Who's Next (50th Anniversary)

Following recent super deluxe editions and multi-format releases of classic Who albums – The Who Sell Out, My Generation, Tommy and Quadrophenia, we follow with Who’s Next – considered by many to be the band’s greatest album. The album was a ground-breaking musical achievement and raised the bar for other artists to follow and continues to inspire to this day.

At the start of a new decade The Who, and in particular their main song writer Pete Townshend, faced an unenviable dilemma. How do you follow up on an international sensation called Tommy?

The response was an ambitious, futuristic but prescient project named Life House.

The ideas contained in Life House predicted a dystopian world which seems all too familiar today. Themes of environmental change, all too powerful corporations and technology, such as the internet, which the public knew nothing of at the time. Here are Pete Townshend’s own words describing Life House…

THE WHO LIFE HOUSE

By Pete Townshend

1971. Life House was a double-barrelled project. One part film script, the other part the plan for a live musical experiment to be carried out at the Young Vic Theatre to be filmed and incorporated into the fictional movie.

After the success of Tommy, providing The Who with a very powerful and uplifting concert piece as well as a hit album, I tried to create an audacious music project that would replace it musically for stage and album. I hoped too for a movie. I framed Life House as a portentous polemic about the coming of a nation beaten down by climate issues and pollution. In a sci-fi setting an opportunist and autocratic government enforce a national lock-down in which every person is hooked up to an entertainment grid, provided with solace, food, peace, and spiritual succour. The population could enjoy this Grid safe at home, using virtual reality experience suits. Life experience programmes would be provided by a co-opted entertainment industry and piped down tubes and wires to every home.

Music is discovered to be a very real distraction to the subjugation of the population in suits. Slowly it is removed from the programming. Rebels and renegades who refuse to be compliant ride around in crude converted buses and vans, listening to rock ‘n’ roll. It is the rebels who begin to hear rumours of the “Life House,” a place somewhere in London where live music is being performed, and an outlandish experiment was taking place.

One aspect of both the story and the hopeful plan for the Young Vic live music experiment was for me as a composer to act as a computer to create tailor-made compositions for selected audience members who attended a series of workshops at the Young Vic. Two good examples of the kind of music I hoped to compose are the electronic music backing tracks of “Baba O’Riley” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” In the story a new leader (partly based on myself, and partly based on several technical advisors I was working with at the time) put on a series of concerts, where such tailor-made music is created, and eventually would be piped into the government Grid to allow the oppressed population to break free.

A side bar of the fiction is that many participants in the government Grid project begin to advance spiritually, partly because of the sheer number of lifetimes they can enjoy squeezed at high-speed into every moment they remain incarcerated. When the Life House experiment does reach its target, and music is secretly piped into every individual’s experience suit, a universal uprising with immense spiritual and congregational impact takes place. In the Life House itself, down at the Young Vic, the participants all disappear to a higher level.

Earlier, I used the adjective ‘audacious’ to describe my plans. In fact, the fiction and the experiment were both flawed, and neither were properly realised. But some wonderful music came from the project, and the idea has always held me in thrall, partly because so many of the strands of the fiction seem to be coming true.

10CD SDE: Atmos/5.1 Mix/Stereo, Life House Graphic Novel (170 Pages) I * Previously released with new remix ** Previously unreleased tracks

CD ONE: WHO’S NEXT (Remastered)

1. Baba O’Riley
2. Bargain
3. Love Ain’t for Keeping
4. My Wife
5. The Song Is Over
6. Getting In Tune
7. Going Mobile
8. Behind Blue Eyes
9. Won’t Get Fooled Again

CD TWO: PETE TOWNSHEND'S LIFE HOUSE DEMOS 1970 - 1971 – PART 1

1. Teenage Wasteland (Demo)*
2. Too Much (Demo) *
3. Going Mobile (Demo)*
4. There's A Fortune in Those Hills (Demo)*
5. Love Ain't For Keeping (Demo)*
6. Bargain (Demo)*
7. Greyhound Girl (Demo)*
8. Mary (Alternate Mix) (Demo)**
9. Behind Blue Eyes (Demo)*
10. Time Is Passing (Demo)*
11. Finally, Over (Demo)**
12. Baba O'Riley (Original Demo)**

CD THREE: PETE TOWNSHEND'S LIFE HOUSE DEMOS 1970 – 1971 – PART 2

1. Pure And Easy (Home Studio Mix) (Demo)*
2. Getting In Tune (Alternate Mix) (Demo)**
3. Nothing Is Everything (Let's See Action) (Demo)*
4. Won't Get Fooled Again (Demo)*
5. Baba O'Riley (Demo)*
6. Song Is Over (2021 Remix) (Demo)**
7. Pure And Easy (Olympic Studios Mix) (Demo)**
8. Mary (Original Mix) (Demo)*
9. Baba O'Riley (First Editing Demo)**
10. Song Is Over (Original Demo)*

CD FOUR: RECORD PLANT, NYC SESSIONS MARCH 1971

1. Don’t Do It (aka Baby Don’t You Do It) [Take 2, Unedited, March 16, 1971]**
2. Won’t Get Fooled Again [Take 13, March 16, 1971]*
3. Behind Blue Eyes (Version 1) [Take 15, March 16, 1971]**
4. Love Ain't For Keeping [Take 14, March 17, 1971]*
5. The Note (aka Pure and Easy) [Take 21, March 17, 1971]*
6. I’m In Tune (aka Getting in Tune) [Take 6, March 18, 1971*
7. Behind Blue Eyes (Version 2) [Take 10, March 18, 1971}*

CD FIVE: OLYMPIC SOUND STUDIOS, LONDON SESSIONS 1970-72

1. Pure And Easy*
2. I Don’t Know Myself [B-side with Unreleased Count-in]
3. Time Is Passing [Stereo Mix]**
4. Too Much of Anything [Original 1971 Vocal]**
5. Naked Eye [1971 Remake]**
6. Bargain (Early Mix)**
7. Love Ain't For Keeping (Unedited Mix)**
8. My Wife (Unedited Mix)**
9. Getting In Tune (Take 1 with Jam)**
10. Going Mobile (Alternate Mix)**
11. Song Is Over (Backing Track) [with Nicky Hopkins]**
12. When I Was a Boy**
13. Let's See Action (Unedited Mix)**
14. Relay (Unedited Mix) [Alternate Vocal]**
15. Put The Money Down [Remix with Original Vocal]*
16. Join Together [Unedited Remix]**

CD SIX: SINGLES & SESSIONS 1970-72

1. The Seeker (Original Single Mix)
2. Here For More [Original Single Mix]
3. Heaven And Hell [New Stereo Mix]**
4. Water [Eel Pie Sound Studio – New Unedited Mix]**
5. I Don't Know Myself [Eel Pie Sound Studio – New Unedited Mix]**
6. Naked Eye [Eel Pie Sound Studio – New Unedited Mix]**
7. Postcard [Eel Pie Sound Studio – Original 1970 Mix]**
8. Now I'm A Farmer [Eel Pie Sound Studio – New Remix]**
9. The Seeker (Unedited Version)**
10. Water (IBC Version)**
11. I Don’t Know Myself (IBC Version)**
12. Let's See Action (Original Single Mix)
13. When I Was a Boy (Original Single Mix)
14. Join Together (Original Single Mix)
15. Relay (Original Single Mix)
16. Waspman (Original Single Mix)
17. Long Live Rock (Original Olympic Mix)

CD SEVEN: LIVE AT THE YOUNG VIC, LONDON – APRIL 26, 1971

1. Love Ain’t for Keeping*
2. Pure And Easy*
3. Young Man Blues*
4. Time Is Passing*
5. Behind Blue Eyes*
6. I Don’t Even Know Myself*
7. Too Much of Anything*
8. Getting In Tune*
9. Bargain*

CD EIGHT: LIVE AT THE YOUNG VIC, LONDON – APRIL 26, 1971

1. Pinball Wizard**
2. See Me, Feel Me**
3. Baby Don’t You Do It*
4. Water*
5. My Generation*
6. (I’m A) Road Runner*
7. Naked Eye*
8. Bony Moronie*
9. Won’t Get Fooled Again*

CD NINE: LIVE AT THE CIVIC AUDITORIUM, SAN FRANCISCO – DECEMBER 12, 1971

1. Introduction**
2. I Can't Explain*
3. Substitute*
4. Summertime Blues**
5. My Wife*
6. Baba O'Riley**
7. Behind Blue Eyes*
8. Bargain*
9. Won't Get Fooled Again**
10. Baby Don't You Do It*
11. Magic Bus**

CD TEN: LIVE AT THE CIVIC AUDITORIUM, SAN FRANCISCO – DECEMBER 12, 1971

1. Introduction To Tommy**
2. Overture**
3. Amazing Journey**
4. Sparks**
5. Pinball Wizard**
6. See Me Feel Me**
7. My Generation**
8. Naked Eye*
9. Going Down*

BLU-RAY AUDIO: Steven Wilson Atmos Mix (48kHz 24-bit)** Steven Wilson 5.1 Mix (48kHz 24-bit)** Steven Wilson Stereo Mix (96kHz 24-bit)* Original 1971 Stereo Mix (96kHz 24-bit)

1. Baba O’Riley
2. Bargain
3. Love Ain’t For Keeping
4. My Wife
5. The Song Is Over
6. Getting In Tune
7. Going Mobile
8. Behind Blue Eyes
9. Won’t Get Fooled Again

Bonus Tracks: Steven Wilson Atmos Mix (48kHz 24-bit) Steven Wilson 5.1 Mix (48kHz 24-bit)

1. The Seeker (Unedited Version)**
2. Here For More*
3. Now I'm A Farmer**
4. I Don't Know Myself (Eel Pie Sound Version)**
5. Water (IBC Version)**
6. Naked Eye (Olympic Sound Version)**
7. Pure And Easy**
8. Too Much of Anything**
9. Let's See Action**
10. When I Was a Boy**
11. Join Together (Unedited Version)**
12. Put The Money Down**
13. Relay (Unedited Version)**
14. Long Live Rock**

2CD

CD ONE: WHO’S NEXT (Remastered)

1. Baba O’Riley
2. Bargain
3. Love Ain’t for Keeping
4. My Wife
5. The Song Is Over
6. Getting In Tune
7. Going Mobile
8. Behind Blue Eyes
9. Won’t Get Fooled Again

CD TWO: Bonus Tracks / * Previously released with new remix ** Previously unreleased

1. Behind Blue Eyes (Record Plant, NYC Sessions – Version 1) [Take 15, March 16, 1971]**
2. Getting In Tune (Alternate Mix) (Life House Demo)**
3. Mary (Alternate Mix) (Life House Demo)**
4. Love Ain't For Keeping (Record Plant, NYC Sessions) [Take 14, March 17, 1971]*
5. Pure And Easy (Olympic Studios Mix) (Life House Demo)**
6. I Don't Know Myself [Eel Pie Sound Studio – New Unedited Mix]**
7. Too Much of Anything [Original 1971 Vocal]**
8. Time Is Passing (Live at the Young Vic, London – April 26, 1971)*
9. Bargain (Live at the Young Vic, London – April 26, 1971)*
10. My Wife (Live at the Civic Auditorium, San Francisco – December 12, 1971)*
11. Baba O’Riley (Live at the Civic Auditorium, San Francisco – December 12, 1971)**
12. Won’t Get Fooled Again (Live at the Civic Auditorium, San Francisco – December 12, 1971)**

1CD

CD ONE: WHO’S NEXT (Remastered)

1. Baba O’Riley
2. Bargain
3. Love Ain’t for Keeping
4. My Wife
5. The Song Is Over
6. Getting In Tune
7. Going Mobile
8. Behind Blue Eyes
9. Won’t Get Fooled Again

4LP: Black Vinyl

LP ONE: WHO’S NEXT (Remastered) Side A

1. Baba O’Riley
2. Bargain
3. Love Ain’t for Keeping
4. My Wife
5. The Song Is Over

LP ONE: WHO’S NEXT (Remastered) Side B

1. Getting In Tune
2. Going Mobile
3. Behind Blue Eyes
4. Won’t Get Fooled Again

LP TWO: LIVE AT THE CIVIC AUDITORIUM, SAN FRANCISCO – DECEMBER 12, 1971 - Side C * Previously released with new remix ** Previously unreleased

1. Introduction**
2. I Can't Explain*
3. Substitute*
4. Summertime Blues**
5. My Wife*
6. Baba O'Riley**

LP TWO: LIVE AT THE CIVIC AUDITORIUM, SAN FRANCISCO – DECEMBER 12, 1971 - Side D * Previously released with new remix ** Previously unreleased

1. Behind Blue Eyes*
2. Bargain*
3. Won't Get Fooled Again**

LP THREE: LIVE AT THE CIVIC AUDITORIUM, SAN FRANCISCO – DECEMBER 12, 1971 Side E * Previously released with new remix ** Previously unreleased

1. Baby Don't You Do It*
2. Magic Bus**

LP THREE: LIVE AT THE CIVIC AUDITORIUM, SAN FRANCISCO – DECEMBER 12, 1971 Side F * Previously released with new remix ** Previously unreleased

1. Introduction To Tommy**
2. Overture**
3. Amazing Journey**
4. Sparks**

LP FOUR: LIVE AT THE CIVIC AUDITORIUM, SAN FRANCISCO – DECEMBER 12, 1971 Side G * Previously released with new remix ** Previously unreleased

1. Pinball Wizard**
2. See Me Feel Me**
3. My Generation**

LP FOUR: LIVE AT THE CIVIC AUDITORIUM, SAN FRANCISCO – DECEMBER 12, 1971 Side H * Previously released with new remix ** Previously unreleased

1. Naked Eye*
2. Going Down*

1LP Half-Speed Master

Side A

1. Baba O’Riley
2. Bargain
3. Love Ain’t for Keeping
4. My Wife
5. The Song Is Over

Side B

1. Getting In Tune
2. Going Mobile
3. Behind Blue Eyes
4. Won’t Get Fooled Again

1LP: Black Vinyl

Side A

1. Baba O’Riley
2. Bargain
3. Love Ain’t for Keeping
4. My Wife
5. The Song Is Over

Side B

1. Getting In Tune
2. Going Mobile
3. Behind Blue Eyes
4. Won’t Get Fooled Again

1LP: Indies Exclusive, Coke Bottle Colour Variant

Side A

1. Baba O’Riley
2. Bargain
3. Love Ain’t for Keeping
4. My Wife
5. The Song Is Over

Side B

1. Getting In Tune
2. Going Mobile
3. Behind Blue Eyes
4. Won’t Get Fooled Again