Who's Next
The Who
1971
Album Summary
Who's Next is the fifth studio album by English rock band the Who. It developed from the aborted Lifehouse project, a multi-media rock opera conceived by the group's guitarist Pete Townshend as a follow-up to the band's 1969 album Tommy. The project was cancelled owing to its complexity and to conflicts with Kit Lambert, the band's manager, but the group salvaged some of the songs, without the connecting story elements, to release as their next album. Eight of the nine songs on Who's Next were from Lifehouse, the lone exception being the John Entwistle-penned "My Wife". Ultimately, the remaining Lifehouse tracks would all be released on other albums throughout the next decade. The Who recorded Who's Next with assistance from recording engineer Glyn Johns. After producing the song "Won't Get Fooled Again" in the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio, they relocated to Olympic Studios to record and mix most of the album's remaining songs. They made prominent use of synthesizer on the album, particularly on "Won't Get Fooled Again" and "Baba O'Riley", which were both released as singles. The cover photo was shot by Ethan Russell; it made reference to the monolith in the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey, as it featured group members standing by a concrete piling protruding from a slag heap in Easington Colliery, County Durham, apparently having urinated against it. The album was an immediate success when it was released on 14 August 1971. It has since been viewed by many critics as the Who's best album and one of the greatest albums of all time. It was reissued on CD several times, often with additional songs originally intended for Lifehouse included as bonus tracks.
WikipediaNow 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
Anyone who doesn't rate this a 5 doesn't know what they are talking about. This is a nearly perfect album. Epic.
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”.
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!
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
Very strong start and finish but lags in the middle, much like me having a shag.
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.
This is an all-time classic, one of the best albums ever in my opinion. There really isn't a bad song in the bunch. Lately I've really been appreciating My Wife (the song, although I do appreciate my real-life wife as well). Listen to the drumming in that song, and then the horns kick in. And of course, Won't Get Fooled Again is epic. 5 stars easy.
Classic album. Second favorite Who album behind Quadrophenia. 9-10/10 1. Baba O'Riley 2. Won't Get Fooled Again 3. My Wife
Much of Who's Next derives from Lifehouse, an ambitious sci-fi rock opera Pete Townshend abandoned after suffering a nervous breakdown, caused in part from working on the sequel to Tommy. There's no discernable theme behind these songs, yet this album is stronger than Tommy, falling just behind Who Sell Out as the finest record the Who ever cut. Townshend developed an infatuation with synthesizers during the recording of the album, and they're all over this album, adding texture where needed and amplifying the force, which is already at a fever pitch. Apart from Live at Leeds, the Who have never sounded as LOUD and unhinged as they do here, yet that's balanced by ballads, both lovely ("The Song Is Over") and scathing ("Behind Blue Eyes"). That's the key to Who's Next -- there's anger and sorrow, humor and regret, passion and tumult, all wrapped up in a blistering package where the rage is as affecting as the heartbreak. This is a retreat from the '60s, as Townshend declares the "Song Is Over," scorns the teenage wasteland, and bitterly declares that we "Won't Get Fooled Again." For all the sorrow and heartbreak that runs beneath the surface, this is an invigorating record, not just because Keith Moon runs rampant or because Roger Daltrey has never sung better or because John Entwistle spins out manic basslines that are as captivating as his "My Wife" is funny. This is invigorating because it has all of that, plus Townshend laying his soul bare in ways that are funny, painful, and utterly life-affirming. That is what the Who was about, not the rock operas, and that's why Who's Next is truer than Tommy or the abandoned Lifehouse. Those were art -- this, even with its pretensions, is rock & roll.
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
After the success of Tommy, Pete Townsend embarked on another ambitious rock opera project titled Lifehouse. This project was eventually abandoned but some of the elements made their way onto Who's Next. This album is surely one of the Who's best. It is concise and coherent and features some of their greatest hits. Many of the lesser known songs come from Lifehouse and concern themselves with the relationship between music and its audience. This is truly a great album.
What a great album! Compared to earlier Who albums, this is a marvel. "Bookended" by three mega hits, the rest of the album is studded with everything, fast paced songs, power ballads, guitars, synthesisers
A masterpiece rock classic. I don’t think any band makes such a dramatic change in their career as The Who, Beatles aside. The album is packed with 3 mega iconic songs, great musicianship that well produced, all packaged in a great runtime. The album is a must and truly belongs on the list.
One of the greatest albums of all time. Top 5 ‘final track on an album’ ever…
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
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.
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.
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.
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!
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"
A classic!! I think I first heard this sometime in high school. "Going Mobile" is really really good in particular - that one always stood out to me, even more so than "Behind Blue Eyes" or "Won't Get Fooled Again". As someone who has listened to the Who's entire discography, this is without a doubt one of the strongest points.
One of the toughest for me to get through so far. I realized after listening to this that The Who are the MOST overplayed classic rock group of all time. Ugh.
Even though I still feel this album has some arguably filler-ish tracks - 'My Wife' in particular, and 'Love Ain't for Keeping' always felt a bit bland - the strength of the songs are just too great to justify anything other than 5 stars.
This one was full of nostalgia for me. I don't think I appreciatecd the nuance of the percussion and just the raw angsty feel. when I was young. It was over too soon
A jubilant slice of classic 70s rock. Tumbling rolling drums. Mold-breaking. Baba O Riley. Behind Blue Eyes.
One of the best albums ever. One of my favorite albums. Every song is great.
This album was simply amazing. The band was inspiration to countless bands and multiple generations . damn near perfect
All-time classic. Nothing but great tracks. One of my favorite records.
Classic album just. a bit of a dip in the middle. BT: Baba O'Riley, Behind Blue Eyes, Won't Get Fooled Again
Any album that starts with one of the greatest Youth anthems of all time is an easy 4star. That it ends with behind blue eyes earns it the 5
Great album! I don't know The Who very well so happy to listen through a full album of theirs
Seminal album with countless classic tracks. The musicianship is excelling to the point where vocals are the weakest link, which is saying something.
Not my favorite Who album, I don’t think, but goddamn, every song goes hard
Great album. No weak tracks. Bargain, love ain’t for keeping, going mobile, behind blue eyes, all great secondary tracks. Probably the best Who album
Nonstop rock from start to finish. Insanely iconic introduction and closer but the meat and bones hold their own for the runtime. 4.5 to 5/5
Brilliant. Love the synths and the rock elements. This is The Who that I know best.
Always liked The Who, but never truly appreciated them for their collective talent until recently. It was sparked by this album. Surely, there are many classics on here, But, the genius and musicianship are often hidden when the songs are overplayed. For me, I really began to appreciate Moon and Entwistle, both separate and together on this album, which only grew as I would re-listen to the other Who albums.
Aunque conocía varias de las canciones por separado, no había oído el disco completo y en orden y me sorprendió lo bueno que es. Cons sus 9 canciones y 43 minutos, todas tienen mucha coherencia y armonía entre ellas y el disco entero se va volando. Mi parte favorita, por mucho, es todo Baba O'Riley: desde la entrada con el sintetizador hasta la parte climática que viene al final, esa rola no tiene una nota de desperdicio.
Sin duda, así es como me gusta The Who. Nunca había escuchado el disco completo tal cual era y, sin temor a equivocarme creo que es ahora mi disco favorito de ellos. Me encanta el gran sonido completo que lograron con este álbum. En mi opinión, muy similar en partes a Tommy pero ahora, quizá debido a que no se logró cuajar la historia y el album "concepto" dio lugar a solo usar la música mejor lograda. Hay mucha grandilocuencia en todas las canciones y drama en todas partes sin seguir el molde de la ópera rock. "Baba O’Riley" siempre ha sido una de mis canciones favoritas y puedo escucharla una y otra vez. Esa canción para mí es parte esencial del hard rock y un excelente ejemplo del estilo destilado. La parte de acompañamiento con el sintetizador es muy original para su momento. Siempre me ha gustado "Won’t Get Fooled Again", y "Going Mobile". "Getting in Tune” fue nueva pero me gusto bastante. Y luego está "Behind Blue Eyes" que se había arruinado para mí hace mucho debido a un cover de Limp Bizkit. Sin embargo, creo que estoy listo para apreciarla y, sí, se siente medio cursilona pero es de esos puntos que nos recuerdan que esto iba a ser una ópera rock y en ese sentido no está nada mal lograda. Al final, tenemos creo sin duda uno de los mejores discos de los 70s y de todo el hard rock clásico en general.
Got better and better over its brief run. There's nobody who ever played like Keith Moon.
I think one of their best, maybe the best. It’s all spot on, exemplary of their unique brand, and of course a fist full of absolute iconic rock classics.
A well-regarded classic, peppered with epoch-making tunes, and a lighter touch than I remembered. Great to hear it again.
One of my all-time favorites from my favorite band. An awesome album. Essential classic rock.
Obviously iconic album. That intro to Baba O'Reily teleports me to riding in the car with my Dad.
Great listening, influential, a bridge from the Beatles to later music.
Classic rock here, some absolutely euphoric bangers, Daltrey’s vocals have an epic quality, Townshend’s guitars providing great fills, harmonies and riffs, Entwistle’s shuffling and grooving baselines keeping things moving and Moon’s insane drum fills and cymbal runs make sure the whole album never just settles but crackles and pops all the way through. Varied and always an interesting listen. Top tracks: Won’t Get Fooled Again, Baba O’Riley, Love Ain’t for Keeping, My Wife, Behind Blue Eyes
Never listened to The Who before but highly recommended. Would purchase this album.
Un dels millors discos de la història del rock. Des de l'icònica portada a l'èpica de 'Baba O'Riley' i 'Won't Get Fooled Again', passant per l'himne dels himnes, 'Behind Blue Eyes' i un reguitzell de temes menys coneguts però igualment triomfants. Obra mestra molt difícil d'igualar
My first memorable exposure to The Who was thanks to trailers for 'A Bugs Life' featuring the song 'Baba O'Riley', though I didn't know it yet. 'Boris the Spider' was my second thanks to my Uncle; curiously I also use to call him 'Baba' as a kid, though I doubt there's any connection. Some of the songs definitely come across as a filler but there's nothing that is flat out awful and some genuine amazing songs are featured in this album. Absolutely nothing original in my opinion for those songs being 'Baba O'Riley', 'Behind Blue Eyes' and 'Won't Get Fooled Again'.
Fantastic album. Starts off great, ends also with a great song. Just a classic album. Favourite songs - Baba O’reily - Behind blue eyes - Won’t get fooled again
I have probably heard this album before, but I only remember the big hits off this. A monster album. So great! I loved every song.
I have heard of this album, but never listened to it…and I don’t know why. It was great!
It's very exciting to listen to a classic album for the first time and to find that the whole thing is as engaging and enjoyable as the classic songs I know from it. I consider myself a bigger Who fan as of today because of this one.
Four stars and a half. An all-time classic, and an album which still holds its own many years after it was released. Highlights abound throughout this record, from that iconic opening played on synths on "Baba O'Riley" to the poignant, immediately gripping and memorable "Behind Blue Eyes", followed by epic closer "Won't Get Fooled Again". Like many classic albums by The Who, the whole might be just *a little* too grandiose and "over the top" to be digested in one single take, but this here is a very minor complaint. Just press pause once in a while to catch your breath, and then head right back into it. There are enough wonders and treasures inside this record to make it a worthwhile experience. As is usually the case with those classic albums, I won't write a full-blown review here given that others have already written wonderful stuff about them and there's not much I can add that I feel could be relevant and interesting. *Who's Next* is just a timeless gem for anyone who has even a remote interest in The Who. Go and listen to it a.s.a.p. if you haven't already. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 970 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 12 (including this one). Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 7 Albums from the list I will *not* include in mine (as I think many others are more important): 9 Albums I might not be able to judge (some might end up on my final list but it's because I recognize how culturally important they are): 2
Excelente! Muito bom ouvir mais do The Who! Melhor música: Tirando Baba O'Riley que é uma das minhas músicas favoritas da vida, Getting in Tune
Pros: -Has some absolute bangers, like "Baba O'Riley", "Bargain", and "Behind Blue Eyes" "Won't Get Fooled Again". -Serious trailblazers with their electronic synth work. -The more Roger Daltry lead vocal tracks are good, like "Getting in Tune" is a solid track. Not as great as the bangers above. Cons: -Some tracks are lackluster. "My Wife" flat out isn't good. It's like a funny song about running from your wife and buying a tank and protection? -"Going Mobile" is a nice tune but the drums sound off at times. Not off rhythmically, but there's whole sections where Keith Moon stops playing cymbals and continues a kick-snare and it sounds like the cymbals are missing there rather than a cool stylistic choice.
This was in high-rotation for high school Steve. Sometimes I take a break from this album for years at a time because I feel like the songs are overplayed on classic rock radio but then I come back to it and the big songs blow my mind all over again. I forget about the more melodic tracks too. Really nice. This song isn't on here but listening to the album again reminded me of this scene from Louie where he takes his daughters on a long car ride: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhAn6ZB5Vg0
Amazing album by a classic band, from the first notes you are hooked in for the journey/
Masterpiece. Have it on vinyl. Great melodies with a complex sound. Baba O'Riley still kills despite being overplayed. Behind Blue Eyes is a great change of pace on the second half. Love it.
Oh, that album cover's a pisser, isn't it? The album shouldn't work, being various bits pulled from the wreckage of the Lifehouse project (I've heard a reconstruction of that which is interesting) and an unrelated Entwistle song, but somehow it's one of the best albums ever made. Particularly brilliant beginning and ending, of course.
Baba O’Riley is a stadium shaker. And then Bargin is the two and cements this as one of the strongest opening one-twos in all of rock. The Song Is Over has the worst synth tone for a ballad. Getting In Tune strikes the right balance for a slower, more operatic feeling song. Behind Blue Eyes is great. Won't Get Fooled Again is another fanstastic stadium closer. Honestly, the strength of the Lifehouse songs on this is more than enough to merit a 5 from me.
Google “best ‘Yeah’ in rock” and see how far you can go without seeing someone mention the end of “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” For just one word which has also been used in about 95% of pop and rock songs ever, it seems to crystallise everything that made The Who great, capturing lightning in a bottle. When I first heard “Won’t Get Fooled Again”, I was already aware of Daltrey’s legendary full-throttled cry. It’s echoed through the pantheons of rock history as the band’s signature moment and one of the greatest climaxes in music. So when the first and much shorter “Yeah” came, four or so minutes in, it caught me off guard. Was that it? I kept listening, feeling a bit underwhelmed… and then at last, it came. And The Who have never stopped being one of my favourite classic rock bands ever since. “Who’s Next” showcases the band in their absolute prime, without any convoluted concepts or any indulgent theatrics. Their musicianship speaks for itself, all four of them jostling for the spotlight as masters of their craft. As well as ultimate closer “Won’t Get Fooled Again”, there’s the ultimate opening “Baba O’Riley” and the ultimate midway ballad “The Song Is Over”. Townshend’s introspective, soul-searching lyrics come to the fore, elevating the already great “Bargain”, “Getting in Tune” and “Behind Blue Eyes” to something really special. Then there’s the lighter pieces which I initially thought were throwaway: “Love Ain’t for Keeping”, “My Wife”, “Going Mobile”. But they all finish off the album with a lovely blend of humour and zeal, each with their own elements to love (backing vocals! Acoustic guitar licks! Horns! A solo that sounds like a duck!) It’s crazy to think the album is largely a series of outtakes from a concept piece Townshend could never quite get together: “Lifehouse”. After having read about this, I’m convinced it would have been lofty and convoluted- a sprawling mess with plenty of filler like “Tommy”. Thank god they opted for a straighter rock album here, before hitting their peak with the next album “Quadrophenia”. So just as Messrs Daltrey, Entwistle, Moon and Townshend urinated all over the imposing monolith on the cover, they spent the forty minutes of “Who’s Next” dousing their eager listeners with hit after hit, in a run of windmilling power chords, manic drum fills and full-throated bellows. It’s the only golden shower I can imagine enjoying.
This is The Who doing what they do best, for me: big, epic, well-produced rockers with meaty guitars - and, as it happens, two of the best sequenced synth intros of all time. Speaking of which, I once woke up to Won’t Get Fooled Again, and would highly recommend it. Beyond the hitz, the supporting cast is fairly decent - the likes of Bargain and Going Mobile are strong album tracks. I can’t decide whether they’re strong enough to justify giving the whole album 5 stars, but I’m feeling generous so I’ll score it 4.5, rounded up.
I was tempted to give it a star less due to a couple of songs I would skip (Going Mobile and Getting In Tune), but after realising I've given 5 for less and that the rest of Who's Next slaps, fuck it. Baba O'Riley, Behind Blue Eyes and Won't Get Fooled Again are truely fantastic. Even some of the filler tracks like My Wife was mint.
*CSI Intro Plays* (YEAAAAAAAAHHH) Objectively The Who's best album. Plenty of all time classic tracks here that deserve to be overplayed. Favourites: "Baba O'Riley", "Bargain", "The Song Is Over", "Won't Get Fooled Again"
Lot of enduring mega hits on this album, can’t deny that. Baba O’Reilly is a killer opening track, perfectly sets the tone for everything that follows. It’s a very precise and expertly executed album. The absolute best that The Who can be.
Who's best. The songs here are so iconic that I'm pretty sure you're just born into this world with the knowledge of their existence. "Baba O'Riley", "Behind Blue Eyes", "Won't Get Fooled Again" - some of the biggest songs ever. I'm also a big fan of "Bargain" and "My Wife". One of the most iconic album covers of all time. They really pissed all over that monolith. Good for them.
Starts off with 'Baba O'Riley,' and I mean, really, what more needs to be said? It's a perfect song to kick off the album. It's possible, then, that you think the album can't get better, or at the very least can't keep the quality that it set up with 'Baba O'Riley.' But you'd be wrong. We move straight into 'Bargain' and then 'Love Ain't for Keeping,' two more absolutely great songs. And then buckle in, because the album doesn't let up. 'Behind Blue Eyes' and 'Won't Get Fooled Again' show that the album never dips, and maintains a consistency that most bands only dream of. This is The Who's best album, which is saying a lot, but it certainly lives up to the hype.
Damn these are all classics, I think this is the album I've been looking for for a long time, thinking I'd lost it forever
In my humble opinion, this is one of the greatest Rock albums of all time! I remember falling off my chair over 50 years ago when I heard Baba O'Riley for the first time. " The Song Is Over" is absolutely beautiful. Pete Townsend is a genius, writing most of the tracks and playing guitar, synth, organ, and singing vocals. John Entwistle and Keith Moon are brilliant. Roger Daltry has one of the most iconic rock voices in history. Every song on this album is a classic. I would be remiss to rate this anything less than 5 stars. Oh, did I mention the boys are British?
TIL "the teenage wasteland song" is called Baba O'Riley. "My Wife" was hilariously good. "Bargain," "Behind Blue Eyes" and "Won't Be Fooled Again" are iconic. I know half this album just from movie soundtracks. They remind me of a more radio-friendly Rush. Great album, front to back.
Baba O’Riley, Won’t Get Fooled Again, and Behind Blue Eyes on the same album, and it’s NOT a Greatest Hits collection?!? A Huge record, and undoubtedly one of, if not, their best!
Brilliant from start to finish - no weak point on the album for me, definitely will be revisiting
Iconic album, classic sound that could fill a stadium to this day. Such a joy to listen to this album through and introduce me to a few new songs combined with the hits I’ve known for a long time
-"Baba O'Riley" opens up the album unimaginably strong with the now iconic, but also highly detailed and interesting synthesizer-y riff, which then becomes the triumphant bum-bum-bum's. Dalteey's vocals are ripping and every instrument is just perfectly melding together into simple but highly intricate rhythms. The finale of the iconic "Teenage Wasteland" lines, then a guitar solo that transitions into a violin solo sounds crazy but the song is incredible. Whatever I'll stop explaining it is a famously a very good song -"Bargain" is a banger track that strikes a great balance between being ballad-y and being a rocking track. The sections sung by Roger are super energetic and feel like a determined protagonist, and the Townshend verses sound somber and hopeful, basically like saying any price would be a bargain to get you -"Love Ain't For Keeping" is a solid track but if I'm being honest it doesn't blow my nuts off. The rest of the album is incredibly strong competition so not standing out on the album is barely a negative quality a song can have -"My Wife" is possibly the quintessential Entwistle track. Very funny exaggerated version of a fight with your wife. It's also totally catchy, Entwistle gives a great vocal performance (especially on live versions) and the drumming stands out a bunch on this one. The horn section is also sweet and a little out of left field but fits perfectly -"The Song Is Over" is not like my totally favorite track on the album but it is a great example of building a song from small and kind of sad up into a powerful song. Actually makes the slow, calm parts worthwhile. Also Keith's drumming is totally unique, as usual. The Roger sections really sound like they could fit onto a track from "Who Are You" -In my opinion, the drums heavily carry "Going Mobile" Keith is constantly doing drum fills in a way that fits perfectly with the song. The bridge's combo drumming/guitar solo/chorus and then the drive into the conclusion is great -"Behind Blue Eyes" is an incredible build. It starts super sad an somber, and although the instrumental stays relatively the same, Roger's voice builds slowly from sadness to anger, and then the instruments abruptly catch up into a total jam. Truly incredible song -"Won't Get Fooled Again" is another track where I'm going to try and explain what makes it so good but probably just be confusing -"Won't Get Fooled Again" opens with another iconic synth-y line and goes right into a ripping song of victory. Every instrument's part is incredible. Every instrument is combining to make one entire rhythm, and each one has its own complex, independent part. The song builds up into one of the most iconic moments in rock and roll. The synth chugging along, then Keith's insane drum fills, and then Roger just belts out the most famous, the most powerful, and most iconic scream in all of rock, and possibly of music history. Then scene of them performing it live, with Roger in the laser lights, then Pete's big knee slide is possibly the greatest single moment in rock history. -An incredible album with some absolute killer tracks. Some of the bonus tracks, like "Water," and "I Don't Even Know Myself" are great as well. But "Baba O'Rikey" and "Won't Get Fooled Again" are some of the top songs all time. "Bargain" and "Behind Blue Eyes" are incredible as well
The Who’s masterpiece, this one has aged much better than Tommy in my opinion, don’t think there is a bad song on this album, and there are 3 all time great songs on there too.
sick album especially if you consider the fact that this was made in 1971 and its basically a template for the next 30 years of rock right there. Powerful guitars, strong voice what else do you want from a rock album
This is the greatest Who album: all killer, no filler. All the faults of Tommy were corrected. They remembered they were a rock band, so we have Moon and Entwhistle driving the songs with Pete crunching out lots of power chords. The songs are strong because we don't have to put up with all those twee bridging things that filled up so much of Tommy. But then they'd also improved. Roger's voice has depth and power, let alone that famous scream. Pete is becoming a lead guitarist, without wandering off into extended solos. Of course, this was also the album that he started using, changing, the synthesiser. This album contains three of their best-known songs, which are great songs. But I've long been mystified by the lack of acclaim for "The Song Is Over." It starts with typical weedy Townsend vocals, but then it has one of Roger's great vocals on the chorus. I'm a huge fan of the blatant metaphors on "Getting In Tune." I could go on, but I believe this is The Who's finest and one of the great albums, an important part of the bridge between the '60s and '70s.
Okay, this has me conflicted. The rating on this album is going to be high even though I only really loved 30% of it. That's because the highs are sky high and the lows are mediocre. I understand that all the songs can't be to the level of Baba, Behind Blue Eyes and Wont Get Fooled but some of them were just so meh that it made listening a bit of a chore. 85/100 gecs
This plays like a Greatest Hits album by The Who. Their sound gets a little more mainstream and it's banger after banger here. I think I added about 80% of the album to my playlist here. Won't Get Fooled Again, Baba O'Reilly, Bargain, Behind Blue Eyes, Going Mobile, The Song is Over, Getting in Tune. So many singles off of one album, great rock album and impressive for how many popular tunes they managed to produce in one shot.
As a teen I was mesmerized when I heard Behind Blue Eyes. I played it on 45 rpm over and over. Roger Daltry can really belt it out on the two loud and raucous classics, which I have come to enjoy. (Even for someone who really loves harmonies and ballads.) I also enjoy Pete Townsend's voice so have always loved Gettin In Tune. But the icing on the cake here is Keith Moon's drumming. Man oh man do I get excited when I hear Keith on his kit. His style of playing was so unique, I can actually recognize it when I hear it. For example, I once heard the theme song for Batman playing somewhere and I thought to myself, now that sounds like Keith Moon drumming! Of course it couldn't be, but I looked it up and low and behold, it was! Never knew they did a version of Batman! You can feel the frenetic passion in his playing, he was an absolute lunatic on those drums. Best drummer ever! Also love Love Aint For Keeping, a great song. Great album!
Amazing. This is absolutely an essential album for all of rock history. 5/5
Over the last 20-30 years radio has kinda killed (or maybe just wounded) a lot of classic rock. Use/abuse the same goddamn 100 songs everywhere, so it might be easy to dismiss this since I've heard it 10000 times (and own multiple copies). It's still an absolutely perfect, flawless, and infinitely repeatable album. Over and over and over. Even the ... very slightly "lesser" songs (the three from "Love Ain't For Keeping" through "The Song Is Over") are only that because of the absolute monster works surrounding them. And I'd even say those three that close out <ahem> Side 1 of the vinyl I would and will defend as being integral to the flow of the record as a whole. It's almost an ebb and flow - like they're collectively saying: "I'm sorry...you just wouldn't be able to handle this much timeless genius all at once - we're going to bring things down just a touch while you catch your breath for side 2 which will kick the world's ass for the next 50+ years." Both explosive and gentle at times, the sound is huge overall - mixing hard rock with incredible melody and impeccable musicianship that never is overplayed. Also that ARP synth all over the place holyhellyes. I don't know if this is the greatest album ever made but I won't argue if you stake that claim to the death. One of the few absolute pinnacles of 20th century music. 10/10 5 stars.
anyone who doesn’t give this an immediate 5/5,10/10 needs help. when i saw the album i knew already so i savoured this album. perfect.
The back half is really good, as well as the singles and "Behind Blue Eyes." Not AS good as I remember it, though.
4 or stars - I don't know, there are some weak tracks. But all in all, this is an important and great album!
Where does one go after Tommy? Facing indifference from audiences and managers alike in regard to the next step, Pete Townshend took one look into the future and decided to marry it with the now monolithic maximum rock The Who became known for. Who's Next is as appropriate of an album title as it is the next phase of the bands career. Everyone is firing on all cylinders; Roger Daltrey with his distinctive vocals, Keith Moon never not transcendent on the drum kit, John Entwistle being the reliable foundation on the bass and Pete being the visionary guide to see things through. It is not a stretch to say that The Who dominated 70s rock until the wheels fell off and, with Who's Next, it's impossible to see why not.
Inizia con Baba O'Riley: capolavoro. Perde un po' con le successive però... Ok però con 'Behind Blue Eyes' e 'Won't get fooled again' recupera. 5 stelle meritate.
An African baby boy, snatched from the arms of its mother. He screams for her teet. She laughs and fondles her clit as she listens to The Who.
Nothing for me to add here. I look at the track listing and can play every single song in my head. The only time IMHO - Tommy included - that they got it together to make not just brilliant singles, but a wholly satisfying album. Quadrophenia a close - actually not that close - second.
Awesome! Every song is a gem. Includes my very favorite Who song. Won’t Get Fooled Again.
the album defintley has a lull in the middle, but many great songs here, and definitley a classic. I liked it better than Tommy. I really loved Bargain, which I wasnt familiar with before. Closer to a 3.5
2/9 Wanderer music. Standou Tracks: Behind Blue Eyes, Won’t Get Fooled Again, Water, I Don’t Even Know Myself
Vahvaa menoa ja komeaa soitantaa. Olispa päässyt 70-luvulla kokemaan livenä
I’ve heard a lot of the songs before. Those that I didn’t here were pretty good.
29 Songs. Opens with classic Baba O'Riley (Teenage Wasteland) followed by Bargain (The Best I Ever Had). Won't Get Fooled Again's keyboard is unforgettable. Disc 2 is Live.
Every song sounds very similar apart from BBE, which is fine if you want to listen to The Who
I learned today that it's 'Baba O'Reilly', not 'Baby O'Reilly' Won't Get Fooled is really long
Classic. Shame some of these have been so associated with other things for me (CSI). Interesting to hear some of the other tracks
Some great songs. Double album way too long to appreciate. First half was boss
actually had never heard this entire album, but what can I say? total dad rock/greatness.
Really enjoyed this album! Nothing wrong with a little bit of The Who while moving into a college dorm room.
It's hard to believe this is the same band that made Tommy, but that's not a knock against either album: it's just a completely different style. This is a Zeppelin-esque hard rock album, and it certainly stands well enough to be compared to them. I wish I could give this 4 and a half stars, because it feels too good for a 4 but lacks the je ne sais quoi that a true 5 needs.
I’ll be interested to see what the comparison is between how many albums come from which country because this feels like an invasion. Who’s next? The Who? I had a whole bit I was doing with this Abbott and Costello style but I started seeing the word Who too much and it lost its meaning. In any case, this is one group of tossers I’m more than happy to listen to. I really like this album and it has some bangers. One of the coolest album covers, with the fellas standing around a monolith (something doesn’t look right about the guy second from the right…maybe he is being affected by the monolith). The songs on this album remind me of my days as a lifeguard and in high school when I was jamming to all the classic rock. Not every song hits for me but my favs are obviously Baba O’Riley, Getting In Tune, Going Mobile, Behind Blue Eyes, and Won’t Get Fooled Again. This feels like the height of the who and maybe even for rock in general around this time. These are some of the most recognized songs especially Baba which goes by many names like Teenage Wasteland and was a blast to play on Rock Band. I loved this album and can’t wait for more classic rock pieces like this.
Baba o'reilly alone give this a 4, not as stand out as other iconic albums however, maybe 3.75
Very good music with memorable riffs and lyrics and some absolute bangers like Baba o Riley
I've never been especially crazy about this album. I love individual tracks on their own, but this has always felt like a Who album that happens to have their best songs rather than the best Who album.
Middle part of the album is not as great, but the album has an incredibly strong start and end, which made The Who a cornerstone classic rock band.
Schönes solides klassisches Rockalbum, kommt mit auf die nächste Roadtrip-Playlist (Wie bekomme ich das schlimme Cover von Limp Bizkit aus dem Kopf? :D)
A trip down memory lane. Das Hören diese Klassiker hat mich in ne Bar in Bolivien, n Abend in Kanada und in gewisse Filmszenen zurückversetzt. Abgesehen davon ist die Musik auch echt gut.
Os The Who são das bandas mais icónicas do Rock Clássico, contudo não são das coisas que mais gosto. Colocando de lado o meu gosto pessoal tenho de admitir que estes álbum é bastante bom, o reportório de instrumentos era vasto cada música tinha um identidade própria, talvez o que me menos agrade seja a voz do vocalista, mas agradar menos não quer dizer que está é má. No geral terei de dar um 7 ao álbum, talvez dava uma nota mais alta se não fosse a questão do gosto. Nota:7/10
20th May 2021 Listened to this whilst the awards were going on for the southern h conference. Really good, they've accelerated their sound and broadened their scope. Baba O'Reilly one of the all time greats
I haven't given The Who a deep dive. The only album I've listened to in the past was Tommy, which I do like. This album is pretty damn good too.
Baba O’Riley: amazing Bargain: excellent Love ain’t for keeping: very good My wife: good The song is over: excellent Getting in tune: good Going mobile: above average Behind blue eyes: amazing Won’t get fooled again: very good Pure and easy: good Baby don’t you do it: average Naked eye: good Water: good Too much of anything: very good I don’t even know myself: good 7.5/10
I mean it's got some good songs, but it's just regular classic rock to me. Good but not great.
Classic album, so many songs I didn't know I knew. Every song larger than life, great production and engineering. Definition of "classic rock."