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I'm trying to find a really good version of the Who song "A Quick One While He's Away" (for loading onto my iPod, and also for use on a mix CD I'm working on). Here's what I currently have available to me in my collection:

1. Thirty Years of Maximum R&B box (which contains some unique mix of studio/live for this track, correct?)
2. A Quick One CD (remastered CD, the first one, which has the track in mono IIRC)
3. Rushmore soundtrack (which has a live version of the song, but supposedly a different one from the one in the film, which I believe is the Rock & Roll Circus version)

The general consensus seems to be that the Circus version is the one to have. I also believe I've read that that version is available on the Kids Are Alright album (which I don't have in any form), in addition to the Circus CD (which I also lack). So I guess this boils down to: What is the best source for this version of the song?

Sorry for yet *another* Who thread, but I'm genuinely curious about this.

Random versions:

A Quick One (Happy Jack) CD - stereo studio
A Quick One (original Polydor) CD - studio mono
A Quick One (Germany Polydor) LP - studio stereo
The House That Track Built LP - studio stereo
A Quick One (1995 reissue) CD - studio mono
A Quick One (reissue reissue) CD - studio stereo
30 Years OMR&B - studio mono + parts of alt R&R Circus take
TKAA - R&R Circus take
R&R Circus CD - R&R Circus take (obviously), different mix
Live At Leeds (1995 and 2001) - live take

Don't know what Rushmore used, although for some reason I'm thinking the LAL version.

I haven't really heard a good version of the R&R Circus version on disc. IIRC the TKAA (movie) mix is better/wider.

My personal favorite is the TKAA/Circus version. (I *think* the Circus CD and TKAA CDs use different takes, but Luke/David would know for sure -- they are very similar if so.)

Yes, the box set version is a weird hybrid of the studio and Circus versions that I've never understood. Avoid.

The version on the expanded LAL is good, but I like the TKAA/Circus version better. YMMV.

There's also a live version available on the Rhino Monterey box set, but it's not great IMO.

I've never been a fan of the studio version, it's way too wimpy. But then I heard the TKAA version first, so the studio take was bound to suffer in comparison.

I don't know what's on Rushmore.

As far as the best source, I think the pre-remaster TKAA CD is the way to go. I haven't heard the remaster myself, but word is that it's bad. I haven't compared the Circus version and the TKAA version closely, but again Luke/David probably have.

Ryan

Rspaight wrote:My personal favorite is the TKAA/Circus version. (I *think* the Circus CD and TKAA CDs use different takes, but Luke/David would know for sure -- they are very similar if so.)

Nope, same take. TKAA and R&R Circus use different camera angles, but same take.

Yes, the box set version is a weird hybrid of the studio and Circus versions that I've never understood. Avoid.

I actually like the live parts - the sound is certainly the best any R&R Circus version has sounded.

There's also a live version available on the Rhino Monterey box set, but it's not great IMO.

A lot of missed cues and such.

I've never been a fan of the studio version, it's way too wimpy. But then I heard the TKAA version first, so the studio take was bound to suffer in comparison.

I quite like the stereo mix myself...

As far as the best source, I think the pre-remaster TKAA CD is the way to go. I haven't heard the remaster myself, but word is that it's bad. I haven't compared the Circus version and the TKAA version closely, but again Luke/David probably have.

The TKAA "remaster" is dreadful. The R&R Circus CD is pretty wonky sounding as-is, but with some EQ and widening, I'd say it's the best sounding version.

Rspaight wrote:I don't know what's on Rushmore.

According to this Rushmore FAQ site:

The movie version is from the Rolling Stones live album, "Rock and Roll Circus" a show that featured various artists. The one on the Official Soundtrack is a sub-par version from the Reading/Leeds Festival.

So does that mean it's the LAL version? (I don't own LAL either, apart from some '80s US LP issue).

lukpac wrote:I haven't really heard a good version of the R&R Circus version on disc. IIRC the TKAA (movie) mix is better/wider.

Well, I do have the TKAA DVD, so maybe I can cull from that ...

I just listened to a clip on Circuit City's website. Yes, it is the LAL version. Not sure what "Reading" is. And I never thought it was "sub-par".

J_Partyka wrote:Well, I do have the TKAA DVD, so maybe I can cull from that ...

I don't recall the specifics on that song, but keep in mind that DVD is kind of a mix and match of things. Part of Sparks is actually taken from the box set.

lukpac wrote:I just listened to a clip on Circuit City's website. Yes, it is the LAL version. Not sure what "Reading" is. And I never thought it was "sub-par".

I don't like it as much as the Circus version (which is just "on" in an indescribable way), but it's not a bad performance at all. (Unlike Monterey.)

I actually like the live parts - the sound is certainly the best any R&R Circus version has sounded.

Yeah, but the thing itself seems sort of pointless. It's not what I'd load in my iPod as the go-to version of "Quick One," at least.

Ryan

An acquaintance at work has the old (pre-remaster) TKAA CD, so I'm going to borrow that and see what it's like.

Thanks for helping me sort this out.

And I really need to get me a digital version of LAL, I can't believe I don't have one ...

The TKAA "Quick One" is my favorite single Who recording, bar none, and my "keeper" version of it was ripped from the TKAA DVD.

I can't speak about the TKAA remaster CD, but on the original LP and first MCA CD of it, "A Quick One" is in mono, or at least very narrow stereo. Ditto the version on the RnR Circus CD.

But the version on the DVD has the patented Who stereo mix (Pete hard right, Ox hard left), and it's the definitive version IMO.

The version of "A Quick One" from the recent R&R Circus DVD is probably the best sounding version of that performance. You can EQ a bit of the high out, and then it sounds splendid. Cons: you have to rip it.

Previously, IIRC, the "TKAA" CD featured a mostly-mono version, but I liked the EQ on it better than the stereo version on the R&R circus soundtrack CD, which always sounded a bit muddy. The new TKAA DVD just uses the R&R Circus Soundtrack CD after the intro, I think.

I knew there was something wrong with the TKAA DVD version...

IIRC, while at the correct pitch, the speed is off. Yes, for some reason, they did some type of speed "correction" for the DVD while keeping the pitch the same.

The version on the newest A Quick One remaster (from 2003) is the original stereo mix, correct? That's the only song on that album that I prefer in stereo. (That's 30 % of the album, though).

Yes. That one wasn't remixed.

I can't say I like the mono mixes outside of a "this is interesting" aspect.