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The Who Hits 50! (album)

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".

The Who Hits 50!
Compilation album by
the Who
Released27 October 2014
Recorded1964–2014
Genre
Length155:21
Label
The Who chronology
Quadrophenia Live in London
(2014) 		The Who Hits 50!
(2014) 		Live at the Fillmore East 1968
(2018)
Singles from The Who Hits 50!
  1. "Be Lucky"
    Released: September 2014
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

The first disc includes every song from the compilation Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy with the exception of "A Legal Matter", and the second disc includes "Be Lucky", a track released as a single in support of the compilation and recorded during 2014 sessions for a proposed new studio album. The song is the first new material released by The Who since their 2006 studio album Endless Wire.

The selections were remastered by Jon Astley, and the cover art by Richard Evans and packaging reflects the band's association with the pop art of the 1960s. On the two-disc set, the liner notes incorrectly list Pete Townshend as the writer of the track "Trick of the Light" when it was in fact written by John Entwistle.

Track listing

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Original release

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All tracks are written by Pete Townshend, except where noted

Disc one
No.TitleWriter(s)Original albumLength
1."Zoot Suit" (billed as the High Numbers)Peter Meaden1964 single1:59
2."I Can't Explain" 1964 single2:05
3."Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere"Townshend, Roger Daltrey1965 single2:43
4."My Generation" My Generation, 19653:18
5."Substitute" 1966 single3:45
6."The Kids Are Alright" extended version; found on My Generation (UK)3:06
7."I'm a Boy" (mono version) 1966 single2:38
8."Happy Jack" 1966 single (UK)
Happy Jack (US), 1966		2:14
9."Boris the Spider"John EntwistleA Quick One, 19662:30
10."Pictures of Lily" 1967 single2:44
11."The Last Time"Mick Jagger, Keith Richards1967 single2:59
12."I Can See for Miles" (single stereo LP version) The Who Sell Out, 19674:08
13."Call Me Lightning" B-side to "Dogs" single (UK)
1968 single (US)		2:19
14."Dogs" 1968 single3:01
15."Magic Bus" (mono extended version) 1968 single (UK)
Magic Bus: The Who on Tour (US), 1968; extended version from Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy, 1971		4:36
16."Pinball Wizard" Tommy, 19693:03
17."I'm Free" Tommy2:41
18."The Seeker" 1970 single; later released on Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy3:12
19."Summertime Blues"Eddie Cochran, Jerry CapehartLive at Leeds, 19703:22
20."See Me, Feel Me" (single version) Tommy3:30
21."Won't Get Fooled Again" (single version) Who's Next, 19713:40
22."Let's See Action" 1971 single3:57
23."Bargain" Who's Next5:33
24."Behind Blue Eyes" Who's Next3:42
Total length:77:20
Disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)Original albumLength
1."Baba O'Riley" Who's Next5:08
2."Join Together" 1972 single4:22
3."Relay" 1972 single3:52
4."5:15" Quadrophenia, 19734:48
5."Love, Reign o'er Me" Quadrophenia5:56
6."Postcard"EntwistleOdds & Sods, 19743:27
7."Squeeze Box" The Who by Numbers, 19752:40
8."Slip Kid" The Who by Numbers4:36
9."Who Are You" (edited album version) Who Are You, 19785:14
10."Trick of the Light"EntwistleWho Are You4:27
11."You Better You Bet" Face Dances, 19815:37
12."Don't Let Go the Coat" Face Dances3:44
13."Athena" It's Hard, 19823:46
14."Eminence Front" It's Hard5:39
15."It's Hard" It's Hard3:47
16."Real Good Looking Boy" (radio edit)Townshend, Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, George David WeissThen and Now, 20043:55
17."It's Not Enough"Townshend, Rachel FullerEndless Wire, 20064:03
18."Be Lucky" previously unreleased, 20143:19
Total length:78:25

Single disc standard edition

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No.TitleWriter(s)Original albumLength
1."Zoot Suit" (billed as the High Numbers)Meaden1964 single1:59
2."I Can't Explain" 1964 single2:05
3."Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere"Townshend, Daltrey1965 single2:43
4."My Generation" My Generation3:18
5."Substitute" 1966 single3:45
6."I'm a Boy" (mono version) 1966 single2:38
7."Happy Jack" 1966 single (UK)
Happy Jack (US)		2:14
8."Pictures of Lily" 1967 single2:44
9."I Can See for Miles" (single stereo LP version) The Who Sell Out4:08
10."Magic Bus" (mono extended version) 1968 single (UK)
Magic Bus: The Who on Tour (US); extended version from Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy		4:36
11."Pinball Wizard" Tommy3:00
12."The Seeker" 1970 single; later released as part of Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy3:12
13."Won't Get Fooled Again" (single version) Who's Next, 19713:40
14."Baba O'Riley" Who's Next5:08
15."Bargain" Who's Next5:33
16."Join Together" 1972 single4:22
17."5:15" (single version) Quadrophenia, 19734:48
18."Squeeze Box" The Who by Numbers, 19752:40
19."Who Are You" (single version) Who Are You, 19785:14
20."Real Good Looking Boy" (radio edit)Townshend, Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, George David WeissThen and Now, 20043:55
21."Be Lucky" previously unreleased, 20143:19

Personnel

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Additional musicians

Design

Charts

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Chart performance for The Who Hits 50!
Chart (2014–2016) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[2] 69
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[3] 142
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[4] 175
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[5] 44
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[6] 95
Irish Albums (IRMA)[7] 76
Scottish Albums (OCC)[8] 14
UK Albums (OCC)[9] 11
US Billboard 200[10] 93
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[11] 5
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[12] 19

Certifications

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Certifications for The Who Hits 50!
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[13] Platinum 300,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. The Who - Hits! 50 at AllMusic. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  2. ^ "Austriancharts.at – The Who – Hits 50!" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  3. ^ "Ultratop.be – The Who – Hits 50!" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  4. ^ "Ultratop.be – The Who – Hits 50!" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  5. ^ "The Who Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  6. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Who – Hits 50!" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  7. ^ "Top 100 Artist Album, Week Ending 6 November 2014". GfK Chart-Track. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  9. ^ "Who | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  10. ^ "The Who Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  11. ^ "The Who Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  12. ^ "The Who Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  13. ^ "British album certifications – Who – Who Hits 50". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
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