Who Are You
Studio album by The Who
Released	18 August 1978 (UK) 25 August 1978 (U.S.)
Recorded	October 1977–April 1978
Genre	Rock
Length	42:51 70:54 (remastered edition)
Label	Polydor Records (UK) MCA Records (U.S.)
Producer	The Who, Glyn Johns, and Jon Astley
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Robert Christgau (B+) link Rolling Stone (favorable) link
The Who chronology
The Who By Numbers (1975) Who Are You (1978) The Kids Are Alright (1979)

Who Are You is an album by British rock band The Who. It was released in August 1978 on Polydor Records in the United Kingdom and on MCA Records in the United States. It peaked at Number 2 on the U.S. charts and Number 6 on the U.K. charts. It is The Who's last album with Keith Moon as the drummer. Moon would die about two weeks after the release of this album. Who Are You or Who Are You? may refer to: Who Are You, a 1978 album by The Who Who Are You (song), the title track from the album Who Are You (Buffy episode), the 16th episode of season 4 of the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer Who Are... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A studio album is a collection of previously unreleased, studio-recorded tracks by a recording artist. ... The Who are an English rock band that first formed in 1964, and grew to be considered one of the greatest[1] and most influential[2] bands in the world. ... is the 230th day of the year (231st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 237th day of the year (238th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... 1920s vintage Polydor export label with its double-horn gramophone logo In 1954 Polydor Records introduced their distinctive orange label. ... MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... The Who are an English rock band that first formed in 1964, and grew to be considered one of the greatest[1] and most influential[2] bands in the world. ... Glyn Johns (born February 15, 1942 in Epsom, Surrey, England) is a recording engineer and record producer. ... The All Music Guide (AMG) is a metadata database about music, owned by All Media Guide. ... Image File history File links 3. ... Robert Christgau (born April 18, 1942), is an American essayist, music journalist, and the self-declared Dean of American Rock Critics.[1] In print, his name is sometimes abbreviated as Xgau. ... This article is about the magazine. ... The Who are an English rock band that first formed in 1964, and grew to be considered one of the greatest[1] and most influential[2] bands in the world. ... The Who By Numbers (1975) is an album by British rock band The Who. ... The Kids Are Alright (soundtrack) is an album by British rock band The Who. ... British rock was born out of the influence of rock and roll and rhythm and blues from the United States, but added a new drive and urgency, exporting the music back and widening the audience for black R & B in the U.S. as well as spreading the gospel world... The Who are an English rock band that first formed in 1964, and grew to be considered one of the greatest[1] and most influential[2] bands in the world. ... 1920s vintage Polydor export label with its double-horn gramophone logo In 1954 Polydor Records introduced their distinctive orange label. ... MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc. ... Keith John Moon (August 23, 1946 – September 7, 1978) was the drummer of the rock group The Who. ... For the comic book character, see Drummer (comics). ...

Who Are You was put out at a time when the two major camps of rock, progressive rock and punk rock, were conflicting due to their antipodal styles. Pete Townshend's compositions were written as an attempt to bring the two styles together. The album showcases some of the most complicated song structures guitarist Townshend had ever composed, with multiple layers of synthesizer and strings. Moon's deteriorating health is reflected in some of the tracks; the alcohol and drug abuse had taken away from the frenzied drumming he was renowned for, but he delivered a powerhouse performance on the title track. For the Swedish political music movement, see progg. ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend (born May 19, 1945 in Chiswick, London), is an award-winning English rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, and composer. ... For the UK magazine, see Guitarist (magazine). ... For other uses, see Synthesizer (disambiguation). ... A string instrument (or stringed instrument) is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. ... A title track is the name for a song which shares its name with the album its from. ...

There was a three-year hiatus between Who Are You and The Who's previous album, The Who By Numbers. The band was drifting apart during this period, due to the band members working on various solo projects, Moon sinking deeper into alcohol and drug abuse, and general exhaustion from the gruelling tour schedule the band had kept over the decade. Moon's health was especially an object of concern, as he only managed to come in during the last few weeks of recording and was unable to play in 6/8 time on the track "Music Must Change", so drums were removed completely from the track - only a few cymbal crashes were added. The Who By Numbers (1975) is an album by British rock band The Who. ...

The album was a commercial success, going 2x platinum in the U.S. and peaking at Number 2 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart. The soundtrack to Grease prevented Who Are You from achieving Number 1 status in the U.S. The success of Who Are You generated excitement at the prospect of a new Who tour for the album. However, the album is surrounded by tragedy for Who fans due to Moon's death shortly after the album's release. The songs on the album were later performed on tour in 1979 when The Who reformed with drummer Kenney Jones and keyboardist John Bundrick. The description Gold Album is applied to recorded music albums that have sold a minimum number of copies (in the US, currently 500,000 sales). ... Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry. ... In film formats, the soundtrack is the physical area of the film which records the synchronized sound. ... Grease is 1978s original motion picture soundtrack. ... Kenneth Thomas Kenney (or Kenny) Jones (born September 16, 1948 in Stepney, London) is a veteran English rock drummer best known for his work in the Small Faces, the Faces, and The Who. ... A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. ... John Rabbit Bundrick (born November 21, 1948) is a prominent American-born rock keyboardist, pianist, and organist, having played on albums by The Who, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Roger Waters, Free, and Crawler, among several others. ...

Track listing

1. "New Song" (Townshend) – 4:14
2. "Had Enough" (Entwistle) – 4:27
3. "905" (Entwistle) – 4:02
4. "Sister Disco" (Townshend) – 4:23
5. "Music Must Change" (Townshend) – 4:39
6. "Trick Of The Light" (Entwistle) – 4:45
7. "Guitar And Pen" (Townshend) – 5:56
8. "Love Is Coming Down" (Townshend) – 4:04
9. "Who Are You" (Townshend)– 6:16

905 is from The Whos 1978 album Who Are You, composed by bassist John Entwistle. ... Sister Disco is a rock song by the British rock group, The Who. ... Music Must Change is a rock song by british rock group The Who. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Bonus tracks on 1996 remastered edition

10. "No Road Romance" (Townshend) – 5:10
11. "Empty Glass" (Demo version) (Townshend) – 6:23
12. "Guitar And Pen" (Olympic '78 Remix) (Townshend) – 5:58
13. "Love Is Coming Down" (Work In Progress mix) (Townshend) – 4:06
14. "Who Are You" (Lost verse) (Townshend) – 6:18

Singles

• "Who Are You" – #18 (UK), #14 (US)

This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Personnel

• Roger Daltrey – vocals
• Pete Townshend – guitar, piano, synthesizer, vocals
• John Entwistle – bass guitar, synthesizer, vocals, horns
• Keith Moon – drums, percussion
• Andy Fairweather-Low – backing vocals
• Rod Argent – synthesizer, piano
• Ted Astley – string arrangements

Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE (born 1 March 1944) is a rock vocalist, songwriter, and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. ... For other uses, see Singer (disambiguation). ... Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend (born May 19, 1945 in Chiswick, London), is an award-winning English rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, and composer. ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... A short grand piano, with the top up. ... For other uses, see Synthesizer (disambiguation). ... John Alec Entwistle (October 9, 1944 – June 27, 2002) was an English bass guitarist, songwriter, singer, and horn player, who was best known as the bass guitarist for rock band The Who. ... The electric bass guitar (or electric bass) is a bass stringed instrument played with the fingers by plucking, slapping, popping or using a pick. ... Keith John Moon (August 23, 1946 – September 7, 1978) was the drummer of the rock group The Who. ... A drum kit (or drum set or trap set) is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as a cowbell, wood block or tambourines, arranged for convenience playing by a single drummer. ... Percussion instruments are played by being struck, shaken, rubbed or scraped. ... Andy Fairweather Low with his copies of Blues Matters! magazine ([1]) (Taken on November 4 2006) Andrew Andy Fairweather-Low (born 2 August 1946, Ystrad Mynach, Hengoed, Wales) is a British guitarist, songwriter and vocalist. ... Image:Rod Argent. ... A short grand piano, with the top up. ...

See also

• 1978 in music

See also: 1970s in music. ...

External links

• Guitar tablature
• Lyrics

References

• www.thewho.net. Who Are You Liner Notes. Retrieved December 27, 2004.
• www.allmusic.com. Who Are You Credits. Retrieved December 27, 2004.