The Who By Numbers
by The Who

The Who are one of Britain's greatest rock bands and they have numerous hit songs over 2 decades but I'm not sure they did a great album. This is a bit of peculiar album in that it doesn't have many iconic tunes (maybe Slip Kid and Squeeze Box) but it does have a lot of very good album tracks, and some quite personal lyrics about alcoholism, sex addiction and loneliness. I always enjoy listening to The Who and this album has some surprises.

This album is full of a lot of quality songs, however there is a definite dip in quality near the middle and end. Most songs on the album are good but there are only a few that are real bangers and they really wouldn't standout when compared with the best tracks in the who's catalogue. It is a very consistent album with no songs being really below average making the album on the whole a joy to listen too. Overall, it isn't their best album but it is nearer the top rather than the bottom.

One of the most underrated albums of all time. Excellent from start to finish.

From Glitterboiii 07/14/2018 15:20 | #218216

Super underrated! Probably the most personal Who album right next to Quadrophenia. Very confessional lyrics and the band plays with passion. Daltrey really sings the shit out of Pete’s lyrics on this one!

From nitomano 01/23/2017 01:10 | #183951

Favoritas: Squeeze Box, Success Story, Imagine A Man, Dreaming From The Waist

From Fischman 10/28/2016 16:24 | #177651

I never understood those who love to bash this album. It is chock full o' great cuts and Roger really puts his heart and soul into delivering them.

I know I'm in the minority on this, but I think this is The Who's best album next to Quadrophenia. Highly underrated. Other commenters are correct - it does feel like a Townshend solo album, but Roger's vocals make it much more than just that.

The Who by numbers, is essentially a Pete Townshend solo album in all but name. This is Townshend at his most confessional and self loathing, although Roger Daltrey wraps his tonsils around them with an enthusiastic sincerity, even on some of the more less 'manly' lyrics shall we say. It's a good record with some excellent songs, squeeze box, was the big hit from the album, a jokey country number. Elsewhere there's the opener, slip kid, the excellent, how many friends, and, the self pitying, however much I booze. Best song on the album though is the beautiful, blue,red and grey, a lovely song, one of Townshend's most gorgeous melodies. The playing is great, but as I said earlier, it really does feel like a solo album rather than a band, still, it's a good LP from a band who should have probably called it a day after their last record, quadrophenia.

From poppmusic 01/08/2015 20:26 | #131087

What happened to the Who to make this travesty? After the greatest streak of albums in the history of music they made a boring, placid, and unadventurous work. Almost as bad as Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Hate to say this about my favorite band, but seriously, not worth anyone's time.

This is their most enjoyable album for me. The only track I really don't care for is Squeeze Box, but that's probably just a silly personal annoyance for which I can blame my prude of a mother. This album obviously wasn't nearly as influential as their more highly rated stuff, but I think it's really genius. Its tracks work so consistently well with one another, and to me it almost feels like a concept album, atmospherically. Each song works just as well independently, too, though. And I completely agree with Hermes_requite about the remarkable lyricism. Overall it's just such a likable album.