The Who's Debut Album That Wasn't

Photo by David Wedgbury

In June 1965 the British monthly music publication "Beat Instrumental" saw writer John Emery review an acetate recording played to him by producer Shel Talmy of what was hoped would be tracks from the band's forthcoming debut LP. The tracks were produced by Shel Talmy and were:

1. "I'm A Man"

2. "Heatwave"

3. "I Don't Mind"

4. "Lubie"

5. "You're Going To Know Me (Out In The Street)"

6. "Please, Please, Please"

7. "Leaving Here"

8. "Motorin'"

9. "Shout And Shimmy"

After a particularly unpleasant review (see a small selection below) it was decided by the band's managers Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp that the album would be scraped and The Who would go back to the drawing board removing five of the tracks from what would become their debut album "My Generation", released by Brunswick (LAT 8616) in the U.K. on December 3, 1965 and relying more on group originals penned by in house budding songwriter Pete Townshend instead of soul/r&b covers.  

"Shel played me an acetate of the nine tracks but before I even heard them, one thing hit me slap in the face just looking at the titles-the lack of originality in choice of material. Of the nine songs eight were revived American items, originally recorded by James Brown, Martha and The Vandellas and Bo Diddley. True they are given the distinctive Who treatment but that might not be enough if they want to make a big impression with the album"-John Emery.

"I'm A Man" (originally by Bo Diddley) had been in the band's set dating back to their Detours days while Martha and the Vandellas "Heatwave" was another stage favorite and would eventually be re-recorded and utilized on the band's second long player "A Quick One" (Reaction 593 002 December 5, 1966). It was later captured by French TV in a special that filmed them performing live at the Marquee Club. James Brown's "I Don't Mind" and "Please Please Please" both survived the scathing review and were included on the band's substantially revamped debut LP "My Generation" (Brunswick LAT 8616 December 3, 1965). "Lubie", though credited to Pete Townshend , is a re-write of Paul Revere and the Raiders 1964 single "Louie Go Home". It would remain unreleased until unearthed for 1985's Who compilation "Who's Missing". "You're Gonna Know Me (Out In The Street"), the only original on the acetate survived the purge and joined the James Brown covers on "My Generation". Eddie Holland's "Leaving Here" had been recorded by the band multiple times, once as the High Numbers and twice with Shel Talmy. Here's where it gets tricky because it's not certain which of the two Talmy versions were utilized on the acetate but it was not officially released until "Who's Missing". Martha and the Vandellas "Motoring" was also shelved, not seeing the light of day until the 1987 Who compilation "Two's Missing". Jame's Brown's "Shout And Shimmy", also a live favorite eventually graced the B-side of their third single, October 1965's smash "My Generation". 

The finished product December 3, 1965