Product Description

By the early 1970s, rock & roll had been around long enoughto begin to examine its own past. In the States, this resulted in Sha Na Na, but in Great Britain, where the popular culture of the young was more complex and coded, the Who's QUADROPHENIA was the most powerful example of this nostalgic view. Reviews at the time focused primarily on the obscure psychological aspect of the story--supposedly, the four sides of the original double-album set are meant to examine the four sides of the main character's personality, each one represented by a different member of the Who. However, the most interesting aspect of QUADROPHENIA is its seamy but poetic depiction of London's early-'60s Mod subculture, from which theWho originally sprang.
Set during the weekend of a climactic seaside gang fight between the Mods and their archenemies the Rockers, Townshend's story follows Jimmy, the archetypal Mod. The impressionistic songs tell an elliptical tale, but also function on their own as vintage '70s Who at their hard-rock height--the sneering "The Punk and the Godfather",the driving "5:15" and the anthemic, redemptive closer "Love, Reign O'er Me" are among Townshend's finest work.

Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. I Am The Sea
2. The Real Me
3. Quadrophenia
4. Cut my hair
5. Punk and the godfather
6. I'm one
7. Dirty jobs
8. Helpless dancer
9. Is it in my head
10. I've had enough
11. 5.15
12. Sea and sand
13. Drowned
14. Bell boy
15. Dr Jimmy
16. Rock
17. Love reign o'er me

Disc 2:

1. 5:15
2. Sea And Sand
3. Drowned
4. Bell Boy
5. Doctor Jimmy
6. The Rock
7. Love Reign O'er Me

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1108 in Music
• Released on: 1996-06-24
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Box set, Original recording remastered
• Running time: 82 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
An excellent and frequently astonishing album, Quadrophenia is both more ambitious and less accessible than Tommy, the first and most well known rock opera. At its simplest level, Quadrophenia is a coming-of-age story with an awesome soundtrack. The album features some of the Who's finest material, in songs like the enraged "Real Me", the cynical "Punk Meets the Godfather", the wistful "5:15" and "Sea and Sand", and the powerful "Love, Reign O'er Me". The songwriting (courtesy of Pete Townshend) is top-notch, as is the production (the Who actually managed to use synthesizers in an original manner, something few rock bands can aspire to). The mix of powerful songwriting and skilful composition makes this one of the Who's finest moments. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews

Everything is great about this album.
Quadrophenia tells the story of a young mod looking back at a weekend he spent in brighton. Townsends lyric writing is at it's very best, he tells the story of 'Jimmy' brilliantly and makes you feel like you're there, Daltrey's singing is probally at its best ranging from the wails of 'Love reign o' me' to the aggresive shouts of 'Ive had enough'. Keith's drumming is also arguably at its very best showcasing his amazing and unique technique of speedy drum rolls along with cymbal crashes to create a fluid dramatic sound that only he can. Entwistle plays the base amazingly on every song partically 'The real me' and '5:15' he also contributes by using the french horn on several songs.
Best songs (Extremly hard to pick)
1:The real me (Entwistle and Moon showcase why they're the best at what they do)
2:Sea and Sand
3:The punk & Godfather
4:Cut my hair
5:Doctor jimmy

Quadrophenia - masterpiece
It's hard to believe that this album manages to maintain the standard set by Who's next which is very possibly the greatest rock n' roll album of all time. The album features some of the Who's best songs including The Real Me, 5.15 and love reign o'er me. However this is not all and there is not a single dissappointing song throughout the album including other tracks like Quadrophenia, Sea and Sand, The Punk and the Godfather as well as Bell Boy.

The band members are arguabely at their best in Quadrophenia. Moons performance on The Real Me is one of his best, up there with Who Are You and Wont Get Fooled Again. Townshends song writing is just inspiring, Entwistle is also outstanding throughout and in my opinion this is Daltrey's best album.

Overall a timeless masterpiece of an album that will never seem outdated - if you are a fan of the who this is an absolute must have for you - one of the best albums ive ever heard for sure.

Unsurpassed...
Words cannot begin to describe how much this album means to me.

I came into this world shortly after Quadrophenia; it is decidedly not of my era. Yet it's relevance to me, and significance to my way of life (as it was) is eerily apt.

Some people will buy this album, and wonder why the hell they didn't attach themselves to it sooner. Other people (people you ought not to spend a great deal of time with) will wonder what the hell it's all about.

Quadrophenia is a piece of music, a collection of movements tied together by themes, the most significant of which is water. Early synth sounds resound against punctuated drumming, haunting vocals, and soaring guitar work. All along, it does what it's meant to do; the instruments and the tracks work together to convey aspects of a bigger personality; conflict, harmony, and resolve, and it feeds you them in powerful symbolic waves. This album must be enjoyed frequently, loudly, and at the best quality you can afford (good headphones will do the job).

Please, please, enjoy this album. And if you don't - just don't tell me about it.