Was 'The Who' the
greatest rock 'n' roll band in the world?
At the time of the release of their second
double album rock opera Quadrophenia at
the end of 1975, the answer would have
probably been ‘yes’. The ‘Beatles'
had long since gone and never played any
real live concerts as we know them today.
'The Rolling Stones' had just lost their
second lead guitarist in Mick Taylor,
and were being led down a very disco-orientated
channel by Mick Jagger. Only Keith Richards
could really claim to be a true rocking
Stone. 'Led Zeppelin' was still around
of course, but they were almost on another
plain. So we can safely say that in the
early seventies ‘The Who’
was one of the biggest rock 'n' roll bands
around. Already with many landmark albums
behind them, Tommy (1969), Live at Leeds
(1970), and Who's Next (1972), not to
mention a mass of hit singles and historic
appearances at such events as Monterey
Pop Festival 1967, Woodstock, and the
Isle of Wight in both 1969 and 1970, were
backed up by saturation touring to bigger
and bigger audiences all over the world.
Of course, like all of the rock greats,
'The Who' was not only known for their
recording and spectacular stage shows,
but stories of their on the road excesses
are now part of rock 'n' roll mythology.
The release of Quadrophenia was the major
rock release of late 1973. It was waited
for with barely concealed restraint by
their millions of fans. The album went
straight into the charts at number two
in the United Kingdom and the United States
of America remaining in the top thirty
for over six months, a phenomenon almost
unheard of for a double album in those
far off days.
Quadrophenia found 'The Who' at the peak
of their collective powers. Peter Townshend
wrote all the songs, and never before
had he put together such a continuous
package of solid arrangements with such
strong emotions bursting through in every
song. The story follows the early years
of a young man, Jimmy, growing from adolescence
to nearly killing himself due to his fall
into the depths of depravity in the whirlwind
world of the Mods and Rockers on the south
coast of England in the early sixties;
a gripping tale of youth culture from
those heady days.
Peter Townshend's guitar playing here
also finally raised him onto the same
level as his peers like Eric Clapton,
Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. Roger Daltrey
is the person who puts his throat on the
line to give the feeling to Townshend’s
words. Roger Daltrey was at the peak of
his powers when he sings the final stanza's
of 'Love Reigns O'er me' and brings the
album to its shattering climax. One wonders
if he still had a larynx left.
For the one time in the Who's career
all the songs on one album were written
by their principal songwriter, not leaving
room for any of John Entwistle's often
entertaining songs. John Entwistle shows
more than ever here how essential he was
to the Who with his fluid bass lines giving
the songs real substance. John Entwistle’s
way of playing the bass was not only to
nail down the theme of the songs, but
also as a lead instrument. On Quadrophenia,
more than any other Who album, the bass
is pushed right to the front of the mix,
quite deservedly so. John's fine French
horn playing also adds a haunting air
to some of the songs.
Then driving the band ever forward was
everybody's favorite rascal Keith Moon,
not only is his drumming superb and distinctive
(only Keith Moon could drum like Keith
Moon), but his vocal contribution to 'Bellboy’
always brings a smile to your face. The
fine piano playing of Chris Stainton should
also be given a mention as it compliments
the other players perfectly. Perhaps the
Who should of added a keyboard playing
then, instead of waiting till poor old
Keith had shuffled off this mortal coil.
It would have helped the band immensely
trying to play these songs on stage instead
of messing about with pre-recorded backing
tapes.
The album open ups with the sound of
the sea washing up on the beaches and
snatches of refrains from the main themes
of what is to come. The band comes crashing
in with the rocker 'The Real me' and from
then on you are taken on the roller coaster
ride of a young impressionable wannabe
Mod with plenty of highs as well as deeply
disturbing lows. One of the highs is of
Jimmy actually going to see his favorite
band 'The Who' in concert. As Jimmy tries
to emulate his heroes, his life spirals
more and more out of control. With this
the band’s playing becomes more
and more frenzied, climaxing in the nine
minutes of 'Doctor Jimmy', where, if you
listen carefully, you can hear Roger Daltrey's
microphone being spun round the heads
of all in the studio on its lead wire,
and Townshend windmills his arm around
his axe, building to the next frantic
chorus. You can imagine the whole studio
being destroyed at the song’s climax.
‘Doctor Jimmy’, played in
all it's glory on stage at Charlton Football
ground in 1974 in front of 95-thousand
people, was the highlight of the Who's
set. The album closes out with the triumphant
instrumental ‘The Rock', just before
'Love Reigns O'er me’ brings the
proceedings to a dramatic and satisfying
conclusion. Quadrophenia is a great rock
band at the top of its game. Logically,
later it turned into a movie with Phil
Daniels playing Jimmy and Sting the Bellboy,
which was excellent.
Modded by Mott the Dog.
Rockered by Ella Crew
E-mail: review@mott-the-dog.com
