The Who | Ready Steady Who (Reaction 592 001) 11/66

The dear Who on a sort of mini-bonanza. First a new EP with “Batman,” “Bucket T,” “Barbara Ann” on one side and a funny “Disguises” (or was it my record player?) and a great “Circles” which has that mysteriously flat-sounding voice which is its appeal. (Penny Valentine, Disc, 12/11/66)

Five tracks culled from their long awaited second LP. Side one is typical Who, but side two is the group taking U.S. spoof songs too seriously. (Record Mirror, 19/11/66)

On the 29th January, 1965, The Who made their very first Television appearance before an astonished teenage audience in Rediffusion’s Television top rating pop show “Ready Steady Go”. Their performance of “I Can’t Explain” was a sensation — viewers had never before seen a group that visually and musically flouted every known convention.

Several appearances and nearly two years later, the group took over the entire show — it was even called “Ready Steady Who” — and featured on this E.P. are some of the best tracks from a show that ended in smoke bombs, smashed guitars and the kind of impromptu chaos that only The Who can create. (Francis Hitching, producer of Ready Steady Go)

“La-La-La-Lies” / “The Good’s Gone” (Brunswick 05968) November 1966

During the same week in November 1966 the Who’s previous record label released a single, both tracks taken from their ‘My Generation’ LP. It didn’t sell in any quantity to get the single into the charts and consequently remains the toughest Who single to find.

I know it’s old and I shouldn’t like it because it is perhaps not representative of their sound now, but I think it’s super. (Penny Valentine, Disc 12/11/66)