The Who - Amazing Journey/Sparks Fillmore East

My search for great versions of "Sparks" takes me back to 1969 - the "Tommy era" - and a performance at the Fillmore East. I think Pete Townshend's guitar is begging for mercy at the end of this one, while Keith Moon absolutely wallops his drum kit.

I also like the video below from Buffalo in 1979. I've mentioned this elsewhere, but Pete does something different from 2:23 to 2:30. He seems to be playing something that sounds very similar to the opening riff of U2's "Where The Streets Have No Name." By the way, that U2 song didn't come out until 1987.

Some day I'd like to upload The Who playing this song in Boston during the 2002 tour. Daltrey shreds the tambourine and an inspired Pete shows why he is absolutely a master of his craft.

Jimmy Page Book Sells Out

A limited number of copies of a book on Jimmy Page's life in pictures has sold out. OK, so what? Well, the book - which hadn't even hit bookstores yet - was priced at around $750. Only 2,500 copies were made of the picture book, which Jimmy Page favored as opposed to an autobiography. Page has kept a very low profile over the last couple of years. Really since the Led Zeppelin reunion at the 02 Arena in late 2007, Page has been a bit reclusive.

Led Zeppelin - Boogie With Stu

For whatever reason this Led Zeppelin classic has been stuck in my head lately. Rolling Stones' piano player Ian Stewart joined in and played with the band on this one, which is off of the Physical Graffiti album (1975). It's different than what you might expect from LZ, but still works. According to the Wikipedia article, Robert Plant played guitar while Jimmy Page played mandolin. Click this to listen.

Roger Daltrey/The Chieftains - Behind Blue Eyes

As a followup to my last post, if you want a really "pretty" version of "Behind Blue Eyes" you could go with Roger Daltrey teaming up with The Chieftains and singing the song on Jay Leno's show back in 1992. As I alluded to in the last post it's not about "pretty" for me, it's about the genuine emotion. Of course, if you're looking for anger, frustration and sadness exuded to a tee you might as well go back to the original. Daltrey said that his dog died the day The Who first recorded this song for the 1971 album Who's Next. But I've been looking for live stuff and for a specific reason. More on that at another time.

The Who - Behind Blue Eyes

I've been looking for a version of "Behind Blue Eyes" that really "fits" - I'll have more on that at a later date - but I think I've found it. This 2005 performance is of Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey in New York at Gotham Hall for Samsung's Four Seasons of Hope, an annual children's charity fundraiser.

For me, the emotion expressed in Roger's singing is real and extremely heartfelt. The amazing thing about these guys is that Pete wrote the song and then Roger brings it to life. The video quality is decent, nothing great. But that's fine for me. I'm not into everything having to be remastered and touched up to be "perfect." That Gotham show should be available on DVD because Pete and Roger really put on a superb performance from the few videos I have seen.

Pete Townshend Signing Autographs in New York

I stumbled across this video of Pete Townshend signing autographs in New York City outside of the luxurious Carlyle Hotel. I give Pete credit, I don't think I would have been as patient. These were obviously guys that were going to sell the stuff Pete autographed on eBay or whatever.

Roger Daltrey's Good Work Continues

Roger Daltrey officially opened up a unit for teenagers with cancer in Birmingham, U.K. Daltrey spearheads the Teenage Cancer Trust which raises money to build these wards specifically for teenagers. For more click this.