Legendary status amoungst rock bands,but a very sporadic catalog. Pete Townsend: Genius songwriter. Roger Daltry:Powerful frontman with pipes in the late sixties to late seventies. A great rhythum section with "WildMan" Moon & Enwhistle. Who's Next,in my opinion;an almost perfect album!!! Much Respect🙏.
Hi Pete. Enjoy your channel. I was a young teenager during the Tommy-Quadrophenia era and for me Quadrophenia was the soundtrack of my young life at the time, and I am not even British.Tommy would be second for me. But "Who's Next," is Rock. When someone said that the Who were the first rock band. This is what they are talking about. Rock just to bash your skull in.Nice to see that "U.K. Live cd in the background. They took it to another level as well.
Who's next is not only my favorite Who album it is my favorite album of all time. 9 songs of total greatness and to think they left Pure and easy off which would have only enhanced and already perfect album. Townsend at his creative zenith.
My ranking is very subjective, but I love most of their albums. 1. Who's Next 2. Who By Numbers 3. It's Hard 4. The Who Sell Out 5. Quadrophenia 6. Who Are You 7. Tommy 8. A Quick One 9. Face Dances 10. My Generation 11. Who 12. Endless Wire
1) Who’s Next 2) Quadrophenia 3) Tommy 4) My Generation 5) A Quick One 6) The Who Sell Out 7) Who Are You 8) The Who By Numbers 9) Who 10) Endless Wire 11) It’s Hard 12) Face Dances
1) Quadrophenia (my favorite album of all time); 2) Who's Next (might be my 2nd favorite album of all time); 3) The Who Sells Out; 4) Tommy; 5) The Who By Numbers; 6) My Generation; 7) Who Are You; 8) It's Hard; 9) Who; 10) A Quick One While He's Away; 11) Face Dances; 12) Endless Wire. Odds & Sods and Live At Leeds would probably be ranked above Tommy for me.
It's sure great, but for it to be that caliber of an album as an abandoned concept project really makes me wonder how amazing the full "lifehouse" concept would've been. Possibly the greatest rock album ever? Impossible to say, but I think yes.
@@austrianpainterinhiding88 There are websites that outline the composition of Lifehouse, There is a special box set out there (very expensive at $350). All the songs eventually made it out (maybe one or two as Townsend's singles - I am not sure). www.amazon.com/Lifehouse-Chronicles-6-CD-Boxset/dp/B004K4CSVG Probably could set up a playlist on your streaming service.
Love The Who. One of my top 5 bands ever. For my ranking I'd put in my order it'll be.. 1. Quadrophenia 2. Who's Next 3. Tommy 4. The Who Sell Out 5. The Who By Numbers 6. My Generation 7. Who Are You 8. A Quick One 9. Who 10. Endless Wire 11. It's Hard 12. Face Dances
In my opinion, the greatest rock band of all time. Why? they did it all, masters of the 3 minute single, concept albums, rock anthems, and the rock lore. Most of all, they were unmatched live in concert. Each musician was a master at their craft. Even today, Pete remains as prolific as ever with WHO, the solid new album. Although Keith and John died before they got old, their place in this band and in rock history will forevor remain indelible.
They’re not the all time greatest, but they’re definitely up there amongst Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. Nobody touches the Beatles, but what I love about The Who is their music makes you feel so energetic. They also have probably more talent in one band than anyone else, apart from Led Zeppelin maybe. Pete Townshend’s lyrics are so dark and yet the melodies absolutely rock. You can tell they worked so hard on each individual song.
Cool ranking video. Would enjoy a Kinks ranking. Here's my top 5. 1. Tommy. 2. Who's Next 3. Quadrophenia 4. A Quick One 5. WHO largely agree with your comments. I think the biggest problem with Endless Wire was the state of Roger's voice. The new WHO album was better than I thought possible. They really sound like the Who again. I'm hoping for another late career surprise by The Kinks. Cheers.
The most complex, the best songwriting, the best concept, the best tracks, the longest, the most intelligent and the best playing from all the members.
Roger Daltrey is one of the best singers of ever, and Pete Townshend one of the best guitar players too. My top three albums are: Tommy (masterpiece), Quadrophenia (epic), and Who's Next (killer).
A lot of people don’t like “It’s Hard”, but I love that album. Even a Roger never liked the album, but I think it has some great songs including some great Entwistle songs like “Dangerous”.
Your not kidding that was the tour I saw and they were seasoned vets just killing it . In that stadium when Eminence front started every one was going , what is this, first time I ever heard it , great concert. 😀
@@tommypwood672 yeah I agree on both statements. Naked eye on who's next lacks the power the odds and sods version, and the dynamics on the isle of Wight performance are breathtaking.. those 3 chords he plays after the initial solo are sublime.
While no one could replace Keith Moon, Kenny Jones is a solid drummer. The Faces with him, Ron Wood, Ronnie Lane, Rod Stewart and Ian McLagan were a fantastic band.
Daltrey put it right: Kenny is a very good drummer, but he was a wrong drummer for The Who just as Moon would have been a shitty drummer for The Faces.. I think that's quite exact. In fact, Moon would have been a wrong drummer for any band in the world except The Who.
John's scarce songs throughout their albums are all incredible. It's a shame they don't play any after he died. They used to open with Heaven and Hell before I Can't explain... and now they seem to have forgotten all his songs...
Bargain is extremely underrated as a tune on their best album, Who's Next. If you haven't tried it, listen to Bargain on headphones. It is mindblowing...
When I have to clean up my office , and all that paperwork has piled up and books are scattered, only Bargain will get me going. Then the rest of the album gets me through it. Now that’s power !!!
I disagree strongly with The Who By Numbers. My favourite Who album by far. Slip Kid, However Much I Booze, Squeeze Box, Imagine a Man, Success Story, Blue, Red and Grey. How Many Friends is possibly my favourite Who song. 1. The Who By Numbers 2. Who's Next 3. Quadrophenia 4. A Quick One 5. Tommy 6. The Who Sell Out 7. Face Dances 8. It's Hard 9. Who Are You 10. My Generation 11. WHO 12. Endless Wire
Over the years, I could never decide which Who album is my favourite: “Who’s Next” or “Sell Out”. So, for me, it’s a tie, because they are indispensable and I love them both.
Good review. It is ironic that for their duration, the Who had very few studio albums. In my mind, the Who I knew ended in 1982 with the release of the lackluster "It's Hard Album" (which they had to do as they would have had to return a big advance to the record company if they didn't) I say the Who I knew because it was the post Keith Moon continuation of the Band that had started in the 60s. Maybe, in retrospect, they just should have called it a day after Moon the Loon died (like Led Zeppelin did after John Bonham's death). To be fair to Kenny Jones, he is good drummer, but is more regimented and stricter in style like Charlie Watts of the Stones. Moon was a mad man on the drums (Overture, Wont Get Fooled Again, Bargain, Dr. Jimmy, The Real Me, Love Reign O'er Me, The Rock) and also a mad man in personality (destroying hotel rooms, driving his car into swimming pools) and was essentially, irreplaceable. Kenny Jones was a good drummer but was no where near as good as Moon. As for the rankings, along my line of reasoning I don't even know (or count) the "Endless Wire" and "Who" DVD because in my mind, with their release years after their ending in 1982 I felt that the Who were no longer relevant. I cant even list a song off of them. As for your top three, remember that "Who's Next" was supposed to be another "concept album" like Tommy, with the "Life House" album concept about (from what I remember reading") some guy who had this special suit designed wherein he could change reality. Pete couldn't sell the other band mates on the idea (don't blame them) and we got "Who's Next" instead. I agree with you-their best non-concept studio album. With regards "Tommy" and "Quadrophenia" I prefer the latter. My mom bought me "Tommy" for Christmas when I was a freshman in high school. She said it was an important album and that I should have it. I concur with you that with the exception of "Pinball Wizard", this album is meant to be listened to in its entirety (somewhat like Jethro Tull's "Thick as A Brick") and not just by individual track. "Tommy" is also important because with the exception of some singles, the Who really did not have any stand out album that distinguished themselves. Note that by the time "Tommy" came out, their contemporaries (Stones and Beatles) had already put out a number of successful albums- Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Peppers The White Album, Abby Road, Aftermath, Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed). So Tommy as a "rock opera" really put them on the map. I do find some of the subject matter of "Tommy" quite disturbing "Cousin Kevin" and "Fiddle About" particularly so. I sometimes wonder if it was ideas like this that led to Pete's legal troubles in 2003 with the "Operation Ore" investigation that he was involved in. that being said, I like Quadrophenia better. I always had a soft spot for this album. When it was released, I only knew it was a Who Album from Chad (the Mod kid on the cover), who was wearing an army jacket that said "WHO" on the back (the title of the album was down the spine, not the cover. I was in the TSS ( a chain of stores in New York) when I first heard "Love Reign O'er Me" and thought it was a great song (but I was still a die hard Rolling Stones fan at the time) It was only in 1981 that I saved up some paper route money that I bought Quadrophenia. I am glad I did. I could really relate to that album. Although America did not have "Mods" and :Rockers", the theme that this Album represented Anxiety, Loneliness, isolation, conforming to peer pressure, the desire to fit in with the in crowd (like Rush's "Subdivsions") really struck home with me because those were real feelings I was going through at the time while a junior in high school. From what I remember reading" Quadrophenia" was difficult to play on tour due to all of the synthesizer use (and it also took a long time to make), I also think Roger and Pete got into a fist fight while making this album and Roger knocked Pete out !!! (which shows you the problems that were going on with them while recording this album. Quadrophenia was also not as well received in the states upon release ( I think maybe because America did not have a Mod/Rockers subculture, and also that the audience did not have the patience to listen to another sprawling double album concept album). Still Quadrophenia is my favorite of the your top three. I also have a soft spot for "Who By Numbers" but as you said, Pete was running out of ideas and I think after this release the Who had went on to a three year hiatus. "Slip Kid" (especially the guitar solo at the end) Is a great song. I remember also hearing this when I as a die hard Stone's fan and remember thinking how much it killed me that the Who had done Slip Kid and not the Stones. I also agree with you about "Who Are You"- the last good album from the original line up recorded before Keith Moon's death in 1978. This was a comeback album for them (similar to the Stone's "Some Girls", also released in 1978 and considered to be a Stones rebound after the misses of the "Goat's Head Soup" and "Black And Blue" albums. There is a great book you should read (if you haven't already done so) titled "The Who-Maximum R&B" that I think you would find very informative. Great review again. Thank you for your efforts.
Not a whole lot I can add to what you wrote, Michael, other than these points: Give "WHO" at least a few spins before dismissing it as not really authentically The Who, I wasn't expecting much after the disappointment I felt with their previous release "Endless Wire", but this new album really harkens back to a much earlier/more vital time in their history. And I've been a fan since the days when "The Who Sell Out" was their latest release. I fully identify with everything you said regarding "Quadrophenia", but in my case, it spoke directly to me as it came out when I was away to college for my first time as a freshman and was feeling all those same exact emotions plus having my first real longer-term relationship with a girlfriend. To this day, Quadrophenia remains easily my favorite album of all time, and The Who my favorite band (I've seen them live 11 times!).
My personal ranking... 1. Who's Next - One of the best rock albums ever. 2. Quadrophenia - A very close second, could be number 1 depending on my mood. 3. The Who By Numbers - Highly underrated rock album. 4 Tommy - A flawed masterpiece. 5. Who Are You - Great album, more synth heavy than I prefer. 6. WHO - Surprisingly good, refreshing, gets better with each listen. 7. The Who Sell Out - The peak of the pop art days. 8. It's Hard - Underrated, better than some make out, but somewhat dead production. 9. My Generation - The Who's first album, sticks close to R&B roots, not ambitious like later albums. 10. Face Dances - Odd, commercially clean, pop sound for the Who. Doesn't really work for them. Feels quite stale compared to earlier albums 11. A Quick One - Early rock opera experimentation, but mixed with a lot of filler. 12. Endless Wire - Kind of artificial sounding. Very rigid, overly produced. Feels more like a home studio project than a band recording an album, which is basically how it was made.
@@harryirene1 l hear ya Harry and respect your opinion,l just think when he gets to play that tune,singing it and also the gorgeous solo he does,he's all over that Song,it's all him and he seems to always enjoy playing that tune live,It's obviously not as "Classic" as 60/70s Who but it's a kickin tune :)
@@harryirene1 You are right,it's not the strongest of their albums but l do love that Song,l have my Fingers crossed he may play it in March when l go see em in Dublin. (for the fifth time,here's hoping)
You might have mentioned the two albums, "Who's Missing" and "Two's Missing". Compilations that are a must for the serious Who fan. You won't be disappointed!
I don't know if it's on a live or comp album anywhere, but the live version of "A Quick One" on the Rolling Stones' Rock N Roll Circus is the best version I've heard.
It is on the DVD of that show - it wasn't released until many years after the broadcast, as well as in "The Kids Are Alright" documentary movie. An equally good live version is also on the Live at Leeds CD (expanded version).
Honestly, my ranking would be 12. Endless Wire (it's just boring) 11. It's Hard (Eminence Front boosts this one) 10. WHO (great for dudes in their 70s) 9. Face Dances (not as bad as some people say) 8. A Quick One (has so much charm to it, a 10/10) 7. Who Are You (really grew on me, I love it) 6. My Generation (one of the best debuts ever) 5. The Who by Numbers (incredibly underrated) 4. Tommy (my top 4 are all in my top 20 of all time) 3. Who's Next (every song is awesome) 2. Quadrophenia (my favorite rock opera of all time) 1. Sell Out (masterpiece) My favorite band of all time
Pete, Sells Out was a couple years after My Generation, A Quick One was in-between. Also, several of the fun tracks you mentioned aren't from the actual album, they were re-release bonus tracks. Last, in the U.S. it was released as 'Happy Jack. Magic Bus was a half-assed 'best of' compilation.
Worst to best to my mind: Endless Wire Face Dances It's Hard The Who Who Are You? A Quick One My Generation The Who By Numbers Who's Next The Who Sell Out Tommy Live At Leeds Quadrophenia
Endless Wire WHO It's Hard Face Dances A Quick One My Generation Sell Out Who Are You Who's Next (overrated. 5 great tracks, 4 I'd consider average) By Numbers (underrated, a touch lighter but solid throughout) Quadrophenia Tommy
Tommy has to be taken as one solid work because despite having separate tracks its as if you're watching a r. And of course its great along it with S. F. Sorrow by The Pretty Things.
Great list, Pete. I absolutely agree with Endless Wire. Still can't get into it. My only disagreement with you is Face Dances. I love that record! One of my desert island discs, for sure. Thanks for the vids, Pete!
Have to put All the best Cowboys..." on top and then a toss-up with Empty Glasses and the Ox's "Mad Dog" album. All of these years later I love the hell out of "So Scared Of You" .Give it a whirl, it might make you want to go find a barroom fight haha. Course that just might be my distorted perception again~~~ th-cam.com/video/0IQlMaDL50g/w-d-xo.html
@@margaretlafountain4762 Technically Mcvicar is a 'soundtrack' album, with Roger taking lead vocals on virtually every song. Since Townshend didn't write any of the songs on it, it is at best a Who 'covers' LP, but it's not bad on it's own terms.
great list. the subscribers are piling up, Pete! almost 23K. my personal fave is "Who Sell Out". a special album... charming, sometimes psychedelic. love the commercials. and it has The Who's most "naive and charming" songs... "Tattoo" is an all time fave for me.
There should have been an album (in circa '72) Pure and Easy, Too much of anything, Postcard, Put the money down, Naked Eye, Heaven and Hell, Join Together , Lets see action, Relay, I dont know myself, Water, The Seeker.
@@davidgreenberg5517 Neither of those albums are considered true albums, and Whos missing was years after the fact.. Few if any bands had that amount of quality material available. That "missing " album would have sat between "Next" and "Quad" to produce a stunning run from 69 -73.
Yeah, live albums are very overlooked just look at the brilliance of Made in japan and no sleep till hammersmith, those albums are so good and some of the live songs are better than the studio recordings
@@XenoMorphGaming79 i was in the audience for No Sleep Til Hammersmith, at Newcastle City Hall . its NOT recorded at Hammersmiyh odeon . Its mostly Newcastle and some Leeds
I consider live albums when they are released chronologically in a bands lifetime to count in there rankings imho.and which were recorded at that present time,last tour etc like Made in Japan,All the Worlds a Stage,Live and Dangerous,Strangers in the Nighy and of course Leeds.Granted you do the live album rankings but I would make a special mention of Live at Leeds since it was a pivotal album in their career.Anyway I agree with your list. Cheers
I just wish i was born in the 70's because the old motorhead trio where one of the loudest bands ever and every time i listen to how heavy the live album is, i just wish i was born earlier just so i could witness the sheer power and heaviness of the band at the concert.
The Who had a great rock opera with Tommy, so ahead of its time. Talking rock operas, anyone a fan of the original Jesus Christ Superstar brown album with Ian Gillan as JC?
JCS original is killer. My daughter just saw JCS coming to Indy and said we are soooooo there. Theater is our thing - everybody else in the family hates it.
Oh yeah! The fabulous Who! Here’s one guy’s opinion. 1. Quadrophenia 2. Who’s Next 3. Tommy 4. Sell Out 5. Who are You 6. A Quick One 7. By Numbers 8. Face Dances 9. My Generation 10. It’s Hard
I consider " Face Dances " to be under - rated. Excellent songwriting on it. Different approach from what was unexpected - dealing with middle - age. And Entwhistle songs steal the show!
I agree, it just further proves that 1981 was an incredible year in music. You Better You Bet still has that haunting quality to me, I've loved that damn song from day 1.
I listen to By Numbers on You Tube a couple of times. Not bad, seems Who Are You get a little more attention due to movie that came out about same time and Moon dying weeks after LP rel in 78.
For some reason I didn’t find this on the playlist. One of my favorite bands of all time. My ranking; 12) Face Dances 11) Who are you 10) Endless Wire 9) It’s hard 8) Who 7) A quick one 6) My Generation 5) The Who sell out 4) Who’s next 3) The Who by numbers 2) Tommy 1) Quadrophenia
I agree Tommy is one of the best concept albums ever written, to me this is their best album. Who's Next is also awesome, a classic album full of hits. A legendary group no doubt.
Keith moon's drumming on who's next and quadrophenia is simply indescribable , it's so good. Thanks for reminding me think I'll listen to Quadrophenia 👍
9:32 sparks an interesting debate: Who had the three best consecutive albums? The Who: Tommy-Who's Next-Quadrophenia Beatles: Rubber Soul-Revolver-Sgt. Pepper Stones: Let it Bleed-Sticky Fingers-Exile As a massive Who fan, I'd still give it to the beatles, but you could make an argument for any.
Dude, I'm going to say it. I thought I was a rock fan. A huge Rock fan you put me to shame. You've gone to places. I never even thought of going maybe even heard of. Budgie I couldn't even sit through half the stuff. Hats off to you, bro.
Quadrophenia ... yeh I was brought up on Tommy too .. then .. Quadrophenia came out and blew me AWAY - Prog or what .. storytelling, songwriting ... amazing. I live in Hastings and some of the footage from this comes from Hastings; mods chasing police and vice-versa and rockers n so on .. and my old stomping ground was Brighton from where the main footage comes .. so it's locally personal and I was born in 1960 so I remember the mods n such. The melodic guitar of Quadrophenia is beautiful and the repeated themes as in a classical piece or prog piece most good ... Tommy only more 'polished' ... all IMO ... of course ... :-) .. Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy makes for one of the great compilations (I tend to dislike comps as I too like to hear the whole album not just tracks)... Boris ... the superb Magic Bus ... amazing teenage angst of Pictures of Lilly ... masterpieces .. :-) And so much influence on Bowie... my fave 'artiste' .. The rest of the who opus I could take or leave .. Lighthouse Chroncs was quite good ..
Teenage diary alert!... Tommy had a lot to do with a girl who perhaps more than any other girl during my teen years, helped form me into the man I am for all the right reasons. Prior to my 10th year in HS, my family moved into a temporary townhouse neighborhood. A few doors down from us lived another family I knew since childhood. One day soon after the move I saw one of the girls from that family talking with a girl I hadn't met, but who lived right next door to me. They were exchanging albums. Music nut that I was at the time, I headed outside to look at their collection, and yes, to meet the pretty neighbor girl who looked like early 70's Olivia Newton John. Flipping through the usual early 70's pop albums, one of them was Tommy, owned by the new girl. I remarked that I hadn't heard it in it's entirety. She then gave me a rundown of the story, saying that it wasn't the most accessible of subject matters as it dealt with an abused child. In the class ahead of me, but still close in age, I remember thinking that she didn't talk like anyone our age, boy or girl. Well beyond her years! There was a reason for that, which I would find out later. She then loaned me her Tommy album so I could give it a listen. That set us up for meeting a few days later when I returned it. Over the short month we were neighbors, I only saw her coming and going from the townhouse, no other siblings or parents. Curious about that, I asked her why, and she then told me her tragic story. Two years prior, her only sibling brother died in a car accident. A year later, steeped in grief over his loss, her mother killed herself. Her father, now having to deal with the loss of both is wife and son, took to drinking just to fall asleep at night. So that she didn't have to see him like that, he slept at a motel near his work during the week, and only visited her on weekends. Instead of becoming dysfunctional herself because of all that tragedy, she chose to fight off depression and find reasons to live, to view what happened to her through the eyes of the biblical Job. From that moment on, our teen romance was much different than your typical teen romance of sock hops, movies, soda fountains and home by 10. For me, her journey toward life and happiness became more important than anything else. Thanks Tommy!
I would rank "The Who Sell Out" definitely above "A Quick One" and "Who Are You", and below those top three. Nothing can touch those top three. Think about it-that remarkable "three album" run was actually the equivalent of FIVE albums in quantity. With the exception of the Beatles, I don't think any other band has matched that run of sustained greatness.
One of the things we realize as we get older is the albums we used to have and enjoyed so much, but we no longer have them. Breakups and old roommates are sometimes the culprits. My ex-wife brought many of The Who albums to our life and they left with her. I still have some, but a couple I now miss again because of you bringing them up again. Curses.
@@wylier I do that, little by little, but sometimes I forget how much I miss an album until someone brings it up. Plus, I am not about to pay fifty dollars for an album.
I can't give too much of an argument with #1and #2, though I do believe that if Tommy was recorded as well as "Who's Next" it would inarguably be first.
Good job Pete, I like By Numbers a lot more than you do, I think the Red Blue and Grey is a classic song, though almost Pete solo. I'd put By Numbers after A Quick One. I think Who's Next is the best all time rock record. There isn't a bad song on it and several are all time great!
10 - A Quick One, While He's Away 9 - The Who 8 - The Who By Numbers 7 - Face Dances 6 - Quadrophenia 5 - It's Hard 4 - My Generation 3 - Tommy 2 - Who Are You 1 - Who's Next
This is the one ranking video I've been waiting for the most, since The 'Oo are my second favourite band of all time (after those Liverpudlians). I kinda feel they are a bit underappreciated these days, don't know why. Their importance cannot be understated and their run of albums from 1967-73 hasn't been topped since.
I feel like none of The Who studio albums do them proper justice with the possible exception of Quadrophenia. They really came alive on stage and so their live recordings and bootlegs outshine all of them.
I have that same T-shirt you're wearing. You should have stood up and shown everyone Moon going loon at the bottom. I love "…Sell Out". It's my favorite of the pre-Tommy albums. It was pretty much their first concept album.
![CAMPปลิ้น | EP.82[1/2] แก๊ง 3 สาวเพื่อนซี้บุก CAMPปลิ้นครั้งนี้ห้ามเสียอาการ](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/_6WUjXHe1TM/mqdefault.jpg)
My parents saw Led Zeppelin open for The Who in '69, what a killer night that was!
And their hearing was never the same
Wow! Just wow!
That's a Holy Grail lineup!
Were you by any chance born 9 months later?
@@Nick-qf7vt 1973, lol!
Legendary status amoungst rock bands,but a very sporadic catalog. Pete Townsend: Genius songwriter. Roger Daltry:Powerful frontman with pipes in the late sixties to late seventies. A great rhythum section with "WildMan" Moon & Enwhistle. Who's Next,in my opinion;an almost perfect album!!! Much Respect🙏.
Hi Pete. Enjoy your channel. I was a young teenager during the Tommy-Quadrophenia era and for me Quadrophenia was the soundtrack of my young life at the time, and I am not even British.Tommy would be second for me. But "Who's Next," is Rock. When someone said that the Who were the first rock band. This is what they are talking about. Rock just to bash your skull in.Nice to see that "U.K. Live cd in the background. They took it to another level as well.
My top 3 for The Who's studio albums (no leeds)
1. The Who Sell Out
2. A Quick One
3. My Generation
Assuming Leeds really is #1, spot on.
Great records and I think many would agree Pete’s better lyrics came later
@@shanewright2772 Leeds is always number 1 in my Who book.
That's my top 3 too
Who's next is not only my favorite Who album it is my favorite album of all time. 9 songs of total greatness and to think they left Pure and easy off which would have only enhanced and already perfect album. Townsend at his creative zenith.
My ranking is very subjective, but I love most of their albums.
1. Who's Next
2. Who By Numbers
3. It's Hard
4. The Who Sell Out
5. Quadrophenia
6. Who Are You
7. Tommy
8. A Quick One
9. Face Dances
10. My Generation
11. Who
12. Endless Wire
Quadrophenia is their best very closely followed by Who's Next. And Who By Numbers is underrated.
Sister Disco is one of my all time favorites!
1) Who’s Next
2) Quadrophenia
3) Tommy
4) My Generation
5) A Quick One
6) The Who Sell Out
7) Who Are You
8) The Who By Numbers
9) Who
10) Endless Wire
11) It’s Hard
12) Face Dances
Today is the 50th anniversary of the legendary Who gig in a town called Leeds. Happy anniversary Live At Leeds!!!
Such a powerful document of the Who at the top of their game
Leeds is a city, not a town, and a fine one as well.
They also shook up the town of Hull
I was there at leeds gig
Philip Eaton You are a very lucky man that must’ve been incredible
Who by numbers is an incredibly underrated record.
I agree...it's a great album
The best band of all time! Pete Townshend is one of the greatest musics minds EVER.
He sure is. Incidentally, I have his autograph on a Who's Next LP.
Guys a genius...musical genius
@@TheTVisionsYou have no idea what I would pay for that autographed Who’s Next LP. If it was Quadrophenia, I’d break the bank for it lol
1) Quadrophenia (my favorite album of all time); 2) Who's Next (might be my 2nd favorite album of all time); 3) The Who Sells Out; 4) Tommy; 5) The Who By Numbers; 6) My Generation; 7) Who Are You; 8) It's Hard; 9) Who; 10) A Quick One While He's Away; 11) Face Dances; 12) Endless Wire. Odds & Sods and Live At Leeds would probably be ranked above Tommy for me.
Right on. Only bought Who's Next LP 1981, Quad..... on CD back in 2008, and Who Are you CD in 2009.
I'm very partial to Sell Out, which is their psychedelic offering and easily among the best rock albums of the 1960s.
My top 4
1 Who's next (simply there all-time best )
2 Quadraphenia
3 Tommy
4 Who are you
#1 who's next is one of my favorite albums ever!!!
It's sure great, but for it to be that caliber of an album as an abandoned concept project really makes me wonder how amazing the full "lifehouse" concept would've been. Possibly the greatest rock album ever? Impossible to say, but I think yes.
Who’s Next probably is their best, easily my favorite
how could anyone ever top those albums?
I still have The Who’s next album sleeve hanging up In my garage amongst all my favorite albums. Killer album and to me easily their best!
@@austrianpainterinhiding88 There are websites that outline the composition of Lifehouse, There is a special box set out there (very expensive at $350). All the songs eventually made it out (maybe one or two as Townsend's singles - I am not sure). www.amazon.com/Lifehouse-Chronicles-6-CD-Boxset/dp/B004K4CSVG Probably could set up a playlist on your streaming service.
Love The Who. One of my top 5 bands ever. For my ranking I'd put in my order it'll be..
1. Quadrophenia
2. Who's Next
3. Tommy
4. The Who Sell Out
5. The Who By Numbers
6. My Generation
7. Who Are You
8. A Quick One
9. Who
10. Endless Wire
11. It's Hard
12. Face Dances
I can’t get enough of Tommy. That final track brings me to tears. Townshend is truly a genius.
HE IS!
In my opinion, the greatest rock band of all time. Why? they did it all, masters of the 3 minute single, concept albums, rock anthems, and the rock lore. Most of all, they were unmatched live in concert. Each musician was a master at their craft. Even today, Pete remains as prolific as ever with WHO, the solid new album. Although Keith and John died before they got old, their place in this band and in rock history will forevor remain indelible.
They’re not the all time greatest, but they’re definitely up there amongst Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. Nobody touches the Beatles, but what I love about The Who is their music makes you feel so energetic. They also have probably more talent in one band than anyone else, apart from Led Zeppelin maybe. Pete Townshend’s lyrics are so dark and yet the melodies absolutely rock. You can tell they worked so hard on each individual song.
@@eliasswift2921 dilmour
AMEN
Not enough lead guitar solos
@@symbiosisai Some pretty good bass solos, or keyboard solos.
Cool ranking video. Would enjoy a Kinks ranking. Here's my top 5.
1. Tommy. 2. Who's Next
3. Quadrophenia
4. A Quick One 5. WHO
largely agree with your comments. I think the biggest problem with Endless Wire was the state of Roger's voice. The new WHO album was better than I thought possible. They really sound like the Who again. I'm hoping for another late career surprise by The Kinks. Cheers.
Great list...now bring on the Kinks!
I wouldn't bet on Pete having all of The Kinks albums. There is quite a few!
The Kinks are the quintessential English band. The village green album is one of the bedt rock albums ever made.
I would put quadraphenia as #1, because it was Townshend’s crowning achievement. Not his most accessible, but it was his ultimate statement.
Can't argue , spent too much time listening to it. A masterpiece, right down to bellboy.
Their definitive masterpiece
Agreed
Glad you mentioned Meaty Beaty and Odds and Sods, compilations but they work as essential albums for Who lovers.
Agreed, there's compilation albums are essential Odds & sods are hardly throw away songs, especially the bonus tracks on the CD!
Those were the albums I heard as a kid from my older brother, my introduction to the band 👍
just to split hairs, here: "Meaty Beaty" was a singles compilation, while "Odds and Sods" was an anthology of unreleased material.
Unpopular opinion: Quadrophenia is The Who’s best album
It is, for sure
The most complex, the best songwriting, the best concept, the best tracks, the longest, the most intelligent and the best playing from all the members.
@@gdmatter2286 yep, best drumming, best basslines, best vocals, most meaningful story, and best production as well.
@@eliasswift2921 Yeah, man! Your so freaking right!
Roger Daltrey is one of the best singers of ever, and Pete Townshend one of the best guitar players too. My top three albums are: Tommy (masterpiece), Quadrophenia (epic), and Who's Next (killer).
Keith one of the best drummers. Top 3 easily
Greeting s from Arkansas Tho Who Colour by Numbers
A lot of people don’t like “It’s Hard”, but I love that album. Even a Roger never liked the album, but I think it has some great songs including some great Entwistle songs like “Dangerous”.
Entwistle is the man! Always liked that song
Yep I like it more than most, some even dislike Athena. I remember when it was released I was 14 yo, I loved the track a lot.
Can’t beat Athena and Eminence Front.
Your not kidding that was the tour I saw and they were seasoned vets just killing it . In that stadium when Eminence front started every one was going , what is this, first time I ever heard it , great concert. 😀
Entwhisle was so awesome and he looked so cool doing it
Naked Eye off Odds and Sods is a masterpiece.
Indeed and better version than Who next..also Pure and easy much more prolific on Odds
@@tommypwood672 yeah I agree on both statements. Naked eye on who's next lacks the power the odds and sods version, and the dynamics on the isle of Wight performance are breathtaking.. those 3 chords he plays after the initial solo are sublime.
I kind of wish it had made it to one of The Who best ofs meant for casual fans and the general public so they could hear it too.
@@ChromeDestiny oh easily. One of their more powerful songs in terms of lyrics and music.
I love odds and sods. Some great tunes on that.
While no one could replace Keith Moon, Kenny Jones is a solid drummer. The Faces with him, Ron Wood, Ronnie Lane, Rod Stewart and Ian McLagan were a fantastic band.
Daltrey put it right: Kenny is a very good drummer, but he was a wrong drummer for The Who just as Moon would have been a shitty drummer for The Faces.. I think that's quite exact. In fact, Moon would have been a wrong drummer for any band in the world except The Who.
"Trick of the Light" from Who Are You has always been a very underrated gem, in my opinion.
John Entwistle songwriting is the band's secret weapon!
Best song on that album and that's saying something
John's scarce songs throughout their albums are all incredible. It's a shame they don't play any after he died. They used to open with Heaven and Hell before I Can't explain... and now they seem to have forgotten all his songs...
Did I take you to the point of ecstasy??
Also Guitar and Pen
Bargain is extremely underrated as a tune on their best album, Who's Next. If you haven't tried it, listen to Bargain on headphones. It is mindblowing...
Shane Egan the drumming is amazing in Bargain
Isn't a bad song on who's next.
Indeed
When I have to clean up my office , and all that paperwork has piled up and books are scattered, only Bargain will get me going. Then the rest of the album gets me through it. Now that’s power !!!
shizuokaBLUES the best I ever had....
I disagree strongly with The Who By Numbers. My favourite Who album by far. Slip Kid, However Much I Booze, Squeeze Box, Imagine a Man, Success Story, Blue, Red and Grey. How Many Friends is possibly my favourite Who song.
1. The Who By Numbers
2. Who's Next
3. Quadrophenia
4. A Quick One
5. Tommy
6. The Who Sell Out
7. Face Dances
8. It's Hard
9. Who Are You
10. My Generation
11. WHO
12. Endless Wire
Over the years, I could never decide which Who album is my favourite: “Who’s Next” or “Sell Out”. So, for me, it’s a tie, because they are indispensable and I love them both.
I feel exactly the same way.
Can't decide between those two. Sometimes Quadrophenia is almost right there with them.
Good review. It is ironic that for their duration, the Who had very few studio albums. In my mind, the Who I knew ended in 1982 with the release of the lackluster "It's Hard Album" (which they had to do as they would have had to return a big advance to the record company if they didn't) I say the Who I knew because it was the post Keith Moon continuation of the Band that had started in the 60s. Maybe, in retrospect, they just should have called it a day after Moon the Loon died (like Led Zeppelin did after John Bonham's death). To be fair to Kenny Jones, he is good drummer, but is more regimented and stricter in style like Charlie Watts of the Stones. Moon was a mad man on the drums (Overture, Wont Get Fooled Again, Bargain, Dr. Jimmy, The Real Me, Love Reign O'er Me, The Rock) and also a mad man in personality (destroying hotel rooms, driving his car into swimming pools) and was essentially, irreplaceable. Kenny Jones was a good drummer but was no where near as good as Moon.
As for the rankings, along my line of reasoning I don't even know (or count) the "Endless Wire" and "Who" DVD because in my mind, with their release years after their ending in 1982 I felt that the Who were no longer relevant. I cant even list a song off of them. As for your top three, remember that "Who's Next" was supposed to be another "concept album" like Tommy, with the "Life House" album concept about (from what I remember reading") some guy who had this special suit designed wherein he could change reality. Pete couldn't sell the other band mates on the idea (don't blame them) and we got "Who's Next" instead. I agree with you-their best non-concept studio album.
With regards "Tommy" and "Quadrophenia" I prefer the latter. My mom bought me "Tommy" for Christmas when I was a freshman in high school. She said it was an important album and that I should have it. I concur with you that with the exception of "Pinball Wizard", this album is meant to be listened to in its entirety (somewhat like Jethro Tull's "Thick as A Brick") and not just by individual track. "Tommy" is also important because with the exception of some singles, the Who really did not have any stand out album that distinguished themselves. Note that by the time "Tommy" came out, their contemporaries (Stones and Beatles) had already put out a number of successful albums- Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Peppers The White Album, Abby Road, Aftermath, Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed). So Tommy as a "rock opera" really put them on the map. I do find some of the subject matter of "Tommy" quite disturbing "Cousin Kevin" and "Fiddle About" particularly so. I sometimes wonder if it was ideas like this that led to Pete's legal troubles in 2003 with the "Operation Ore" investigation that he was involved in.
that being said, I like Quadrophenia better. I always had a soft spot for this album. When it was released, I only knew it was a Who Album from Chad (the Mod kid on the cover), who was wearing an army jacket that said "WHO" on the back (the title of the album was down the spine, not the cover. I was in the TSS ( a chain of stores in New York) when I first heard "Love Reign O'er Me" and thought it was a great song (but I was still a die hard Rolling Stones fan at the time) It was only in 1981 that I saved up some paper route money that I bought Quadrophenia. I am glad I did. I could really relate to that album. Although America did not have "Mods" and :Rockers", the theme that this Album represented Anxiety, Loneliness, isolation, conforming to peer pressure, the desire to fit in with the in crowd (like Rush's "Subdivsions") really struck home with me because those were real feelings I was going through at the time while a junior in high school. From what I remember reading" Quadrophenia" was difficult to play on tour due to all of the synthesizer use (and it also took a long time to make), I also think Roger and Pete got into a fist fight while making this album and Roger knocked Pete out !!! (which shows you the problems that were going on with them while recording this album. Quadrophenia was also not as well received in the states upon release ( I think maybe because America did not have a Mod/Rockers subculture, and also that the audience did not have the patience to listen to another sprawling double album concept album). Still Quadrophenia is my favorite of the your top three.
I also have a soft spot for "Who By Numbers" but as you said, Pete was running out of ideas and I think after this release the Who had went on to a three year hiatus. "Slip Kid" (especially the guitar solo at the end) Is a great song. I remember also hearing this when I as a die hard Stone's fan and remember thinking how much it killed me that the Who had done Slip Kid and not the Stones. I also agree with you about "Who Are You"- the last good album from the original line up recorded before Keith Moon's death in 1978. This was a comeback album for them (similar to the Stone's "Some Girls", also released in 1978 and considered to be a Stones rebound after the misses of the "Goat's Head Soup" and "Black And Blue" albums.
There is a great book you should read (if you haven't already done so) titled "The Who-Maximum R&B" that I think you would find very informative.
Great review again. Thank you for your efforts.
Not a whole lot I can add to what you wrote, Michael, other than these points:
Give "WHO" at least a few spins before dismissing it as not really authentically The Who, I wasn't expecting much after the disappointment I felt with their previous release "Endless Wire", but this new album really harkens back to a much earlier/more vital time in their history. And I've been a fan since the days when "The Who Sell Out" was their latest release.
I fully identify with everything you said regarding "Quadrophenia", but in my case, it spoke directly to me as it came out when I was away to college for my first time as a freshman and was feeling all those same exact emotions plus having my first real longer-term relationship with a girlfriend. To this day, Quadrophenia remains easily my favorite album of all time, and The Who my favorite band (I've seen them live 11 times!).
My personal ranking...
1. Who's Next - One of the best rock albums ever.
2. Quadrophenia - A very close second, could be number 1 depending on my mood.
3. The Who By Numbers - Highly underrated rock album.
4 Tommy - A flawed masterpiece.
5. Who Are You - Great album, more synth heavy than I prefer.
6. WHO - Surprisingly good, refreshing, gets better with each listen.
7. The Who Sell Out - The peak of the pop art days.
8. It's Hard - Underrated, better than some make out, but somewhat dead production.
9. My Generation - The Who's first album, sticks close to R&B roots, not ambitious like later albums.
10. Face Dances - Odd, commercially clean, pop sound for the Who. Doesn't really work for them. Feels quite stale compared to earlier albums
11. A Quick One - Early rock opera experimentation, but mixed with a lot of filler.
12. Endless Wire - Kind of artificial sounding. Very rigid, overly produced. Feels more like a home studio project than a band recording an album, which is basically how it was made.
LONG LIVE THE WHO!!!
"Eminence Front" is Townsend at his absolute peak. " lt's Hard" Never gets enough Love,an lncredible Album.
Thank You ❤
It's Your turn...brilliant song writing
Eminence Front is not Townshend at his peak dude. Just sayin :)
@@harryirene1 l hear ya Harry and respect your opinion,l just think when he gets to play that tune,singing it and also the gorgeous solo he does,he's all over that Song,it's all him and he seems to always enjoy playing that tune live,It's obviously not as "Classic" as 60/70s Who but it's a kickin tune :)
I don't even rank it as the best song on what is a weak album, but people hear things differently :)
@@harryirene1 You are right,it's not the strongest of their albums but l do love that Song,l have my Fingers crossed he may play it in March when l go see em in Dublin. (for the fifth time,here's hoping)
You might have mentioned the two albums, "Who's Missing" and "Two's Missing". Compilations that are a must for the serious Who fan. You won't be disappointed!
Hard to argue with that list. I hope we get a Kinks ranking at some point, but they have a lot of albums. Haha
Go for it P.P!
that would be awesome. Kinks are one of my favorite bands. Would like to hear what Pete would say about Village Green Preservation Society.
@@QueenFan12 My favourite is "Arthur", closely followed by "Village Green".
You can certainly argue one song being "better" than another, but every song on "Face Dances" is solid. Still a great Who album imo
Oh Kinks is definitely what I want. It will take two videos to do it right lol
I don't know if it's on a live or comp album anywhere, but the live version of "A Quick One" on the Rolling Stones' Rock N Roll Circus is the best version I've heard.
It is on the DVD of that show - it wasn't released until many years after the broadcast, as well as in "The Kids Are Alright" documentary movie. An equally good live version is also on the Live at Leeds CD (expanded version).
Honestly, my ranking would be
12. Endless Wire (it's just boring)
11. It's Hard (Eminence Front boosts this one)
10. WHO (great for dudes in their 70s)
9. Face Dances (not as bad as some people say)
8. A Quick One (has so much charm to it, a 10/10)
7. Who Are You (really grew on me, I love it)
6. My Generation (one of the best debuts ever)
5. The Who by Numbers (incredibly underrated)
4. Tommy (my top 4 are all in my top 20 of all time)
3. Who's Next (every song is awesome)
2. Quadrophenia (my favorite rock opera of all time)
1. Sell Out (masterpiece)
My favorite band of all time
The Who by numbers is so damn underrated.
Pete, Sells Out was a couple years after My Generation, A Quick One was in-between. Also, several of the fun tracks you mentioned aren't from the actual album, they were re-release bonus tracks. Last, in the U.S. it was released as 'Happy Jack. Magic Bus was a half-assed 'best of' compilation.
Worst to best to my mind:
Endless Wire
Face Dances
It's Hard
The Who
Who Are You?
A Quick One
My Generation
The Who By Numbers
Who's Next
The Who Sell Out
Tommy
Live At Leeds
Quadrophenia
1. Who's Next
2. Quadrophenia
3. Tommy
4. Who Are You
5. The Who By Numbers
I like the rest but honestly don't know how I'd order them.
Endless Wire
WHO
It's Hard
Face Dances
A Quick One
My Generation
Sell Out
Who Are You
Who's Next (overrated. 5 great tracks, 4 I'd consider average)
By Numbers (underrated, a touch lighter but solid throughout)
Quadrophenia
Tommy
Who's Next is a masterpiece!
Im on your camp. I rarely go to Who’s next when I want to listen to The Who. Usually Quadrophenia or By numbers are my go to albums.
The intro to Baba is the greatest opener ever.
I think Who By Numbers needs to be ranked much higher, I would put it at #4 behind Quadrophenia, Who's Next and Tommy
Live at Leeds is the greatest live album ever.
“Who Sell Out “ is the one I listen to the most.
Ik its awesome
Tommy has to be taken as one solid work because despite having separate tracks its as if you're watching a r. And of course its great along it with S. F. Sorrow by The Pretty Things.
You know, ranking the Live Albums of The Who would be quite interesting.
Totally agree with your top 3. Who's Next is one of the best albums of all time IMO. Tommy is a masterpiece.
The drumming on Who's Next is a huge part of this album, like few others. Keith Moon rocked it perfectly on this album. Good show Pete.
Great list, I think Who By Numbers is a quite a bit better than ranked but fun video, thanks, Pete! Also, Face Dances has got some real gems too!
1. Tommy
2. Quadrophenia
3. Who's next
4. The who by numbers
5. The who sell out
6. Who are you?
7. My generation
i LOVE "You" off Face Dances #GUILTY
Same here, I'd love to hear an extended mix to be able to hear more of the guitar at the end.
Face Dances has two of their greatest ever songs imho - YBYB and especially Another Tricky Day.
Great album IMO and 'The Quite One' really rocks big-time ; I love the attitude, drive and energy and Townsend's committed guitar work on that song
Great list, Pete. I absolutely agree with Endless Wire. Still can't get into it. My only disagreement with you is Face Dances. I love that record! One of my desert island discs, for sure. Thanks for the vids, Pete!
Tommy is their masterpiece....
Ok here's a challenge: rank the solo albums of Daltry, Entwhistle, Moon and Townshend!🎧💿🎧💿🎧💿..
"All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes" is the best Townshend solo record. (and greatest album title, ever!)
My top fave Who solo albums - "Empty Glass" (Townsend) and "Smash Your Head Against the Wall" (Entwistle).
While technically a Roger Daltrey solo album, all the members of The Who play on McVicar, so it's like a lost Who album.
Have to put All the best Cowboys..." on top and then a toss-up with Empty Glasses and the Ox's "Mad Dog" album. All of these years later I love the hell out of "So Scared Of You" .Give it a whirl, it might make you want to go find a barroom fight haha. Course that just might be my distorted perception again~~~
th-cam.com/video/0IQlMaDL50g/w-d-xo.html
@@margaretlafountain4762 Technically Mcvicar is a 'soundtrack' album, with Roger taking lead vocals on virtually every song. Since Townshend didn't write any of the songs on it, it is at best a Who 'covers' LP, but it's not bad on it's own terms.
great list. the subscribers are piling up, Pete! almost 23K. my personal fave is "Who Sell Out". a special album... charming, sometimes psychedelic. love the commercials. and it has The Who's most "naive and charming" songs... "Tattoo" is an all time fave for me.
my favorite who songs is
join together
When u hear this song loud u will know why
My dad loves Join Together
Anyone who tries to tell me that Who By Numbers isn't great is a dummy.
Could you rank Zappa's top 20 sometime?
There should have been an album (in circa '72) Pure and Easy, Too much of anything, Postcard, Put the money down, Naked Eye, Heaven and Hell, Join Together , Lets see action, Relay, I dont know myself, Water, The Seeker.
Most of those songs are on the following albums: " Odds And Sods " and " Who's Missing? ".
@@davidgreenberg5517 Neither of those albums are considered true albums, and Whos missing was years after the fact.. Few if any bands had that amount of quality material available. That "missing " album would have sat between "Next" and "Quad" to produce a stunning run from 69 -73.
How about "Melancholia" from 1968? How that didn't end up on an album is beyond me, a fantastic song.
"Who's Next" may be THE greatest rock album ever, imo. Great job Pete, this was a fun listen....Be Well!! 👍🏾👍🏻🕊️🎸🎸🥁🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
I know you don’t include live albums but Live At Leeds is one of their best.
Yeah, live albums are very overlooked just look at the brilliance of Made in japan and no sleep till hammersmith, those albums are so good and some of the live songs are better than the studio recordings
Leeds, Hull, Woodstock, and Isle of Wight are big favorites of mine.
@@XenoMorphGaming79 i was in the audience for No Sleep Til Hammersmith, at Newcastle City Hall . its NOT recorded at Hammersmiyh odeon . Its mostly Newcastle and some Leeds
I consider live albums when they are released chronologically in a bands lifetime to count in there rankings imho.and which were recorded at that present time,last tour etc like Made in Japan,All the Worlds a Stage,Live and Dangerous,Strangers in the Nighy and of course Leeds.Granted you do the live album rankings but I would make a special mention of Live at Leeds since it was a pivotal album in their career.Anyway I agree with your list. Cheers
I just wish i was born in the 70's because the old motorhead trio where one of the loudest bands ever and every time i listen to how heavy the live album is, i just wish i was born earlier just so i could witness the sheer power and heaviness of the band at the concert.
I love all of The Who records, but Sell Out is my favourite. Brilliant for it’s time
The Who had a great rock opera with Tommy, so ahead of its time.
Talking rock operas, anyone a fan of the original Jesus Christ Superstar brown album with Ian Gillan as JC?
Absolutely!
Yes!
JCS original is killer. My daughter just saw JCS coming to Indy and said we are soooooo there. Theater is our thing - everybody else in the family hates it.
@@tommyboyindy1157 Ted Neeley was great in the 1973 film.
Not even close.
Oh yeah! The fabulous Who! Here’s one guy’s opinion.
1. Quadrophenia
2. Who’s Next
3. Tommy
4. Sell Out
5. Who are You
6. A Quick One
7. By Numbers
8. Face Dances
9. My Generation
10. It’s Hard
I consider " Face Dances " to be under - rated. Excellent songwriting on it. Different approach from what was unexpected - dealing with middle - age. And Entwhistle songs steal the show!
Agreed ; I have always rated 'Face Dances' highly !
Love The Quiet One, from the ox!
Love "Another Tricky Day"
I recently listened again to Face Dances after a very long time, and it's definitely way better than I remember.
I agree, it just further proves that 1981 was an incredible year in music. You Better You Bet still has that haunting quality to me, I've loved that damn song from day 1.
I'd never put "By Numbers" lesser than "Who Are You"
I agree.
I listen to By Numbers on You Tube a couple of times. Not bad, seems Who Are You get a little more attention due to movie that came out about same time and Moon dying weeks after LP rel in 78.
For some reason I didn’t find this on the playlist. One of my favorite bands of all time. My ranking;
12) Face Dances
11) Who are you
10) Endless Wire
9) It’s hard
8) Who
7) A quick one
6) My Generation
5) The Who sell out
4) Who’s next
3) The Who by numbers
2) Tommy
1) Quadrophenia
I love the who sell out. Its great.
I agree Tommy is one of the best concept albums ever written, to me this is their best album. Who's Next is also awesome, a classic album full of hits. A legendary group no doubt.
Keith moon's drumming on who's next and quadrophenia is simply indescribable , it's so good. Thanks for reminding me think I'll listen to Quadrophenia 👍
Yes Yes Yes right on the money.
@@luisvaldes1568 yep I saw them in 83 Kenny was good but Keith may be the best rock drummer of all time 🤩
My Order:
Who’s Next
Tommy
My Generation
Quadrophenia
Who Are You
The Who Sell Out
The Who by Numbers
WHO
A Quick One
Endless Wire
ben hansen,
so you decided to completely ignore the 2 who albuns with kenney jones?
I know it doesn't qualify but "The Who Live at Leeds Deluxe Edition' is my favorite Who album...
9:32 sparks an interesting debate: Who had the three best consecutive albums?
The Who: Tommy-Who's Next-Quadrophenia
Beatles: Rubber Soul-Revolver-Sgt. Pepper
Stones: Let it Bleed-Sticky Fingers-Exile
As a massive Who fan, I'd still give it to the beatles, but you could make an argument for any.
Dude, I'm going to say it. I thought I was a rock fan. A huge Rock fan you put me to shame. You've gone to places. I never even thought of going maybe even heard of. Budgie I couldn't even sit through half the stuff. Hats off to you, bro.
Who's Next, By Numbers, Quadrophenia, Who are You Tommy, Live at Leeds and Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy. No particular order.
Quadrophenia ... yeh I was brought up on Tommy too .. then .. Quadrophenia came out and blew me AWAY - Prog or what .. storytelling, songwriting ... amazing. I live in Hastings and some of the footage from this comes from Hastings; mods chasing police and vice-versa and rockers n so on .. and my old stomping ground was Brighton from where the main footage comes .. so it's locally personal and I was born in 1960 so I remember the mods n such. The melodic guitar of Quadrophenia is beautiful and the repeated themes as in a classical piece or prog piece most good ... Tommy only more 'polished' ... all IMO ... of course ... :-) .. Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy makes for one of the great compilations (I tend to dislike comps as I too like to hear the whole album not just tracks)... Boris ... the superb Magic Bus ... amazing teenage angst of Pictures of Lilly ... masterpieces .. :-) And so much influence on Bowie... my fave 'artiste' .. The rest of the who opus I could take or leave .. Lighthouse Chroncs was quite good ..
Teenage diary alert!... Tommy had a lot to do with a girl who perhaps more than any other girl during my teen years, helped form me into the man I am for all the right reasons. Prior to my 10th year in HS, my family moved into a temporary townhouse neighborhood. A few doors down from us lived another family I knew since childhood. One day soon after the move I saw one of the girls from that family talking with a girl I hadn't met, but who lived right next door to me. They were exchanging albums. Music nut that I was at the time, I headed outside to look at their collection, and yes, to meet the pretty neighbor girl who looked like early 70's Olivia Newton John.
Flipping through the usual early 70's pop albums, one of them was Tommy, owned by the new girl. I remarked that I hadn't heard it in it's entirety. She then gave me a rundown of the story, saying that it wasn't the most accessible of subject matters as it dealt with an abused child. In the class ahead of me, but still close in age, I remember thinking that she didn't talk like anyone our age, boy or girl. Well beyond her years! There was a reason for that, which I would find out later.
She then loaned me her Tommy album so I could give it a listen. That set us up for meeting a few days later when I returned it. Over the short month we were neighbors, I only saw her coming and going from the townhouse, no other siblings or parents. Curious about that, I asked her why, and she then told me her tragic story. Two years prior, her only sibling brother died in a car accident. A year later, steeped in grief over his loss, her mother killed herself. Her father, now having to deal with the loss of both is wife and son, took to drinking just to fall asleep at night. So that she didn't have to see him like that, he slept at a motel near his work during the week, and only visited her on weekends.
Instead of becoming dysfunctional herself because of all that tragedy, she chose to fight off depression and find reasons to live, to view what happened to her through the eyes of the biblical Job. From that moment on, our teen romance was much different than your typical teen romance of sock hops, movies, soda fountains and home by 10. For me, her journey toward life and happiness became more important than anything else. Thanks Tommy!
Jesus man... that's an incredible story
Don't feel I know enough to rank all the albums of The Who, but Who's Next is a clear favorite for me.
I would rank "The Who Sell Out" definitely above "A Quick One" and "Who Are You", and below those top three. Nothing can touch those top three. Think about it-that remarkable "three album" run was actually the equivalent of FIVE albums in quantity. With the exception of the Beatles, I don't think any other band has matched that run of sustained greatness.
You didn't mention "HOW MANY FRIENDS" how could you not like that song from the who by numbers,huh?
One of the things we realize as we get older is the albums we used to have and enjoyed so much, but we no longer have them. Breakups and old roommates are sometimes the culprits. My ex-wife brought many of The Who albums to our life and they left with her. I still have some, but a couple I now miss again because of you bringing them up again. Curses.
why not simply buy the albums you dont have but want to hear?
@@wylier I do that, little by little, but sometimes I forget how much I miss an album until someone brings it up. Plus, I am not about to pay fifty dollars for an album.
I can't give too much of an argument with #1and #2, though I do believe that if Tommy was recorded as well as "Who's Next" it would inarguably be first.
Good job Pete, I like By Numbers a lot more than you do, I think the Red Blue and Grey is a classic song, though almost Pete solo. I'd put By Numbers after A Quick One. I think Who's Next is the best all time rock record. There isn't a bad song on it and several are all time great!
My top three:
1) Who’s next ( In my opinion one of the best albums ever recorded by anybody)
2) Quadrophenia
3) Tommy
No Odds and Sods? None of that material had been on an album before. A terrific record
While you're right, you have to pay attention to the rules of the selections. Love Odds and Sods...but we have to go to the TRUE studio albums.
Thank you for ranking The Who CD'S!🎤🎸🎵🥁
The Who is my all time favorite band and Quadrophenia is my all time favorite album
10 - A Quick One, While He's Away
9 - The Who
8 - The Who By Numbers
7 - Face Dances
6 - Quadrophenia
5 - It's Hard
4 - My Generation
3 - Tommy
2 - Who Are You
1 - Who's Next
Nothing wrong with this list!
This is the one ranking video I've been waiting for the most, since The 'Oo are my second favourite band of all time (after those Liverpudlians). I kinda feel they are a bit underappreciated these days, don't know why. Their importance cannot be understated and their run of albums from 1967-73 hasn't been topped since.
the who not bad but when you don't have keith moon and john entwistle around its not the same but roger daltrey and Pete Townshend still rock.
I feel like none of The Who studio albums do them proper justice with the possible exception of Quadrophenia. They really came alive on stage and so their live recordings and bootlegs outshine all of them.
EmptyGlass99 I would agree with that particularly in the case of Tommy, however I personally think Who’s Next sounds pretty mean still
I have that same T-shirt you're wearing. You should have stood up and shown everyone Moon going loon at the bottom.
I love "…Sell Out". It's my favorite of the pre-Tommy albums. It was pretty much their first concept album.
Tanglewood 1970...live just stellar.
YES, Pete....get out your Kinks Albums!!!!
I'd rank Who By Numbers higher. To each is own.
Odds & Sods is pretty much part 2 of " Next"
sounds about right, but some of the songs on it were recorded in the 60s.
I miss Keith Moon. my favorite album is Who Are You (1978)
I think A Quick One was called Happy Jack in the states.