30th Anniversary of The Who By Numbers

The Who By Numbers

Before we enter 2006, let's both honor (or "honour" with a "u" as spelled in the UK) and celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Who By Numbers. (released in October, 1975). Is it The Who's best album? Not at all. Is it a very good album and a "hidden treasure"? I think so.

Facts:

Band: The Who (Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle and Keith Moon).

Session Musician: Nicky Hopkins on Piano

Producer: Glyn Johns

Release Dates:

UK: October 18, 1975 (Polydor Records)

USA: October 25, 1975 (MCA Records)

Album Cover Illustration: John Entwistle

Side 1: Slip Kid, However Much I Booze, Squeeze Box, Dreaming from the Waist, Imagine a Man

Side 2: Success Story, They Are All in Love, Blue Red and Grey, How Many Friends, In a Hand or a Face

Mini Review: Cynical, introspective, bitter, depressing, lyrical. All of these adjectives work for this album. But sometimes "downer" songs can be great as well. This album seems to be largely forgotten by everyone in the Who's circle (fans, radio stations and, yes, the band). Most songs were never touched live. There are some real Townshend gems here. How Many Friends delivers tear-jerking lyrics and a powerful Daltrey vocal. Imagine a Man is a priceless ballad. Daltrey played this amazing song in 1994 during his "Daltrey Sings Townshend" tour. Slip Kid has the power you would expect out of a Who rocker. The big "pop hit" from the album was Squeeze Box. Not a favorite of mine or most of us awful "hard core" Who fans who think we own the band (the fans that Pete seems to love and hate). Dreaming from the Waist got a lot of live play from the band in the mid to late 70s, but I don't think it is a song that has aged too well.

In the Attic: As we all know, Pete is a frequent "player" in his girlfriend's web show "In the Attic". Simply put, Rachel Fuller's show is amazing. I was surprised and most appreciative when Pete played my blog request of Blue Red and Grey on this show (and in the In the Attic "Basement Jam" as well).

1996 Reissue (Remastered and Remixed): There was a remastered and remixed edition of this album released in 1996 with 3 live tracks added as a bonus. I didn't purchase it because I was turned off with Behind Blue Eyes being a bonus track on this reissue. To me, it seemed like a cheap and easy way to sell a CD. The strategy seemed to be "stick one of the most known Who songs from Who's Next on this reissue, and it will sell more of this less popular album." Even though this live version of "Behind Blue Eyes" was from the Who by Numbers tour, I don't think it needed to be on this reissue at all. It is so hard for me to be objective about anything related to The Who because I am such a huge fan, but this is my feeling (take it or leave it). That said, or written in this case, the album (original or reissue) is terrific and should be in every Who fan's CD collection.

Bottom Line: As Pete Townshend announced yesterday (on Dec 24), there will be a Who tour in 2006. I can't wait to seem them again. I never get sick of seeing any configuration of this band live, and I have never been disappointed in the countless times I have seen The Who. I hope they dig into some of The Who by Numbers catalog and play a couple of these great songs on the 2006 tour.

Album Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.