Versions:
LP
CD
Tracklisting:
Side One:
1. Disguises
2. Run Run Run
3. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
4. I Can't Reach You
5. Our Love Was, Is
6. Call Me Lightning
Side Two:
1. Magic Bus
2. Someone's Coming
3. Doctor, Doctor
4. Bucket T
5. Pictures of Lily
Best Tracks:
Magic Bus
Pictures of Lily
Call Me Lightening
Disguises
Currently listening to: LP
Magic Bus is a weird addition to The Who's catalogue. It is typical of an American released compilation by a British band in the 60's - a mish mash of B-sides and tracks from previous UK albums, built around their - then current - single.
For some reason, I have a real soft spot for a lot of these American releases. While The Rolling Stones' catalogue was completely butchered, I quite enjoy a bunch of The Beatles' American LPs (which isn't say that The Beatles catalogue wasn't completely butchered, either - it was). Though, it still hurts my brain to think that those LP's were what American audiences knew as The Beatles and The Stones' albums. For me, they're curios, often with interesting (though, not necessarily, great) artwork and tracklistings.
While The Who didn't suffer quite so badly, Magic Bus shows there weren't completely immune.
Magic Bus' biggest flaw is that the cover boats that it's The Who 'On Tour', giving the impression that this is, in fact, a live album. Instead, it's all studio recordings, including three tracks already released on previous albums (at least The Stones and The Beatles' sloppily compiled LPs never repeated tracks from older albums). Despite this, I find Magic Bus a very enjoyable listen.
Like the American release of The Beatles' Rubber Soul was re-sequenced to sound like a folk-rock album, Magic Bus feels like it's been sequenced to present The Who as the energetic live band they were. This would certainly explain the misleading 'On Tour' subtitle. Aside from the lovely feedback we got in 'Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere', none of The Who's 60's recordings captured their ferocious live sound (and none did until 1970's Live At Leeds). Given the wonderful material The Who released in the 60's, this is merely an observation rather than a criticism. The main success of Magic Bus, as an LP, is that it actually presents The Who as a great 60's rock band better than A Quick One and The Who Sell Out did.
The first three tracks kick things off on a high. It could be that most of the tracks are presented in their mono mixes, but they really leap off the vinyl, particularly 'Run Run Run' and the great 'Disguises' ('Run Run Run' on the A Quick One CD sounds noticeably limp in comparison). The first side loses steam with 'I Can't Reach You' and 'Our Love Was', unnecessary repeats from The Who Sell Out. Given the amount of Who B-sides available at the time, there certainly could have been more inspired choices than these two tracks (personally, I'd have gone with the insanely underrated gem, 'Circles' from the Ready Steady Who EP, from which two tracks on this album were already pulled. Or even 'The Last Time' or 'Under My Thumb' from their 1967 single in support of the then recent arrest of Mick Jagger and Keith Richard). The first side ends with lesser-known single 'Call Me Lightning', another gem.
Side Two also plays well, featuring both sides of both the 'Magic Bus' and 'Pictures Of Lily' singles, along with 'Bucket T' from the aforementioned Ready Steady Who EP. You wouldn't think the silliness of 'Bucket T' would sit well along the quality of the other four songs on this side, yet somehow, it works. Again, the mono mixes give these songs a grit and rawness missing on the CD (and even some later vinyl compilation) releases.
I had my CD copy of this album since the late 90's, but only (and FINALLY) picked up a vinyl copy today. Which is why I'm writing about it like it's a revelation. The vinyl copy is far superior to the 80's pressed CD. All of the songs on this LP are well worn into my brain, which is why it's been so nice to finally listen to a vinyl copy.
Magic Bus isn't an essential addition, but a very enjoyable one. It's worth the price of admission for that cover art, alone.
