MBB&B is a classic Who collection, commemorating the days when the Who were a singles band. If you want to know how great a collection it was/is, do some research and find the original review of the album in Rolling Stone. The reviewer was one Pete Townshend, and he'll set you straight on just how important this collection was/is.

Why is it still important? Well, God knows that there's no scarcity of Who "greatest hits" collections, but this was the first and by far the most necessary, as many of the singles hadn't been released on LP or were released on some shabby product (like Magic Bus). Furthermore, the LP is the only place you can find the extended version of Magic Bus. For some reason, this version was not used on the CD. A previous reviewer stated that was because they could only find the fake stereo master; I don't know if I buy that. This also features a GREAT extended STEREO version of I'm A Boy that is available nowhere else, and this DOES appear on this CD version.

If you're a huge Who fan, you have to hunt down the LP version of MBB&B to get the great extended version of Magic Bus, but this CD is still worth the money to get this sequencing and the great I'm A Boy.

Almost containing all the singles realesed by the Who from 1965-1968 yet missing a few(A Quick On While He's Away, Magic Bus) But all in all its the best Who CD if you just want too focus on there early stuff. Its all here all the songs like, I Cant Explain, My Generation, The Kids Are All Right, just a great cd,
you need this cd if you listen to the who

Peter Townshend described this album as the Best Who Album.
What more could be said?

As a survey of the early-to-mid period Who (1965-1970), Meaty Beaty Big & Bouncy is about as good as it gets. It features the hits ("Pinball Wizard," "My Generation") and beloved album tracks ("Boris The Spider," "A Legal Matter") with generally excellent sound quality and good sequencing. Since a lot of the band's best songs from this period were released as single-only, non LP tracks, this compilation is an excellent way to fill in the gaps in your Who collection- and therefore your rock collection. Take it from me, this is fantastic music. Nothing more needs to be said. Damn, short review.

This edition contains the previously unavailable long version of "Magic Bus", clocking in at 4:33.

While I'm not the greatest Who rarities historian, I believe there was only one other CD, a long-OOP 1985 import compilation ("The Who Collection Volume 2"), that contained this LP-only-rarity.

According to an excellent Who rarities site, (thewho.info/Rarities1.htm), this is a correct assumption.

This track has also, along with all the other material on this 'sleeve edition, been remastered. While still only in its original LP simulated stereo, "Magic Bus" probably sounds as good as it is ever going to.

This limited edition mini-sleeve is already OOP in Japan, and fast disappearing into private Who collections, so don't delay in getting yours.

WHAT IS A JAPAN "MINI-LP-SLEEVE" CD?

Have you ever lamented the loss of one of the 20th Century's great art forms, the 12" vinyl LP jacket? Then "mini-LP-sleeve" CD's may be for you.

Mini-sleeve CDs are manufactured in Japan under license. The disc is packaged inside a 13.5MM X 13.5MM cardboard-sleeve, precision-miniature replica of the original classic vinyl-LP album. Also, everything else packaged with the original LP is precisely replicated and included, such as gatefolds, booklets, lyric sheets, posters, printed LP sleeves, stickers, embosses, special LP cover paper/inks/textures and die cuts. An English-language lyric sheet is also included, even if the original LP did not have printed lyrics.

Then, there's the sonic quality: Often (but not always), mini-sleeves have Japan-dedicated remastering (20-Bit, 24-Bit, DSD, K2 or K2HD, and/or HDCD), and can often (but not always) be superior to the audio on the same title anywhere else in the world. There also may be bonus tracks unavailable elsewhere.

Each Japan mini-sleeve has an "OBI" ("oh-bee"), a Japan-language promotional strip. The OBI often also lists the original album's release date, the Japan street date of that particular disc, the catalog number, and mastering info. Bonus tracks are always only listed on the OBI, maintaining the integrity of the original LP artwork.

The enthusiasm of mini-sleeve collecting must be tempered, however, with avoiding fake copies of Japan `sleeves manufactured in Russia and distributed throughout the world, primarily on eBay. They are inferior in quality, worthless in collectable value, a total waste of money, and should be avoided at all costs.

Also, there are older Japan mini-sleeve releases that have been supplanted with newer ones, usually with updated audio (such as JVC-Japan replacing older K2-mastered titles with new K2HD mastered releases).

All mini-sleeve releases are limited edition, but re-pressings/re-issues are becoming more common with some of the Japanese companies (but, again, not always). Mini-sleeve collecting can get expensive quickly, so, if you're a novice, it is highly advisable to seek the advice of an experienced `sleeve collector!