Quadrophenia - Released 50 years ago today

[maxrandb]

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[303squadron]

1. Tommy got all the attention

But Quadrophenia is better. Yes, it's a subjective opinion but I think it's true based on the fact that the harmonic palette of both Townshend and Entwistle had matured by the time they made Quadrophenia. The points of creating musical tension work stronger!

Back when I worked on radio I played this album with 50,000 watts! A lot!

[maxrandb]

2. Drop the needle on The Real Me

and all the other drummers and bassists weep.

I will never understand how Pete Townshend navigates his guitar through the chaos Keith and John create.

Just a great album from start to finish.

[ProfessorGAC]

11. I Concur

I think it a much better album, and less campy. So many good songs.
Love the horn parts on 5:15.

[cachukis]

3. Truly one of the best. Especially for road trips.

[maxrandb]

4. My favorite album of all time

I truly believe that you could give this album to any 17 year old in Los Angeles, or Kenya, and it would resonate with them.

Hell, I'm on the downside of my 60's and it still resonates with me.

[cachukis]

5. Stuck on an island, my pick.

[EYESORE 9001]

6. I remember it well

My barracks roommate at a Naval station was a huge fan of The Who. He bought it on the day it hit stores, even buying a quadraphonic stereo for the occasion.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

7. The occasion slipped my mind. Thanks.

The Who’s ‘Quadrophenia’ turns 50; How US fans embraced a rock opera on British youth culture

Neal Augenstein | [e-mail]
October 22, 2023, 4:30 PM



Album cover for The Who’s 1973 rock opera, “Quadrophenia,” which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this week.

The Who’s “Quadrophenia” — a rock opera composed by guitarist Pete Townshend is turning 50 years old this week. ... The 17-song double album, released Oct. 26, 1973, tells the story of Jimmy — a young Mod immersed in British subculture of the mid-1960s — and his dissatisfaction with life, love, his job and family.

“The main character Jimmy is a troubled young guy,” said Cerphe Colwell, longtime Washington-area disc jockey, who played “Quadrophenia” on WHFS, DC101, WJFK and Classic Rock 94.7. ... “He’s gone to a psychiatrist, he’s seen a priest, he’s visited the doctor, went to see his mother,” Cerphe said, paraphrasing lyrics from the album. “And after you listen to the tracks, you get to see a prognosis of a personality in crisis. You really start to get inside his head.”

After the Who’s success with their first rock opera, “Tommy,” Townshend single-handedly composed and recorded demo tapes for Quadrophenia, which were presented to his bandmates, singer Roger Daltrey, bass player John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon, who performed on the album.

“The opening track starts with ambient sounds of the ocean,” Cerphe said, referring to “I Am the Sea.” “Once you hear that, it’s sort of the introduction to the themes of the album, with snippets of songs and themes that occur throughout the album’s memory.”

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Neal Augenstein
Neal Augenstein has been a reporter at WTOP since 1997. Through the years, Neal has covered many of the crimes and trials that have gripped the region. Neal's been pleased to receive awards over the years for hard news, feature reporting, use of sound and sports.

[e-mail]
@AugensteinWTOP

[Redleg]

8. One of my favorite albums by my favorite group

For me, Quadrophenia works better than Tommy. The main reason is that the themes of Quadro are things that more people, particularly young men, can relate to compared to the beautiful strangeness and the bit of creepiness in Tommy. Just my two cents.

And since you asked, the most under-rated Who album is The Who by Numbers.

[maxrandb]

12. Extremely under-rated. Dreaming From the Waist was fantastic live

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[Redleg]

13. Nice video

I heard that Pete Townshend hated performing that song live.

[ificandream]

9. I was at the San Francisco Cow Palace show that featured Quadrophenia when Keith passed out

I remember Townshend saying, "I think he needs an en-e-ma." LOL.

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[highplainsdem]

10. It has Love Reigh O'er Me, my favorite song of theirs: