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Thursday 3 December 2015

Rewind: 1965 My Generation - The Who

On the same day as The Beatles released their Sixth Studio Album Rubber Soul a band from London called The Who were releasing their debut album and a real classic it is I think. 

The Beatles would hit the #1 spot in the UK and just behind them at #5 would be The Who.

After their first two singles hit the Top Ten (I Can't Explain - #8 and Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere - #10) there was no doubt much excitement about the prospect of an album. The band themselves have often dismissed the album as a bit of a rush job that didn't really represent their live performance of the time but this has not stopped declaring it to be one of the best rock albums of all time.

What was quite unusual about the album is that a majority of the material on it was actually written by Pete Townshend but this was only after a number of other cover songs had been dropped from an earlier recording session. Three cover songs remained I Don't Mind and Please, Please Please (both had been done by James Brown) and Bo Diddley's I'm A Man.

Can you believe this is 50 years old today!!
 
My Generation - The Who
Brunswick
Produced by Shel Tamy
Released 3rd December 1965
UK Charts #5
German Charts #14

 The Who
    Roger Daltrey – lead vocals, harmonica
    John Entwistle – bass guitar, backing vocals
    Keith Moon – drums, percussion
    Pete Townshend – six and twelve-string acoustic and electric guitars, backing vocals, lead vocals on "A Legal Matter"


Singles From My Generation
    My Generation / Shout and Shimmy
    Released: 5 November 1965
UK Chart #2
US Chart #74

    A Legal Matter / Instant Party
    Released: 7 March 1966
UK Chart #32

    The Kids Are Alright / The Ox
    Released: July 1966
UK Chart #41
US Chart #106

    La-La-La-LiesThe Good's Gone
    Released: 11 November 1966
Did Not Chart

A testament to the influence of this exceptional debut album is that a few of the songs from it have captivated bands and artists from varying musical walks down through the years. Here's just a few of them.
My Generation
It's a wild mix of styles and I wouldn't give a thumbs up to them all!
Patti Smith - Contains Strong Language
Barnie Rubblz - A bunch of kids giving it a shot!
 and there's probably loads more that I could add!

The Kids Are Alright

A Legal Matter

I'm sure there are loads of cover versions out there but I don't have the time at the moment to get any more!

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