Why is The Who’s It’s Hard not more celebrated?

Love this album and think it’s hard and Athena are ‘turn it up’ songs, as well as eminence front - seems to get not as much respect though.
Thoughts?

 

I think it's a great album!

 

I agree. I think it’s a good listen. Not a classic but a good one!

 

Cry If You Want was always my fave...

 

Certainly better than Face Dances. Back in my cassette recording days my Best of The Who tapes usually included a few tracks from this album.

 

Because it's one of The Who's weakest albums. Not bad in general terms, but for The Who it doesn't measure up to the albums that preceded it.

Again, it's not a bad album. But it isn't great. Though that criticism could also be leveled at Face Dances.

 

In my opinion, "Face Dances" has better songs, but perhaps "It's Hard" might sound more "Who-like" in terms of attitude.

 

True.
Plus, there was and always will be a contingent of Who fans that will always be critical of the album because of the obvious fact that Keith Moon ain’t on it.

 

I have a soft spot for this because it was first album by The Who. I still own it.

Still a good listen. Perhaps Eminence Front could be considered their last "great" tune.

 

Production is **** and that early 80s "techno" style of production that was used by some New Wave bands at that time, was not suitable for the band.

 

Same here. I like also Dangerous by JAE. And that's almost all what I like on that album. Album art is also crap.

 

Wasn’t there some production problems that were fixed years later in a reissue?

 

The songs aren’t that strong, Eminence Front and Athena notwithstanding, and the production is horrific. I honestly can’t listen to it anymore because of the sound. I always thought it was a lousy Canadian pressing, but I’ve got a US now, too...still dreadful.

Glynn John’s, too, right? Yuck.

 

Nope. It was just transfered on CD formart for reissue, never remastered. Though, I doubt that remastering could make a miracle anyway.

 

Honestly, not saying "this album is better than that album", but "It's Hard" is the record I play the most, cover to cover. Maybe because it wasn't SO overplayed back in the day. Face Dances, The Who By Numbers, and Who Are You are all on my "Top" most played list.

 

I still have a soft spot for IT'S HARD, even though I now acknowledge the album's a masterpiece of programming: the only four memorable songs are fore and aft each side, rendering all the filler in between more palatable.

So what is the best-sounding CD of this title?

 

I really like both this album and Endless Wire.More than either Who Are You and Face Dances.
I've Known No War and Cry If You Want up there with Eminence Front for me.

 

Cuz the rest is kinda just OK, that's why.
"Eminence Front" is indeed a masterpiece, though. I just love when Entwistle launches into the bass part after the intro.

 

I have to agree.

 

I always thought the title track was a good song but poorly executed. Athena is cool, but the rest of the album is pretty weak.

 

You nailed it. "Eminence Front" for one example really doesn't sound like The Who, it sounds more like a 'Chinese Eyes' outtake.

 

I love the old MCA plaidback.

 

Did Jon Atley not remaster this title and add bonus tracks? Perhaps you intended to say "remix" not "remaster" . . .

 

Does the MCA CD of IT'S HARD actually have a plaidback? I'm not sure I've seen that on that particular title, but I'll certainly defer . . . .

 

Never remestered / remixed as fas as I know. Just transferred on CD in the 90s and consenquently it was ereased its dynamic range, but only that.