Watch Roger Daltrey and Paul Weller Perform the Who's 'So Sad About Us' and the Faces' 'Ooh La La'
Coming Up: The Who Announce 'Who's Next - Life House 50th Anniversary Edition' - Out Sept. 15 - See the Unboxing Video
The Who celebrates the 50th anniversary of the classic Who's Next LP in much-expanded form.
From the news release:
One of rock's great last untold stories is finally about to be recounted in full with the release of Who’s Next | Life House coming September 15th.
Available to pre-order now, Who’s Next is being reissued in stunning new 50th anniversary editions. Featuring Who fan favourites such as 'Won’t Get Fooled Again', 'Baba O’Riley', 'Behind Blue Eyes' amongst others, the album followed on from Pete Townshend’s dystopian masterpiece Life House.
Townshend’s concept for Life House focused on a world that seems all too familiar today. Themes of environmental change, all too powerful corporations and technology, such as the internet, which the public knew nothing of at the time. With hopes of producing a film, Life House was taken to the Young Vic Theatre in London and worked on with live audiences; however ultimately, Life House did not reach its fruition. Some of the songs destined for Life House though were used for the Who’s Next album, an album described by Pete Townshend as the band’s best non-concept album based on a concept.
Life House has been given new life however in the form of a 172-page graphic novel art directed by Jeff Krelitz and overseen by Pete Townshend, which is included in the 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition of Who’s Next | Life House.
Coming Up: Vinyl Reissues of The Who's Japanese Albums
A limited series of Who LPs originally released in Japan will be out in March. Click the links to order from Amazon.
- My Generation
- Please, Please, Please
- It's Not True
- The Ox
- The Kids Are Alright
- Instant Party
- A Legal Matter
- Out In The Street
- I Don't Mind
- The Good's Gone
- La La La Lies
- Much Too Much
- Armenia City In The Sky
- Heinz Baked Beans
- Mary Anne With The Shaky Hands
- Odorono
- Tattoo
- Our Love Was
- I Can See For Miles
- Can't Reach You
- Medac
- Relax
- Silas Stingy
- Sunrise
- Rael-1
- Rael-2
- Happy Jack
- Pictures Of Lily
- Substitute
- I've Been Away
- Doctor, Doctor
- Waltz For A Pig
- The Last Time
- Under My Thumb
- So Sad About Us
- A Quick One, While He's Away
- I'm A Boy
- Run Run Run
- Heatwave
- Boris The Spider
- I Need You
- Circles
- Whiskey Man
- In The City
- Don't Look Away
- You See My Way
- Cobwebs And Strange
- Disguises
Coming Up: The Who Half-Speed Remasters of "Tommy" and "The Who Sell Out"
Click the links to order from Amazon.
Video: Watch the Who in 1966
In June 1966, The Who's co-manager Chris Stamp filmed the group up on the roof and in Pete Townshend's flat on the top floor of 87 Wardour Street in Soho, London. The interview lasted for approximately 20 minutes and this five-minute segment was intended for broadcast later in the year in the US on ABC TV's 'Where The Action Is' but it was never ever shown. The live clips towards the end include footage of the group at the 6th National Jazz & Blues Festival in Windsor, 30 July 1966. A couple of brief clips from this film were included in the 1979 documentary 'The Kids Are Alright'.
Ad jingles from the Who's classic "Sell Out" album are now streaming online
Teaser for the upcoming big box set celebrating The Who Sell Out.
Details:
Released in December 1967 The Who Sell Out reflected a remarkable year in popular culture. The album was originally planned by Pete Townshend and the band’s managers Kit Lambert & Chris Stamp, as a loose concept album including jingles and commercials linking the songs stylised as a pirate radio broadcast. This concept was born out of necessity as their label and management wanted a new album and Townshend felt that he didn’t have enough songs.
The new Super Deluxe Edition of The Who Sell Out features 112 tracks, 47 of which are unreleased, an 80-page, hard-back full-color book, including rare period photos, memorabilia, track by track annotation and new sleeve notes by Pete Townshend.
Order The Super Deluxe Edition of The Who Sell Out BELOW
The Super Deluxe package also includes nine posters & inserts, including replicas of
20” x 30” original Adrian George album poster, a gig poster from The City Hall, Newcastle, a Saville Theatre show 8-page program, a business card for the Bag o’ Nails club, Kingly Street, a Who fan club photo of group, a flyer for Bath Pavilion concerts including The Who, a crack-back bumper sticker for Wonderful Radio London, Keith Moon’s Speakeasy Club membership card and a Who Fan Club newsletter.
As tasters for the set a series of digital EP’s are being released, the second of which includes three of the “jingles” that the band recorded to link together the songs on the album.
The Sell Out Jingles Digital EP
- "Heinz Baked Beans"
- "John Mason Cars / “Speakeasy” / “Rotosound Strings” / “Bag O’Nails”
- “Premier Drums"
"The Who Sell Out" Super Deluxe anniversary edition box set out April 23
So cool: One of my favorite Who LPs with lots of extras.
From the news release:
Initially released in December 1967 and described latterly by Rolling Stone as ‘The Who’s finest album’ The Who Sell Out reflected a remarkable year in popular culture. As well as being forever immortalised as the moment when the counterculture and the ‘Love Generation’ became a global phenomenon and ‘pop’ began metamorphosing into ‘rock’.
Order The Who Sell out HERE
The new Super Deluxe Edition features 112 tracks, 46 of which are unreleased, an 80-page, hard-back full-colour book, including rare period photos, memorabilia, track by track annotation and new sleeve notes by Pete Townshend with comments from the likes of Pete Drummond (Radio Caroline DJ), Richard Evans (designer) & Roy Flynn (the Speakeasy Club manager).
The Super Deluxe package also includes nine posters & inserts.
As a taster for the set an EP of Pete Townshend’s previously unreleased demos has today been released on all streaming services including ‘Pictures Of Lily’ (New remix, previously unreleased)’ Kids! Do You Want Kids?’ (AKA Do You Want Kids, Kids?) (Previously unreleased) & ‘Odorono’ (Previously unreleased).
Listen to Pete Townshend's Demo "Pictures of Lily" HERE
The Who Sell Out was originally planned by Pete Townshend and the band’s managers Kit Lambert & Chris Stamp, as a loose concept album including jingles and commercials linking the songs stylised as a pirate radio broadcast. This concept was born out of necessity as their label and management wanted a new album and Townshend felt that he didn’t have enough songs.
The ground-breaking original plan for Sell Out was to sell advertising space on the album but instead the band opted for writing their own jingles paying tribute to pirate radio stations and to parody an increasingly consumerist society.
The homage to pop-art is evident in both the advertising jingles and the iconic sleeve design created by David King who was the art director at the Sunday Times, and Roger Law who invented the Spitting Image TV show. The sleeve features four advertising images, taken by the renowned photographer David Montgomery, of each band member Odorono deodorant (Pete Townshend), Medac spot cream (Keith Moon), Charles Atlas (John Entwistle) and Roger Daltrey & Heinz baked beans. The story goes that Roger Daltrey caught pneumonia from sitting in the cold beans for too long.
The Who Sell Out is a bold depiction of the period in which it was made, the tail-end of the ‘swinging-60s’ meets pop-art mixed with psychedelia and straight-ahead pop. It’s a glorious blend of classic powerful Who instrumentation, melodic harmonies, satirical lyrical imagery crystallised for what was only the group’s third album. The album’s ambition and scope is unrivalled by the Who, or any other act from that period.
Within the bold concept, were a batch of fabulous and diverse songs. I Can See for Miles, a top ten hit at the time, is a Who classic. Rael, a Townshend ‘mini-opera’ with musical motifs that reappeared in Tommy and the psychedelic blast of Armenia City In The Sky and Relax are among the very best material Townshend or anyone else wrote during the 1960s.
One of the most extraordinary albums of any era, The Who Sell Out is The Who’s last ‘pop’ album. Two years later came ‘Tommy’ – a double concept album about a deaf, dumb and blind kid.
THE WHO SELL OUT SUPER DELUXE EDITION
- Disc 1 - Original mono mix, mono As & Bs and unreleased mono mixes
- Disc 2 - Original stereo mix and stereo bonus tracks
- Disc 3 - Studio out-takes, ‘fly-on-the-wall’ versions of early takes of songs from the album sessions, ‘studio chat’ etc.
- Disc 4 - ‘The Road to Tommy’ will contain stereo mixes of the studio tracks recorded in 1968 - some previously unreleased - plus 1968 As and Bs mono mixes (all tracks remixed from original 4 and 8-track session tapes in The Who vault)
- Disc 5 - 14 of Pete Townshend’s original demos, previously unreleased & exclusive to this set
BONUS 7” DISCS:
- Track UK 45 repro I Can See for Miles (early mono mix with single-tracked vocal) & Someone’s Coming (original UK Track single mix with single-tracked vocal)
- Decca USA 45 repro Magic Bus (US/UK mono) & Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde (original US Decca single mix)
80-page, hard-back full-colour book, including rare period photos, memorabilia & track annotation and new liner notes by Pete Townshend with comments from from Pete Drummond (Radio Caroline DJ), Chris Huston (Talentmasters Studio), Richard Evans (designer), Roy Flynn (Speakeasy Club manager), Arnold Schwartzman (designer) & Andy Neill (Who biographer)
MEMORABILIA:
Nine posters & inserts, including replicas of;
- 20” x 30” original Adrian George poster
- Gig poster - City Hall, Newcastle: The Who, Traffic & The Tremeloes
- Saville Theatre 8-page programme.
- Business card for the Bag o’ Nails club, Kingly Street.
- Fan Club photo of group.
- Flyer for Bath Pavilion concerts including The Who.
- Crack-back bumper sticker for Wonderful Radio London.
- Keith Moon’s Speakeasy Club membership card
- Who Fan Club newsletter.
OTHER THE WHO SELL OUT FORMATS;
- 2 LP deluxe (stereo) vinyl version, featuring the original album and extras highlights from box set.
- D2C 2-LP deluxe (mono) vinyl version featuring the original album and extras highlights from box set pressed on coloured vinyl; disc 1 ‘Odorono’ red / disc 2 ‘Baked Bean’ orange.
- 2-CD edition 6-panel digi-pak with a 16-page booklet.
- Also available in a variety of Digital formats
THE WHO SELL OUT TRACK LISTINGS
SUPER DELUXE BOX SET
CD ONE: THE WHO SELL OUT - MONO ALBUM
- Armenia City in The Sky
- Heinz Baked Beans
- Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand
- Odorono
- Tattoo
- Our Love Was
- I Can See for Miles
- I Can’t Reach You
- Medac
- Relax
- Silas Stingy
- Sunrise
- Rael / Track Records run-off groove
- Pictures of Lily
- Doctor, Doctor
- The Last Time
- Under My Thumb
- I Can See for Miles
- Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand
- Someone’s Coming
- Unused Radio London ad / Early Morning…
- Unused Radio London bulletin link /Jaguar
- Unused Radio London ad /Tattoo
- Rael
- Sunn Amps promo spots
- Great Shakes ad
CD TWO: THE WHO SELL OUT - STEREO ALBUM
- Armenia City in The Sky
- Heinz Baked Beans
- Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand
- Odorono
- Tattoo
- Our Love Was
- I Can See for Miles
- I Can’t Reach You
- Medac
- Relax
- Silas Stingy
- Sunrise
- Rael
- Rael Naïve (complete with organ coda ending)
- Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand (US single version)
- Someone’s Coming
- Summertime Blues
- Glittering Girl
- Early Morning Cold Taxi
- Girl’s Eyes
- Coke After Coke
- Sodding About
- Things Go Better with Coke
- Hall of The Mountain King
- Jaguar
- Rael (remake; IBC version) / Track Records outro
CD THREE: STUDIO SESSIONS 1967 / 68
- Glittering Girl
- Girl's Eye
- The Last Time (Take 8)
- Under My Thumb (Take 3)
- Our Love Was (Take 2)
- Relax (4-track to 4-track mix with Pete vocal)
- Relax (Takes 1 and 2)
- Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand (Takes 1 & 9)
- Relax (Remake Take 4)
- I Can See for Miles (full version)
- Medac (Take 11)
- Odorono (Take 3) (2018 remix)
- Heinz Baked Beans (Takes 1 & 3) (2018 remix)
- Top Gear (Takes 1 & 2) (2018 remix)
- Premier Drums (Takes 1 & 3) (2018 remix)
- Charles Atlas (Take 1)
- Rotosound Strings (Take 1) (2018 remix)
- Track Records (2018 remix)
- John Mason Cars (Takes 1 - 3) / Speakeasy / Rotosound Strings / Bag O’ Nails (2018 remixes)
- It’s A Girl (aka ‘Glow Girl’) (Takes 1 & 3)
- Mr Hyde (1st stage mix Take 1)
- Little Billy (Takes 1 & 3)
- Mrs Walker (aka ‘Glow Girl’) (4-track to 4-track mix, take 7)
- Call Me Lightning (Take 1 backing track, stereo mix & jam)
- Dogs (Take 3)
- Melancholia (Take 1)
- Shakin’ All Over (Take 3)
- Magic Bus (Take 6)
*Most tracks on CD 3 include studio chat, all tracks previously unreleased in this form.
CD FOUR: THE 1968 RECORDINGS (‘THE ROAD TO TOMMY’)
- Glow Girl
- Faith in Something Bigger
- Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde
- Call Me Lightning
- Little Billy’s Doing Fine
- Dogs
- Melancholia
- Fortune Teller
- Facts Of Life (aka ‘Birds And Bees’, backing track)
- Magic Bus (single version)
- Call Me Lightning (US/UK mono single mix)
- Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde (UK mono single mix)
- Dogs (UK mono single mix)
- Magic Bus (mono, longer version)
*Track 9 previously unreleased
CD FIVE: PETE TOWNSHEND ORIGINAL DEMOS
- Kids? Do You Want Kids
- Relax
- Glow Girl
- Glow Girl (Version 2)
- Inside Outside USA
- Jaguar
- Little Billy
- Odorono
- Pictures of Lily
- Relax (Version 2)
- Melancholia (2018 remix)
- Thinking of You All the While (‘Sunrise’ Version 2)
- Mary Anne With the Shaky Hands
- I Can See for Miles
BONUS 7” DISCS:
Track UK 45:
- I Can See for Miles
- Someone's Coming
Decca USA 45:
- Magic Bus
- Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde
THE WHO SELL OUT TWO-CD EDITION
CD ONE THE WHO SELL OUT - MONO ALBUM and bonus tracks:
- Armenia City in The Sky
- Heinz Baked Beans
- Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand
- Odorono
- Tattoo
- Our Love Was
- I Can See for Miles
- I Can’t Reach You
- Medac
- Relax
- Silas Stingy
- Sunrise
- Rael (+ Track Records run-off groove)
- Pictures of Lily
- Doctor, Doctor
- The Last Time
- Under My Thumb
- I Can See for Miles
- Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand
- Someone’s Coming
- Unused Radio London ad / Early Morning Cold Taxi
- Unused Radio London bulletin link /Jaguar
- 23. Unused Radio London ad /Tattoo
- Rael
- Sunn Amps promo spots
- Great Shakes ad
*Tracks 21, 24 & 25 previously unreleased
CD TWO THE WHO SELL OUT - STEREO ALBUM and bonus tracks
- Armenia City in The Sky
- Heinz Baked Beans
- Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand
- Odorono
- Tattoo
- Our Love Was
- I Can See for Miles
- I Can’t Reach You
- Medac
- Relax
- Silas Stingy
- Sunrise
- Rael
- Rael Naïve
- Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand
- Someone’s Coming
- Summertime Blues
- Glittering Girl
- Early Morning Cold Taxi
- Girl’s Eyes
- Coke After Coke
- Sodding About
- Things Go Better with Coke
- Hall of The Mountain King
- Jaguar
- Rael (remake; IBC version)
2-LP STEREO VINYL EDITION
DISC ONE (ORIGINAL LP - STEREO)
DISC TWO (BONUS TRACKS - STEREO)
Side 1
- Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand (US single version)
- Someone’s Coming
- Summertime Blues
- Glittering Girl
- Early Morning Cold Taxi
- Girl’s Eyes
Side 2
- Coke After Coke
- Sodding About
- Things Go Better with Coke
- Hall of The Mountain King
- Jaguar
- Rael (remake; IBC version)
2-LP MONO VINYL EDITION D2C EXCLUSIVE
DISC 1 ‘ODORONO’ RED / DISC 2 ‘BAKED BEAN’ ORANGE
DISC ONE - ORIGINAL LP - MONO
DISC TWO - MONO BONUS TRACKS:
Side 1
- Pictures of Lily
- Doctor, Doctor
- The Last Time
- Under My Thumb
- I Can See for Miles (
- Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand
- Someone’s Coming
Side 2
- Unused Radio London ad / Early Morning Cold Taxi
- Unused Radio London bulletin link /Jaguar
- Unused Radio London ad /Tattoo
- Rael
- Sunn promo spots
- Great Shakes ad
"A Band with Built-In Hate" charts the riotous career of The Who
Out in March, "A Band with Built-In Hate: The Who from Pop Art to Punk" has collected some promising blurbs (see below). It's out March 22. I've always loved the band, especially the pre-"Tommy" singles era, but the hairy stuff is ok, too. I saw Pete and Rog with orchestra in Seattle before the world went to hell and it was great. Felt like I was 14 again. For codgers, they still give all they've got.
This book is a biography of the Who unlike any other. From their inception as the Detours in the mid-sixties, to the late seventies, post-Quadrophenia, the Who are pictured through the prism of pop art and the radical leveling of high and low culture that it brought about—a drama that was consciously and aggressively performed by the band.
Peter Stanfield lays down a path through the British pop revolution, its attitude and style, as it was uniquely embodied by the band: first, under the mentorship of arch-mod Peter Meaden, as they learned their trade in the pubs and halls of suburban London; and then with Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp, two aspiring filmmakers, at the very center of things in Soho.
Guided by the concerns of contemporary commentators—among them George Melly, Lawrence Alloway, and, most conspicuously, Nik Cohn—Stanfield tells the story of a band driven by fury, and of what happened when Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, Keith Moon, and John Entwistle moved from backroom stages to international arenas, from explosive 45s to expansive concept albums. Above all, he tells of how the Who confronted their lost youth as it was echoed in punk.
"With impressive eloquence, A Band with Built-in Hate situates '60s Britain's most volatile and incendiary group at the heart of pop's wild vortex, its sonic assaults on the class system and the cultural status quo. Stanfield digs brilliantly into the Who's transgressions, their upending of entertainment, their transmuting of pop music into art-rock and proto-punk. He can see for miles."
-- Barney Hoskyns, author of "Lowside of the Road: A Life of Tom Waits" and "Major Dudes: A Steely Dan Companion"
"The best book on the Who. Stanfield understands that they were built entirely around opposition—they didn’t want to be the Beatles or the Stones; they didn’t even want to be the Who most of the time. He smartly states the case for peak Who as transgressive, how their clashing obsessions with primitive rock’n’roll and sociological statements made them so exciting. He also wisely concentrates on their peak years, before pop solidified as rock, when the Who were the closest thing to pop art British music has ever produced."
-- Bob Stanley, founding member of St Etienne and author of "Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop"