The Who Sell Out by The Who

The Who Sell Out

The Who

1967

The Who Sell Out is a Rock album by The Who, originally released in 1967. On Gatefold: 147 pressings tracked, owned by 26 collectors.

Sound DNA

  • Rock
  • Psych Rock
  • jangly
  • playful
  • art school

About

By the summer of 1967, the pirate radio stations that had been so crucial to the development of rock ’n’ roll—and to English counterculture as a whole—were on the chopping block, subject to a new parliamentary edict. At the same time, mod fashion began to fade. Both had been critical to the early success of The Who, whose members were starting to wonder what was next: Could they expand their sound beyond the quick hits of their so-called “Maximum R&B”? Luckily, Pete Townshend’s bigger ambitions had become clear on the group’s second album, <i>A Quick One</i>. That record’s centerpiece, “A Quick One, While He’s Away,” condensed an opera into nine record-closing minutes. And Townshend had started writing an opera, <i>Rael</i>, about an imagined future in which Communists take over of the world. Townshend didn’t lack ambition. But what The Who really needed was a hit. So he turned his attention toward another concept: A 40-minute rock record interspersed with commercial jingles and radio-station call signs. The result was 1967’s <i>The Who Sell Out</i>, a parodic tribute to the fading glories of pirate radio. When the members of The Who actually stick to the idea, <i>The Who Sell Out</i> is hilarious: There’s a silly little ditty-slash-sketch about baked beans (“Heinz Baked Beans”) and a compulsive R&B jangle about a woman cursed with malfunctioning deodorant (“Odorono”). These goofier bits are stitched together with strong songs about decidedly non-comedic topics: cheap cheaters (the thundering “I Can See for Miles”), generational friction (the slinking “Tattoo”), and the emotionally frustrated (the charming “I Can’t Reach You.”) The band members, though, were still restless kids, and they didn’t make it to the end with the idea intact, abandoning their jingles just after the start of the album’s second half. Still, the final songs on <i>The Who Sell Out</i> make for a remarkable run, and point toward the band’s future. A woozy organ line buttresses the psychedelic sting of “Relax,” while Townsend drops into gorgeous solo acoustic mode for the lovesick “Sunrise.” It all ends with a condensed version of <i>Rael</i> that’s full of soul and power, harmony and misdirection, and interlocking melodies—all touchstones that would serve The Who in the years ahead.

via Apple Music

The Clerk's got thoughts on this one. Mosh members get the full take →

Every pressing, with live pricesUnlock the pressing explorer + marketplace prices with Mosh Pit.→

Tracklist

  1. 1Armenia City In The Sky (Mono Version)3:46
  2. 2Heinz Baked Beans (Mono Version)0:58
  3. 3Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand (Mono Version)2:35
  4. 4Odorono (Mono Version)2:30
  5. 5Tattoo (Mono Version)2:48
  6. 6Our Love Was (Mono Version)3:23
  7. 7I Can See For Miles (Mono Version)4:07
  8. 8I Can't Reach You (Mono Version)3:27
  9. 9Medac (Mono Version)0:56
  10. 10Relax (Mono Version)2:38
  11. 11Silas Stingy (Mono Version)3:01
  12. 12Sunrise (Mono Version)3:02
  13. 13Rael (Pt.1 & Pt.2 / Track Records Run Out Groove / Mono Version)5:52
  14. 14Pictures Of Lily (Single Mix / Mono Version)2:45
  15. 15Doctor, Doctor (Single Mix / Mono Version)3:01
  16. 16The Last Time (UK Single Mix / Mono Version)2:51
  17. 17Under My Thumb (UK Single Mix / Mono Version)2:37
  18. 18I Can See For Miles (US Single Mix / Mono Version)4:03
  19. 19Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand (US Single Mix / Mono Version)3:19
  20. 20Someone's Coming (US Single Mix / Mono Version)2:31
  21. 21Early Morning Cold Taxi (Incl. "Radio London News Bulletin" Jingle / 1967 Mono Version)2:59
  22. 22Jaguar (Incl. "Radio London News Bulletin" Jingle / 1967 Mono Version)2:55
  23. 23Tattoo (Early Alternate Mix / Mono Version)3:05
  24. 24Rael (Pt.1 & Pt.2 / Early Talentmasters Mix / Mono Version)5:58
  25. 25Sunn Equipment Promo Spots (Mono Version)2:42
  26. 26Great Shakes (Unreleased US Radio Commerical / Mono Version)1:04
  27. 27Our Love Was (Take 12 Rejected Mono Mix)3:24
  28. 28Rael (Early Mono Version)5:45
  29. 29I Can See For Miles (Early Mono Version)4:02
  30. 30Someone's Coming (UK Single Mix / Mono Version)2:34
  31. 31Magic Bus (US / UK Mono Version)3:19
  32. 32Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (US Single Mix / Mono Version)2:24
  33. 2.1Armenia City In The Sky (Incl. Two Radio London Jingles)3:50
  34. 2.2Heinz Baked Beans (Incl. "More Music" Jingle)1:00
  35. 2.3Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand (Acoustic / Incl. "Premier Drums Commercial" / Radio London Jingle)2:34
  36. 2.4Odorono (Incl. Radio London "Smooth Sailing" Jingle)2:35
  37. 2.5Tattoo (Incl. "Church Of Your Choice" Jingle)2:54
  38. 2.6Our Love Was (Incl. "Pussycat, Speakeasy & Rotosound" Jingles)3:25
  39. 2.7I Can See For Miles4:10
  40. 2.8I Can't Reach You (Incl. "Charles Atlas" Commercial)3:31
  41. 2.9Medac0:57
  42. 2.10Relax2:40
  43. 2.11Silas Stingy3:06
  44. 2.12Sunrise3:05
  45. 2.13Rael (Pt.1 & Pt.2)5:38
  46. 2.14Rael Naïve (Full Coda)1:37
  47. 2.15Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand (Mirasound Version)3:25
  48. 2.16Someone's Coming2:33
  49. 2.17Summertime Blues2:38
  50. 2.18Glittering Girl3:04
  51. 2.19Early Morning Cold Taxi2:59
  52. 2.20Girl's Eyes2:51
  53. 2.21Coke After Coke1:08
  54. 2.22Sodding About2:51
  55. 2.23Things Go Better With Coke0:31
  56. 2.24In The Hall Of The Mountain King4:26
  57. 2.25Jaguar2:54
  58. 2.26Rael (Pt.1 & Pt. 2 / IBC Remake)6:26
  59. 3.1Glittering Girl (Take 4 / 2018 Mix)3:29
  60. 3.2Girl’s Eyes (Take 2 / 2018 Mix)3:58
  61. 3.3The Last Time (Take 8 / 2018 Mix)3:51
  62. 3.4Under My Thumb (Take 3 / 2018 Mix)3:13
  63. 3.5Our Love Was (Take 2)3:21
  64. 3.6Relax (4-Track To 4-Track Mix / 2018 Mix)3:22
  65. 3.7Relax (Take 1 & 2 / 2018 Mix)1:58
  66. 3.8Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand (Take 1 & 9 / 2018 Mix)3:43
  67. 3.9Relax (Remake Take 4)2:37
  68. 3.10I Can See For Miles (Full Version)4:54
  69. 3.11Medac (Take 11)1:13
  70. 3.12Odorono (Take 3 / Full Version / 2018 Mix)2:47
  71. 3.13Heinz Baked Beans (Take 1 & 3 / 2018 Mix)2:16
  72. 3.14Top Gear (Take 1, 2 & 5 / 2018 Mix)3:03
  73. 3.15Premier Drums (Take 1 & 4 / 2018 Mix)2:17
  74. 3.16Charles Atlas (Take 1)0:33
  75. 3.17Rotosound Strings (Take 1 / 2018 Mix)0:15
  76. 3.18Track Records (2018 Mix)0:34
  77. 3.19John Mason Cars / Speakeasy / Rotosound Strings / Bag O’ Nails (2018 Mix)1:02
  78. 3.20It's A Girl (aka 'Glow Girl') [Take 2, 3 & 4]3:21
  79. 3.21Mr. Hyde (aka ‘Dr. Jekyll And Mr Hyde’) [Take 7 / First Stage Master / 2018 Mix]2:42
  80. 3.22Little Billy (aka 'Little Billy's Doing Fine') [Take 1 & 3]4:14
  81. 3.23Mrs. Walker (aka ‘Glow Girl’) [Take 7 / 4-Track To 4-Track Mix]2:31
  82. 3.24Lightning (aka 'Call Me Lightning') [Take 1 & 8]6:12
  83. 3.25Dogs (Take 2)3:14
  84. 3.26Melancholia (Take 1)3:50
  85. 3.27Shakin’ All Over (Take 3)1:35
  86. 3.28Magic Bus (Take 6)3:18
  87. 4.1Glow Girl (2018 Mix)2:26
  88. 4.2Faith In Something Bigger (2018 Mix)3:09
  89. 4.3Dr.Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (2018 Mix)2:38
  90. 4.4Call Me Lightning (2018 Mix)2:23
  91. 4.5Little Billy’s Doing Fine (2018 Mix)2:19
  92. 4.6Dogs (2018 Mix)3:10
  93. 4.7Melancholia (2018 Mix)3:21
  94. 4.8Fortune Teller (2018 Mix)2:22
  95. 4.9Facts Of Life (aka Birds And Bees) [Backing Track / 2018 Mix]3:22
  96. 4.10Magic Bus (Unedited Stereo Mix)3:23
  97. 4.11Call Me Lightning (Single Mix / Mono Version)2:24
  98. 4.12Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde (UK Single Mix / Mono Version)2:39
  99. 4.13Dogs (Single Mix / Mono Version)3:07
  100. 4.14Magic Bus (Long Version / Mono Version)4:35
  101. 5.1Kids! Do You Want Kids (Pete Townshend Demo)1:39
  102. 5.2Relax (Pete Townshend Demo)3:42
  103. 5.3Glow Girl (Pete Townshend Demo)3:27
  104. 5.4Glow Girl (Version 2 / Pete Townshend Demo)3:03
  105. 5.5Inside Outside (Pete Townshend Demo)3:09
  106. 5.6Jaguar (Pete Townshend Demo)3:02
  107. 5.7Little Billy (Pete Townshend Demo)2:14
  108. 5.8Odorono (Pete Townshend Demo)3:11
  109. 5.9Pictures Of Lily (Pete Townshend Demo / New 2018 Mix)3:28
  110. 5.10Relax (Version 2 / Pete Townshend Demo)2:22
  111. 5.11Melancholia (Pete Townshend Demo / 2018 Mix)3:07
  112. 5.12Thinking (aka 'Sunrise') [Version 2 / Pete Townshend Demo]3:12
  113. 5.13Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand (Pete Townshend Demo)3:16
  114. 5.14I Can See For Miles (Pete Townshend Demo)4:15

Credits

Performers

26 collectors on Gatefold own this · 147 pressings tracked on Gatefold