[TR24][OF] The Who - The Who By Numbers - 1975/2014 (Rock, British Rock)

Arguably the most underrated of the Who's albums, „The Who By Numbers“ represents a return to a more straight-ahead rock & roll sound after the extensive orchestration of „Quadrophenia“. It includes a pair of certified classics in 'Slip Kid' and 'Squeeze Box,' as well as two of Townshend's prettiest ballads, 'Imagine a Man' and 'Blue Red and Grey.'

Released at a time when the man who wrote 'I hope I die before I get old' was turning 30, many of the songs on „The Who By Numbers“ seem to be Townshend's way of dealing with the hardships of life as a hard-living, quickly aging rock star. Melancholy, world-weary and nostalgic, „The Who By Numbers“ is a far cry from the youthful playfulness of early albums like „The Who Sell Out“.

The album was evidently the product of four exhausted musicians, as the next Who album did not appear until three years later. Although not as bombastically exciting as „Who‘s Next“ or „Live At Leeds“, „The Who By Numbers“ does include standout ensemble work from everyone involved (especially bassist John Entwistle) and serves as a fascinating mid-'70s snapshot of rock gods turning pensive at the height of their fame.

''The Who by Numbers' reflected Townshend's mid-life crisis - so charged were the individual personalities of the band's members that their collisions had always been fertile; but strain had begun showing, and Townshend, too felt threa- tened by the idea that the Who was becoming a dinosaur. The man who had, in 'My Generation', written, 'Hope I die before I get old', was now confronted with aging - and he panicked. 'However Much I Booze' and 'Blue Red and Grey' attested with pathos to Pete's struggle.' (Rolling Stone)

Roger Daltrey, lead vocals, percussion
Pete Townshend, vocals, guitars, keyboards, ukulele, accordion, banjo, percussion, backing vocals
John Entwistle, bass, brass, backing vocals
Keith Moon, drums, percussion
Additional musicians:
Nicky Hopkins, piano

Recorded from April to 12 June 1975, Shepperton Studios' soundstage using Ronnie Lane's Mobile Studio
Engineered by Glyn Johns, Jon Astley
Remastering by Bob Ludwig
Produced by Chris Charlesworth, Bill Curbishley, Glyn Johns, Robert Rosenberg
Executive producer: Robert Rosenberg

Digitally remastered