The Who – Quadrophenia [2× 180g Vinyl LP]

The Who – Quadrophenia [2× 180g Vinyl LP]

Details

• Format: 2× Vinyl LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Gatefold, Stereo
• Catalogue Number: 2780504
• Barcode: 602527805047
• Genre: Rock / Hard Rock / Classic Rock
• Label: Polydor / Universal Music
• Originally Released: 19 October 1973
• Reissue Released: 2011 and reprinted in 2015
• Pressing: 2× 180 Gram Vinyl
• Condition: New & Sealed

Description

Quadrophenia is The Who's sixth studio album and, for many, their greatest achievement — a sprawling, ferociously ambitious double concept album that stands as one of the most emotionally powerful and technically impressive records in rock history. Released on 19 October 1973, it arrived two years after the landmark Who's Next and proved that Pete Townshend's appetite for grand musical statements was far from exhausted.

Where Tommy had launched the rock opera as a form, Quadrophenia perfected it. The album tells the story of Jimmy, a young mod from south London navigating the social upheaval of the mid-1960s — torn between gang loyalty, alienation, love and the search for identity. Each member of the band is represented by one of Jimmy's four conflicting personalities, each assigned their own musical theme that weaves through the album. It is a concept executed with remarkable discipline and emotional depth.

The production by Glyn Johns is extraordinary — one of the best-sounding double albums of the era. Pete Townshend's synthesiser work was genuinely ahead of its time, and the rhythm section of John Entwistle and Keith Moon is at its thunderous, jaw-dropping peak throughout. "The Real Me" opens with one of rock's most electrifying bass runs; "5:15" is a euphoric, orchestrated rush; "Bell Boy" gives Keith Moon a rare and devastating lead vocal; and the closing "Love Reign O'er Me" — with Daltrey's incredible vocal performance building to a cathartic, rain-drenched finale — remains one of the most powerful moments in all of rock music.

The album reached number two on both the UK and US album charts and went on to inspire the acclaimed 1979 film directed by Franc Roddam, which in turn helped spark the mod revival of the late 1970s. This 2011 reissue is pressed on 2× 180g heavyweight vinyl, mastered by George Jones at The Mastering Lab, Los Angeles, and comes in a deluxe gatefold sleeve with an over-sized 44-page booklet featuring images and lyrics.

Tracklist

Record 1 – Side A

1. I Am the Sea
2. The Real Me
3. Quadrophenia
4. Cut My Hair
5. The Punk and the Godfather

Record 1 – Side B

1. I'm One
2. The Dirty Jobs
3. Helpless Dancer
4. Is It in My Head?
5. I've Had Enough

Record 2 – Side A

1. 5:15
2. Sea and Sand
3. Drowned
4. Bell Boy

Record 2 – Side B

1. Doctor Jimmy
2. The Rock
3. Love Reign O'er Me

Credits

• Roger Daltrey – Vocals
• Pete Townshend – Guitar, Keyboards, Synthesiser, Vocals
• John Entwistle – Bass, Horns, Vocals
• Keith Moon – Drums, Vocals
• Chris Stainton – Piano
• Glyn Johns – Producer
• George Jones – Mastering, The Mastering Lab, Los Angeles
• Label – Polydor / Universal Music