The Who – Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970

Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 ‘ The Who

By Chris Peken

What budding young guitarists hasn’t stood in front of the mirror and attempted ‘The Windmill” The debt by six-string slingers over the globe owed to Pete Townsend would single-handedly end the GFC. Throw in the irrepressible, irreplaceable, rascal Keith Moon on drums and John Entwhistle’s distinctively powerhouse yet lyrical and adroit bass and you have… ‘Ladies and gentleman, a nice rock’n’roll band from Sheppard’s Bush, London. The ‘hoo’. So opens this re-mastered reissue of The Who’s legendary 1970 performance at the Isle of Wight Festival, showing just how good a rock’n’roll band can be. Fans point to Live at Leeds as superior in energy (and with much the same set-list) but will own both never-the-less. This reissue contains the entire of Tommy and more, including cracking versions of Can’t Explain, a Shakin’ All Over / Spoonful / Twist and Shout medley, and a rare and definitely rockin’ Naked Eye highlight. Hear one of the best raw R’n’B influenced rock band exercise their considerable musical muscle in a world that included contemporaries such as Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin is a treat indeed.

****1/2