The WHo Sell Out poll "go to the church of your choice"

My vote went to "I Can See For Miles." Granted, a predictable choice (I came close to voting for "Heinz Baked Beans" -- none of the Who's peers dared put anything as defiantly comedic on a record). But it perfectly encapsulates one the Who's engagingly myriad contradictions: it was a perfect encapsulation of their live sound, but was rarely played live. And it's as soaring as it is biting. Also, Daltrey never sneered better.

If that's Rarities, Vol. 1 & 2, I've got it; I even had the double vinyl back in the early '80s. I listened the hell out of those records, and the two Missing collections from a few years later.

That's it. Found it for $5 at a Half-Price Books a couple years ago. Had never heard of it before, but it's easily one of the best official Who comps ever.

Felt lucky and privileged to see them play both Tattoo and I Can See For Miles at the LA stop on the 1982 tour.

Voted I Can't Reach You. Always wanted to record a Spacemen 3-styles take on Armenia

If we included extras I'd go for Melancholia, possibly my favourite Who song. That leaves an impossible choice. I Can See for Miles is extraordinary sonic bombast, I Can't Reach You pop genius, Sunrise just beautiful. Even the ads have wit, charm and style.

Has to be "Miles". "Tattoo" is my next favourite.

Jagger's response was, "Peter, you're a gentleman." Perfect.
Oh maybe it was keef.

A lot of these have been rereleased on the remastered CDs from the '90s, but there's still 7 or 8 that you can only get on some of the old rarities collections, including Entwistle's incredible "When I Was a Boy":

Just listened to this on the new Japanese remaster of Who's Missing. What a tremendous song. If Townshend wasn't so insistent that every Who album be A MAJOR STATEMENT, they could've put out a killer 1972 record with the Lifehouse leftovers and b-sides like this.

really tempted to vote for 'i can see for miles' because it's the only who anthem that never sounds even a little bit tired or overplayed to me even after a hundred listens, whereas i'd be completely happy to hop into that alternate universe posited upthread where the who turn into the non-twee kinks and 'baba o'riley' and 'won't get fooled again' and 'who are you' never get to exist. but i'll probably vote for 'mary anne' because it has the best title of any who song.

xpost there is an album called "The Ox", it contains all the Entwistle songs up to that point.

whereas i'd be completely happy to hop into that alternate universe posited upthread where the who turn into the non-twee kinks and 'baba o'riley' and 'won't get fooled again' and 'who are you' never get to exist.

^i dont wanna live in this alternate universe

Going through the "Quadrophenia" deluxe edition notes, it seemed there was an idea to have the 'story' songs alongside some 'pop music' stuff, but they couldn't work out how to knit them together without them appearing disjointed.

This is one of those v minor nuisances one should never even voice, but it's bothered me since the day I bought the CD that the spine says
THE WH0 SELL OUT
with a zero in their name like it's a copy of Mechanical Animals.

Yeah, I noticed that.

I Can't Reach You. It always stuns me - I just stop and listen intently whenever I hear it. So, so lovely. But I admit I could have easily voted for I Can See For Miles or Armenia City In The Sky.

I must confess, I haven't listened to this album for quite some time, but looking at the tracklisting now I could pick out a few tracks that would definitely go on a personal Who best-of. I did go for 'Odorono', but it could have been several tracks. I do prefer the version of 'Tattoo' on Live At Leeds though.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

armenia

tattoo

I Can't Reach You

armenia

tatto

fuck, tattoo

And yet, there's one song that'll probably win by miles..

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

Actually somewhat shocked that "Sunrise" didn't get any votes.

must have been a lot of lurkers, huh? don't remember ICSFM getting lots of shout outs in the thread...

One of the rare albums I always listen to as an album, never in tracks. The sheer sound of this album, and of Piper at the Gates of Dawn, are the peak of a certain kind of big but crisp psychedelic production aesthetic that I can't describe without lapsing into metaphors from old soft drink commercials.

don't remember ICSFM getting lots of shout outs in the thread

obvious truths don't need shoutouts

alright then!

"Relax" is full of good life advice.

And yet, there's one song that'll probably win by miles..

― Mark G, Friday, 6 July 2012 08:27 (5 days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

That'll be five pounds, thanks.

Heinz Baked Beans 1

nutter...

Nothing for Sunrise. Wish I'd voted for it now

Yeah that song is really hauntingly beautiful.

damn no sunrise? i forgot to vote in this, but probably would've voted for that.

Someone voted Odorono!

Why shouldn't they, it's great!

Yes.

Have been hearing "Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand" for 25-30 years and never realized the middle part was supposed to be flamenco.

I've been playing this off YouTube for my art classes the past couple of days. (I know the "Monday-Tuesday" intro will make them laugh and put them into a receptive frame of mind right away.) The album's not new to me or anything--got a copy out of my parents' basement pile 45 years ago. But, like a lot of albums, it basically narrowed down in my mind over the years to my two or three favourite songs ("I Can't Reach You," "I Can See for Miles"). I haven't really listened to it in a long time.

So good. I don't think there's ever been an album I consider perfect, one where I unreservedly love every song. This one comes close--almost as close as Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere. I could do without "Silas Stingy" and "Sunrise," which I notice got no votes here. Completely endorse Christgau's retroactive A+. If there'd been Pazz & Jop in '67, it would have got my vote--wonder how it would have fared against Sgt. Pepper and Are You Experienced.

Agree about Silas Stingy,but Sunrise is gorgeous

yes, perfect album and yes, Sunrise is gorgeous

It was one of the happy setlist surprises when I saw them in 1982.

Ha, I remember being surprised that they did "Tattoo" on that tour.

I just looked up that gig (Birmingham, AL, Nov 82) and apparently they didn't play "Sunrise" -- but I swear I have a clear memory of them doing that song! They did do "Tattoo" though. (Faulty) memory is a funny thing.

I expect I'll regret you
But the skin graft man won't get you

Christ, this album is perfect.

I voted for 'Odorono' back in the day, but I'd switch it to 'I Can't Reach You' nowadays - just a beautiful song.

Also 'Silas Stingy' and 'Sunrise' are great - I'd take either over any track on The Who By Numbers that isn't 'Success Story' ...

Big fans of "The Who Sell Out" should check out the live at the Fillmore East 1968 collection. The set list at that point was from this LP. 'Relax' is a definite highlight of the set.