Live At The Isle Of Wight Festival 1970 is The Who recorded on on 29 August 1970, six months after the classic Live At Leeds album and Live At Hull were made.
It was released in 1996, shortly after Live At Leeds had been extended the first time. At that stage Live At The Isle Of Wight Festival was the only legal way to get a prime time recording of The Who performing Tommy.
Since Live At Leeds was further extended by adding in Tommy, this album has become redundant for anyone except The Who completests or people with a particular affection for the 1970 Isle Of Wight Festival.
Unless you want to see the 1970 version of The Who perform live since this has the option of a DVD.
The Who Live At The Isle Of Wight Festival 1970
Set List
With just six months separating the two live albums, it’s not a surprise that the set lists are very similar. Isle Of Wight does feature some new songs that Pete Townshend was writing for Lifehouse (that became Who’s Next) – Water, I Don’t Even Know Myself and Naked Eye.
It’s a shame that the Isle of Wight album didn’t preview some of the more famous songs like Won’t Get Fooled Again or Baba O’Riley.
This also has the set played in the original order with Tommy in the middle rather than tagged on as a separate CD on Live At Leeds.
Disc one
- Heaven and Hell – 5:16
- I Can’t Explain – 2:45
- Young Man Blues – 6:06
- I Don’t Even Know Myself – 6:11
- Water – 10:53
- Overture – 5:08
- It’s a Boy – 1:33
- 1921 – 2:27
- Amazing Journey – 3:19
- Sparks – 5:10
- Eyesight to the Blind (The Hawker) – 1:58
- Christmas – 3:25
Disc two
- The Acid Queen – 3:41
- Pinball Wizard – 2:50
- Do You Think It’s Alright? – 0:22
- Fiddle About – 1:15
- Tommy, Can You Hear Me? – 0:58
- There’s a Doctor – 0:22
- Go to the Mirror! – 3:32
- Smash the Mirror” – 1:16
- Miracle Cure – 0:13
- I’m Free – 2:24
- Tommy’s Holiday Camp – 1:01
- We’re Not Gonna Take It! – 9:37
- Summertime Blues – 3:24
- Shakin’ All Over/Spoonful/Twist and Shout – 6:27
- Substitute – 2:10
- My Generation – 7:15 (not the super-extended version that is so compelling on Live At Leeds)
- Naked Eye – 6:33
- Magic Bus – 4:35
Included on Live At Leeds and missing from this album are Fortune Teller, Tattoo, Happy Jack, I’m A Boy, A Quick One While He’s Away, Summertime Blues and missing from the Tommy section is Sally Simpson.
Here is a video of The Who performing Pinball Wizard at the Isle Of Wight Festival.
This is another rowdy performance by The Who at the huge festival and you can be sure that they’d have been one of the biggest crowd-pleasers because The Who were always a great band live.
I must admit that I rarely play it. I grew up with Live At Leeds when it was a six song explosion of energy and I’ve watched it grow. When I want to hear early, live The Who, it’s the natural place to go.
I found Live At The Isle Of Wight a louder, denser sound. It’s as if The Who are trying too hard because of the size of the audience and I feel it loses some of the subtlety found in Live At Leeds.
I haven’t done a song for song comparison but Live At The Isle Of Wight Festival never entrances me in the same way. It’s more controlled noise than music.
What Other People Say
Live At Leeds dominates the other 1970 live albums in terms of reputation.
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Buying The Who Live At The Isle Of Wight Festival
It is available from Amazon.com – Amazon.co.uk – iTunes – eBay
These links will help you get to the albums quickly and easily but I recommend that you still search for the best deal.
What Do You Think About The Who Live At The Isle Of Wight Festival 1970
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