Direct Hits
Direct Hits is the first UK compilation from The Who, and their fourth LP there, issued in 1968 on Track Record. It gathers singles, B-sides and album tracks cut for Reaction and Track between 1966 and 1968. The earliest material, including "My Generation", had come out on Brunswick and couldn't be used because of licensing issues, so this isn't a straight run through their early hits. "Magic Bus", which reached No. 26 in the UK singles chart that summer, is missing too.
What it does offer is a handful of rarities. Until the early 1980s it was the only album to carry "In the City" and "Dogs", along with the band's version of the Rolling Stones' "The Last Time". It shares a few songs with the US compilation Magic Bus: The Who on Tour, but is otherwise a separate release. It's a useful stop between A Quick One, The Who Sell Out and Tommy.
Direct Hits: tracklist and credits
12 tracks · 33:59Tracklist
- 1Bucket “T”Altfeld, Berry, Christian, Torrence2:09
- 2I’m a BoyPete Townshend2:37
- 3Pictures of LilyPete Townshend2:46
- 4Doctor! Doctor!John Entwistle3:01
- 5I Can See for MilesPete Townshend4:12
- 6SubstitutePete Townshend3:49
- 7Happy JackPete Townshend2:17
- 8The Last TimeMick Jagger and Keith Richards2:54
- 9In the CityJohn Entwistle and Keith Moon2:27
- 10Call Me LightningPete Townshend2:26
- 11Mary Anne With the Shaky HandPete Townshend2:13
- 12DogsPete Townshend3:08
- Produced by
- Kit Lambert, Shel Talmy, The Who
- Executive producer
- Chris Stamp
- Recorded at
- IBC Studios, Pye Studios, Olympic Sound Studios, De Lane Lea Studios
- Recorded
- 1966–1968
- Labels
- Track Record, Track/Polydor
- Length
- 33:59
Line-up
- John Entwistle · French horn, bass, bass guitar · guest
- Keith Moon · drums (drum set), percussion · guest
- Pete Townshend · bass, guitar · guest
From MusicBrainz and Wikipedia. Only what the sources record is shown.
More from The Who
Full discography →
The best of 1968
All of 1968 →
More on Track Record
The label →Releases and pressings
How we know the release date only month precision available
| Source | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MusicBrainz | 1968 | |
| Wikipedia infobox | October 1968 | |
| Wikidata | October 1968 | |
| UK / Europe release | 1968 | earliest UK or European date |
3 editions
| Date | Country | Label | Barcode | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | GB | Track Record | original | |
| 2006 | US | Classic Records | other | |
| 25 July 2007 | JP | Polydor | 4988005478238 | other |
Cover art sources
fanarttv · upscaled: major: best source 1000x1000, upscaled to 1500 (x1.50)
| Source | Size | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| fanarttv ✓ | 1000×1000 | upscaled: major: best source 1000x1000, upscaled to 1500 (x1.50) |
| coverartarchive | 600×600 | upscaled |