Why The Who? After all, they're not considered a progressive rock band proper. But leaving them out of our discussion would represent a glaring omission, as they were instrumental in pushing the boundaries of rock music. Their superlative musicianship set the bar for future bands like Yes to clear, their ambitious concept albums proved that rock could form the building blocks of bigger things. The Who have released too many great singles and albums to cite here. Prior to Tommy, The Who could have been compared to a louder version of The Kinks. With the rock opera Tommy, Townshend contributed one for the ages; concept albums from 200 Motels to The Wall owe it a debt. For a period, The Who became a mouthpiece for Townshend's musical pipe dreams, from the failed Lifehouse concept (salvaged for the classic Who's Next) to Quadrophenia. Subsequent albums eschewed stories for songs; among these, Who Are You comes closest to approaching their best work. Following the death of Keith Moon in 1978, Pete Townshend pursued a solo career in earnest while writing much of the material for Face Dances and Who's Next. The Who dissolved soon after, with Roger Daltrey and John Entwistle releasing occasional solo albums as well. The legacy they left behind is remarkable; like The Beatles, it's hard to say what rock music would sound like today without them.
| Date | ALBUMS / Singles |
|---|---|
| 1964 July | I'm The Face |
| 1965 January 15 | I Can't Explain |
| 1965 May 21 | Anyway Anyhow Anywhere |
| 1965 November 5 | My Generation |
| 1965 December | THE WHO SINGS MY GENERATION |
| 1966 March | Substitute |
| 1966 March | A Legal Matter |
| 1966 August 26 | I'm A Boy |
| 1966 August | The Kids Are Alright |
| 1966 November | La La La Lies |
| 1966 December 3 | Happy Jack |
| unk! | Bucket T |
| 1966 December 3 | A QUICK ONE (HAPPY JACK) |
| 1966 December 11 | READY STEADY WHO (EP) |
| 1967 April 22 | Pictures of Lily |
| 1967 July | The Last Time |
| 1967 October 14 | I Can See For Miles |
| 1967 December | THE WHO SELL OUT |
| 1968 | I Can't Reach You |
| 1968 March | Call Me Lightning |
| 1968 June | Dogs |
| 1968 July | Magic Bus |
| 1968 October | MAGIC BUS - THE WHO ON TOUR |
| 1968 November | DIRECT HITS |
| 1969 | THE WHO/THE STRAWBERRY ALARM CLOCK |
| 1969 March 7 | Pinball Wizard |
| 1969 May | TOMMY |
| 1969 July | I'm Free |
| 1969 | Go To The Mirror |
| 1969 | The Acid Queen |
| 1969 | Christmas |
| 1969 | TOMMY BOXED SINGLES SET |
| 1970 April | The Seeker |
| 1970 May | LIVE AT LEEDS |
| 1970 June | Summertime Blues (live) |
| 1970 September | See Me, Feel Me |
| 1971 June 25 | Won't Get Fooled Again |
| 1971 August 14 | WHO'S NEXT |
| 1971 October | Behind Blue Eyes |
| 1971 November | Let's See Action |
| 1971 November | MEATY BEATY BIG AND BOUNCY |
| 1971 | THE WHO DISQUE D'OR (fr.) |
| 1972 | TOMMY (w. London Symphony Orch.) |
| 1972 June | Join Together |
| 1972 December | Relay |
| 1973 September | 5:15 |
| 1973 October | QUADROPHENIA |
| 1973 November | Love Reign O'er Me |
| 1974 January | The Real Me |
| 1974 October | ODDS & SODS |
| 1974 November | Postcard |
| 1975 August | TOMMY SOUNDTRACK |
| 1975 October | THE WHO BY NUMBERS |
| 1975 November | Squeeze Box |
| 1976 August | Slip Kid |
| 1976 September | THE STORY OF THE WHO |
| 1978 | MUSICAL BIOGRAPHY WITH ALISON STEELE |
| 1978 July 14 | Who Are You |
| 1978 | Had Enough |
| 1978 August | WHO ARE YOU |
| 1978 December | Trick of the Light |
| 1979 April | Long Live Rock |
| 1979 June | THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT |
| 1979 September | QUADROPHENIA SOUNDTRACK |
| 1979 | ARCHIVES |
| 1981 February 27 | You Better You Bet |
| 1981 March | FACE DANCES |
| 1981 May | Don't Let Go The Coat |
| 1981 October | HOOLIGANS |
| 1982 August | Athena |
| 1982 September 4 | IT'S HARD |
| 1982 December | Eminence Front |
| 1982 | PHASES |
| 1983 February | It's Hard |
| 1983 May | WHO'S GREATEST HITS |
| 1983 August | RARITIES VOLUME 1 (1966-1968) |
| 1983 October | RARITIES VOLUME 2 (1970-1973) |
| 1984 November | WHO'S LAST |
| 1984 November | Twist And Shout (live) |
| 1984 November | THE SINGLES |
| 1985 | WHO'S MISSING |
| 1985 August | THE BEST OF THE SIXTIES |
| 1985 | I Don't Even Know Myself |
| 1986 April | GREATEST HITS (Arcade) |
| 1985 October | THE WHO COLLECTION |
| 1987 | TWO'S MISSING |
| 1988 February | THIS IS MY GENERATION (EP) |
| 1988 March | WHO'S BETTER WHO'S BEST |
| 1990 March | JOIN TOGETHER |
| 1991 July 5 | THIRTY YEARS OF MAXIMUM R&B |
| 1996 August 27 | MY GENERATION - THE VERY BEST OF THE WHO |
| 1996 October 29 | LIVE AT THE ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL 1970 |
| 1999 April | THE BEST OF THE WHO: THE MILLENIUM COLLECTION |
| 2000 February 15 | BBC SESSIONS |
| 2000 | THE BLUES TO THE BUSH |
| 2002 June 11 | THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION |
| 2003 July 22 | LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL |
| 2004 March 30 | THEN AND NOW: 1964-2004 |
| 2004 April 13 | SINGLES BOX V.1 |
| 2006 July 24 | WIRE & GLASS (EP) |
| 2006 October 31 | ENDLESS WIRE |
SEE ALSO...
ROGER DALTREY discography
KEITH MOON discography
PETE TOWNSHEND discography
For more discographies visit...
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