The Who Sell Out

by The Who

Overview

Pete Townshend originally planned The Who Sell Out as a concept album of sorts that would simultaneously mock and pay tribute to pirate radio stations, complete with fake jingles and commercials linking the tracks. For reasons that remain somewhat ill defined, the concept wasn't quite driven to completion, breaking down around the middle of side two (on the original vinyl configuration). Nonetheless, on strictly musical merits, it's a terrific set of songs that ultimately stands as one of the group's greatest achievements. "I Can See for Miles" (a Top Ten hit) is the Who at their most thunderous; tinges of psychedelia add a rush to "Armenia City in the Sky" and "Relax"; "I Can't Reach You" finds Townshend beginning to stretch himself into quasi-spiritual territory; and "Tattoo" and the acoustic "Sunrise" show introspective, vulnerable sides to the singer/songwriter that had previously been hidden. "Rael" was another mini-opera, with musical motifs that reappeared in Tommy. The album is as perfect a balance between melodic mod pop and powerful instrumentation as the Who (or any other group) would achieve; psychedelic pop was never as jubilant, not to say funny (the fake commercials and jingles interspersed between the songs are a hoot). [Subsequent reissues added over half a dozen interesting outtakes from the time of the sessions, as well as unused commercials, the B-side "Someone's Coming," and an alternate version of "Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand."] ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	04/23/2021
Label:	Geffen
UPC:	0602577114359

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Who   Primary Artist
John "Speedy" Keen   Vocals,Lead Vocals
Speedy Keen   Vocals
Roger Daltrey   Vocals,Harmonica,Lead Vocals
John Entwistle   Bass,Vocals,Trumpet,Keyboards,Lead Vocals,Guitar (Bass),Vocals (Background)
Al Kooper   Organ
Keith Moon   Drums,Vocals,Percussion
Pete Townshend   Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards,Lead Vocals,Synthesizer,Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Roger Law   Cover Design
Chris Stamp   Producer
Dave Langston   Composer
John "Speedy" Keen   Composer,Engineer
Myles Clarke   Producer,Restoration
Roger Daltrey   Composer
Naomi Neville   Composer
David Montgomery   Photography
Richard Evans   Design,Art Direction
David King   Cover Design
Shel Talmy   Producer
Andy MacPherson   Remixing,Remastering
Kit Lambert   Engineer,Producer
Chris Charlesworth   Executive Producer
Chris Huston   Engineer
Fred Heath   Composer
John Keene   Composer,Composer
Edvard Grieg   Composer
John Entwistle   Composer
Jerry Capehart   Composer
Al Kooper   Engineer
The Who   Arranger,Composer
Keith Moon   Composer
Keith Richards   Composer
Eddie Cochran   Composer
Jon Astley   Producer,Remixing,Mastering,Remastering
Pete Townshend   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Restoration
Mick Jagger   Composer
Damon Lyon-Shaw   Engineer
Dave Marsh   Liner Notes
Robert Rosenberg   Executive Producer
Bill Curbishley   Executive Producer