Who's Next

Very strong start and finish but lags in the middle, much like me having a shag.

Dad rock but by actually talented musicians

Now here's a classic album. This marks the third album on here I have on vinyl (actually fourth since my Pink Moon vinyl arrived today). Opens with one of the greatest songs ever made. I'm a Baba O'Riley boy through and through. There are plenty of other bangers on here too, and I also enjoyed a handful of the tracks I'd never heard before. In total, I gave a little Apple Music heart to seven of the nine tracks--that's what we in the business of calling things things call a "hit machine." Honestly insane that this album opens AND closes with two of the greatest songs the Who has ever made. This album is undeniable. Plus, I fear if I gave this less than a perfect review that my younger self would materialize to kick my ass. Good thing it more than holds up. Favorite tracks: Baba (booey) O'Riley, Won't Get Fooled Again, Behind Blue Eyes, The Song Is Over. Album art: Iconic. This should honestly be on a short list for best album covers ever. Top 15 maybe? Four blokes in a quarry, around this man-made monolith type thing. The angle of the monolith is part of the charm too--it's not centered, but it feels centered. A strong, dark energy emanates from this one. Also, I love the stylization of the title: "Who's next" Not a question, nor a statement really. Maybe just an observation. 5/5

Who’s Next by The Who (1971) [Is this the best album cover ever?] How many of us first heard this album in our formative years, when we began to discover that hard rock was an art form, a catalyst for serious reflection on answers to the big questions, for markers along the trail toward maturity and contentment, for companionship in the pursuit of truth that we could not get from our teachers, pastors, coaches, father-figures, counselors, and drill sergeants? How many of us sat at the feet of a sage like Pete Townshend when we had tried and failed to distill life’s lessons from George McGovern, Walter Cronkite, Malcolm X, T.S. Eliot, Karl Marx, and Saints Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? How many of us were there? And how many of us are left? We learned from the songs we absorbed. We learned that the nature of love is sacrificial (“Bargain”), that love for spouse and offspring is not passive but active (“Love Ain’t for Keeping”), that in the midst of the anger and the vengefully voided conscience of being misunderstood, self restraint is wiser than violence (“Behind Blue Eyes”), that adolescent angst is only a ‘teenage wasteland’ (“Baba O’Riley”), and that this Revolution too will pass when the ‘slogans are effaced’ and ‘the beards have all grown longer’ (“Won’t Get Fooled Again”). Of course, all these truths could have been found in the Christian faith, but the searching was hard when the more popular theologians and moralists of the mid-twentieth century had so royally screwed it up. So how many of us became atheists who had to seek these truths elsewhere? But these priceless truths would be inaccessible without a suitable vehicle of expression. It had to be heavy (“Getting In Tune”), dexterous (“Going Mobile”), and punctuated with comic relief (“My Wife”). So this is where the music comes in—guitar, bass, drums, piano, synthesizer (yes, we were ready for that), and voices that could both melt hearts (“The Song Is Over”) and produce involuntary cris de coeur. Putting yourself in the context of a post-revolutionary survivor, patiently listen to “Won’t Get Fooled Again” (loud!) and take note of what happens in your upper thoracic region at the 7:43 mark. I dare you. The physicality is astonishing. The best (and most paternal) transition from Side One to Side Two in the history of recorded music: “The song is over Excepting one note, pure and easy Playing so free, like a breath rippling by . . . I’m singing this note . . . But I’m in tune, and I’m gonna tune right in on you.” This is the album that first compelled me to listen seriously. What album did that for you? 5/5

Anyone who doesn't rate this a 5 doesn't know what they are talking about. This is a nearly perfect album. Epic.

I mean, c'mon.

A lot of classics, but the ones that aren’t classics kind of drag. Even the big ones are more “great riff” than “6 minutes of excellence”.

The apotheosis of talent show rock (songs where all the band’s gifts are on display), nothing here is less than masterful. But what shines brightest is how consistently brilliant their final acts are. Baba O’Reilly’s gypsy coda is as great as its famous opening. Daltrey’s gravelly commitment to “When my fist clenches, crack it open” and “Put ya fingers down my throat” in Behind Blue Eyes’ finale is what tips it into all-time great. Won’t Get Fooled Again somehow finds a way to level-up at the end even though the whole song’s essentially the album’s final act. Even the lesser numbers pack a big finish: Bargain’s drum battering, My Wife’s creeping horn charts, Going Mobile’s squiggly synths. The sleeper is Getting in Tune, which re-routes its concept with each verse. First one’s about making music, second one’s about loneliness, third one’s about getting yourself right, fourth one’s about finding connection. Then they all get blitzed together. Something like that, anyway. When the material isn’t strong enough to fully embody, the McCartneyish try hard in Daltrey’s voice can be irritating; but when it is strong—which is most of the time here—it brings out the character actor in him and he puts the songs over like a motherfucker.

Oh my let me use Who’s words to say Bargain the best I ever Had”. Buying this album is the best you’ll ever buy. I lost 2 pounds listening to this album. Baba Riley had me playing air guitar, air drums,keyboard and violin. I needed water half way through due to beltimg out the words to so many - so loud! My goodness what a piece of art from the 1st track to last. This is what a masterpiece sounds like . Belisamo!

Crazy how the Who went forward in time so they could learn Behind Blue Eyes by Limp Bizkit.

10/10, I feel like Joe Pera when I listen to this

One of the greatest albums of all time. Top 5 ‘final track on an album’ ever…

This album starts and ends brilliantly. Baba O'Riley, Behind Blue Eyes and Won't Get Fooled Again are classics and still sound fresh in 2021, particularly the former. In the middle it is less memorable though, and seemed like fairly average rock. 3.5/5.

I feel like anything I would have to say about this album would be woefully insufficient. I mean, this is the epitome of a 5 star album. Best thing the Who ever made. There's a reason why we know so many of these songs, to the point where some have become overfamiliar. Don't let that get in the way of your enjoyment. There are literally some of the best rock songs ever made on this album, including the monumental "Baba O'Riley," the blistering "Won't get Fooled Again," and the deeply intense "Behind Blue Eyes." This is the Who musically at their best and going for broke on every song. Fave Songs: Baba O'Riley, Bargain, Behind Blue Eyes, Won't Get Fooled Again, Going Mobile

Definitely the Who's best.

who who im an owl

I fucking hate The Who.

Who’s Next I was heavily into this album around 2003/2004, just after the deluxe edition CD came out. I remember buying it in Tower Records in Shibuya. Don’t look for it, it’s not there anymore (actually it's still there). It’s still my favourite of theirs. Although I like much of their earlier R’n’B and their psychedelic and rock opera periods this is probably the best combination of Townshend's conceptual endeavours (even though the full Lifehouse concept fell by the wayside) and their desire to straight ahead rock’n’roll. It is also their best sounding album I think, the early ones sound quite thin, and while Tommy sounded better this one sounds excellent. It’s probably Daltrey’s best recorded vocals, as well as his best singing. I think it also has some of Townshend’s best guitar playing, I love his bluesy acoustic on Love Ain’t For Keeping as well as his lead/rhythm amalgamation. The production and its place in the mix also highlights how integral Entwistle’s bass was to their sound, his playing is excellent throughout. And it has some of Moon’s most considered playing, even if he still does a lot, I really like his thumping march on The Song is Over and his rhythm pattern on Won’t Get Fooled Again in the early verses (and throughout) is superb. The synths are pretty interesting too, they are an important part of many songs, Baba O’Riley and Won’t Get Fooled Again most obviously, but they never go too overboard, they make up part of the texture of the record rather than being hugely prominent or purely for decoration. Baba O’Riley, Behind Blue Eyes and Won’t Get Fooled Again are rightly the big songs, but the rest of the album tracks, apart from perhaps My Wife are also excellent (even though I love the drums and the horns on My Wife, it’s the lyric and Entwistle’s vocals that sour it a bit). Bargain and Love Ain’t For Keeping are excellent after Baba O’Riley. The Song is Over and Getting in Tune are a great duo, particularly The Song is Over, I love the ‘searching for a note, pure and easy’ part. I suppose Going Mobile is a bit throwaway, but I do like it, particularly the treated guitar solo part. I’ve always loved Won’t Get Fooled Again, but it’s interesting listening to the lyrics now, how disillusioned they are for 1971, although I suppose the hippie dream had already soured by then. A classic album in the classic sense of a classic album, it’s a straightforward 5. 🧿🧿🧿🧿🧿 Playlist submission: Won’t Get Fooled Again

You Won’t Get Fooled Again if you listen to this and that’s a Bargain that I can guarantee.

An amazing album which has stood the test of time.

70s rock does not get much better than this. Front to back great. Peak Who. They’re all WASTED.

Yeah, that’s a 5. I knew this was the album that had Baba O’Riley, but I never made the connection that Won’t Get Fooled Again was that fucking song. Those are the two standouts, obviously, but everything in between so perfectly compliments each other in terms of the instrumentation and the vocal performance, probably most deeply anchored together by the fantastic percussion throughout this album that really makes each song pop that much harder, especially on The Song Is Over and Getting in Tune. It’s just a really fucking good album, man. Even its weakest points where the sound lulls a bit or repetition starts to seep in, which are few and far between, are still great to listen to. Very deserving of a 5, and highly recommended.

What a ride. This is probably the best album that’s going to be on this list. And to think this was leftovers from their previous record. Absolute legends.

What kind of crazy, fucked-up world do we live in where this album isn't one of the top 20 highest rated on this sites list? This is the sound of a band at the absolute peak of their powers. It's the epitome of a classic album. There's a reason the best songs from the album have been overplayed everywhere: they're simply that good. I even like the track John Entwistle sings lead on.

This is one of my all-time favorites. With some devastating lyrics and incredible musicianship, it's got so many great songs that it feels like a "Best of..." record. (Though there are many, many more of The Who's bests not on this album.) It is grandly exuberant, theatrical, cinematic. (There is a reason Baba O'Riley is the soundtrack to so many movie trailers.) Listening to this album just feels HUGE. Like I need to expand to fit the music in. It's exhilarating. lovelovelovelovelove

Great rock album, liked it a lot more than I expected. Top tracks for me are Baba O'Riley, Behind Blue Eyes and Won't Get Fooled Again.

No doubt this album is a rock classic. Super influential album with a lot of fans, however I may not be one. My favorite songs are the first track and then the last 3 tracks. All 4 of those songs are awesome and super memorable. That’s the problem, the meat of this album the middle three albums are just so meh. Sadly forgettable, I do think this album is worth listening to in its entirety. I just don’t think I personally care for anything other than those few songs.

As I've mentioned in my reviews of the other Who albums, never been a big fan. At least those albums ("Tommy" and "My Generation") I wasn't as familiar with. This record is not so lucky. Classic rock radio has beaten at least four of these to absolute death, so much so that when I saw the last two songs were "Behind Blue Eyes" and "Won't Get Fooled Again", I decided to spare myself. If I had known "Bargain" by the title, I would've skipped that one as well. Two of these songs both have similar enough melodies, albeit differing intensities, and to have them back to back is just poor design ("The Song is Over" and "Getting In Tune"). The other three songs are absolutely forgettable. The Who are a classic rock band that I've never understood why every radio station in America is required to play their music. I just wish they'd go away. Favorite track: "Won't Get Fooled Again"

Beyond a couple of early singles, I have never understood the interest in The Who. This album is far from a classic, and sounds like a really bad hangover from the Sixties. Lumpen rock with no soul or even meaningful lyrics. There is nothing ‘mod'ern about this, even for the time. Even Townshend’s guitar playing - so often discussed and admired - doesn’t really stand out as being either virtuosic or particularly original, to these ears. Next!

The Who just sounds like The Who in this album. Not trying to match other bands with covers like their early stuff. Fully into their own mold.

One of the best of all time

Majestic

Great album

Uma vez eu namorei uma criatura que dizia que a melhor versão de Behind Blue Eyes era a do Limp Bizkit. Ainda bem que terminamos.

Guld

If rock music ever had a blueprint for power and precision, Who’s Next would be it. This album isn’t just a collection of songs—it’s a statement of dominance. From the opening synth-driven surge of “Baba O’Riley”, which alone could justify a five-star rating, to the thunderous climax of “Won’t Get Fooled Again”, The Who deliver a masterclass in energy and ambition. The record captures the band at their creative peak—only Quadrophenia rivals it for sheer scope and artistry. Every track feels essential, balancing raw aggression with melodic sophistication. Pete Townshend’s visionary songwriting and guitar work set the tone, but it’s the chemistry of the whole band that makes this record soar. Roger Daltrey’s commanding vocals, Keith Moon’s explosive drumming, and John Entwistle’s thunderous, melodic bass lines give the music its muscular backbone. Entwistle doesn’t just hold down the low end—he drives the songs forward with a force that’s as distinctive as Townshend’s riffs. Simply put: Who’s Next isn’t just one of The Who’s greatest albums—it’s one of rock’s greatest albums, period.

Who's Best

“Sir, there’s been another high school shooting. The killer has wiped out all the students, laid their bodies across the playing field as if it were a mass grave and set fire to the whole damn thing so there’s nothing left other than charred corpses and cinders.” “I guess it’s only…” *glasses* “…Teenage Wasteland.” YEEAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Delightfully bombastic drumming, great hits, and an exciting sound to the album. Obviously Baba O’Reilly is an all timer but this album just did it for me. Will certainly come back.

A genuinely great album from The Who.

A stone cold classic. It rocks start to finish. I was sucked in from the first notes of Baba O'Riley and there are just som many more iconic riffs and pieces. Love it.

Excellent, several iconic hits on this album. Loved it

Better than I was expecting. What a classic

GOAT. Really.

A classic! Pete Townshend’s guitar sounds are perfect, Roger Daltry’s voice rips, and the rhythm section just holds it all together. I love this album!

Classic album.Feels like a greatest hits .

There really isn’t much to say that hasn’t already been said about this record. It’s brilliant.

Fantastic, never listened to the who but I get the appeal

LOVED THIS! Didn’t realize I had never heard the Who before. Baba O’Riley and Won’t get Fooled Again were stellar.

Such a fantastic lineup of songs, it feels like s greatest hits album because every song is so solid

This has been one of my favorites since the first time I heard it in the early 70’s. It still holds up with so many solid songs that are still amazing

I want to not like it as it feels over played in a lot of ways. But I don't think you can it's just such a good album.

Yup, as good as the first time I heard it. Superb. The Who at the height of their power. Moon at his best.

I've loved this album for a long time. A top-notch rock band in peak form playing great songs. There's some prog-rock experimentation but they never lose track of the grooves and power chords. What a pleasure to come back to this. Check out "Won't Get Fooled Again" for some utterly insane drumming.

Didn't have the time to digest this as thoroughly as I would've liked today, will definitely be coming back to it for a better analysis, but such good vibes on display all around in this album, lots of classics that I've heard before and am grateful to finally be able to put a name to. Just a great listen overall!

I’ve never given The Who the time they clearly deserve. This is an excellent, brilliantly structured album.

I was super excited to see this come up today. This is not just my favorite The Who album, but one of the best rock records of all time. I haven’t listened to the whole thing in full for quite some time, so it was fun to revisit it with relatively fresh ears. Going in my thought was that My Wife is the only not great song, and the rest are all either stone cold classics or merely just awesome. I’m very glad to say that I was right. My Wife is still my least favorite song on the album, but it’s not even that bad. And John Entwistle’s voice is also not bad. I could add every other song to playlists and be thrilled with that. Baba O’Riley is one of the greatest rock songs ever, along with WGFA. But even the lesser known songs are way more than filler. The playing is perfect (love the bass on Getting In Tune), and all the vocals mesh together so well. Oh, and one of the best album covers of all time too.

Apex Pete. While bookended by two of the great rockers, the album is primarily driven by acoustic guitars. And the incomparable tandem of Entwistle and Moon. The yin yang of Macho Man Daltrey and Lady Townshend's vocals is so rich.

Five stars. It just is. Even the filler songs on a Who album are joyous to listen to. "The Song is Over" and "Getting in Tune" were surprising rediscoveries.

Well my bias saw The Who and was ready to give it a 5 before listening. I didn’t realize so many of these timeless songs were on 1 album. Definitely a 5.

Sometimes if I'm already familiar with an album I'll read reviews while I listen. I don't want others' opinions to impact my own, but if I already know the album there isn't much harm in that. One reviewer pondered, "How many of us first heard this album in our formative years?" Well, despite my formative years being about 25 years after this album's release, I can count myself among that group. There must be something about the lyrics of "Baba O'Reilly" seeking out and finding us when we are in the midst of that teenage wasteland. Even though it wasn't until the late 90s, this was still our anthem for driving around, smoking, looking for girls, and getting into trouble. Talk about timeless. But, many albums start off with a bang and then quickly fizzle out. Not this one. While it's true it's debatably bookended by the best two tracks, the album is great from start to finish. There isn't a dud...the definition of a perfect album.

Man, Roger Daltrey had an amazing voice! From the softest falsetto to the roughest belting—that must have been unique at the time! Due to the synthesizer-heavy and unnecessarily shallow intro, which in my opinion pretty much obscures the band's real qualities, the record takes a while to unfold its true effect. It was only later that I realized that the songs are actually just as catchy as those of other 60s greats I've heard more recently (e.g., The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Doors), but in a completely different way. Drums, bass, and guitar are given equal prominence alongside the vocals, making it fitting to describe The Who as the pioneers of hard rock. I find it significant that the strongest song on the album, “Won't Get Fooled Again,” comes at the very end—here, I think I can already hear a blueprint for the classic Van Halen sound in the guitar riffs and vocals—as if this album was planned as an introduction to a new chapter in music history.

stellar end to end- worth having in my collection

Who’s Next…I haven’t listened to this album in full in years. It still sounds fantastic. This album is a 10. I had honestly forgotten how good this is. From the opening note of Baba to the final smash of WGFA, this is perfect.

Some of these songs are a bit overused, but only because they are stone cold bangers. This album is just packed with rad songs

I'm not going to quibble, except to note that the best songs are not the ones that dominated the radio.

I had always wanted to get my parents' version of this album. When I first saw it I admired the 2001: Space Odyssey monolith featured around the band. Only later did I realize that they had pee’d all over it. This album overall was a “Best of” in itself. The album starts off with Baba O’Riley, one of the most recognizable openings in classic rock. I loved how this album pulled in elements of the prog-rock and radio-friendly songwriting into the same place. Most of this album was been featured in movies, television and commercials for years: Bargain, Song is Over, Behind Blue Eyes, and of course CSI: Series (all of them) had Won’t Get Fooled Again. I always liked the Who, too, because Pete was a great songwriter and guitarist, Roger Daltry had a phenomenal range and power, but the best part of the band was the strength of “Thunderfingers” John “The Ox” Entwistle (you know you’re good when you get two nicknames), and the drive of Keith Moon, is easily defined as one of the best drummers of all time. I would have liked to get my parent’s copy, which they refuse to relinquish, so I bought my own instead. This is a legendary album!

Random thoughts: * This is probably The Who's best album. It's tight and rocking. * The scream at the end of "Won't Get Fooled Again" is an all-time rock scream. * The first 2 tracks and the last 2 tracks are certified bangers! * Mobile is pronounced the British way. I kinda love it. lol * This one is a classic and is still widely played. For good reason!

100% banger! One of my all time favorite records

One of my all-time favorites and desert island discs!

The Who getting sophisticated and emotional, love that

A classic! Listen to the Young Vic live recording on the deluxe version of the album if you get a chance. The Who in fine form at a free lunch time concert! Plus some extra tracks that you might not know

Great Who album. A bunch of bangers !!!

Fantastic seminal album

MASTERPIECE

Auf jeden Fall top 20 beste Alben. Einfach über 50 Jahre alt.

Favorite Who album.

Fantastic album

An obvious five-star, stone-cold classic. If you haven't heard this masterpiece, are you even human? If so, you are very likely a traitor to the entire human race. Such a traitor must be put to death by the most horrific means imaginable. But first, you MUST listen to this album.

Bloody heavy

Top 3 who album. Absolutely essential.

The definitive Rock album bar none and one of the finest works of art of the last couple hundred years. There are a handful of albums that are better (Sgt Peppers, Pet Sounds, Led Zeppelin IV, Elvis' S/T debut) but none that encompass everything that is Rock N Roll with more fire n skill than Who's Next. Even after playing this album at least 100 times in my life this album intimidates and humbles me and as such I have an extremely difficult time writing about it. Having this album in my life has been one of my richest experiences on planet Earth. It really has been. Thank you, Pete, Roger, John & Moon the Loon! BTW It pairs nicely with 'Live at Leeds' an album that captures The Who at the height of their powers which easily makes it the greatest live album ever recorded (get the reissue with all 33 songs that were performed on the fateful Valentine's Day) a seminal live masterpiece if there ever was one. FYI The original album has 9 tracks. There is also a super deluxe edition that has 109 tracks that takes a couple days to soak it all in.

Songs are delightfully long Just jamming

Easily one of my favorite albums, ever. My buddy Jack lent this to me on cassette in 9th grade. A perfect rock album.

What is there to say? You've heard every song on this album even though you probably don't recognize the song sames. This isn't one of the 1001 greatest albums, it's one of the top 10.

I've previously found the Who albums on this list a bit hit and miss, but this one is bookended by two of the best rock songs ever and you can't argue with that

One of my all time favorites!

Amazing album start to finish. Easy 5 star.

So many tunes I didn’t realize were on this album. Overall really enjoyable and fun, it’s a classic for a reason. Glad I finally stopped avoiding The Who albums and had the chance to listen all together.

Loved every part of this from beginning to end

This album is so loaded it feels like a compilation.

Love it!

I own this CD Absolute classic!

אלבום מושלם. שיר מועדף - The song is over

One of the ultimate rock masterpieces of the 1970s. With Who’s Next, The Who strike the perfect balance between classic rock and technological innovation. From the very first seconds of Baba O’Riley, the groundbreaking synthesizers blend seamlessly with Pete Townshend’s signature guitar, Keith Moon’s explosive drumming, and John Entwistle’s heavy bass. Tracks like “Behind Blue Eyes” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again” show the band’s ability to balance sensitivity with stadium-sized anthems. Roger Daltrey delivers some of his finest vocal performances here. Although the album originated from an abandoned concept project (Lifehouse), Who’s Next stands as the band’s most focused and cohesive release. This is 70s rock at its best: hard, melodic, progressive, without being pretentious. 5/5

Who’s Next- The Who At one point, this was a Top 10 Album for me. I truly loved it. I’m not sure there is a weak track on this album. It goes back and forth between some incredible hard rock and some ballads that almost veer into silliness. And even that near silliness on My Wife and Going Mobile isn’t overtly silly. It’s light-hearted. Baba O’Riley- greatest opening to a rock song ever? Bargain- hard driving love song- if you aren’t paying attention, you could miss it Love Ain’t For Keeping- the Who called themselves an R& B band… maybe a bit of a stretch for our understanding of R&B, but they definitely leaned into rhythm and blues. This is a bit of a country and western rock tune My Wife- funny song about a man’s wife coming to kill him after he’s done something wrong Song is Over Getting In Tune Going Mobile- light fun rocker about being on the road- is this about their early days touring? Behind Blue Eyes- is this an autobiographical song about Roger Daltrey, or is it a social song about WASPiness? Won’t Get Fooled Again- is this the greatest rock song ever? It’s everything you would want in a rock song- angry, loud, passionate, everyone in the band gets to shine How many other rock albums open and close this strong? Born to Run comes to mind, with Thunder Road and Jungleland. But other than that? This may be one of the only albums I know where I’ve heard every song on the radio. Remember that radio was a big thing for those of us born in the 1980s. The phrase "timeless" gets thrown around too often, but this is one of the few bands that has a legitimate claim to "best of all time" at all four parts of the band.

more of this and less of Tommy. English rock I can get behind. Its just good solid 70's rock, definitely road trip music. Not much else to say, they deliver a great album here, not all of the tracks ars amazing, but the quality consistency is stellar across the board. If you want a perfect example of 70's rock, when it started getting a little heavier and moved away from the psychadelic 60's vibey stuff, this is your jam.

Joe Pera was so right about Baba O'Riley! 5/5

America's dads all agree: This album rocks.

Man this is classic Who. Loved it.