Album · Compilation
The Singles
The Singles is a compilation of the Who's 45s, put out by Polydor. It came out in 1984 for the UK and Europe only, and it never appeared in the United States or Canada. Gathering the band's singles in one place, it arrived after the release of Face Dances and It's Hard, so it works as a look back at where the group had been as their studio run of the early eighties drew to a close.
It is not a complete set, as a number of the early singles are absent. One track also differs from the version most fans know: "I Can See for Miles" appears here as a BBC live recording with a loud, overdubbed bass track, rather than the classic single mix. That makes it a curious listen for anyone who has the original by heart, and a fair reason to seek this one out.
The Singles: tracklist and credits
16 tracks · 58:15Tracklist
- 1SubstitutePete Townshend3:51
- 2I’m a BoyPete Townshend2:40
- 3Happy JackPete Townshend2:14
- 4Pictures of LilyPete Townshend2:45
- 5I Can See for MilesPete Townshend4:03
- 6Magic BusPete Townshend3:17
- 7Pinball WizardPete Townshend3:02
- 8My GenerationPete Townshend3:18
- 9Summertime BluesJerry Capehart and Eddie Cochran3:23
- 10Won’t Get Fooled AgainPete Townshend3:39
- 11Let’s See ActionPete Townshend3:58
- 12Join TogetherPete Townshend4:21
- 135:15Pete Townshend4:20
- 14Squeeze BoxPete Townshend2:41
- 15Who Are YouPete Townshend5:04
- 16You Better You BetPete Townshend5:39
- Produced by
- Shel Talmy, The Who, Kit Lambert, Glyn Johns, Glyn Johns, Jon Astley, Bill Szymczyk
- Executive producer
- Chris Stamp
- Recorded at
- Olympic Sound Studios, IBC Studios, Regent Sound Studios, Pye Studios, CBS Studios, Talent Masters Studios, Gold Star Studios, Morgan Studios, University Refectory, The Kitchen, Shepperton Studios, Goring Studios, Ramport Studios, Odyssey Studio
- Recorded
- 13 October 1965 – 4 November 1980
- Mixed by
- Kit Lambert
- Mixed at
- Gold Star Studios, Bayshore Recording Studios
- Engineered by
- Damon Lyon-Shaw, Glyn Johns, Allan Blazek, Bill Szymczyk
- Artwork
- Simon Halfon
- Photography
- Dezo Hoffmann
- Label
- Polydor
- Length
- 58:15
Line-up
- John Entwistle · bass, electric bass guitar, background vocals, French horn, bass guitar, vocals
- Keith Moon · drums (drum set), background vocals, percussion
- Pete Townshend · cello, electric guitar, background vocals, guitar, lead vocals, vocals, accordion, acoustic guitar, banjo
- Roger Daltrey · lead vocals, vocals, mouth harp
- The Who · guest
- Nicky Hopkins · piano · guest
- Rod Argent · piano · guest
- Andy Fairweather‐Low · background vocals · guest
- Kenney Jones · drums (drum set) · guest
From MusicBrainz and Wikipedia. Only what the sources record is shown.
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Full discography →
My Generation
1965
Ready Steady Who
1966
A Quick One
1966
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1967
The Who Sell Out
1967
Number Two
1968
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1968
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1971
Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy
1971
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Investigacion de mercado
1975
Tommy
1975
The Who by Numbers
1975
Substitute
1976
The Story of The Who
1976
Who Are You
1978
The Kids Are Alright
1979
Face Dances
1981
Hooligans
1981
It’s Hard
1982
Who’s Greatest Hits
1983
Who’s Last
1984
Who’s Missing
1985
Two’s Missing
1987
This Is My Generation
1988
Who’s Better, Who’s Best
1988
Won’t Get Fooled Again
1988
Join Together
1990
Thirty Years of Maximum R&B
1994
My Generation – The Very Best of The Who
1996
Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970
1996
20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of The Who
1999
BBC Sessions
2000
The Who Live: The Blues to the Bush 1999
2000
Live at the Royal Albert Hall
2001
The Ultimate Collection
2002
Then and Now
2004
Live From Toronto
2006
Endless Wire
2006
Amazing Journey: The Story of the Who
2008
Greatest Hits
2009
Greatest Hits Live
2010
Live at Hull 1970
2012
Quadrophenia: Live in London
2014
The Who Hits 50!
2014
Live at Shea Stadium 1982
2015
Ready Steady Who Two
2016
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How we know the release date only month precision available
| Source | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MusicBrainz | 1 November 1984 | |
| Wikipedia infobox | November 1984 | |
| Wikidata | November 1984 | |
| UK / Europe release | 1 November 1984 | earliest UK or European date |
6 editions
| Date | Country | Label | Barcode | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 November 1984 | XE | Polydor | 042281596520 | original |
| 17 November 1984 | GB | Polydor | 042281596520 | other |
| 1 June 1987 | JP | Polydor | 4988005018670 | other |
| 22 June 2011 | JP | Polydor | 4988005659194 | other |
| 21 December 2011 | JP | Polydor | 4988005690852 | other |
| 20 June 2018 | JP | Polydor | 4988031277157 | other |
Cover art sources
coverartarchive · upscaled: minor: best source 1425x1408, upscaled to 1500 (x1.07)
| Source | Size | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| coverartarchive ✓ | 1425×1408 | upscaled: minor: best source 1425x1408, upscaled to 1500 (x1.07) |
| fanarttv | 1000×1000 | upscaled |