211. The Who - Who's Next?

Release Date: 1971
Label: Decca

Finally we have a great studio album from The Who. After the relative disappointments of the previous releases, I have always approached The What with trepidation. 'Live at Leeds' is the first of their albums I wanted to buy and this one is even better. A lot of the songs are already familiar - 'Baba O'Riley', 'Won't Get Fooled Again' etc - but the unfamiliar ones are just as good. Only 'Going Mobile' felt as though it could've been scrapped.

Rating: 9/10
Favourite Track: Behind Blue Eyes

193. The Who - Live at Leeds

Release Date: 1970
Label: Decca

Usually I'm not really a fan of live albums, prefering the polished studio version of a song over the slightly out-of-tune, chaotic live version. They often fail to replicate the 'magic' of being at said performance too. Live at Leeds is arguably one of the best (if not the most famous) live album of all time though and is included here as a representation of The Who's style/ability.

In previous times I've been slightly underwhelmed by The Who suggestions in this book. 'Sells Out' was fine but ran out of steam, and 'Tommy' was disappointing. This is probably the best of the three, although I could've done without the humour and the long version of My Generation.

Rating: 8/10
Favourite Track: Summertime Blues

145. The Who - Tommy

Release Date: 1969
Label: Track

Rock's first concept album?? Rock's worst concept album?? Probably not, but it's certainly not the best. For a start, it's too self-indulgent, it's too long and it makes little sense.

Rating: 6/10
Favourite Track: Pinball Wizard

90. The Who - The Who Sell Out

Release Date: 1967
Label: Track

The Who Sell Out was the third studio album from the My Generation Hitmakers, and the second of their offerings in this book - 'A Quick One' being deemed unimportant. I vaguely remember being slightly underwhelmed by their debut album and was hoping for something better this time. Luckily, that's exactly what I got (on the first half of the album anyway). Moving away from their RnB roots, the album contains well-written songs, cleverly interspersed with cod-radio jingles. Unfortunately they see to run out of steam towards the end of the album.

Rating: 7/10
Favourite Track: Tattoo

59. The Who - My Generation

Release Date: 1965
Label: Brunswick

Rating: 7/10
Favourite Track: My Generation