The Who
The Kids Are Alright (original soundtrack)

LA RECENSIONE

Soundtrack of the 1979 documentary/film of the same name (in Italy "Uragano Who"), "The Kids Are Alright", released a few months after the tragic death of drummer Keith Moon, provides an excellent overview of the group's golden years.

Initially released on double vinyl, now a single CD, it is essentially a collection of live and alternative takes that brings together various performances recorded between 1965 and 1978. Some tracks come from promotional radio and/or television performances played live and later partially retouched in the studio, but for the most part, they are entirely live pieces, including some excerpts from the historic performance at Woodstock in 1969 ("Sparks", "Pinball Wizard", "See Me Feel Me"). The only track in the standard version recorded in studio is "Tommy, Can You Hear Me?". There are many of the band's timeless classics, but also some rarities like the medley "Join Together\Roadrunner\My Generation Blues", in which Daltrey and company have fun reinterpreting their most famous piece in a completely overturned way. The album opens with a short and amusing interview for CBS television network that introduces the band and in which Pete Townshend entertains the audience with witty remarks, but don't worry, the rest is all music, excellent and very energetic, with a band that gave their best live. The best moments come with the memorable live versions of "Won't Get Fooled Again" and "Baba O'Riley", recorded at Shepperton Film Studios on May 25, 1978 in front of a small audience. Both tracks indeed have more power than the studio originals, and in "Baba O'Riley" (perhaps here in its best version ever), an improvisation by Roger Daltrey with the harmonica replaces the final violin solo. "Happy Jack" instead comes from the famous 1970 performance at Leeds University and at the time was not yet included in the historic live album. Also excellent are "A Quick One, While He's Away" and a gritty "Young Man Blues". It must be said that the audio quality of some tracks is not exactly crystal clear, "I Can't Explain" and "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" sound like classic bootlegs, but for the rest, we are on more than acceptable sound standards. It should also be added that the soundtrack and the film do not present exactly the same tracks, for example, "My Wife" is included on the disc, but not in the documentary.

In conclusion, "The Kids Are Alright" shows us the Who in their rawest form, without frills, and I would say that, aside from the unbeatable "Live At Leeds", this is perhaps the album that best represents the true rock soul of the band. So I think it can be stated that the product in question fulfills very well a dual role, that is, a very useful gateway into the Who's world and at the same time an intriguing in-depth look for those who already know the band. A great example of how to set up a compilation that is not the classic, and often useless, greatest hits. The album cover is also very beautiful. In short, folks, it is almost eighty minutes of great Who-branded rock, and forgive me if that's not a big deal.