Thirty Years of Maximum R&B [Box set]

Track Listings
Disc: 1

1. Pete Dialogue - Pete Townshend

2. I'm the Face

3. Here 'Tis

4. Zoot Suit

5. Leaving Here

See all 29 tracks on this disc
Disc: 2

1. Rotosound Strings

2. I Can See for Miles

3. Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand

4. Armenia City in the Sky

5. Tattoo

See all 28 tracks on this disc
Disc: 3

1. Shakin' All Over [Live]

2. Baba O'Riley

3. Bargain [Live]

4. Pure and Easy

5. Song Is Over

See all 17 tracks on this disc
Disc: 4

1. Long Live Rock

2. Life With the Moons

3. Naked Eye [Live]

4. University Challenge

5. Slip Kid

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This exemplary four-disc box takes the high road, attempting nothing less than an honest reconstruction of the Who's stormy, adventurous, uneven pilgrimage. While offering an evenhanded cross-section of single hits and classic album tracks, 30 Years garnishes the expected high points with B-sides, alternate and live versions of familiar tracks, and the quartet's earliest singles as the High Numbers. Reinforcing the package's documentary agenda are interview and stage-patter sound bites. What emerges is a fascinating chronicle of how the Shepherd's Bush mods journeyed from the giddy, explosive concision of their January 1965 debut single, "I Can't Explain," to the discursive, knotty sweep of creative architect Pete Townshend's "rock operas," Tommy, Quadrophenia, and the uncompleted, unreleased Lifehouse. The Who's swift evolution into rock visionaries is traced chronologically, meaning the band's original immersion in "maximum R&B," which forged their earliest club dates, doesn't surface on record until midway through the sequence, on key tracks from their thundering Live at Leeds album. Fans may quibble over the relative weight given specific albums, but the shape of the Who's career and their passionate identification with their audience are rendered faithfully. So, too, is Townshend's skill at mingling issues of faith and identity with generational manifestoes and sly broadsides. And there's ample evidence of the quartet's outsize musical power; the sheer volume and violence that earned them notoriety early on is matched by a lyricism that deepens by mid career. Given the candor of the presentation, it's not surprising that 30 Years reaches its zenith midway through the set or that the last song (a reunion of the surviving trio covering Elton John) can't help seeming anticlimactic. --Sam Sutherland --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Tracks:

Pete Dialogue (Live)
I'm The Face - The Who (As The High Numbers)
Here 'Tis - The Who (As The High Numbers)
Zoot Suit - The Who (As The High Numbers)
Leaving Here - The Who (As The High Numbers)
I Can't Explain
Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere
Daddy Rolling Stone
My Generation
The Kids Are Alright
The Ox
A Legal Matter
Pete Dialogue
Substitute (Live)
I'm A Boy
Disguises
Happy Jack Jingle
Happy Jack
Boris The Spider
So Sad About Us
A Quick One, While He's Away
Pictures Of Lily
Early Morning Cold Taxi
Coke 2
(This Could Be) The Last Time
I Can't Reach You
Girl's Eyes
Bag O'Nails
Call Me Lightning

Tracks:

Rotosound Strings
I Can See For Miles
Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand
Armenia City In The Sky
Tattoo
Our Love Was
Rael 1
Rael 2
Track Records/Premier Drums
Sunrise
Russell Harty Dialogue
Jaguar
Melancholia
Fortune Teller
Magic Bus
Little Billy
Dogs
Overture
Acid Queen
Abbie Hoffman Incident (Live)
Underture (Live)
Pinball Wizard
I'm Free
See Me Feel Me (Live)
Heaven & Hell
Pete Dialogue (Live)
Young Man Blues
Summertime Blues

Tracks:

Shakin' All Over
Baba O'Riley
Bargain (Live)
Pure & Easy
Song Is Over
Studio Dialogue
Behind Blue Eyes
Won't Get Fooled Again
The Seeker (Edited Version)
Bony Moronie (Live)
Let's See Action
Join Together
Relay
The Real Me
5.15 (Single Version)
Bell Boy
Love Reign O'er Me

Tracks:

Long Live Rock
Life With The Moons
Naked Eye (Live)
University Challenge
Slip Kid
Poetry Cornered
Dreaming From The Waist (Live)
Blue Red & Grey
Life With The Moons 2
Squeeze Box
My Wife (Live)
Who Are You (Single Version)
Music Must Change
Sister Disco
Guitar & Pen
You Better You Bet
Eminence Front
Twist And Shout (Live)
I'm A Man (Live)
Pete Dialogue (Live)
Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)

Amazon.com

This exemplary four-disc box takes the high road, attempting nothing less than an honest reconstruction of the Who's stormy, adventurous, uneven pilgrimage. While offering an evenhanded cross-section of single hits and classic album tracks, 30 Years garnishes the expected high points with B-sides, alternate and live versions of familiar tracks, and the quartet's earliest singles as the High Numbers. Reinforcing the package's documentary agenda are interview and stage-patter sound bites. What emerges is a fascinating chronicle of how the Shepherd's Bush mods journeyed from the giddy, explosive concision of their January 1965 debut single, "I Can't Explain," to the discursive, knotty sweep of creative architect Pete Townshend's "rock operas," Tommy, Quadrophenia, and the uncompleted, unreleased Lifehouse. The Who's swift evolution into rock visionaries is traced chronologically, meaning the band's original immersion in "maximum R&B," which forged their earliest club dates, doesn't surface on record until midway through the sequence, on key tracks from their thundering Live at Leeds album. Fans may quibble over the relative weight given specific albums, but the shape of the Who's career and their passionate identification with their audience are rendered faithfully. So, too, is Townshend's skill at mingling issues of faith and identity with generational manifestoes and sly broadsides. And there's ample evidence of the quartet's outsize musical power; the sheer volume and violence that earned them notoriety early on is matched by a lyricism that deepens by mid career. Given the candor of the presentation, it's not surprising that 30 Years reaches its zenith midway through the set or that the last song (a reunion of the surviving trio covering Elton John) can't help seeming anticlimactic. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

THE WHO "THIRTY YEARS OF MAXIUM R&B" (SOME BITTER DISAPPOINMENTS) REALLY A WHO BIOGRAPHY...NOT JUST A GREATEST HITS COMPILATION.......2007-02-04

Some reviewers look at this Who box set as a bitter disappoinment. I agree if you think this box set is mainly a greatest hits compilation. All "Thirty Years of Maximum R&B" is, is a biography of the Whos ledgendary career. Yes, their are five edited songs and some annoying Keith Moon stints and alternate takes of songs, some previously unreleased tracks, along with some Pete Townshend interviews. Yes, I agree with the bitterly disappointed Who Fans about these annoyances on this Who box set. I look at this set as a Who biography that you should listen to all four cds straight through to appreciate this cd box set as just a time travel through The Whos early years as the High Numbers to their mega magnum opuses like "Tommy","Who's Next" and "Quadrophenia" to "Who Are You" and to their lowlights "Saturday Nights Allright For Fighting" with Sir Elton John. I realize there are some bitter disappoinments on "Thirty Years of Maximum R&B" even the sound does'nt sound remastered. I believe MCA did a fine remastering job with this box set as most of the older 1960s Who tunes were recorded in mono. The thick booklet accompanying this Who box set is very informative and engaging literature to any Who fan or rock fan in general. You could go out and spend a ton of money on The Who Japanese import box set, I believe includes 16 or 19 Who studio Albums. I was going to save my money and do that, but I decided to buy most of The Who remastered Cds with the awesome literature booklets accompanying each cd. "Thirty Years of Maximum R&B" is not worth the list price by no means. I only own it because I found it for a great price on Amazon. If you could find "Thirty Years of Maximum R&B" for a cheap price it would be a nice addition to your Who cd collection. "Thirty Years of Maximum R&B" is a nice well thought out Who Biography with some bitter disappoinments but worth owning for the right price..........

possumsmcbikeritems.......2007-01-10

There are other single 'Who' Cd's I'd buy before this one collection.
It is good but mainly because it has some rare and unobtainable music etc on it, good but not great.

A Good Compilation Album.......2006-12-29

This is one of the best greatest hits box sets to buy. Four discs with awesome bass lines, explosive guitar chords, crazy drum beats, and a great and very distictive voice to top it all off.

Disc 1 covers the early 60's. It has four songs from when they were The High Numbers (I'm The Face, Here 'Tis, Zoot Suit, and Leaving Here). Then it moves onto non-album tracks such as I Can't Explain, Anyway Anyhow Anywhere, and Daddy Rolling Stone. Then it moves to their first album, My Generation. Then it moves to the album A Quick One (Happy Jack). Then it moves to some of The Who Sell Out.

Disc 2 kind of picks up where disc 1 left off, at The Who Sell Out. It features tracks like I Can See For Miles and Armenia City In the Sky. Then it has a few non-album tracks, then goes to Tommy with Overture, Pinball Wizard and I'm Free. Then it has some more non-album tracks.

Disc 3 has their early 70's work (Who's Next and Quadrophenia). Then a few non-album tracks.

Disc 4 has hits from 1975-1991.

This box set also includes a number of Dialogues (Pete Dialogue, Studio Dialogue, etc.). And two Keith Moon skethes. It is a must have for fans and non-fans alike.

actually pretty good.......2006-12-17

this unfairly maligned boxset is a pretty good place to start if you are new to the who, it has all their major hits and many of the commonly overlooked ones, it also has many rare tracks for the diehard fan, i really enjoy the early high numbers songs, im the face is a really good song. also on this set is a studio version of heaven and hell, personally i prefer john entwistles solo version but this is intresting to have, i wish that instead of re-re-releasing young man blues, summertime blues and shakin all over from leeds they had found other live recordings, the other live songs are great,but in the years since the release of this set many have been released in other places, the only huge atrocity is the horrible version of The Real Me, it was audition for kenny jones and it makes me wonder how he passed, i reccomend this for the diehard fan or the new fan

The definitive Who collection.......2006-11-22

Possibly the most re-packaged band in the world, the Who has more greatest hits packages than they do studio albums. This is the best.

This four-CD set covers everything a Who neophyte could ever want.Every hit. Every great song. All meat. No filler. (OK, maybe you would also want the Live At Leeds - Collector's Edition to get a truer sense of the Who live but that's nitpicking.)

For the initiated, the first disc is essential. The two demos from when the brief period at the beginning when they were called the High Numbers is the sign of things to come. They reveal how great the band was right from the beginning.

Who acolytes who bleed the Union Jack will want this collection just for the soundbytes alone. Listen as Pete Townshend belts Abbie Hoffman with his guitar at Woodstock. Remember the great humor of the band, as refelcted in the sound of their banter before recording "Behind Blue Eyes".

The booklet reflects the completist nature of the set, with copious notes for every song, essays that capture the essence of the Who and a typically impenetrable writing contribution from the ubiquitous Townshend.

This disc accomplishes the impossible. It gets it all right. A must for every rock-and-roll collection.

Average customer rating:

The Ultimate and Maximum Who Collection!
Maximun R&B and Power Pop in it's finest hour.
Quite simply the greatest Rock n' Roll band ever assembled
THE Story of THE WHO

Thirty Years of Maximum R&B
The Who
Manufacturer: Mca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002OU6
Release Date: 1994-11-15

Tracks:

Pete Dialogue - Pete Townshend
I'm the Face
Here 'Tis
Zoot Suit
Leaving Here
I Can't Explain
Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere
Daddy Rollin' Stone
My Generation
Kids Are Alright
Ox
Legal Matter
Pete Dialogue [Live] - Pete Townshend
Substitute
I'm a Boy
Disguises
Happy Jack Jingle
Happy Jack
Boris the Spider
So Sad About Us
Quick One, While He's Away
Pictures of Lily
Early Morning Cold Taxi
Coke 2
Last Time
I Can't Reach You
Girl's Eyes
Bag O'Nails
Call Me Lightning

Tracks:

Rotosound Strings
I Can See for Miles
Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand
Armenia City in the Sky
Tattoo
Our Love Was
Rael 1
Rael 2
Track Records/Premier Drums
Sunrise
Russell Harty Dialogue
Jaguar
Melancholia
Fortune Teller
Magic Bus
Little Billy
Dogs
Overture
Acid Queen
Abbie Hoffman Incident [Live]
Underture [Live]
Pinball Wizard
I'm Free
See Me, Feel Me [Live]
Heaven and Hell
Pete Dialogue [Live]
Young Man Blues [Live]
Summertime Blues [Live]

Tracks:

Shakin' All Over [Live]
Baba O'Riley
Bargain [Live]
Pure and Easy
Song Is Over
Studio Dialogue
Behind Blue Eyes
Won't Get Fooled Again
Seeker [Edit]
Bony Maronie [Live]
Let's See Action (Nothing Is Everything)
Join Together
Relay
Real Me
5:15 [Single Mix]
Bell Boy
Love Reign O'Er Me

Tracks:

Long Live Rock
Life With the Moons
Naked Eye [Live]
University Challenge
Slip Kid
Poetry Cornered
Dreaming from the Waist [Live]
Blue, Red and Grey
Life With the Moons, No. 2
Squeeze Box
My Wife
Who Are You
Music Must Change
Sister Disco
Guitar and Pen
You Better You Bet
Eminence Front
Twist and Shout [Live]
I'm a Man [Live]
Pete Dialogue - Pete Townshend
Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

The Ultimate and Maximum Who Collection!.......2002-08-02

As I've been slowly but surely replacing my old and worn 60s and 70s classic vinyl record collection, I wanted to get a great CD by The Who. I am so glad I chose this box set, as it's the absolute best collection of great Who songs I could have ever hoped for! When I purchased this, the most recent release by The Who, entitled, "The Who" compilation was not yet out, but was due to be released within 2 or 3 weeks. But I couldn't wait that long. I needed to have my "Who" fix in one big hurry! I absolutely love this box set! It has all those great songs we listened to as kids growing up and contains every Who song I could have every wanted in one kit! Plus, it comes with a priceless book with the coolest pictures and a great timeline of The Who's career! I mean, how do you choose a great CD by The Who if you don't already own any? One great disk to buy would be "Who's Next" of course. And as a huge Who fan, I of course bought that one. But I needed more...more...more! About 3 weeks after purchasing this box set, John Entwhitle died. I was well into grooving to this dynamite box set when the so very sad and shocking news of his death was announced. How sad it truly is to loose a legendary bassist/musician like Mr. Entwhistle. He was sick with a heart-condition and still ingested cocaine, which ultimately killed him! Why,why, why??? What a shame it truly is. But at any rate, I will always love listening to JE and The Who, and this box set is in my humble opinion the finest compilation of classic Who music available in one complete package today! This box-set compilation is a must for the dedicated Who fan and it also contains some great skits with Keith Moon which are priceless and funny as hell! The best! Long live rock!

Maximun R&B and Power Pop in it's finest hour........1999-01-27

This is a superb set and collection of the groups history and finest moments. Simply one of the top five Rock and Roll bands of all time. Townshends power guitar chording blazed the way for power pop bands of the future, Keith Moon was perhaps the greatest live show drummers in history along with Daltreys great vocals and Entwhistle's thundering bass abilities and also his ability with the French Horn. I saw these guys in 1972 and their show was simply the best. If you are a Who fan or not, if you just love great music you got to have this one. The booklet and historical liner notes are also a huge plus. Get this one, it's a keeper.

Quite simply the greatest Rock n' Roll band ever assembled.......1998-10-19

This set is an absolute must buy for every music collection. Never before has there been a group that combined the hard edge of power Rock with the sensitivity of a poet. The more you listen to a track, the more subtleties you notice. Every song reflects the conflict between the group's lead personalities, Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend. Roger's powerful vocals backed by the amazing touch and grace that Pete's lyrics and background synthesizer create an amazing sound that has never been equaled. And there are four discs full of it!

THE Story of THE WHO.......1998-05-16

If you have ever heard a WHO song on the radio, and thought "Hey, this is pretty good stuff!", then you MUST pick up this amazing gift set. Sure, it's a little pricey, but it is WELL worth it! The set contains a 4 CD chronological retrospective that begins in 1964 with the first songs recorded as the "High Numbers" and ends with the 1993 Elton John cover of "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting" Included in the set are all the classics (I Can't Explain, My Generation, Pinball Wizard, Won't Get Fooled Again, Love Reign O'er Me, Who Are You, You Better You Bet, Eminence Front) as well as rare live tracks, B-sides, and unreleased material! There is also a 2 1/2 hour video included in the set that chronicals The WHO's live career, from their stint at London's legendary Marquee Club right up to the highly successfull 1989 reunion tour! Much of the footage has never been seen! What more can be said about this powerful band but simply.... "LONG LIVE ROCK!!!" PETE TOWNSHEND (guitars, vocals, keyboards) ROGER DALTREY (lead vocals, harmonica) JOHN ENTWISTLE (bass, vocals, brass, keyboards) KEITH MOON 1964-1978 (drums, vocals, comic relief) KENNY JONES 1979-1985 (drums)

Music Review:

Music Review

Music Review

1. Pete Dialogue - Pete Townshend
2. I'm the Face
3. Here 'Tis
4. Zoot Suit
5. Leaving Here

1. Rotosound Strings
2. I Can See for Miles
3. Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand
4. Armenia City in the Sky
5. Tattoo

1. Shakin' All Over [Live]
2. Baba O'Riley
3. Bargain [Live]
4. Pure and Easy
5. Song Is Over

1. Long Live Rock
2. Life With the Moons
3. Naked Eye [Live]
4. University Challenge
5. Slip Kid