The Who

I'm definitely a Who fan, I have Townshend's autobiography and everything. They are certainly in the top 5 or so non-prog rock bands of all time, for me. Saw them do Quadrophenia live, and that was something. Crowd got really into it, especially during Bell Boy.  Some genius was smoking up front, though, and that apparently interfere's with Daltrey's singing. He had to leave the stage late into The Rock, and there was a long instrumental section before he came back out and finished the album, then ran through a few classics.It was an amazing performance. They're a band everyone should listen to at least once, I think.

             A  video from Tom Jones Show, 1969

dude wrote: Not prog of course but i was listening to "Wont get fooled again"..then i realised,So many great songs from a great band,The Who is one of those bands that creeps up on me,i think "im not a fan" Then i think about all the songs i liked.."i liked that one,ANd that one,AND that one...my goodness,so many classics....what do other forum members think?

I don't give a rat's ass if people think The WHO are progressive or not or whatever....

QUADROPHENIA may be one of the best 3 records ever recorded.

Just my $.02.

Yeah, I love the phuckin WHO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, Who's Next & Who By Numbers & Who Are You are pretty much top shelf as well.

rogerthat wrote: I am not sure I could think of many better renditions by an out and out rock singer than Love Reign O'er Me.  Great song and just incredible singing.  The Who, collectively or individually, don't quite get their due and this applies to Daltrey.

Agreed about Mr. Daltrey, of course.

uduwudu wrote: Of all the Who albums only Live At last (I regret to say) is in anyway poor. (...)

Yes, it is ... but, Who's Last  version of Doctor Jimmy is probably best recorded version of the song ever. Check it again  

The Truth wrote: I might add that one of the greatest bands of all time, Guided By Voices are largely influenced by The Who. Very cool stuff:

Agreed! hey, please check this one (2012 release)

Of all the Who albums only Live At last (I regret to say) is in anyway poor. Concept albums, orchestral renditions, movies, soundtrack versions, one of greatest live albums (then one of the worst). They could rock more violently than anyone (the only band never to worry having Zeppelin as a warm up act) and still have exquisite melodies (I Can't Reach You). A band with one of rocks' greatest composers, one of rocks greatest singers, and the rhythm section that has more up front than say Townshend and Daltrey who were left to hold down the basic timing ... 

Only regretable moment is no live rendition of Goin' Mobile a song guaranteed to lift (well, me anyway).

Were they the first band to really eschew the blues? This is the point where progressive rock departs rock. The development of psychedelic and rock symphonic arrangements (Armenia City In The Sky to Underture) is really progressing rock music. After all it can't be becuse they don't / didn't have a keyboard player. Neither did King Crimson... (ever.)

Speaking of eschewing the blues prog rock has something in common with punk and late 70s metal (both genres ignored the blues as a basis and yet the blues is the basis of rock.) I find this quite interesting. And for this reason alone The Who are a progressive rock band. They are also a heavy rock and soul band as well -  but progressive (art rock) has never been defined properly as we know.

..but .try explaining proto prog to a, er, normal music fan.... (I won't, I'm not that courageous / stupid / desperate to be despised/ hard up for conversation...)