In effect, The Who have released almost as many "best of" compilation discs as Aerosmith has. So perhaps it's only appropriate that two of my new reviews will cover those collections, one of which I bought (the Aero one), and one of I which I didn't, but found in my library.

Dubbed The Ultimate Collection, this set focuses on 35 classic and not so classic Who songs over two discs. Even more impressive is that it goes in chronological order, so you're taken from the early 60s with the disc one opening I Can't Explain to the early 80s with the disc two closing Eminence Front.

I've never liked reviewing hits compilations, mostly because it seems like you've already said what can be said in the regular album reviews. So naturally, there is only one real thing to debate: what was left off and why, and what made it instead, and why.

Upon overlooking the tracklist for the two discs, there are some things that stand out. First is the nice surprises. Join Together made the cut. Perhaps my all time favorite Who song, JT was never actually placed onto an album, as it was only released on a single. It made the cut for the original Who greatest hits album. To see it here is a nice treat, as it's an absolutely fabulous rock and roll anthem.

The second nice surprise is Let's See Action, another song that was released only as a single. I really like how much this song truly is "Maximum R&B," per the Who's nickname.

There are then the not so nice surprises, of which there is really only one. Somehow, Sister Disco made the cut over Relay and Naked Eye. To be honest, Sister Disco isn't a bad song, and maybe it does belong on here more than say Long Live Rock, but dammit, where's my Relay? Would it really have hurt them to add in Relay to the second disc? And what about Naked Eye, perhaps the band's most well known and universally loved B-side?

Outside of that though, this collection is what it purports to be. It is an ultimate collection of the Who's best known songs. Disc one has the early poppish songs like Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere (one of the band's best songs period), as well as the stuff from Tommy, the two best John Entwistle compositions (Boris the Spider and My Wife), as well as the first half of the best of the Who's Next album in Baba O'Riley and Bargain.

Disc two gives you the rest of Who's Next, the 3 most loved and well known songs from the greatest album in rock history, Quadrophenia, and the post Keith Moon material, such as You Better You Bet.

All in all, if you're a casual Who fan, this is by far the best purchase your money can buy. But if you're a diehard, there's no reason to own this, not even for the special 3rd disc included with the first pressing that has 4 more songs that are just different versions of songs already found on the first two discs. For me, I have the 4 disc boxed set, so I have no need for this. That doesn't mean it's not any good.

More Who reviews

July 26, 2002 Concert Review
http://www.epinions.com/content_2776604804

John Entwistle tribute column
http://www.epinions.com/content_2728435844

Who's Next album
http://www.epinions.com/content_63820500612

Quadrophenia album
http://www.epinions.com/content_52585795204

July 3, 2000 Concert Review
http://www.epinions.com/musc-review-41DF-99EEEAD-39621A28-prod4





Recommended: Yes