12/25/24 - The Who's Discography (1965-1985)

 Merry Christmas everyone!!

It's been a while. I lost interest in blogging again, but I didn't lose interest in music! I've still been collecting records, and I even got to be a part of the production of a vinyl release! (but that's a story I'll have to tell later...) Anyway, each morning from last Wednesday to Yesterday, I sat down and listened to a chunk of my Who records - making my way through their main and solo discographies, and after every album I wrote a short review to share with my friends. Since these reviews aren't long enough for their own posts, I decided to compile them all here and rank them!

(P.S. Just because an album is covered here doesn't mean I won't do a more in depth review sometime!) 

(P.P.S. These is just my opinions! I'm entitled to them just as much as you are, and I wouldn't attack you for yours - so don't attack me for mine!!)

(P.P.P.S. I don't have Rough Mix, the McVicar soundtrack or Parting Should be Painless yet, so they won't be covered here. Apologies.)

1. The Who - The Who Sings My Generation (1965)

A really strong debut. The band is super tight on this, and today they would have been seen as already fully formed musically if we didn't have 50 more years of material from them. Pete's songwriting is also really good on this! The covers are the worst parts of the album, but there are only two and they're not bad at all.

2. The Who - A Quick One/Happy Jack (1966)

This is like a more power-pop-esque variation of the debut record. It's not as punchy as said debut, but the songs don't really call for that so it's a non-issue. Speaking of the songs, Pete's writing is just as good if not better than My Generation, plus we have songs written by John, Keith, and Roger here too! The highlight of the album is the title track, which I think is the most important song they ever did. 

3. The Who - The Who Sell Out (1967)

The Who Sell Out is one of the most creative albums I've ever heard. It's presented like a pirate radio broadcast with various musical styles covered, advertisements within songs, actual ad jingles, PSAs, and radio bumpers. It's super cool and low-key makes me wish I was a DJ for Radio London...maybe. Some people think the album starts to drag half-way through side two, but I think that's silly. My favorite tracks on here are Armenia City in the Sky and I Can't Reach You.

4. The Who - Magic Bus [The Who on Tour] (1968)

A solid, but rather oddball collection of early rarities. There are some gems here like the title track, Disguises, and Pictures of Lily - but since The Who did a bunch of novelty-ish singles and b-sides in the 60s, some of those are here too, and I'm kinda mixed on those. I also wish they didn't reuse tracks from A Quick One and The Who Sell Out on this, but instead included singles like I'm a Boy, Substitute, and I Can't Explain in their place. (I know there were some rights issues with the latter, let me dream!!!) Overall, it's cool to own but not really essential unless you're a Bucket T fanboy or something.

5. The Who - Tommy (1969)

Everything about this album is fucking absurd. The plot is absurd, the characters are absurd, the music is absurd, the album's length is absurd, literally anything you can point out about this album can be correctly described as absurd. But ya wanna know the most absurd part of it all? It works! Somehow, and for reasons I am unable to explain, but goddamn it it works. It's The Who's Tommy!!

...Just don't watch the movie...

6. The Who - Live at Leeds (1970)

This is THE live album. End of discussion.

7. John Entwistle - Smash Your Head Against The Wall

I believe John Entwistle's debut solo record is on par (if not stronger than) many of the main Who releases. It's dark, heavy, and even funny at times, but it's all beautiful. Lyrically, it's a sorta concept album about life and death and all the things encompassing them. I'd highly recommend this album, it's a damn shame Entwistle's solo work goes so unrecognized. 

8. The Who - Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy (1971)

This might just be the only Who album most people could ever need. It has pretty much every recognizable Who song from the 1960s all packaged together in a short-and-sweet 14 track LP. If you're only familiar with their 70s output and wanna dig into their early stuff or you're new to The Who in general, I think you should start here!

9. The Who - Who's Next (1971)

Many people consider this to be The Who's best album. Do I think so too? Maybe. There are no bad or even mediocre songs here, there are actually no good songs heir either. Everything here is great! And while I know every word of this album by hear and can most likely recite it all from memory at gunpoint - I can't say it's their best for me. I'm not really able to connect with these songs emotionally, like I can with other Who releases (which is something I look for in an album.) I do think this is their tightest and best album on a musical standpoint, though!

(P.S. Going Mobile needs more love!!)

(P.P.S. Beep Beep!)

10. John Entwistle - Whistle Rymes (1972)

This album is a goddamn masterpiece - there is not a single moment on this album that isn't amazing. While this album isn't as musically heavy as the debut, the lyrics are ten times darker here - and these lyrics are very grounded and real, unlike many of the supernatrual themes on Smash Your Head Against the Wall. It's like John studied all the most fucked up people he could find, wrote songs about them, and packaged those songs as this album. I love it.

11. Pete Townshend - Who Came First (1972)

I don't have much to say about this album. Only a few songs clicked with me - those being the Lifehouse material, Time Is Passing, and Heartache. The rest is enjoyable, but not something I would go out of my way to listen to outside of a full album listen. I do dig the drum tone on the album, though. Come to think of it, Pete is a pretty underrated drummer!

(ALSO. I swear the electric guitar riff from the song Parvardigar was later used in an unrelated Who song, but I cant for the life of me figure out which one it is!! Any help would be appreciated ^_^)

12. John Entwistle - Rigor Mortis Sets In (1973)

Going into this, please know that I have a big soft spot for John's solo records. They were the first Who related things I ever listened to (outside of the obvious stuff), so they'll always have a special place in my heart.

That being said, this is the first album here that straight up isn't very good. It's a half tribute to/half parody of 1950s rock and roll - and I don't think it works well. The production is very... wet? which doesn't fit the style of music, and the lyrics are trying too hard to be funny (to the point where my dad thought this was a comedy record when I showed it to him!) And unlike John's other 'funny' songs, the humor just falls flat with me. Also, I said 'originals' because there are 3 whole cover songs on here. And? They are very hard to sit through, especially the rendition of Hound Dog on here. I don't think it's all bad, though! I quite enjoy the songs Gimmie That Rock n' Roll and Roller Skate Kate, and I have to admit Made In Japan and Peg Leg Peggy are catchy despite their lyrics.

At least it sounds like John and his band had fun recording this!

13. Roger Daltrey - Daltrey (1973)

This album is so. god. damn. boing. There is nothing interesting going on with anything on this album! It's inoffensive, but that might be the worst part of it!! At least with Rigor Mortis Sets In you can tell they were trying to go for something with it even if it wasn't executed well, but there is nothing technically bad about Daltrey. It just exists! That's the problem with it!! THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT EXISTS!!! What's even the point of the album? What is it trying to say?? I have absolutely no clue.

Hopefully the other 3 Roger Daltrey solo records I have to listen to are better or at least more interesting than this. (Do I smell foreshadowing or is that a gas leak?)

14. The Who - Quadrophenia (1973)

Quadrophenia is a strange album for me. It's like everyone gets it but me, and I desperately want to get it. The music is good! Really good! These songs rock. I'm just not able to understand all the hype. I might just be too young or too disconnected from everything to relate to the lyrics - I genuinely don't know! I do appreciate the included short story and photo book for providing extra context, though.

I hoped for my opinion to have changed from the first time I talked about this album, but I'm still stuck! Apologies to all the Quadropheniacs out there.

(P.S. They did John dirty by incorporating his theme into Dr. Jimmy. Probably caused a lot of people to mischaracterize the guy.)

15. The Who - Odds and Sods (1974)

Odds and Sods is kind of like the Magic Bus of the early 70s. This is a rarities/outtakes compilation of material mostly recorded between the Sell Out and Quadrophenia sessions (plus a pre-My Generation recording?), and a lot of it just doesn't do it for me. I do really like Glow Girl, this version of Pure and Easy, Naked Eye, and especially Long Live Rock, though!!

16. Keith Moon - Two Sides of the Moon (1975)

This album contains all the ingredients of a trainwreck. I mean it's a record by a guy who can't really sing and was most likely under the influence of alcohol for the entire recording process that is full of covers of ballads from the early 60s. If you couldn't tell, this album shouldn't work. And yet? This album is so fun that I can't not love it. And not in a 'so bad it's good' way, either. You can say whatever you want about the quality of this record, but if you can put those opinions aside you are bound to have a good or at least fun time with this.

17. Roger Daltrey - Ride a Rock Horse (1975)

God. I can't tell if this album is better or worse than Daltrey. It's all the goddamn same. It's like the musical equivalent of eating dry, unseasoned chicken. I guess this one is worse because at least Daltrey's cover art is pretty. This one's art is just plain offensive to look at! Avoid this record at all costs.

18. John Entwistle's Ox - MAD DOG (1975)

John was doing something right when he and his band made MAD DOG. It's a much more focused attempt as a late 50s - early 60s rock and roll tribute/parody, complete with some funnier jokes! I really dig a lot of these songs - especially I Fall to Pieces, You Can Be so Mean, the title track, and Drowning. I'd recommend this one if you're this deep into John's solo material!

19. The Who - The Who by Numbers (1975)

This album is fucked up. Like really fucked up. It's a cautionary story of how fame and the music industry will fuck you up if they see money in you. It's almost hard to listen to sometimes. And? It's my favorite Who album, and probably in my top 10 albums ever made. Side two especially. Songs like They're All in Love, Blue Red and Grey, How Many Friends, and However Much I Booze have helped me through many low points since I discovered them and I can't thank The Who enough for them. Please listen to this if you haven't, and listen to it again if you have!

(P.S. Squeeze Box shouldn't have been here.)

20. Roger Daltrey - One of the Boys (1977)

Awh shit, here we go again.

One of the Boys is technically the best Daltrey solo album so far, but that really doesn't say much. I just don't care!! I miss Pete and John and Keith!!!

21. The Who - Who Are You (1978)

This album shouldn't have worked. Not in the way Tommy shouldn't have worked - this shouldn't have worked due to external forces. Keith Moon was very poor health during the recording of this, and the rest of the band weren't doing too hot either. Even so, this album is one of the most powerful albums they ever recorded, rivaling Who's Next. Songs like 905, Sister Disco, and the title track pack a punch, and Music Must Change is beautiful. I wish just Keith was able to play on it. Even though it's far from my favorite Who album, I can't help but love it.

Rest in Peace, Keith. I wish you were still here today.

22. Pete Townshend - Empty Glass (1980)

Empty Glass is probably the best simultaneously debut, sophomore, and third album to ever be made (and probably the only one too!) Some of my favorite Pete songs are on here like the very queer Rough Boys & And I Moved, as well as the energetic but soft Let My Love Open the Door and Keep On Working. A great album overall!

(P.S. This was the first who related media I ever bought, though I hadn't listened to it until I discovered & bought Mr. Entwistle's music.)

(P.P.S. I thought it was funny when Pete called himself 'The Queen of the Fucking Universe' in I Am an Animal)

(P.P.P.S. I think I accidentally conditioned myself Pavlov-style to feel the urge to play Work at a Pizza Place on Roblox whenever I listen to Keep On Working.)

23. The Who - Face Dances (1981)

This is a tricky one for me. (pun sorta intended?) My favorite pop song ever made is on here (You Better You Bet,) but there really isn't much more here I care about. John is the real MVP on here, though, with his songs You and The Quiet One. I believe John had very strong material in the early 80s, but we'll get to that soon. Other than those three I mentioned, this album seems directionless and the band sounds like their out of steam. I kind of wish they just stopped with Who Are You and just did their own things because honestly - Pete and John's solo albums from around this time contain their strongest material since around 1975! (I've heard good things about Daltrey's McVicar, too, but I havent gotten around to listening to it.) But to me, they just don't bring that same strength to this record! It's really a shame that I don't understand this album, I'd really like to but I just can't. Apologies to all the Face Dancers out there.

Also, people criticize this album's inclusion of Kenney Jones on drums, but his drumming isn't bad here at all and fits the music well. Sure, it's different, but he should not be seen as the problem with this album!!

24. John Entwistle - Too Late The Hero (1981)

Fucking epic. No notes.

25. Pete Townshend - All the Best Cowboys have Chinese Eyes (1982)

This is a pretty mellow take on Pete's usual sound, and while it does suit the material well - the material isn't very memorable in my opinion. Maybe with a few more listens under my belt I'll begin to dig it more, but as for now, it's just alright.

26. Roger Daltrey - Under a Raging Moon (1985)

I'm pretty sure there's a few more Daltrey albums that came out before this, but I don't have those physically & the less I listen to his music the more sanity I retain.

ANYWAY. This is the same as the other Daltrey albums but now with the rather obnoxious production of mid-80s pop rock. Yippee fucking doodle.

Jesus Christ I'm so glad I'm done with Roger's solo albums. I'm excited for these to collect dust in the back of my record bins until I die and my records get handed down to my grandchildren, where they will then use them as target practice like in that one scene in The Kids Are Alright.

27. The Who - It's Hard

I just can't do it man. I've reviewed twenty-six other records in the span of like 3 days. But this one, this one is just too hard. Athena and Eminence Front are the best here I guess.

I"M GOING FUCKING INSANE

Now that that's over, how would I rank these all amongst each other?

27.  Ride a Rock Horse

26. Daltrey

25. Under a Raging Moon

24. One of the Boys

23. Rigor Mortis Sets In

22. Magic Bus [The Who on Tour]

21. It's Hard

20. Face Dances

19. Two Sides of The Moon

18. Odds and Sods

17. Who Came First

16. All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes

15. MAD DOG

14. Meaty, Beaty, Big, and Bouncy

13. Quadrophenia

12. Who Are You

11. The Who Sings My Generation

10. A Quick One / Happy Jack

9. Too Late The Hero

8. Live at Leeds

7. Tommy

6. Empty Glass

5. Smash Your Head Against the Wall

4. Who's Next

3. The Who Sell Out

2. Whistle Rymes

1. The Who by Numbers (A++ SUPER AMAZING SPARKLES YEAH!)

Thank you for reading all this. What do you think? I may agree with you if your reviews are the exact same as mine. If not, I get it. Hand me my checkbook as a crawl off to die (not post in another month.)

Merry Chris Miss.