ALBUM REVIEW: The Who - Live at Leeds

    The Who were at the top of their game by the turn of the new decade - 1969's Tommy became the group's breakthrough, while also pushing the art of rock music forward into a more ambitious and grandiose effort, cementing songwriter Pete Townshend as one of the most creative and driven pop writers of the decade. In time, Townshend will begin working on one of the most elaborate musical projects ever conceived, but for now The Who were doing what they do best: burning down the house. Armed with their rock opera and a menagerie of old hits, the group hit the road with their strongest setlist yet, and as they conquered Europe and America throughout 1969 and 1970, the group took a stop at Leeds University on Valentine's Day, just as the new decade was moving into effect. Now, if you know The Who, you know of the certifiably awesome power of the group on-stage, already seen at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 and again at Woodstock in 1969, and Live at Leeds captures that energy to a tee. Almost no other recording from the group can capture the raw power of the group quite like this bursting set, even in its original 6-song version. This performance at Leeds is Townshend, Daltrey, Entwistle, and Moon at peak performance, and the result is one of the finest live recordings ever put to tape; one that will certainly leave you shakin' all over.

    Perhaps the most shocking thing about the original record, at least for me, was how much of it was not material from The Who - half of the album's material is covers, from Eddie Cochran to Mose Allison. It may not make sense at first, especially when The Who had the backing of pop genius Pete Townshend as their songwriter, but one need only hear the group's aggressive and angst-filled rendition of Allison's "Young Man Blues" that opens the record to understand that The Who have transformed these songs into new anthems of performance. Even standards like the Cochran classic "Summertime Blues" are tinged in a new edge with its overdriven guitar smash and sturdy Entwistle bass - speaking of which, this album contains some of Thunderfingers' finest work. Some renditions on this album become the essential versions of the tune, at least in my eyes, be it the excellent work on "Young Man Blues" or the new thumping energy of "Shakin' All Over", one of my favorite Who moments captured on tape. That's not to even mention the other three Who songs on this album, including a blazing version of "Substitute" and an expansive medley with "My Generation" that incorporates parts of "Naked Eye" and Tommy within its performance. All of these demonstrate how the band has gradually become one of the sharpest live acts in the world, with Daltrey's howling vocals and Townshend's surprisingly fantastic guitar work - the live recordings of the group are a fantastic display for the natural power and skill of Pete's playing, which is sometimes sold short in the studio. All of this is without mentioning the fantastical showstopper of "Magic Bus" that ends off the record, with an excellent rhythm and energy that carries throughout. The entire set is tight if you get a hold of it, but even this condensed set is a powder keg of energy and life.

    Smack dab in the middle of The Who's "Big Five", Live at Leeds is the ideal capture of the group at their most galvanizing and lively, and right in-between two of their most ambitious projects. Today, of course, the Leeds performance is available far past the six song set on this original release - modern re-issues have plenty more to offer, including more classic Who numbers and a run-through of Tommy live, which makes for a great way to spend the evening if I do say so myself. No matter how you take this recording, Live at Leeds is a seminal moment for The Who, and a capture of one of the greatest rock groups ever in their pinnacle - certainly one of the most essential live recordings ever released, even 50 years after the fact.

RATING: ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯

Listen to Live at Leeds.