I wanna know if The Who "Eminence Front" ever had a record release of the video mix!

When it played on MTV, back in the 1980s, there was much stronger bass and guitar and the synthesizer was turned down. The video sounded a lot better than the "official" vinyl version.

Same goes for John Fogerty's "Deja Vu All Over Again". The live versions I've heard sound much better than the official studio release.

Nope, the only place to get that mix is in the video. It's a different performance from the record. It's a rehearsal take from, I believe, Maryland.

This is my first posting on IMWAN. I've been a lurker for a lonnng time, ever since the old ICE board went down. Linda, you do a fantabulous job here and I enjoy the board a lot. Since, sadly there's no more ICE, this has become one my main sources of music information.

Welcome aboard!

Larry - thanks for the info - I always preferred the video version as well.

The video is included on the Who's Better, Who's Best DVD collection. People more clever than I know how to dub audio from DVDs to CD-r.

I don't understand how the cranked up synthesizer adds to the song and makes it more of a Who sound. Was it a first-time experience for producer and/or engineer with The Who? Seemed like the album version was trying too hard to be "Baba O'Reily".

Larry Y,
Welcome to IMWAN and please make yourself at home.

Interestingly, it's probably my favorite track from "It's Hard" - admittedly not much of a stretch - for the reason it does not sound like a Typical Who song (some of the others, which kindda sound more traditional, fail). It had more grit and balls than the similar territory they were covering on "Face Dances" (which I happen to like as well).

I think EF fits better on a Who disc than say Pete's Empty Glasses.

But you wrote you preferred the video mix, as do I. I didn't buy "It's Hard", but I would have if it contained the sound from the video version.

Welcome home, Larry.

Actually, this version is from Toronto-it was at the soundcheck for the farewell show on The Who Rocks America tour in 1982. You can see the Canadian flags in the background. MTV used to play it to death and VH1 Classic still shows it all the time. Townshend rips away on guitar on this version for sure. I always thought the keyboards added to the song personally. "Eminece Front" is a killer song and The Who still play it live for good reason. It's Hard has some strong material, but admittely is fairly mediocre overall. Still beats the crap out of Endless Listen though.

I do agree, and it should have been a bonus on the remaster...but I think EF gets a harsher rap than in deserves as a song

...is this some kinda put on?

No it wasn't, it was recorded at the old Capital Centre in Landover, MD, former home of the Washington Capitals and Bullets. The reason a Canadian flag is there is because the Caps played teams from Canada (MTL, TOR, QUE, VAN, WIN, EDM, CGY). This aired on MTV well before they hit Toronto in mid-December 1982.

No it wasn't, it was recorded at the old Capital Centre in Landover, MD, former home of the Washington Capitals and Bullets. The reason a Canadian flag is there is because the Caps played teams from Canada (MTL, TOR, QUE, VAN, WIN, EDM, CGY). This aired on MTV well before they hit Toronto in mid-December 1982.


Are you sure? I was an MTV junkie and still am, and this did not air until the end of that year-the cameras were there due to the taping of the final show. I also have an original airing of the video from Jan.1983 where Mark Goodman mentions it's from Maple Leaf Gardens. That's why I assumed it was from Toronto unless he was wrong-but the video did not air until Dec. of 1982. Either way, it's a killer version of the song.
If this was in Landover-was the show filmed? No boots have ever surfaced from there which makes me wonder why they'd have a film crew there. Recent pro-shot shows have surfaced from that tour in Seattle and New York.

I had a book from that tour, and the writer talked about them filming promos at the DC show. But that was definately not shot at Maple Leaf Gardens. I was fortunate enough to see a few games there before it closed, and it was not laid out like that. The beginning especially, when they pull up in the vans. The underbelly of MLG was not that big, it was built in the depression, as a hockey rink, before concerts and events of that type. The MTV VJ's did say that, including JJ Jackson, but I am confident it was not filmed at MLG. Every arena where hockey is played has both flags.

As long as we're discussing this song, I have a question. On my original It's Hard CD, at the beginning of the first chorus, Pete's vocal is about half a beat out of synch with the music and background vocals. On the remaster, though, this has been "corrected." What did it sound like on the original LP?

Exactly the same -- out-of-synch...

Thanks. I got so used to hearing it that way, the remaster really threw me off. I have similar issues with the Who Are You remaster. Maybe we should start a new Astley-bashing thread...it's been a while, hasn't it?