The Who Sell Out 50 years later: song by song discussion

I've had them with a fry up in the morning...yummy.

 

Entwistle didn’t do all the voices

 

I haven't read anything that said otherwise, but that's definitely Entwistle doing the old man. Where did you get this info?

 

Love this album. Very nice crossfades, a (funny) radio show on its own!

 

Didn’t the original poster say this? I was confused.

 

Never saw anywhere that mentioned Moon and Townshend doing voices for "Heinz" or any of the Entwistle-written commercials, but I could be wrong.

 

Here's the version of "Mary Anne" included on Odds and Sods, with Al Kooper on organ I believe:

 

And here's the "Premier Drums" ad, uncut:

 

Mary Anne is a gem, a timeless Who song which is an archetype of why we love rock music.

 

I always thought Entwistle did the husband and Moonie did the old man.

Which would leave Rog or Pete as the kid. Hmmmmmm.


Surprised no-ones asked about this. Pete? Rog? Either on Twitter?

 

I still think Entwistle did all of then, since his husband voice sounds exactly like his voice in the later "Charles Atlas" ad. Maybe Moon did the kid, but that's definitely John doing the old man. No one else could do a growl like that.

 

I believe that’s Pete doing the ‘Charles Atlas’ voice with John doing the ‘beast of a man’ portion.

 

I've never been 100% sure that it was Moon doing the boy (it probably was). Entwistle as the father and Townshend as the husband is correct.

 

That is correct.

 

A great album. It’s so different from Tommy/who’s Next/Quadrophenia that I can’t compare them. I think that a reason for it’s low profile in the US is it sounds (to me) a bit too much of a “British” psychedelic album, if that makes sense.

 

Great idea for a thread!

One of my favourite albums ... the "Sell Out" theme makes it one of the few real concepts albums.

Nothing much to add so far but "Armenia City In The Sky" is much more psychedelic in mono!

 

That makes sense then, those two voices sounded too alike.

Also, while we're talking about the voices behind the ads, it sounds like Pete and Keith (or John) shouting "Premier Drums".

 

Bought Sell Out in California on day of release. My favourite Who album and the expanded edition made it better. Actually, probably one of my top 5 albums of all time, along with Odyssey and Oracle, Piper at the Gates of Dawn and Something Else (Kinks). I remember hearing I Can See for Miles for the first time on the radio and being literally overwhelmed. I had heard that Townsend had considered it to be their best single before it was released and to finally actually hear it was great!

 

This was the 2nd record that I ever bought, first being Meaty Beaty Big And Bouncy. Picked it up in the cut out bin of a drug store while vacationing in Florida in the winter of '75. Really thought it was a great LP as a 8 year old and still love it!!
It made a huge impression on me and it's still the only copy that I own. Yep, kept it in great shape!!
I've been eyeing up the current reissue with the psychedelic poster inside sticker, but have'nt picked it up yet.

 

That’s Keith and John doing the ‘Premier Drums’ vocals.

 

If the husband is not Townshend, then I'll learn something new!

About the first voice, i always thought it was a woman - one of their girlfriends or wives dropping by...

Pete's speaking voice is always recognizable, his accent and tone. I can't believe some people would doubt it when it's Pete.

 

When I first heard this I was struck how similar it sounded to Hawkwind's "Silver Machine" - boogie-ing guitar chords in the background, atmospheric sound effects and with the vocal key shifting upwards as the song progresses. Five years ahead of Hawkwind as well.

 

It's certainly an awesome soundscape that Pete designed for the tune. Does anyone know the story behind it's inclusion, especially as there was so much more self-written material available

 

I figure we've covered "Mary Anne" enough to move onto the next track?

 

There must be some motive from Pete to give his mate Speedy a bit of a push - as far as I know Keen had only previously released the song "Club of Lights" by Oscar in 1966 but this failed to get anywhere. The fact is that without the personal connection, The Who would likely never have recorded "Armenia City In The Sky" because it is not strong enough a song.