Monday, October 25, 2010

The Who - Live At Leeds: Complete


I hesitate to mention this, for fear of committing rock blasphemy and losing my credibility with you musicophiles out there . . . but frankly, The Who have never done that much for me.

True, I like some of their songs, and I enjoyed seeing them play their abbreviated "greatest hits" set at the Super Bowl last year. But I've never had any interest in delving that deeply into their individual albums, searching for that obscure gem buried on, say, Side Two of The Who Sell Out or The Who By Numbers. I'm happy just listening to my copy of the hits collection Who's Better, Who's Best, and leaving the rest unplayed. To me, their concept albums, like Tommy and Quadrophenia, just seem a bit over the top. IMHO, in the late 60s, there were better bands than The Who putting out more superior concept albums addressing the state of the world and life in Britain (um, The Kinks, and The Village Green Preservation Society (for starters), anyone?).

And over the years, the whole hagiography of the band, and Keith Moon in particular, has seemed a bit overblown to me. Yes, I was sad when John Entwhistle died (I give him props, though, for going out like a true rock star - in bed in a Vegas hotel, a naked hooker to his left and a pile of blow to his right), but it wasn't as affecting to me as it was to a lot of other, bigger Who fans. I have a lot of bands that I'm really into and have made the time and effort to know more about - The Who are not one of those bands. They're a classic rock band, and rank right up there near the top . . . but so do Led Zeppelin and Cream, and those bands don't get half the quasireligious worship that The Who seems to engender.

My buddy Ed is a HUGE Who fan, though, and knows the band's music and history back and forth. He can tell you which one of the numbered guitars Pete Townshend played at which point during the Woodstock and Isle of Wight festivals, and exactly how much gunpowder was loaded into Keith Moon's drumset during the infamous Smothers Brothers show explosion in 1967 (BTW, if you've never seen it, it's an instant classic:)


Ed's all-time favorite album is Live At Leeds. Many years ago, he began hearing rumors that what was released on Live At Leeds was not the band's complete set recorded at Leeds University on February 14th, 1970. He assumed that with the release of the expanded Live At Leeds: Deluxe Edition in 2001, he would finally be hearing the full show. But even that release had issues, specifically in that it wasn't fully 'live', but "augmented" in some places in the studio to either expand the sound or hide some of the flubbed notes and sloppy riffs. Ed was still itching to get his hands on the complete, unadulterated set, complete with errors and extended stage banter. I told him I'd help him track it down. A friend of mine in the Rockies had a copy, a bootleg released on Midas Touch Records a few years ago, and at my request he immediately sent one to me.

The two-disc Live At Leeds: Complete was all that Ed had asked for, and more - the complete set from that fateful day in 1970, from start to finish. The song sequencing is different from the earlier releases of this album, and the length of the individual tracks varies according to how much studio wizardry and elimination of stage chatter was done to the originals. There's also an infamous static hum through some of the songs, a noise that was eliminated on the earlier releases, but a sound that told Ed that he was getting the original, unadulterated goods. He was completely flabbergasted and fascinated with some of the obvious (to him) changes evident on Complete, compared to the originals. He tried to point out some of them to me, but I was oblivious - shit all sounded the same to me. Still, I know he spent hours listening and relistening to each track . . . as many others have done. There are literally entire websites set up that meticulously analyze every song on this one album and track the modifications. That's getting a little too nitpicky for me, but more power to guys who are into stuff like that.

If you're one of those types of Who fans, then I guess this posting will be right up your alley. Have a listen, enjoy, and as always, let me know what you think:

Please use the email link below to contact me, and I will reply with the download link(s) ASAP:

Send Email

61 comments:

  1. Not only is this one of the finest Who bootlegs, but the sound quality is amazing, and it's so nice to hear the pre-mix

    ReplyDelete
  2. Fantastic sound quality for a bootleg! The differences between the official Live at Leeds and this bootleg are pretty interesting to hear. Definitely give this a listen if you're curious and want to hear the original!

    ReplyDelete
  3. great sounding cd would recommend to listen too thanks for the download links

    ReplyDelete
  4. From Soren Rasmussen: "Appreciate your quick response on this bootleg. It's got all the snap, crackle & pop of the original. Although, a Who unconditional, I'll go halfway with you: the Kinks are a match in terms of conceptual attack, irony & satire, etc. Too bad there isn't as much fanaticism on their behalf. By the way a great blog with a name my mother-in-law would be proud of."

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you very much for including this recording. The Who were a spectacular live act in the 60s and 70s, and I believe this was their peak period. Exhilarating powerful music leaving me shakin' all over, with quivers down my backbone! The Who - Rock's Dog's Bollocks.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for the links. Probably the best version of one of the greatest live shows ever performed. Don't understand why they don't put out an official complete release; I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you so much for sending the links. I have the official releases but have been told this version is the best sounding so looking forward to comparing. Thanks for the very speedy response from my emails.
    Thanks Agsin

    Peter H

    ReplyDelete
  8. Many Many thanks for the links and sharing this great stuff!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I've been something of a Live at Leeds fanatic since first hearing the Deluxe Edition and have regarded it ever since as the greatest live performance of all time. I had heard that a bootleg soundboard recording was in existence and have been searching for it for some time, all the while it was right under my nose! Never did I expect it to be as 'complete' as this!

    Thank you so much for posting, for your super-fast reply and for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you so much for the links! Great performance!!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great asset to access hard to find music such as this. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Unbelievable!!!! What a great gift!!! Thanks: long time searched for this and never find. Finally another long search is finished thanks to you

    ReplyDelete
  13. Finally I get to heart the show as it was originally recorded. Thanks!!! This is my favorite live album of all time and I have been searching for this boot for some time. Thanks for making it available!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Nice to find someone who is willing to share this great gig. You're a gent

    ReplyDelete
  15. Excellent stuff...very much appreciate your efforts and willingness to share. Great to finally hear this as it was played.

    Thank you very much kind sir.

    ReplyDelete
  16. From Duudass: "I absolutely have to say thank you very much.
    This bootleg is brilliant musically and an honest recording for fans of LALeeds: love the unedited 'where-do-we-go-now?' bits in the improvised sections.

    Thank you again."

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hey man, could you send a link to my email? Oh my God, thank you SO much!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sure thing, hombre - just use the "Send Email" link above to provide me with your email address, and I'll get it tomyou ASAP!

      Delete
  18. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  19. This is great stuff. The Grail. Thanks so much for sharing it. Now to go have a listen!
    Jezzer

    ReplyDelete
  20. Amazing stuff here!!. I may have been remiss in not thanking you for one of the Beatles' BBC discs a couple of years ago, but (blah, blah, blah, excuse, excuse excuse) - Mea Culpa. Many, MANY thanks for making this music available!

    S.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Great recording! Thank you!
    Do you also have the flac version?
    A.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I certainly do . . . For you future requestors, please let me know whether you'd prefer the FLAC or .mp3 versions.

      Delete
  22. live at Leeds is so great thank you for the files.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thanks for the links my friend, great band, great show.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Very late response, I understand, but thanks for sending me the album! I love it! Live at Leeds, as it should've been!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Could you please send me the links for Live at Leeds Complete in flac. I hope this is still available.
    Much appreciated.
    gconiii@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thanks so much for these files. This is now my favorite version. Much appreciated.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thanks so much for sharing such a historic concert in all it's glory!!! Very appreciated!!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thank you so much for sharing! The way the album should have been!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Thanks for sharing this. Amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Thanks very much. Looking forward to hearing what the audience heard way back when.

    ReplyDelete
  31. The full, unadulterated, legendary Leeds concert - I can hardly wait to sink my ears into this! Thanks for making this available to WhoHeads like meself. You rock

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thanks for making this available. Although a bootleg it fits more adequate the concept of the aspired live album. The sound quality speaks for itself. Merci!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Jeez, I love this. Bless you, Heckhole.

    ReplyDelete
  34. One of the best live albums ever..Even better complete and not fucked with..ie edits and overdubs. Thanks for making this available. My thank you is several years late but better late than never :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's all good, my friend - appreciate the thought, however belated!

      Delete
  35. Thank you so much! Great to finally find the SBD of this show in lossless, gonna enjoy comparing it to the official to see the differences :)

    ReplyDelete
  36. Mr Pee-Pee, thanks so much for this album.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Thank you for providing this to us fans. Rock on!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Thank you for providing a copy of this, it is fantastic!

    ReplyDelete
  39. I've been told this one is THE version to get as far as this classic album is concerned. Thank you so much for giving us the chance to check it out!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Nice upload, love The Who and this was a great listen. Thank you very much!

    ReplyDelete
  41. great boot, used this to make a reel to reel and it came out phenomenal!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Fantastic sounding addition to my favourite sounding release!
    Thank you very much for the lightning fast and friendly communication and the customer support!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Thank you for your prompt response! - N

    ReplyDelete
  44. Thank you so much! Excellent prompt response - sounds excellent!

    ReplyDelete
  45. H!

    I think you may just be a few years too young to fully get into The Who. Live at Leeds was one of the first LPs I bought with my own $ when it came out in 1970. It's simply an amazing record. Still holds up all these years later. I still have my copy with all the inserts. It's worth a fortune.

    The Who never did much on US AM radio but had loads of FM airplay.

    No flies on The Who. Give Who's Next a few spins.

    We shall convert you yet!

    ReplyDelete
  46. Thank you so much for this, I'm really more of '65-'67 Who fan but Moonie's drumming on this doesn't get much better.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree with you wholeheartedly - as I mentioned, I’m not a rabid Who fan, but what’s presented on this version of “Live At Leeds” is about as good as early ‘70s Who as you can get. Thanks for the great comment!

      Delete
  47. Thanks very much indeed for this post. I agree with you about the Who in general but some of their output, especially some of the late 60s live performances were excellent and they reached some sort of peak with The Who Selll Out. Tommy was overblown as was Quadrophenia but they have produced enough to warrant Hall of Fame status.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Thank you so much!!!!! The roughness of the mix is even more powerful than the album and I love hearing the raw concert "warts and all" ....really appreciate the share !

    ReplyDelete
  49. Thank you very much for this , it

    ReplyDelete
  50. The Ultimate version of the Leeds material. Canonical. Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  51. Many thanks for this. Live at Leeds is one of my
    favorite albums of all time and it’s great
    to hear this in it’s unedited glory.

    Just curious: Have your feelings on The Who changed in any way since you originally posted this? Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not really…. I still have the same regard for The Who that I had back then: they’re a classic, celebrated band, but I just have a hard time getting into them deeply.

      I used to feel the same way about Bowie - then I started digging in to his albums and finding lost gem after gem buried on many Side Twos. I suppose I should do the same with The Who, and see if I get the same sort of reaction. Perhaps I will, when I build up the wherewithal.

      Thanks for the comment!

      Delete
  52. Wow, what a privilege to hear the entire concert. It has to be the definitive version of The Who - Live at Leeds. The sheer power and energy of the band is mind blowing, it brings back memories of seeing the band at Green’s Playhouse in Glasgow in 1971.

    ReplyDelete