Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy

Last updated

Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy
The who meaty beaty big and bouncy.jpg
Compilation album by
the Who
ReleasedNovember 1971 (1971-11) [1]
Recorded1964–1970
Genre Rock
Length43:20
Label Decca/MCA (US and Canada)
Track/Polydor
Producer
The Who chronology
Who's Next
(1971)		Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy
(1971)		 Quadrophenia
(1973)

Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy is a compilation album of singles by English rock band the Who, released in 1971 as Track 2406 006 in the UK and as Decca DL 79184 in the US. It entered the US Billboard 200 chart on 20 November 1971, peaking at number 11, [2] and the UK chart on 3 December 1971, peaking at number 9.

Contents

Background

Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy was compiled by Pete Townshend. The band's manager Kit Lambert attempted to have the track order changed but failed because too many copies had already been pressed. The UK release was held up because the Who and their other manager Bill Curbishley had failed to clear it with Lambert.

Several songs on the album had previously been released on studio albums. The Who's debut My Generation included the tracks "A Legal Matter" and "The Kids Are Alright"; A Quick One included "Boris the Spider", the one song written by John Entwistle, and in its American configuration "Happy Jack." "I Can See for Miles" appeared on The Who Sell Out , and "Pinball Wizard" on Tommy . "Pictures of Lily" and "Magic Bus" previously appeared on the US compilation album Magic Bus: The Who on Tour .

Aside from two songs, "Boris the Spider" and "I'm a Boy", every track on the album had been released as a single in the UK; further, all except "A Legal Matter", "Magic Bus", and "The Seeker" were top ten hits. "Happy Jack", "I Can See for Miles", "Magic Bus", and "Pinball Wizard" had also been Top 40 hits in the US. "I'm a Boy" is represented by an alternate longer and slower version that was recorded three months after the original single release. Most of the tracks on this album would appear in subsequent compilations.

Packaging

The album is named after the members of the band: "Meaty" is Daltrey, who was quite fit at the time; "Beaty" is Moon, for his drumming; "Big" is Entwistle, who was a large person, often referred to as "The Ox" (lending his nickname to the instrumental of the same name); and "Bouncy" was Townshend, who jumped about quite acrobatically during performances. The album's original title was The Who Looks Back.

On the front cover the Who are looking at four children, one of whom is Curbishley's younger brother Paul. The panoramic photograph featured on the inside cover of the gatefold vinyl packaging is an exterior shot of the side of the Railway Hotel, a pub that was sited on the bridge next to Harrow & Wealdstone station in north-west London. The Railway Hotel was a popular hangout for Mods and the Who became a regular attraction there from June 1964, shortly after Keith Moon joined the band, performing every Tuesday night. It was here that Kit Lambert, their manager, first saw the band, [3] and here that Pete Townshend accidentally cracked his guitar's neck on the low ceiling above the stage. In response to laughter from the crowd, he then smashed his guitar for the first time in public, a gimmick he maintained for many years when playing live. [4] The band were filmed at the venue on 11 August – a copy of the recording turning up in 2002. [3] The hotel was destroyed by fire in March 2000, after becoming empty and vandalised. [5] The site is now occupied by blocks of flats where the buildings, such as Moon House and Daltrey House, are named after the band members. [6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [7]
Christgau's Record Guide A− [8]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [9]
MusicHound Rock 5/5 [10]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [11]
Tom Hull – on the Web A+ [12]

Robert Christgau remarked that "In England, this is a greatest hits album [but] in the U.S., where some of these songs have never been released and most have never made the charts, it's a mishmash revelation". [8] Dave Marsh, however, greeted the collection as a disappointment for true fans because Townshend had publicly promised a rich, surprising, and comprehensive collection. Noting that less than half the tracks were new to the U.S. in any way, Marsh wrote somewhat bitterly on the predictable "greatest hits" nature of the tracklist: "Meaty Beaty isn't half what it pretends to be, nor is it anywhere near what it COULD have been. It's not the album we dreamed about, Peter, but since there's so much other stuff lying around unissued, do you think you could try it again?" At the time there were many rarities in the Who catalog – B-sides, demos, and other tracks that were UK-only, live, or previously unreleased – and Marsh complained, "Why reissue things for the second (third) time on an album when you have such an incredible backlog of material?" [13] In 1987, Rolling Stone ranked it number 99 on their list of the 100 best albums of the period 1967–1987.[ citation needed ]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Pete Townshend except where noted

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."I Can't Explain" (non-LP single)2:05
2."The Kids Are Alright" (US edit)2:45
3."Happy Jack"2:12
4."I Can See for Miles"4:06
5."Pictures of Lily"2:43
6."My Generation"3:18
7."The Seeker" (non-LP single)3:11
Total length:20:20
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" (non-LP single) Roger Daltrey, Townshend2:42
2."Pinball Wizard" 2:59
3."A Legal Matter" 2:48
4."Boris the Spider" John Entwistle 2:28
5."Magic Bus" (extended version) 4:33
6."Substitute" (UK version) 3:49
7."I'm a Boy" (extended version) 3:41
Total length:23:00

Personnel

The Who

Additional personnel

Charts

Chart performance for Meaty Beaty Big and Bounce
Chart (1971)Peak
position
UK Albums Chart [14] 9
US Billboard Pop Albums [15] 11

Certifications

Certifications for Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [16] Platinum1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Who</span> English rock band

The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup (1964–1978) consisted of lead vocalist Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century. Their contributions to rock music include the development of the Marshall stack, large public address systems, the use of synthesizers, Entwistle's and Moon's influential playing styles, Townshend's feedback and power chord guitar technique, and the development of the rock opera. They are cited as an influence by many hard rock, punk, power pop and mod bands. The Who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

<i>Quadrophenia</i> 1973 studio album by the Who

Quadrophenia is the sixth studio album by the English rock band the Who, released as a double album on 26 October 1973 by Track Records. It is the group's third rock opera, the previous two being the "mini-opera" song "A Quick One, While He's Away" (1966) and the album Tommy (1969). Set in London and Brighton in 1965, the story follows a young mod named Jimmy and his search for self-worth and importance. Quadrophenia is the only Who album entirely written & composed by Pete Townshend.

<i>A Quick One</i> 1966 studio album by the Who

A Quick One is the second studio album by the English rock band the Who, released on 9 December 1966. In the United States, where the song "Happy Jack" was a top 40 hit, the album was released in April 1967 under the title Happy Jack with a slightly altered track listing.

<i>The Who Sell Out</i> 1967 album by the Who

The Who Sell Out is the third studio album by the English rock band the Who. It was released on 15 December 1967 by Track Records in the UK and Decca Records in the US. A concept album, The Who Sell Out is structured as a collection of unrelated songs interspersed with fake commercials and public service announcements, including the second track "Heinz Baked Beans". The album purports to be a broadcast by pirate radio station Radio London. The reference to "selling out" was an intended irony, as the Who had been making real commercials during that period of their career, some of which are included as bonus tracks on the remastered CD.

<i>Live at Leeds</i> 1970 live album by the Who

Live at Leeds is the first live album by English rock band the Who, recorded at the University of Leeds Refectory on 14 February 1970 and released on 11 May 1970, by Decca and MCA in the United States and by Track and Polydor in the United Kingdom. It is the band's only live album that was recorded with the classic line-up of lead vocalist Roger Daltrey, guitarist Pete Townshend, bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon.

<i>The Who by Numbers</i> 1975 studio album by the Who

The Who by Numbers is the seventh studio album by English rock band the Who, released on 3 October 1975 in the United Kingdom through Polydor Records, and on 6 October 1975 in the United States by MCA Records. It was named the tenth-best album of the year in The Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics poll.

<i>Odds & Sods</i> 1974 compilation album by The Who

Odds & Sods is an album of studio outtakes by British rock band the Who. It was released by Track Records in the UK on September 28, 1974, and by Track/MCA in the US on October 12, 1974. Ten of the recordings on the original eleven-song album were previously unreleased. The album reached No. 10 on the UK charts and No. 15 in the US.

<i>My Generation: The Very Best of The Who</i> 1996 greatest hits album by The Who

My Generation: The Very Best of The Who is one of The Who's many greatest hits collections, released by Polydor Records internationally and MCA Records in the United States in 1996. Its release coincided with the release of the remastered original albums and thus contained the newly remastered versions of the songs, and some also remixed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magic Bus (song)</span> 1968 single by the Who

"Magic Bus" is a song recorded by British rock band the Who. It was written by their guitarist Pete Townshend during the time that their debut album My Generation was being recorded in 1965. However, it was not recorded until 1968, when it was released as a single on 27 July 1968 in the United States and Canada, followed by its release in the United Kingdom on 11 October 1968. It has become one of the band's most popular songs and has been a concert staple, although when released, the record only reached number 26 in the UK and number 25 in the United States. The song was included on their 1968 album Magic Bus: The Who on Tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere</span> 1965 single by the Who

"Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" was the second single released by the English rock band the Who in 1965. It features call-and-response lyrics and some of the first ever recorded guitar feedback. The song was composed by lead singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist Pete Townshend, the only time they wrote together. The guitar feedback, although not the first to be heard on a record, is thought to be the first solo with feedback. This is the first Who release with Nicky Hopkins playing piano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pictures of Lily</span> 1967 single by the Who

"Pictures of Lily" is a single by the British rock band the Who, written by guitarist and primary songwriter Pete Townshend. In 1971, "Pictures of Lily" was included in the Who album Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy, a compilation of previously released singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm a Boy</span> 1966 single by the Who

"I'm a Boy" is a 1966 rock song written by Pete Townshend for the Who. The song was originally intended to be a part of a rock opera called Quads, which was to be set in a future in which parents can choose the sex of their children. The idea was later scrapped, but this song survived and was later released as a single.

<i>The Kids Are Alright</i> (soundtrack) 1979 album

The Kids Are Alright is a soundtrack album by the British rock band the Who, a companion to the band's documentary film of the same name. As a compilation album, it serves as a retrospective look at the band's biggest hits throughout their career to the point it was released. Most of the tracks are live recordings, rather than the original studio versions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Seeker (The Who song)</span> 1970 single by the Who

"The Seeker" is a song written by Pete Townshend and performed by English rock band the Who. First released as a non-album single in March 1970, it is included on their 1971 compilation album Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy and other compilations.

<i>Whos Better, Whos Best</i> 1988 compilation album by the Who

Who's Better, Who's Best: This Is the Very Best of the Who is a 1988 compilation album by the Who. A compilation of videos also titled Who's Better, Who's Best was released in 1988 as well.

<i>The Who Collection</i> 1985 greatest hits album series by The Who

The Who Collection is a compilation album by The Who, released in 1985. It is notable for containing a unique remix of "Won't Get Fooled Again" and for being one of the few compact disc appearances of the extended version of "Magic Bus".

<i>The Story of The Who</i> 1976 compilation album by the Who

The Story of The Who is a 2-LP compilation album from the Who. The album was released in the UK in September 1976. The album reached number two in the UK charts. Another version of this collection with a different track listing was also released in Japan. This collection has not been released on CD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Join Together (The Who song)</span> 1972 single by the Who

"Join Together" is a song by British rock band the Who, first released as a non-album single in June 1972. The song has since been performed live multiple times and has appeared on numerous compilation albums. It was the last Who single to be released in the United States which used the Decca Records color bar label.

<i>The Who Hits 50!</i> (album) 2014 compilation album by the Who

The Who Hits 50! is a compilation of singles by the English rock band the Who, released in 2014 by Polydor Records. The two-disc set contains every single released by the band in the United Kingdom, with the exceptions of: "A Legal Matter" and "La-La-La-Lies" from 1966; and "Long Live Rock" and the remake of "I'm One" from 1979. At the same time it also contains every single by the band released in the United States throughout their career, with the exceptions of: "The Real Me" from 1974; the reissue of "Substitute" from 1976; and "Long Live Rock" from 1979. A condensed single-disc standard edition appeared as well, both versions in conjunction with the band's 50th anniversary and associated tour of the same name. The album is notable for containing singles generally not included on other compilation albums, such as the band's Rolling Stones cover "The Last Time" done as an act of solidarity while Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were facing jail time, along with other lesser-known singles "Dogs" and "Call Me Lightning".

"Disguises" is a song by the English rock band the Who, written by guitarist Pete Townshend, and first released on the group's 1966 extended play Ready Steady Who. It, along with "I'm a Boy" are of the earliest compositions in which Townshend questions gender identity and identity crisis', a prevalent aspect found later in his songwriting. "Disguises" and "I'm a Boy" also marks the first time Kit Lambert received credit as a record producer for the Who, something that had previously been credited to Shel Talmy and Townshend.

References

  1. ↑ "The Great Rock Discography". p. 869.
  2. ↑ https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p5822
  3. 1 2 Andy Neill, Matt Kent (26 August 2011). Anyway Anyhow Anywhere: The Complete Chronicle of the Who 1958–1978. Random House. p. 56. ISBN   9780753547977 . Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  4. ↑ "'Who I Am': Rock icon Pete Townshend tells his story" . MSNBC. Retrieved 23 November 2012
  5. ↑ Christian Duffin: "Fire destroys the home of rock legends" Archived 14 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ Historic England. "THE RAILWAY HOTEL (1440043)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  7. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy at AllMusic. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  8. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: W". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved 9 March 2019– via robertchristgau.com.
  9. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0195313734.
  10. ↑ Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel, eds. (1999). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide . Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink Press. pp.  1225, 1227. ISBN   1-57859-061-2.
  11. ↑ "The Who: Album Guide". rollingstone.com . Archived from the original on 6 February 2011. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  12. ↑ Hull, Tom (n.d.). "Grade List: The Who". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  13. ↑ Marsh, Dave (February 1972). "The Who: Meaty Beaty Big And Bouncy" . Creem . Retrieved 16 July 2018– via Rock's Backpages.
  14. ↑ "Official Charts Company – The Who". Official Charts Company . 23 July 2012.
  15. ↑ "The Who Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard . Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  16. ↑ "American album certifications – The Who – Meaty, Beaty, Big & Bouncy". Recording Industry Association of America.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.