The Official Who Thread

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

^ This. However, I do feel The Who have created a handful of great songs.

Today I was trying to think of more songs from the '80s that I like, when I finally remembered "You Better You Bet," which I didn't recall was by The Who. I always enjoy this song because I am amused by its humor. The song also sounds pretty and even beautiful at times to me...fresh, honest, and real.

Then I realized I couldn't remember many other songs by the Who that I like. I can think of some that are meh or that I hate with a passion (like "Who Are You?"). Yet it was harder to remember songs that please me.

After listening to a few of those YouTube videos that provide the starts of 25 songs in a total of only 6 minutes (yeah!), I made my list of the few songs by The Who that I enjoy. Here it is:

1. "You Better You Bet" (1981)
2. "My Generation"
3. "Baba O'Riley"
4. "Won't Get Fooled Again"
5. ? ? ? (If I recall or find other Who songs I like, I'll add them)

"You Better You Bet" -- I like this song very much due to its sound (especially beautiful at the beginning), meaning, humor, and associations -- I associate it with a particular time in my life. I like the song even though it breaks the cardinal rule of songwriting: Never, never, never, never, never rhyme "life" with "knife"!! (Shudder.) However, that flaw is counterbalanced by the delightful "your dog keeps licking my nose," which redeems the lyrics.

Hey, I just learned on Wikipedia that this was the 4th song to be played on MTV after its 1981 launch, and "You Better You Bet" was also the first video to be shown on MTV more than once!


The Who - You Better You Bet - YouTube

Your favourite songs just happen to be their most famous as well.

[Kelli]

^ If you like the most popular ones might as well throw in Pinball Wizard and Behind Blue Eyes as well. I've never met anyone who hates 'Who Are You' though... hahah.

[Screen13]

Dug out my old vinyl copy of Rarities Vol. 1 and found this to be a great under-rated gem. From '68 and the B to Magic Bus in the UK and the final track on the collection wrapping up the pre-Tommy days with style.

[VEGANGELICA]

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

Your favourite songs just happen to be their most famous as well.

True, except...

Originally Posted by Kelli

^ If you like the most popular ones might as well throw in Pinball Wizard and Behind Blue Eyes as well. I've never met anyone who hates 'Who Are You' though... hahah.

...I dislike "Behind Blue Eyes" and I hate "Pinball Wizard" and "Who Are You." I guess I may be the first one to hate "Who Are You."

So just because a Who song is famous doesn't mean I'll like it.

I feel annoyed by "Who Are You" because of its owl-like "Who who who who" (which they repeat again and again) and I dislike the melody and most of the instrumentals. The very first time I heard that song in the '90s, I disliked it. However, the first time I heard "You Better You Bet," it moved me.

I haven't heard all their lesser known songs, so it is possible that some songs I might like are hidden in their repertoire. However, most of their songs I've heard are ones I dislike, such as...

"New Song"
"Love is Coming Down" (Bluck)
"Bargain"
"The Real Me"
"Doctor Doctor"
"How Many Friends"
"Cut My Hair"
"Trick of the Light"
"It's Not Enough"
"Doctor Jimmy"
"I Can't Explain"
"Love Ain't For keeping"
"Song is Over"
"Dogs"
"Heaven and Hell"
"The Relay"
"Bell Boy"
"Real Good Looking Boy"
"The Quiet One"
etc.

I may just be having a bad day...but I think it is more likely that I simply don't like the style of most Who songs. "Won't Get Fooled Again" almost didn't make it onto my "Like" list, too.

I do kind of like "Pure and Easy" because it's pretty. Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde was interesting.

I am now going to listen to "You Better You Bet" to purge the other songs from my mind:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir2rFb_ghn0

Ahh! That's better.

[Onemanrevival]

The Who will never be the same as they were, but my friend went to see them last night and said that they were still absolutely class.. All you can actually think of is the golden olden days really... but Daltrey still has got it :-)

[Chives]

Originally Posted by Big Ears

In the mid-seventies, A Quick One and Sell Out were re-released together as a double album. They worked quite well in the format. Odd 'n' Sods was pretty good too.

I own this twofer and it is easily the worst sounding official release in my record collection. I'm not sure if all pressings of it were that bad, but it's really murky and not fun at all on mine. I've run into others who had the same experience, but again I'm not sure if it applies to all pressings.

I've never understood all the hype around the Who. Live at Leeds is a classic showcase of live rock, and Tommy is a nice album and impressive for its ambition, but beyond that they never reached me much. A good band, but one of the best? Somebody explain it to me! Maybe I'll listen through all the albums I have again. It has been a while, maybe I'll like them more now.

[Big Ears]

The Who's albums tended to be pressed okay, but by their own admission were badly recorded. Polydor were one of the better pressers. Never was there a greater contrast between performance and recording, than with Quadrophenia, because the original vinyl sounded terrible. Every cloud has its silver lining and you can hear someone shout 'Pete!' Also, turn it up and John Entwistle's bass playing is phenomenal.

I cannot explain what makes The Who great to me, but I'll have a go.

First is the power and the impact. They are not a conventional heavy rock band, yet tracks like Baba O'Riley and Doctor Jimmy make the heavy bands sound like pop music. When I see footage of The Who at hippy festivals in the late sixties/ early seventies, they blow everyone away.

Second is The Who are not a conventional progressive rock band, but the rock operas (Tommy and Quadrophenia) match Yes and ELP for ambition, experimentation and musicianship. Admittedly The Who are inconsistent, but they have strong songwriting. Townshend has said that 'progressive' is a derogatory term, which mystifies me.

Third, the hit singles are catchy and melodic, but they have memorable lyrics and tremendous energy, like I Can See for Miles. They also have an Englishness, based on adolescence, suburbia and imagery, which I am suprised has not alienated Americans (or perhaps it has!).

Fourth, The Who have a great singer in Roger Daltrey. I cannot think of many performances that better his on Love Reign O'er Me from Quadrophenia. Nevertheless, Daltrey himself has said that the success of The Who was due to 'chemistry' and he is right.

Fifth is the unidentifiable element. I do not like Pete Townshend very much when I see, hear or read interviews with him, because he seems conceited. I remember mods from my childhood, but I do not relate to them as he does. Despite this, I cannot help loving The Who.

There is little cliche with The Who: no denim and leather, no fantasy landscapes, no whining self-pitying lyrics, few keyboard solos, and plenty of chords, but not many guitar solos (and I'm a Black Sabbath and Yes fan). Like The Rolling Stones, The Kinks and Led Zeppelin, The Who transcend everything because they have a timeless quality.

[Powerstars]

One thing I have to say.

BOOOOORIIIIIIIS THE SPIIIIIIIIIDEEEEEEEEEEEEER

[Antmusic]

Originally Posted by Big Ears

The Who's albums tended to be pressed okay, but by their own admission were badly recorded. Polydor were one of the better pressers. Never was there a greater contrast between performance and recording, than with Quadrophenia, because the original vinyl sounded terrible. Every cloud has its silver lining and you can hear someone shout 'Pete!' Also, turn it up and John Entwistle's bass playing is phenomenal.

I cannot explain what makes The Who great to me, but I'll have a go.

First is the power and the impact. They are not a conventional heavy rock band, yet tracks like Baba O'Riley and Doctor Jimmy make the heavy bands sound like pop music. When I see footage of The Who at hippy festivals in the late sixties/ early seventies, they blow everyone away.

Second is The Who are not a conventional progressive rock band, but the rock operas (Tommy and Quadrophenia) match Yes and ELP for ambition, experimentation and musicianship. Admittedly The Who are inconsistent, but they have strong songwriting. Townshend has said that 'progressive' is a derogatory term, which mystifies me.

Third, the hit singles are catchy and melodic, but they have memorable lyrics and tremendous energy, like I Can See for Miles. They also have an Englishness, based on adolescence, suburbia and imagery, which I am suprised has not alienated Americans (or perhaps it has!).

Fourth, The Who have a great singer in Roger Daltrey. I cannot think of many performances that better his on Love Reign O'er Me from Quadrophenia. Nevertheless, Daltrey himself has said that the success of The Who was due to 'chemistry' and he is right.

Fifth is the unidentifiable element. I do not like Pete Townshend very much when I see, hear or read interviews with him, because he seems conceited. I remember mods from my childhood, but I do not relate to them as he does. Despite this, I cannot help loving The Who.

There is little cliche with The Who: no denim and leather, no fantasy landscapes, no whining self-pitying lyrics, few keyboard solos, and plenty of chords, but not many guitar solos (and I'm a Black Sabbath and Yes fan). Like The Rolling Stones, The Kinks and Led Zeppelin, The Who transcend everything because they have a timeless quality.

Extremely well said. The Who are/
were incredibly original.

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by Big Ears

The Who's albums tended to be pressed okay, but by their own admission were badly recorded. Polydor were one of the better pressers. Never was there a greater contrast between performance and recording, than with Quadrophenia, because the original vinyl sounded terrible. Every cloud has its silver lining and you can hear someone shout 'Pete!' Also, turn it up and John Entwistle's bass playing is phenomenal.

I cannot explain what makes The Who great to me, but I'll have a go.

First is the power and the impact. They are not a conventional heavy rock band, yet tracks like Baba O'Riley and Doctor Jimmy make the heavy bands sound like pop music. When I see footage of The Who at hippy festivals in the late sixties/ early seventies, they blow everyone away.

Second is The Who are not a conventional progressive rock band, but the rock operas (Tommy and Quadrophenia) match Yes and ELP for ambition, experimentation and musicianship. Admittedly The Who are inconsistent, but they have strong songwriting. Townshend has said that 'progressive' is a derogatory term, which mystifies me.

Third, the hit singles are catchy and melodic, but they have memorable lyrics and tremendous energy, like I Can See for Miles. They also have an Englishness, based on adolescence, suburbia and imagery, which I am suprised has not alienated Americans (or perhaps it has!).

Fourth, The Who have a great singer in Roger Daltrey. I cannot think of many performances that better his on Love Reign O'er Me from Quadrophenia. Nevertheless, Daltrey himself has said that the success of The Who was due to 'chemistry' and he is right.

Fifth is the unidentifiable element. I do not like Pete Townshend very much when I see, hear or read interviews with him, because he seems conceited. I remember mods from my childhood, but I do not relate to them as he does. Despite this, I cannot help loving The Who.

There is little cliche with The Who: no denim and leather, no fantasy landscapes, no whining self-pitying lyrics, few keyboard solos, and plenty of chords, but not many guitar solos (and I'm a Black Sabbath and Yes fan). Like The Rolling Stones, The Kinks and Led Zeppelin, The Who transcend everything because they have a timeless quality.

Whenever I've watched live footage of bands performing live from the late 1960s and early 1970s The Who usually stand out as being the best.