1966 MONO THE WHO Happy Jack MOD Garage UK INVASION

$

35

RARE ORIGINAL 1966 MONO FIRST PRESSING                         

                      THE WHO

                   HAPPY JACK

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                                       ...USA - DECCA DL- 4892  - MONO        

The amazing 2nd WHO album !!

1966 ORIGINAL *MONO* first pressing VINYL ...

The rare mono release offers not only different song mixes but a punchy boom in the mono sound production that is SO suitable for the dense sixties sound of the blazing WHO...

contains the 1966 Decca Records inner sleeve!

While the UK release of this album was called 'A Quick One' ~ In the USA version decidedly changed the title for the suggestive notion to America's youth brigade -- thus released under the title 'Happy Jack', and included said hit song, that was omitted, making the USA copy the one to own. "Happy Jack" is still, to the day, an enjoyable melodic slice of crafted MOD-pop whimsy...Otherwise the album IS very strong ...The most 'enjoyable' factors include the catchy nugget,'See My Way' with the eccentric performance of Keith Moon, apparently instructed to play in the style of Buddy Holly and the Crickets and ending up playing some of his parts on cardboard boxes as a result. Strange stuff! Keith writes 'Cobwebs And Strange', a novelty marching band item that later became 'Heinz Baked Beans' on the art pop masterpiece that is the 'Who Sell Out' album. His other song 'I Need You' is surprisingly fine, a bonefide killer MOD sixites groove - a strong effort with good harmonies and pleasant melodies ala Beatles sounding Help! era. John Entwistle contributes the finest of the non Townshend material and would continue and contribute material to The Who through the years. 'Whiskey Man' is a great little song full of the character of Mr Entwistle, shall we say.... and 'Boris The Spider' is, in actual fact, the best song here. It may not have been perceived by Pete and others as particularly a 'suitable' song for The Who to record, being a faintly novelty styled item, yet the bass playing is indeed scary with clever lyrics. The vocal delivery is truly cool - and this really should have been a huge hit! In the UK at least, it was never released as a single a-side, which is a shame as far as some are concerned.

So, what else is new? Well, Pete Townsend's 'Run Run Run' showcases the sound of The Who very well, though - an aggressive attack of guitars in particular. 'Don't Look Away' is moving into the pop area that 'Happy Jack' did so well and the following years 'Who Sell Out' would expand upon. 'So Sad About Us' has a distinctive guitar introduction and a classic MOD-pop feel all the way through it. 'So Sad About Us' could have been a hit song had it infact been released as a single in the first place. Which leaves us just with the nine minute long 'suite' or 'mini-opera', 'A Quick One Whilst He's Away'. Made up of six separate shorter songs Pete had been working on, 'A Quick One' is laudably ambitious, predating the suite of songs on the second side of The Beatles 'Abbey Road' by a good couple of years, for example - but certainly isn't smooth. Each one of the individual segments are enjoyable, by the way - and show The Who, Pete in particular, moving forwards. 

SIDE ONE

1.  RUN RUN RUN

2.  BORIS THE SPIDER

3.  I NEED YOU

4.  WHISKEY MAN

5.  COBWEBS AND STRANGE

6.  HAPPY JACK

SIDE TWO

1.  DON'T LOOK AWAY

2.  SEE MY WAY

3.  SO SAD ABOUT US

4.  A QUICK ONE WHILE HE'S AWAY

CONDITION: The cover is hard to find clean with the dark cover...this one = pretty clean and not with the usual shelf wear, but lowered the grade to VG+, as there is some spine rub that caused a little wear - not split ...there is a tiny bb delete at top left...all seams are solid, with no split seams, no bends, no writing...  collectible cover

The vinyl is "EX" (excellent)  both sides are glossy clean, plays TOP level !

      A cool addition to anyone's music library!

SEE: SELLERS OTher items for similar cool sounds for "head" people...

EFFICIENT/CAREFUL GRADING

All imperfections are noted both cover & record