The Ultimate Collection

Disc 1
1	I Can't Explain
2	Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere
3	My Generation
4	The Kids Are Alright
5	A Legal Matter
6	Substitute
7	I'm a Boy
8	Happy Jack
9	Boris the Spider
10	Pictures of Lily
11	I Can See for Miles
12	Call Me Lightning
13	Magic Bus
14	Pinball Wizard
15	I'm Free
16	See Me, Feel Me
17	Young Man Blues
18	The Seeker
19	Summertime Blues Live
20	Baba O'Riley
21	Bargain
Disc 2
1	Behind Blue Eyes
2	Won't Get Fooled Again
3	Pure and Easy
4	Let's See Action
5	Join Together
6	Long Live Rock
7	The Real Me
8	5:15
9	Love Reign O'Er Me
10	Squeeze Box
11	Who Are You
12	Sister Disco
13	You Better You Bet
14	Eminence Front

Barnes & Noble

Although the Who's catalogue has already produced several retrospectives, this cockily titled collection manages to live up to its name, offering what may well be the most complete and compelling look at the legendary band's career. The 35 tracks presented here follow the 'Oo through all their phases -- from the mod pop of "I Can't Explain" through the groundbreaking sonic boom of "I Can See for Miles" to the crafty latter-day punch of "Eminence Front." All the tunes have been digitally remastered for the occasion, and diehard completists will savor the clutch of alternate takes that pepper the two discs, most notably a stereo mix of "Magic Bus" that detonates with even more potency than the commonly heard mono version. Nicely outfitted with a booklet that includes extensive liner notes by the authors of the acclaimed Who history, Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere, the set perfectly distills the band's potent essence, making it a requisite part of any classic rock collection. And just to drive that point home, the first 175,000 copies include a four-track bonus disc featuring "Substitute" (rare U.S. single version), "I'm a Boy" (early version), "Magic Bus" (U.K. single version), and a previously unreleased acoustic version of "Happy Jack." David Sprague

All Music Guide

Following in the footsteps not only of Universal's many Ultimate Collection, but also the Beatles 1 -- a groundbreaking collection in the sense that it proved that a collection that contains all the hits will actually sell on CD (thereby proving the cynical ploy of leaving hits off a compilation in order to sell catalog is flawed) -- the Who's 2002 compilation The Ultimate Collection attempts to collect all their hits, all their anthems in one place. It fits that bill very well, providing all the big items from "I Can't Explain" to "Emenince Front" as it spans two discs and 35 tracks. Sure, fans will find personal favorites missing, whether it's "A Quick One While He's Away" or "Athena," while collectors will note that it contains everything from the previous attempt at an exhaustive CD compilation, 1996's My Generation: The Very Best of the Who, but it doesn't matter, because this is the best summation of their career for a general audience yet assembled. It functions as both an introduction and as the one Who album listeners who just want the hits will need. Stephen Thomas Erlewine