The Who “Who By Numbers”

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#214 in the Series) is The Who, Who By Numbers.

OK, I know. I actually did write this one up when this site was just the facebook page. In fact, it was one of the first ones I did. I also know that I recently did Pete Townshend’s White City: A Novel.

There is a reason why I’m coming back to The Who so quickly. There is a reason why I’m doing this album in particular.

That reason is today’s date, December 5^th. Because on December 5^th, 1975. (That’s 35 years ago, I did the math already for you.) I saw my first real concert.  Real, meaning that I’m not counting little things, like seeing Heartsfield and Styx playing at the local community center. )

35 years ago tonight I saw The Who on their Who By Numbers tour.  It was at the big barn, The Chicago Stadium.  I had seats directly across from the stage in nearly the back of the arena.  I didn’t have tickets. A friend’s father was a big wig in security there. He got us in.  I still remember Toots and the Maytals opened the show. They pretty much got booed off the stage and then returned for an encore!  Too much ganja perhaps?

I did a little looking on line and actually found the set list from that night. Here it is!! That picture is of their setup from that tour. See what I mean by ‘real?’

1. I Can’t Explain
2. Substitute
3. Squeeze Box
4. Baba O’Riley
5. My Wife
6. Behind Blue Eyes
7. Dreaming From the Waist
8. Magic Bus
9. Amazing Journey
10. Sparks
11. The Acid Queen
12. Fiddle About
13. Pinball Wizard
14. I’m Free
15. Tommy’s Holiday Camp
16. We’re Not Gonna Take It
17. See Me, Feel Me
18. Summertime Blues (Eddie Cochran cover)
19. My Generation
20. Join Together
21. My Generation Blues
22. Road Runner (Bo Diddley cover)
23. Won’t Get Fooled Again

I always loved Who By Numbers. It was considered a very personal album for Townshend.  You could hear that especially in numbers such as “However Much I Booze,” “Imagine a Man” and ‘”How many Friends?”

Other highlights included “Blue Red and Gray” and “Slip Kid.” I’ll always love this album though (and the concert too) for the absolute killer bass playing by John Entwistle on “Dreaming from the Waist.” Even thou it was my first concert, I knew who to watch during this song!!

The Who, Who By Numbers peaked at #8 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart. “Squeeze Box” peaked at #16 on the Billboard Hop 100 Singles chart.

Track Listing

All songs written by Pete Townshend, except where noted.

Side One

1. “Slip Kid”- 4:31
2. “However Much I Booze”-5:03
3. “Squeeze Box” – 2:42
4. “Dreaming from the Waist”-4:09
5. “Imagine a Man” -4:04

Side Two

1. “Success Story” (John Entwistle) 3:24
2. “They Are All in Love” – 3:03
3. “Blue Red and Grey” -2:50
4. “How Many Friends”  -4:06
5. “In a Hand or a Face” -3:25

Personnel

• Roger Daltrey – lead vocals, Harmonica on “Squeeze Box”
• John Entwistle–bass guitar,8-string bass,brass,keyboards,vocals, lead vocals on “Success Story”
• Keith Moon – drums, percussion
• Pete Townshend – guitars, keyboards, ukulele, accordion, banjo, vocals, lead vocals on “However Much I Booze” and “Blue, Red, and Grey”

Additional musicians

• Dave Arbus – violin
• Nicky Hopkins – piano on “Imagine a Man,'” “Success Story,” “They Are All in Love,” and “In a Hand or a Face”

Here’s the full 1975 concert DVD on a playlist.

BONUS VIDEO: Solo Pete on ‘ Blue, Red and Grey’

A little Live “Tommy’ from two weeks earlier.

I Can’t Explain

Substitute