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Amazing Journey: The Story of the Who is a very satisfying, two-disc set anchored by an excellent documentary directed by Murray Lerner (
The Other Side of the Mirror: Bob Dylan at the Newport Folk Festival), whose 1970 footage of the band in concert appears in Lerner痴
Message to Love: The Isle of Wight Festival. Lerner痴 new film includes recent and extensive interviews with surviving Who members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend, who candidly recall every chapter of the group痴 career, from childhood to the premature deaths of drummer Keith Moon and bassist John Entwistle, and beyond to Daltrey and Townshend痴 continuing, now-autumnal collaboration. Much of what is said and captured in
Amazing Journey has been noted before in myriad ways (including the Who痴 1979 autobiographical feature
The Kids Are Alright), but the older Daltrey and Townshend get, the richer their insights into Who history. Lerner痴 organization of sub-topics and material also makes
Amazing Journey powerful and resonant, including the Who痴 earliest period as an emerging club band (called the High Numbers) emphasizing rhythm and blues, and Townshend痴 gradual transformation into a songwriter trying to break traditional pop forms. Key relationships are examined and explored, but of special note is Daltrey痴 and Townshend痴 separate, fascinating assessments of the former痴 evolution as a vocalist and frontman. (Each maintains that it was Daltrey痴 personal connection to the central character in
Tommy that turned him into an expansive, charismatic singer.)
A second disc contains superb outtakes from Amazing Journey, with an emphasis on the wisdom of Daltrey and Townshend, both in their 60s, examining their individual artistries. Who fans and musicians alike will certainly enjoy an exciting analysis, from the likes of the Edge, Simon Townshend (Pete痴 brother and member of the Who痴 backing band) and Eddie Vedder, of Townshend痴 gifts as a guitarist. A wonderful mini-documentary co-directed by D.A. Pennebaker (Don稚 Look Back) captures a recording session from 2003, and footage of the High Numbers in a 1964 performance (from an aborted film by the Who痴 late co-manager, Kit Lambert) is a remarkable artifact. --Tom Keogh
Video Description
Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who and Amazing Journey: Six Quick Ones are two exhilarating feature films about one of the greatest rock bands in the world!
Spanning four decades, this authorized and definitive anthology of The Who relives their journey from humble beginnings to their meteoric rise to rock legend status in a 2-film DVD set. Filled with all-new interviews with band members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend and music icons Sting, The Edge of U2, Eddie Vedder and more, this must-have collection also features electrifying rare and unreleased concert footage in mind-blowing 5.1 surround sound. David Wild, a contributing editor of Rolling Stone, says it's "brilliantan exceptionally smart and intimate portrait." For music that spoke to generations of fans, and refused to be classified, the answer is - and always will be - The Who.