I believe Entwistle remixed or even replaced the bass tracks for the soundtrack. A lot more like his powerful live bass sound They usually tone his sound down in the studi9o because of the more dense arrangements on the records.
@@ChickenatorJr So we're all in violent agreement that Daily Doug, Rick Beato, and The Charismatic Voice are the giants of music reaction/analysis videos? 😀
@@kennethbenson2931 Not sure there's ANYBODY wasn't heavily influenced by The Who. "Talkin' 'bout my generation!" Unless they say, "What was Woodstock?" which case, Next question: Heard of Elvis? How about Mohamed Ali? Well, supposedly was "This guy named Jesus, the Christ I think he went by, may have even wrote a book about him." Then, er, ahem ... Try some of these gummier bears ... more gummy than ever! Maybe not QUITE that apocryphal, but c'mon. They have this sporting event, I think it's called the Super Bowl. Word is this band called The Who, well, made it on a Halftime Show. Wasn't THAT long after these things called "The Towers," apparently looked like twins, then "some people" did "something" to knock them down. Happened in a country called The United, since it was made up of a cooperative group of States. No tellin' ... not everybody was the born day before yesterday, is all. Gave me a great big Rush, right up my left cerebrum, to think all that up, so hope it's all in good fun. Is my ride here?
Masterpiece album. To realize how great of a band they were, they were voted favorite band in my high school yearbook. I graduated in 1984! Years and years after their greatest works.
I graduated in 1979, and I remember there was a constant debate in our high school over which was the greatest band - The Who or Led Zeppelin. To me there was no contest. The Who was, by far, the greatest band to see live. And, sorry Robert Plant, no one came close to the power of Roger Daltrey’s singing. The Who were on fire in the 70’s and I was so lucky to be there for it!
Few albums bring chills down my arms, and tears to my eyes. Every song on this record is a masterpiece. Pete and Roger's voices contrast each other so well
I turned seventeen in the summer of '71. This was the album of this and the next summer. Bob Dylan writes poetry and anthems. So does Pete Townsend. If you've ever lost your soul to someone, "Bargain" is for you. "My Wife" is Ox, check out "Trick Of The Light". Big-time adult rock and roll, L+G.
@@ransbarger Seventy-one was the summer of LSD for me. Twice-three times/week, occasionally. It was the East Coast version of the "Summer of Love", which would actually continue for a few more years, thank God. All the big songs of FM radio that summer are literally burnt into my memory.
Townshend is a conductor of pure energy, Daltrey the epitome of youth, health, power & wonder, Entwistle a dark brooding shadow god of music, & Moon ... Moon ....well, a demonic grinning hyperactive playful insanely talented imp drummer maybe? What a band!
That pianist is the late great Nicky Hopkins who played with Quicksliver Messenger Service and recorded with the Who and the Rolling Stones. An outstanding rock pianist!
Also there were a number of songs left over from the Life House project that didn't make this album but served as a number of singles. Join Together, The Relay and Pure And Easy.
For my bucks, Quadrophenia beats Tommy hands down. Both are great, but Q reveals what Townsend learned from composing Tommy. Then of course there is Sell Out...their first truly great album.
Quadrophenia has aged MUCH better than Tommy. Tommy's got good stuff in it, sure. But Q just absolutely represents the pinnacle of the Who as a band, of Townshend as a songwriter. It is the ultimate example of something being greater than the sum of its parts; it all flows so well together as a unified whole.
Since Doug likes to dig into the backstory of songs/albums and since this is a concept album, I'm sure he would love reading the album liner notes (the story) for Quadrophenia.
I have watched many USA reactions on here to, The Who. None of them see what I see. Doug, you may have touched close to it; but remember: I'm still a mod, I'll always be a mod, you can bury me a mod. Paul Weller.
"Song is Over" was originally the final song of "Lifehouse." The last verse is from a song called "Pure and Easy" which Pete said was the first song written for the projected opera. He does a nice version of it on a solo album he produced in late 1972 dedicated to Meher Baba, called "Who Came First." You're one of the first reviewers I've seen who's tapped into Pete's spiritual depth.
You're not listening to drumming as a compositional element. "Bargain" is very simple from the point of view of chords and melody, but Moon's drumming elevates everything. And I don't just mean his manic, flurry-of-toms style at the climaxes--it's the way he holds back when the song needs him to hold back, and only unleashes when it's appropriate. My favorite example of this is "Who Are You?". Listen to that just for the drums. I don't think a drummer transforms songs in this way again until Jimmy Chamberlin in Smashing Pumpkins. And yes, I'm including John Bonham in that, who was more a piece in a collective rather than someone who could lift a song up on the back of his drumming...
The piano in "The Song Is Over" was played by the late/great Nicky Hopkins, one of the best piano session players. Check out his piano in the Who song "They're All In Love" on the album Who By Numbers.
Or "We Love You" "She's a Rainbow" ,"Sympathy for the Devil" , "No Expectations", "Monkey Man" ,"Sway", "Loving Cup" and "Ventilator Blues" with the Stones.... Jefferson Airplane (Volunteers album), Quicksilver Messenger Service, the Kinks, first two jJeff Beck albums..Nicky was one of the best!
@@daddyboy3546 Nicky also played on The Who's 1971 non album single Let's See Action, the late 60's outtake Now I'm a Farmer which was collected on the Odds and Sods rarities album and wrote the arrangement for the outro of Christmas in the film version of Tommy with all the overlapping Christmas carol melodies. He played piano on that as well.
In every one of the dozens of household moves I've experienced, once the stereo is set up and the listening room ready, THIS is the first album that christens the new home
Rogers voice in this album was just so phenomenal and clear and powerful, love the commentary and well deserved use of the word "iconic"!! Funny I have loved THE WHO my whole life and was really drawn to Pete's voice lol - they are all so gifted!!!
Wow Doug where to start? Your analysis is always brilliant thanks you've breathed some fresh air in a time where great music needs to be reconsiderd in a good way. John Entwistle did some great solo work he worked with Frampton alot. Entwistle's tour de force was his work on Who Are You he was at his very best as a song writer and bass player that Townshend gave him room to stretch out. Give it a listen. Thanks again.
Check out The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again" - the Shepperton Studios version is particularly fascinating. It was also the last performance of Keith Moon.
'My Wife' is one of my secret favorite Who tracks. Not sure many Who fans would concur, but I just find it hilarious and charming. The Ox is (was) one of a kind.
The whole album is a masterpiece. Baba O Riley is always in my top 5 favourite tunes of all time (and that's from a music collection of over 50,000 tunes....and from every era from the 40's 50's 60's onwards)
This is easily one of the greatest rock albums of all time. What I love about The Who, is that they can create something really powerful that is simultaneously beautiful. Baba O'Riley is exhibit A. I love every song on this album.
Doug, you have to do the double album "Quadrophenia" by THE WHO. Mind blowing! When I saw them in 2012 they performed the entire Quadrophenia album from start to finish. It was Phenomenal !! Have a great day!
Saw that tour in Providence in February of 2013. It was the first time that The Who returned to Providence since our Mayor at the time cancelled their show in 1978 a week after the incident in Cincinnati.
Obviously a great time for that studio owners. Deep Purple recorded the track Fireball in the studio next to The Who the day after they finished the album. And since Ian Paice wanted to play with two bass drums he went in and borrowed Keith Moons.
That cover photo was a moment where they were driving past a quarry with the photographer in tow and saw the block standing up by itself like the monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey. This was a sort of cheeky response to that iconic ;) film.
Who's Next and Quadraphenia are great lazy rainy day albums. These guys did the biggest trippiest turnaround in rock going from the original punk rock band to progressive rock geniouses. Tommy was jaw dropping. Who's Next was top 5 all time and Quad is the most untalked about masterpiece in rock history. Pete Townsend took that group way beyond what I thought they'd evolve as. The '70s where such a great time for new music. So good it got ya hooked for life!😉 The piano player on "The Song is Over" is Nicky Hopkins a great british session player of his time. RIP
Wow Doug! Let's see side 2 please! This was a large part of the soundtrack of my college life circa 1972-1976. Come back from class, light up a bowl, put on Who's Next. This was the absolute best Daltrey ever sounded, and as you say Entwistle was a great bass player without really standing out. Now after side 2 let's move on to Quadrophenia. More proof that Townsend is an awesome songwriter and Entwistle is one of the greatest bassists ever. And let's not forget Moon, who did fills way more than keeping time, and that's what made him great.
Another great video!! I'm quite envious of that pipe of yours, I used to love what having a smoke used to do my perception of music. I can't do it anymore though, or I daren't, to be more precise. The last time, only a couple of months back, scared the crap out of me! I literally felt like something was trying to take my life, I was pacing back and forth, marching on the spot...anything just keep moving because I "knew" that if I stopped I was going to fall dead! Absolutely terrifying! Anyway, more than anyone wanted or needed to know, sorry about that. Love your work, Doug, thanks!
Quadrophenia is my favorite Who album....excellent cranked to 7 on my early 80's pioneer rack through my JBL studio monitors. I have to wait til wife is out to do it.
This is one of those rare albums that every track is something you want to hear (no picking up the needle in the old days to skip over tracks!), when side one was done you knew you had to go get up and flip over the record. Will be looking for your side two reaction. On to something new, knowing your appreciation for Tull, Floyd etc., certainly hope that somewhere, someone has recommended this outstanding debut release from 1969, "In The Court Of The Crimson King" (King Crimson). Nothing up to this time sounded anything like this one and it has withstood the test of time, hope you will react to it someday. ruclips.net/p/PLXhfRoiJBIiuXOUv_7EJ1i7UKj0aGfy0U
BTW, The Who is my favorite band by Miles & Miles. Pete is Brilliant. The Bargain he’s looking for is God. Oh heck I could breakdown this entire album for you. Quite a bit of references to women are really to God & enlightenment.
While driving a limo in NYC back in 1987, I was dispatched to the Penta Hotel to pick up a Mr. Daltrey and take him to JFK Airport. He was very friendly, talked to me the whole 45 minute trip and he gave me 2 of his latest CDs, one signed to my 5 year old daughter and one signed for ME. $65 tip, too. RockOn, Doug. (PS: I looked up JUST as I was finishing this post and, you showed us your pipe. BlazeOn, Doug. I'm WAY ahead of you.) PPS: MY WIFE was written and sung by John Entwistle. Sort of like The Beatles letting Ringo do OCTOPUS'S GARDEN. It was an old song of John's and wasn't written specifically for the album. Done. FINITO.
According to Glyn Johns Pete turned up with demo tapes that were perfect and all he had to do was just let the band do their bit. He also said that PT was one of the few people who could work an ARP let alone get a tune out of it
Just by accident, I saw the WHO in Dallas, in 1973 as a teen. The warm up band was a band I had never heard of called Lynard Skynard. So, proudly, I heard Free Bird for the first time live in Dallas in 1973, it stood out to me as a awesome song with the double lead, it was crazy, I hardly remember the Who...LOL. I would see the WHO a second time in 1982 in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Before the encore I kept yelling "Magic Bus," "Magic Bus" and the Who came out for the encore and opened with Magic Bus, people everywhere started passing me joints and patting me on the back, like I willed the song to happen... great days of my youth. Big Who fan for over 50 years!!
Thank you for this Doug. The Who is my favorite band, Who's Next is my favorite album, and The Song Is Over is my favorite song of all time, the one I always get emotional when I revisit, and seeing you dig the song that means so much to me through all my life was something nice to watch
Since you have the remaster, you need to keep going into the bonus tracks. "Pure and Easy" was meant to be the centerpiece of the "sci-fi" story, and it's masterful. And the live version of "Naked Eye" is sublime. (Pete and Roger duet as the couple breaking up.)
'Song is Over' refrains back in reflection to the song "Pure n Easy", done by both The Who and later off Pte Townshend's solo album Who Came First (worth a listen!).
Houston '75 is a great DVD and that's just an average night from the 1975 tour, Detroit '75 was an even better show but only footage of the second half circulates.
I played this so many times when I was a teenager - along with Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Yes snd some southern fried rock. Also, some Black Sabbath, Rush and The Allman Brothers. I forgot about Bargain it is one of my favs although this whole album was amazing.
I saw The Who live in Newcastle-upon-Tyne U.K. on their "Greatest Hits" tour in 2000. They were great, one of the best gigs of my life, I still have the program.
I Can't tell you how many copies of this Great Album I wore out since it was released! I really appreciate your approach to Reaction Videos, and I've even begun listening to some of your original liturgical music. Very soothing stuff, so far. I don't know if you're familiar with The Who/London Symphony Orchestra recording of "Tommy", but the vocal performances are magnificent! Vocal performances by Sandy Denny ; Graham Bell; Maggie Bell; Steve Winwood: Richie Havens; Merry Clayton; Rod Stewart; Ringo Starr; Richard Harris (Narrator) and of course, Pete Roger and John! I'd love to hear you break that recording!
Interesting note....the theme songs for all five TV shows in the CSI franchise use remixed Who songs. "Baba O'Riley" was used on CSI:NY. "Who Are You"was on the original CSI show.
As a kid, I was totally obsessed with the chord progression in My Wife. And yes, Entwhistle played the brass parts. He also played the French horn parts in Tommy.
The Who remains my favorite group after over 50 years of listening to them. i have seen them 9 times (would have been 10 but last concert cancelled due to covid), 8 of those times with my wife, 3 of those times with our daughters, and two of those with kids and their spouses. Great memories!
"Excepting one note, pure and easy Playing so free, like a breath rippling by" As you probably know this was the album salvaged from a multi-media concept by Pete (Lifehouse). This refers to a song from that concept that did not make Who's Next. It is on Odds and Sods, a album of songs that didn't make albums. The song is called Pure and Easy.
The thing about this album is that pretty much EVERY SINGLE TRACK was played to some extent or another on Album/Rock radio stations (a popular station format from the late '60s through mid '80s. I was born in '64 and so was a little young for their heyday but when I finally got around to buying this LP in the early '80s I had heard all nine tracks on it many times over. Friends who I introduced to it at the time thought it was a greatest hits album...
From Wikipedia (regarding the intro on ‘Baba O’Reily’: ‘The repeating set of notes (known technically as Ostinato) in "Baba O'Riley" that opens and underlies the song was derived from the Lifehouse concept, where Townshend wanted to input the vital signs and personality of Meher Baba into a synthesiser, which would then generate music based on that data. When this idea fell through, Townshend instead recorded a Lowrey Berkshire Deluxe TBO-1 organ using its marimba repeat feature to generate them.[11] This modal approach was inspired by the work of minimalist composer Terry Riley.’
The Who owned the night of that first-responders concert! Never has there been a more exultant, cathartic reaction from an audience like the world witnessed during this set. The band really fed off that emotion and returned the favor during that set. MAGIC! A little trivia: The drummer is Ringo Starr's son, Zack Starkey.
It's hard to believe but the keyboard at the beginning (and throughout) Baba O'Riley is not a synthesizer, nor a sequencer controlling a keyboard. It's actually a Lowrey home organ with a built-in arpeggiator preset called "marimba repeat". Instead of notes repeating in regular fashion when played, certain notes are repeated either on or off the beat, creating the complicated pattern. For example when the notes F, F#, G, B, C and C# are played they repeat on the beat, while notes G#, A, A#, D, D#, and E when played repeat off beat (i.e., a dotted note). Obviously there is a preset tempo, but when Pete plays chords, the on-beat and off-beat repeats create the incredible pattern. ( believe Pete found a way to control the repeat tempo by modifying a component inside the Lowrey.) Yes, it's true that Pete had ARP 2500 and 2600 synthesizers at the time, but he was just learning how to get sounds from them when Baba O'Riley (and Won't Get Fooled Again) were created. He also had a simpler synthesizer called the Putney. Some gentle filtering sweeps were applied by one of the synths to Won't Get Fooled Again, but you can barely hear that affect. The songs on Who's Next that really feature Pete's synthesizer work are Bargain, The Song Is Over, and Goin' Mobile. You can really hear the rich one note melodies Pete used synth for on those songs.
This was always one of my top 5 albums. It wasn't until I heard Pete say that Keith's drumming always went “ba-dum-pum, ba-dum-pa-dum” that I realized it for the first time. I almost fell out of my chair laughing. The realization has only endeared me to Keith more. Then Roger did an iso of Keith's drumming on “Behind Blue Eyes.” That only endeared me to that track even more. For my money, “The Song Is Over” is the best song on the album, and my favorite Who song. But then I was always a Nicky Hopkins fan. His syncopations here are spot on as usual. The song’s crescendo is phenomenal.
My first "REAL" rock concert was The Who at Shea Stadium in 1982 (David Johansen and The Clash opened). Saw them several times after but only once after John died. Not quite the same anymore.
Awesome that you finally got to The Who. Not sure how you can listen to side one and not side two in the same sitting though...I have to listen all the way through. I still say though...you MUST do Quadrophenia...all the way through in one show. It is The Who's ultimate masterpiece :)
Lol. I suddenly realized it as a 15 year old kid sitting next to my Mom in the car on the way back from the record store. When Mom saw it she exclaimed "Those pigs!"
You were curious as to the singer on, 'The Song is Over'. Without reading through 200+ comments, Pete Townsend sang the verses, followed by Roger Daltery on the refrains.
When I was a teenager, Who's Next was the first LP I ever bought. I still have it. I have seen The Who perform live twice in Sydney, 2004 and 2009. One of the greatest thrills in a live concert is the conclusion to Won't Get Fooled Again. The slow, high tension build up from the synth, the rolling and banging drums (Moon or Starkey, it doesn't matter, they're both great), Daltrey's scream and Townshend's crashing guitar chords and then the race to the end. I never tire of it. A masterpiece song on a classic album. Doug, many have said that Quadrophenia is the band's greatest work and I would agree. The growth in Townshend's writing and composition from Tommy is significant and the story is much more mature and nuanced. Side four, with Dr Jimmy, The Rock and Love Reign O'er Me is arguably one of the greatest set of songs ever put on the one side of a rock album.
I'm a bit older than you and I got to see The Who on that "last" tour in September 1982. I was 18 and just starting my freshman year of college. I had a very early Walkman that had a stereo mic and I recorded the show on cassette tape (don't tell anyone). I've since lost that old tape, but I remember on the tape you could hear me and my friends yelling "PETE!" during each song break.
Always remember that the song I’m Free on the Tommy album includes these verses: “If I told you what it takes to reach the highest high, You'd laugh and say 'nothing's that simple' But you've been told many times before Messiahs pointed to the door And no one had the guts to leave the temple” - Pete Townshend -
Thanks for reviewing this classic, in every sense of the word, album. Trivial fact - The end lyric on the fade out of " The Song Is Over" "...excepting one note pure and easy.. IS taken from Townsend's song of the same name " Pure and Easy" which can be found on his exceptional solo album " Who Came First." Pure and Easy is another song from the Lifehouse project and worth hearing , lyrically continuing to explore his eastern philosophical theme you mentioned in "Bargain"
Who's Next is probably one of the best albums of all time. It was the first album that used the synthesizer seriously. All the songs are great and I remember as a teenager in the 70's playing this album time and time again and never getting sick of it.
Their big-three came out one after the other: Tommy, Who's Next, Quadrophenia. These are the albums that sent them into the stratosphere to "epic" status. I suggest reviewing the other two to complete the unholy trinity.
Another vote for "Quadrophenia" as your next whole album reaction. In "The Real Me" it opens with one of the greatest bass performances in rock history, and in "Love Reign O'er Me" it closes with one of the greatest vocal performances. You should also check out the movie.
The line "Excepting one note, Pure and Easy" during the fade out of The Song Is Over is a connection the the song Pure And Easy, which can most easily be found on the Album "Odds & Sods". They were both meant to be originally a part of "The Lighthouse" Project
Re: The Album cover. I asked ChatGPT what the story was with this album cover and here's what it said... The cover of The Who's album "Who's Next" is a photograph of the band members urinating on a large concrete piling protruding from a slag heap, which was taken by photographer Ethan Russell. The idea for the cover came about when the band members were traveling in a convoy of cars on their way to a recording studio in Wales. They stopped to take a break at a service station, but found the facilities were closed. The band members then spotted the slag heap and concrete piling nearby and decided to relieve themselves there. The original concept for the cover was a more elaborate design involving a stonehenge-like structure, but the band members ultimately decided to go with the simpler, more provocative photograph. The image has become iconic in rock and roll history and is often cited as one of the most memorable and controversial album covers of all time. Despite its initial shock value, the cover has come to be regarded as a symbol of the band's rebellious spirit and irreverent attitude.
The bassist, John Entwistle, was a classically trained French Horn player and one other wind instrument. Cannot remember his educational pedigree at the moment, but it was one or two of the British classical facilities. John's classical training influence can be heard through the Who catalog. I was lucky enough to have seen them 4 times ... in 1971, Memphis, TN, and 3 times during their 1982-83 tour 9twice in person and once via satellite from Canada- a huge screen and small room with about 225 people. Their classical influence is deep.
The line at the end of "The Song Is Over" starting with "Excepting one note..." calls back to another song called "Pure and Easy" which was also part of the Lifehouse story but did not make it onto this album. It was placed odd their Odds an Sods outtakes album 3 years later and is an outstanding song. And to echo everyone else.... Quadrophenia is a must listen.
Hiya Doug, as a composer and musician myself I find such joy in your videos !! Thanks so much.. Have you heard the side 2 of the hounds of love album by Kate Bush ? It's brilliant and very unique musically
I heard the monolith on the cover was inspired by the monolith in "2001 Space Odyssey". So is the cover message this: Piss on si-fi epics like "2001" and "Lifehouse"?
Hi Doug, Thanks for reviewing the best album of my alltime favourite band.. It was the first album I ever bought in November 1971. On side B you can hear their anthem Won't Get Fooled Again and 3 other tracks. There are several expanded editions of this masterpiece. The Lifehouse Chronicles (6CD) set is the mother of them all. Enjoy it just as much as I always have and will. Greetings from Amsterdam.
I saw The Who perform at Charlton Field in 1975 (1976?). I thought a sequencer was used to create the synth effect on Baba O'Riley . Interesting sub-text to the title. Keith Moon's showmanship was phenomenal.
Another vote for Quardophenia. Read the liner notes, watch the movie. Entwistle and Moon shine throughout. My favorite album of all time.
Totally agree about the music. Lyrics - ah.. not so bad either, but :)
I believe Entwistle remixed or even replaced the bass tracks for the soundtrack. A lot more like his powerful live bass sound They usually tone his sound down in the studi9o because of the more dense arrangements on the records.
Agree!
For me, Who's Next was their best sounding album but Quad was their best work as a band. Paradise would be having Glyn Johns produce Quadrophenia.
Yes please Quadrophrenia (at least the instrumentals)
All hail Doug Helvering and Rick Beato and those who are making music even more interesting.
Absolutely!!! Both Doug and Rick are great to watch.
Here here!
Yes and also check the Channel called 'the charismatic voice' so good
Don't forget The Charismatic Voice ruclips.net/video/gGKgklIV7Ko/видео.html ruclips.net/video/owoYY-CR-Dc/видео.html
@@ChickenatorJr So we're all in violent agreement that Daily Doug, Rick Beato, and The Charismatic Voice are the giants of music reaction/analysis videos? 😀
Geddy Lee said Who’s Next is his desert island record. So there’s that.
desert island disc ;)
Was going to mention this too! Rush was heavily influenced by The Who and we're all better for it!
@@kennethbenson2931 Not sure there's ANYBODY wasn't heavily influenced by The Who. "Talkin' 'bout my generation!" Unless they say, "What was Woodstock?" which case, Next question: Heard of Elvis? How about Mohamed Ali? Well, supposedly was "This guy named Jesus, the Christ I think he went by, may have even wrote a book about him." Then, er, ahem ... Try some of these gummier bears ... more gummy than ever! Maybe not QUITE that apocryphal, but c'mon. They have this sporting event, I think it's called the Super Bowl. Word is this band called The Who, well, made it on a Halftime Show. Wasn't THAT long after these things called "The Towers," apparently looked like twins, then "some people" did "something" to knock them down. Happened in a country called The United, since it was made up of a cooperative group of States. No tellin' ... not everybody was the born day before yesterday, is all. Gave me a great big Rush, right up my left cerebrum, to think all that up, so hope it's all in good fun. Is my ride here?
Geddy is the man
@@susandavidson3344 Hello, Ranty McRanterson.
It‘s a Lowrey home organ set to Marimba Repeat on Baba O‘Riley.
For those who might be interested - The Who will be playing at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on April 30, 2022.
What a way to start an album. The use of that synth was groundbreaking in 1971. Then the violin ending……just wow.
Masterpiece album. To realize how great of a band they were, they were voted favorite band in my high school yearbook. I graduated in 1984! Years and years after their greatest works.
Damn...what a difference a few years makes. I graduated in 1990 and I think the biggest band of that year was New Kids on the Block. lol.
I graduated in 1979, and I remember there was a constant debate in our high school over which was the greatest band - The Who or Led Zeppelin. To me there was no contest. The Who was, by far, the greatest band to see live. And, sorry Robert Plant, no one came close to the power of Roger Daltrey’s singing. The Who were on fire in the 70’s and I was so lucky to be there for it!
Few albums bring chills down my arms, and tears to my eyes. Every song on this record is a masterpiece.
Pete and Roger's voices contrast each other so well
My favorite rock album. No flaws!
In my humble opinion Their best album. Not a bad track to be found.
I turned seventeen in the summer of '71. This was the album of this and the next summer. Bob Dylan writes poetry and anthems. So does Pete Townsend. If you've ever lost your soul to someone, "Bargain" is for you. "My Wife" is Ox, check out "Trick Of The Light". Big-time adult rock and roll, L+G.
@@TheCenteroftheUniverse Oh what a summer that was! We wore this cassette out real quick.
@@ransbarger Seventy-one was the summer of LSD for me. Twice-three times/week, occasionally. It was the East Coast version of the "Summer of Love", which would actually continue for a few more years, thank God.
All the big songs of FM radio that summer are literally burnt into my memory.
Townshend is a conductor of pure energy, Daltrey the epitome of youth, health, power & wonder, Entwistle a dark brooding shadow god of music, & Moon ... Moon ....well, a demonic grinning hyperactive playful insanely talented imp drummer maybe? What a band!
That pianist is the late great Nicky Hopkins who played with Quicksliver Messenger Service and recorded with the Who and the Rolling Stones. An outstanding rock pianist!
Along with Led Zeppelin IV and Deep Purple's Machine Head, one of the three most consistent and best hard rock albums of the seventies... IMHO
Also there were a number of songs left over from the Life House project that didn't make this album but served as a number of singles. Join Together, The Relay and Pure And Easy.
Join Together is definitely underrated, agree with your other comment Entwistle was a bass beast, his playing at times was astonishing.
Doug Helvering, check out Quadraphenia by The Who. Since been turned into an orchestral work. It's just awesome.
For my bucks, Quadrophenia beats Tommy hands down. Both are great, but Q reveals what Townsend learned from composing Tommy. Then of course there is Sell Out...their first truly great album.
Yes! Quadraphonic! Brilliant, brilliant album.
Quadrophenia is an epic drum and bass tour de force! Absolute masterpiece. Saw the band perform it in 2013!
Quadrophenia has aged MUCH better than Tommy. Tommy's got good stuff in it, sure. But Q just absolutely represents the pinnacle of the Who as a band, of Townshend as a songwriter.
It is the ultimate example of something being greater than the sum of its parts; it all flows so well together as a unified whole.
Since Doug likes to dig into the backstory of songs/albums and since this is a concept album, I'm sure he would love reading the album liner notes (the story) for Quadrophenia.
I have watched many USA reactions on here to, The Who. None of them see what I see. Doug, you may have touched close to it; but remember: I'm still a mod, I'll always be a mod, you can bury me a mod. Paul Weller.
Imagine being a young teenager when this album came out . . . good times, good times
I was at that concert you missed in 2002. They sold soundboard recordings of the concert and I proudly have a copy.
LOL. My Wife. Such a funny song wrapped in such adventurous, kick-ass music.
"Song is Over" was originally the final song of "Lifehouse." The last verse is from a song called "Pure and Easy" which Pete said was the first song written for the projected opera. He does a nice version of it on a solo album he produced in late 1972 dedicated to Meher Baba, called "Who Came First." You're one of the first reviewers I've seen who's tapped into Pete's spiritual depth.
Yes!!! 'Quadrophenia', please, Doug.
You're not listening to drumming as a compositional element. "Bargain" is very simple from the point of view of chords and melody, but Moon's drumming elevates everything. And I don't just mean his manic, flurry-of-toms style at the climaxes--it's the way he holds back when the song needs him to hold back, and only unleashes when it's appropriate. My favorite example of this is "Who Are You?". Listen to that just for the drums.
I don't think a drummer transforms songs in this way again until Jimmy Chamberlin in Smashing Pumpkins. And yes, I'm including John Bonham in that, who was more a piece in a collective rather than someone who could lift a song up on the back of his drumming...
Quadrophenia!!!
PD: And "A passion play", for Jethro tull ^^
Live at Leeds has always been my go to Who album....
Best ever. My Generation the looooong version. We wore out three of those albums in a year.
It’s the best live album of all time.
The piano in "The Song Is Over" was played by the late/great Nicky Hopkins, one of the best piano session players. Check out his piano in the Who song "They're All In Love" on the album Who By Numbers.
Or "We Love You" "She's a Rainbow" ,"Sympathy for the Devil" , "No Expectations", "Monkey Man" ,"Sway", "Loving Cup" and "Ventilator Blues" with the Stones.... Jefferson Airplane (Volunteers album), Quicksilver Messenger Service, the Kinks, first two jJeff Beck albums..Nicky was one of the best!
@@daddyboy3546 Nicky also played on The Who's 1971 non album single Let's See Action, the late 60's outtake Now I'm a Farmer which was collected on the Odds and Sods rarities album and wrote the arrangement for the outro of Christmas in the film version of Tommy with all the overlapping Christmas carol melodies. He played piano on that as well.
He also let it loose in “Getting in Tune”.
One of my very favorite pianists. His work on the Stones' "Angie" is beautiful.
Nicky was an incredible talent. He played in Quicksilver Messenger Service, a great band. Check them out.
Keith Moon is my all time favorite drummer. He played fills over the main vocal. No one did it before or since.
"My Wife" is one of my favourite Who songs, and I love the dark humour in it, too.
The Who rarities compilation Two's Missing (Who's Missing volume two) has a killer live version recorded in San Francisco in late '71.
In every one of the dozens of household moves I've experienced, once the stereo is set up and the listening room ready, THIS is the first album that christens the new home
Rogers voice in this album was just so phenomenal and clear and powerful, love the commentary and well deserved use of the word "iconic"!! Funny I have loved THE WHO my whole life and was really drawn to Pete's voice lol - they are all so gifted!!!
One of those very rare “perfect” albums, no sub-par tracks, to be listened to in one go, phenomenal stuff. Then go for Quadrophenia.
Wow Doug where to start?
Your analysis is always brilliant thanks you've breathed some fresh air in a time where great music needs to be reconsiderd in a good way.
John Entwistle did some great solo work he worked with Frampton alot. Entwistle's tour de force was his work on Who Are You he was at his very best as a song writer and bass player that Townshend gave him room to stretch out.
Give it a listen. Thanks again.
That is the best álbum rock has ever produced .
Power ,excitement and beauty in less than 45 minutes.
Unbeatable .
Check out The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again" - the Shepperton Studios version is particularly fascinating. It was also the last performance of Keith Moon.
It's one of the best live performances in the history of music.
It's on side 2 of this album, so I suspect we'll be hearing it next week.
The isolated bass tracks from that show are INSANE - ruclips.net/video/80dsyo2Ox-0/видео.html and ruclips.net/video/3Lf10U0yZrs/видео.html
'My Wife' is one of my secret favorite Who tracks. Not sure many Who fans would concur, but I just find it hilarious and charming. The Ox is (was) one of a kind.
Boris
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Actually my favorite. Period. Love to just blast this… drumming is as good as I’ve ever heard
I’m gonna buy a tank and an aeroplane….
mine too, best song on the record for me.
The whole album is a masterpiece. Baba O Riley is always in my top 5 favourite tunes of all time (and that's from a music collection of over 50,000 tunes....and from every era from the 40's 50's 60's onwards)
You will really enjoy their magnum opus, Quadrophenia.
This is easily one of the greatest rock albums of all time. What I love about The Who, is that they can create something really powerful that is simultaneously beautiful. Baba O'Riley is exhibit A. I love every song on this album.
Doug, you have to do the double album "Quadrophenia" by THE WHO. Mind blowing! When I saw them in 2012 they performed the entire Quadrophenia album from start to finish. It was Phenomenal !! Have a great day!
My wife and I saw them on that tour at the Allstate Arena near Chicago.
Yes it was!! The Garden in New York
I would love it if Doug did that!
@@elvwood Wow. Doug dig that. Did dug that? Dig dug that. Dig it? Dug it, like all dugout. Doug's dig out. Done that, ...
Saw that tour in Providence in February of 2013. It was the first time that The Who returned to Providence since our Mayor at the time cancelled their show in 1978 a week after the incident in Cincinnati.
Great analysis - what happened to the best song on the album 'PURE AND EASY' ?
For a band that did not have a dedicated keyboard player, they had some memorable keyboards on their songs.
Nicky Hopkins is all over their albums. Especially this one. IMO, no one did it better.
“The Song is Over”is one of my favorite Who songs, one of the greatest albums, along with Quadrophenia, ever made. Townsend is a musical genius.
Since it was only 2 or 3 years after Space Odyssey 2001, I always thought this is what they would have done if they found that damn Monolith...
That Concert For NY performance by The Who - they absolutely crushed it. What an incredibly cathartic show.
Obviously a great time for that studio owners. Deep Purple recorded the track Fireball in the studio next to The Who the day after they finished the album. And since Ian Paice wanted to play with two bass drums he went in and borrowed Keith Moons.
That cover photo was a moment where they were driving past a quarry with the photographer in tow and saw the block standing up by itself like the monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey. This was a sort of cheeky response to that iconic ;) film.
Who's Next and Quadraphenia are great lazy rainy day albums. These guys did the biggest trippiest turnaround in rock going from the original punk rock band to progressive rock geniouses. Tommy was jaw dropping. Who's Next was top 5 all time and Quad is the most untalked about masterpiece in rock history. Pete Townsend took that group way beyond what I thought they'd evolve as. The '70s where such a great time for new music. So good it got ya hooked for life!😉
The piano player on "The Song is Over" is Nicky Hopkins a great british session player of his time. RIP
Wow Doug! Let's see side 2 please! This was a large part of the soundtrack of my college life circa 1972-1976. Come back from class, light up a bowl, put on Who's Next. This was the absolute best Daltrey ever sounded, and as you say Entwistle was a great bass player without really standing out. Now after side 2 let's move on to Quadrophenia. More proof that Townsend is an awesome songwriter and Entwistle is one of the greatest bassists ever. And let's not forget Moon, who did fills way more than keeping time, and that's what made him great.
Another great video!! I'm quite envious of that pipe of yours, I used to love what having a smoke used to do my perception of music. I can't do it anymore though, or I daren't, to be more precise. The last time, only a couple of months back, scared the crap out of me! I literally felt like something was trying to take my life, I was pacing back and forth, marching on the spot...anything just keep moving because I "knew" that if I stopped I was going to fall dead! Absolutely terrifying! Anyway, more than anyone wanted or needed to know, sorry about that. Love your work, Doug, thanks!
Quadrophenia is my favorite Who album....excellent cranked to 7 on my early 80's pioneer rack through my JBL studio monitors. I have to wait til wife is out to do it.
This is one of those rare albums that every track is something you want to hear (no picking up the needle in the old days to skip over tracks!), when side one was done you knew you had to go get up and flip over the record. Will be looking for your side two reaction. On to something new, knowing your appreciation for Tull, Floyd etc., certainly hope that somewhere, someone has recommended this outstanding debut release from 1969, "In The Court Of The Crimson King" (King Crimson). Nothing up to this time sounded anything like this one and it has withstood the test of time, hope you will react to it someday. ruclips.net/p/PLXhfRoiJBIiuXOUv_7EJ1i7UKj0aGfy0U
Dig dug that.
I'll definitely second King Crimson!
BTW, The Who is my favorite band by Miles & Miles. Pete is Brilliant. The Bargain he’s looking for is God. Oh heck I could breakdown this entire album for you. Quite a bit of references to women are really to God & enlightenment.
"Miles & Miles"
I see what you did there. 😎
Listening to The Who, I always love the interaction between Moon and Entwhistle.
Entwhistle is one of the greatest bassists in history
Yep, they sure did urinate on those columns. :D
While driving a limo in NYC back in 1987, I was dispatched to the Penta Hotel to pick up a Mr. Daltrey and take him to JFK Airport. He was very friendly, talked to me the whole 45 minute trip and he gave me 2 of his latest CDs, one signed to my 5 year old daughter and one signed for ME. $65 tip, too. RockOn, Doug. (PS: I looked up JUST as I was finishing this post and, you showed us your pipe. BlazeOn, Doug. I'm WAY ahead of you.) PPS: MY WIFE was written and sung by John Entwistle. Sort of like The Beatles letting Ringo do OCTOPUS'S GARDEN. It was an old song of John's and wasn't written specifically for the album. Done. FINITO.
According to Glyn Johns Pete turned up with demo tapes that were perfect and all he had to do was just let the band do their bit. He also said that PT was one of the few people who could work an ARP let alone get a tune out of it
Pete Town sends Scoop albums have his demos on them.
Just by accident, I saw the WHO in Dallas, in 1973 as a teen. The warm up band was a band I had never heard of called Lynard Skynard. So, proudly, I heard Free Bird for the first time live in Dallas in 1973, it stood out to me as a awesome song with the double lead, it was crazy, I hardly remember the Who...LOL. I would see the WHO a second time in 1982 in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Before the encore I kept yelling "Magic Bus," "Magic Bus" and the Who came out for the encore and opened with Magic Bus, people everywhere started passing me joints and patting me on the back, like I willed the song to happen... great days of my youth. Big Who fan for over 50 years!!
Thank you for this Doug. The Who is my favorite band, Who's Next is my favorite album, and The Song Is Over is my favorite song of all time, the one I always get emotional when I revisit, and seeing you dig the song that means so much to me through all my life was something nice to watch
Doug did that?
This is one of the very best rock albums ever. Every track is *gold*.
Since you have the remaster, you need to keep going into the bonus tracks. "Pure and Easy" was meant to be the centerpiece of the "sci-fi" story, and it's masterful. And the live version of "Naked Eye" is sublime. (Pete and Roger duet as the couple breaking up.)
'Song is Over' refrains back in reflection to the song "Pure n Easy", done by both The Who and later off Pte Townshend's solo album Who Came First (worth a listen!).
That live clip was fine, but you’ve got to find some old footage when Keith Moon was still alive. He’s in the top 5 rock drummers of all time.
The videos of Baba O'Riley and Won't Get Fooled Again from Shepparton Studio are iconic
The one of them on Rock and Roll Circus is great. He's throws a tom behind him.
Houston '75 is a great DVD and that's just an average night from the 1975 tour, Detroit '75 was an even better show but only footage of the second half circulates.
This guy spoke through just about drum fill on bargain, he listened to it and never even noticed the excellent drumming
He was a great drummer indeed. I saw The Who live in 1972 (together with The Golden Earring) in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Nicky Hopkins plays piano on "Song is Over" Doug, he's also on "Getting in Tune" on side 2. Townshend offered him a spot in the band too.
If you would like to hear the best of the WHO might I suggest The Who "Live at Leeds". Its a masterpiece!
I played this so many times when I was a teenager - along with Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Yes snd some southern fried rock. Also, some Black Sabbath, Rush and The Allman Brothers. I forgot about Bargain it is one of my favs although this whole album was amazing.
Your taste in music is impeccable 😁
I saw The Who live in Newcastle-upon-Tyne U.K. on their "Greatest Hits" tour in 2000. They were great, one of the best gigs of my life, I still have the program.
I Can't tell you how many copies of this Great Album I wore out since it was released! I really appreciate your approach to Reaction Videos, and I've even begun listening to some of your original liturgical music. Very soothing stuff, so far.
I don't know if you're familiar with The Who/London Symphony Orchestra recording of "Tommy", but the vocal performances are magnificent! Vocal performances by Sandy Denny ; Graham Bell; Maggie Bell; Steve Winwood: Richie Havens; Merry Clayton; Rod Stewart; Ringo Starr; Richard Harris (Narrator) and of course, Pete Roger and John!
I'd love to hear you break that recording!
Im pretty sure that is the Tommy version i'm most familiar with. Amazing stuff
The Who was part of the soundtrack of my high school days....
Interesting note....the theme songs for all five TV shows in the CSI franchise use remixed Who songs. "Baba O'Riley" was used on CSI:NY. "Who Are You"was on the original CSI show.
As a kid, I was totally obsessed with the chord progression in My Wife. And yes, Entwhistle played the brass parts. He also played the French horn parts in Tommy.
Entwistle acted like a one man brass orchestra on several occasions. That, and the use of synthesiser, saved the band a lot of money when recording.
The Who remains my favorite group after over 50 years of listening to them. i have seen them 9 times (would have been 10 but last concert cancelled due to covid), 8 of those times with my wife, 3 of those times with our daughters, and two of those with kids and their spouses. Great memories!
"Excepting one note, pure and easy
Playing so free, like a breath rippling by"
As you probably know this was the album salvaged from a multi-media concept by Pete (Lifehouse).
This refers to a song from that concept that did not make Who's Next. It is on Odds and Sods, a album of songs that didn't make albums. The song is called Pure and Easy.
I wore this album out back’n the day!
The cover art ties in w/title……”Who’s Next”…….get it?😆👍🏼
The stories behind Keith Moon (drummer) are legendary!!
The thing about this album is that pretty much EVERY SINGLE TRACK was played to some extent or another on Album/Rock radio stations (a popular station format from the late '60s through mid '80s. I was born in '64 and so was a little young for their heyday but when I finally got around to buying this LP in the early '80s I had heard all nine tracks on it many times over. Friends who I introduced to it at the time thought it was a greatest hits album...
From Wikipedia (regarding the intro on ‘Baba O’Reily’:
‘The repeating set of notes (known technically as Ostinato) in "Baba O'Riley" that opens and underlies the song was derived from the Lifehouse concept, where Townshend wanted to input the vital signs and personality of Meher Baba into a synthesiser, which would then generate music based on that data. When this idea fell through, Townshend instead recorded a Lowrey Berkshire Deluxe TBO-1 organ using its marimba repeat feature to generate them.[11] This modal approach was inspired by the work of minimalist composer Terry Riley.’
"Excepting one note, pure and easy" is a direct exerpt from a previous release titled Pure and Easy.
The Who owned the night of that first-responders concert! Never has there been a more exultant, cathartic reaction from an audience like the world witnessed during this set.
The band really fed off that emotion and returned the favor during that set. MAGIC!
A little trivia: The drummer is Ringo Starr's son, Zack Starkey.
Is it on YT?
@@johnricercato740 Not sure I never looked
It's hard to believe but the keyboard at the beginning (and throughout) Baba O'Riley is not a synthesizer, nor a sequencer controlling a keyboard. It's actually a Lowrey home organ with a built-in arpeggiator preset called "marimba repeat". Instead of notes repeating in regular fashion when played, certain notes are repeated either on or off the beat, creating the complicated pattern. For example when the notes F, F#, G, B, C and C# are played they repeat on the beat, while notes G#, A, A#, D, D#, and E when played repeat off beat (i.e., a dotted note). Obviously there is a preset tempo, but when Pete plays chords, the on-beat and off-beat repeats create the incredible pattern. ( believe Pete found a way to control the repeat tempo by modifying a component inside the Lowrey.) Yes, it's true that Pete had ARP 2500 and 2600 synthesizers at the time, but he was just learning how to get sounds from them when Baba O'Riley (and Won't Get Fooled Again) were created. He also had a simpler synthesizer called the Putney. Some gentle filtering sweeps were applied by one of the synths to Won't Get Fooled Again, but you can barely hear that affect. The songs on Who's Next that really feature Pete's synthesizer work are Bargain, The Song Is Over, and Goin' Mobile. You can really hear the rich one note melodies Pete used synth for on those songs.
This was always one of my top 5 albums. It wasn't until I heard Pete say that Keith's drumming always went “ba-dum-pum, ba-dum-pa-dum” that I realized it for the first time. I almost fell out of my chair laughing. The realization has only endeared me to Keith more.
Then Roger did an iso of Keith's drumming on “Behind Blue Eyes.” That only endeared me to that track even more.
For my money, “The Song Is Over” is the best song on the album, and my favorite Who song. But then I was always a Nicky Hopkins fan. His syncopations here are spot on as usual. The song’s crescendo is phenomenal.
My first "REAL" rock concert was The Who at Shea Stadium in 1982 (David Johansen and The Clash opened). Saw them several times after but only once after John died. Not quite the same anymore.
U're totally correct. This album its ICONIC to the Rock & hard rock history
Awesome that you finally got to The Who. Not sure how you can listen to side one and not side two in the same sitting though...I have to listen all the way through. I still say though...you MUST do Quadrophenia...all the way through in one show. It is The Who's ultimate masterpiece :)
Do it all in one dig, Doug. Bigger the digger the badder the dugout.
I don't even want to say how long it took me to realize that they had all just pissed on the concrete box.
Who's next?
Lol. I suddenly realized it as a 15 year old kid sitting next to my Mom in the car on the way back from the record store. When Mom saw it she exclaimed "Those pigs!"
You were curious as to the singer on, 'The Song is Over'. Without reading through 200+ comments, Pete Townsend sang the verses, followed by Roger Daltery on the refrains.
When I was a teenager, Who's Next was the first LP I ever bought. I still have it.
I have seen The Who perform live twice in Sydney, 2004 and 2009.
One of the greatest thrills in a live concert is the conclusion to Won't Get Fooled Again. The slow, high tension build up from the synth, the rolling and banging drums (Moon or Starkey, it doesn't matter, they're both great), Daltrey's scream and Townshend's crashing guitar chords and then the race to the end. I never tire of it. A masterpiece song on a classic album.
Doug, many have said that Quadrophenia is the band's greatest work and I would agree. The growth in Townshend's writing and composition from Tommy is significant and the story is much more mature and nuanced.
Side four, with Dr Jimmy, The Rock and Love Reign O'er Me is arguably one of the greatest set of songs ever put on the one side of a rock album.
I'm a bit older than you and I got to see The Who on that "last" tour in September 1982. I was 18 and just starting my freshman year of college. I had a very early Walkman that had a stereo mic and I recorded the show on cassette tape (don't tell anyone). I've since lost that old tape, but I remember on the tape you could hear me and my friends yelling "PETE!" during each song break.
Always remember that the song I’m Free on the Tommy album includes these verses:
“If I told you what it takes
to reach the highest high,
You'd laugh and say 'nothing's that simple'
But you've been told many times before
Messiahs pointed to the door
And no one had the guts to leave the temple”
- Pete Townshend -
Thanks for reviewing this classic, in every sense of the word, album. Trivial fact - The end lyric on the fade out of " The Song Is Over" "...excepting one note pure and easy.. IS taken from Townsend's song of the same name " Pure and Easy" which can be found on his exceptional solo album " Who Came First." Pure and Easy is another song from the Lifehouse project and worth hearing , lyrically continuing to explore his eastern philosophical theme you mentioned in "Bargain"
Who's Next is probably one of the best albums of all time. It was the first album that used the synthesizer seriously. All the songs are great and I remember as a teenager in the 70's playing this album time and time again and never getting sick of it.
Their big-three came out one after the other: Tommy, Who's Next, Quadrophenia. These are the albums that sent them into the stratosphere to "epic" status. I suggest reviewing the other two to complete the unholy trinity.
"Tommy" is epic. Both the original and the movie soundtrack with Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, etc
Another vote for "Quadrophenia" as your next whole album reaction. In "The Real Me" it opens with one of the greatest bass performances in rock history, and in "Love Reign O'er Me" it closes with one of the greatest vocal performances. You should also check out the movie.
The line "Excepting one note, Pure and Easy" during the fade out of The Song Is Over is a connection the the song Pure And Easy, which can most easily be found on the Album "Odds & Sods". They were both meant to be originally a part of "The Lighthouse" Project
Baba O'Rielly is a tribute to Terry Riley. Just a brilliant homage to a minimalist legend.
Re: The Album cover. I asked ChatGPT what the story was with this album cover and here's what it said...
The cover of The Who's album "Who's Next" is a photograph of the band members urinating on a large concrete piling protruding from a slag heap, which was taken by photographer Ethan Russell. The idea for the cover came about when the band members were traveling in a convoy of cars on their way to a recording studio in Wales. They stopped to take a break at a service station, but found the facilities were closed. The band members then spotted the slag heap and concrete piling nearby and decided to relieve themselves there.
The original concept for the cover was a more elaborate design involving a stonehenge-like structure, but the band members ultimately decided to go with the simpler, more provocative photograph. The image has become iconic in rock and roll history and is often cited as one of the most memorable and controversial album covers of all time. Despite its initial shock value, the cover has come to be regarded as a symbol of the band's rebellious spirit and irreverent attitude.
The bassist, John Entwistle, was a classically trained French Horn player and one other wind instrument. Cannot remember his educational pedigree at the moment, but it was one or two of the British classical facilities. John's classical training influence can be heard through the Who catalog. I was lucky enough to have seen them 4 times ... in 1971, Memphis, TN, and 3 times during their 1982-83 tour 9twice in person and once via satellite from Canada- a huge screen and small room with about 225 people. Their classical influence is deep.
1 listen is not enough for this gem. All killers no fillers. The Who were like no other band. They did it all.
The line at the end of "The Song Is Over" starting with "Excepting one note..." calls back to another song called "Pure and Easy" which was also part of the Lifehouse story but did not make it onto this album. It was placed odd their Odds an Sods outtakes album 3 years later and is an outstanding song.
And to echo everyone else.... Quadrophenia is a must listen.
The Who on the Smothers Brothers Show doing My Generation in 1967. A classic performance that, to me, defines The Who.
Hiya Doug, as a composer and musician myself I find such joy in your videos !! Thanks so much.. Have you heard the side 2 of the hounds of love album by Kate Bush ? It's brilliant and very unique musically
I heard the monolith on the cover was inspired by the monolith in "2001 Space Odyssey". So is the cover message this: Piss on si-fi epics like "2001" and "Lifehouse"?
Hi Doug,
Thanks for reviewing the best album of my alltime favourite band..
It was the first album I ever bought in November 1971.
On side B you can hear their anthem Won't Get Fooled Again and 3 other tracks.
There are several expanded editions of this masterpiece. The Lifehouse Chronicles (6CD) set is the mother of them all.
Enjoy it just as much as I always have and will.
Greetings from Amsterdam.
I saw The Who perform at Charlton Field in 1975 (1976?). I thought a sequencer was used to create the synth effect on Baba O'Riley . Interesting sub-text to the title. Keith Moon's showmanship was phenomenal.
It’s an organ, very basic setup