The Who's mighty catalog of beautiful, poignant, and often silly pop songs bashed out with Cassius Clay finesse has suffered in the past at the hands of multiple, butcher-shop best-ofs and horrible packaging. But this thrilling band--undeniably one of ye classicke rocke's greatest--gets the career-spanning entry-point compilation it deserves with the double-disc Ultimate Collection. The songs included here are no-brainers, for the most part--if they aren't huge hits like "My Generation," "I Can See for Miles," or "Baba O'Riley," they're long-standing fan favorites such as "Boris the Spider," "Pure and Easy," and "Squeeze Box." And while this reviewer wishes different songs were chosen from Tommy, and more than one tune was gathered from their arguably finest (and definitely silliest) album, The Who Sell Out, this record really isn't for fans (aside from the total trainspotter types) but for newcomers. --Mike McGonigal

1. I Can't Explain 
2. Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere 
3. My Generation 
4. The Kids Are Alright 
5. A Legal Matter 
6. Substitute 
7. I'm A Boy 
8. Boris The Spider 
9. Happy Jack 
10. Pictures Of Lily 
11. I Can See For Miles 
12. Call Me Lightning 
13. Magic Bus 
14. Pinball Wizard 
15. I'm Free 
16. See Me, Feel Me 
17. The Seeker 
18. Summertime Blues (Live) 
19. My Wife 
20. Baba O'Riley 
21. Bargain 
Disc: 2 
1. Behind Blue Eyes 
2. Won't Get Fooled Again 
3. Let's See Action 
4. Pure & Easy 
5. Join Together 
6. Long Live Rock 
7. The Real Me 
8. 5:15 
9. Love Regin O'er Me 
10. Squeeze Box 
11. Who Are You 
12. Sister Disco 
13. You Better You Bet 
14. Eminence Front