WHO'S NEXT

Together with "Machine Head", Led Zep's fourth album, "Santana III", "Slade Alive!", "Meddle" and some other key albums I spent endless days listening to it when I was laying in my bed for ten months in 1972 due to a leg injury.

Two songs are the absolute highlights of course. They belong to the best of The Who's repertoire. But Who's Next is of course much, much more than two songs. "Bargain" is another great Who number, while "My Wife" (even if it is not a super song) confirms John's talent on brass (but he has already shown this on several occasions). The production is great although too much polished to my taste (I prefer the rawer sound of their live appearences).

It is definitely a trademark in their discography. Wise use of keyboards, fantastic violin play in "Baba..." of course, delicacy in "The Song Is Over" in both the vocals and the piano.

I also fully agree with Hughes on the major role of Keith throughout the album and kind of laugh while reading some comments on his drumming ability on the forum...We have one of the finest drummer of the rock history here (but not only here) : in line with Brufford, Paice, Palmer and Bonham but in another genre of course.

Very little weak numbers here. "Love Ain't For Keeping" might well be the only one while "Getting In Tune" is another typical good Who song. "Going Mobile" being half rocking and half a ballad. Although praised recently by a new generation of listeners thanks to a cover version, I have never been over-enthusiastic about "Behind Blue Eyes".

That's it for the original album which I purchased back then (1972). In the meantime, an extended version (1995) saw the light with several bonus tracks which only enforce the idea that the material that The Who produced during the Who's Next sessions was just extraordinary. "Pure & Easy" could have easily fit on the original album.

The most complete and therefore by far the most interesting is the deluxe double CD edition released in 2003. A great version of "Love Ain't For Keeping", an alternate and rawer version of "Won't Get Fooled Again" are the studio highlights as far as the bonus studio material is concerned. It also contains no less than forteen live tracks (recorded during a concert at the Young Vic Theater on April 26, 1971) of which a superb rendition of "Won't Get Fooled Again".

When one knows how great The Who were on stage and still are by the way. The last time I saw them in June of this year in Antwerp (row four) , I was really charmed to see how good they still can be : enthusiasts and dedicated to their audience. The last track of their set was "Won't Get Fooled Again". The entire hall was standing (even the far and high placed fans) during the end of this extraordianry number. Whether you are a Who fan or just interested in discovering one key album in the rock history, it is almost mandatory to get hold of this one.

The full list of the live tracks is as follows : "Love Ain't for Keeping", "Pure and Easy", "Young Man Blues" (a blues classic from Mose Allison with a great performance on bass by John). It can definitely be compared with the rageous Led Zep manner of covering blues classic in their early days, "Time Is Passing" which is a weak country tune, "Behind Blue Eyes", "I Don't Even Know Myself" (somewhat reminiscent of "Won't Get Fooled..."), "Too Much of Anything", "Getting in Tune", "Bargain", "Water" another good blues-rocking one, "My Generation" in a short (less than three minutes) format, "(I'm a) Road Runner", "Naked Eye" a great hard-rock number and "Won't Get Fooled Again" of course.

"Pure and Easy", "Too Much of Anything" and "Naked Eye" are featured on "Odds & Sods".

I would have ranked the original vinyl version with four stars, but frankly the double CD set is so extraordinary than only five stars can reward this great album.

By the way, at the time of release the press unanimously called this album a great hard-rock album. No prog to expect here.

"Who's Next" is an abum each rock fan needs to have in his discography.

Share this THE WHO review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to ZowieZiggy
• Report this review (#130221)
• Buy THE WHO music online with PA partners
• Show all THE WHO MP3/Stream
• Go to THE WHO page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Who's Next page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for THE WHO related discussions