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Album Details

• Artist: Various Artist Compilations
• Album: Who Are You - An All-Star Tribute To The Who
• Label: Cleopatra
• Year of Release: 2012
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: gwhill on 2012-12-26

I like The Who quite a bit. I mean, they aren’t one of my favorite bands, but I do really like them. So, I would have liked this album, anyway. But, when you look at the cast of characters here, that gives me another reason to enjoy it. There are members of some of my all time favorite bands playing here. And some of the combinations are amazing. It all adds up to an enjoyable release that brings new angles to familiar Who songs.

Among those amazing combinations we have the opener “Eminence Front” which features John Wetton (Asia, King Crimson) with K.K. Downing (of Judas Priest fame) and Derek Sherinian (who plays keys for Billy Idol and was a member of Dream Theater and was most recently in Black Country Communion). Just that sort of “meeting of musical minds” would make this wet worth having. Another amazing combination of musicians comes on “Magic Bus” where Herman’s Hermits’  Peter Noone performs with original Yes guitarist Peter Banks and Cream drummer Ginger Baker. Randy Bachman (of Guess Who and BTO fame) is teamed with modern country diva Gretchen Wilson.  Perhaps the most unique group comes on “Love Reign O'er Me.” The song features  Joe Elliot (Def Leppard), Rick Wakeman (Yes), Huw Lloyd-Langton (Hawkwind) and Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge).

These unique collaborations without anything else would make this a set worth having, but that’s just one part of the puzzle. The music here ranges from moderately strong to downright great. In addition to those team ups we get appearances by whole groups like Sweet, Nektar (joined by Jerry Goodman) and 38 Special (with Ted Turner and Ian Paice). Solo artists like Pat Travers and Iggy Pop are featured. If you like the music of the Who rush out and get this right away. If you are just a rock fan and only a casual Who fan, it’s still well worth having.   

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