Search - Who :: By Numbers

An Important Album

James J. Dooley | Manville, NJ | 02/20/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While this album is regarded by most fans as "passable", "The Who By Numbers" is in fact my 2nd favorite Who Album (Quadrophenia being the first) I always hear this album is Townshend's "pity party", but it means a lot to me. Although the songs are personal, I can somehow relate to a lot of it. Being only a child when this was released, it still resonates to me today. The first track, "Slip Kid", is a GREAT opener. Daltrey sings this one with pure anger in his voice (That's what I get from it) The other thing that gets me about this song is Entwistle's amazing bass line. The lyrics seem to thumb the nose at the music industry, almost like a warning to up and coming musicians. Regardless, as a song, it's very heavy for something from 1975. "However Much I Booze", A song about alcoholism, is straight forward, no-holds barred true storytelling. Love the acoustic intro. "Squeeze Box", the commercial hit on this record (In The U.S) is incredibly catchy (Is that a banjo I hear?) I'm not going to review every single track, but two songs "Blue Red And Grey", with only Pete and his ukelele, is just a beautifully written song. (Almost sounds like a "going away" note) and the incredible "How Many Friends" (My favorite track on the record) Personal to Townshend, but relateable to just about any one I think. Keith Moon's drumming on this song, to me, is absolutely hypnotic...Listen to the drums on this song and follow them, you'll see what I mean. Must have broken some drum heads recording this for sure! All in all, this is a gem of a Who album. I cannot recommend it enough."