The Who: Live in Texas '75

Transporting viewers back to the days of bell-bottoms and fringe, this 25-song 1975 concert by The Who filmed in Houston, TX, is something of a visual and aural mess—a two-camera bootleg show (presented in standard-aspect video that is often fuzzy and occasionally spruced up with cheesy effects that are merely annoying) backed by plain old Dolby Digital stereo that fails to deliver room-encompassing sound. And yet, many of the faithful will still appreciate this characteristically rousing performance, marked by golden-locked, mic-twirling Roger Daltrey's soaring vocals, windmilling guitarist Pete Townshend's (now) classic rock riffs, Keith Moon's exuberant drumming, and John Entwistle's supple (if also legendarily stoic) bass playing. Touring in support of their seventh album, The Who by Numbers (a scaled-down release after the rock operas Tommy and Quadrophenia, and the synth-heavy Who's Next), the band performs the then-new tunes “However Much I Booze” and “Dreaming From the Waist” (Townshend's confessionals on alcoholism and womanizing, respectively), as well as the hit “Squeeze Box” (“Slip Kid” is unfortunately absent). Other treats include “Naked Eye” (off the 1974 rarities compilation Odds & Sods), the non-album single “Join Together,” a cover of Eddie Cochran's “Summertime Blues,” and Entwistle's delightful “Boris the Spider.” Of course, the show also features a veritable hit parade of Who classics: “I Can't Explain,” “My Generation,” “Behind Blue Eyes,” “Won't Get Fooled Again,” “Magic Bus,” “Baba O'Riley,” “Drowned,” and a half-hour medley of tunes from Tommy (including “Amazing Journey,” “Sparks,” “Pinball Wizard,” “Acid Queen,” “Fiddle About,” “I'm Free,” and “We're Not Gonna Take It / See Me, Feel Me / Listening to You”). While The Who at Kilburn 1977 (VL-3/09) is a superior choice with much better audio and video, this concert still boasts some enjoyable music for those who can look beyond the technical drawbacks. DVD extras include liner notes. Recommended, overall. (R. Pitman)