My Generation (album)

Last updated

With its ferocious blend of grungy distortion, rumbling bass and percussion, and brutish vocals, The Who Sings My Generation became the blueprint for much of the subsequent garage rock, heavy metal, and punk. In contrast to debut albums from the Rolling Stones (whose take on Southern American rock & soul was fairly earnest) and the Beatles (who spread the word of rock & roll through sweet harmonies and easily digestible melodies), My Generation positively shoved at the boundaries of popular music. Townshend's fiercely original guitar experiments here predate the innovations of his later American rival Jimi Hendrix. [23]

The American edition of the album was included in "A Basic Record Library" of 1950s and 1960s recordings, published in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981). [24] In 2000, musician Elvis Costello named the album one of his "500 [favorite] albums that can only improve your life" and "better than everything that I've made". [25] In 2003, My Generation was ranked number 236 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, [26] then was re-ranked number 237 on the 2012 revised list, [27] and named the second greatest guitar album of all time by Mojo magazine. [28] In 2004, it was No. 18 in Q magazine's list of the 50 Best British Albums Ever. [29] In 2006, it was ranked No. 49 in NME's list of the 100 Greatest British Albums. [30] In 2004, the title track was No. 11 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. In 2006, "The Kids Are Alright" was No. 34 in Pitchfork's list of the 200 greatest songs of the 1960s. [31] In June 2009, the edited 1966 US version of the album "The Who Sings My Generation" was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being "Culturally, historically and aesthetically significant". [32] Writing for the BBC, Chris Jones described the album as "one of the most vital and important reasons to love rock 'n' roll". [33]

Track listing

Original release (1965)

All tracks are written by Pete Townshend, except where noted

My Generation
My-Generation--2.jpg
Studio album by
the Who
Released3 December 1965 (1965-12-03)
Recorded12 April – 12 November 1965
Studio IBC, London
Genre
Length35:59
Label Brunswick (UK)
Decca (US)
Producer Shel Talmy
The Who chronology
My Generation
(1965)		 Ready Steady Who
(1966)
The Who US chronology
The Who Sings My Generation
(1966)		 Happy Jack
(1967)
Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Out in the Street"2:31
2."I Don't Mind" (writer: James Brown)2:36
3."The Good's Gone"4:02
4."La-La-La-Lies"2:17
5."Much Too Much"2:47
6."My Generation"3:18
Total length:17:31
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."The Kids Are Alright"3:04
2."Please, Please, Please" (writers: Brown, Johnny Terry)2:45
3."It's Not True"2:31
4."I'm a Man" (writer: Bo Diddley)3:21
5."A Legal Matter"2:48
6."The Ox" (writers: Townshend, John Entwistle, Keith Moon, Nicky Hopkins)3:50
Total length:18:19

The Who Sings My Generation (1966)

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Out in the Street"2:31
2."I Don't Mind" (writer: Brown)2:36
3."The Good's Gone"4:02
4."La-La-La-Lies"2:17
5."Much Too Much"2:46
6."My Generation"3:18
Total length:17:31
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."The Kids Are Alright"2:46
2."Please, Please, Please" (writers: Brown, Terry)2:45
3."It's Not True"2:31
4."The Ox" (writers: Townshend, Entwistle, Moon, Hopkins)3:50
5."A Legal Matter"2:48
6."Instant Party (Circles)"3:12
Total length:17:52

Deluxe edition (2002)

Disc one
No.TitleLength
1."Out in the Street"2:32
2."I Don't Mind" (writer: Brown)2:33
3."The Good's Gone" (lacks double-tracked vocals)4:00
4."La-La-La Lies" (lacks double-tracked vocals)2:18
5."Much Too Much" (lacks double-tracked vocals)2:45
6."My Generation" (lacks lead guitar, but is available on disc two in its original mono format)3:21
7."The Kids Are Alright" (lacks double-tracked vocals)3:10
8."Please, Please, Please" (writers: Brown, Terry)2:46
9."It's Not True"2:34
10."I'm a Man" (complete with ending; writer: Diddley)3:23
11."A Legal Matter" (lacks lead guitar, but is available on disc two in its original mono format)2:54
12."The Ox" (complete with ending; writers: Townshend, Moon, Entwistle, Hopkins)3:58
13."Circles (Instant Party)" (lacks Entwistle's French horn and double tracked vocals)3:13
14."I Can't Explain" (lacks tambourine)2:04
15."Bald Headed Woman" (writer: Shel Talmy)2:32
16."Daddy Rolling Stone" (alternate version to that found on Thirty Years of Maximum R&B ; writer: Otis Blackwell)2:55
Total length:46:58
Disc two
No.TitleLength
1."Leaving Here" (alternate version to that found on Thirty Years of Maximum R&B ; writers: Holland-Dozier-Holland)2:50
2."Lubie (Come Back Home)" (writers: Paul Revere, Mark Lindsay)3:40
3."Shout and Shimmy" (writer: Brown)3:20
4."(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave" (writers: Holland-Dozier-Holland)2:41
5."Motoring" (writers: Ivy Jo Hunter, Phil Jones, William "Mickey" Stevenson)2:52
6."Anytime You Want Me" (writer: Garnet Mimms)2:38
7."Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" (alternate take; writers: Townshend, Roger Daltrey)2:43
8."Instant Party Mixture"3:24
9."I Don't Mind" (full length version; writer: Brown)3:44
10."The Good's Gone" (full length version)4:29
11."My Generation" (instrumental version)3:27
12."Anytime You Want Me" ( a cappella version; writer: Mimms)2:29
13."A Legal Matter" (mono version with guitar overdub)2:49
14."My Generation" (mono version with guitar overdub)3:18
Total length:44:24

Digital releases (2014)

Mono digital release
No.TitleLength
1."Out in the Street"2:31
2."I Don't Mind" (writer: Brown)2:36
3."The Good's Gone"4:04
4."La-La-La Lies"2:16
5."Much Too Much"2:44
6."My Generation"3:20
7."The Kids Are Alright"3:07
8."Please, Please, Please" (writers: Brown, Terry)2:46
9."It's Not True"2:32
10."I'm a Man" (writer: Diddley)3:21
11."A Legal Matter"2:50
12."The Ox" (writers: Townshend, Moon, Entwistle, Hopkins)3:53
13."I Can't Explain"2:05
14."Bald Headed Woman" (writer: Talmy)2:10
15."Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" (writers: Townshend, Daltrey)2:41
16."Daddy Rolling Stone" (writer: Otis Blackwell)2:48
17."Anytime You Want Me" (writer: Mimms)2:36
18."Shout and Shimmy" (writer: Brown)3:18
19."Circles (Revised)"3:13
20."Leaving Here" (erroneously credited to the High Numbers; writers: Holland, Dozier, Holland)2:49
21."Lubie (Come Back Home)" (writers: Revere, Lindsay)3:37
22."(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave" (writers: Holland, Dozier, Holland)2:41
23."Motoring" (writers: Hunter, Jones, Stevenson)2:49
24."Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" (French EP Mono Version; writers: Townshend, Daltrey)2:44
25."Instant Party Mixture"3:26
Total length:72:57
Stereo digital release
No.TitleLength
1."Out in the Street"2:30
2."I Don't Mind" (writer: Brown)2:36
3."The Good's Gone"4:05
4."La-La-La Lies"2:15
5."Much Too Much"2:43
6."My Generation"3:18
7."The Kids Are Alright"3:05
8."Please, Please, Please" (writers: Brown, Terry)2:43
9."It's Not True"2:30
10."I'm a Man" (writer: Diddley)3:20
11."A Legal Matter"2:49
12."The Ox" (writers: Townshend, Moon, Entwistle, Hopkins)3:56
13."I Can't Explain"2:05
14."Bald Headed Woman" (writer: Talmy)2:34
15."Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" (writers: Townshend, Daltrey)2:43
16."Daddy Rolling Stone" (writer: Otis Blackwell)2:59
17."Anytime You Want Me" (writer: Mimms)2:37
18."Shout and Shimmy" (writer: Brown)3:19
19."Circles"3:13
20."Instant Party Mixture"3:29
21."Leaving Here" (writers: Holland, Dozier, Holland)2:49
22."Lubie (Come Back Home)" (writers: Revere, Lindsay)3:42
23."(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave" (writers: Holland, Dozier, Holland)2:41
24."Motoring" (writer: Hunter, Jones, Stevenson)2:47
25."Daddy Rolling Stone" (Alternate stereo version; writer: Otis Blackwell)3:06
26."The Kids Are Alright" (Alternate stereo version)3:07
27."My Generation" (Instrumental stereo version)3:38
28."Out in the Street" (Alternate stereo version)2:33
29."I Don't Mind" (Full length stereo version; writer: Brown)3:45
30."The Good's Gone" (Full length stereo version)4:27
Total length:91:24

B-sides

SongSingleWriter
"Shout and Shimmy""My Generation" James Brown

Personnel

The Who

Additional musicians

Charts

Chart performance for My Generation
Chart (1965–1966)Peak
position
Finnish Albums (Official Finnish Charts) [34] 4
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [35] 14
UK Albums (OCC) [36] 5

Certifications

Certifications for My Generation
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [37]
release of 1980 		Gold100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [37]
release of 2012 		Silver60,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Forever Changes</i> 1967 studio album by Love

Forever Changes is the third studio album by the American rock band Love, released on November 1, 1967, by Elektra Records. The album saw the group embrace a subtler folk- and baroque pop-oriented sound based around acoustic guitars and orchestral arrangements, while primary songwriter Arthur Lee explored darker themes alluding to mortality and his growing disillusionment with the era's counterculture. It was the final album recorded by the original band lineup; after its completion, guitarist Bryan MacLean left the group acrimoniously, and Lee subsequently dismissed the other members.

<i>Tommy</i> (The Who album) 1969 studio album by the Who

Tommy is the fourth studio album by the English rock band the Who, released on 19 May 1969. Written primarily by guitarist Pete Townshend, Tommy is a double album and an early rock opera that tells the story of the fictional Tommy Walker and his path to becoming a spiritual leader and messianic figure.

<i>Whos Next</i> 1971 studio album by the Who

Who's Next is the fifth studio album by the English rock band the Who, released on 2 August 1971 by Track Records in the United Kingdom and Decca Records in the United States. It developed from the aborted Lifehouse project, a multi-media rock opera conceived by the group's guitarist Pete Townshend as a follow-up to the band's 1969 album Tommy. The project was cancelled owing to its complexity and to conflicts with Kit Lambert, the band's manager, but the group salvaged some of the songs, without the connecting story elements, to release as their next album. Eight of the nine songs on Who's Next were from Lifehouse, with the lone exception being the John Entwistle-penned "My Wife". Ultimately, the remaining Lifehouse tracks would all be released on other albums throughout the next decade.

<i>A Quick One</i> 1966 studio album by the Who

A Quick One is the second studio album by the English rock band the Who, released on 9 December 1966. In the United States, where the song "Happy Jack" was a top 40 hit, the album was released in April 1967 under the title Happy Jack with a slightly altered track listing.

<i>The Who Sell Out</i> 1967 album by the Who

The Who Sell Out is the third studio album by the English rock band the Who. It was released on 15 December 1967 by Track Records in the UK and Decca Records in the US. A concept album, The Who Sell Out is structured as a collection of unrelated songs interspersed with fake commercials and public service announcements, including the second track "Heinz Baked Beans". The album purports to be a broadcast by pirate radio station Radio London. The reference to "selling out" was an intended irony, as the Who had been making real commercials during that period of their career, some of which are included as bonus tracks on the remastered CD.

<i>Live at Leeds</i> 1970 live album by the Who

Live at Leeds is the first live album by English rock band the Who. It was recorded at the University of Leeds Refectory on 14 February 1970, and is their only live album that was released while the group were still actively recording and performing with their best-known line-up of Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle and Keith Moon.

<i>Magic Bus: The Who on Tour</i> 1968 compilation album by the Who

Magic Bus: The Who on Tour is a compilation album by English rock band the Who. It was released as the band's fourth album in the United States by Decca in September 1968 to capitalize on the success of their single of the same name. It is a compilation album of previously released material, and was not issued in the UK, although the album was also released at approximately the same time in Canada. It peaked at #39 on the Billboard 200.

<i>Ogdens Nut Gone Flake</i> 1968 studio album by Small Faces

Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake is the third studio album, and only concept album by the English rock band Small Faces. Released on 24 May 1968, the LP peaked at number one on the UK Album Charts on 29 June, where it remained for six weeks. It became the group's final studio album during their original incarnation. The album title and distinctive packaging design was a parody of Ogden's Nut-brown Flake, a brand of tinned tobacco that was produced in Liverpool from 1899 by Thomas Ogden.

<i>The Who by Numbers</i> 1975 studio album by the Who

The Who by Numbers is the seventh studio album by English rock band the Who, released on 3 October 1975 in the United Kingdom through Polydor Records, and on 6 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Generation</span> 1965 single by the Who

"My Generation" is a song by the English rock band the Who, written by guitarist and primary songwriter Pete Townshend. One of the band's most recognizable songs, it was placed number 11 by Rolling Stone on its list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” in 2004 and 2010, re-ranked number 232 in the 2021 edition. It became part of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll and is inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for "historical, artistic and significant" value. It is considered one of the band's signature songs.

<i>Meet the Beatles!</i> 1964 studio album by the Beatles

Meet the Beatles! is a studio album by the English rock band the Beatles, released as their second album in the United States. It was the group's first American album to be issued by Capitol Records, on 20 January 1964 in both mono and stereo formats. It topped the popular album chart on 15 February 1964 and remained at number one for eleven weeks before being replaced by The Beatles' Second Album. The cover featured Robert Freeman's iconic portrait of the Beatles used in the United Kingdom for With the Beatles, with a blue tint added to the original stark black-and-white photograph.

<i>Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy</i> 1971 compilation album by The Who

Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy is a compilation album of singles by English rock band the Who, released in 1971 as Track 2406 006 in the UK and as Decca DL 79184 in the US. It entered the US Billboard 200 chart on 20 November 1971, peaking at number 11, and the UK chart on 3 December 1971, peaking at number 9.

<i>Odds & Sods</i> 1974 compilation album by The Who

Odds & Sods is an album of studio outtakes by British rock band the Who. It was released by Track Records in the UK and Track/MCA in the US in October 1974. Ten of the recordings on the original eleven-song album were previously unreleased. The album reached No. 10 on the UK charts and No. 15 in the US.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Sly and the Family Stone album) 1970 greatest hits album by Sly and the Family Stone

Greatest Hits is a compilation album by the American group Sly and the Family Stone. It was first released on November 21, 1970, by Epic Records. The album includes all of the singles from the albums Dance to the Music (1968), Life (1968), and Stand! (1969).

"My Wife" is a song by the English rock band the Who, written and sung by bass guitarist John Entwistle. It was originally released in 1971 on Who's Next and later as the B-side of the single "Baba O'Riley" on 6 November 1971 in Europe by Polydor Records.

<i>Rough Mix</i> 1977 studio album by Pete Townshend and Ronnie Lane

Rough Mix is an album by Pete Townshend, guitarist with the Who, and Ronnie Lane, former bassist with Small Faces and Faces. The album was released in September 1977 as Polydor 2442 in the UK and MCA 2295 in the US. It peaked at number 44 on the UK Albums Chart, and at number 45 on the Billboard 200.

<i>The Kids Are Alright</i> (soundtrack) 1979 album

The Kids Are Alright is a soundtrack album by the British rock band the Who, a companion to the band's documentary film of the same name. As a compilation album, it serves as a retrospective look at the band's biggest hits throughout their career to the point it was released. Most of the tracks are live recordings, rather than the original studio versions.

<i>Whos Better, Whos Best</i> 1988 compilation album by the Who

Who's Better, Who's Best: This Is the Very Best of the Who is a 1988 compilation album by the Who. A compilation of videos also titled Who's Better, Who's Best was released in 1988 as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dogs (The Who song)</span> 1968 single by the Who

"Dogs" is a UK single written by Pete Townshend and released by the Who in June 1968. It reached number 25 on the UK singles chart, lower than any single the band had released in several years. The B-side of the UK single was "Call Me Lightning". Both songs were originally released mixed in mono only, as they were not intended for album release.

"The Ox" is an instrumental piece by English rock band the Who. It was on their debut studio album My Generation (1965). The tune was improvised by Pete Townshend, John Entwistle, Keith Moon and keyboardist Nicky Hopkins. This track appears as the B-side of "The Kids Are Alright" on the single's UK release. The tune was also on the compilation album Thirty Years of Maximum R&B (1994). A jingle based on this tune was released as "Top Gear" on both reissues of The Who Sell Out (1967). It is the oldest known recorded track by the Who. The title is a nickname given to Entwistle by the band, because of his strong constitution and seeming ability to "Eat, drink or do more than the rest of them."

References

  1. ↑ "Top 100 '60s Rock Albums". Ultimate Classic Rock. 19 March 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  2. ↑ "Classic Albums - My Generation". Art Gallery. 4 November 2019.
  3. ↑ "100 Best Debut Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone . 13 October 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  4. 1 2 3 Unterberger, Richie. "Allmusic review". AllMusic . All Media Guide . Retrieved 30 November 2011.
  5. ↑ "The Who Official Band Website – Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle, and Keith Moon, My Generation". Thewho.com. 1 December 1965. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  6. 1 2 "The Who – My Generation (album review 4)". Sputnikmusic.com. 29 April 2006. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  7. ↑ The Who’s Pete Townshend on Raiding Vaults for ‘My Generation’ Box Set Rolling Stone.
  8. ↑ "The Who Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard . Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  9. ↑ Andy Neill Deluxe Edition liner notes, p.23
  10. ↑ "The Who My Generation". Steve Hoffman Music Forums. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  11. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0195313734.
  12. ↑ Martin C. Strong (1998). The Great Rock Discography (1st ed.). Canongate Books. ISBN   978-0-86241-827-4.
  13. ↑ Michael Hann (15 December 2016). "The Who: My Generation super deluxe box set review – contains buried treasure". The Guardian . Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  14. ↑ Robert Hughes. "The Who - My Generation reissue album review". Louder Sound . Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  15. ↑ Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel, eds. (1999). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Farmington Hills, MI: Visible Ink Press. p.  1227. ISBN   1-57859-061-2.
  16. ↑ Wisnicki, Nathan (8 January 2013). "The Who: My Generation (mono remaster)". PopMatters . Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  17. ↑ Fricke, David (4 September 2002). "My Generation: Deluxe Edition". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 7 September 2024. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  18. ↑ Kemp 2004, p. 871.
  19. ↑ Brendan Schroer (19 July 2015). "My Generation". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  20. ↑ Hull, Tom (n.d.). "Grade List: The Who". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
  21. ↑ Christgau, Robert (1967). "Secular Music (2)". Esquire . No. October. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  22. ↑ Christgau, Robert (1981). "The Fifties and Sixties". Rock Albums of the '70s: A Critical Guide. Da Capo Press. pp. 453, 456. ISBN   0306804093.
  23. ↑ Kemp 2004, pp. 871–2.
  24. ↑ Christgau, Robert (1981). "A Basic Record Library: The Fifties and Sixties". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   0899190251 . Retrieved 16 March 2019– via robertchristgau.com.
  25. ↑ Costello, Elvis (26 August 2013) [November 2000]. "Costello's 500". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  26. ↑ "My Generation ranked 236 on 2003 Rolling Stone list". Rolling Stone . 2003. Archived from the original on 2 September 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  27. ↑ "500 Greatest Albums of All Time Rolling Stone's definitive list of the 500 greatest albums of all time". Rolling Stone. 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  28. ↑ Barnes, Anthony (21 July 2003). "Hendrix heads list of 100 guitar greats with 'Are You Experienced'". The Independent. Retrieved 20 February 2010.[ dead link ]
  29. ↑ "Q Magazine". Rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  30. ↑ "NME". Rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  31. ↑ "The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s – Page 3". Pitchfork.com. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  32. ↑ Metzler, Natasha (9 June 2009). "New National Recording Registry entries announced". Associated Press , San Francisco Chronicle.
  33. ↑ Jones, Chris. "BBC – Music – Review of The Who – My Generation". BBC. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  34. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN   978-951-1-21053-5.
  35. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Who – My Generation" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  36. ↑ "The Who | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  37. 1 2 "British album certifications – Who – My Generation". British Phonographic Industry.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.