The Who discography

The Who discography
Releases
Studio albums 11
Live albums 10
Compilation albums 21
EPs 4
Singles 57
Soundtracks 4

The following is a discography of albums and singles released the British rock band The Who.

The Who have been with several labels over the years. In the United Kingdom and elsewhere outside North America, they were signed originally to Brunswick Records. In 1966, they moved to Polydor Records[1] and took the rights to their Brunswick recordings with them. They created and moved to Track Records the following year[1] with distribution by Polydor. They left Track in 1974 and returned to Polydor directly,[2] remaining with the label ever since.

In North America, they were originally on Decca Records. They moved to Atco Records for one single in 1966[1] before returning to Decca later that year. In 1972 the US Decca label was absorbed into MCA Records. The band changed North American labels again in 1981, to Warner Bros. Records.[3] The label released Face Dances and It's Hard and their singles, before The Who disbanded. In later years, MCA would acquire the US rights to the WBR albums. In 2003, MCA Records (now under common ownership with Polydor, under Universal Music Group) was folded into Geffen Records - which, ironically, was originally an independent label distributed by WBR. Geffen now controls the US rights to The Who's catalogue up through It's Hard. Their 2006 comeback album, Endless Wire, was released through Universal Republic in the US.

Contents

[hide]

Studio albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)
UK

[4]

AUS

[5]

AUT

[6]

CAN

[7]

ESP

[8]

FRA

[9]

GER

[10]

IRE

[11]

NLD

[12]

NOR

[13]

SWE

[14]

SWI

[15]

US

[7]

1965 My Generation 5 14
1966 A Quick One
  • Released: 9 December 1966 (UK); May 1967 (US)
  • Label: Decca and Reaction Records
4 19 67
1967 The Who Sell Out 13 8 48 48
1969 Tommy
  • Released: 23 May 1969
  • Label: Decca and Track
2 8 143 50 14 4
1971 Who's Next
  • Released: 14 August 1971 (UK); 25 August 1971 (US)
  • Label: Decca and Track
1 3 5

[18]

157 18 4 6 4
  • US: 3× Platinum[17]
1973 Quadrophenia
  • Released: 19 October 1973
  • Label: MCA Records, Polydor, and Track
2 35 2

[19]

7 17 8 2
1975 The Who by Numbers
  • Released: 3 October 1975
  • Label: MCA and Polydor
7 29 9

[20]

30 8
1978 Who Are You
  • Released: 18 August 1978
  • Label: MCA and Polydor
6 9 49 18 21 27 2
1981 Face Dances 2 16 2

[22]

29 6 19 17 4
1982 It's Hard
  • Released: 4 September 1982
  • Label: Polydor and Warner Bros.
11 55 3

[23]

30 28 47 8
2006 Endless Wire 9 63
[24]
28 10 57 62 4 52 77 23 51 7

Live albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK

[4]

AUS

[5]

CAN

[7]

GER

[7]

NLD

[12]

NOR

[13]

US

[7]

1970 Live at Leeds
  • Released: 1970-05-16
  • Label: MCA, Polydor, and Track
3 6 8 5 13 4 US: 2x Platinum
1984 Who's Last 48 56

[25]

81
1990 Join Together 59 188
1996 Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 84 194
2000 BBC Sessions
  • Released: 2000-02-15
  • Label: MCA and Polydor
24 101
Blues to the Bush
  • Released: 2000-03-19
  • Label: MCA and Polydor
2003 Live at the Royal Albert Hall
  • Released: 2003-12-05
  • Label: MCA and Polydor
72 43 95
2006 Live from Toronto
2007 View from a Backstage Pass
  • Released: 2007-11-05
  • Label: thewho.com
2010 Greatest Hits Live
  • Released: 2010-01-18
  • Label:
"—" denotes albums that were released but did not chart, albums not released in a particular territory, or chart information is not available.

Compilations

Year Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK

[4]

AUS

[5]

BEL

[26]

CAN

[7]

ESP

[8]

FRA

[9]

GER

[10]

IRE

[11]

NLD

[12]

NOR

[13]

SWE

[14]

SWI

[15]

US

[7]

1968 Magic Bus: The Who on Tour
  • Released: 1968-09
  • Label: Decca
39
Direct Hits
  • Released: 1968
  • Label: Track
1971 Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy
  • Released: 1971-10-30
  • Label: Decca
9 27 11
  • US: Platinum
1974 Odds & Sods
  • Released: 1974-09-28
  • Label: MCA
10 47 15
  • UK: Silver
  • US: Gold
1976 The Story of The Who
  • Released: 1976-09-23
  • Label: Polydor
2
  • UK: Gold
1981 Phases
  • Released: 1981-05
  • Label: Polydor
Hooligans
  • Released: 1981-10
  • Label: MCA
52
  • US: Gold
1983 Who's Greatest Hits
  • Released: 1983-11-23
  • Label: MCA
13 94
  • US: 2x Platinum
Rarities Volume I & Volume II
  • Released: 1983-08-14
  • Label: Decca
1984 The Singles
  • Released: 1984-10
  • Label: Polydor
1985 Who's Missing
  • Released: 1985-11-30
  • Label: MCA
44 116
  • UK: Gold
The Who Collection
  • Released: 1985-12-10
  • Label: Polydor
44
  • UK: Gold (Volume One)
1987 Two's Missing
  • Released: 1987-04-11
  • Label: MCA
1988 Who's Better, Who's Best
  • Released: 1988
  • Label: MCA
10 51 45
  • UK: Gold
  • US: Gold
  • CAN: Platinum[21]
1994 Thirty Years of Maximum R&B
  • Released: 1994-07-05
  • Label: MCA
48 170
  • US: Gold
1996 My Generation: The Very Best of the Who
  • Released: 1996-08-27
  • Label: MCA
11
  • UK: Gold
  • US: Gold
1999 The Best of The Who
  • US: Platinum
2002 The Ultimate Collection
  • Released: 2002-06-11
  • Label: MCA
17 65 11 31
  • UK: Gold
  • US: Platinum
2004 Then and Now 5 67 21 57
The 1st Singles Box
  • Released: 2004-05-02
  • Label: Polydor
154
2009 Greatest Hits
  • Released: 2009-12-21
  • Label: Geffen Records
127 69 56
"—" denotes albums that were released but did not chart, albums not released in a particular territory, or chart information is not available.

Extended plays

Year Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK

[4]

US

[7]

1966 Ready Steady Who
1970 Tommy
1988 Won't Get Fooled Again 91[27]
2006 Wire & Glass

Soundtracks

Year Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK

[4]

US

[7]

1975 Tommy
  • Released: 1975-03-19
  • Label: MCA and Polydor
21 2
1979 The Kids Are Alright
  • Released: 1979-06-24
  • Label: MCA and Polydor
26 8
  • UK: Silver
  • US: Platinum
  • CAN: Gold[21]
Quadrophenia
  • Released: 1979-08-13
  • Label: Polydor
23 46
2008 Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who
  • Released: 2008-03-24
  • Label: Polydor
"—" denotes albums that didn't chart, or wasn't released in that country.

Singles

Year Song B-side Chart positions Album
UK US[28] US Rock[28] NL Top 40
1964 "I'm the face" "Zoot Suit" -
1965 "I Can't Explain" "Bald Headed Woman" 8 93 -
1965 "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere" "Daddy Rolling Stone" (UK)
"Anytime You Want Me" (US)
10 - 28
1965 "My Generation" "Shout and Shimmy" (UK)
"Out in the Street" (US)
2 74 5 My Generation
1966 "Substitute" "Circles" (UK)
"Waltz for a Pig" (US)
5 - 3
1966 "A Legal Matter" "Instant Party" 32 22 My Generation
1966 "The Kids Are Alright" "The Ox" (UK)
"A Legal Matter" (US)
41 106 - My Generation
1966 "I'm a Boy" "In the City" 2 - 5
1966 "La-La-La-Lies" "The Good's Gone" - - My Generation
1966 "Happy Jack" "I've Been Away" (UK)
"Whiskey Man" (US)
3 24 6 A Quick One
1967 "Pictures of Lily" "Doctor, Doctor" 4 51 4
1967 "The Last Time" "Under My Thumb" 44 -
1967 "I Can See for Miles" "Someone's Coming" (UK)
"Mary Anne with the Shaky Hand" (US)
10 9 28 The Who Sell Out
1968 "Call Me Lightning" "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" 40 38
1968 "Dogs" "Call Me Lightning" 25 -
1968 "Magic Bus" "Someone's Coming" (US)
"Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" (UK)
26 25 -
1969 "Pinball Wizard" "Dogs, Pt. 2" 4 19 12 Tommy
1969 "I'm Free" "We're Not Gonna Take It" 37 23 Tommy
1970 "The Seeker" "Here for More" 19 44 17
1970 "Summertime Blues" "Heaven and Hell" 38 27 24 Live at Leeds
1971 "See Me, Feel Me" "Overture" 12 3 Tommy
1971 "Won't Get Fooled Again" "I Don't Even Know Myself" 9 15 8 Who's Next
1971 "Let's See Action" "When I Was a Boy" 16 28 a different version appeared on the Pete Townshend solo album Who Came First
1971 "Behind Blue Eyes" "My Wife" 34 34 Who's Next
1972 "Baba O'Riley" "My Wife" 11 Who's Next
1972 "Join Together" "Baby Don't You Do It" (Live) 9 17 27
1972 "Relay" "Waspman" 21 39 28
1973 "5:15" "Water" 20 - Quadrophenia
1973 "Love Reign O'er Me" "Water" 76 - Quadrophenia
1974 "The Real Me" "I'm One" 92 - Quadrophenia
1974 "Postcard" "Put the Money Down" - - Odds & Sods
1974 "Long Live Rock" "Pure And Easy" - Odds & Sods
1975 "Squeeze Box" "Success Story" 10 16 The Who by Numbers
1976 "Slip Kid" "Dreaming from the Waist" - The Who By Numbers
1976 "Substitute" "I'm a Boy" 7 The Story of The Who
1978 "Who Are You" "Had Enough" 18 14 Who Are You
1978 "Trick of the Light" "905" - - Who Are You
1979 "Long Live Rock" "I'm the Face"/"My Wife" (UK)
"My Wife" (US)
48 54 The Kids Are Alright
1979 "5:15" "I'm One" - 45 Quadrophenia soundtrack
1981 "You Better You Bet" "The Quiet One" 9 18 1 9 Face Dances
1981 "Don't Let Go the Coat" "You" 47 84 - Face Dances
1982 "Athena" "A Man Is a Man" (UK)
"It's Your Turn" (US)
40 28 3 It's Hard
1982 "Eminence Front" "One at a Time" 68 5 - It's Hard
1983 "It's Hard" "Dangerous" - 39 It's Hard
1983 "You Better You Bet" "Don't Let Go the Coat" - Face Dances
1984 "Twist and Shout" "I Can't Explain" - Who's Last
1988 "My Generation" "Substitute"/"Baba O'Riley"/"Behind Blue Eyes" Who's Better, Who's Best
2004 "Real Good Looking Boy" "Old Red Wine" - Then and Now
2006 "It's Not Enough" "Tea & Theatre" - 37 Endless Wire
  • Note 1: "-" denotes albums that didn't chart, blank spaces were not released in that country.
  • Note 2: The Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart did not exist until March 1981. Several album tracks from Face Dances and It's Hard entered the chart between 1981 and 1982 but are not listed here as they were not issued as retail singles.

Other appearances

  • Songs performed - "Fire" and "Dig"

Filmography

Films

1975 Tommy
1979 Quadrophenia

Documentaries

1979 The Kids Are Alright
2000 Classic Albums: The Who – Who's Next
2008 Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who

Video albums

1988 Who's Better, Who's Best
1994 Thirty Years of Maximum R&B Live
1998 Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 (certified Platinum in Canada [21])
2001 The Who & Special Guests: Live at the Royal Albert Hall
2003 The Who Special Edition EP
2003 Live in Boston
2005 Tommy and Quadrophenia Live
2006 The Vegas Job (certified Gold in Canada [21])
2008 The Who At Kilburn: 1977

Other appearances

1968 Monterey Pop
1970 Woodstock
1980 Concert for Kampuchea
1996 The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus
2001 The Concert for New York City

Solo discographies

References

  1. ^ a b c The Hypertext Who › History of The Who › 1965-1967
  2. ^ The Hypertext Who › History of The Who › 1971-1974
  3. ^ The Hypertext Who › History of The Who › 1980-1983
  4. ^ a b c d e "Chart Stats - The Who". Chart Stats. http://www.chartstats.com/artistinfo.php?id=1768. Retrieved 24 June 2008. 
  5. ^ a b c Kent, David. Australian Chart Books 1940-2005. 
  6. ^ "Austrian Chart". austriancharts.com. http://austriancharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=The%20Who. Retrieved 24 June 2008. 
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Artist Chart History - The Who". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p5822. Retrieved 24 June 2008. 
  8. ^ a b "Spanish Chart". spanishcharts.com. http://spanishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=BThe%20Who. Retrieved 24 June 2008. 
  9. ^ a b "French Chart". lescharts.com. http://lescharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=The%20Who. Retrieved 24 June 2008. 
  10. ^ a b "Chartverfolgung / THE, WHO / Longplay" (in German). musicline.de. http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Who,THE?type=longplay. Retrieved 24 June 2008. 
  11. ^ a b "Irish Album Chart". irish-charts.com. http://irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=The%20Who. Retrieved 24 June 2008. 
  12. ^ a b c "Dutch Chart". dutchcharts.nl. http://dutchcharts.nl//showinterpret.asp?interpret=The%20Who. Retrieved 24 June 2008. 
  13. ^ a b c "Norwegian Chart". norwegiancharts.com. http://www.norwegiancharts.com//showinterpret.asp?interpret=The%20Who. Retrieved 24 June 2008. 
  14. ^ a b "Swedish Chart". swedishcharts.com. http://www.swedishcharts.com//showinterpret.asp?interpret=The%20Who. Retrieved 24 June 2008. 
  15. ^ a b "Swiss Chart". hitparade.ch. http://www.hitparade.ch//showinterpret.asp?interpret=The%20Who. Retrieved 24 June 2008. 
  16. ^ a b c d e f "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on 4 October 2011. Note: User needs to enter "The Who" in the "Search" field, "Artist" in the "Search by" field and click the "Go" button. Select "More info" next to the relevant entry to see full certification history.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g "Searchable Database". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH. Retrieved 2011-10-4.  Note: User must define 'Artist' search parameter as "The Who".
  18. ^ "Who's Next - Canadian Album Chart". RPM. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7579&volume=16&issue=8&issue_dt=October%2009%201971&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=1eslr84up6jai4j6cngk0p4cu2. Retrieved 24 June 2008. 
  19. ^ "Quadrophenia - Canadian Album Chart". RPM. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.4976a&volume=20&issue=21_22&issue_dt=January%2012%201974&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=1eslr84up6jai4j6cngk0p4cu2. Retrieved 24 June 2008. 
  20. ^ "The Who by Numbers - Canadian Album Chart". RPM. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.4082a&volume=24&issue=18&issue_dt=January%2024%201976&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=1eslr84up6jai4j6cngk0p4cu2. Retrieved 24 June 2008. 
  21. ^ a b c d e f g "Certified Awards Search". Music Canada. Retrieved on 4 October 2011. Note: User needs to enter "The Who" in the "Search" field, "Artist" in the "Search by" field and click the "Go" button. Select "More info" next to the relevant entry to see full certification history.
  22. ^ "Face Dances - Canadian Album Chart". RPM. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.0334&volume=34&issue=24&issue_dt=May%2023%201981&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=1eslr84up6jai4j6cngk0p4cu2. Retrieved 24 June 2008. 
  23. ^ "It's Hard - Canadian Album Chart". RPM. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.6939a&volume=37&issue=10&issue_dt=October%2023%201982&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=1eslr84up6jai4j6cngk0p4cu2. Retrieved 24 June 2008. 
  24. ^ (PDF) The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 13 October 2001. Pandora Archive. http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20061220-0000/issue871.pdf. Retrieved 4 December 2010. 
  25. ^ "Who's Last - Canadian Album Chart". RPM. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.9608&volume=41&issue=15&issue_dt=December%2015%201984&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=1eslr84up6jai4j6cngk0p4cu2. Retrieved 24 June 2008. 
  26. ^ "The Who - Who's Better, Who's Best". ultratop.be. 2011-06-20. http://www.ultratop.be/fr/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Who&titel=Who%27s+Better%2C+Who%27s+Best&cat=a. Retrieved 2012-01-04. 
  27. ^ UK Charts Database in the Chart Stats
  28. ^ a b http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p5822

External links