Odds && Sods

Odds & Sods, a compilation of outtakes and rarities from the Who's first decade, is a rather jumpy listen that harbors few songs that could be termed top of the line. Also, since its 1974 release, several of the tracks have been issued on other compilations…

Gary Chandler (guitar and vocals) and Stephen Christey (drums and percussion) founded English neo-progressive rockers Jadis in the late 80's and quickly scored some prestigious opening slots, including a coveted stint supporting progressive rock giants Marillion on their 1988 tour. The following year found them headlining London's legendary Marquee Club and recording their first demos with the help of Marillion guitarist Steve Rothery, but repeated line-up changes would force them to wait two more years before beginning work on their debut album, More than Meets the Eye.

For roughly half a decade, from 1968 through 1975, the Band was one of the most popular and influential rock groups in the world, their music embraced by critics (and, to a somewhat lesser degree, the public) as seriously as the music of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Their albums were analyzed and reviewed as intensely as any records by their one-time employer and sometime mentor Bob Dylan. Although the Band retired from touring after The Last Waltz and disbanded several years later, their legacy thrived for decades, perpetuated by the bandmates' respective solo careers as well as the enduring strength of the Band's catalog.

The Who's catalog was revamped in the mid-'90s, with every title (except My Generation, due to legal entanglements with producer Shel Talmy) receiving new remastering and bonus tracks. Nearly eight years later, Who's Next, one of the group's most beloved albums, was given another remastered/expanded treatment as part of Universal Chronicles' Deluxe Edition series. Now it spans two discs, including a full disc devoted to their legendary show at the Young Vic on April 26, 1971. Reportedly, this is also the first time the original master tapes were used for a CD master as well, and while the difference isn't as dramatically different as it was from the 1984 CD to the 1995 CD, this is a richer, resonant mix, which may be reason enough for some fans to acquire it.

The ongoing Motorpsycho archaeology project, which began with a 4CD box set based on 1994 breakthrough album Timothy’s Monster, sidesteps the band’s detour into country rock with The Tussler to pick up the trail with 1995’s Blissard. This new 4CD set contains the original album plus contemporaneous EPs, stray cuts, studio experimentation, and an entire, previously unreleased album…