss man erstmal kommen ;)
Fantastic record. At the you mention Analogue Productions with hope they could make an UHQR pressing. Recently there has been a release on Blu-ray audio with Steve Wilson 5.1 mixes. I know you have a HT setup upstairs, I was wondering if in the meantime you've had a chance to listen to that and what you think about it.
18:11 The Mastering Lab absolutely existed at that time, The self-titled The Doors album (1967) was one of his very first big releases that Doug Sax mastered at TML He also mastered some Lincoln Mayorga albums on TownHall and Sheffield, before the Sheffield Laboratory Series (Sheffield Lab direct-to-disc) came out in 1971.
speaking of first pressings i got very very very lucky to find an actual original pressing of heart magazine. a dutch 1st pressing on the arista label rather then it saying mushroom. i know it to be one of the surviving originals cause of the clause written on the back. it seems to sound pretty good to me but yea you would know more then i do. but i searched for a good while to own an original og pressing from 1977. the grove on this one has a sparty on it. in my case like i mentioned i prefer to find og pressings of albums and the best first press meaning the day it came out pressing and it being from the best place that pressed the album as well.
Just listened to an hour long interview with Pete, he said Glyn Johns was fantastic about getting the most of the the band. He an organized task master, keeping them all in check from excess, ... but Townsend was critical of his levels, pushing the tape too hard with a "tinny" result. I'd agree, in that Pete's technique of the period has extraordinary hifi sound. His gain structure on his demos sounds robust, round, with clarity. I would like to experience the best Who's Next on vinyl.
The 1st UK press and 1974 repress both have "Marketed by Polydor" on the bottom right rear of jacket. Both are Bilbo cuts. I have 2 copies with slightly different variants of the 1974 press, based on the matrix ID's. Your UK pressing without "Marketed by Polydor is a 1978 repress, 3rd pressing I guess you would say, if it matters to you.
Actually the first Track press side one was cut by Doug Sax at The Mastering Lab. His handwriting is clear. I just earned this. Side two of the original is Bilbo. That sometimes happens when the sent lacquer gets damaged during plating so they might have run off a tape copy. Side two sounds great as well..
First, sorry you are sick with covid. As a medical professional I do not wish that thorn on anyone. Well wishes sir! Appreciate the review. I know the last thing you probably feel like doing is a shootout audio sample. But I humbly request to hear these versions you have as comparison samples. The ones you have done in the past were very helpful to make a decision and have the side benefit of “Well well, I guess Mr Fremer may know what he is talking about after all” While I understand making samples is time consuming, I would love to comparison samples attached to at least every major review. Just a thought and my nickel’s worth.
@@trackingangle929 I did and have the KG 95. It sounded good. Mine was more of a statement of samples against samples in order to have a complete picture. It was good of you to take the time to provide the laquer sample. Thanks for that. Hey Im greedy and want as many comparisons as I can get to make the most objective decisions, what can I say? lol
Mikey, I call you Mikey because we have met, numerous times. Anyway that's my claim to FAME not yours, I only wanted to say that whenever I delve into a segment of yours it inspires me to do a segment on my VC channel TONYS LPSRUS...so keep an ear out for my Deep Dive on someone soon..cheers and ty.
I have a 1977 MCA issue. Maybe I am not understanding something. Discogs is saying it's a reissue, Gloversville pressing. Sorry for my ignorance, but what does a "reissue" mean as compared to just a pressing? Is a reissue started from original recordings and remastered? Is a pressing just more copies made from previous masters? I'm not that knowledgable about making records. Thanks for the video. I agree, this is one of the best rock records made.
Out here in the fields i keep looking for my damn phone when i hear that notification chime. Turn off that phone you deep diving, chicken pluckin, shroomin, Natures PVC addict. It NOT a good thing to turn yourself over to somebody. You have the power of the universe within you, you do not need some other to empower you, they just take away from you. Your reference to Ouspensky is interesting, never heard of him, but I came the same conclusion many years ago on my own reflection that music is the language of the universe, it is vibrations of energy, we are vibrations of energy and the universe is energy manifest in both mass and ether. This is why digital music seems incongruous to our soul, it does not FEEL right, all angular bits, broken up, not a smooth waveform. Their all wasted! Personally i bust open the Natures PVC capsules and snort the powder for an instant analog hit.
I have AB tested the version at the end of your vid against the deluxe edition on the Whos youtube channel, the deluxe edition sounds a lot better to me, much fuller and more powerful, MCA sounds a bit weak in comparison.
Mike, first of all why so many copies of the same album. Did you actually listen to all those copies? The first copy you mention sounded bad, was it because of the technology at the time didn't provided the highest quality cutting lathe? This is why I have signal processing equipment to make a bad sounding record sound somewhat better to your own personal taste! As I once stated before I personally don't like listening to music flat, no life in the sound. It sounds too brutal.
Well, I bought the Decca when it first came out. Later I found the U.K. original. Much better. I was involved in the MCA reissue so I got that copy. Then i got the Classic Records version as a reviewer and vinyl supporter when few people were buying vinyl. I bought the 3 LP set for the extras and this new 1/2 speed mastered version so I could write the review and present this video.
Good overview Michael. I also love the Classic but haven’t heard that 95 MCA. I wasn’t gonna buy a new version but got the 4 lp box only because of the three lp live at San Francisco civic show I attended. So disappointed with the sound of that, especially since Glen Johns recorded it on 16 track. But it’s Not good. Another surprise is the version of the Who’s Next proper lp in that box is different than the new one you showed. Strange. It’s not half speed. Why did they cut and release two versions ? Feel better.
I've just today heard about this! Somehow there's a 1/2 speed and a non-half speed version floating around and no one knows how or why that happened. No one's in charge.
Thank you for the deep dive. Really interesting. But now up to the most important question: Is the Abbey Road version really digital or is it as digital as the Beatles Singles Collection from 2019 was? (Sorry for that one, but I guess you can cope with it... ;) )
First it’s Info Wars shilling supplements, now it’s Tracking Angle. I can’t get away from it all, LOL. Hey Michael, an insightful and entertaining review, as always. Who’s Next has been a top album for me since I first heard it when I was a junior in high school, so sometime around 1982. I’ve had the same crap copy I bought new around that time, a blue label rainbow MCA, but recently acquired a few others. My thoughts on those are as follows. Early US Decca - Yes, flat, dull and lifeless, but not the worst I’ve heard. That comes next. 1980(ish) MCA blue label rainbow pressing. Horrible garbage in every way. Just terrible. 🤮 1983 UK Polydor reissue. This was a limited to 5000 copies, sold at HMV stores, according to what I’ve been able to find online. It’s pretty damn good, actually. Fairly low noise medium weight vinyl, good detail, and punchy with better than average soundstage. It’s still my favorite of those I own. 2023 half-speed mastered - like you said, it’s just ok. If I didn’t have the 1983 UK Polydor, I’d probably be ok with it. 2023 non-half-speed from the 3LP box. Honestly, I don’t hear a difference between it and the half-speed. 🤷🏻♂️
In my experience, it is not about digital, indeed (I've cut lots of records from both analog and digital). The flat soundstage is very often caused by EQ'ing out midrange frequencies. Doing so is moving lead vocals into the background and as a result it creates flat sounding audio. You still have left to right axis, but you lose front to back dimension.
There’s a 1973 MCA Reissue, after Decca was shut down. (Black label, Rainbow) And a 1978, Tan and white label reissue. (And, I believe, there’s also a 1980-1981 Blue Sky MCA reissue as well.)
Not to create controversy, but Pete has had some issues in recent times concerning questionable content on his computers. I can separate the artists from the art though.
We are the Universe......we are all meant to live in peace and respect for each others opinions. Not a religious observation just one of pure humanity. I am growing sick of the VC..we need to get a grip.
@@trackingangle929The W-1, W-2 have no date on it and are the West coast pressings, the best of the US pressings. East coast pressings have the date on it.
5:44 USA 1st Pressing.
7:48 UK 1st Pressing.
9:38 UK Repress.
12:40 MCA 1995 Heavy Vinyl (Kevin Gray)
15:35 2003 3XLP Remaster.
19:54 Classic Records pressing.
21:33 2023 Plangent 1/2 speed.
26:28 Outro- Baba O'Riley
I just finished my first course of _Nature's PVC_ and wow, now my surface noise has completely cleared up! Thank you Nature's PVC! (loved IT Mr Fremer)
That was pretty funny.
I really appreciate that Roger Daltry took his time to inform us about the best sounding version of The Who's Next.
me too!
I love the plucking chickens joke!
Excellent timing, BTW, as today would've been John Entwistle's 79th birthday.
Man, 1995 was a great year to be a young record collector. There were three mom & pop record shops within reasonable driving distance from me in the NYC suburbs and I helped clean them all out when they switched their inventory over to CDs. I probably picked up over 300 albums at huge discounts that summer.
When I bought my copy of the ‘74 Bilbo cut 7 years ago, the owner of the shop mentioned the Headhunters sleeve; he said it was inexpensive as it wasn’t a “1st press with HH inner” as he initially hoped from the Marketed By Polydor (must be a leftover sleeve or possibly swapped at some point) on the back.
I had heard other sellers state that first U.K. pressings have this inner before and after this, but according to Discogs it’s actually untrue. The records on the inner were “released 1 month later than this LP. And secondly this LP is already listed as 'available' on the inner - which means that this LP was already released when this Headhunters inner sleeve was conceived.” Again, according to Discogs , standard white inners with “0771" or "0871" date codes are the first press.
I've tried the 2003, 2016, and new 2023 Half Speed pressings and none of them can hold a candle to my 1974 UK repress (2408 102 DELUXE). Even though it has some clicks and pops, it still kills all the others.
Thank you.
For the deep dive and example at the end
AND for taking the time to clarify/correct yourself with the text overlay. Appreciated.
I have an MCA copy from the early ‘80s when The Who became my high school favorite band just as their original output was ceasing. Later I bought a second ”special” copy but cannot remember what it is. I want to say it’s the Heavy Vinyl but honestly do not recall getting it anywhere near 1995.
No matter, because I’ve never owned a system worthy of the vinyl now boxed up. The less said about that the better.
Thank you Michael I bought the 95 version around 2005 off eBay I think I paid $20 for the record in the shrink.
I was so stunned at how great the record sounded!
thank you very much for your involvement in making that great record.
When are those Britain's going to wake up and start using DSD files to make their records if they're not going to make analog records?
Can't wait to start getting Chad's 75th anniversary records.😊❤.
Daltry’s voice is a Rock musical instrument. This album demonstrates it the best IMO out of the entire The Who cannon.
Thank you Mikey for the comprehensive overview of Who's Next!
Hi there. Always love your videos. I feel i am attending a class in audio and vinyl. This is a masterpiece with no bad note on it. An album i would bring in a desert island. Great band. Thanks for this immense education.
That intro is great, you nailed it!
Damn this sounds amazing Michael Fremer and a excellent review I still on a hunt for the Classic records or Kevin Gray 95 cut.
I have that one
Excellent post Mr. Fremer, I hope you get to feeling better, and may I please have your hair...
I once met Paul Rodgers from Bad Company in the group’s hotel suite. Back in the ‘70s when I had really long hair and his was starting to thin. He asked same question! I said if I can have your voice you can have my hair!
Thanks again and feel better soon! i looking forward to meeting you one of these days
This was a great video. I have a few of those: my first copy was an old Track records version that still sounds great. In the meantime i got the UK and usa first presses. The UK and my European presses are great. I have the Classic records one, Which is good also. I do not have the 1995 one that you helped with and i am sure it would be great to hear. Anyway, Thanks a lot I Will try to listen to then in a row soon.
Thankyou so much @trackingangle929 and Michael Fremer! I just received and listened to my newest acquisition of "Who's Next". Wow! After watching this video I pulled out my old, original (and crappy ) USA first pressing. Back in the 70's I was a 'Who Freak" and own nearly all of their albums. I'd never noticed prior, that that version is a terrible recording! I guess that's because The Who was just music I cranked-up! So, I found a Music On Vinyl - remaster of the Polydor UK 1977 first pressing. Wow, it's just awesome - a whole new experience! Thanks!
Thanks so much Michael as always for the in depth breakdown. I bought the 50th anniversary Abbey Road box with the live set, that was my first introduction to the album, I know, tragedy, it was actually the tv series CSI that got me into them in the last 10 years. I want a Bilbo cut, any Bilbo I’ve heard has been incredible, but if Chad can get this licensed again, I’ll hold out for that.
WHEN I heard it on the radio in the seventies......I instantly run out to buy the album, it's on Polydor and it sounds good..............many years later I bought the CD and that was a disaster !
Happy to have kept all my records from before the era of digital , ....and when people got rid of their vinyl.....and shop sold at give away pricing , I bought all what I could with my budget , even lots of Jazz ( Blue note and many other great labels )....
Thank you for sharing .
Hehe, me too. When the fools gave away their vinyl, I bought them all up for pennies on the dollar back in the early-mid 90s. Impulse, Blue Note, early Columbia, DG, all of 'em. Livin' in L.A. at the time, with my LP-12.
Best intro I've seen in years! 😷
Fantastic walk through 👌
Loved rocking out to this album back in the day, a couple of Times with delysid in the body, which you wink and nod at, LOL. Talk about intensity. I was at Lasalle's Music Store, in CT, attending a Keyboard, Moog synthesizer, lecture when someone came in and announced Keith Moon had just died.
Moonie..
Best heard ever in this album and the Live at Leeds releases, love all pressings, CD and cassettes.
Must have all experiences depending on the mood...
Great review, Michael! Thanks.
Really enjoyed this Michael. Have loved this record since 1971. I have the 1995 KG, and the Classic cB and the 2023 Half Speed and an original Decca W2 my grandmother gave me for Christmas 1971. I’d love a UHQR too. Hope you feel better soon.
Original UKs had the headhunters inner sleeve.
Great review-I bought the MCA Heavy when it first came out, a great sounding record, unfortunately my copy is off center on side 1 (intolerable on The Song is Over). I was lucky enough to find a nice copy of the Classic at local shop a couple of years for $70 and it’s been my go to ever since. I heard Won’t Get Fooled Again from your Classic 45rpm at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in the PS Audio suite (along with LZ’s Stairway) and it was stunning. Make it happen, Chad!
oops.....
Classic 45 RPM test pressing? Wow!
As usual: Thank you Michael for another great video. And that gift at the end!
Greetings from Italia.
Thank you for the wonderful review and the easter egg is killer! Read a while back that Chad had Bernie cut a lacquer at 45RPM for a new release but there was perhaps a licensing issue/change, hopefully it does come to fruition as a UHQR would be a dream come true! Any idea of the CBS 1/2 speed is an analog cut? I have that one and it is very bright but I thought much better than the MusicOnVinyl which I returned. Wish I had the Classic or the MCA Heavy Vinyl you were involved with!
None of the 1/2 speed mastersounds are analog. They all have a digital step. Alot of them people dont like, however, some are really good, like many rate the Japanese wish you were here as one of if not the best sounding pressings of it. So maybe who's next is one of their good pressings if you enjoy it
Thank you for that great info!@@simonemurray1345
Drumming on 'Bargain' is utter genius
Baba O'Riley sounded strikingly good on my TCL tablet from the OMA TT/SAT arm/mc cartridge!
My God, the MCA Heavy Vinyl washes away all of the bad TV use of this song and lets us hear it new again. Those synthesizer beats! I'm pulling out a couple of pressings of this tomorrow (including my Classic 200) after my wife leaves the house and do a deep dive of them myself.
Brilliant!
You express very well what happens when you listen to digitalized vinyl !
Going from living raw milk to the creamed sterilized milk ........I hate it and never bought digital remasterd reissues any more .....only when 100% analog garanteed and they are very rare .
EVEN....When they mention the original tapes were used .............(but the cutting is digital, and they can't hide the digital glassy, liveless fingerprint that strips the original music form a big part of it's soul . )
I wasn't born when this music come out but does anyone find that the use of this song so much in tv series either hurts or helps it's popularity ? Just curious. Probobly couldn't hurt as makes new generations aware of this music with more reruns of the tv series. Thanks Michael for your work!
Back in the day the worst thing you could do is hear your favorite music in an ad or on a show. It wasn't special anymore. Now it seems to be the only way kids discover music. Like Kate Bush in Stranger Things and Depeche Mode in The Last of Us. The music has been available to the entire planet for decades, but the kids won't hear it until it's on a show they like.
Yeah I hate hearing songs I care about on TV shows. I was born and old enough (11) to buy this in 71, when licensing your songs to TV was a very unhip move. A thoughtful placement in a film was a different story. But hearing a song I like on a commercial or series just overplays it for me.
Interesting video Mike. I met you in the 70’s when you were at WBCN. I never thought the 71 Decca was that great sounding along with my 66 Pet Sounds on Capitol! Hope you feel better!
Notting Hill record exchange LOL I think there is one left in London now funny enough in Notting Hill. Used to go there and came out with bags of vinyl Oh the good old day - Saluti from London
That was fun, what a treat. Baba O’Reilly-I heard that ARP sequencer riff was originated from Meher Baba’s birth date "put into the ARP". A good story anyway.
Who’s Next was the 1st CD I bought-I did not even have a player. lol.
Love this Mr Fremer, thanks for the easter egg, its the UK Track 74 BilBo Reissue for me, Baba is the key, cheers
To me , THE WHO ARE THE GREATEST BAND OF ALL TIME !!!!🤘 Great video, thank you 👍
Excellent review Like to here your knowledge displayed.
I agree with you on that, a decent Audiophile version by AP should be out. This album is one of my Desert Island albums. I have the 1st pressing Decca and a 2010s reissue... and they are not that satisfying. I was hoping this half-speed is a definitive one... but it doesn't. I trust your ears, Michael.
Great review, thank you ! I sold my early 80s blue MCA for a first pressing Decca and I thought it was better. My 81 German Phases box set sounds great. I’m now on the hunt for the 95 gatefold with your liner notes and hype sticker !
Great video! Hope you Feel better from your cold😊!
Best intro ever. Natural born comedian. We want more.
Huh, somehow my comment got deleted about the headhunter sleeve. Just pointed out that it was included in the 1st UKs. Forever people said they were from the very first ones, while now some argue that they were put in 1st UKs a month or two later, or were from a specific batch. Since supposedly a record included on the sleeve came out a month or two after whos next, or the sleeve wasnt produced until a month or two after. I forgot the exact argument, but either way, theyre in some of the first UKs whether theyre the very first or a specific batch of them. Theyre definitely early copies, but may not be the very first like rumors said, or atleast not all the 1sts are headhunters since many have their day 1 copies and never had that sleeve. So yours not having the sleeve doesnt mean its not a day 1 copy.
Its kind of like the abbey road white sleeve vs black sleeve dilemma, how some pushed the idea black sleeves were the very first pressings, that white sleeves were later, when it was really a mix due to how the factories were run and using up old stock, and white sleeves were available on day 1 copies. All copies with the headhunter sleeves are 1st pressings but not all 1st pressings have the headhunter sleeve.
If you go on discogs and search headhunter on whos next youll see a few listings and the discussion about it, and theres conjecture on hoffman forums if you look up whos next headhunter. For a long time through ebay people would value the headhunter sleaves insanely high as due to the rumor they were the very first, like the black sleeved abbey roads. But many discount it as a myth now, that it only ensures your copy is an early one.
I made a statement at the end of my deleted comment on how i was genuinely suprised that i knew a record fact mr. fremer didnt know. I didnt mean it in an insulting way, just that its cool i was finally able to give a tiny sliver of vinyl knowledge to someone whos given me tons of knowledge, and that every collector knows something interesting to add to discussions. It was just so cool to tell someone i consider a vinyl idol of mine a record fact, after all hes told me! And as a journalist myself hes been one of my professional inspirations! Hell, one of my favorite records is my limited wonderful sounds of female vocals since its signed by mr fremer and chad, and a certain store owner banned me from his comments due to defending michael from trolls and attacks. So i love michael fremer and was just happy to tell him a fact! Id never come here to insult mr fremer.
So sorry if my comment somehow came off as offensive if thats why it was deleted, since i meant it as a positive. It was a pleasant suprise that i was able to give mr fremer one piece of record knowledge as hes given me hundreds, so id hate him to think i meant it negatively. So I was dissapointed to see the comment gone and hope my comments arent banned now since i just wanted to help!
Maybe there was a glitch or it got deleted in my pocket somehow, i just wanted to explain myself if my comment was intentionally deleted, that my suprise at knowing a fact you didnt know is meant to be a compliment to all the knowledge you have, not an insult.
Angway enough rambling, hope you feel better with the covid, and id love to see more vinyl videos like this of either shootouts or like AAA recommendations, since its awesome to hear all your stories and knowledge about the records, and i trust your ear over anyones.
I didn’t delete your comment so I don’t know what happened but I’m glad you re-posted it.
Loved the playback Michael. I've got the GEFFEN B0022612-01released in 2015. It reminds me of that first American pressing you mentioned. Low dynamics and transients and flat as a pancake. I'll be looking out for the MCA version, that's for sure.
Love the Herbert von Karajan hairstyle!
1983 Uk polydor, red label, reissue sounds very good to me.
Well done Mr. Fremer!
I was spinning my copy for the first time a couple of hours ago and I was expecting more, *WAY more* - specially after such a glowing review of your colleague Mr. Mark Smotroff at Analog Planet. What was he thinking? His system must be utterly thin and/or bright where this flat (boring) presentation could sound semi passable.
I don't want to get into this fight and I do not read reviews there or anything there other than when looking up my old stuff, but wondering if he ever gives a negative review?
Your comment piqued my curiosity so i went over to the site I started and wow, I think he's afraid of ever giving a negative review to anything. He' steering readers so wrong...on "Who's Next" and "Rough Mix"....oh well..
Excellent encapsulation. Love my 95 press, preferring it over original UK.
Btw-I am not a chicken plucker..
I am, however, a fig plucker's son,
So I will pluck the figs 'til the fig pluckers come.
Glyn Johns sure screwed up micing the cymbals on this. The phasing is horrific.
Yes, I've noticed that also.
probably someone has mentioned it already but the MOV is good
i have a UK 1974 bilbo on track that sounds great .. just checked discogs and they are going for more already 😂
Great video as usual. Michael. 👍👍👍👍👍👍
I have a quick question for you.... When you did your system review a while back and you were describing your new OMA turntable. If I'm not mistaken, you said in that video your OMA turntable would not take a 9-in tonearm. In this video it looks like you're using your SAT 9-in tonearm.
Is that a 9-in SAT tonearm?
Keep the great videos coming. Michael.
PS. I loved the funny intro. 😂😂😂😂😂
That is the SAT CF1-12. I got longer...
I was lucky enough to buy the 200G Classic Records version when it came out in 2005, in 5/05. After buying direct for years, CR moved it's retail sales over to their The Music store. My copy cost me $41.96, delivered. $400. now? That's amazing.
As I remember, Classic Records had a hard time getting the mastering and pressing to be acceptable for release. It delayed the release for quite some time. They also pressed it in 140G and 150G.
I remember that they had quite a few returns because something was wrong with the pressings they sent out, to get replacement copies. Luckily, I didn't have to exchange my copy.
Probably because of all the problems, this seemed like CR's swan song as their output slowed down until Chad bought CR in 2010.
If you order Nature's PVC within 20 mins we will throw in a Super Bass-O-Matic ‘76’ for free! :)
Thanks Michael, does anyone know if the 1995 KG cut uses a different master - some song timings are quite different, and from hazy memory sound subtly different.
History : There was also ½ spm from Canada c 1983 that I jettisoned a long while ago.
which songs?
Baba + 16s, My Wife + 40s, TSIO - 15s, GMobile +25s, WGFA -22s - according to timings on cover
Great review but I think we all knew the results beforehand! When will they learn what the market wants? How they can miss the mark so badly and that the Artists don't demand the best for their musical legacy!
Herr Fremer hat die grössten Kopfhörer der Welt...auf die Idee zu kommen ...sich die Wilson XVX direkt über die Ohren zu stülpen muss man erstmal kommen ;)
Great review. I have the original US press and the 2003 set.
Fantastic record. At the you mention Analogue Productions with hope they could make an UHQR pressing. Recently there has been a release on Blu-ray audio with Steve Wilson 5.1 mixes. I know you have a HT setup upstairs, I was wondering if in the meantime you've had a chance to listen to that and what you think about it.
18:11 The Mastering Lab absolutely existed at that time, The self-titled The Doors album (1967) was one of his very first big releases that Doug Sax mastered at TML He also mastered some Lincoln Mayorga albums on TownHall and Sheffield, before the Sheffield Laboratory Series (Sheffield Lab direct-to-disc) came out in 1971.
I liked moondog and the doco highly recommend it to U found it fascinating
speaking of first pressings i got very very very lucky to find an actual original pressing of heart magazine. a dutch 1st pressing on the arista label rather then it saying mushroom. i know it to be one of the surviving originals cause of the clause written on the back. it seems to sound pretty good to me but yea you would know more then i do. but i searched for a good while to own an original og pressing from 1977. the grove on this one has a sparty on it. in my case like i mentioned i prefer to find og pressings of albums and the best first press meaning the day it came out pressing and it being from the best place that pressed the album as well.
Just listened to an hour long interview with Pete, he said Glyn Johns was fantastic about getting the most of the the band. He an organized task master, keeping them all in check from excess, ... but Townsend was critical of his levels, pushing the tape too hard with a "tinny" result.
I'd agree, in that Pete's technique of the period has extraordinary hifi sound.
His gain structure on his demos sounds robust, round, with clarity.
I would like to experience the best Who's Next on vinyl.
I always found the right original USA sax cut had the best soundstage. Even better than my UK bilbo press.
The 1st UK press and 1974 repress both have "Marketed by Polydor" on the bottom right rear of jacket. Both are Bilbo cuts. I have 2 copies with slightly different variants of the 1974 press, based on the matrix ID's. Your UK pressing without "Marketed by Polydor is a 1978 repress, 3rd pressing I guess you would say, if it matters to you.
Actually the first Track press side one was cut by Doug Sax at The Mastering Lab. His handwriting is clear. I just earned this. Side two of the original is Bilbo. That sometimes happens when the sent lacquer gets damaged during plating so they might have run off a tape copy. Side two sounds great as well..
@@trackingangle929 Thanks for that info Michael. What writing is it that distinguishes Doug in the dead wax? I thought it was "TML"
First, sorry you are sick with covid. As a medical professional I do not wish that thorn on anyone. Well wishes sir!
Appreciate the review. I know the last thing you probably feel like doing is a shootout audio sample. But I humbly request to hear these versions you have as comparison samples. The ones you have done in the past were very helpful to make a decision and have the side benefit of “Well well, I guess Mr Fremer may know what he is talking about after all”
While I understand making samples is time consuming, I would love to comparison samples attached to at least every major review.
Just a thought and my nickel’s worth.
Did you listen to the lacquer at the end of the video?
@@trackingangle929 I did and have the KG 95. It sounded good. Mine was more of a statement of samples against samples in order to have a complete picture. It was good of you to take the time to provide the laquer sample. Thanks for that. Hey Im greedy and want as many comparisons as I can get to make the most objective decisions, what can I say? lol
The Classic records pressing sounds fantastic to me. Got it for $2 when vinyl was less desirable. How does it compare?
Classic version is all you need
IDK what's funnier. The outfit with the vintage Beavis and Butthead cap, or the PVC bit. 😂
Mikey, I call you Mikey because we have met, numerous times. Anyway that's my claim to FAME not yours, I only wanted to say that whenever I delve into a segment of yours it inspires me to do a segment on my VC channel TONYS LPSRUS...so keep an ear out for my Deep Dive on someone soon..cheers and ty.
I destroyed my 8-track copy from playing it on road trips in my VW Beatle
You are a genius
All this makes me wonder where the Moble Fidelity CD version fits in to this mess
Love Terry Riley!! I’ve got Rainbow and Church of Anthrax. Need In C!! Great video.
I have a 1977 MCA issue. Maybe I am not understanding something. Discogs is saying it's a reissue, Gloversville pressing. Sorry for my ignorance, but what does a "reissue" mean as compared to just a pressing? Is a reissue started from original recordings and remastered? Is a pressing just more copies made from previous masters? I'm not that knowledgable about making records. Thanks for the video. I agree, this is one of the best rock records made.
Is nature’s pvc available in Europe?
I will hunt for MCA - 11164.
Out here in the fields i keep looking for my damn phone when i hear that notification chime. Turn off that phone you deep diving, chicken pluckin, shroomin, Natures PVC addict.
It NOT a good thing to turn yourself over to somebody. You have the power of the universe within you, you do not need some other to empower you, they just take away from you.
Your reference to Ouspensky is interesting, never heard of him, but I came the same conclusion many years ago on my own reflection that music is the language of the universe, it is vibrations of energy, we are vibrations of energy and the universe is energy manifest in both mass and ether. This is why digital music seems incongruous to our soul, it does not FEEL right, all angular bits, broken up, not a smooth waveform.
Their all wasted! Personally i bust open the Natures PVC capsules and snort the powder for an instant analog hit.
❤👍🏼
Maybe I'll wait for Chad to do it. Another option is to wait for a Colonel Sanders cut AKA the "chicken plucker pressing"
What cartridge are you using on that SAT tonearm?
The intro was really funny! 😅
Lyra Lambda Atlas SL
Thanks for the answer @@trackingangle929
I hope you will get better soon 🤧
I have AB tested the version at the end of your vid against the deluxe edition on the Whos youtube channel, the deluxe edition sounds a lot better to me, much fuller and more powerful, MCA sounds a bit weak in comparison.
Mike, first of all why so many copies of the same album. Did you actually listen to all those copies? The first copy you mention sounded bad, was it because of the technology at the time didn't provided the highest quality cutting lathe? This is why I have signal processing equipment to make a bad sounding record sound somewhat better to your own personal taste! As I once stated before I personally don't like listening to music flat, no life in the sound. It sounds too brutal.
Well, I bought the Decca when it first came out. Later I found the U.K. original. Much better. I was involved in the MCA reissue so I got that copy. Then i got the Classic Records version as a reviewer and vinyl supporter when few people were buying vinyl. I bought the 3 LP set for the extras and this new 1/2 speed mastered version so I could write the review and present this video.
Good overview Michael. I also love the Classic but haven’t heard that 95 MCA. I wasn’t gonna buy a new version but got the 4 lp box only because of the three lp live at San Francisco civic show I attended. So disappointed with the sound of that, especially since Glen Johns recorded it on 16 track. But it’s Not good. Another surprise is the version of the Who’s Next proper lp in that box is different than the new one you showed. Strange. It’s not half speed. Why did they cut and release two versions ?
Feel better.
I've just today heard about this! Somehow there's a 1/2 speed and a non-half speed version floating around and no one knows how or why that happened. No one's in charge.
Thank you for the deep dive. Really interesting. But now up to the most important question: Is the Abbey Road version really digital or is it as digital as the Beatles Singles Collection from 2019 was? (Sorry for that one, but I guess you can cope with it... ;) )
Love your reviews. sadly the record players you use. I'm sure is 99% budget range of the general puplic.(including mine)
Still.
Respect dude.
I always keep around a modestly priced one too
I bought the UK Track pressing back in 1980. It beats the US hands down!
First it’s Info Wars shilling supplements, now it’s Tracking Angle. I can’t get away from it all, LOL.
Hey Michael, an insightful and entertaining review, as always. Who’s Next has been a top album for me since I first heard it when I was a junior in high school, so sometime around 1982. I’ve had the same crap copy I bought new around that time, a blue label rainbow MCA, but recently acquired a few others. My thoughts on those are as follows.
Early US Decca - Yes, flat, dull and lifeless, but not the worst I’ve heard. That comes next.
1980(ish) MCA blue label rainbow pressing. Horrible garbage in every way. Just terrible. 🤮
1983 UK Polydor reissue. This was a limited to 5000 copies, sold at HMV stores, according to what I’ve been able to find online. It’s pretty damn good, actually. Fairly low noise medium weight vinyl, good detail, and punchy with better than average soundstage. It’s still my favorite of those I own.
2023 half-speed mastered - like you said, it’s just ok. If I didn’t have the 1983 UK Polydor, I’d probably be ok with it.
2023 non-half-speed from the 3LP box. Honestly, I don’t hear a difference between it and the half-speed. 🤷🏻♂️
I can Not believe that "digital" is the sole cause of a 'flat' soundstage.
There must be some Other reason for that effect.
Probably a combo
In my experience, it is not about digital, indeed (I've cut lots of records from both analog and digital). The flat soundstage is very often caused by EQ'ing out midrange frequencies. Doing so is moving lead vocals into the background and as a result it creates flat sounding audio. You still have left to right axis, but you lose front to back dimension.
very cool. Lots of history on the title I did not know. How did you get the Kuzma arm mounted on the OMA table? Very nice!
That's the SAT CF!-12 not a Kuzma arm....
But, does Nature’s PVC contain ELO? Some people are allergic to ELO and can’t take it.
There’s a 1973 MCA Reissue, after Decca was shut down. (Black label, Rainbow) And a 1978, Tan and white label reissue. (And, I believe, there’s also a 1980-1981 Blue Sky MCA reissue as well.)
Covid symptoms may include Yoda Speak.
Let's pretend that I don't really know this people around the Records & Co. but that even Eminem took some distancing. Namastè.
Not to create controversy, but Pete has had some issues in recent times concerning questionable content on his computers. I can separate the artists from the art though.
Awesome and Funny Mr. Fremer. I bought your Comedy Record. Could you sign it for me?
I'd be happy to, but how and where?
We are the Universe......we are all meant to live in peace and respect for each others opinions. Not a religious observation just one of pure humanity. I am growing sick of the VC..we need to get a grip.
Was the US Decca W-1, W-2 or something similar?
I'd have to go look but it has the mastering date on it 8/?/1971 (question mark because I can't remember the date)
@@trackingangle929The W-1, W-2 have no date on it and are the West coast pressings, the best of the US pressings.
East coast pressings have the date on it.
Didn't you take the jab? How efficient was it?
I did and that’s why the case was moderate