Live At Leeds
The Who
1970
Album Summary
Live at Leeds is the first live album by English rock band The Who. It was recorded at the University of Leeds Refectory on 14 February 1970, and is their only live album that was released while the group were still actively recording and performing with their best-known line-up of Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle and Keith Moon. The Who were looking for a way to follow up their 1969 album Tommy, and had recorded several shows on tours supporting that album, but didn't like the sound. Consequently, they booked the show at Leeds University, along with one at Hull City Hall the following day, specifically to record a live album. Six songs were taken from the Leeds show, and the cover was pressed to look like a bootleg recording. The sound was significantly different from Tommy and featured hard rock arrangements that were typical of the band's live shows. The album was released in 23 May 1970 by Decca and MCA in the United States, and by Track and Polydor in the United Kingdom. It has been reissued on several occasions and in several different formats. Since its release, Live at Leeds has been cited by several music critics as the best live rock recording of all time.
WikipediaAfter the last Who album (a 5 for me), of course I would like more. But a live album isn't something I need, especially when there are studio albums with these same songs available. I've looked ahead at albums on this list, and I was annoyed to see that for three legendary black artists--James Brown, Sam Cooke, and B.B. King--we only get one album each, and it's a live album. Not sure why, hopefully they really are worthy of classic status. But I don't think this one is, especially considering there are four studio albums from the Who on the list. That being said, this is still pretty good. Of course they're talented, the songs are great, but live albums just aren't my thing. Some lame banter on here that would be fine at a concert but I'm sitting at home. Inevitably I loved some performances, especially "My Generation," but as a whole, I could do without this. Maybe I'd have liked it more if I listened to just the 37 minute version originally released on vinyl. Favorite tracks: My Generation, Amazing Journey, Happy Jack. Album art: Charming simplicity. I would never buy this, but a blank cardboard cover is intriguing. A brown bagger. 3.5/5
Live albums shouldn't be in the list. That being said, this rocks straight out of the gate. Moon is all over the place on the kit, Townshend does his thing well. Vocals all seem a bit too clean, but not sure how much studio magic there was back then. Either way, it sounds really good. Can't hear the crowd except between songs, but that's kinda what I'd expect from a real live album, and there's a good bit of banter. I know a few tracks but also a lot of it was new to me. I enjoyed this way more than expected. Didn't realise I liked the Who this much lol. Only criticism is that the version I have on Spotify is too long. 1hr 17min is too much in one go if you're not obsessed with a band. 4/5.
Like The Who and the tracks in the album, but live albums are terrible.
Absolutely brilliant. Usually not into live albums, but The Who absolutely smashed it out of the park here. Really cohesive sound. Some of my favorites from the album included Young Man Blues, Shakin' All Over, and Heaven and Hell. I really enjoyed that you can hear during the endings and beginnings of some of the tracks. Makes you feel like you're there. I wonder if they knew they were witnessing the recording of one of the greatest live albums of all time.
One of the best live albums. Would recommend the deluxe edition that had the whole show packed into it, but the original vinyl track list is still worth a shot
Capacity of University of Leeds Refectory: 2,100. Excellent intimate session with The Who in top form. 5/5 live album, 4/5 on-stage banter.
Klingt für mich alles ziemlich gleich. Aber nicht schlecht das ganze. Lieder mit 15min sind aber ne Frechheit. Egal von wem sie kommen. Besser als Bowie wars aber
No offense to the Who, but if I am running a best albums list, I would not include any live albums because that is duplicative. I listened to a few of my favs and they sound just as fine as the regular album. Why this is on this list makes no sense. Also that is a very bland album cover.
I am not a fan of Live albums so this may be rough. I love, love The Who but I just can't get down with Live albums
I love the Who. I hate live albums. The sound quality is awful even though this is one of the best albums.
Hay más discos en directo en esta lista de los que habría pensado. No soy un gran fan de los discos en directo, si has ido al concierto o uno parecido es genial. Algunas veces hacen versiones o cambios interesantes pero en general no me convencen. En este caso tampoco, prefiero sus discos normales.
Summer Time blues and Magic bus were catchy but not into the unknowns songs. They are talented and so impressed they stayed together as a band. But it’s not my first choice (or10th) of their music style.
Wasn’t feeling this. Possibly bc the last album was cheap trick live 🤷♂️
I used to like The Who, but I listen to the lyrics now and realize that the worldview idealized in their times is today's reality, and it's total degeneracy crap, so screw that.
I don't really like The Who. And this recording doesn't sound great either. Maybe they were one of the best live bands ever, but that's not captured here. Live albums were such a weird fad, and seem very 70s. What's the point? Shitter sound than the studio and really doesn't capture the vibe of a gig. The "funny" story about the girl guide and the pedo train driver has not aged well
I don’t really love live albums. This one was no exception. It was fine.
I'm finding it difficult to get through this one. I don't really like the heavy electric guitar, and I find the songs really repetitive.
So müssen sich mitt-50er beim grillen fühlen, dann sagen sie: Das ist eben noch echte Musik gewesen. Sowas gibts heutzutage einfach nichtmehr! Ja warum wohl? Weil alles gleich klingt und langweilt. Natürlich fehlt auch hier nicht eine 15minuten Bullshit Live version von irgendeinem Lied, das man auf halbem weg nicht mehr erkennt. 1* würde es nie wieder hören, ich hasse rock.
great, I’ve now listened to Who songs other than My Generation and Baba O’Riley, and can with confidence say that I still only know those two songs.
Live At Leeds is just a 'substitute' for another album. I like The Who but I don't feel this belongs on 1001 albums when they have plenty of fantastic studio albums already on the list and with duplicate tracks no less. Needless to say, very disappointed.
[Heaven and Hell] Навалили ебашивалова на ударных. Шум победы. Охуевшее и охуенное соло. [I can't explain] Летним солнечным днём купил новую машину [Fortune Teller] Вкатываешься в тему. Если бы у бизнес открытий был бы свой шум. [Tatto] Передышка. [Young man blues] Лирика сначала. Плотная забивочка. П.Л.О.Т.Н.О [Substitute] Добрая студентота. [I'm a Boy] Зеваю в ритм. [A quick one] В бар пришла компания. 4в1 трек. Фоновый шум рокеров [Amazing Journey] Засыпал, но дождался. [Summertime blues] Солнечно. Выпускной бал в школе крытых ребят и популярных девчонок. [Shakin all over] Тёплый Вечер. Пригород. Выпил. Балдеешь в людном переулке. Хороший пример. [My Generation] Какое-то клише про выход из тюрьмы. Учебное пособие переходов. Притоповаю. Фееричный финал. НЕТ, ОНИ ПРОДОЛЖАЮТ! [Magic Bus] Элексир крутости в кожанке и с бородой. Разъёб по фазе. Божественно. Включите это на моих похоронах.
Love the more raw old school across the pond acid hard rock sound. Such yummy guitar.
Having not heard much from The Who other than Baba O'Riley, this was a nice album that showcased what the band has to offer. Some really good variety of rock. Hard to believe at times that it was a live recording!
Excellent live album. The hard rock elements the Who adds live are definitely a great addition.
I didn’t think I liked The Who. I guess I like The Who sometimes. This version of My Generation was awesome.
Distilled into 6 cuts (3 of which aren’t even their own songs) ‘Live At Leeds’ is 37 minutes of awesome unrestrained destructive bluesy hard rock power with not an ounce of fat or filler. While the expanded versions of this record released over the years are still great and give context to the rest of the Leeds gig, it’s still the concise original released version that represents the Who at their absolute best live.
Absolutely brilliant. It sounded like a fairly intimate gig (I don’t know if it was) and I loved all the chat between them and the audience. I wish I was there!
Loved this album back when I was 16 or so. Think it was the first Who cd I gave any meaningful listen to. Still fantastic. I forget how fun they were in addition to being incredible musicians. Shame Daltrey became such a miserable tit. Fav. Lyric: "Substitute you for my mum. At least I'll get my washing done".
Listening to this album makes you wish you were in the room - and it gets you close enough to smell the burning dust inside the hiwatt amplifier stacks - the sweat flying off Daltreys tambourine and feeling Moons constant kick drum thumping right in your chest - it’s definitely one of the best live albums ever released
When you think of great live albums, Live At Leeds is always in the conversation. Not only did the Who release excellent studio records, they were an amazing live band. I had this on cassette back in the early 80's and it got to many listens, I wore out the tape. I thought at the time, I wish the album was longer and there must have been other songs during the set. After listening to the deluxe edition that contained the whole concert, I take back my earlier concerns. The whole show which was during the "Tommy" era, contained lots of songs from that record, which is fine, but it loses some of it's energy. I can now see why the original Live At Leeds album was edited down, it's so much more powerful and dynamic with the shorter track list and it remains (to me anyways), a landmark live album. (I would give the deluxe edition 4****)
Among the definitive live albums in rock, but this one just feels more life. Bonus points for their iconic version of Summertime Blues.
(There are ~183 different versions of this album - I'm going with the "Deluxe Edition" -> the one with 33 songs; as it's the actual complete original setlist in correct running order. The original 6 track disc doesn't do justice...) This album could provide the answer to the question "if you could go back in time to see any artist at any time, what would it be?" Many have called Live At Leeds the greatest live rock album ever recorded. As a kid I didn't entirely get it, probably/mostly because there were originally only 6 songs, half of which were covers - apparently at age 12 I just wanted the hits. I was stupid. The Who had so many hits that everyone knows, and I grew up a huge fan...yet aside from the essentially perfect Who's Next and Quadrophenia albums I have to admit they never really "nailed it" in terms of ... something. Weak production? Restraint? Something was always missing. This album NAILS it. I loved "Tommy" but Pete always said it was released without really being finished - does that mean it would have had more tracks? More layers? That might have been amazing to hear. Then again.... virtually every track from Tommy played here live by obviously just the 4 guys is *better* than the studio versions. Similarly, I could never truly get into their early period albums and hearing some of those songs in this live format (e.g. "Tattoo" "Substitute" "I'm A Boy") are so much better here they almost sound like a heavier/better band covering the originals. Not sure any band ever had the power and controlled chaos in a live setting like The Who in their prime, and this is the proof. This album makes you feel like you're sitting in the front row - I also can't think of a better live album and that combined with the great material makes this flawless. 10/10 5 stars.
I can’t believe this was recorded live. Simply incredible rock music. Recordings like this help explain the why The Who are legends.
An instant classic. So much soul in this album, the drums are just off the charts. Everyone is on point and just an incredible experience.
Killer love album. Added to collection and totally worth picking up on vinyl.
Vraiment un bon album live. Je n'aime pas toujours le live mais la version écouté était remasterisé et le son était vraiment bon. Ca fait du bien du bon vieux rock. Je n'ai jamais été vraiment gros fan de The Who, mais je crois que c'est seulement par manque d'écoute. 5
The expanded version transforms a so-so album into one of the all-time ball-tearers.
Hmm. Where to start here. I'll listen to arguments about why live albums should be included, I don't think they should be dismissed out of hand. Especially when the artists haven't released a truly great studio album but have great tracks, and are notoriously good live, which I think is fair to say of The Who. But then why are 4 studio albums in this book. I'll get to the other 3, but I didn't think much of Who's Next. I liked it but didn't love it. Secondly, this is a release that's been fucked about with, app links to an hour and 17 minutes version but the compiler is referring to an original 6 track live recording. I haven't got all day, so, after Can't Explain I'm skipping straight to Young Man Blues, then after Happy Jack I'm skipping to Summertime Blues. A compromise. Happy with my decision. Actually I deviated and skipped through Happy Jack and went to Amazing Journey from Tommy. I think I'm going to enjoy Tommy, I remember enjoying the film, and was disappointed with most of The Who's output post-1969. I just find them very hit and miss. But they can definitely hit. Was windmilling between 4 and 5 but the medley starting with My Generation just blew me away. Can't argue with the assessment that this is The Who at their best, and how they should be heard. Bin off the albums, just come here.
The live recording of the show at Leeds with the Who is as close to Rock and Roll perfection as it gets. The wall of sound generated by John "Thunderfingers" Entwistle, Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend and the complete lunatic of a drummer Keith Moon is something that cannot be denied of its excellence or ever be duplicated by anyone that comes after this. Their musical talent shines though as the band is getting ready to play, by just plucking the bass strings from G -> E, a quick roll on the snare and with a simple "uoah" they start delivering this masterpiece. This is the Who at their absolute prime and you can feel it in every cell in your body The occasional banter with the crowd after some songs only adds to the overall score Best song: Magic Bus Worst song: Happy Jack
The Who truly prove themselves to be one of the greats, while exceeding the studio quality of their songs with extravagantly raw live performances like the one on this album. I especially like Keith Moon's drumming.
Pretty cool! Could use a bit more variety in tempo, instruments, tone and subjects for my taste. Final song was everything I ever wanted but the album as a whole was still a bit samey.
A 15 min version of 'my generation' makes up about half of the album. So all in all, pretty awesome! Some nice raw sounding 70's rock. Apparently is is live recorded, which might give it an extra raw feel, but for the most part I didn't even notice it is a live album.
This was really awesome to hear, and I can’t imagine actually being there. They not only sounded great, but sounded like they were having fun with it too. The quality was excellent and given that live albums can sound really bad, that makes this even better.
Lekkere mastering, drums in het bijzonder komen lekker door - zonder te overheersen. Compositie komt vrij druk over, vooral het gebruik van bekkens en de stereo mix dragen hieraan bij. Leukste nummer voor mij is Magic Bus.
First time listening to The Who, so I'm unfamiliar with any of these songs except I Can't Explain. I don't think I was able to optimally enjoy this album, that being said this is a boatload of great classic rock. Amazing Journey/Sparks was definitely a highlight. 8/10 atm.
8/10 Absolute pure classic rock, I see why people call it the best live album of all time. Not quite my favourite though, even though classics like my generation are really good
This album is full of classic rock tracks. There are some really good songs in here and the rest is still very good classic rock 4.5 out of 5 stars but I will round down for the ratings.
I've always loved The Who, and I'm glad to see this on the list. Today it fits my mood pretty perfectly, I'm still rather pissy about life events from yesterday and it feels good to rock out while I am making chicken katsu. I love the live versions of Substitute, Happy Jack, I'm a Boy, and A Quick One, While He's Away (even if it's originally performed live).