Either if you know me or if you’ve been reading my posts, you can probably gather that I don’t listen to a lot of modern music. Part of this is because I already have such a glorious music collection from the 1950’s to the 1990’s that there is little I need to add. But that doesn’t mean I don’t like any modern music at all, I just don’t know as much because I don’t listen to those radio stations. I only get new music from new movies, sometimes work, a suggestion from friends or family- that’s pretty much it. I still love finding new music, but honestly what’s more thrilling for me at times is when I discover something previously unknown to me by somebody I already admire.

Almost a few years ago now, I was really quite depressed. One of the things that helped me get through it (aside from therapy and whatnot) was the Who. I remember one night I was at Barnes and Noble and I found Pete Townshend’s autobiography, Who I Am, and I decided the read the first few pages. In doing so, I was helplessly drawn to it and I knew I needed it. I immediately bought it and was immediately hooked. The first night I had it home, I was up until about 3am because I simply couldn’t stop reading it. I fell in love with Pete. I honestly feel like that was healthy for me at the time, as silly as that sounds. But anyway, he talked a lot about the albums, the process of making them and writing the songs for them. I felt like I was missing something, not actually knowing the albums he was talking about, so I ordered three of them to start with online, listened to them all in one night, and was in love with all of them. Right now, I’m just going to focus on one of them, my favorite of the trio I had ordered: The Who Sell Out.

Yes, Pete is holding a giant stick of deodorant, Roger is in a tub of baked beans, and on the back you’ll find Keith with an acne cream (also giant), and John in a leopard Flinstones/Tarzan-ish dress thing, advertising the power of his muscles.

It’s a commercial themed album and it’s amazing, clever, and hilarious at times. At the very beginning and in between some songs, you’ll hear brief commercial-like jingles and women singing announcements as if you’re listening to a radio station live every time you listen to the album. I love it so much; I love listening to this CD in my car because I feel like it’s my own private little Who radio station and I’m back in time in the 60’s.

But they don’t stop at the little things, like singing about Coca-Cola and cars in between full tracks. Many of the full songs themselves are an advertisement; Pete sings a lovely little song called Odorono but it’s only at the end you realize it’s about deodorant.

I love every single song on here, but here are my highlights:

• Odorono-Like I mentioned before, you don’t know until the very end that this whole story of a young budding actress is actually just to advertise deodorant. Also, it’s sung by Pete. I love his angel voice. And it’s one of the many times Pete has used “glittering” as an adjective. Actually…let’s just pause this focus on The Who Sell Out for a moment. I want to show you that I’m right and Pete just loves the word “glittering”.

• Tattoo- the simple story of two brothers trying to be more manly. I have quoted this song in a previous blog post talking about a BB-8 illustration I was drawn to due to its’ tattoo style.
• I Can’t Reach You- love is difficult. My favorite lyrics from this song are “our fingertips touched and then my mind tore us apart”
• Relax- it’s fun and trippy, and I love the sound of all of them singing together. And of course, my Pete
• Someone’s Coming- for all the youngins out there who have parents that don’t approve of their boyfriends or girlfriends; “your father doesn’t like me, told you that you couldn’t see me anymore, that’s why we meet in secret, that’s why we’re hiding here…you say you’ll take the dog out, then you sneak out here to me”
• Jaguar- there’s actually not a lot of lyrics in this, it’s mostly just an awesome instrumental song and then all of a sudden they sing “jaguar” at the end. I love the subtle commercialism they throw in there. It’s also a jab at how they had to do similar things for real at the time.
• Early Morning Cold Taxi- I don’t know what I like about this one in particular. “3:36, it’s cold. I know I’m growing old”. I just like it. It’s at the end of this one that they sing about Coca-Cola. Does it have to do with the song at all? Nope. It’s just a commercial in between but done so much cooler.
• Hall of The Mountain King- this is actually a very famous instrumental…I can’t think of where it’s normally used but I guarantee you’ve heard it before. But not like this. Their version is so fantastic. I get so excited when it comes on…just fantastically done and they even have their own goofy noises going on in the background. They also simply sing “ah” much of the time, and it’s lovely. But overall it’s just spectacular, I can’t stress it enough.
• Girl’s Eyes- the song is alright, I mostly just like these lyrics: “Each time you play a melody, it means the Earth to this little girl”. Are they singing about me?! I think so.

Until next time…

Peace and Love