The Who by Numbers
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| The Who By Numbers | ||
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| Studio album by The Who | ||
| Released | October 1975 | |
| Recorded | April - May 1975 on the Shepperton Studios' soundstage using Ronnie Lane's mobile studio | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 37:10 | |
| Label | Polydor Records (UK) MCA Records (U.S.) |
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| Producer(s) | Glyn Johns, Chris Charlesworth, Bill Curbishley, Robert Rosenberg | |
| Professional reviews | ||
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| The Who chronology | ||
| Odds and Sods (1974) |
The Who By Numbers (1975) |
Who Are You (1978) |
The Who By Numbers is an album by British rock band The Who, released in 1975.
Contents |
[edit] History
Without the massive structure and ambition of the band's better known works Tommy and Quadrophenia, Pete Townshend's songwriting stands on its own in the sparse and dark Who By Numbers. Gone are the synthesizers and the massive layers of overdubs. In their places are descriptions of Townshend's alcoholism, lust, and self-loathing, as well as the dark side of creeping middle-age and the fear of irrelevance. On "They Are All In Love," Townshend laments: "Hey goodbye all you punks, stay young and stay high / Hand me my checkbook while I crawl off to die." These themes extend from the hopeless refrain of "However Much I Booze" (sung by Townshend himself as Daltrey thought it too personal for himself to sing it), "There ain't no way out", to the paranoid question, "How many friends have I really got?"
A few tracks stand in contrast, including the playfulness of the modest hit "Squeeze Box" and "Blue, Red and Grey"'s claim that "I like every minute of the day." But John Entwistle's contribution, "Success Story", returns to display nearly as despairing and cynical a view of stardom as the rest of the record.
The cover was drawn by John Entwistle.
The Who By Numbers peaked at the number 7 position on the UK album charts and number 8 on the Billboard 200 album charts in the United States.
[edit] Track listing
All songs written by Pete Townshend unless stated otherwise.
- "Slip Kid" – 4:31
- "However Much I Booze" – 5:02
- "Squeeze Box" – 2:42
- "Dreaming From the Waist" – 4:07
- "Imagine a Man" – 4:04
- "Success Story" (Entwistle) – 3:22
- "They Are All in Love" – 3:02
- "Blue, Red and Grey" – 2:49
- "How Many Friends" – 4:06
- "In a Hand or a Face" – 3:25
[edit] 1996 reissue
The bonus tracks on the 1996 reissue were recorded live at Swansea Football Ground on June 16, 1976. These particular recordings appear on many Who bootlegs.
- "Squeeze Box" – 3:13
- "Behind Blue Eyes" – 4:39
- "Dreaming From the Waist" – 4:57
[edit] Singles
Squeeze Box (UK 10)
[edit] Personnel
- Roger Daltrey - Vocals, harmonica
- Pete Townshend - Guitar, keyboards, Ukulele, vocals
- John Entwistle - Bass guitar, keyboards, vocals
- Keith Moon - Drums
- Nicky Hopkins - Piano, keyboards
- Dave Arbus: Violin
[edit] Personnel - Production
- Chris Charlesworth - Executive producer
- Bill Curbishley - Executive producer
- John Entwisle - Album art
- Richard Evans - Remaster Album art direction, design
- Glyn Johns - Producer
- Jon Astley - Remixing
- Bob Ludwig - Remastering
- Robert Rosenberg - Executive producer
- John Swenson - Liner notes
- Chris Walter - Photography
