I was at the Boston Garden on Dec. 3, 1973.  If you were ever at the old Boston Garden, after entering North Station, you went to the ticket taking area, where in addition to taking your ticket, they pat searched you for contraband.  Being a young wippersnapper back then, my buddies and I came up with a plan to smuggle in four bottles of Boone's Farm wine (ugh).  There were five of us and I wore an old pea coat with the liner ripped out and pockets sewn inside.  With the Boone's Farm stashed inside, the four other guys surrounded me, and we bum rushed the security.  I made it though untouched.  We then procedded to our seats and enjoyed the unknown Lynyrd Skynyrd and waited for The Who to arrive on stage.  By the time they arrived, about two bottles later and about four bones on, The Who hit the stage.  I thought it was a great show, but the band didn't like the way the crowd kept calling out requests during the Quadrophenia songs.  When they left the stage, everyone waited for an encore, but it never came.  The band was so pissed off, they didn't come out to play an encore.  They are the only major group I have ever seen, and I've seen just about everyone except the Beatles and Led Zep, that wouldn't do an encore.  But I still had a great time. 

So, the bottom line is, the 12/3 tape isn't from Boston because it has an encore.  There it is. 

If these shows were available for download, I'd be all over them.  I think this is my favorite period of the Who and enjoy listening to them on The Vault.