features in: Album Chart of 1967 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1960s ● 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die  |
Conceptualized as a broadcast by pirate station Radio London, “The Who Sell Out” came complete with in-between jingles, sketches and skits. A lot of nonsense really. As I would with real-life radio, I'll plunder it for a few tunes then bog off to do something less boring instead.
“Armenia City In The Sky” was written by a friend of the band, John “Speedy” Keen, the man who later wrote and sang the Uk#1 smash, “Something In The Air”, for Thunderclap Newman. This was the only song that The Who ever performed that was specifically written for the group by a non-member. It was, apparently, inspired by a long-lost painting back in the 1960s. John’s writing seems to lend itself to the big, wide-eyed, dramatic productions: “If you ever want to lose some time, Just take off, there’s no risk, If you ever want to disappear, Just take off, and think of this, Armenia, city in the sky, Armenia, city in the sky, The sky is glass, the sea is brown, And everyone is upside-down” What can it all mean? [< acts all innocent] The Who did an excellent job with this one; they never sounded so trippy. Everything bar the kitchen sink was thrown into the mix – and it was a great way to kick-off the LP. Freak out!
Equally trippy is the rocker which closes side one, “I Can See For Miles”, written by main songwriter Pete Townshend. There's magic in his eyes: “The Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal are mine to see on clear days You thought that I would need a crystal ball to see right through the haze.” It was the only single to be released from the LP and Townshend had high hopes that it'd be a #1 hit for them. In the end, it just made it into the Top 10. He couldn't hide his disappointment: “To me it was the ultimate Who record, yet it didn't sell. I spat on the British record buyer.” No sugar coating there, I like that. Great drumming from Keith Moon in this one, almost forcing the group to play in an unorthodox fashion.
Best on side two is “Silas Stingy”, written by John Entwistle, a Syd-Barrett-esque dreamer, with Keith Moon's drumming once again giving the piece a progressive feeling, even though it has a pop heart. It's a neat trick.
Now, what's on telly?
The Jukebox Rebel
23–Nov–2015
| Tracklist |
| A1 | [03:48]  The Who - Armenia City In The Sky (John Keen) Psychedelia |
| A2 | [01:00]  The Who - Heinz Baked Beans (John Entwistle) Sketch / Skit |
| A3 | [02:28]  The Who - Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand (Pete Townshend) Pop |
| A4 | [02:34]  The Who - Odorono (Pete Townshend) Cerebral Pop |
| A5 | [02:51]  The Who - Tattoo (Pete Townshend) Cerebral Pop |
| A6 | [03:23]  The Who - Our Love Was (Pete Townshend) Cerebral Pop |
| A7 | [04:05]  The Who - I Can See For Miles (Pete Townshend) Psychedelia |
| B1 | [03:03]  The Who - Can’t Reach You (Pete Townshend) Pop |
| B2 | [00:57]  The Who - Medac (John Entwistle) Pop |
| B3 | [02:41]  The Who - Relax (Pete Townshend) Psychedelia |
| B4 | [03:07]  The Who - Silas Stingy (John Entwistle) Pop |
| B5 | [03:06]  The Who - Sunrise (Pete Townshend) Songwriter |
| B6 | [05:44]  The Who - Rael (1 And 2) (Pete Townshend) Prog |
