The Smiley Smile Message Board

Listening to both versions of this song that I have, one from Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy, and one from the Ultimate Collection, it sounds TERRIBLE. Is this just limitations of how it was recorded, or is there a better sounding version out there???

I hate how cheap some recording was done back then. People didn't know what they had on their hands.

Sounds like you may like the Stereo remix. Sounds crystalline. Perfectly recorded.

- do you just mean the sound quality on those versions or the song in general? If you listen to the original album version it sounds epic, particularly the bit that got edited out of the single version - probably my favourite Keith Moon bit ever. 

And I agree about the remaster, if you just want clear it is very clear.

The clattering Talmy production IS an acquired taste, even the band didn't like it. I love it, but there you go.

Ahhh, we are talking about mix and mastering details of  the  Who....again....

This song is 3:05 long on the original LP. For the US LP ("The Who Sings My Generation"), the song was edited by about 20 seconds, namely, Pete's guitar solo.

The long version is the real version! You need it! The original mono mix can only be found on two places on compact disc:
1. The box set.
2. The Polydor Who's Better Who's Best CD. (The MCA version of that disc has the edited version)

In my opinion, the sound is very typical of the early Who. Songs like "My Generation" or "Anyway Anyhow Anywhere" are similar with some charming analogue distortion and a somewhat tinny drum sound. The early Kinks singles have the same sound.

The My Generation Deluxe Edition has a nice stereo remix of this song, which is much cleaner because of the better mixing equipment, but it is also missing some harmony vocals. Also, a remix is always a secondary version, and the missing "murk and goosh" is truly missed by fans of 1960s recordings like me.

The edited version (2:45 long) always sounds inferior, probably because a few generations of tape copies lie between this one and the master. In addition, the Ultimate Collection features some of the worst mastering on compact disc you will ever find.

Question: What version was on the 45 single in the UK? I suppose, the long version?

The UK single used the long version. Its one of the few Who singles I didn't get because I had both songs on albums (whereas most singles had otherwise unreleased B-sides), so I can't personally vouch for it but Ed Hanel says so in his book.