The Who – The Kids Are Alright (2xLP, Soundtrack)

The Who's The Kids Are Alright is the soundtrack to the band’s 1979 documentary, and it works less like a standard greatest-hits set than a fast-moving document of how explosive The Who could be on stage and television. Across these performances, you hear the group jumping from mid-60s mod singles to the bigger, more theatrical material of the 1970s, with a sequence that captures both their range and their volatility.

The strongest thread here is the way the album pulls together key filmed moments from different eras. The 1967 Smothers Brothers performance of “My Generation,” complete with its famous exploding drum-kit finale, is one of the defining pieces of Who mythology, while the soundtrack also includes three Woodstock performances: “Sparks,” “Pinball Wizard,” and “See Me, Feel Me.” Elsewhere, “A Quick One, While He’s Away” preserves the version from Rock and Roll Circus, long prized by fans for showing just how commanding the band could be in a filmed live setting.

It also helps that this set is not a strict mirror of the film: tracks including “Happy Jack,” “I Can See for Miles,” and “My Wife” appear here even though they were not included in the movie. That makes the album feel like a companion rather than a souvenir, broadening the picture of The Who from sharp early singles through to arena-sized statements like “Baba O’Riley” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” Art Kane’s Union Jack cover photo only sharpens that sense of cultural snapshot.

Features

• 2xLP, 180g, Black Vinyl, Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
• Remastered 2018
• Top-loading LP jacket