Who's Next by The Who - DeepRiffs

ALBUM

Much of Who's Next derives from Lifehouse, an ambitious sci-fi rock opera Pete Townshend abandoned after suffering a nervous breakdown, caused in part from working on the sequel to Tommy. There's no discernable theme behind these songs, yet this album is stronger than Tommy, falling just behind Who Sell Out as the finest record the Who ever cut. Townshend developed an infatuation with synthesizers during the recording of the album, and they're all over this album, adding texture where needed and amplifying the force, which is already at a fever pitch. Apart from Live at Leeds, the Who have never sounded as LOUD and unhinged as they do here, yet that's balanced by ballads, both lovely ("The Song Is Over") and scathing ("Behind Blue Eyes"). That's the key to Who's Next -- there's anger and sorrow, humor and regret, passion and tumult, all wrapped up in a blistering package where the rage is as affecting as the heartbreak. This is a retreat from the '60s, as Townshend declares the "Song Is Over," scorns the teenage wasteland, and bitterly declares that we "Won't Get Fooled Again." For all the sorrow and heartbreak that runs beneath the surface, this is an invigorating record, not just because Keith Moon runs rampant or because Roger Daltrey has never sung better or because John Entwistle spins out manic basslines that are as captivating as his "My Wife" is funny. This is invigorating because it has all of that, plus Townshend laying his soul bare in ways that are funny, painful, and utterly life-affirming. That is what the Who was about, not the rock operas, and that's why Who's Next is truer than Tommy or the abandoned Lifehouse. Those were art -- this, even with its pretensions, is rock & roll. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

1. Baba O'Riley

Primary Artist: The Who; Main Performer
Composer: Pete Townshend; Composer
Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Composer
Associate Producer: Glyn Johns; Production
Producer: The Who
Glyn Johns; Production
Composer Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Other

2. Bargain

Primary Artist: The Who; Main Performer
Composer: Pete Townshend; Composer
Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Composer
Associate Producer: Glyn Johns; Production
Producer: The Who
Glyn Johns; Production
Composer Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Other

3. Love Ain't For Keeping

Primary Artist: The Who; Main Performer
Composer: Pete Townshend; Composer
Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Composer
Producer: The Who
Glyn Johns; Production
Composer Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Other

4. My Wife

Composer: John Entwistle; Composer
Primary Artist: The Who; Main Performer
Lyricist: John Entwistle; Composer
Associate Producer: Glyn Johns; Production
Executive Producer: Chris Stamp
Kit Lambert
Pete Kameron; Production
Producer: Pete Kameron
Glyn Johns
Chris Stamp
Kit Lambert
The Who; Production
Composer Lyricist: John Entwistle; Other

5. The Song Is Over

Primary Artist: The Who; Main Performer
Composer: Pete Townshend; Composer
Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Composer
Producer: The Who
Glyn Johns; Production
Composer Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Other

6. Getting In Tune

Primary Artist: The Who; Main Performer
Composer: Pete Townshend; Composer
Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Composer
Producer: The Who
Glyn Johns; Production
Composer Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Other

7. Going Mobile

Primary Artist: The Who; Main Performer
Composer: Pete Townshend; Composer
Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Composer
Producer: The Who
Glyn Johns; Production
Composer Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Other

8. Behind Blue Eyes

Primary Artist: The Who; Main Performer
Composer: Pete Townshend; Composer
Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Composer
Associate Producer: Glyn Johns; Production
Producer: The Who
Glyn Johns; Production
Composer Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Other

9. Won't Get Fooled Again

Primary Artist: The Who; Main Performer
Composer: Pete Townshend; Composer
Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Composer
Producer: The Who
Glyn Johns; Production
Composer Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Other

10. Pure And Easy

Primary Artist: The Who; Main Performer
Composer: Pete Townshend; Composer
Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Composer
Producer: The Who; Production
Composer Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Other

11. Baby Don't You Do It

Composer: Eddie Holland
Brian Holland
Lamont Dozier; Composer
Primary Artist: The Who; Main Performer
Lyricist: Brian Holland
Lamont Dozier
Eddie Holland; Composer
Mixing: Andy Macpherson; Production
Producer: The Who
Peter Meaden
Pete Townshend
Chris Parmeinter
Kit Lambert; Production
Studio Personnel: Andy Macpherson; Production
Composer Lyricist: Lamont Dozier
Eddie Holland
Brian Holland; Other

12. Naked Eye

Primary Artist: The Who; Main Performer
Composer: Pete Townshend; Composer
Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Composer
Producer: The Who; Production
Composer Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Other

13. Water

Primary Artist: The Who; Main Performer
Composer: Pete Townshend; Composer
Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Composer
Producer: The Who; Production
Composer Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Other

14. Too Much Of Anything

Primary Artist: The Who; Main Performer
Composer: Pete Townshend; Composer
Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Composer
Producer: The Who; Production
Composer Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Other

15. I Don't Even Know Myself

Primary Artist: The Who; Main Performer
Bass Guitar: John Entwistle; Performer
Bass Guitar: John Entwistle; Performer
Drums: Keith Moon; Performer
Electric Guitar: Pete Townshend; Performer
Performer: John Entwistle
Keith Moon
Roger Daltrey
Pete Townshend; Performer
Vocals: Roger Daltrey; Performer
Composer: Pete Townshend; Composer
Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Composer
Producer: The Who; Production
Composer Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Other

16. Behind Blue Eyes

Primary Artist: The Who; Main Performer
Composer: Pete Townshend; Composer
Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Composer
Associate Producer: Glyn Johns; Production
Producer: The Who
Glyn Johns; Production
Composer Lyricist: Pete Townshend; Other

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

16 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

1 hour, 24 minutes and 34 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 640x640 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

Studio Quality (Hi-Res)

24bit / 96 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Hi-Res/Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

15/16 tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

No synced lyrics found

Genres

Pop/Rock, Classic Rock, Hard Rock

Label

Geffen

Music Distribution Service

UMG Mora

Country

United Kingdom

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Aug 13, 1971

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

602547143723