The Who Announce 50th Anniversary Vinyl Reissues

As part of the Who's ongoing 50th anniversary celebration, which already includes a world tour, comprehensive hits collection and new single, the band will reissue each of its studio albums on vinyl, as well as a 7" box containing its first eight single releases.

The news comes courtesy of the band's official site, which argues that "there is no more significant a milestone in rock music than the 50th anniversary" and adds, "through the decades, the Who redefined rock music as we know it and their influence continues in all areas of popular culture to this day."

On March 24, all 11 of the band's studio LPs return to stores on 180-gram vinyl, remastered in 24/96 format, along with a two-LP vinyl edition of the recent hits collection 'The Who Hits 50!.' Each release includes the original artwork, and the reissues of 'Tommy,' 'The Who Sell Out,' 'Quadrophenia' and 'Face Dances' all include the extras and inserts included in the original releases.

These will be followed on April 7 with 'The Brunswick Singles 1965-66,' what's being billed as "the first in a series of 7" singles box sets." 'Brunswick' collects the group's first seven singles as the Who, as well as their 'Zoot Suit' release as the High Numbers, all packaged in replica Brunswick sleeves and bound in a display-ready box with a color booklet containing liner notes about each track. Here's what's included:

'I Can’t Explain' b/w 'Bald Headed Woman' (1965)
'Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere' b/w 'Daddy Rolling Stone' (1965)
'My Generation' b/w 'Shout and Shimmy' (1965)
'Circles' b/w 'Instant Party Mixture' (unreleased as a single)
'A Legal Matter' b/w 'Instant Party' (1966)
'The Kids Are Alright' b/w 'The Ox' (1966)
'La-La-La Lies' b/w 'The Good’s Gone' (1966)
'Zoot Suit' b/w 'I’m the Face' (1964)

Finally, on April 18, the band is scheduled to release a blue vinyl edition of their recent 'Be Lucky' single as an exclusive for Record Store Day. Fittingly, the flip side will contain their first single from 1965, 'I Can't Explain,' remastered in "glorious mono."

For more information about all of these releases -- and to pre-order the studio album reissues and Brunswick singles -- visit the Who's site.

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