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The Who at 45 RPM vs First Pressings – How Big Is the Difference?

45 RPM Audiophile

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THE TWO 45 RPM EDITIONS

The Who – My Generation (Mono)
https://shop.michael45.com/produkt/th...

The Who – Live at Leeds
https://shop.michael45.com/produkt/th...

Read the full magazine feature on My Generation and Live at Leeds:
https://shop.michael45.com/2026/08/11...

How do Analogue Productions’ new 45 RPM editions of The Who’s My Generation and Live at Leeds compare with earlier pressings? I put both reissues against German and UK vinyl to hear where the real differences are — and whether the upgrade is worth it.

For My Generation, I compare the new mono 45 RPM edition with a German first pressing and an early 1981 German reissue. The result surprised me: the new cut delivers far greater clarity, dynamics and sheer mono impact. This is still a raw 1965 rhythm-and-blues record — but now the power of Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle and Keith Moon comes through with remarkable force.

Live at Leeds is a closer contest. Here the Analogue Productions edition faces a UK first pressing and a German first pressing. I also look at the bootleg-style package, the reproduced inserts and the different stamp colours found on UK originals. Sonically, the 45 RPM edition creates more depth, scale and live-concert immersion, while the British original remains a serious competitor.

Both editions were mastered by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering from the original master tapes, spread across two 45 RPM LPs and pressed at Quality Record Pressings.

And there is one fascinating historical question: The Who reportedly performed Tommy in full at Leeds on 14 February 1970, yet the original album contained only six songs. What happened to the rest of that performance — and is there a complete release worth hearing?

Which edition would you choose? And do you know the truth about the black, red and blue stamps on original UK copies of Live at Leeds? Let me know in the comments.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction — 45 RPM vs original pressings
00:54 My Generation — Analogue Productions 45 RPM
02:23 My Generation — listening comparison
04:53 Live at Leeds — edition and original inserts
06:26 Live at Leeds — UK and German first pressings
07:18 Live at Leeds — sound comparison
08:38 Verdict and the 14:46 “My Generation”
09:39 The missing live Tommy performance
11:01 Final thoughts

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20 Comments

@apvalenti 1 month ago

Here's a bit of related trivia. The Who recorded Leeds on February 14, 1970 and Hull the following night. They actually preferred the Hull performance, but when they initially checked the Hull tapes, Entwistle’s bass appeared to be missing, so Leeds became the source for the original album. Decades later, engineers discovered that the bass was missing only from the first reel of the Hull recording, not the whole concert.

@apvalenti 1 month ago

The original 1970 Live at Leeds LP didn't include the complete Tommy because of the physical limits and cost of vinyl. The full concert would have required at least a double (and likely triple) LP, so The Who chose the most powerful stand-alone performances for the single album. By the time the 2001 Deluxe CD was released, CDs had eliminated those space constraints, allowing the entire live Tommy performance to be restored and released for the first time. Many fans consider it one of the finest live performances of Tommy the band ever recorded.

@dimebagdave77 1 month ago

Thanks very much for this review ✌️ Chad really has his finger on the pulse of pure analog

@denniswood1437 1 month ago (edited)

A 2003 two-CD set release from Universal of Live at Leeds had the Who playing all the songs from Tommy played live plus the 6 or 7 songs from the original Leeds album. If you have seen the DVD The Who Live at the Isle of Wight, Tommy really comes alive when played live.

@Daniel-hk3ru 1 month ago

When I first heard that "Analog Production" had taken on "The Who" project - this is a great first step in the release of High-Profile Rock Artists. Thank You, Michael for the informative review - Thank You, Chad 😎

@atabintheocean 1 month ago

I believe there's an Abbey Road half speed mastered version of Live At Leeds triple vinyl with Tommy. Double check

@birsansilviu-lucian892 1 month ago (edited)

My order just left Dusseldorf. Can't wait to give these two titles and Marley UHQR's a spin! Of course I've preordered Who's Next and Tommy 2. Thanks for the presentation, Michael! :rocket-red-countdown-liftoff:

@thevinylmuseum2958 1 month ago

Hi Michael,

FYI, there was a 3-LP release of The Who’s Live at Leeds that includes the entire Tommy performance from the February 14, 1970 Leeds University concert. I know you weren’t a big fan of the half-speed mastering process a few years ago, but I have this version and really like it on my system. It’s the 2016–2017 Abbey Road half-speed cut on 180g vinyl. (Sometimes we have to make exceptions..LOL!
The sound is very dynamic, powerful and open, with great punch from Keith Moon’s drums.
The AP DOUBLE 45 RPM is still HANDS DOWN my favourite, but this 3-LP set is definitely worth considering, IF YOU WANT THE ENTIRE CONCERT—and you can find copies for under US$100, so don’t pay the crazy prices!

@Jeremy-yf2jd 1 month ago (edited)

Interesting to note…the original aka OG ‘Live at Leeds' album features a remixed and edited version of the concert, with some songs having studio overdubs and certain dialogue cut. The order of the 6 songs was changed from the concert order to make the album too. So now you know!

@JeffersonDD 1 month ago (edited)

I think it’s a nice touch that they included all the inserts (12!) that came with LaL. That said, the grit, power, and “impoliteness” of the black font OG UK was part of its charm IMHO, and I’m sure the unveiling you speak of is nice when compared side by side. For me, the OG UK is sufficient. Some things are better raw. JMHO

@guitarwolftmge 1 month ago

The whole show is officially released, except for an edit on Shakin All over where Roger's voice cracked

@IMQ2006 1 month ago

Live at Leeds is one of my favorite live albums of all-time. It's hard for me to judge vinyl copies because that crackling electric noise is baked into the tapes. Every OG pressing of Leeds sounds like it was pressed at GZ Media. Thank you for the review.

@rocky53332 1 month ago

There is a CD reissue with the whole Live At Leeds and a half speed mastered 'Abbey Road' LP.

@四塚文雄 1 month ago

The entire Tommy part of Live At Leeds has been released at least 3 times in the past as Deluxe Edition CD, Super Deluxe Box set CD and a 3-LP version. I've never listened to the LP version. The CD versions were great.
I am on the fence with the 2 UHQRs as I have the Classic versions of Who's Next and Tommy using the same metal work.

@hansformat 1 month ago

There was a 2 cd set with the Tommy part of Live at Leads. It isn’t vinyl but it had good sound nonetheless.

@dgross2009 1 month ago

Those Tommy cuts were included on the Super Deluxe CD which I have.

@barrystagg5479 1 month ago

The complete concert including Tommy and also several other songs was finally released on vinyl a few years back. It was spread over three discs. Unlike the deluxe cd, which had one cd of songs and Tommy on the 2nd disc, it has the entire concert in the actual order it was played. Like the triple Isle of wight concert on vinyl, making for an incredible listening experience. Both of which were not too expensive. By the way the IOW was released in different colours. I have the red, white and blue version.