I’ve heard about them before, but never knew that in the rock scene, they were as big as Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan etc.  From my first search on YouTube, I automatically got to know who is the original author of the song Behind Blue Eyes, which a couple of years ago was covered by Limp Bizkit.  The Who had many other rock anthems, not just this one.  Their vast musical repertoire varies from psychedelic rock, heavy rock and also soft rock.

Back in the 60′s they lived the high live, and are the pioneers of spectacle of instrument destruction during their live and energetic live performance.  The first time Pete Townshend (The Who guitarist) smashed his guitar in a London pub, is one of Rolling Stone magazine’s “50 moments that changed the history of Rock’n'Roll”.  As a matter of fact, nowadays a number of rock bands try to follow the Who by destroying their instruments during live performances.

What is most notable as well in The Who’s first albums is Keith Moon’s aggressive drumming style, quite impressive I must say.  Although Moon was a hyperactive problematic person in the band, Daltrey (The Who vocalist) said that Moon’s drumming style held the band together; that Entwistle and Townshend “were like knitting needles… and Keith was the ball of wool.”  Keith Moon had also a huge appetite for destruction, which turned into an obsession to detonate toilets everywhere he went, in hotels, friends’ houses etc.  Unfortunately, on the 6th of September 1978, Moon was found dead from his girl friend.  The cause of his death was an overdose of clomethiazole pills.

Well, while writing the above I’ve managed to listen to a number of tracks from The Who on YouTube, and can confirm that they are one of those 60′s – 70′s bands that changed Rock’n'Roll.  Another band in my wish list.

Summer is around and such album, really accompanies the whole thing, the sun, driving down to a beach and having fun at sea.  Although there are some good guitar solos, it still gives you that relaxed vibe you need on a sunny summer day.

The album includes also a cover of The Beatles song, “We can work it out”, which blends in quite nicely with the whole album.  It also contains another 2 cover versions, Kentucky woman originally written from Neil Diamond and River Deep Mountain High, originally written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, Phil Spector.  In my opinion, the track ‘Anthem’ is the best song of the album.  The chorus of the song, the vocals, sound very Elvis like but it’s the song you should listen to when you are approaching a beach.

Trivia: The cover of the album was designed by an illustrator called John Vernon Lord and was the only record cover only designed from him.  Well, ever wondered what the whole image is all about?  All I know that back then, he got paid only 30 Sterling minus 25% of that to the agent.  Very cheap

Well finally, another excuse to buy more cd’s and start researching more about 60’s and 70’s psychedelic / progressive rock scene and bands.  Really looking forward to start this journey and discovering new bands, those were the days!  Why no one these days write such music, with such raw sound?