Remembering John Entwistle, born on this day in 1944. —Ed.
The Who Sell Out, released in 1967 and the group’s third album, was a major breakthrough for The Who. It was the group’s first album that proved throughout that the band was more than a post-R&B, heavy English pop band. The thematic concept album presaged Tommy—which was more ambitious and a double album—by two years. With The Who Sell Out, Townshend and The Who offered a concept album, but one that was light and fun.
The album did include “I Can See for Miles,” another of the group’s dynamic hits, but it was now clear that Pete Townshend was a songwriter with lofty goals and the talent to back it up. The album featured faux radio commercials and station IDs with songs that reflected new pop ideas about commerce and youth culture, often from a very English point of view.
This new 180-gram vinyl reissue, which was remastered by Jon Astley, cut by Miles Showell at Abbey Road, and pressed in Germany at Optimal, comes on the heels of the 2020 deluxe CD box and vinyl remaster of the album. At first this new vinyl album remaster, particularly in terms of the vocals, doesn’t sound quite as bright as previous reissues and, in fact, at times it sounds best when the fake radio material is presented.
The album package comes complete with an OBI-strip, the original psychedelic poster that came with the record and a certificate of authentication, but the LP is only in a paper sleeve. Overall, however, this Abbey Road remaster is a worthy addition for Who fans.
Tommy from The Who, the group’s groundbreaking 1969 double-album rock opera, has been issued and reissued countless times over the years. The US MCA release of the album that music fans in America had access to throughout 1969, the ’70s and early ’80s, was always a dodgy affair befitting the inferior American pressings of British groups’ albums of the time.
The last vinyl reissue of the album was the excellent 2014 release, remastered by Kevin Gray. In 2013, a 3CD/Blu-ray box was released and included a 5.1 mix of the album, lots of bonus live and studio material, a 80-page hardback book, and a poster. It is the most fulsome box-set reissue of the album to date. A 2CD deluxe edition was released in 2003 and included a SACD studio format version of the album.
All of these editions are worth having, as is this new Abbey Road half-speed cut. The album was mastered by Jon Astley at Close to the Edge, cut by Miles Showell at Abbey Road, and pressed on 180-gram vinyl in Germany at Optimal. It comes in an exact replica of the original tri-fold jacket, duplicates the original Track Records labels, includes the original 12-page libretto booklet, and comes with an OBI and a certificate of authentication. The sleeves are standard white paper sleeves.
The sonics on this new cut are superb. The music has a warm, smooth, and organic sound. The subtleties and classical feel of the release come through, and the rock edge, while still powerful, is not overwhelming as on the harsher sounding MCA releases from the 1970s. It’s revelatory listening to such a masterpiece. It’s a reminder of just how ambitious and timeless some classic rock and pop from the late ’60s and ’70s could be. This is a must-have Who reissue.
