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The Who by Numbers
Studio album by The Who
Released	3 October 1975
Recorded	April – 12 June 1975, Shepperton Studios' soundstage using Ronnie Lane's Mobile Studio
Genre	Rock
Length	37:19
Language	English
Label	Polydor Records
Producer	Chris Charlesworth, Bill Curbishley, Glyn Johns, Robert Rosenberg
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Robert Christgau (B+) link Rolling Stone (positive) link
The Who chronology
Quadrophenia (1973) The Who by Numbers (1975) Who Are You (1978)
Singles from The Who by Numbers
"Squeeze Box" Released: October 1975 "Slip Kid" Released: 7 August 1976

The Who by Numbers is the seventh album by the English rock band The Who, released on 3 October 1975, in the United Kingdom through Polydor Records and on 25 October 1975, in the United States by MCA Records. It was named the tenth best album of the year in The Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics poll.^[1]

Contents 1 History 2 Track listing 3 Sales chart performance 4 Sales certifications 5 Personnel 6 References 7 External links

[edit] History

Without the massive structure and ambition of the band's better known works Tommy and Quadrophenia, Pete Townshend's songwriting stands on its own in the sparse and dark The Who by Numbers. Gone are the synthesizers and the massive layers of overdubs. In their places are descriptions of Townshend's alcoholism, lust, and self-loathing, as well as the dark side of creeping middle-age and the fear of irrelevance. On "They Are All In Love," Townshend laments: "Hey goodbye all you punks, stay young and stay high / Hand me my checkbook while I crawl off to die." These themes extend from the hopeless refrain of "However Much I Booze" (sung by Townshend, as Daltrey thought it too personal to sing), "There ain't no way out", to the disillusioned question, "How many friends have I really got?"

A few tracks stand in contrast, including the playfulness of the top ten hit "Squeeze Box" and "Blue, Red and Grey's" claim that "I like every minute of the day." But John Entwistle's contribution, "Success Story", returns to display nearly as despairing and cynical a view of stardom as the rest of the record. "In a Hand or a Face" revisits both lyrical and musical themes of Who songs dating back to the previous decade and offers an unexpectedly fiery ending to the album.

In an interview 30 Years of Maximum R&B, from Pete Townshend declared "Dreaming from the Waist" and "Sister Disco" (from Who Are You) as his least favorite songs to play on stage. In humorous contrast, John Entwistle, declared in the same series of interviews that "Dreaming from the Waist" was one of his favorite songs to perform live.

The cover was drawn by John Entwistle as he was drawing a cartoon history of The Who.

The Who by Numbers peaked at the number 7 position on the UK album chart and number 8 on the Billboard 200 album chart in the United States.

[edit] Track listing

All songs written by Pete Townshend, except track 6 (written by John Entwistle).

[edit] Sales chart performance

Album

Year	Chart	Position
1975	Billboard Pop Albums	8[2]
1975	UK Chart Albums	7[3]

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1976	"Squeeze Box"	Billboard Pop Singles	16[citation needed]
1976	"Squeeze Box"	UK Singles Chart	10[3]

[edit] Sales certifications

Organization	Level	Date
RIAA – U.S.	Gold	10 December 1975[4]
RIAA – U.S.	Platinum	8 February 1993[4]

[edit] Personnel

The Who

• Roger Daltrey – lead vocals
• John Entwistle – bass guitar, 8-string bass, brass, keyboards, vocals, lead vocals on bridge in "Success Story"
• Keith Moon – drums, percussion
• Pete Townshend – guitars, keyboards, ukulele, accordion, banjo, vocals, lead vocals on "However Much I Booze", "Blue, Red, and Grey", and bridge of "Success Story"

Additional musicians

• Dave Arbus – violin
• Nicky Hopkins – piano on "Imagine a Man", "Success Story", "They Are All in Love", and "In a Hand or a Face"

Production

• Jon Astley – remixing
• Chris Charlesworth – executive producer
• Bill Curbishley – executive producer
• John Entwisle – album art
• Richard Evans – remaster album art direction, design
• Glyn Johns – production
• Bob Ludwig – remastering
• Robert Rosenberg – executive producer
• John Swenson – liner notes
• Chris Walter – photography

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Guitar tablature
• Lyrics^{[dead link]}
• The Who by Numbers liner notes - Song-by-song liner notes for the album

v • d • e The Who Roger Daltrey • Pete Townshend John Entwistle • Keith Moon • Kenney Jones John "Rabbit" Bundrick • Pino Palladino • Doug Sandom • Zak Starkey • Simon Townshend Studio albums My Generation • A Quick One • The Who Sell Out • Tommy • Who's Next • Quadrophenia • The Who by Numbers • Who Are You • Face Dances • It's Hard • Endless Wire Live albums Live at Leeds • Who's Last • Join Together • Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 • The BBC Sessions • Blues to the Bush • The Who Live at the Royal Albert Hall • Encore Series 2002 • Encore Series 2004 • Encore Series 2006 & Encore Series 2007 • Live from Toronto • View from a Backstage Pass Compilations Magic Bus: The Who on Tour • Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy • Odds & Sods • Hooligans • Who's Greatest Hits • Rarities Volume I & Volume II • The Who Collection • Who's Missing • Two's Missing • Who's Better, Who's Best • Thirty Years of Maximum R&B • My Generation: The Very Best of the Who • The Ultimate Collection • Then and Now Soundtracks Tommy • The Kids Are Alright • Quadrophenia • Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who Filmography Monterey Pop • Woodstock • Tommy • Quadrophenia • The Kids Are Alright • McVicar • Buddy's Song • The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus • The Concert for New York City • An Ox's Tale: The John Entwistle Story • Thirty Years of Maximum R&B (video) • Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who • At Kilburn 1977 + Live at the Coliseum Related articles Discography • The Boy Who Heard Music • Influence • Lifehouse • Personnel • Track Records • 2006–2007 tour • Bill Curbishley • Kit Lambert • Peter Meaden • Bob Pridden • Chris Stamp • Scot Halpin • Chris Townson • Two Sides of the Moon • The Who's Tommy • The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard • "A Tale of Two Springfields"