Who's Next

Coming of age during, arguably, music's greatest era means that there are a lot of great albums and songs I've heard and enjoyed. I could list a hundred groups and singers that have moved me with their music in my life but that isn't what I want to write about today.

Music, like all the arts, is completely subjective. What I like may not be what you like but that doesn't mean that what you like isn't important and good. It just means that you are wrong. I'm kidding. We all have different life experiences and different triggers that make songs effect us differently.

For me, my life changed when this album came out as nothing before or since affected me like this record did. I consider it to be the best album I ever heard.

In August of 1971, as I was starting my senior year in high school, my favorite group, The Who, released what would turn out to be the greatest rock album of all time. Of course we didn't know it at the time but we knew it was pretty damn special. It is only now, fifty-four years later, that many critics and music insiders, including other recording artists, feel that Who's Next is one of the great productions of all time.

Pete Townshend song writing on this album was a precursor to his incredible Quadrophenia album two years later. Roger Daltrey vocals were at his peak and his ability to bring Townshend's songs to life were never better. Keith Moon on drums plays like no drummer ever played drums and it is his violent yet haunting sounds that move this album along. Finally, John Entwistle on bass is the glue holding the band together and keeping them from taking off into space. They were never better together than they were on this album.

There were nine songs on this album and every single one of them is classic rock. Starting with Baba O'Riley the disc takes us on a journey that is magical. As a freshman at the 285th top college in the nation, Northern Illinois University, this song was our anthem. "Out here in the fields, I fight for my meals." summed up how we felt about being in the middle of nowhere Illinois.

Bargain, Love Aint for Keeping, and the humorous, My Wife, keeps you building emotions as you listen along. The Song is Over then brings your heart rate back down a bit before Getting in Tune and Going Mobile start it racing once again. Daltrey emoting Behind Blue Eyes makes you feel a pain he feels. (It is credited as being the first rock ballad ever which became popular in the 1980's with hair bands.) Finally, Won't Get Fooled Again is considered rock gold and many rock superstars consider this as the greatest rock and roll song ever.

When the record is over you need a few minutes to compose yourself, gather your thoughts and emotions, and then reflect on the masterpiece you just heard. There has never been a better total album. There have been many albums with a few great songs on them but this is the only album, for me, that hits it out of the park from start to finish with no errors. If you've never heard it all the way through, or if you haven't heard it in many years, do yourself a favor and listen to it and judge for yourself. (I will attach a link for you below)

https://youtu.be/MdHONt7p6ow

(BTW - Townshend was the only one to actually relieve himself on the obelisk on the front cover, the others were photo shopped in later)