This album has been submitted by a user and is not included in any edition of the book.
Quadrophenia is the sixth studio album by the English rock band the Who, released as a double album on 26 October 1973 by Track Records. It is the group's third rock opera, the previous two being the "mini-opera" song "A Quick One, While He's Away" (1966) and the album Tommy (1969). Set in London and Brighton in 1965, the story follows a young mod named Jimmy and his search for self-worth and importance. Quadrophenia is the only Who album entirely written by Pete Townshend. The group started work on the album in 1972 in an attempt to follow up Tommy and Who's Next (1971), both of which had achieved substantial critical and commercial success. Recording was delayed while bassist John Entwistle and singer Roger Daltrey recorded solo albums and drummer Keith Moon worked on films. Because a new studio was not finished in time, the group had to use Ronnie Lane's Mobile Studio. The album makes significant use of Townshend's multi-track synthesizers and sound effects, as well as Entwistle's layered horn parts. Relationships between the group and manager Kit Lambert broke down irretrievably during recording, and he had left the band's service by the time the album was released. Quadrophenia was released to a positive reception in both the UK and the US, but the resulting tour was marred with problems with backing tapes replacing the additional instruments on the album, and the stage piece was retired in early 1974. It was revived in 1996 with a larger ensemble, and a further tour took place in 2012. The album made a positive impact on the mod revival movement of the late 1970s, and the resulting 1979 film adaptation was successful. The album has been reissued on compact disc several times, and seen several remixes that corrected some perceived flaws in the original release.
10/10. I think the Who's best album, and certainly the most underrated. Glad someone finally added this since I didn't (felt bad about adding anything from artists already on the main list multiple times, and also about double albums)
Rating: 9/10 Best songs: The real me, Cut my hair, The punk and the godfather, Is it in my head, 5:15, Sea and sand, Doctor Jimmy, Love reign o’er me
It's Quadrophenia, after all, a source of an inordinate percentage of the greatest hits album that first exposed me to the band. I saw the movie eons ago, not totally certain I ever actually sat down and listened to the whole thing straight through. It holds up, obviously, though Im not sure it totally coheres as an album quite as well as it does as a soundtrack - heresy, I'm sure.
Haven’t listened to this before but being The Who is right up there. I’d pick Tommy over this if I was finding something to listen to, but that may just reflect a lifetime of familiarity.
Bold choice. Was there plenty Who on the main list? Yes. Was this still a good share? Yes.
Pretty awesome. Should have been on original list.
How wasn't this in the original list?
The who is a band that I would have loved to see play live. This album, I did not know at all. Not their best in my opinion, but ok enough
This was excellent. I've listened to a number of these songs here and there over the years, but this may actually be the first time I've sat with the full album and I loved it. Full of nuanced rockers that are fun to listen to but also full of emotional depth and musically quite elegant. I agree with those who say the album was overly long and in need of an editor. But even the songs I personally might have omitted were worth hearing. Fave Songs: Love, Reign o'er Me; 5:15; The Real Me; Cut My Hair; Is It in My Head?; I've Had Enough; Sea and Sand; The Punk and the Godfather
This should have been on the main list 4.5
Another concept album by The Who. Maybe the idea behind the album is better than on Tommy, the songs are not. It misses the hit singles and is much and much too long. It's not a bad album though, just not one of their best.
This is one of my favorite albums of all time. Fantastic inclusion. Better than any Who album on the original list because it’s their most fully realized project. I would say that it's only real competition is Tommy, but I prefer this. Production is incredible. I'm listening to it on vinyl (how pretentious!) and the John Entwistle's bass is coming through clear as day. Thank goodness too, because he's going off on this one. Keith Moon is perfection as always. Crazy lad. Pete’s writing is at it’s peak. Story is not the craziest, it’s fairly simple, but it presents a universal feeling about the struggle of belonging and what to believe in that everyone can relate to. Roger Daltrey’s vocals are cutting, precise, emotional, aggressive at some points, and soft when they need to be. I love this album a lot. So much range. Every song is a treasure. Fantastic. 5/5
This ain’t a bad album, on its own hard to argue against, but I would rank Tommy over this. So hard to make an argument for another who album on the list, that being said I prefer this to the who sells out. So I would replace that album with this.
I’m a music nerd but not that this much of a music nerd
Not my favorite by the Who, but still very good. 3 stars.
The Who has made some great songs and even their concept albums are unlike any others, but Quadrophenia is what happens when people don’t tel you no. This album is way too long and most of the songs are pretty similar in style just different lyrics and the occasional orchestra instrument. The album may fit as a concept but it doesn’t fit as an enjoyable album. It’s like watching The Irishman. You know the people in it have talent but you wonder why it takes so long and split it up over a couple days. To me this is a 2 star album but compared to so many in this list it’s a low 3. 5.8/10
Not their best not their worst
Hard rock, art rock. Ni fu ni fa.
Maybe blasphemy, but I didn't enjoy this much other than the last track. I have to give credit for history though.
Very wild and self indulgent. a real record for the fans, casuals will be a little bored.
Way better than Who's Next 4 wait why is it so fcking long, I'm out 2
There's some decent rock on here as only The Who know how to do it, but the entire LP runs so long that any moments of joy get crushed beneath huge swaths of mediocrity. There are only so many vocal Daltrey-isms and Townshend lines one can fit in an hour and a half before patience starts to run thin.
I grew up on classic rock. I love classic rock. The Who are boring as shit. I've always felt so and have yet to be proven wrong.
lol what a waste of a vote. 2/5.
Who's Next and Tommy are solid 5's but Quadrophenia has disappointed me with every listen. The mix / remaster currently on streaming seems worse than previous as well.