WHO ARE YOU

'''Who Are You''' is an album by British rock band The Who. It was released in August 1978 on Polydor Records in the United Kingdom and on MCA Records in the United States. It peaked at Number 2 on the U.S. charts and Number 6 on the U.K. charts. It is The Who's last album with Keith Moon as the drummer. Moon would die about two weeks after the release of this album.
''Who Are You'' was put out at a time when the two major camps of rock, progressive rock and punk rock, were conflicting due to their antipodal styles. Pete Townshend's compositions were written as an attempt to bring the two styles together. The album showcases some of the most complicated song structures guitarist Townshend had ever composed, with multiple layers of synthesizer and strings. Moon's deteriorating health is reflected in some of the tracks; the alcohol and drug abuse had taken away from the frenzied drumming he was renowned for, but he delivered a powerhouse performance on the title track.
There was a three-year hiatus between ''Who Are You'' and The Who's previous album, ''The Who By Numbers''. The band was drifting apart during this period, due to the band members working on various solo projects, Moon sinking deeper into alcohol and drug abuse, and general exhaustion from the gruelling tour schedule the band had kept over the decade. Moon's health was especially an object of concern, as he only managed to come in during the last few weeks of recording and was unable to play in 6/8 time on the track "Music Must Change", so drums were removed completely from the track - only a few cymbal crashes were added.
The album was a commercial success, going 2x platinum in the U.S. and peaking at Number 2 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart. The soundtrack to ''Grease'' prevented ''Who Are You'' from achieving Number 1 status in the U.S. The success of ''Who Are You'' generated excitement at the prospect of a new Who tour for the album. However, the album is surrounded by tragedy for Who fans due to Moon's death shortly after the album's release. The songs on the album were later performed on tour in 1979 when The Who reformed with drummer Kenney Jones and keyboardist John Bundrick.

Contents

Track listing

Bonus tracks on 1996 remastered edition

Singles

Personnel

See also

External links

References

Track listing

#"New Song" (Townshend) – 4:14
#"Had Enough" (Entwistle) – 4:27
#"905" (Entwistle) – 4:02
#"Sister Disco" (Townshend) – 4:23
#"Music Must Change" (Townshend) – 4:39
#"Trick Of The Light" (Entwistle) – 4:45
#"Guitar And Pen" (Townshend) – 5:56
#"Love Is Coming Down" (Townshend) – 4:04
#"Who Are You" (Townshend)– 6:16

Bonus tracks on 1996 remastered edition

#

"No Road Romance" (Townshend) – 5:10
#"Empty Glass" (Demo version) (Townshend) – 6:23
#"Guitar And Pen" (Olympic '78 Remix) (Townshend) – 5:58
#"Love Is Coming Down" (Work In Progress mix) (Townshend) – 4:06
#"Who Are You" (Lost verse) (Townshend) – 6:18

Singles

★ "Who Are You" – #18 (UK), #14 (US)

Personnel

★ Roger Daltrey – vocals

★ Pete Townshend – guitar, piano, synthesizer, vocals

★ John Entwistle – bass guitar, synthesizer, vocals, horns

★ Keith Moon – drums, percussion

★ Andy Fairweather-Low – backing vocals

★ Rod Argent – synthesizer, piano

★ Ted Astley – string arrangements

See also

★ 1978 in music

External links

★ Guitar tablature

★ Lyrics

References

★ www.thewho.net. ''Who Are You Liner Notes''. Retrieved December 27, 2004.

★ www.allmusic.com. ''Who Are You Credits''. Retrieved December 27, 2004.