Track Listing

1. New Song - Glyn Johns, The Who, Jon Astley, Andy Fairweather-Low, Billy Nichols
2. Had Enough
3. 905
4. Sister Disco
5. Music Must Change - Glyn Johns, Jon Astley, The Who
6. Trick Of The Light
7. Guitar And Pen
8. Love Is Coming Down
9. Who Are You - Glyn Johns, The Who, Jon Astley, Andy Fairweather-Low
10. No Road Romance
11. Empty Glass
12. Guitar And Pen - Glyn Johns, Jon Astley, The Who
13. Love Is Coming Down
14. Who Are You

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13964 in Music
• Released on: 1998-02-02
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 71 minutes

From Amazon.com
Posited between punk (Pete Townshend's instinctive ethos) and progressive (much of the music), Who Are You is ultimately a failed attempt to conciliate two camps that thrived on their opposition to one another. Neither the insurgent punks of Johnny Rotton's generation nor Townshend's comfortably numb peer group had the least need for one another. Townshend, on the other hand, seemed to want one thing from both forces: their contempt. It was something he could share with them. All of which led to one exceptional song (the title cut) and a handful of lesser statements (the modified minuet "Guitar and Pen," "Music Must Change," "New Song"). John Entwistle fills three song slots with the tactless "Had Enough," the slight but likable "905," and "Trick of the Light," an above-par classic-rock showcase for Roger Daltry. A generous five bonus tracks round out the reissue. --Steven Stolder

CD Description
By the end of the '70s, the original version of the Who wasreaching the end of its tether (Keith Moon was nearing the end of his life). WHO ARE YOU can be seen as something of a swan song for the spirit that ignited the rock & roll juggernaut that was the Who in its prime. The increased prominenceof synthesizers here (the electronic flavouring of the title track recalls "Baba O'Riley") points towards the directionthe post-Moon '80s version of the band would take. Instead of casting aspersions on socio-political ills, Townshend wascasting glances askance at current musical trends ("Sister Disco") and his own occupation ("Guitar and Pen"). Entwistle's bass still rumbles melodically through the tunes in the grand style, and Daltrey's wounded-beast roar is at its most impassioned on such songs as "Had Enough". The end of an erawas just around the corner, but the band blazed away regardless, making WHO ARE YOU the last must-have Who album.

Customer Reviews

The Who Struggle Into A New Age
The Who were never, ever content to cruise in the comfort zone. Having started the 70s with "Live At Leeds", and then released the cutting-edge "Who's Next", before crowning their own achievements with "Quadrophenia" in 1973, The Who had burnt brighter and better than any other band of the period.

But the edge was being blunted. The sheer slog of re-writing and re-recording the score for the Ken Russell film of "Tommy", filmed in 1974, released in 1975, had taken a heavy toll on the band. Pete Townshend in particular was suffering. His vital working relationship with co-manager Kit Lambert had fallen apart from 71 onwards, and he was already unsure about the relevance of The Who by 1974/75.

He was terrified of them becoming just another bunch of aging rockers, unable to match their younger fire, or to move beyond to something fresh.

Also, the whole band were living lives of excess, especially Keith Moon. Hence the deep pessimism and self-loathing of the ascerbic "Who By Numbers" in 1975. After a proudly defiant series of live gigs in 75/76, The Who had once again slipped into a period of dormancy. In the meantime, younger, stroppier, snottier youngsters had taken the British music scene by the throat. The Sex Pistols, The Clash and all those who followed in their phlegm-flecked wake wanted to erase all memories of fat-cat rock bands grown older and lazy. The Who were still granted respect, but mainly for the danger and drama of their younger days.

By early 78, Moon's health and technical abilities had deteriorated sharply. He was in no great shape when the band reconvened to record this album.

So it's astonishing the album is as good as it is.

Townshend wants The Who (and their followers) to realise that times are changing. The trouble is, they're all that bit set in their ways when it comes to writing and playing. Instead of trying to speed up The Who's harder-edged tunes in what would have been an embarrassing attempt to "ape" the raw thunder of punk, Townshend wisely steered into other, newer styles. So what we get is a mix of Rock (with a capital R), jazzier material, and even a tongue-in-cheek nod to Gilbert and Sullivan. When it works ("New Song", "Who Are You", arguably "Sister Disco"), The Who sound great. W.A.Y. itself is probably the very last great Who song. When they move into territory they're less sure of ("Love Is Coming Down"), it can be hard to take.

John Entwistle contributes three songs, all with his own dark vision to the fore. And "905" may just be his best contribution to the Who cause since "Boris The Spider".

Should you buy this CD? If you're already familiar with The Who, yes, certainly. If you're not, maybe you should try a compilation such as "My Generation - The Best Of...", or "Who's Next". But if you DO take the plunge, give it time. There are very, very few utterly useless Who albums - and this isn't it. By the way, the utterly useless album is called "Who's Last". Avoid like a stinky dog.

Class, but little inspiration
The Who's last album to feature the original line-up arrived in 1978, at a time when disco and new wave music were the headlining styles. Some of the song titles betray Pete Townshend's preoccupation with his feelings about music, but if you're going to give opinions on the subject, your credibility depends partly on your own efforts. For once, Townshend's efforts are ineffectual. Attempts to shoe-horn in synthesizers result in them often sounding intrusive and, these days, embarrassingly dated. Ironically, their use on the earlier 'Who's Next' album doesn't suffer from this problem.

John Entwhistle's three songs, musically at least, compare favourably with Townshend's often uninspired efforts. 'Sister Disco' and 'Guitar And Pen' are a slog, while the slushy 'Love Is Coming Down' is okay, but not what you'd expect from the author of 'My Generation'. 'Music Must Change' is more ambitious, a rare success, while the technical gifts of the band shine through as ever. Having heard Townshend's 'Empty Glass' album of a couple of years later, however, I can't help thinking he may have been stockpiling some of his better songs. The inclusion here of a version of the title track as a bonus serves as a nudging reminder in that direction.

WHO ARE YOU review
OK, here we go... and let's take a look at one of the best albums the Who ever made. WHO ARE YOU was my first Who album and turned out to be a masterpiece. All of the Who's talent shine here: great singing by Roger, Pete's guitar playing is just amazing at all times, John plays excellent bass (also his 3 songs are very nice) and Keith's drumming is magnificent.
There aren't really any bad songs in the album; in my opinion the best are Had Enough, 905, Sister Disco, Who Are You (of course), Guitar and Pen, Empty Glass (one of the bonus tracks). Clever lyrics, nice melodies with great synthesizers, bass and drum parts.
I also like the included booklet with extensive liner notes and lots of astounding photos.
Well, few words can't describe how great this album is. I highly recommend it, not only to Who fans, but also to everyone who enjoys high quality music.