Last Updated on 27 January 2026 by Massimo M.
Live at Leeds, Who’s first live album, was recorded on 14th February 1970 at the University of Leeds and released in May of the same year
For many critics Live at Leeds is considered to be the best live album ever released.
If the Who were special in the studio, the Who live were the top of the live bands, capable of playing pure and powerful rock without too many frills, but also the most demanding pieces always with class, vigor and confidence. The performance that the band of Daltrey managed to put together that evening was extraordinary and, in some ways, hearing the testimonies of those who were lucky enough to witness it, unique and unrepeatable.
Luckily for us it was recorded, even very well, and put on disk.
The setlist of the concert of February 14, 1970 included a series of songs drawn from the very first LPs and 45s, some rock’n’roll covers and the almost complete staging of the last album by The Who, the rock opera Tommy, which was was published the previous year. This is the list of songs that were played that evening: Heaven & Hell, I Can’t Explain, Fortune Teller, Tattoo, Young Man Blues, Substitute, Happy Jack, I’m A Boy, A Quick One (While He’s Away), Overture, It’s A Boy, 1921, Amazing Journey, Sparks, Eyesight To The Blind, Christmas, The Acid Queen, Pinball Wizard, Do You Think It’s Alright?, Fiddle About, Tommy, Can You Hear Me?, There’s A Doctor, Go To The Mirror, Miracle Cure, Sally Simpson, I’m Free, Tommy’s Holiday Camp, We’re Not Gonna Take It, Summertime Blues, Shakin’ All Over, My Generation e Magic Bus.
However, as we have said, we were in 1970 and live albums did not yet enjoy the consideration that studio albums did. So the double live LP that should have been released as evidence of the Leeds concert was considered a gamble. There had already been a respectable precedent, Live Dead by the Grateful Dead, but evidently the logic of business prevailed, how strange huh, on the artistic value of the operation. So the label decided on the simplest solution, that is to release a single vinyl that however contained the true heart of the concert, a concentrate of the Who’s live performance.
From these considerations, therefore, a disc of only thirty-seven minutes was born which, however, soon became one of the greatest classics of live albums. Only six pieces, less than a third of the entire concert, but of devastating force and impact.
The original vinyl was packaged in a bootleg cover containing several surprises, gadgets and memorabilia, including twelve inserts and Maximum R&B posters. It goes without saying that this version, although not extremely rare, is highly coveted by collectors
Anyone who, for some strange reason, does not yet have this disc should know that there is still time to get it. It’s a record that can’t be missing from your vinyl collection.
Like many important records, Live at Leeds has also been re-released several times, including versions with bonus tracks and more.
Live at Leeds was originally released in the UK on Track Records (2406 001). Later on CD in the 1980s on the Polydor label (825 339-2). In 1995, a remastered version with additional tracks was also released by Polydor (527 169-2).
Two De luxe versions were subsequently released, one in 2001 (Polydor 112 618-2) and a Super Deluxe Edition to celebrate Decca’s 40th anniversary in 2010 (DL 79175). Finally, in 2017 a reissue on 180 gr vinyl was released with the six original tracks remastered.
Tracklist of the original version of Live at Leeds
YOUNG MAN BLUES
SUBSTITUTE
SUMMERTIME BLUES
SHAKIN’ ALL OVER
MY GENERATION
MAGIC BUS
CD version from 1995. Here the songs are reproduced, Tommy excluded, according to the concert setlist.
Heaven And Hell
I Can’t Explain
Fortune Teller
Tattoo
Young Man Blues
Substitute
Happy jack
I’m A Boy
A Quick One, While He’s Away
Amazing Journey / Sparks
Summertime Blues
Shakin’ All Over
My Generation
Magic Bus
Live at Leeds De luxe edition from 2001. This edition contains the recording of the whole concert but the pieces are not proposed in the exact order in which they were played.
DISC ONE
Heaven And Hell
I Can’t Explain
Fortune Teller
Tattoo
Young Man Blues
Substitute
Happy jack
I’m A Boy
A Quick One, While He’s Away
Summertime Blues
Shakin’ All Over
My Generation
Magic Bus
DISC TWO
Overture
It’s A Boy
1921
Amazing Journey
Sparks
Eyesight To The Blind (The Hawker)
Christmas
The Acid Queen
Pinball Wizard
Do You Think It’s Alright?
Fiddle About
Tommy, Can You Hear Me?
There’s A Doctor
Go To The Mirror!
Smash the Mirror
Miracle Cure
Sally Simpson
I’m Free
Tommy’s Holiday Camp
We’re Not Gonna Take It
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