SEPTEMBER 1979
After the two warm up shows in Passaic, The Who played five sold out nights in Madison Square Garden in New York. Since these were their first US shows with new drummer Kenny Jones and were the most important in their entire career, this was a major turning point. Although New York had always embraced the band, playing on the world’s biggest stage would determine if their judgement was correct and a negative reaction could have ended the band right there.
After the first show a review appeared in the New York Times which stated: “The Who have remained a superb performing band throughout their long and varied recording career, and it was this facet of the group that a packed Madison Square Garden celebrated Thursday night.
Despite the addition of John (Rabbit) Bundrick’s keyboards and a three-man brass section, and the replacement of the late Keith Moon, the Who’s original drummer, by Kenny Jones, this was basically the same, familiar Who.
“And despite the complaints of diehard fans, who missed Mr. Moon and seemed to resent the group’s deployment of additional instrumental resources, the Who gave a splendid rock-and-roll concert that carefully balanced innovation and tradition. Unlike any other group popular enough to play five nights in a row at the Garden – Thursday’s show was the first of their run - the Who have retained an admirable on-stage looseness.
“They don’t court anarchy with the devil-may-care attitude they had when Mr. Moon was contributing his splashy, mercurial drummer. But Mr. Jones, who was working very hard, has picked Mr. Moon’s habit of phrasing across bar lines, which always combined with Pete Townshend’s rolling guitar chords to give the band’s live playing an almost jazzlike informality.” (Robert Palmer, ”The Who’s Balance”)
New York 1979 presents the first three of the five shows in the Garden and all are sourced from JEM master tapes. These shows are presented in the best ever sound quality. This run of shows by The Who at Madison Square Garden in 1979 are considered must have essential shows for the performances which were some of the best they ever did.
The setlist for these shows are identical for
the first three-fourths of the show, from the opener “Substitute” to
“My Generation.” Thereafter they introduce different songs and
improvisations, some of which would resurface later in different forms,
such as “Blue Black White” (and later
Red), “I’m London (from the first night in Passaic, not to be confused
“London Blues”), “That’s Rock and Roll” (played in the third New York
show “You’ve Got Rock and Roll”), “I Am An Animal” and “Cat’s In The
Cupboard” (the latter two would appear on Pete’s solo masterpiece Empty Glass).
Later in the year they would add “How Can You Do It Alone” and “Dance
It Away” (later recorded by the Who and Pete respectively).
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY – September 13th, 1979
REVIEW:The Who’s nerves are evident at the outset with rather stiff versions of “Substitute” and “I Can’t Explain.” Roger Daltrey introduces Kenny Jones and Rabbit Bundrick before ”Baba O’Riley.” It really isn’t until they play “Sister Disco” that they relax a bit.
Before the song Daltrey gets into a rambling discourse about the Passaic shows, saying: “It’s a bit of a mind blower actually because two nights ago we were in New Jersey, right and it was terrific. There were three thousand people there and it was a real rock and roll joint. You know, smelly and smoky. And they were ready for us when we arrived (*cough cough*) [obviously an inside joke]. Anyway we’ll make the most of it this time…” Pete Townshend chimes in saying ”I like it here… where am I?”
Afterwards, instead of getting into the explanation that “Sister Disco” isn’t about the music, Townshend says, “I dunno what you think Roger but I think it’s going alright. I like the club atmosphere. Listen, all you people leave the waitresses alone…and all you toerags in front move to the back. IT’S GREAT TO BE BACK IN FUCKING NEW YORK!! It’s great I tell you…the best!”
“Music Much Change” is introduced as the most adventurous thing they’ve ever done. It was written when Keith was alive and Townshend introduces the brass section. Bundrick’s moody Hammond punctuated by the brass indeed is strange for The Who but it turns into one of the highlights of the show.
“This is what’s left of it…Tommy that is” Roger says before “Pinball Wizard” which, along with “See Me Feel Me” is the remnant of their opera. AC/DC’s “Highway To Hell” is played as short introduction to “Long Live Rock.” But the end of the show starts with ”My Generation” and Red is added to ”Blue Black White” tonight.
There is a short reference to “The Relay” before a nine minute version of “Magic Bus.” Pete and Bundrick get into a long, very strange instrumental passage which is dominated by an ecclesiastical sounding organ beneath Townshend’s doodling on the guitar. This instrumental leads straight into “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”
The encore set begins with the thundering “Trick Of The Light.” The dual bass melody is so loud it seems to rattle the rafters of the Garden.
“Cat’s In The Cupboard,” which would later appear on Townshend’s solo album Empty Glass is followed by a cover of Jimmy Reed’s ”Big Boss Man,” the band’s only attempt at a straight blues song. The evening ends with the first attempt at “Naked Eye” by this line up of the Who, lasting close to eight minutes.