The Who @ St. Austell, England 1981-01-31

 
LIMITED TIME / LAST TIME
 

 

brand new? Love this version of Bargain. 

 

https://pixeldrain.com/u/NsaDFtRn

The Who
January 31, 1981
Cornwall Coliseum
St. Austell, England

Who’s On First, Vol. IV
First-generation recording

Musicians:

Roger Daltrey (vocals, harmonica)
John Entwistle (bass and vocals)
Kenney Jones (drums)
Pete Townshend (guitar and vocals, tambourine)
with John “Rabbit” Bundrick (keyboards)

Recorded by GH, hardware unknown 

2022 transfer from 1st gen. cassettes and 2026 JEMS remaster, with pitch correction by Goody.

Transfer: 1st-gen. cassettes > Nakamichi Cassette Deck 1 azimuth-adjusted playback > Sound Devices USBPre2 > Audacity 3.2.1 (16/44 capture to .wav) > iZotope RX7 and Ozone 6 mastering > iZotope MBIT > FLAC > finishing via TLH

01. Intro
02. Substitute
03. I Can’t Explain
04. Baba O’Riley
05. The Quiet One
06. Don’t Let Go the Coat
07. Sister Disco
08. Music Must Change
09. You Better You Bet
10. Drowned
11. Another Tricky Day
12. Behind Blue Eyes
13. Pinball Wizard
14. My Generation
15. Won’t Get Fooled Again
16. Five-Fifteen
17. Long Live Rock
18. Who Are You
19. Encore break
20. Let’s See Action
21. Bargain (with “The Punk and the Godfather” and “The Real Me”)
22. Naked Eye
23. You Stand Naked/Jam
24. Twist and Shout
25. Outro

The 1981 Who tour of the UK — 26 shows across the first three months of the year, played in theatres, city halls, and arenas — is among the band’s least studied by fans and collectors. Despite extensive documentation, the lack of a great tape makes playback and critical evaluation an iffy prospect. Factor in Pete Townshend’s well-chronicled disillusionment at the time, and word of mouth becomes an even tougher sell.

That’s where Jared’s old friend GH comes in. He was there for every show, tape deck in hand. So we asked him which nights merited a return visit, thinking a first-person account could help identify an exceptional show with a good recording. He pointed immediately to St. Austell. The second night earns its place as Volume IV of Who’s On First, the JEMS Archive series spotlighting first-generation recordings — those Jared marked “1st” in his database, copied directly from master tapes.

Made on what GH described as a “very cheap” recorder, his solid mono capture retains a clarity that becomes more apparent in the middle stretch, making for a very good listen. Whether by performance, unusual setlist construction, or sound quality, the January 31 gig is one that deserves space for further review.

Consistency wasn’t a given in 1981. With Roger, John, and Kenney performing well night-to-night, Pete became a wild card — more plainly than in any other touring year. After two strong outings in St. Austell, a show at London’s Rainbow Theatre proved something of a collapse. (GH singles out the first Lewisham Odeon date as the weakest of the tour.)

By contrast, St. Austell captures The Who in ’81 as history ought to remember it, delivering a focused, good-humored, 22-song performance played with verve. Townshend’s on-stage remarks suggest real affection for the coastal area and comfort with the hall, too. And the audience comes across as an equal partner in the music. Count this as a good night for Pete. Any night that earns a shout-out to soundman Bob Pridden — here, from Roger — is fine by me.

Like all the shows that year, this one presented new Who music. Four tracks from Face Dances appeared, weeks before the album’s release. “You Better You Bet” was on its way to becoming a band favorite, while “The Quiet One” emerged as John Entwistle’s featured number, replacing the oft-performed “My Wife.”

Elsewhere, the band stretches out on “Another Tricky Day” and leans into a towering “Five-Fifteen,” while Rabbit’s keyboard flourishes (“Music Must Change,” “Naked Eye”) sound terrific, too. New sequencing pairs a blues-washed “My Generation” with “Pinball Wizard.” A crisp “Won’t Get Fooled Again” arrives much earlier than usual, leaving “Who Are You” to close the main set. “Let’s See Action” leads a remarkable, go-anywhere encore, which includes both a Townshend improv and a one-off of “Bargain” — was it experimentation, miscommunication, or on-the-fly adaptation? Probably all three. Do not adjust your dials!

The first-generation tapes, long housed in the JEMS Archive, made for a straightforward transfer. BK handled the restoration, removing a persistent crackle and refining the sound — damn, that middle stretch really sings. Goody ensured pitch accuracy, keeping playback in proper time. I thank them, as I thank GH once again, for preserving a moment of Who history.

Now then, 45 years on, let’s take a moment to reconsider The Who in 1981. 

As always, we remember our friends Jared and Stan.

Share it freely, and for free!

— slipkid68