Magic Bus: The Who on Tour
| Magic Bus: The Who on Tour | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Compilation album by The Who | ||||
| Released | September 1968 | |||
| Recorded | 1966–68 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 30:48 | |||
| Label |
Decca Records (1968) MCA Records (1974) |
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| The Who chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| MusicHound | 2.5/5 |
| Rolling Stone | (unfavourable) |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
Magic Bus: The Who on Tour was the fourth American album by British rock band The Who, released by Decca in the US in September 1968 to capitalize on the success of their single of the same name. It is a compilation album of previously released material, and was not issued in the UK, although the album was also released at approximately the same time in Canada. It peaked at #39 on the Billboard 200.
The somewhat deceptive title implies that the songs were recorded live, but all recordings are studio tracks. The track list duplicates a few songs from the second and third US albums, but also contains single and EP tracks that were previously unavailable on a US album.
Members of the group (Pete Townshend in particular) have frequently expressed their dislike of this release. When the cover pictures were taken the group was not made aware by Decca that the shots would be used for a US album. Immediately following the modest success of this album, a similar but unrelated Who compilation, Direct Hits, was released in the UK by Track Records.
In 1974, the album was re-issued by MCA Records in the US and Canada as part of a budget priced double album set which also included the 1966 US debut The Who Sings My Generation. It was reissued on compact disc by MCA Records in the 1980s, but was not included among the remasterings that took place in the 1990s. Though out of print in the US, the 1980s CD release is still available in Canada.
All songs written by Pete Townshend except where noted. Tracks from singles are presented in mono on the original release. Some versions of this compilation use the short mono version of the title track. Some Canadian CD reissues use the longer 4 minute plus re-channeled stereo version. Some variations occur in different countries based on successes of songs in a particular market. Most, if not all, of the songs originally recorded in mono are re-channeled on the stereo LP, and subsequent re-issues.
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