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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 /TiVo
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The Who, MainArtist - Roger Daltrey, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kit Lambert, Producer - John Keene, ComposerLyricist - Speedy Keen, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Entwistle, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Keith Moon, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Daltrey, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, ComposerLyricist - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, ComposerLyricist - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Entwistle, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Keith Moon, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Daltrey, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, ComposerLyricist - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Entwistle, Bass Guitar, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Keith Moon, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, Electric Guitar, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Daltrey, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kit Lambert, Producer - Shel Talmy, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Entwistle, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Keith Moon, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Daltrey, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Entwistle, ComposerLyricist - The Who, MainArtist - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, ComposerLyricist - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Entwistle, ComposerLyricist - The Who, MainArtist - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, ComposerLyricist - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, ComposerLyricist - Not Applicable, ComposerLyricist - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Entwistle, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Keith Moon, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Daltrey, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kit Lambert, Producer - Chris Stamp, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Entwistle, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Keith Moon, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Daltrey, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Entwistle, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Keith Moon, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - The Who, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Pete Townshend, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Daltrey, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1987 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Entwistle, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Keith Moon, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - KEITH RICHARDS, ComposerLyricist - MICK JAGGER, ComposerLyricist - The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Daltrey, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, ComposerLyricist - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 2009 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Entwistle, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Keith Moon, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Daltrey, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Entwistle, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Keith Moon, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Daltrey, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Unknown, ComposerLyricist - The Who, MainArtist - Roger Daltrey, ComposerLyricist - Kit Lambert, Producer - Dave Langston, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1994 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Unknown, ComposerLyricist - The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, ComposerLyricist - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1994 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, ComposerLyricist - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 2020 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, ComposerLyricist - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 2020 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Entwistle, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Keith Moon, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Daltrey, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - N/A, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2019 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Unknown, ComposerLyricist - The Who, MainArtist
℗ 2009 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, ComposerLyricist - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 2009 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, ComposerLyricist - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 2009 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Entwistle, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Keith Moon, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Daltrey, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 2009 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Entwistle, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Keith Moon, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Daltrey, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Keith Moon, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, Guitar, Synthesizer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Daltrey, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kit Lambert, Producer - John Entwhistle, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2018 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Entwistle, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Keith Moon, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Daltrey, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1968 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
DISC 2
Unknown, ComposerLyricist - The Who, MainArtist - Roger Daltrey, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kit Lambert, Producer - John Keene, ComposerLyricist - Speedy Keen, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Entwistle, ComposerLyricist - Unknown, ComposerLyricist - The Who, MainArtist - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Entwistle, ComposerLyricist - Keith Moon, ComposerLyricist - Unknown, ComposerLyricist - The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, ComposerLyricist - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Unknown, ComposerLyricist - The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, ComposerLyricist - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Unknown, ComposerLyricist - The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, ComposerLyricist - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Entwistle, ComposerLyricist - Keith Moon, ComposerLyricist - Unknown, ComposerLyricist - The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, ComposerLyricist - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Entwistle, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Keith Moon, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Daltrey, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, ComposerLyricist - Kit Lambert, Producer - N/A, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Entwistle, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Keith Moon, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Daltrey, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Entwistle, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Keith Moon, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Daltrey, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Entwistle, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Keith Moon, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Daltrey, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Entwistle, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Keith Moon, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Daltrey, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, ComposerLyricist - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, ComposerLyricist - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 2020 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, ComposerLyricist - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1995 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
John Entwistle, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Keith Moon, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Daltrey, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1967 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
The Who, MainArtist - Eddie Cochran, ComposerLyricist - Kit Lambert, Producer - Jerry Capehart, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2009 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
The Who, MainArtist - Pete Townshend, ComposerLyricist - Kit Lambert, Producer
℗ 1995 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
Album review
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 /TiVo
About the album
- 5 disc(s) - 114 track(s)
- Total length: 05:39:42
- Main artists: The Who
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: UMC (Universal Music Catalogue)
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2021 Polydor Ltd. (UK) ℗ 2021 Polydor Ltd. (UK)
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