Album Profile #5 

The Who- The Who Sell Out 
(1967) 

I’ve alway been skeptical of the term “concept album” as it always seemed more known to the artist what the concept is and not conveyed clearly to the listener. With The Who Sell Out guitarist/writer Pete Townsend kept it simple to a concept everyone can relate to, a kid listening to a radio. No deep mystery of life level idea but a simple, innocent activity that most music lovers can look back at in their own lives. To solidify the concept idea the band actually recorded radio ads for real products that would play between songs. Products like Coke, Heinz beans and Roto Sound guitar strings tie songs together along with actual station identification spots for Radio London. A brilliant record where songs range from poppy to revved up R&B to I Can See For Miles which is a stand out track that leans more to the big stadium sound The Who would evolve into going into the 70’s.  Think a first time listener will easily grasp the concept of a kid sitting on the stoop with a little transistor radio adding a sound track to the world in front of them. 

Key Song: 

I Can See For Miles 
Jaguar 
Early Morning Cold Taxi 
Tattoo 
Mary Ann With A Shaky Hand
Our Love Was 
Odorono