The High Numbers is another of the four new releases from the Yellow Dog/Yellow Cat label. The first eleven tracks on the disc are from a new tape source found, according to the pre-release description by YD, in a private collection and has never surfaced before. The latter seven tracks on the disc are said to be from a studio session at Abbey Road studios in the autumn of 1964.
The concert recording is a rough and distorted audience recording. There are a handful of High Numbers recordings floating around, but this one does sound different than the others and is truely unique. All such early Who recordings are special and this is no exception. What strikes me as I listen to this is how much more dependent on the blues they were than their later years. Not to say that it disappeared altogether, but they have a heavy "Yardbirdish" air to them during this era. The highlight of the set is a great version of "Smokestack Lightning" segued into the Barret Strong classic "Money (That's What I Want)".
The studio sessions are purely instrumental. The only point of intrest is a hint of "A Quick One While He's Away" in an instrumental jam between "I'm A Man" and "Memphis Tenessee". The sound quality is obviously much better than the audience recording. Overall a highly recommended release all around.
