18 Jun 2022
It’s Hard 2-LP is out today for Record Store Day 2022!
18 June 2022: Out today! This year’s release from The Who for Record Store Day 2022 is a 40th anniversary edition of their 1982 album It’s Hard. The original album has been remastered by Jon Astley, cut at half speed by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios and pressed on 180 gram heavyweight orange and yellow vinyl. The album is spread over three sides of the 2-LP set. Side Four on the second LP includes four previously unreleased tracks including the much-anticipated version of ‘Eminence Front’ featuring a lead vocal by Roger Daltrey.
Originally released on 4 September 1982, It’s Hard was the last studio album to include bass guitarist John Entwistle who sadly passed away in 2002. It was also the last studio album to feature drummer Kenney Jones.
The four bonus tracks include ‘Eminence Front’ with Roger on lead vocal, an alternative mix of ‘Cry If You Want’, ‘One Life’s Enough’ with a lead vocal by Pete Townshend and an unedited 1997 remix of John Entwistle’s song ‘Dangerous’.
The 40th anniversary edition of It’s Hard also includes a full-colour poster.
To find your local participating store please visit Record Store Day US or Record Store Day UK
TRACK LIST
SIDE ONE
- Athena
- It’s Your Turn
- Cooks County
- It’s Hard
SIDE TWO
- Dangerous
- Eminence Front
- I’ve Known No War
SIDE THREE
- One Life’s Enough
- One At A Time
- Why Did I Fall for That
- A Man Is A Man
- Cry If You Want
SIDE FOUR
- Eminence Front (Lead vocal: Roger with Pete)
- Cry If You Want (Early Alternative Mix)
- One Life’s Enough (Vocal: Pete)
- Dangerous (1997 Unedited Mix)
FINE, IT IS ONE OF THE BEST WHO RECORD OF ALL THE TIME… I WILL WAIT FOR AN EXPANDED AND REMASTERED EDITION OF WHO’S LAST. THE KENNEY JONES ERA CONCERTS ARE THE FAVORITE OF MINE…
A PRAYER: WHEN CAN WE SEE A SUPER DELUXE OF THE WHO BY NUMBERS WITH TONS OF OUTTAKES AND ALTERNATE VERSIONS INCLUDING THE COMPLETE CONCERTS OF SWANSEA 1976 AND PONTIAC 1975?
Now that “Face Dances” & “It’s Hard” have had record store day releases, will these same masters be used for the studio reissue campaign? I know it’s too early to ask, but I was just curious!
So, I can’t quite understand why one album is taking up three sides. Is this done for better definition? It isn’t something that has been done on the other half speed masters. Or was it because there wasn’t enough surplus bonus material to fill a full disc?
By putting the original album over three sides you get less compression and therefore a much better sound quality.
Got this today at my local record store. I’ve never heard It’s Hard sound better. Great remastering. All the instruments come through, and the bonus tracks are awesome. This is an album I journeyed away from the last 20 years, but it’s back and sounding like it might have stood the test of time.
As per an older question, the RSD releases of Face Dances and It’s Hard are described as having the same treatment as the black vinyl release programme.
Basically I can’t afford afford to collect every release so would like to know if it will be released later on or whether I should get these while they’re still around.
Hope you can help. “Its hard” choosing! (Sorry. Couldn’t resist)