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Wednesday, August 31, 2011

The Who's "Quadrophenia" gets Director's Cut treatment

Quite a package for one of the band's - and rock era's - classic recordings. Read on...

Considered by guitarist/singer Pete Townshend to be the Who album that he is most proud of, "Quadrophenia" is the last album in the Who back catalogue to be given the deluxe treatment and perhaps the most deserving.

After the 1971 album "Who's Next," Townshend returned to the 'rock-opera' concept, so dramatically realized through "Tommy," with another ambitious double-album masterpiece. Based around the story of Jimmy - Quadrophenia tells the tale of a young mod and his struggle to come of age in the mid-'60s. The story also takes its influence from the band's early fans from the original mod era, and its themes of teenage angst and disaffection still resonate strongly today.

The full details and track-listing for the 'Director's Cut' reissue of "Quadrophenia," due out Nov. 15 through Universal Music Enterprises in America, follows. Townshend has opened his personal archive for the very first time for this release, stating:

"The time has come for me and my team to honor "Quadrophenia" with a carefully presented package that features examples of the impact surround sound (quadrophonic) would have on the music, to remaster the vinyl mixes, and to collect and restore my demos. I am also going to try to shed some light on the way "Quadrophenia" came about, and how it was inspired by events in my life in 1970 and 1971, when I scribbled or typed the very first notes and lyrics for some of the songs that made it onto the final record."

The super-deluxe limited edition box set will feature the following exclusive content:
  • Discs one and two – the original double album – 2011 remaster
  • Discs three and four – 25 demo tracks from Pete Townshend's studio archive giving insight into his original vision. Includes songs that were not included on the original album.
  • Disc five - 'The Quadrophenia 5.1 EP' - exclusive eight track DVD re-mixed for surround sound.
  • Deluxe 100-page, hard-back book featuring a new essay by Townshend, shedding light on the period before and during the creation of the album, explaining some of the technical processes – the startling and progressive use of synthesizers as well as a revealing insight into the story of the album's central character - the mod Jimmy.
  • Also features Pete's in depth, track-by-track guide to the demos and studio diary.
  • The book also includes previously unseen personal notes, photographs, handwritten lyrics and memorabilia from the period, all recently uncovered in Pete's archive.
  • The package replicates the striking black and white imagery from the original vinyl LP photography and adds never-seen colour out-takes of the famous cover shot.
  • A replica 7" vinyl single featuring hit single "5.15" b/w "Water" in a picture sleeve.
  • Set of six facsimile memorabilia 'inserts' housed in a card envelope.
  • Limited edition, housed in a hard-back deluxe slip-case.

Other formats available…
  • Double vinyl
  • Mini-deluxe digi-pak edition
  • Digital
Tracklistings for SDE version:
Disc One:

1.
I Am The Sea

2.
The Real Me

3.
Quadrophenia

4.
Cut My Hair

5.
The Punk And The Godfather

6.
I'm One

7.
The Dirty Jobs

8.
Helpless Dancer

9.
Is It In My Head?

10.
I've Had Enough




Disc Two:

1.
5:15

2.
Sea And Sand

3.
Drowned

4.
Bell Boy

5.
Doctor Jimmy

6.
The Rock

7.
Love Reign O'er Me




Disc three – the demos

1.
The Real Me (demo)

2.
Quadrophenia – Four Overtures (demo)

3.
Cut My Hair (demo)  

4.
Fill No. 1 - Get Out and Stay Out (demo)

5.
Quadrophenic - Four Faces (demo)

6.
We Close Tonight (demo)  

7.
You Came Back (demo)

8.
Get Inside (demo)

9.
Joker James (demo)  

10.
Punk (demo)  

11.
I'm One (demo)  

12.
Dirty Jobs (demo)    

13.
Helpless Dancer (demo)  




Disc four – the demos

1.
Is It In My Head (demo)  

2.
Any More (demo)  

3.
I've Had Enough (demo)  

4.
Fill No. 2 (demo)  

5.
Wizardry (demo)  

6.
Sea & Sand (demo)  

7.
Drowned (demo)  

8.
Is It Me (demo)  

9.
Bell Boy (demo)  

10.
Dr Jimmy (demo)  

11.
Finale-The Rock (demo)  

12.
Love Reign O'er Me (demo)  




Disc five - DVD - 5.1 surround-sound mix

1.
I Am The Sea

2.
The Real Me

3.
Quadrophenia  

4.
I've Had Enough

5.
5.15

6.
Dr Jimmy

7.
The Rock

8.
Love Reign O'er Me




7" single

Side one: 5.15

Side two: Water



To accompany the box set, double vinyl, 2-disc digi-pak and digital versions will also be released.

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