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[Ovi]

My list of favourite albums by the Who:

1. Who's Next
2. Tommy
3. The Who Sell Out
4. Quadrophenia
5. Who Are You
6. My Generation
7. A Quick One
8. The Who By Numbers

Here's mine (quite a bit different) :

1. Quadrophenia
2. The Who By Numbers
3. Tommy
4. Who's Next
5. Who Sell Out
6. Who Are You
7. A Quick One
8. My Generation

P.S. I realize that was sort of an old post, but I couldn't think of a better way to bring back to life the topic about one of Rock's classic bands.

[Hombre_de_ningun_lugar]

Here's mine (quite a bit different) :

1. Quadrophenia
2. The Who By Numbers
3. Tommy
4. Who's Next
5. Who Sell Out
6. Who Are You
7. A Quick One
8. My Generation

P.S. I realize that was sort of an old post, but I couldn't think of a better way to bring back to life the topic about one of Rock's classic bands.

It's always great to talk about the Who.

With regard to your list, I'm surprised to see The Who By Numbers on the #2 spot, as it's usually seen as a relatively poor step by the band. But I must say that I really enjoy it every time I listen to it, even though it's my least favorite studio album of those recorded with Keith Moon.

Then, Quadrophenia is a nice choice for the #1 position. In my case, it fights with The Who Sell Out for being #3, after Who's Next and Tommy, but all these 4 albums are wonderful pieces of work, quite different from each other.

And seeing My Generation (at least the US version) at #8 is a bit hard to dig. True, it was a very primitive record, but that's the same reason that makes it special in my opinion. Beyond the title track (a revolutionary classic), I find several enjoyable tunes like "The Kids Are Alright", "Instant Party (Circles)", "The Good's Gone", "It's Not True", "A Legal Matter"... The two quite boring covers surely bring the rating down, but most of the rest even have an historic feeling.

[Ovi]

It's always great to talk about the Who.

With regard to your list, I'm surprised to see The Who By Numbers on the #2 spot, as it's usually seen as a relatively poor step by the band. But I must say that I really enjoy it every time I listen to it, even though it's my least favorite studio album of those recorded with Keith Moon.

I was a bit skeptical at first, having read the not-so-glowing-reviews and thinking that there is no way the album was going to stand a chance to the greatness of 'Quadrophenia', but the album has quickly grown on me after a few listens. It's Pete's most personal record and maybe that's why I like it so much. It's modest and unambitious and that's welcomed with me as well. I think it was the best decision at the moment; something even more ambitious than Quadrophenia would've probably failed. None of the songs are Who classics but I love most of them, with 'Imagine a Man', 'They're All In Love', 'Blue, Red and Grey' and 'How Many Friends'* as my absolute highlights. If I were to be objective, then maybe 'Tommy' and 'Who's Next' are better, from a song-writing point of view (never been a fan of 'Success Story' and 'In a Hand or a Face', to be honest) but 'By Numbers' is just the record that I play more often. It resonates with me more, I guess (not sure if resonates is the right word here though, I'm not an alcoholic rock star , but you get my point).

*I've read somewhere that this was Moon's favourite song on the album and that he even cried when Pete played it to him.

And seeing My Generation (at least the US version) at #8 is a bit hard to dig. True, it was a very primitive record, but that's the same reason that makes it special in my opinion. Beyond the title track (a revolutionary classic), I find several enjoyable tunes like "The Kids Are Alright", "Instant Party (Circles)", "The Good's Gone", "It's Not True", "A Legal Matter"... The two quite boring covers surely bring the rating down, but most of the rest even have an historic feeling.

I love both 'A Quick One' and 'My Generation', but when it comes down to choosing one of them, I'd definitely go with the former. I think you were lenient in calling the James Brown covers boring - to me they're kind of horrible. Plus, I'm a big of fan of the mini-suite.

Also, I listened to 'Face Dances' last night for the first time and was hugely disappointed. What do you think of it?

[Hombre_de_ningun_lugar]

I was a bit skeptical at first, having read the not-so-glowing-reviews and thinking that there is no way the album was going to stand a chance to the greatness of 'Quadrophenia', but the album has quickly grown on me after a few listens. It's Pete's most personal record and maybe that's why I like it so much. It's modest and unambitious and that's welcomed with me as well. I think it was the best decision at the moment; something even more ambitious than Quadrophenia would've probably failed. None of the songs are Who classics but I love most of them, with 'Imagine a Man', 'They're All In Love', 'Blue, Red and Grey' and 'How Many Friends'* as my absolute highlights. If I were to be objective, then maybe 'Tommy' and 'Who's Next' are better, from a song-writing point of view (never been a fan of 'Success Story' and 'In a Hand or a Face', to be honest) but 'By Numbers' is just the record that I play more often. It resonates with me more, I guess (not sure if resonates is the right word here though, I'm not an alcoholic rock star , but you get my point).

*I've read somewhere that this was Moon's favourite song on the album and that he even cried when Pete played it to him.

I think that "Slip Kid" and "Squeeze Box" could have certain status of classics, actually. "Imagine A Man" is a beautiful ballad, and I've always liked "How Many Friends" a lot. Your're right when you say that it's Pete's most personal record, in fact he sang lead vocal en several songs. And Quadrophenia was by far the most ambitious proyect of the band (at least a finished proyect), so it's not surprising that Pete had taken a break here. Maybe you feel the same way about The Who By Numbers as I feel about Who Are You, a misunderstood album in my opinion.

I love both 'A Quick One' and 'My Generation', but when it comes down to choosing one of them, I'd definitely go with the former. I think you were lenient in calling the James Brown covers boring - to me they're kind of horrible. Plus, I'm a big of fan of the mini-suite.

I like both of those albums too, but My Generation has an intriguing sound that really catchs me. I think the best songs in A Quick One were written by John, but Keith and Roger wasted their opportunity as songwriters. The mini-rock opera is an historic piece, but probably the live versions are better.

Also, I listened to 'Face Dances' last night for the first time and was hugely disappointed. What do you think of it?

I think it's a decent album, beyond its slight 80's pop tinge I dislike so much. It would be at #9 in my studio albums list anyway (It's Hard, the next album, is really awful). My favorite songs are "You Better You Bet" and "You".

[Ovi]

And Quadrophenia was by far the most ambitious proyect of the band (at least a finished proyect), so it's not surprising that Pete had taken a break here.

Yeah, rumour has it that he wanted to dissolve the band after 'Quadrophenia'.

I think it's a decent album, beyond its slight 80's pop tinge I dislike so much. It would be at #9 in my studio albums list anyway (It's Hard, the next album, is really awful). My favorite songs are "You Better You Bet" and "You".

'You Better You Bet' was about the only song that caught my attention while listening to the record. On the other hand, John's pseudo-heavy metal delivery on 'The Quiet One' and those stupid repeated backing vocals on 'Did You Steal My Money' made me wonder if any of the original members gave a damn about the band at the time.