Song List

The Who have a gaggle of great singles – from “My Generation” and “I Can See for Miles” to “Baba O’Riley” and “Who Are You,” but in the big picture, the band should go down as expert purveyors of “album rock.” That is, the records on which these singles appeared are part of larger cohesive wholes that should be enjoyed along with their lesser known album mates. In the spirit of celebrating The Who’s impressive career, JamsBio presents 10 of the band’s great deep album tracks (and an outtake or two):

“Pure and Easy”

From Odds and Sods

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Taken from the Who’s Next sessions (and added to the tail end of “The Song is Over” as a kind of epilogue) “Pure and Easy” first surfaced, as a full Who track, on 1974’s Odds and Sods. It’s a wonderfully uplifting song that pays homage to Pete Townshend’s spiritual mentor, Meher Baba. The definitive version of this cut can be found on Townshend’s 1972 solo record, Who Came First.

“Boris the Spider”

From A Quick One

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Nobody will question the immense technical skills of John Entwistle. His performance on “My Generation” alone would have made him a legend. Of course his genius would become a hallmark of The Who’s entire catalog and along with Keith Moon, the band boasted one of the best rhythm sections in rock history. But in addition to his instrumental prowess, Entwistle could also pen a killer tune, as is evidenced by “Boris the Spider.”

“The Dirty Jobs”

From Quadrophenia

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For my money, Quadrophenia was The Who’s finest moment and there’s not a bad track on the entire double record. “The Dirty Jobs” is a classic blue collar anthem that’s a call to arms for all working men: “My karma tells me/you’ve been screwed again/If you let them do it to you/you’ve got yourself to blame.” The strings are a nice touch and Keith Moon’s drum work is a revelation.

“Blue, Red and Grey”

From The Who By Numbers

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I’ve always loved Pete Townshend’s voice. Part of me thinks he would have made a better lead singer. While he lacks the power of Roger Daltrey, he possesses a vulnerability that’s breathtaking. As the principal songwriter for the band, he seems better suited to sing the words he penned. “Blue, Red and Grey” is a standout in The Who’s catalog for its simplicity and sparseness. A gorgeous love song, it features Townshend on ukulele and vocals with multi-tracked trumpets played by John Entwistle. “Blue, Red and Grey” also boasts some of Townshend’s most direct and touching lyrics: “I like every second/so long as you are on my mind/Every moment has its special charm/It’s alright when you’re around, rain or shine.”

“Armenia City in the Sky”

From The Who Sell Out

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Although not written by a member of The Who (John “Keen” is the author), “Armenia City in the Sky” is a thundering, psychedelic-infused “how do you do” from the band’s ragtag third album, The Who Sell Out. It’s lyrics are “out there” for sure (”The sky is glass, the sea is brown and everyone is upside-down.”) but the backwards guitar riffs, howling brass, and thudding bass lines make this one heady musical trip you don’t want to miss.

“Don’t Let Go the Coat”

From Face Dances

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The Who were never quite the same once Keith Moon died in ‘78. Even so, Townshend still churned out some great songs in the eighties, my favorite of which is the pop gem, “Don’t Let Go the Coat.” Another homage to Meher Baba, the song is a reference to the spiritual leader’s Beloved God Prayer that instructs his disciples to hold fast to his damaan (or hem of his garment) in the same way that a child holds to the hem of his mother’s skirt.

“The Ox”

From My Generation

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This is an unconventional pick, but one listen to “The Ox” from the band’s 1965 debut and you know The Who was a force to be reckoned with. A blistering instrumental, “The Ox” throbs and bleeds with ear-splitting feedback, pounding piano (courtesy of Nicky Hopkins) and perhaps one of the best drum performances ever put to wax. Considering it still sounds revolutionary today, I can’t even imagine how it must have sounded in 1965.

“Little Billy”

From Odds and Sods

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“Little Billy” is a great pop nugget from the Odds and Sods collection. It tells the tale of class outcast, Billy (who wasn’t little at all, in fact he’s referred to as the “fattest kid in his class”), who unlike his mates, refuses to take up smoking. His thick skin and impressive inner strength shields him from peer pressure. As we soon learn, once he hits middle age, Billy gets the last laugh when all of his peers start dropping dead from smoking-related cancer. It’s a charming tale for the underdog that features some fantastic playing by Moon, great harmonies and cheeky lyrics.

“Cut My Hair”

From Quadrophenia

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The lyrics of this classic anthem hearkens back to the band’s mod days, describing the difficulty and confusion that goes along with coming of age. It moves between a call to arms (”Zoot suit, white jacket with side vents five inches long. I’m out on the street again. And I’m leaping along”) and a desperation to be accepted (”Why do I have to move with a crowd of kids that hardly notice I’m around. I have to work myself to death just to fit in”).

“So Sad About Us”

From A Quick One

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All Music Guide calls “So Sad About Us” “an archetypal early Who song” that “hundreds of bands have based their entire careers on…” In some ways, The Who had two separate careers during their prime Keith Moon days: the early mod period from ‘64-’67 and the arena rock period from ‘69-’78. Without a doubt, “So Sad About Us” is one of the best of the former.

Editor’s Note: JamsBio is partnering with Universal Music Enterprises to pay tribute to one of rock and roll’s greatest live bands – The Who. For the limited edition, deluxe 2-DVD reissue of Maximum R&B Live, we’re asking you to help celebrate 30 years of legendary live who by (1) playing The Who edition “Scrumbler” puzzle game, (2) and adding to top-5 lists related to The Who’s remarkable career. Join the fun!

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