A Conceptual Sell Out

Lists are very subjective and usually seem as though they are only written to spark controversy. Maybe that was the case recently when I saw on the WNEW blog that they decided to post some of their favorite concept albums. The usual albums got mentioned such as The Who’s Tommy, Green Day’s American Idiot and Pink Floyd’s The Wall amongst others. But for my money The Who Sell Out (1967) is what I would call pound-for-pound my favorite concept album out there.

It’s a fun album built around a pirate radio station that played nothing but Who songs with some fake and some real jingles sprinkled in. It also features a mini-opera, "Rael," whose instrumental bridge would be used two years later as “Underture” on the Tommy album.

The most well-known song on the record for radio was “I Can See For Miles,” which Pete Townshend described at the time as "the loudest, rawest, dirtiest song the Who had ever recorded."

Paul McCartney read the interview in which PT described the song and in response wrote “Helter Skelter” for The White Album.

According to Wikipedia:

McCartney then "wrote 'Helter Skelter' to be the most raucous vocal, the loudest drums, etcetera" and said he was "using the symbol of a helter skelter as a ride from the top to the bottom—the rise and fall of the Roman Empire—and this was the fall, the demise."

The pictures above are the front and back of quite possibly The Who’s finest album.

Incidentally, the complete WNEW list of the top concept albums is here.

Some Of Rock’s Best To Honor The Who

Pearl Jam, the Foo Fighters and the Flaming Lips are all confirmed to be part of VH1's "Rock Honors" charity concert honoring The Who in Los Angeles on July 12. The show will air on July 17 at 9 p.m. Proceeds will go to the Teenage Cancer Trust fund.

Happy Birthday Pete Townshend!

Yesterday was Pete Townshend’s 63rd birthday, so I just wanted to send him my most heart-felt birthday punches!

I’ll never forget when I saw Townshend perform “Drowned” at the Quadrophenia show at Madison Square Garden in the summer of 1996. Just awesome is all I can say. Right here is a video of PT performing “Drowned” at the Secret Policemen’s Ball. More on that from Wikipedia:

In 1979, Townshend became the first major rock musician to donate his services to the human rights organization Amnesty International when he performed three songs for its benefit show The Secret Policeman's Ball - performances that were released on record and seen in the film of the show. The show was Townshend's first major live solo appearance. Townshend's acoustic performances of three of his songs ("Pinball Wizard", "Drowned", and "Won't Get Fooled Again") were subsequently cited as having been the forerunner and inspiration for the "unplugged" phenomenon in the 1990s. Townshend had been invited to perform for Amnesty by Martin Lewis, the producer of The Secret Policeman's Ball who stated later that Townshend's participation had been the key to his securing the subsequent participation for Amnesty (in the 1981 sequel show) of Sting, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Phil Collins and Bob Geldof. Other performers inspired to support Amnesty International in future Secret Policeman's Ball shows and other benefits because of Townshend's early commitment to the organization include Peter Gabriel, Bruce Springsteen, David Gilmour and U2 singer Bono who in 1986 told Rolling Stone magazine: "I saw The Secret Policeman's Ball and it became a part of me. It sowed a seed...."

I Want That Magic Bus!

Now this is a cool contest! For $10 you can win The Who's Magic Bus (pictured above) in a raffle. Go here for more information. Proceeds from the raffle go to Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT), a charity that Roger Daltrey spearheads.

Speaking of which, Roger and Pete Townshend closed out the TCT Concert Series at the Royal Albert Hall in London last night with an acoustic set. Pete's brother Simon played mandolin for "2000 Years." Here is the entire setlist:

Let's See Action
Behind Blue Eyes
2000 Years
Mike Post Theme
Won't Get Fooled Again
Tea and Theatre

I'm not sure who else played, but the annual event usually has some good performers such as Noel Gallagher, Brian Adams, Paul Weller, etc.

The Who Play Acoustic Set

The Who will close out the eighth annual Teenage Cancer Trust concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall on April 13 with an acoustic set. This recent announcement allows me to walk down memory lane! I remember the night like it was yesterday, a hot summer evening in New York City and I was on my way with some friends to see The Who perform Quadrophenia... It was a great show with a bunch of special guests. But one of the highlights was after the Quadrophenia part was over, they belted out some of their heavyweight songs like “Won’t Get Fooled Again" as part of an acoustic set! Oh if only I could find my flux capacitor and go back in time…

Sean Kilkelly Hears The Who!

and maybe you will too! From the Associated Press:

NEW YORK (AP) — VH1 holds The Who in such high regard that the rock group is the only act being honored at its upcoming Rock Honors.

Now in its third year, the Rock Honors typically celebrate a handful of momentous rock groups and artists: previous honorees have included ZZ Top, Genesis, Kiss and Queen.

But this year, only the Who will be celebrated during the two-hour broadcast, to be taped July 12 in Los Angeles and aired on the network July 17. The group, which now consists surviving members Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend, is due to perform along with other acts who will pay tribute to the legendary band.

"The Who defined the rock era. Their music truly pushed boundaries, connected with millions of rock fans and inspired countless bands to fulfill their own musical destinies," said Tom Calderone, VH1's executive vice president and general manager.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers came to prominence in the 1960s with hits like "The Kids Are Alright," "My Generation," and created the groundbreaking rock opera "Tommy."

Drummer Keith Moon died of an overdose of prescription drugs in 1978, and bass guitarist John Entwistle was found dead of a heart attack in a Las Vegas hotel room in 2002.

The rest is from me...

Meanwhile, a biography on Pete Townshend is slated to be released in America this fall. Click this for more.

Thomas Scot Halpin, The Man That Filled In For Keith Moon Back In 1973, Dies

It was 1973 at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, California, and an inebriated Keith Moon had passed out. Pete Townshend asked if there was anyone in the audience who could play drums. Scot Halpin stepped up and filled in for Moon. He would go on to win Rolling Stone Magazine’s “Pick-up Player of the Year Award.” Halpin died on February 9 at 54. For more on the story, click here.

That's the only time that Moon was unable to perform at a concert, which is strange because his drinking really picked up around 1976-77, when The Who were not touring as much.

Keith Moon died in 1978 after attending a film preview with Paul and Linda McCartney of The Buddy Holly Story. He had overdosed on a drug intended to curb his drinking.