The Who "A quick one" (1966) mono vs. stereo differences.

Wow! Thanks so much for your findings and analysis, Dee. I guess I am now on the hunt for this scarce 45 rarity, but will have to wait to spend the big bucks on a good playing copy. You are right - The Who camp should definitely look into sourcing a copy for anything "Quick One" deluxe edition related, though I'm not holding my breath.

I'd LOVE to hear this though, even as a VG+ needle drop. I am sure that if someone were to provide Luke, Rob Cooper or Prof. Stoned with a good copy they could work work their sonic magic. At the very least, I'd like Luke's expert ears to hear this mix and offer his opinions on the mix variations, as you have done so well with your descriptions. THANKS for this! Valuable information...

 

I hear you, I wouldn't hold my breath either as I enjoy breathing. They really should try to secure a near mint or mint copy, if that be the case, maybe put it out as a RSD Single or part of a EP or something!

 

It was also originally released as being called ‘The Who’ in quite a few countries, except that the song ‘A Quick One’ was left off them! The same with the Japan ‘I’m A Boy’ lp.

 

"The Who" was more or less the original "Jigsaw Puzzle" concept, before So Sad About Us and A Quick One While He's Away were recorded. Those songs weren't included, but I'm A Boy, Circles, In The City, and Disguises were.

 

Before those songs were recorded? Did not know that specific piece of information! I remember reading the record was 'short' and the idea of a 5 or 6 song 'suite' to fill it out. I knew about Jigsaw Puzzle but that last bit re So Sad and AQO is a really very interesting and fortuitous turn, imo. Probably or definitely my 2 favorite tracks as on the eventual album proper that emerged. Still, I'm A Boy and Disguises are also two favorites as well, and Circles and In The City too. Too many favorites I guess lol.

 

dee, my two “go to” albums on vinyl for these “Jigsaw Puzzle/A Quick One” era songs are the 1966 Japan ‘I’m A Boy’ and 1972 Italian AQO albums.

 

Interesting. Maybe the song Happy Jack was on it? If so they should re-release it along with Meaty Beaty Big And Bouncy. On SACD of course.

 

So, without ensuing too deeply into the variations; what are the preferred digital versions of the original mono and stereo mixes of this album?

 

The US LP deleted Heatwave from the UK LP and substituted Happy Jack. UK LP was mono only and the US was mono or stereo.

 

I have the MCA 2fer

The Who - A Quick One (Happy Jack) / The Who Sell Out

A Quick One has both Heatwave and Happy Jack. In UK running order with Happy Jack tacked on the end.

Haven't listened to it in years (from memory it sounded very thin). Sleeve says Stereo I should check it tonight.

 

I'm talking original issues.

 

Yes, and just for a bit of clarification for newer collectors.

The US version of the LP, titled Happy Jack (DL 74892) deleted Heatwave (Track 5/Side 1 of the UK version) and replaced it with Happy Jack as Track 6/ Side 1.

The 1988 MCA CD release, titled A Quick One/Happy Jack (MCAD-31331) followed the 2Fer line-up. It keeps Heatwave in its original UK position and tacks Happy Jack to the end of the disc, after AQO.

Though the Magic Bus - The Who On Tour (Decca DL 75064) compilation filled in a couple of missing pieces, early US collectors (like myself) had to seek out bootlegs like The Who - Instant Party and Who's Zoo to hear Heatwave, and other tracks not officially issued in the US at that time.

 

So, I'm putting together a Stereo vinyl compilation of A Quick One using the German Stereo LP replacing So Sad About Us with the version from Best of the who Vol II, Other songs from the period I'm adding are I'm a Boy and Happy Jack (I know fake stereo) from the German MBB&B and I'm a boy and In The City from Japan Direct hits.
Anything else I'm missing or overlooked that is vinyl sourced?

 

Disguises from The Who or Backtrack 3.

Is that Direct Hits LP true stereo?

 

It's mixed I'm a boy, In the City and I can see for miles are Stereo the rest are mono I believe.

The Who - Direct Hits

 

How about Disguises from Magic bus the Who on tour?

 

Fake stereo.

 

I gave up in trying to find Who true mono and stereo cuts a while ago. Mono Miles is on a Japanese Direct Hits, stereo Quick One is on French Happy Jack, true stereo Disguises is on the MCA pink Magic Bus CD...aww, eff it.

 

Thank you!

 

Nope, it's mono on there.

 

So where can you find all contemporary stereo-mixes? Were there stereo-mixes made for all songs, or just some; and then some songs were subsequently re-mixed in stereo and released in numerous compilations?

 

Not surprised. Like I said, it's a mess with their catalog. But, appreciated on the confirmation. Was never certain what the pink variant was to contain - My Generation has the same thing, albeit a stronger pink tone to the disc than Magic Bus' pepto-bismol pink.

 

Both pink discs replaced fake stereo with mono.

 

Okay, so that was to indicate the change. Got it.

 

Regarding the mix of Run Run Run on the Norwegian 45 of Bucket T:

@dee provided me with a dub of the 45. First off, the song itself is almost certainly a fold-down of the stereo mix. I did a sync-up of the two, and the balance seems identical and the fade is exactly the same. Which would make sense if Polydor only got the stereo mixes. I am relatively certain it isn't a unique mix.

That said, there is a backwards part present throughout most of the song. It is mostly very low in level (a bit easier to hear if you listen to a sync-up with the stereo mix), but it's easier to hear in a few spots, and is very audible at the fade. I have no idea what it is, other than it seems to be some sort of light pop in a foreign language. You can listen to the fade here, reversed so you can hear the backwards part forwards:

Dropbox - Run Run Run [59 064 B 710 P66] end reverse.flac

My guess is this is a two sided tape, the backwards song is on the other side, and it wasn't played back correctly in mastering. It's also my guess that this is probably something with a relatively close catalog or matrix number.

Does it sound familiar to anyone?