1971 - August: The Who “Who's Next”

What the Riff?!?

Pete Townshend intended the fifth studio album from The Who to be a science fiction rock opera called “Lifehouse,” as a follow up to the rock opera “Tommy” released in 1969. After conflicts with their band manager and issues just managing the complexity of what Townshend envisioned the project to be, the rock opera was shelved, and the follow-up was made into a more traditional album entitled Who's Next.

The group began recording the album at Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger's house, using the Stones’ mobile recording studio, then moved to a more traditional studio in London. Most of the album is made up of songs originally intended for the Lifehouse project. Who's Next would see the Who make significant use of synthesizers and other keyboard sounds on this album, making the synthesizers a more integrated part of the songs than on previous albums. Drummer Keith Moon's style was also more formalized than before, and the overall album was focused on a good sound where previous albums were perhaps tilted toward a sonic projection of the image of the band.

Who's Next would contain some of the most iconic songs that the band produced, and retrospectively is considered by many to be the best album The Who ever produced. The album would reach number 1 on the UK charts, and number 4 on the US charts.

Rob brings us this iconic album for today's podcast, and friend of the show Mike Fernandes sits in for Bruce this week.

Mobile
This lighter song is a celebration of life on the open road. Roger Daltrey steps aside as Pete Townshend takes over lead vocal duties. Daltrey actually was not present at the recording of this song, leaving Keith Moon (drums), John Entwistle (bass), and Townshend (vocals, guitar, keyboards) to record it as a power trio.

A Bargain
Often misconstrued as a love song to a woman, this track actually is about a relationship with God. It contends that sacrificing everything for a relationship with God is not a sacrifice at all, but a bargain. Much of Pete Townshend's work is inspired by eastern mysticism.

Won't Get Fooled Again
The last track on the album is an 8 1/2-minute epic. It was originally intended as a closing number to the "Lifehouse" rock opera. The lyrics offer a critique of both government and revolutionary change, summarized in the phrase "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss." Townshend was inspired to write this song after chasing Abbie Hoffman off the stage at Woodstock.

Baba O'Riley
The title of the lead track to the album is a combination of two of Townshend's mentors, Indian spiritualist Meher Baba and American Composer Terry Riley. The repeated phrase "teenage wasteland" was inspired by Townshend's observations of youths at Woodstock strung out on acid.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

The Beat Goes On by Sonny & Cher (from the television variety show “Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour”)
The singing duo Sonny and Cher started this sketch comedy and music show in 1971. It would run for 3 years until their divorce.

STAFF PICKS:

Sweet City Woman by The Stampeders
Wayne brings us a banjo-laden hit from a Canadian trio. The lyrics were inspired by an encounter with a girl with wild eyes who came from the prairie to start life in the big city. It hit number 8 on the US charts and number 1 in Canada. It also won a number of Juno awards in 1972. You may remember it from an episode of "Better Call Saul."

Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver
Lynch keeps the banjo hits coming with a signature song from John Denver. It went to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and would become one of four official state songs for West Virginia. Denver recorded this song in only two hours.

Nobody by the Doobie Brothers
Mike brings us a lost song from the first album by the Doobie Brothers. Neither this song nor the album charted when it was released, but it displays a number of riffs and styles which would become staples of Doobie Brothers songs. It was re-released in 1974 after the group had achieved success, and it reached number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Maggie May by Rod Stewart
Rob closes out the staff picks with a hit single off Stewart's third solo album "Every Picture Tells a Story." The lyrics describe the contradictory feelings of a boy in a relationship with an older woman. The inspiration was a true encounter Stewart had with a woman at the 1961 Beaulieu Jazz Festival. The song went to number 1 in Australia, the US, the UK, and Canada.

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

Orchid by Black Sabbath
We close out with a surprisingly soft instrumental from an ordinarily more heavy hitting band.

Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

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