Studio album rankings, best to worst, Part 6: The Who

[JeanGary Diablo]

Next up on my personal album ranking list: The Who.

I got raked over the coals by some of you for putting Animals too far down on my ranking of Pink Floyd albums. I have a feeling someone will be calling for my head when they see how far down I put Quadrophenia.

Again, not a definitive list here, just my personal preferences.

The Who albums, ranked best to worst

Who's Next (1971)
Tommy (1969)
A Quick One (1966)
My Generation (1965)
The Who Sell Out (1967)
Quadrophenia (1973)
The Who by Numbers (1975)
Who Are You (1978)
Face Dances (1981)
Endless Wire (2006)
Who (2019)
It's Hard (1982)

Pink Floyd albums ranked best to worst:

https://terb.cc/xenforo/threads/studio-album-rankings-best-to-worst-pink-floyd.761778/

Beatles albums ranked best to worst

https://terb.cc/xenforo/threads/studio-album-rankings-best-to-worst-part-2-the-beatles.761891/

Rolling Stones albums ranked best to worst

https://terb.cc/xenforo/threads/studio-album-rankings-best-to-worst-part-3-the-rolling-stones.761972/#post-7250954

Rush albums ranked best to worst

https://terb.cc/xenforo/threads/studio-album-rankings-best-to-worst-part-4-rush.761980/#post-7250432

Led Zeppelin albums ranked best to worst

https://terb.cc/xenforo/threads/studio-album-rankings-best-to-worst-part-5-led-zeppelin.762071/#post-7252514

 

[Robert Mugabe]

Tommy and Quadrophenia are unlistenable. Early stuff great.

 

[Knuckle Ball]

There are individual songs I like on many of those albums but I find it kinda hard to rank them per se.

I liked Tommy…I found Quadrophenia harder to get my head around.

+1 for all their early stuff being great.

 

[JeanGary Diablo]

Tommy and Quadrophenia are unlistenable. Early stuff great.

I really like Tommy for being innovative; Quadrophenia would have made a better 10-track record, in my opinion. I know they were trying to make another "opera" but it just doesn't work for me.

But I agree; their early stuff was great.

 

[brualex33]

Tommy and Quadrophenia are unlistenable. Early stuff great.

Sorry my friend, always loved Quadrophenia. Also liked Who Are You. I’d bump those up.

 

[Sonic Temple]

Another brilliant list - would move up Who Are You right after Tommy.

 

[nervousintheservice]

The remastered and full recording of Live at Leeds might change a few minds about Tommy. I used to think it was a mediocre album at best. Then i heard the full live performance. I think it captures Pete and John at their best.

 

[Fun For All]

Who's Next followed by A Quick one...Live at Leeds is good too.

 

[ogibowt]

The Soul Diva Bettye Lavette has Daltrey and Townsend mesmerized with her version of Love Reigns

 

[Goodfellow]

The Soul Diva Bettye Lavette has Daltrey and Townsend mesmerized with her version of Love Reigns

Quadrophenia reigns supreme. Four distinct and recurring musical themes throughout the four album sides tie this masterpiece together, imho.

 

[Bbw hunter]

I will streamline my list by sticking to the Keith Moon era:
1. Who's Next (1971)
2. Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy (1971)
3. Quadrophenia (1973)
4. Live at Leeds (1970)
5. Who Are You (1978)
6. My Generation (1965)
7. The Kids Are Alright (1979)
8. Tommy (1969)
9. The Who By Numbers (1975)
10. Odds and Sods (1974)
11. A Quick One (1966)
12. The Who Sell Out (1967)

Yes I know that, strictly speaking, Meaty, Odds and The Kids are compilation albums. However all have either singles, studio out-takes or live versions that aren't on the other albums.
Yes Live at Leeds is not an original studio album of course. However it has 3 previously unreleased covers and the extended jam version of My Generation is virtually a new song.

 

[shack]

Next up on my personal album ranking list: The Who.

The Who albums, ranked best to worst

Who's Next (1971)
Tommy (1969)
A Quick One (1966)
My Generation (1965)
The Who Sell Out (1967)
Quadrophenia (1973)
The Who by Numbers (1975)
Who Are You (1978)
Face Dances (1981)
Endless Wire (2006)
Who (2019)
It's Hard (1982)

For me, it's:

Who's Next
Tommy
Quadrophenia
Live At Leeds
Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy

After that, who cares. Actually, they could have used that as a title. Pete is one of my 3 rock gods.

 

[shack]

Tommy and Quadrophenia are unlistenable.

Too complex?

 

[xmontrealer]

For me, it's:

Who's Next
Tommy
Quadrophenia
Live At Leeds
Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy

After that, who cares. Actually, they could have used that as a title. Pete is one of my 3 rock gods.

Agree 100%

 

[The Oracle]

For what it matters...I remember seeing the movie ''Tommy'' when it first came out and thinking in the theatre when is this going to end. I hated it.

 

[onomatopoeia]

Studio album rankings, best to worst, Part 6: The Who

@nervousintheservice , @Fun For All , @Bbw hunter, @shack:

Live at Leeds is NOT a Studio album. You'all know that, right?

 

[shack]

For what it matters...I remember seeing the movie ''Tommy'' when it first came out and thinking in the theatre when is this going to end.

The movie was shit. Just total camp.

The Broadway version was very good. I think it was at Massey Hall.

 

[RZG]

Too complex?

Quadrophenia was very complex technically. Townshend said it wasn`t much played live until the tech caught up for a live show. I`ve seen Tommy and Quadrophenia played live three times each. Backed with horns and strings they are simply stunning. The description of "The most delicate chamber music, in the middle of a commando raid" fits it.

 

[GameBoy27]

For the Quadrophenia lovers, check out Pete's demos. If you've never heard the raw version of these songs, it's a must listen. Pete wrote all the music, played all the instruments, sang all the parts and mixed the entire thing. He's released demos of other songs, but this truly amazing. Pure genius!

And the Tommy demos...

.

 

[Fun For All]

Studio album rankings, best to worst, Part 6: The Who

@nervousintheservice , @Fun For All , @Bbw hunter, @shack:

Live at Leeds is NOT a Studio album. You'all know that, right?

Really, it’s not? Thanks for straightening us out!