THE WHO: "Who's Next"
(Polydor 527 760-2),
originally released in August 1971,
remastered editon released in 1995
This album is surely one of the best in the Who's back catalouge. What makes this Album so especially good is the synthesis of intelligent and witty lyrics with really moving, rocking, but also subtle music of four extremly talented musicians. The combination of Keith Moon's druming, John Entwistle's basslines, Roger Daltrey's powerful singing and Pete Townshends guitar playing really has made The Who one of the most important and timeless Rock'n'Roll bands. "Who's Next" presents the group at the peak of their career.
Apart from being a very tight rock album, this LP/CD also contains some slower, paino-based ("Getting in Tune", "The Song is Over") and even acustic ("Love ain't for keeping") tunes. The Who experimented in the studio and used for example a violin on "Baba O'Riley". They were also one of the first rockbands ever to use VCS3 organs and synthesizers. These are used to great effect on several of the more energetic and straight forward songs as "Going Mobile"or "Won't get fooled again". "Won't Get Fooled Again", which closes the original album, is definitly the stand-out track of this CD.
Almost all of the songs are written by Pete Townshend who is also responsible for the brilliant lyrics on Who´s Next. The only song that was not written by Townshend is John Entwistle's "My Wife", a powerful tune, complete with some sarcastic and very funny lyrics.
The remastered edition of this CD released 1995 comes with several additonal tracks: some live cuts and B-sides, one alternative take and even a cover version of the Marvin Gaye classisc "Baby don´t you do it". It features sleeve notes by John Atkins and Pete Townshend himself. But it's a pity that the beautiful booklet doesn't contain the lyrics for the songs. This album definitely is a must have for any fan of rock music.
Tracklist:
- BABA O'RILEY
- BARGAIN
- LOVE AIN'T FOR KEEPING
- MY WIFE
- THE SONG IS OVER
- GETTING IN TUNE
- GOING MOBILE
- BEHIND BLUE EYES
- WON'T GET FOOLED AGAIN
Additional tracks, remastered version only:
- PURE AND EASY
- BABY DONT YOU DO IT
- NAKED EYE
- WATER
- TOO MUCH OF ANYTHING
- I DON'T EVEN KNOW MYSELF
- BEHIND BLUE EYES
Here are the lyrics.
Here's a small collection of former Albums Of The Month