The Who: Live at Shea Stadium 1982
The Who
Live at Shea Stadium 1982
Back in 1982, out touring stadiums (at least in North America) in support of their just-released Itâs Hard album, The Who stormed into New York for a two-night stand, captured on this new album (and DVD released in connection with it), Live at Shea Stadium 1982. Opening with a double wallop of loudly played oldies, âSubstituteâ and a John Entwistle-heavy âI Canât Explain,â it is evident that the band is in top form, yet this recording is not so great. Singer Roger Daltrey and Keith Moon-replacement drummer Kenney Jones (this would be his last tour with The Who) are up front in the mix, but Entwistle, Pete Townshendâs guitar and the backing keys come in and out of prominence. Still, there are some neat little gems here. We get âDangerous,â Kenney Jonesâ marching snare-led âCry If You Wantâ and a great âEminence Frontâ with some brilliant guitar leading from Townshend (freed-up as he is with Daltrey strapping on an electric to provide that plucked main riff.) The rarity âTattooâ is a true duet between Townshend and Daltrey. Classics like âBaba OâRileyâ are huge and as ballsy as ever. âWho Are You,â featuring not the best moment for Daltery vocally, but Townshendâs noodling under the keys is fun. There are Quadrophenia moments, Jones especially loud and strong executing rolls on âThe Punk and the Godfather,â Townshend wailing through âLove Reign Oâer Me. â Of course as youâd expect âSee Me Feel Meâ plods through, slightly lackluster (though again, Jones is on it!) and we get âWonât Get Fooled Again,â âYoung Manâs Bluesâ and even âNaked Eyeâ (another non-hit Who classic). The bonus disc here includes three songs from the first nightâs concert (the night I attended⊠yes, I am that old) with tunes âMy Generation,â âA Man Is a Man,â and â5.15.â Even with a flawed recording it is obvious there was a time when rock was not dead.