The Who "The Who Hits 50!"

The Who Hits 50! is a compilation of singles by the English rock band The Who, released in 2014 by Polydor Records. The two-disc set contains every single released by the band in the United Kingdom, with the exceptions of: "A Legal Matter" and "La-La-La-Lies" from 1966; and "Long Live Rock" and the remake of "I'm One" from 1979. At the same time it also contains every single by the band released in the United States throughout their career, with the exceptions of: "The Real Me" from 1974; the reissue of "Substitute" from 1976; and "Long Live Rock" from 1979. A condensed single-disc standard edition appeared as well, both versions in conjunction with the band's 50th anniversary and associated tour of the same name. The album is notable for containing singles generally not included on other compilation albums, such as the band's Rolling Stones cover "The Last Time" done as an act of solidarity while Mick and Keith were facing jail time, along with other lesser-known singles "Dogs" and "Call Me Lightning".

The first disc includes every song from the compilation Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy with the exception "A Legal Matter," and the second disc includes "Be Lucky", a track released as a single in support of the compilation and recorded during 2014 sessions for a proposed new studio album. The song is the first new material released by the Who since their 2006 studio album Endless Wire.

The selections were remastered by Jon Astley, and the cover art and packaging reflects the band's association with the pop art of the 1960s. On the two-disc set, the liner notes incorrectly list Pete Townshend as the writer of the track "Trick of the Light" when it was in fact written by John Entwistle.

Track listing

Original release

All tracks written by Pete Townshend, except where noted.

Disc one

1. "Zoot Suit" (writers: Peter Meaden; billed as The High Numbers) 1964 single 1:59
2. "I Can't Explain" 1964 single 2:05
3. "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" (writers: Townshend, Roger Daltrey) 1965 single 2:43
4. "My Generation" My Generation, 1965 3:18
5. "Substitute" 1966 single 3:45
6. "The Kids Are Alright" Extended version; found on My Generation (UK) 3:06
7. "I'm a Boy" (mono version) 1966 single 2:38
8. "Happy Jack" 1966 single (UK)
9. Happy Jack (U.S.), 1966 2:14
10. "Boris the Spider" (writer: John Entwistle) A Quick One, 1966 2:30
11. "Pictures of Lily" 1967 single 2:44
12. "The Last Time" (writers: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards) 1967 single 2:59
13. "I Can See for Miles" (Single stereo LP version) The Who Sell Out, 1967 4:08
14. "Call Me Lightning" B-side to "Dogs" single (UK) 1968 single (U.S.) 2:19
15. "Dogs" 1968 single 3:01
16. "Magic Bus" (mono extended version) 1968 single (UK)
17. Magic Bus: The Who on Tour (U.S.), 1968; Extended version from Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy, 1971 4:36
18. "Pinball Wizard" Tommy, 1969 3:03
19. "I'm Free" Tommy 2:41
20. "The Seeker" 1970 single; later released on Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy 3:12
21. "Summertime Blues" (Eddie Cochran, Jerry Capehart) Live at Leeds, 1970 3:22
22. "See Me, Feel Me" (Single version) Tommy 3:30
23. "Won't Get Fooled Again" (Single version) Who's Next, 1971 3:40
24. "Let's See Action" 1971 single 3:57
25. "Bargain" Who's Next 5:33
26. "Behind Blue Eyes" Who's Next 3:42

Disc two

1. "Baba O'Riley" Who's Next 5:08
2. "Join Together" 1972 single 4:22
3. "Relay" 1972 single 3:52
4. "5:15" Quadrophenia, 1973 4:48
5. "Love, Reign o'er Me" Quadrophenia 5:56
6. "Postcard" (writer: Entwistle) Odds & Sods, 1974 3:27
7. "Squeeze Box" The Who by Numbers, 1975 2:40
8. "Slip Kid" The Who by Numbers 4:36
9. "Who Are You" (edited album version) Who Are You, 1978 5:14
10. "Trick of the Light" (writer: Entwistle) Who Are You 4:27
11. "You Better You Bet" Face Dances, 1981 5:37
12. "Don't Let Go the Coat" Face Dances 3:44
13. "Athena" It's Hard, 1982 3:46
14. "Eminence Front" It's Hard 5:39
15. "It's Hard" It's Hard 3:47
16. "Real Good Looking Boy" (Radio edit; Townshend/Peretti/Creatore/Weiss) Then and Now, 2004 3:55
17. "It's Not Enough" (writers: Townshend, Rachel Fuller) Endless Wire, 2006 4:03
18. "Be Lucky" previously unreleased, 2014 3:19