The Who's Masterpiece?

Who’s Next but Quad is a very close second imo.

 

In terms of artistic growth and impact in the timeline of their career, the answer is "Tommy".

 

Quadrophenia comes SO close, and it is amazing, but if I gotta pick one then it's Who's Next all the way.

 

a bit surprised that it is not, here, "TOMMY".....

 

It shouldn’t be that hard to pick

 

I voted for Who's Next because Baba O'Riley is the best rock song ever created.

 

............ - Sell Out, no competition.

It contains not only several of their very best (and partly underrated) songs but is also soundwise their strongest release.
Especially if you put the irresistible first British Mono pressing on your turntable....









.......................

 

I voted "other" because, although I think Tommy, Who's Next and Quadrophenia are all "excellent" albums, they all have enough faults to disqualify them from being called "masterpieces," an overused term (like "genius") that should only be applied to a deserving few IMO.

If your definition of "masterpiece" is simply an artist's best work, then I'd still have some difficulty picking one of the above because each has something going for it that the others don't. For example, Tommy has more restrained boisterousness and more musicality and variety than Who's Next or Quadrophenia. However, Who's Next has Won't Get Fooled Again and Behind Blue Eyes, which are arguably better tracks than anything on Tommy. Quadrophenia is a bit more consistent, but has a downer woe-is-me vibe that hasn't aged well to this listener, but rocks harder (Moon is insane on it) than Tommy while sharing a similar epic quality due to its double record length.

 

Who’s Next is my favourite rock album.

It’s their greatest achievement, IMO.

 

I think it's funny people put Quad over Tommy when honestly Tommy blows it out of the water. Who's Next still #1 though

 

I voted with my heart for Sell Out here, which holds up for me as their most purely enjoyable conceptual effort. By comparison, Tommy seemed to get bogged down in the storytelling despite some great moments. You can make a strong case for Quadrophenia as well. Who's Next features some fantastic songs, though it suffers from over-exposure.

 

4 great great albums. I voted for Who's Next (although Sell Out is my personal favorite).

 

I think it's funny that you put Tommy over Quad when, honestly, Quad blows Tommy out of the water (and Who's Next.) -E

 

My favorite Who is early Who so I chose Sell Out, but my real favorites are the My Generation album (UK version with the long Kids are Alright) and the old bootleg Who the F that has the High Numbers sides and some of the best BBC tracks.

 

Essential Who LPs are "My Generation", "The Kids Are Alright" and the compilation "Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy", and those later compilations containing odd b-sides and EP stuff.

The 4 LPs in the vote are all big names but rather patchy to me. "Tommy" is about the best, then "Who Sell Out", which is rather fun. "Who's Next" and "Quadrophenia" are vastly overrated.

"Live t Leeds" is diabolically bad!

 

^^^???^^^

 

Who's Next.

 

Quadrophenia

 

Who's Next

But not even listing my 2nd fave, Happy Jack, is a 'orrible dis!

 

Quadrophenia has grown on me over the years but it is slow to start (two out of the first three tracks are instrumentals/ambient noise) and I tend to lose focus whenever "Drowned" comes on... I've just never cared for that song.

 

I hear you. Drowned was never one of my favorites either. But this gave me a new appreciation of the song. Your mileage may vary.

 

QUADROPHENIA!!!

 

Seeing the mentions of "Lifehouse" in this thread and its well-known connection to (or salvaging into) "Who's Next", I have to admit that for years I knew "Lifehouse" only as a failed project but I did not understand what the whole project was intended to be and why it failed until I saw this video explaining it:

 

sell out for me...

 

I'm personally glad Lifehouse failed because it led to Who's Next.