World’s Greatest Rock Band
Aug 18
It’s only fitting that we go from the band that defined punk in my eyes to the band that ultimately started punk & another of my favorite bands, The Who!
I really don’t even know what to begin with to describe The Who here. So much has been said while so much has been left unsaid and my words alone will probably never fully explain their legacy, importance, and place in music history. To say The Who is one of the best bands of all time is pretty much like saying Creed is the worst band ever: it goes without saying because everyone already knows it. Just look at how much they have accomplished and their library of songs. Of their main British contemporaries at the time, they definitely outlasted The Beatles in longevity and definitely beat the pants off The Rolling Stones in terms of great hits & great albums (arguable, but very true). Even looking at the sheer talent these men possessed, it’s mind-boogling. Most bands with that much talent in each individual’s hands don’t stay put due to egos or other commitments & opportunties (see Cream, The Jimi Hendrix Expierence, and pretty much any supergroup ever).
Let’s break it down here. You had the manic behind the drum set in Keith Moon. I really don’t see how you could argue that he is not one of the top three drummers of all time and, in my opinion, he is definitely better than Bonham and Peart. The drumming in “The Ox” far surpasses that of “Moby Dick” for those wondering.
Next up in the rhythm section is John Entwistle whose bass licks make certain songs like in “The Punk And The Godfather.” Again, one of the best ever; seeing a pattern?
Coming out of left field is the little man with the quick temper (I have got to tell this story later on down the road) Roger Daltrey. Not only one of the best rock singers and frontmen ever, but easily one of the most (if not the) verstaile singers ever. Just look at all of Tommy for Christ’s sake.
Finally, the heart of the band & the guy responsible for their entire catalogue of hits, Pete Townshend. While he gets overlooked so much in terms of great guitarists, he’s definitely up there with the best of them and has a case for being one of the smartest (smart for skill, not actual IQ; see Zappa) guitarists out there for his laid-back solos and riffs. His songwriting ability is insane and with his rock operas, he even rivals some of the better classical composers of the 20th Century. Connecting several musical ideas from beginning to end in a rock album is something few have ever been to actually go through with it and most of the rock operas today (coughGreenDaycough) can’t even say that; just look at “Quadrophenia” from Quadrophenia!
As for their greatest work, it’s without a doubt in my mind Quadrophenia and I’m utterly amazed that the album doesn’t get more praise. Tommy was the first rock opera, contained a gigantic hit with “Pinball Wizard,” and had a very interesting story riddled with deep meaning. Who’s Next had just an amazing track listing with songs that would dominate radios for decades to come. But Quadrophenia? The musical depth the band explores here, the themes of individuality & identity, the driving instrumentals, the actual instrumentation skill, the four main motiffs, the two or three smaller motiffs, & even the story; it’s all amazing! Listening to it from beginning to end still gives me goosebumps at certain points in the album & there is not a lull point here at all unlike the other two albums. It all flows and it all adds to the bigger picture with the epic climax. I mean really, “Love, Reign O’er Me?” Easily the best closing track on an album ever (though “Venice Queen” [couldn't find the album version, but I'll cover it soon] is a very close second to me with the Abbey Road Medley bringing up the rear). I could literally talk to hours on end about this album and still have more to say. Better yet, I could listen to it all day and still find new things in it that amaze me which is really what good music should do.
And their greatest song to me? Now, that’s tricky. I’ll have to say that it is on Quadrophenia because their songs are so tight and masterfully crafted. Now, I love all the big hits too just like everyone else (especially “Baba O’Riley“), but the songs on Quadrophenia just stand out to me so much. Ultimately, it comes down to the four songs of the album: “5:15, Quadrophenia, Love, Reign O’er Me,” and the one I’m going to talk about in a second. “5:15″ is just a thrill ride of a song and moves the story of the album forward better than other narratives. “Quadrophenia” is just a testament to what I said about Pete Townshend above: brilliant. “Love, Reign O’er Me” might just be Roger Daltrey’s best singing on any Who recording and one of the best singing on a rock track of all time. However, none of these really match up for me to the closing track of side one, “I’ve Had Enough.” To be fair though, my answer could change at any given point, but let’s run with this one…
The song is basically about the singer’s frustration with his current life and his quest to leave so he find himself (which is why it closes part one and 5:15 opens part two). It also foreshadows what awaits him by leaving as “Love Reign O’er Me” plays in a smaller fashion than in the climax of the album. It’s a song split into three sections that repeat with each section being craftily constructed and two of them re-appearing again throughout the album. It’s a pivotal track in the album not only for the story, but also in that it’s one of the first outside the title tracks to start mixing the musical ideas (or if you want to look at it this way, the different personalities & idelogies Jimmy The Mod is fighting with) and sets the stage for the second part. I can’t really say much more so I’ll just let you listen to it and again strongly recommend that you check out the whole album, which is my pick for best of the 70s. Enjoy!
Song: I’ve Had Enough
Artist: The Who
Album: Quadrophenia
Year: 1973
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