- Included among the Record Descriptions of Favorite Albums (Part 1).
- In the U.K., hit singles are often left off studio albums; thus, as a compilation of the Who’s British singles, Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy is an important record.
The Who – Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy (1971): In the U.K., hit singles are often left off studio albums released by rock bands; that almost never happens in the U.S. Thus, as a compilation of the Who’s British singles, Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy serves an important purpose. While this album is not the first retrospective album by the Who, it is fair to say that Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy is the first well-programmed compilation. Particularly in their early years – the album was first released in 1971, although this particular disk is dated 1977 – the Who is a no-holds-barred powerhouse that describes their music as “maximum R&B”. The odd album title Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy is a group of descriptives of the bandmembers: “Meaty” is lead vocalist Roger Daltrey who has an impressive physique; “Beaty” is Keith Moon, due to his drumming; “Big” is bassist John Entwistle, often called “the Ox” because of his large size; and “Bouncy” refers to guitarist Pete Townshend who is known for his acrobatic movements during concerts, as well as his “windmill” guitar technique.
The album covers are an inspired creation; the front cover shows the band looking out of a window of an apartment building at themselves as children on the front steps, while the opposite is true on the back cover. Like the first retrospective album by the Rolling Stones, Big Hits (High Tide and Green Grass) (1966), Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy is a breath-taking detonation of music, with one great song after another on both sides of the album. Several, though far from all of these songs are also U.S. hits: “Happy Jack”, “I Can See for Miles”, “Magic Bus”, and “Pinball Wizard” made at least the Top 15 in the U.S.; and “The Seeker” reached the Top 30 here. Despite being familiar Who songs by the time this album was released, “Pictures of Lily” missed the Top 50 in this country; while “I Can’t Explain”, “My Generation”, “Substitute”, “The Kids Are Alright”, and “I’m a Boy” barely charted in the U.S. in their original releases, if at all. “Boris the Spider” was not issued as a single in the U.K. or the U.S.; but this popular near-novelty song, written and sung by John Entwistle, is performed regularly by the Who in concert. Several hit singles by the Who are left off Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy; as an example, “Pinball Wizard” is the only single from Tommy, even though “See Me, Feel Me” and “I’m Free” are also hits from that rock opera, with the latter song out-performing “Pinball Wizard” on the record charts. Also omitted is “Summertime Blues”; this song is also a staple in Who concerts and was first released on their concert album Live at Leeds (1970).