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The Who - The Who by Numbers: Super Deluxe Ed. (5CD + Blu-ray + Book Box Set) * * *

5 Box Set
SKU: CGEF89391
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The Who The Who by Numbers: Super Deluxe Edition on 5CD + Blu-ray + Book Box Set: Features the Original Album Newly Remastered, Pete Townshend Demos, Tracking Sessions, Outtakes, Early Mixes, Live Tracks and More; Also Includes a 100-Page Book Featuring Sleeve Notes, Rare Photographs and Archival Material.

The Who By Numbers, released in early October 1975, is the seventh studio album by The Who and marked a watershed moment for the band, as its songs were, for the most part, more introspective and personal than those they had released previously. The record was a commercial success, peaking at #8 on the US Billboard chart and #7 in the UK, partly due to the success of one of the album’s lighter moments, "Squeeze Box," which became an international hit, reaching the top ten in the UK, top 20 in the US and #1 in Canada.

The Who’s show at Pontiac, Michigan, on December 6, 1975 set the record at the time for the largest-ever indoor rock concert attendance, with 76,896 people. The entire show has been exhumed from The Who’s archives and professionally cleaned up, with remastered audio. It now stands as one of the few existing visual records of this memorable Who tour, their last with the irrepressible Keith Moon.

Six months later, The Who played three British football grounds under the banner Who Put the Boot In. The first of these, at The Valley, the home of Charlton Athletic, was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s loudest rock concert. The third show at Swansea FC’s Vetch Field was recorded for a proposed live album, and over the years, songs from the Swansea concert have appeared on official Who releases. Now, the available original mix tapes have been remastered and returned to their original order. The show was Keith Moon’s last proper show before a British audience, capturing the level of performance power The Who attained over the year-long tour.

Produced by Glyn Johns, who had previously worked with the band on their 1971 album Who’s Next, The Who by Numbers, despite its light-hearted John Entwistle-drawn sleeve and massive hit single, features some of the darkest songs ever recorded by the band. This new super deluxe edition sheds light on the making of the album and the state of mind of its composer, Pete Townshend. As he puts it in the 100-page making-of-the-album book that accompanies the box set, “I could feel a new wave or reaction and rebellion coming in the music business, the big bands were becoming careless and self-indulgent. I wanted my songs to continue to have a cathartic function for our audience. When punk hit a few years later, I was not surprised.”

The Super Deluxe Edition 5CD + Blu-ray features the original album, newly remastered, alongside 11 Pete Townshend demos (10 newly mixed by Pete, including 8 unreleased that era,) plus rare studio sessions, outtakes and early mixes. It also features recordings from the Who Put the Boot In concert at Swansea’s Vetch Field in 1976. The Blu-ray features Pete’s Dolby Atmos mix, high-resolution audio versions of the album, and video footage of The Who live at Metropolitan Stadium, Pontiac, Michigan. All packaged with 100-page hardback book, featuring extensive sleeve notes, rare photos, memorabilia and archival material. CD1: The original album. CD2: Pete Townshend demos. CD3: Unreleased tracking sessions and outtakes from Ramport & Shepperton Studios. CD4: Unreleased early mixes, guide vocals, radio adverts, live tracks, and an unreleased interview. CD5: Who Put the Boot In concert. Blu-ray: Dolby Atmos, high-res 24-bit/96kHz, and Surround Sound mixes, plus video footage of The Who live.

“The Who by Numbers is a tricky album to talk about. It’s the only one where I allowed songs that were so personal to be used by The Who” - Pete Townshend

“In some ways, The Who by Numbers is my favorite [Who] album. For me, songs like "Imagine a Man," "How Many Friends" and "However Much I Booze" expose our vulnerabilities, and the album is wonderful for that” - Roger Daltrey

Features:

  • Box Set
  • CD1: The original album, newly remastered
  • CD2: Pete Townshend demos
  • CD3: Unreleased tracking sessions and outtakes from Ramport & Shepperton Studios
  • CD4: Unreleased early mixes, guide vocals, radio adverts, live tracks, and an unreleased interview
  • CD5: Who Put the Boot In concert 1976
  • Blu-ray features Pete’s Dolby Atmos mix, high-resolution audio versions of the album, and video footage of The Who live at Metropolitan Stadium, Pontiac, Michigan
  • 100-page hardback book, featuring extensive sleeve notes, rare photos, memorabilia and archival material
Read All

Track Listing

Disc One: The Original 1975 Album: Remastered

  1. Slip Kid
  2. However Much I Booze
  3. Squeeze Box
  4. Dreaming from the Waist
  5. Imagine a Man
  6. Success Story
  7. They Are All in Love
  8. Blue Red and Grey
  9. How Many Friends
  10. In a Hand or a Face

Disc Two: Pete Townshend's Demos

  1. Keep Me Turning (Version 1) (Previously Unreleased)
  2. Slip Kid (Version 1)
  3. Squeeze Box
  4. Blue Red and Grey (Previously Unreleased)
  5. Dreaming from the Waist (Previously Unreleased)
  6. How Many Friends (Previously Unreleased)
  7. Keep Me Turning (Version 2) (Previously Unreleased)
  8. Imagine a Man (Previously Unreleased)
  9. Slip Kid (Version 2) (Previously Unreleased)
  10. Round and Round (working title for "In a Hand or a Face") (Previously Unreleased)
  11. There Ain’t No Way Out (working title for "However Much I Booze")

Disc Three: Tracking Sessions: Ramport & Shepperton Studios

  1. Ramport Jam (Excerpt) (Previously Unreleased)
  2. She Loves Everyone (Tracking Session) (Previously Unreleased)
  3. Control Myself ("Dreaming from the Waist" Tracking Session) (Previously Unreleased)
  4. There Ain’t No Way Out ("However Much I Booze" Tracking Session) (Previously Unreleased)
  5. Goin’ to Frisco/Round and Round ("In a Hand or a Face" Tracking Session) (Previously Unreleased)
  6. Hi-Heel Sneakers Jam with Nicky Hopkins (Studio Outtake) (Previously Unreleased)
  7. Pete and Keith “The Artiste” (Studio Dialogue) (Previously Unreleased)
  8. Success Story (Tracking Session) (Previously Unreleased)
  9. How Many Friends (Tracking Session) (Previously Unreleased)
  10. Imagine a Man (Tracking Session) (Previously Unreleased)
  11. They Are All in Love (Tracking Session) (Previously Unreleased)
  12. She Loves Everyone (Retake With Nicky Hopkins) (Previously Unreleased)
  13. Squeeze Box (Tracking Session) (Previously Unreleased)
  14. Instrumental 1 (Tracking Session) (Previously Unreleased)
  15. I’m Dreaming ("Dreaming from the Waist" Retake) (Previously Unreleased)
  16. Every Minute ("Blue Red and Grey" Tracking Session) (Previously Unreleased)
  17. Instrumental 2 (Rough Mix) (Tracking Session) (Previously Unreleased)
  18. The Who by Numbers US Radio Spot #1 (Radio Commercial) (Previously Unreleased)

Disc Four: Early Mixes & Guide Vocals

  1. Slip Kid – Alternate Roger Vocal (Early Mix Without Overdubs) (Previously Unreleased)
  2. However Much I Booze – Alternate Pete Vocal (Early Mix) (Previously Unreleased)
  3. Squeeze Box – Alternate Roger Vocal (Previously Unreleased)
  4. Dreaming from the Waist – Pete Vocal (Early Mix) (Previously Unreleased)
  5. Imagine a Man – Pete Vocal (Early Mix) (Previously Unreleased)
  6. Success Story – John Vocal (Early Mix) (Previously Unreleased)
  7. They Are All in Love – Alternate Pete Vocal (Early Mix) (Previously Unreleased)
  8. Blue Red and Grey (Unedited Version) (Previously Unreleased)
  9. How Many Friends – Pete Vocal (Early Mix) (Previously Unreleased)
  10. In a Hand or a Face (Early Mix) (Previously Unreleased)
  11. They Are All in Love Alternate Roger Vocal (Early Mix) (Previously Unreleased)
  12. Squeeze Box (Acoustic Stripped Mix, 2026) (Previously Unreleased)
  13. Imagine a Man (Acoustic Stripped Mix, 2026) (Previously Unreleased)
  14. They Are All in Love (Acoustic Stripped Mix, 2026) (Previously Unreleased)
  15. How Many Friends (Acoustic Stripped Mix, 2026) (Previously Unreleased)
  16. The Who by Numbers US Radio Spot #2 (Radio Commercial) (Previously Unreleased)
  17. Keith Moon and John Entwistle Preview (The Who by Numbers with John Peel, BBC 1975) (Previously Unreleased)
  18. However Much I Booze (Live At The Summit, Houston, USA, November 20, 1975) (Previously Unreleased on disc)
  19. Slip Kid (Live At Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA, March 11, 1976) (Previously Unreleased)

Disc Five: Live at the Vetch Field, Swansea, Wales June 12, 1976

  1. My Wife
  2. Baba O’Riley (Previously Unreleased)
  3. Squeeze Box
  4. Behind Blue Eyes
  5. Dreaming from the Waist
  6. Amazing Journey (Previously Unreleased)
  7. Sparks (Previously Unreleased)
  8. The Acid Queen (Previously Unreleased)
  9. Fiddle About
  10. Pinball Wizard
  11. I’m Free
  12. Tommy’s Holiday Camp
  13. We’re Not Gonna Take It / See Me, Feel Me
  14. Summertime Blues (Previously Unreleased)
  15. My Generation/Join Together/My Generation Blues (Previously Unreleased)
  16. Won’t Get Fooled Again (Previously Unreleased)

Blu-ray Disc

The Who by Numbers

Pete Townshend Atmos Mix (Previously Unreleased)

Pete Townshend 5.1 Mix (Previously Unreleased)

2026 Stereo Mix (Previously Unreleased)

  1. Slip Kid (Previously Unreleased)
  2. However Much I Booze (Previously Unreleased)
  3. Squeeze Box (Previously Unreleased)
  4. Dreaming from the Waist (Previously Unreleased)
  5. Imagine a Man (Previously Unreleased)
  6. Success Story (Previously Unreleased)
  7. They Are All in Love (Previously Unreleased)
  8. Blue Red Grey (Previously Unreleased)
  9. How Many Friends (Previously Unreleased)
  10. In a Hand or a Face (Previously Unreleased)

Live at Metropolitan Stadium, Pontiac, Michigan December 6, 1975 (Video): Unreleased Concert shot on NTSC 2” videotape

  1. I Can’t Explain (Previously Unreleased)
  2. Substitute (Previously Unreleased)
  3. My Wife (Previously Unreleased)
  4. Baba O’Riley (Previously Unreleased)
  5. Squeeze Box (Previously Unreleased)
  6. Behind Blue Eyes (Previously Unreleased)
  7. Dreaming from the Waist (Previously Unreleased)
  8. Boris the Spider (Previously Unreleased)
  9. Magic Bus (Previously Unreleased)
  10. Amazing Journey / Sparks (Previously Unreleased)
  11. The Acid Queen (Previously Unreleased)
  12. Fiddle About (Previously Unreleased)
  13. Pinball Wizard (Previously Unreleased)
  14. I’m Free (Previously Unreleased)
  15. Tommy’s Holiday Camp (Previously Unreleased)
  16. We’re Not Gonna Take It / See Me, Feel Me (Previously Unreleased)
  17. Summertime Blues (Previously Unreleased)
  18. My Generation/Join Together/Road Runner/My Generation Blues
  19. Won’t Get Fooled Again (Previously Unreleased)

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