Listen to The Who

Very few rock bands have had a more lasting impact on the rock era than The Who. Emerging within the British Invasion of the the 1960s, The Who were a new, incendiary force that clearly changed music and influenced countless bands and musicians, including the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd. Their defiant, explosive energy, coupled with controled chaos, stage presence, and extreme musical talent, enabled The Who to trailblaze an entirely new template for rock, punk, and everything after. Listen toThe Who, and you’ll find that there simply is no other band that sounds like them.

"They (The Who) were really influential on our band in a big way."

^{Geddy Lee of Rush}

Name an important moment in rock history, and The Who were there. Among countless venues and festivals, The Who played at Woodstock, The Monterey Pop Festival, Live Aid, The Isle of Wight, The Concert for New York City, The Live 8 Concert, and Superbowl XLIV. While known for their live performances, The Who have also had outstanding album sales, outselling most of their counterparts. The Who have sold well over a 100 million records worldwide, recorded 27 top-40 singles in the United States and United Kingdom and earned 17 Top 10 albums.

"More than any other band, The Who are our role models."

^{Bono of U2}

The Who have received numerous awards. The band received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Phonographic Industry in 1988, and from the Grammy Foundation in 2001. In 1990, the first year the band was eligible, the Who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Who were inducted into the British Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and won the first annual Freddie Mercury Lifetime Achievement in Live Music Award in 2006. In 2008, The Who were the first rock band to receive a Kennedy Center Honor.

"They (The Who) were my inspiration."

^{Brian May of Queen}

The Who have seven albums on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Only the Beatles, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and the Who have that many or more.

With nicknames like “The Godfathers of Punk” and “The Best Live Band on Earth,” the Who have left an indelible mark on music. Their talents, live performances, inspirational trailblazing, and album sales undeniably rank them among a short list of the best bands of all time.

Long live rock!

"The one thing that disgusts me about The Who is the way they smashed through every door in the uncharted hallway of rock 'n' roll without leaving much more than some debris for the rest of us to lay claim to."

Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam

Roger Daltrey (1962-present)

• lead vocals– widely considered one of the top five greatest vocalists in rock
• rhythm guitar
• harmonica

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Pete Townshend (1962–present)

• guitar– widely considered one of the top ten greatest guitarists in rock
• keyboards
• synthesisers
• vocals
• creative genius – often compared with Lennon, McCartney, and Dylan

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John Entwistle (1962–2002)

• bass guitar – widely considered the greatest bass guitarist ever
• vocals
• brass
• vocals

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Keith Moon (1964–1978)

• drums– widely considered one of the top three drummers ever
• percussion

Arizonataylor's Rating System:

!...............The album is merely okay.

!!..............This is a good album.

!!!.............This is a very good album.

!!!!............This album is great.

!!!!!...........This is one of the best albums of all time!

Often considered the first punk album, My Generation bristled with attitude, distortion, and what was then considered thundering bass and drumming. Featuring "My Generation," "The Kids are alright," and "It's a Legal Matter," the album is an excellent debut for The Who.

Rating: !!!!

Number 236 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time

A Quick One While He's Away was The Who's second studio album. It featured "A Quick One While He's Away," a prelude to the rock operas The Who would later perform. It also featured "Whiskey Man," "Boris the Spider," "Happy Jack," and "See My Way."

Rating: !!!!

Number 383 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time

The Who Sell Out's pirate-radio concept is entertaining and considered, among some enthusiasts, to be one of the finest Who Albums. Featuring "I Can See for Miles," the psychedelic "Armenia in the Sky," and numerous faux commercials, the album is thoroughly entertaining.

Rating: !!!!

Number 113 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time

This site is dedicated to studio albums by The Who, but Live at Leeds is too good to exclude. Widely considered the single best live performance by any band in history, Live at Leeds set the standard for all live albums. Live at Leeds isn't one of those albums that has developed a reputation over time. It instantly became a critical hit, with The New York Times calling it "the best live rock album ever made." The album's reputation continues to this day with Q Magazine recently placing it at the very top of its list of the greatest live albums of all time. Because of the noteriety Live at Leeds has earned, the venue at which it was recorded, the University of Leeds refectory, has been named a national landmark in the UK. Live at Leeds is a requirement for any Who fan, because it truly captures the live genius of The Who.

Featured songs include "I Can't Explain," "My Generation," "Happy Jack," "A Quick One While He's Away," "Summertime Blues," "Shakin' All Over," and "Young Man Blues."

Rating: !!!!!

Number 170 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time

Tommy is the album that made The Who millionaires, with good reason. Considered a landmark album, this first-ever rock opera is widely considered nothing short of genius. Tommy boasts several songs that work well within the rock opera or on their own, including the classic "Pinball Wizard," "The Acid Queen," and "I'm Free." This ground-breaking album is truly an essential album.

Rating: !!!!!

Number 96 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time

If there's one Who album that's a must, it's clearly Who's Next. Considered one of the best albums of all time, the album originally started as a rock opera. Failing to finish the album in the rock-opera format, Pete Townshend released it as a standard album. Who's Next features numerous hits, including "Baba O'Riley," "Won't Get Fooled Again," "Behind Blue Eyes," "Pure and Easy," "Going Mobile," and "Bargain." It doesn't get much better than this! This is a must-have album.

Rating: !!!!! (I'd add an extra ! if I could.)

Number 28 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time

Quadrophenia is an excellent album, often underrated. Quadrophenia, while a more ambitious rock opera than Tommy, isn't as well known. Featuring some of The Who's finest material, Quadrophenia is nothing less than genius. Songs like "Real Me," "Punk Meets the Godfather," "5:15," "Sea and Sand," and the powerful "Love, Reign O'er Me" clearly illustrate how amazingly powerful the album is. Quadrophenia is a true example of how powerful songwriting and skillful composition can result in a masterpiece. This is a must-have album.

Rating: !!!!!

Number 266 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time

By Numbers is a fine Who album, one that is often considered essential for any Who fan. Featuring "Slip Kid" and "Squeeze Box," By Numbers was a return to the standard singer-songwriter album.

Rating: !!!

Who Are You, Kieth Moon's last album, is an interesting album that is often called punk and often considered progressive rock. Inspired by an actual altercation Pete Townshend had with Paul Cook and Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols, the title cut, "Who Are You," is considered one of the finest Who singles of all time. Additional songs, such as "Music Must Change," "New Song," and "Had Enough" round out the album.

Rating: !!!

Face Dances was the first album without Keith Moon, and a clear change is noticeable. Still maintaining their genius, the explosive Who sound is replaced by a progressive rock sound that had previously only been sampled. Featuring tracks "You Better You Bet" and "Another Tricky Day," Face Dances is a fine Who album, one that doesn't receive the attention it deserves.

Rating: !!!

It's hard was the tenth studio album by The Who and perhaps the best since Who's Next. It was the last album with John Entwistle, and, much like Face Dances, it doesn't seem to receive the attention it deserves. Perhaps this is true, because the explosiveness of Keith Moon was missing. Much like Face Dances, It's Hard has a "new" sound for The Who, a progressive-rock sound that works well but certainly marks a change for The Who. Featured tracks include "It's Hard," "Eminence Front," and "Athena."

Rating: !!!

Endless Wire was The Who's first studio album in nearly a quarter century. The album was built from the highly successful mini-opera Wire & Glass which is included on Endless Wire. At times, the album makes one reminisce for Who's Next. At times, the loss of Keith Moon and John Entwistle are undeniably palpable. Still, Endless Wire has several fine cuts. They include "Fragments," "It's Not Enough," "Mike Post Theme," and "Man in a Purple Dress." While not their best work, the album is solid, and it was warmly received by both Who fans and the general public.

Rating: !!