Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

The Ultimate Collection

 
Album Review: The Ultimate Collection

  • Artist: The Who
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: October 29, 2002
  • Type: Compilation (best of)
  • Genre: Rock

Review

Following in the footsteps not only of Universal's many Ultimate Collection, but also the Beatles 1 -- a groundbreaking collection in the sense that it proved that a collection that contains all the hits will actually sell on CD (thereby proving the cynical ploy of leaving hits off a compilation in order to sell catalog is flawed) -- the Who's 2002 compilation The Ultimate Collection attempts to collect all their hits, all their anthems in one place. It fits that bill very well, providing all the big items from "I Can't Explain" to "Emenince Front" as it spans two discs and 35 tracks. Sure, fans will find personal favorites missing, whether it's "A Quick One While He's Away" or "Athena," while collectors will note that it contains everything from the previous attempt at an exhaustive CD compilation, 1996's My Generation: The Very Best of the Who, but it doesn't matter, because this is the best summation of their career for a general audience yet assembled. It functions as both an introduction and as the one Who album listeners who just want the hits will need. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Tracks



CD 1

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
I Can't Explain (Lyrics) Pete Townshend The Who (2:05)
Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend The Who (2:41)
My Generation Pete Townshend The Who (3:19)
The Kids Are Alright Pete Townshend The Who (2:46)
A Legal Matter (Lyrics) Pete Townshend The Who (2:48)
Substitute Pete Townshend The Who (3:48)
I'm a Boy Pete Townshend The Who (2:37)
Boris the Spider John Entwistle The Who (2:28)
Happy Jack Pete Townshend The Who (2:11)
Pictures of Lily Pete Townshend The Who (2:45)
I Can See for Miles Pete Townshend The Who (4:07)
Call Me Lightning (Lyrics) Pete Townshend The Who (2:21)
Magic Bus Pete Townshend The Who (3:22)
Pinball Wizard (Lyrics) Pete Townshend The Who (3:01)
I'm Free (Lyrics) Pete Townshend The Who (2:40)
See Me, Feel Me (Lyrics) Pete Townshend The Who (3:26)
The Seeker Pete Townshend The Who (3:12)
Summertime Blues [Live] Eddie Cochran, Jerry Capehart The Who (3:25)
My Wife John Entwistle The Who (3:35)
Baba O'Riley (Lyrics) Pete Townshend The Who (5:00)
Bargain (Lyrics) Pete Townshend The Who (5:35)


CD 2

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Behind Blue Eyes (Lyrics) Pete Townshend The Who (3:43)
Won't Get Fooled Again (Lyrics) Pete Townshend The Who (8:32)
Let's See Action (Nothing Is Everything) Pete Townshend The Who (3:59)
Pure and Easy (Lyrics) Pete Townshend The Who (5:22)
Join Together (Lyrics) Pete Townshend The Who (4:22)
Long Live Rock (Lyrics) Pete Townshend The Who (3:54)
The Real Me Pete Townshend The Who (3:34)
5:15 (Lyrics) Pete Townshend The Who (4:50)
Love Reign O'Er Me (Lyrics) Pete Townshend The Who (5:51)
Squeeze Box (Lyrics) Pete Townshend The Who (2:42)
Who Are You (Lyrics) Pete Townshend The Who (6:21)
Sister Disco (Lyrics) Pete Townshend The Who (4:21)
You Better You Bet (Lyrics) Pete Townshend The Who (5:37)
Eminence Front (Lyrics) Pete Townshend The Who (5:37)

Credits

Tom Wright (Photography), Roger Daltrey (Harmonica), John Entwistle (Vocals), Bill Levenson (Compilation), Pete Townshend (Vocals), Bill Curbishley (Executive Producer), Robert Rosenberg (Executive Producer), Pete Townshend (Guitar), Neal Preston (Photography), John Entwistle (Bass), Keith Moon (Drums), Barry Wentzell (Photography), Roger Daltrey (Vocals), Ute Friesleben (Production Coordination), Shel Talmy (Producer), Keith Moon (Vocals), Jon Astley (Remastering), Glyn Johns (Associate Producer), Graham Hughes (Photography), Andy McKaie (Compilation Supervisor), Jim Cummins (Photography), Kit Lambert (Producer), Andy McKaie (Compilation), Pete Townshend (Keyboards), Kenney Jones (Drums), Michael Putland (Photography)
Search unanswered questions...
Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics
Wikipedia: The Ultimate Collection (The Who album)
Top
The Ultimate Collection
Greatest hits by The Who
Released 11 June 2002
Recorded 1964–1982
Genre Rock
Length 155:53
Language English
Label Polydor
Producer Bill Levenson, Andy McKaie
Professional reviews
The Who compilations chronology
My Generation: The Very Best of The Who
(1996)
The Ultimate Collection
(2002)
20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of The Who
(2002)

The Ultimate Collection is a 2002 two-disc greatest hits set by The Who with both singles and top hits from albums, all of which have been remastered. The compilation was released by Polydor Records internationally and on MCA Records in the United States. The album debuted on the Billboard 200 album chart on 29 June 2002, at number 31[citation needed] and hit number 17 on the British charts.[1] It was certified gold by the RIAA on 15 July 2002[2] and platinum on 13 March 2008.[2]

Contents

Track listing

The original version of The Ultimate Collection contained a bonus third disc featuring rare tracks. However, only 150,000 copies of the three-disc set were released.

All songs written by Pete Townshend except where noted.

British edition

Disc one

  1. "I Can't Explain" – 2:05
  2. "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" (Townshend, Roger Daltrey) – 2:41
  3. "My Generation" – 3:19
  4. "The Kids Are Alright" – 2:46
  5. "A Legal Matter" – 2:48
  6. "Substitute" – 3:48
  7. "I'm a Boy" – 2:38
  8. "Boris the Spider" (John Entwistle) – 2:28
  9. "Happy Jack" – 2:11
  10. "Pictures of Lily" – 2:45
  11. "I Can See for Miles" – 4:07
  12. "Call Me Lightning" – 2:21
  13. "Magic Bus" – 3:22
  14. "Pinball Wizard" – 3:01
  15. "I'm Free" – 2:40
  16. "See Me, Feel Me" – 3:26
  17. "The Seeker" – 3:12
  18. "Summertime Blues" (Eddie Cochran, Jerry Capehart) – 3:25
  19. "My Wife" (Entwistle) – 3:35
  20. "Baba O'Riley" – 5:01
  21. "Bargain" – 5:35
  22. "Behind Blue Eyes" – 3:42
  23. "Won't Get Fooled Again" – 8:33

Disc two

  1. "Let's See Action" – 3:59
  2. "Pure And Easy" – 5:22
  3. "Join Together" – 4:22
  4. "Long Live Rock" – 3:54
  5. "The Real Me" – 3:34
  6. "5:15" – 4:50
  7. "Love, Reign o'er Me"  – 5:51
  8. "Squeeze Box" – 2:42
  9. "Who Are You" – 6:21
  10. "Had Enough" (Entwistle) - 4:30
  11. "Sister Disco" – 4:21
  12. "You Better You Bet" – 5:37
  13. "Don't Let Go The Coat" - 3:40
  14. "The Quiet One" (Entwistle) - 3:05
  15. "Another Tricky Day" - 4:51
  16. "Athena" - 3:48
  17. "Eminence Front" – 5:37

Bonus disc

  1. "Substitute" (rare US single version)
  2. "I'm a Boy" (early version)
  3. "Happy Jack" (unreleased acoustic version)
  4. "Magic Bus" (UK single version)
  5. "Baba O'Riley" video (live at Charlton 1974)
  6. "Substitute" video (live at Charlton 1974)

American version

Disc one

  1. "I Can't Explain" – 2:05
  2. "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" (Townshend, Daltrey) – 2:41
  3. "My Generation" – 3:19
  4. "The Kids Are Alright" – 2:46
  5. "A Legal Matter" – 2:48
  6. "Substitute" – 3:48
  7. "I'm a Boy" – 2:38
  8. "Boris the Spider" (Entwistle) – 2:28
  9. "Happy Jack" – 2:11
  10. "Pictures of Lily" – 2:45
  11. "I Can See for Miles" – 4:07
  12. "Call Me Lightning" – 2:21
  13. "Magic Bus" – 3:22
  14. "Pinball Wizard" – 3:01
  15. "I'm Free" – 2:40
  16. "See Me, Feel Me" – 3:26
  17. "The Seeker" – 3:12
  18. "Summertime Blues" (Cochran, Capehart) – 3:25
  19. "My Wife" (Entwistle) – 3:35
  20. "Baba O'Riley" – 5:01
  21. "Bargain" – 5:35

Disc two

  1. "Behind Blue Eyes" – 3:42
  2. "Won't Get Fooled Again" – 8:33
  3. "Let's See Action" – 3:59
  4. "Pure and Easy" – 5:22
  5. "Join Together" – 4:22
  6. "Long Live Rock" – 3:54
  7. "The Real Me" – 3:34
  8. "5:15" – 4:50
  9. "Love, Reign o'er Me"  – 5:51
  10. "Squeeze Box" – 2:42
  11. "Who Are You" – 6:21
  12. "Sister Disco" – 4:21
  13. "You Better You Bet" – 5:37
  14. "Eminence Front" – 5:37

Bonus disc

  1. "Substitute" (rare US single version)
  2. "I'm a Boy" (early version)
  3. "Happy Jack" (unreleased acoustic version)
  4. "Magic Bus" (UK single version)

Sales chart performance

Album
Year Chart Position
2002 UK Chart Albums 17[1]

Sales certifications

Organization Level Date
RIAA – U.S. Gold 15 July 2002[2]
RIAA – U.S. Platinum 13 March 2008[2]

References


 
 

 

Copyrights:

Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "The Ultimate Collection (The Who album)" Read more

 

Mentioned in